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causeilikelix · 2 months

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During the Rainstorm - Chapter Eight

↳ Pairing: Hwang Hyunjin x Yoon Seol (OC)

↳ Genre: Romance, comedy, smut (eventual), slow burn, enemies (idiots) to lovers, non!idol au, angst

↳ Series warnings: See Chapter One

↳ Chapter Warnings: Kissing, sexual tension, storms and the fear of storms being exhibited, Seol has a panic attack

↳ Read on my A03: Here

↳ Masterlist & Summery: Here

↳ Notes: This is the first new chapter in forever! I hope you enjoy it!

This is a repost of this series and I think a re-upload of the first chapter. I also am taking the liberty of making a name change of one of the characters. Woojin and Minho are switching names/characters. Also, before the Tag Police come for me, this story is going to be both smutty and angsty so my tags are appropriate.

<- Chapter Seven - Chapter Nine ->

THE STUMBLE BACK into the plush hotel room was clumsy but passionate all the same. Hyunjin’s hands were in her hair to keep their lips locked in a heated kiss and hers were desperately trying to get rid of the khaki coat that he’d put on for the walk back. Her purse, shoes, and stockings fell in a forgotten pile by the entry. Hyunjin removed his hands from her just long enough to help her shed his coat before he was grasping her again. His nimble fingers made quick work of her coat and it pooled around her feet.

“Fuck, Princess, you’re so beautiful,” Hyunjin breathed, taking his time to look her up and down. The black velvet dress accented her caramel skin and dark eyes, which watched him while she waited for him to return to her lips. His large hands gripped her waist which basically turned her knees to jelly.

“Hyunjin-ah, please,” Seol breathed. She wasn’t even really sure what she was asking for. Hyunjin leaned back in to press his mouth to hers again in a searing kiss.

Her hands reached for the buttons on his shirt. Her fingers played with the top button as she tried to undo it, but her fingers were painfully numb from the cold. He pulled away from the kiss and a grin played on his lips when she whined. Hyunjin watched her struggle with his buttons for a minute before he reached up to grasp her hand in his.

“Why don’t we take this slow, Princess? We have all the time in the world.” Hyunjin grasped her hands and guided her deeper into the hotel room.

Seol’s bags were strategically out of place so that the rose-petal-covered duvet would be free to collapse on the second she returned. A handful of unlit candles were placed on the bedside table, desk, and the table in front of the couch. The room itself was akin to a small one-bedroom apartment that included a couch and coffee table as well as a small kitchenette. Seol paid an arm and a leg for it, and she wanted to be fucked on every single surface. She had a feeling Hyunjin would be willing to do just that, but why did he want to take his time?

“Please touch me,” Seol begged.

Hyunjin smiled softly and pulled her deeper into the room. He gently pushed her to sit down on the couch. She reached for him desperately, but Hyunjin moved away from her entirely. He started by turning off the main lights and only turning on the small lamps or lighting the candles, casting a warm glow over the room. The drapes were pulled open to show the glittering city lights of Busan, as well as a perfect view of the ocean. He made his way around, gathering things and setting them on the table. He poured two glasses of champagne and handed her a glass. Then he set a fruit platter and a box of chocolates on the coffee table before sitting next to her on the couch.

“But...” Seol glanced down at the bubbly liquor, “You said I shouldn’t drink more?”

“You said what you did in your own hotel room was none of my business.”

Seol blinked for a second, wondering just how they’d gone from kissing to drinking alcohol. A flash of rage warmed the tips of her ears but she swallowed it down.

“Don’t you not want to...” Seol trailed off, angling her knees towards him.

“Do what?” Hyunjin turned towards her and searched her face for a moment. “Oh! Oh yes, I definitely do! But I want to take it slow.”

“We’ve been taking it pretty damn slow and I’m not interested in being humiliated by a second man today.” Seol set her drink aside and shifted closer to him.

“Whoa, tiger!” Hyunjin chuckled. He allowed her to advance until their thighs were pressed together. With his free hand, he gently cupped her cheek and leaned in to give her a quick kiss. “I’m not going anywhere, I just want to make sure you’re into this.”

“You mean, you want to make sure you’re not manipulating me?”

“You did hate me this morning.”

“You were the one sexually harassing me.” Seol shrugged and Hyunjin only laughed.

“I’m sorry, I am! But I want to assure you that I don’t want you because I’m some scumbag. My reasons for wanting you have changed.”

“The way you treated me on the train isn’t even the worst I’ve been treated today. I’m not mad about it.” Seol paused for a moment, before she decided that she had nothing to lose. “So, then, why do you want me?”

“You know this is going to go both ways, right? I want to hear all of the reasons you want me.” Hyunjin smirked, leaning in to press soft kisses along her cheeks and mouth. Seol tried to capture his gorgeous lips for a deeper kiss, but with little luck.

“Fine, tell me why you want me so I can stroke your ego later.” Seol settled back into the couch with a roll of her eyes.

“Something tells me you’d just be mean about it, so I’ll go first,” Hyunjin sipped at his champagne as he eyed her up and down, “I like your eyes. When I look at you, it feels like there’s something there; something unknown. I can tell that you’re a deep person, even if you’re afraid to share it with me, or anyone.”

“My eyes?”

“Did you want me to say something vulgar like your tits or something?”

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, that’s all.” Seol resigned herself to her champagne and took a sip.

“Well, I do think you’re incredibly beautiful and your body is amazing, but that’s not why I’m into you. When you spoke to me at the cafe, the spark was instant for me. The whole time I was waiting for my drink I was wondering what I could possibly say to you, despite my awful first impression.”

“Oh boy, are you about to confess your undying love to me?” Seol chuckled. She gave in and picked up one of the chocolates and brought it to her mouth.

“No, I just...” Hyunjin paused and swirled his champagne around in his glass, his eyes trailed down her face to watch her lips as she bit into the sweet, “You fascinated me right away. I know nothing about you and yet I want to know everything. I like your hair and your laugh and the way you look at me when you’re trying to gauge if I’m serious or not. I like how that dress fits you perfectly and makes you look like you’re not even trying to be beautiful. I like how you kiss. I mean, god, your lips are delicious.”

Seol popped the rest of the chocolate into her mouth and Hyunjin took advantage of it. He set his glass down before reaching for her and smashing their lips together. Seol moaned into the kiss instantly. She parted her lips and let Hyunjin’s tongue dip into her mouth. Their tongues swirled together and the taste of chocolate and of Hyunjin began to blend as he licked the chocolate out of her mouth and into his.

There was something so filthy about the way he kissed her. His tongue dominated her mouth as if he was trying to memorize every inch of her. When hers slipped forward to attempt to battle for dominance, he was quick to suck her tongue into his mouth for a few seconds to get every last bit of chocolate before pulling away completely.

Seol hadn’t realized that they had grabbed at each other until they were pulling apart. Her hands were tangled in his black locks and his were on her back, drawing her closer to him. Her breath heaved and her breasts swelled where they were pressed firmly into Hyunjin’s chest. His plump, kiss swollen lips curled up in a smirk.

“Damn, that chocolate is good.” Hyunjin let go of her to lean back on the couch and a shiver ripped down her spine.

“Yeah,” she squeaked out, “It’s delicious.”

“Your turn. Why do you want me?” Hyunjin lounged on the couch, his legs spreading obnoxiously as he sipped his drink.

Seol leaned back and rolled her eyes. She was already regretting this entire situation. However, her mouth watered as she watched him reach for a chocolate covered strawberry. His plush lips wrapped around the berry, getting coated in pinkish juice and rich brown chocolate. Seol’s throat ran dry.

“Your lips,” Seol blurted before she could stop herself. He smirked around the strawberry. “I also think your voice is really calming. Like, when we were outside the restaurant you were really soothing. You also haven’t judged me for anything yet despite the screaming and the cheating and the naivety and the crying...”

“I don’t think you’re naive.” Hyunjin cut in suddenly, “I think you’re hopeful. And it isn’t wrong to hope that maybe someone will love you.”

“I think I’ve accepted that no one will ever love me,” she laughed bitterly and drank down the rest of the booze in her glass.

“Seol-ah, I highly doubt that.”

“You know, I used to believe that. I used to be a huge romantic who thought that maybe one day I would find a prince on a white horse who would sweep me off my feet. Obviously, I didn’t hold onto that for long. Now I just wonder if there will ever be anyone who could love me. But anyway, we’re not talking about that. We’ve sidetracked from me stroking your ego. Anyway, I also like your eyes because I think that-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on,” Hyunjin cut her off, “Wanting someone to love you isn’t unrealistic.”

“Well, no one ever has! I went through high school and college with guys falling all over my best friends and leaving me in the dust. I’ve been on dates, I’ve been in relationships with guys that haven’t lasted past four months before they break up with me, and after a while you start to see a pattern. Is it really that self-deprecating for me to say that no one’s ever loved me?” Seol sighed, “Are you sure that you don’t want me to talk about how dreamy and attractive I find you?”

“I would absolutely love to hear about how attractive you think I am, but first I’m going to tell you that I think you are nothing that you say you are. I want you to really hear me when I tell you that I don’t just want you for your body.” Hyunjin leaned closer to her as he spoke and he gently pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, “You are beautiful and enchanting and I’m really glad that we’re spending this time together.”

“I am, too,” Seol admitted with a smile, “I really am having a wonderful time with you tonight. I’m thankful that you saved me and that you’ve been so understanding.”

“Can I kiss you?” Hyunjin breathed, already leaning closer to her.

“You’re choosing now to ask?” Seol matched him and leaned in.

His gaze dropped to her lips before sliding shut completely. Seol could hardly wait to have his mouth on hers again. Hyunjin was so beautiful and she knew she was extremely lucky to even have him sitting in her hotel room. She didn’t want to take this chance for granted.

Just before their lips met, something warm and wet slid out of her nose. Seol’s eyes shot open and quickly brought up her hand between them. She sniffed heavily, but the liquid didn’t retreat. Hyunjin’s face was mere centimeters from hers and she wished she could admire his perfect face, but there was something more pressing at hand.

His eyes opened when his lips knocked her knuckles. He pulled back, surprised, and Seol took the opportunity to leap to her feet in search of a kleenex box. She muttered apologies under her breath and she searched the table next to the couch and then the table by the bed. She gratefully grabbed a wad of tissues before pressing them to her nose. Hyunjin only watched her from his perch on the couch, a small smile on his perfect lips.

Seol groaned and headed to stand in front of the full length mirror by the door to check the damage. Her nose smelled slightly of iron and she was sure that her nose was bleeding. She couldn’t imagine how she could have gotten a nose bleed but- when she pulled the tissues away, there was no red. Only a glob of clear stuff that must have come from her. She winced in disgust before turning away from the room to blow her nose into the remaining tissues. The cold finally got to her.

She made sure her nose was clean before straightening up and looking in the mirror to check the rest of her appearance. Seol froze on the spot as she took in the woman looking back at her. Her hair was a windswept mess and the knot by her ear looked like it would take an hour, some steam, and a thick pronged comb to fix. Carefully applied mascara now left racoon-like blotches around her eyes and had even run down her face where she’d cried. Her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying. Her foundation was streaked and her cheeks were flushed a deep red. Seol’s dress was wrinkled and the hem was crushed where she’d gripped onto it.

Suddenly, she wondered why Hyunjin had followed her here at all. There was no beauty in the mirror. Only a mess who’d never dated anyone properly. Someone who’d never been loved or desired. How could that gorgeous man on the couch want anything to do with her?

“Stop looking.” His voice filled her ears and he appeared over her shoulder.

She met his eyes through the mirror, ripping her attention away from her frazzled and unkempt appearance. His soft eyes accompanied a tender smile as he gazed at her through the glass.

Hyunjin’s large, warm hands covered her shoulders and he slowly turned her around. He smiled at her softly and without pity. She wondered why he didn’t pity her when the person she cared about had betrayed her so horribly. Seol knew she deserved his pity but she didn’t want it. When she faced him, he lifted one of his hands to gently fix a small lipstick smudge on the corner of her mouth and he smiled when he completed his task.

“You don’t need to see what he did to you. That person in the mirror is not who you are. It is only the result of these awful circumstances. He does not deserve you.” Hyunjin’s soft voice filled her heart and helped the shaking within her subside. She hadn’t realized the extent of her anxiety until he started whispering. “Seol-ah, don’t look at yourself anymore tonight. Instead, look at me. Just me.”

“I’m not sad anymore!” She declared. Seol wasn’t sure if it was the truth. “I just want to forget all about him. But... I don’t like that he’s the last person who touched me.”

“He doesn’t have to be.”

Seol blinked up at him in surprise at his words, wondering if he was insinuating what she thought he was. Hyunjin’s gaze was soft and innocent, and for a moment Seol wondered if she was even physically capable of placing her hands on another man, much less her mouth. They’d already kissed, but for some reason that already seemed so long ago, like it was another person kissing Hyunjin and not her.

For just long enough, she’d dedicated herself to Woojin. She didn’t think she would need to touch or kiss other men after tonight. However, tonight failed. And Hyunjin... Hyunjin was too beautiful to pass up.

“Will you...” Seol started but the words died in her throat. She wanted to ask him to take her here and now, but something held her back.

“Yes?”

“Will you hold me?”

“Of course.” Hyunjin’s soft smile warmed her heart as if she’d taken a drink of rich hot cocoa. “Come with me.”

Hyunijn ran his hands down her arms until he was holding her hands. He led her back into the hotel room and stayed perched between the bed and the couch as he waited for her guidance. Seol glanced between the couch and the bed for a moment. She must have stared at the bed for too long because Hyunjin led her to it and gently encouraged her to sit on the edge. He gently cupped her cheeks in his large hands and pressed his lips to her forehead.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Seol sniffled. Hot tears brimmed in her eyes but she couldn’t recall being upset by what Woojin did.

“Because you deserve better. Maybe I won’t be the guy in the long run, but right now you just need someone who will treat you softly and I want to be that person.” Hyunjin moved to sit next to her and a smile played on her lips.

“I think I may have underestimated you,” Seol admitted quietly, averting her gaze so she wouldn’t see his smug grin, “but I’m glad you’re with me now. I really don’t want to be alone.”

“And you don’t have to be. Why don’t we just relax, put the TV on, and forget about the whole thing?”

With that, Hyunjin moved back on the bed and adjusted the pillows to make everything comfortable. Once he settled in, he gestured for Seol to follow his lead. She swallowed thickly before following him up the bed.

Hyunjin opened his arms and accepted her into him. He pulled her against his side and gave her the room she needed to get comfortable before wrapping those strong arms around her and pulling her into him. A few hours ago, cuddling with this man would have been the last thing she ever wanted to imagine, much less actually do. Now, it was as if she’d known him for ages. It was easy to melt in his arms.

Seol wondered briefly why it was so natural to be with him, but she didn’t want to dwell on it. Hyunjin was just a guy. He was just some guy and after this weekend Seol would never have to think about him or see him again if she didn’t want to. However, as she looked up at him and those gorgeous, shimmery eyes Seol thought that maybe she would like to see him again.

“Do you read a lot of poetry?” Hyunjin asked suddenly, and Seol had to physically bite the inside of her cheek to keep from showing any emotion.

“Not extensively, why?”

“I was just thinking about this poet that I read. They’re a modern poet and I think they write under a pen name because I can never find anything about them and they never do public book signings. Anyway, that poet wrote something in their most recent collection that reminded me of you.” Hyunjin mused. He had a hand on her shoulder and his fingers traced absent minded shapes.

“Oh really? Who’s the poet?” Seol was suddenly glad that they were at an angle where he couldn’t see her face. With her head resting on his shoulder and her face towards his collarbones and pecs, it would be difficult for him to see her.

“I’m not sure if you’d know them, but they write under the name ‘Andromeda.’ They have three collections of poetry out and I have all of them. They have such a way with words and the poetry is so raw and real. I don’t know how interested you are in poetry or anything, but I think you’d like their work.” Hyunjin explained.

With every word, color drained from Seol’s face. She held out hope that maybe he’d never read any of her work. Maybe he was a big shot who never had time to read outside of his working hours. No luck.

The moment Hyunjin uttered her pen name, she worried that she was in over her head. She had a feeling not many other poets wrote under the name Andromeda.

“You think? I’m not that interested in poetry.” The lie almost physically hurt to say.

“Yeah. I can’t remember this poem verbatim, but they wrote about something like this. The situation must have been similar. They sound in love with their partner but it always felt off to me. I always thought it sounded one-sided. Like, they were admiring him and waiting for him to call but communication was always sparse. But when he would contact them, they would be so happy and talk about feeling special.” Hyunjin continued his explanation and Seol remembered writing the poem in question.

She’d just gotten a text from Woojin asking if she wanted to meet him this weekend at his apartment or if it would be more convenient to go to her place. At the time, she’d been naively touched that he cared to ask for her opinion, and that he was taking time out of his busy schedule to see her. Now, it all seemed so ridiculous.

“Jeez, it makes me sound ridiculous,” Seol tried to laugh it off, but Hyunjin shook his head.

“No, the poem was optimistic. A lot of their work is, actually. It’s like no matter what, they are always determined to believe in love. They want to deserve love and be loved properly. Everyone is deserving of love, but it really comes off in their poetry.”

“Everyone except Woojin is worthy of love.” Seol corrected. Hyunjin chuckled, the sound vibrating down his chest.

“Okay, everyone except Woojin is worthy of love. Regardless, I love their poetry. I love how much love they have to give and I hope that they’ll direct it onto the right person. I can only imagine how proper love will transform their poetry.” Hyunjin mused, “I’m sorry, this probably isn’t interesting to you at all.”

“Do you like analyzing poetry?” Seol managed through her tight throat. She didn’t know what to do with the information Hyunjin unknowingly shared with her. How was she supposed to react to the fact that he was an avid fan of her and her poetry?

“I like analyzing art. In whatever form it comes to me. Written word is simply what I got my degree in.”

“Do you have a favorite medium?”

“Hmm…”

“And writing doesn’t count! It’s your job, so something else.” Seol added.

“Okay, fair enough,” Hyunjin mused for a minute, “I’m partial to watercolor. Or oil on canvas. I spent about half an hour in the Louvre one time just staring at this one particular portrait. I was looking at the shadows and the facial structure and the shading. I’m fascinated by human physiology and existence. I’ve done some sketches and paintings but I have yet to learn the ways of Rembrandt or Vermeer. But in the same vein I’m not an excellent writer either. I don’t have the finesse of Brown or King, or ability like Bronte or Hemingway.”

“You have the longwindedness of Hemingway,” Seol grinned, deciding to set her fear aside for the time being. It didn’t matter if Hyunjin knew about her poetry. She wrote under a pen name for a reason. He never had to find out if she didn’t want him to.

“What can I say? We’re talking about something I’m passionate about.” Hyunjin shrugged, the motion proving awkward while mostly horizontal. “I haven’t even started on my love of John Keats or Homer or T.S. Eliot. You’d never get me to shut up!”

“I haven’t been able to get you to shut up since we met.” Seol giggled. Hyunjin’s laughter shook his chest.

“I guess that’s true. I’ll gladly shut up if you want me to.”

“Once again I think I underestimated you.” Seol chuckled. She nuzzled a little closer to him to leech off of his warmth. “You’re a lot more romantic than I thought.”

“You think so?”

“I’ve never met a man who talks about art as excitedly as you do. Isn’t that inherently romantic?”

“I suppose it is, depending on how you define romantic traits and romance.”

“How do you define it?”

“Personally…” Hyunjin mused for a few long seconds. He pursed his lips and hummed. “Art and music and poetry are romantic, I definitely believe in the romance of the arts. However, I think the concept of long and true love to be the most romantic. One day, if I find the person I want to marry, I want to be with them for a long time. Ideally, I want one marriage. Until death do us part, you know? I want to grow old with someone. Build a life together. Maybe raise a few kids if they’re into that.”

“I love that.” Seol grinned, “That is definitely romantic.”

“How do you define romance?”

“I don’t know.” Seol admitted openly, “I’m a particular fan of romance novels or movies but I’ve never experienced it myself so it’s hard to say. But… I want to be loved and to be loved for a long time. I want to have a partnership based on friendship and love. I think that would be steadfast. I think romantic gestures are important, like dates and spontaneous displays of affection, but if you overdo it then it can harm the relationship. So, finding a happy medium, I guess? But since I’ve never been loved and I’ve never truly loved someone myself it’s hard to define it outside of the media I’ve consumed.”

“That’s understandable. I’m sorry that you haven’t experienced anything healthy. I truly believe that you deserve the kind of love that you want.”

Seol blinked back tears at this. Hot tears brimmed unexpectedly and she wiped them away. She sniffed and Hyunjin chuckled.

“Jerk.” Seol buried her face in his chest and mumbled at him.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Hyunjin rubbed soothing shoulders into her shoulder, a grin on his plush lips. He let her tears leak for a few minutes before she shook her head and turned her face towards the ceiling. Hyunjin grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and passed it to her.

“It’s not your fault, it’s been an emotional day.” Seol dabbed at her eyes with the tissue, wincing when it came away wet with tears and dried flecks of mascara. Rest in peace to her makeup, she supposed.

“That’s true. Do you want to put on a movie or something?” Hyunjin offered.

“What, are you tired of my presence already?” Seol teased, shifting away from him on purpose.

Hyunjin immediately tightened his grip on her to pull her flush against him. He even rolled onto his side a little so her chest pressed into his. His arms circled her wholly and his hand pressed into her back. Warmth tingled within her, from her toes to the crown of her head. He stared into her eyes with smoldering intensity that made her shiver, despite the warmth he provided. His gorgeous lips parted as if he meant to speak, but he stayed silent for a few seconds as if to build anticipation.

“I don’t think I could ever get tired of you, Seol-ah.” His voice was just above a whisper, as if he was terrified to voice his thoughts. Something shimmered in his eyes that made Seol do a small double take. She’d never seen it before in anyone so she couldn’t be completely sure, but she realized that Hyunjin was likely being… genuine.

“What?”

“When you asked me to come up, I couldn’t tell you how happy I was. I didn’t want to leave you yet. If you want me to leave at any point I will. However, from the moment we met you have captivated me and I want to exist in your world for as long as you’ll have me.”

Something set in her heart. Something small, but very strong and very real ignited within her. Hyunjin stared at her. He wasn’t staring through her, he wasn’t staring with purpose, he didn’t want anything from her. For the first time in her life, or at least a really long time, Seol could see sincerity in him. She wondered how she’d missed it before. Or, if Hyunjin was the first one to be sincere.

Seol couldn’t stop a small drop of fear settling in her stomach. Her pulse slightly quickened with anxiety. Or maybe it was butterflies? She couldn’t tell the difference.

“Hyunjin-ah… I…” The words caught in her throat. She closed and opened her mouth a few times like a dumb fish, willing literally anything to escape her throat.

Unfortunately, the only thing that made it out was a scream.

The lights flickered and a blinding bolt of lightning streaked outside the window. Thunder followed almost instantly, shaking the windows. Without thinking, Seol shimmied out from Hyunjin’s arms and dashed away from the noise. Another flash of lightning and boom of thunder was all it took for Seol to run into the bathroom and swing the door shut behind her. She thought that Hyunjin may have called her name but she couldn’t hear him.

Her heart pounded in her ears and her hands shook uncontrollably. She cursed under her breath as she sat down hard next to the bathtub and hid her head in her hands. Pure red-hot embarrassment flushed her neck and her cheeks. She couldn’t believe that today of all days she was acting like a coward. She wished she could simply put on a brave face, ignore the fear pooling in her stomach, and face the thunder and lightning. However, when the thunder crashed again her body twitched.

Panic rose in her throat when another crash of thunder rolled through the building and she let out a choked sob. She couldn’t help the fear that bubbled up within her at the thought of lightning or the loud crack of thunder. Seol wished she could attribute her fear to childhood trauma, or a single event that messed everything up but she couldn’t. Despite knowing that her fear was irrational, it didn’t make it any better.

She could hear Hyunjin’s voice calling for her outside the door but she couldn’t understand what he was saying. He tapped on the door softly. Seol gave no response.

Another roll of thunder shook the building and Seol let out a pathetic yelp and hid her head between her knees. At this, Hyunjin slowly pushed the door of the bathroom open and peered in experimentally. When he saw her on the floor, he immediately hurried over and fell to his knees in front of her. He reached out and ran his hands through her hair and gently patted her shoulder, trying to coax him to look at him.

“Seol-ah, are you okay?” Hyunjin whispered. Seol couldn’t say anything. He hesitated for a moment before venturing forward with his assumption. “Are you afraid of storms?”

“Yes.” She squeaked. Shame flushed her neck crimson. “You must think I’m a child, being afraid of the weather.”

“No, not at all.” Hyunjin’s warm voice filled her and his soft laugh made her finally look at him.

Hyunjin smiled at her softly, laughter playing in his eyes. Despite his smile, Seol knew he wasn’t laughing at her. He caressed her softly, carefully moving her hair away from her face and cupping her cheeks softly as if to pull her back to the real world. Her body shook beyond her control and he rubbed one of his hands up and down her back and along her arm.

Another crash of thunder.

Seol let out a sob against her will and dropped her head between her knees once more. Hyunjin kept rubbing soothing circles into her skin, but his touch didn’t help her shivers and shakes when a flash of lightning outside made the lights flicker inside.

Hyunjin moved away from her suddenly and Seol gasped from the lack of his warm touch, immediately reaching for him as he moved away. Her fingers grasped the sleeve of his white button down and he stopped moving immediately. Hyunjin turned back to her with wide eyes before he relaxed back into his easy smile. He reached out to gently caress her jaw. He touched her like they’d known each other for years rather than just a few hours.

“Don’t worry, I’m just closing the door so you don’t have to see the lightning. I promise I’m not going anywhere, Princess.” Hyunjin whispered. At this, Seol released him.

Hyunjin leaned over and pushed the bathroom door shut, muffling the rumbling storm outside. The hum of the rain softened and the crashing thunder quieted. Hyunjin moved to kneel in front of her, sinking his knees into the plush bathroom rug. He titled his head as he took in Seol’s trembling form. It was as if she was trying to fold into herself and become as small as possible. Seol’s hands sought him out once more, her fingers curling into the fabric covering his broad shoulders.

“I-I’m sorry. We were having such a good time and- I don’t know how I didn’t see it coming…” Seol choked, squeezing her eyes shut when a particularly loud crack of thunder permeated the door.

“It’s okay. Hey, look at me.” Hyunjin whispered.

Slowly, Seol looked up at him and let out a breathless sigh when she met his eyes. His hands moved up until his palms covered her ears. Instead of thunder, she suddenly heard the ocean crashing in her ears. As blood pumped through his veins, it reminded her of the calm waves they’d seen just earlier that night.

Hyunjin’s elf-like features were morphed into a calm smile. His eyes twinkled with stars, despite the harsh lighting in the bathroom. His plush lips were tinted red from the strawberries they’d been eating and were switching between being pressed together and parted in a small ‘o’ as he blew out his lungful of air. It took a moment for Seol to realize that he was breathing seven seconds in, holding for five seconds, and breathing out for eight seconds. It took a little longer to realize that after a few rounds, she’d begun to follow him.

She took him in from his luscious eyebrows, to his sharp cheekbones, to his lips which she knew would taste like dessert. Seol’s tongue darted out to wet her lips, surprising herself that even in the midst of a panic attack, she could only think about the beautiful man in front of her. Every so often, the press of his hands on her ears tightened and she knew that meant that thunder crashed outside. Despite knowing, her heart rate slowed and her breathing evened out. He smiled softly and Seol didn’t have it in her to deny what her body suddenly wanted so desperately.

Seol’s grip on him tightened. His smile faltered, but he seemed to understand. Seol pulled him half an inch closer, her eyes dropping from his eyes to his lips. Hyunjin waited, hovering inches above her. Seol waited for her confidence to grow and she hoped that maybe Hyunjin would take the initiative. She knew the situation was precarious, but she wanted him. The feeling had been building within her for hours and now she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“Are you okay?” Hyunjin whispered.

“Never better.” Seol’s voice sounded strained, even to herself.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Hyunjin settled on his knees in front of her, shifting his weight from side to side.

“You’ve done everything for me.” Seol whispered.

She let go and reached for his hand. When she pulled his hand away, she could hear the rush of the rain outside as well as the occasional low rumble of the thunder. However, her heart rate stayed level.

Seol made eye contact with Hyunjin, staring into his dark eyes as she led his hand to her shoulder. She applied pressure and pushed. Using both of their hands Seol pushed the shoulder of her dress down to reveal her bra strap. Hyunjin broke eye contact to follow the motion and to drink in every single centimeter of exposed skin. Then she slowly guided his hand towards her chest. At this, Hyunjin finally paused.

“Seol-ah,” his voice was just above a breath. His pupils had dilated and he stared at her with so much need, “If you keep going… I can’t promise that I’ll be able to stop.”

“That’s okay. I don’t want you to stop.”

The moment Hyunjin’s lips touched hers again, the outside sounds of the storm all but faded away. The only thing Seol was aware of was Hyunjin and the space they’d created in the bathroom. His tongue swiped at her lower lip and Seol realized with a start that… perhaps for the first time in her life… she was not afraid.

~!~!~!~!~!~

<- Chapter Seven - Chapter Nine ->

#hyunjin #hwang hyunjin #hyunjin smut #hyunjin angst #stray kids #skz #skz hyunjin #skz imagine #hyunjin imagine #stray kids imagine #hyunjin hard hours #during the rainstorm #first new chapter in 25 yers #im sorry #hopefully yall like it

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ayyy-pee · 21 days

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𝔼ℙ𝕀𝕊𝕆𝔻𝔼 𝟙 - 𝕀ℕ𝕋ℝ𝕆𝔻𝕌ℂ𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝕊 ℙ𝕋. 𝕆ℕ𝔼

Discord 18+ - Twitter - Last Episode - Masterlist

Pairing: JJK Men x Female Reader

Episode Summary: The season has begun! Which one of these contestants will be the first to make an impression on your heart?

STORY TWIST: READERS WILL VOTE AFTER CERTAIN CHAPTERS TO CHOOSE WHO GETS A ROSE AND MAKES IT TO THE NEXT WEEK. KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR THE VOTING LINK AT THE END OF CHAPTERS

Story Warning: DRAMA, lying and scheming, REVERSE HAREM, profanity bc I can only be me, arguments, fights probably, heartbreak and tears, (more to come)

Artist Credit: momoya348, Umbra3terna, ilameys,maoyaoyao519, _0_0219 Divider Credit: Cafekitsune (Tumblr)

A/N: sorry it took so long! i said it would be up the next day but yall know i lie

Apparently, you were the perfect pick for the show. At least, that’s what the producers had told you as they spent weeks screening you for this and prepping you for what was to be expected.

“She’s not heavily involved in society, but can still see curses,” they’d said.

“And none of the Sorcerers would know her either since she’s practically nobody in society,” they’d note.

“No expectations from someone like her,” they’d comment.

And all the while, you sat there, letting them pick apart your life.

A window – hardly useful, new to Kyoto so the chances were slim that you had met any of the men who had signed up for the show, a nobody, just…there. Unimpressive, plain, hardly a step above the non-gifted. And somehow, you were supposed to win the heart of one of these men.

- - - - - -

Jesse stands before you, a wide smile on his face when he asks, “Feeling nervous?”

“Just a little.” That feels like an understatement

“Anything you’re looking for in one of these Sorcerers?” Jesse pushes. You’ve honestly got to give it to Jesse. He’s a great host. You’ve gotten more comfortable with him in the short time you’ve been speaking. You think he’s a nice person. At least while the cameras are on.

“Nothing in particular, Jesse,” you respond. “You know, I’m pretty open right now. Just looking to find someone who speaks to my heart.”

Now you’re just pulling things out of your ass, because where did that come from?

“Good, good.” Jesse pauses briefly, taking a dramatic inhale of breath before he speaks your name. “Alright, listen. The first man who will be competing for your heart should be pulling up here shortly. Best of luck. But, I have a strong feeling there’s going to be someone out here for you that will end up sweeping you off your feet…” He leans forward and embraces you once more. Then he turns and speaks directly into the camera, where all the viewers at home can see. “Remember, this is a very special season in more ways than one. While our Bachelorette tries to find her soulmate, you, the viewers at home, are in charge of choosing who will not be receiving a rose for eliminations.”

Your head snaps to the camera and you see the cameraman swivel the large machine so that Jesse’s head blocks your wide eyed, open mouthed stare.

“Hopefully these men know how to make an impression, because that will greatly sway you viewers. Be sure to tune in…” He claps his hands together. “And with that…let the journey begin.”

Jesse is off before you can even call after him, not sparing you a glance as his assistants swarm around him out of view of the camera. There’s a lot of movement that follows as Jesse leaves you standing outside of the Bachelorette mansion in what now feels like the frigid cold. Was it always this freezing? Was your dress always so tight, so suffocating? You feel like you can’t breathe.

The viewers. That’s what Jesse had said on live television. The viewers would be deciding who moved forward?! That was not what was advertised! This was not what you were told would be happening! You were supposed to be choosing for yourself!

How could you possibly find the love of your life among a group of Sorcerers you’d be meeting for the first time in your life. Not to mention, you had to depend on the viewers of the world to decide who was your soulmate?! They didn’t even know you! How could you trust them with your heart? How would they know who would be the one best suited to take care of it?

Hell, you don’t even know who would be the one best suited for that. But the only thing you are certain of is that this is a mistake. A very big, very stupid mistake.

How could you have let Utahime talk you into this? Let this be the last time you’re swayed by that drunkard!

Your eyes dart around, trying not to catch the attention of the many people surrounding you at the moment. The crew is busy fiddling with the lighting. The sound team is checking and adjusting mics. The cameramen are moving into position to catch every possible angle. And suddenly you feel more exposed, more vulnerable than ever. You need to get out of here, quickly.

Spinning on your heel, you take a single step forward in an attempt to dart past all of the commotion, hopefully unnoticed. But the moment you turn around, you hit a wall. At least what feels like a wall. But the only thing standing between you and your escape is one very tall man dressed in a nice and clearly incredibly expensive suit.

Your gaze climbs up this man’s body and you’re met with a pair of the most insanely (and downright terrifying) pair of blue eyes you’ve ever seen in your life. They sit behind a pair of sunglasses (it’s nighttime?) so dark, you can’t see a thing through them. And atop this man’s head sits a head full of stark white hair. He’s so…unnatural looking. Almost alien-like, but beautiful nonetheless.

Still. It doesn’t change the fact that less than two seconds ago, you’re absolutely positive that this man was not here.

“Hey there,” he says, a lopsided grin on his face.

It’s then that reality crashes down on you. That this strange-looking man appearing out of thin air feels real. And you let out a blood-curdling, earsplitting shriek that has the staff gasping and screaming along with you. You quickly stagger backwards. And because you seem to be blessed with nothing but bad luck tonight, your heel of course catches in the ridges of the outdoor tile. You’re sure to be tumbling to the ground soon and you can only pray the cameras aren’t trained on you when you inevitably hit the floor. You squeeze your eyes shut and wait for the impact to come.

But it never does. You’re sort of just…floating there. You hesitantly peek through one eye, aware that you’re now in the arms of the man who had appeared out of nowhere. His eyes stare down at you, a hint of amusement behind them as he holds you to his chest. Well, you think it’s his chest? It feels like you’re touching him…but not? It’s such a strange sensation. Is this his cursed technique? It has you reaching up and almost pressing your hand to the man’s chest. That is, until you realize what you’re about to do. Aghast, you scramble out of his hold and straighten yourself up.

What was it the producers had told you in preparation? Stand tall and confidently. Even if you don’t feel confident, you’ll at least be able to look confident.

Well, you definitely don’t feel confident, and you doubt you look confident either. But you clear your throat quietly anyway, folding your hands in front of you and offer this man a polite smile.

“Thank you,” you mutter.

He chuckles, slipping his hands into his pockets as he peers at you from over the rim of his glasses. He purses his lips together, taking you in. Then that grin from earlier is back, like he approves of what he sees. “Any time.”

You’re not sure who the hell this man is. If he’s a contestant on the show, he shouldn’t be here yet. He’s supposed to be pulling up in a stretch limo and let out in front of you so that introductions can be done properly. You wait for him to introduce himself, but instead he just stands there, a shit eating grin sitting on his lips. Like you’re just supposed to know who he is.

Should you? Maybe you should.

He waits there…staring, annoyingly if you’re being honest.

So you wait, too. Because isn’t he supposed to be impressing you? Not the other way around. He’s clearly a sorcerer. You can feel the light airiness his cursed energy exudes, but you can’t for the life of you pinpoint who he is. Maybe it’s your nerves. Maybe you’re still on edge from this entire experience. Or maybe it’s the way your heart is still racing from him scaring the absolute shit out of you fifteen seconds ago. Either way, this guy seems awfully sure of himself and his expectation for you to show him some sort of reaction to his presence.

But you can’t place who he is. Mentally, you want to kick yourself for the way you always checked out, daydreaming about cheese fries instead of listening to Utahime give you the 411 on all of the sorcerers she knew. It would probably come in handy right about now.

When you don’t give this stranger the reaction he’s waiting for, you watch as his brows slowly knit together behind those glasses of his and his mouth turns down with a scowl.

“I thought a sorcerer would be more…” He waves his hand in the air lazily. “...excited about this.”

You fix him with a deadpan look. “You popped up out of nowhere, then almost knocked me on my a–”, you glance over to one of the cameras quickly. It stares back at you, one of many giant eyes suddenly hovering to catch every expression and word from you and televise it to the world. So really, you should be more careful about what you say. “I mean…you came out of nowhere and scared the crap out of me!”

You toss in a laugh to lighten up the mood, and let the man know you’re not upset even though deep down your heart is still hammering against your ribcage from his annoying little stunt.

Annoying…

…Stunt

Suddenly it hits you. Through the fog of cheese fry filled memories, you can hear Utahime’s drunken slurring come through.

“Everything’s a fucking joke to him. He takes nothing seriously. I hate that guy so much! Him and that dumbass blindfold and that damn forcefield he keeps up around him. Gojo Satoru can kiss my ass.”

And because he’s Gojo fucking Satoru, he can see the instant you realize he’s him written all over your face.

“Looks like you finally figured it out.” He’s as cocky as Utahime told you he was.

Even still, you hadn’t paid it any mind because you hadn’t expected the strongest sorcerer in a thousand fucking years to be standing in front of you on a damn dating show.

He saunters over to you, long legs quickly closing the distance. Then he’s taking your hand in his and bringing it up to his shiny pink lips. And you must look like a deer in the headlights, staring up at him with wide eyes, mouth open slightly as The Strongest, places a soft kiss to the back of your hand.

“I’m Satoru,” he breathes against your skin, and from your peripheral, you see the cameras move closer to catch this gesture.

They’re so close, you can even hear the staff whispering worriedly behind you: “Wait, wasn’t everyone’s montage supposed to be in black and white?” and “Why are his photos in color?” and “Something about his eyes? I don’t know.” and “Management’s gonna kill us.”

When Satoru pulls away, he’s smiling down at you. You don’t know if you’ll ever get used to his height. “You’re…stunning,” he speaks with an air of disbelief. And you can’t help it. You swoon for him immediately. It’s kind of pathetic, really. “As The Strongest, I think I’m the only one here capable of taking care of your heart.”

Again, you hear the staff behind you, men and women alike sighing and quietly squealing. You respond with a sweet smile and a genuine laugh because, although a little cheesy, that was definitely a good line. “Maybe so.”

You think he likes your cheekiness, because he’s beaming now. “Definitely so. And I can’t wait to prove it.” He kisses your hand again. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.” Satoru gives you his most radiant smile and you can’t help but return it. “I’ll see you inside.”

And with that, he’s gone in an instant, like he was never there. It’s just you, with your hand still in the air and the impression of Satoru’s cursed energy before you…and the impression he’s already left on your heart.

You turn to the camera, pressing your hand to your rapidly beating heart. “He’s so charming.” It comes out as more of a sigh and you think you can hear Utahime groaning, see her rolling her eyes all the way from her couch. But you can’t help it! You just met the Satoru Gojo!

Unfortunately, you don’t have time to dwell too much on Satoru’s unique entrance because shortly after he poofs out of sight, you hear the sounds of tires approaching. With a wide grin to the camera and the audience watching, you spin back around and try to calm your nerves for the next arrival.

“We’re already off to a good start.” The cameras move into position, ready to capture everything. “Looks like the next contestant’s coming. Wonder what he’ll be like.”

Just as you finish speaking, a long, black and luxurious limousine rounds the corner and pulls into the lengthy driveway. You steady yourself, feeling optimistic after your first meeting. It’s as though all the nerves and apprehension you’d felt earlier were washed away. You can’t help but feel giddy now, eager to meet this next contestant as the limousine comes to a stop.

But as the driver exits the vehicle – a small, sweaty and almost sickly looking man – he comes around to the back of the limo and opens the door...only to see that the backseat is empty. He peers inside, then whips around when he finally sees there truly is no one in there. You can see his face begin to go almost green, his black rimmed glasses fogging as he stutters out, “H-has Gojo-san a-already arrived?”

He’s trembling, this poor man, and you simply give him a nod. Was he supposed to be bringing Satoru to you? If so, he failed miserably at his task.

The driver looks like he’s about two seconds away from passing out and the camera crew pick up on it, scurrying forward to catch his expression. He’s panic-stricken, murmuring to himself and it’s just loud enough for you to make out a “I hope Gojo-san doesn’t hit me when he’s back. How did I not notice he wasn’t there anymore? It was so quiet in the backseat. I must have simply enjoyed the rare peace I was given and didn’t question it...Oh, I’m so dead–”

He hurries back around to the drivers side without sparing a glance back, quickly hopping inside and taking off. The tires smoke and screech as he speeds around the corner, driving far too fast for any limousine to be moving.

The cameras pan back to you, and you smile uncomfortably, an equally uncomfortable laugh bubbling up from your chest. You shrug to the audience because what can you even say to that?

Dealing directly with sorcerers is already proving to be more chaotic than you imagined.

The next limo pulls forward not long after Satoru’s and the nervous pale man, and one of the most striking men you’ve ever seen steps out easily. He makes eye contact with you immediately, confidently. And it sends chills up your spine. He’s just barely shorter than Satoru, with a face carved by the gods, shiny blonde hair that looks so soft and probably smells incredible, and deep brown eyes that have definitely seen some shit in his line of work. They house deep bags under them. You wonder when the last time he got a good night’s rest was.

The man strolls across the driveway, so handsome in his khaki suit. You take that time to let your eyes rake over his form. Utahime didn’t tell you that these sorcerers were so damn big. If you had been given a warning, you’re sure you wouldn’t look like an idiot drooling over only the second guy you’ve seen tonight.

When he’s about arms length away from you, he stops suddenly and bows. It’s a perfect 90 degree formal greeting and you return it politely. This man must really care about customs and tradition. Surprisingly, you find that quite attractive.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he greets when he stands. His voice ignites goosebumps along your skin. It’s deep, rough and if you’re being honest, fucking sexy. “I’m Kento Nanami.”

“For now, you can simply refer to me as Nanami until we become more familiar.”

His words confirm your first impression of him. This man carries an air of confidence that makes you feel like you can trust him with your life. You know that sounds dramatic, but it’s a trait that is highly valued in the Sorcerer world. You’ve never seen a battlefield in your life, but you think that if you had a cursed technique, you’d want to go head to head against a curse with Nanami.

The cameras have moved forward again, just in time to catch you grinning like a goofy idiot. Nanami is the polar opposite of Satoru, in a good way. He’s far more serious and stoic than Satoru, but for some reason, you have a feeling that there’s more to him beneath the surface. You’re willing to bet he’s a lot more sensitive and caring than he lets on. You’re hoping you get to see that side of him soon.

“It’s so nice to meet you too, Nanami. You can call me by my first name. No need to be formal with me.”

Nanami presses his lips into a thin line. Like he doesn’t want to agree to that, but he doesn’t argue about it. And though brief, you see his eyes quickly snap up and down your form, taking you in so fast you almost miss it. “You look beautiful,” he tells you. And while his voice gives nothing away, you see the tips of his ears grow a little more crimson.

‘Cute.’ You can’t help but think. Yep, he’s so clearly adorably soft and shy underneath that hard exterior. Interesting. It gives you a small boost in confidence for a second. Someone as attractive as Nanami finds you beautiful. Of course you feel good about yourself.

“You’re very…”

‘Very what? Sexy? Ripped? Built like a fucking house?’

“...good looking yourself.”

‘Yeah, reel in the horny, please.’

Nanami gives you what looks to be the smallest smile you’ve ever seen and much like how you reacted to Satoru, you swoon for him too, heart racing in your chest. You can't help it. He’s just so cute!

“I’m happy to be here. Really lovely meeting you. I'll be seeing you again soon.”

With that, he gives you another bow and that shy smile that you can’t wait to see again. Then he’s moving past you and into the mansion to join Satoru. The cameras face you now and you mouth “wow” into the lens. When you turn back around to ready yourself for the next contestant, you hear the mansion’s door swing open behind you and what you swear is the faint sound of Satoru screaming, “NANAMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII”.

You hope to know more about Nanami soon. He really seems as though he has a lot to offer once he opens up. You’d love to be the one he opens up for.

Just like after Satoru, the next person arrives shortly after Nanami and the cameras move into position quickly. The limo has barely parked when several people who are definitely not contestants (how did they all fit in there?!) jump out from the vehicle and swiftly form a line along the pathway to you.

There’s a shirtless man with heart-shaped nipples that opens the door and after one very long minute has passed, a man exits the vehicle.

Right away, you’re taken aback by how breathtaking this man is. His long black hair is lustrous, voluminous and hangs freely down his back with half of it tied up in a top knot. He’s as beautiful as the two men before him, standing tall in a dark blue form-fitted suit.

His deep violet eyes scan along his surroundings until they land on you at the end of the path, waiting for him. He meets you with a smile so sweet, it almost scares you. And as he strolls towards you, you see why. Every person who had lined the path previously falls forward as the man passes, bowing at an even more perfect 90 degrees than Nanami did just moments before. They offer him praise as he goes.

It’s freaky, downright strange. It’s almost like they worship him.

Now, while everyone in the Jujutsu world knows who Satoru Gojo is because of his reputation, he was actually quite a rare sight. Always busy, always out and about keeping Japan from being wiped from the earth. It wasn’t easy to catch sight of Satoru unless he wanted you to see him, you were a student or staff at the Tokyo campus, or unless you were an unfortunate curse coming face-to-face with him. And so, a little small town Window like yourself had no idea what he looked like in person and a brief description from Utahime hadn’t helped much.

But this man heading your way? Everyone, even Windows, knew who he was and what he looked like. His reputation preceded him, and not in a good way. His air is a lot more intimidating, menacing even. And he’s just as pretty in real life than in any picture you had seen. They did not do him justice. So you were ill-prepared when you realized that heading towards you, with the most stomach churning aura was none other than the worst Curse User of all time, Suguru Geto.

When he reaches you, without a word, he waves a hand and those kneeling behind him shoot up to standing position immediately. They chant “Thank you, Master Geto” in unison, bowing once more before they all pile into the vehicle and leave the vicinity.

It’s creepy…and intriguing all at the same time. You’d never seen anything like that before. So all intel given to Sorcerers and Windows alike weren’t exaggerating. This man really was operating as some strange cult leader. And now the show has captured all of that live on camera.

How was he even able to get on the show anyway? He’s a curse user, not a Sorcerer.

He peers down at you, brows knitted together as he takes you in. He’s quiet for quite some time. Even the crew is on edge, the tension palpable.

When Suguru meets your gaze, it’s almost as though he’s not looking at you at all. More like he’s looking past you. He raises a hand, reaching towards the side of your head, and your eyes drift shut, only for a brief second before you hear a soft whirring right behind your head, and can just make out a soft blue glow highlighting the man’s features.

It’s over as quickly as it began, and when Suguru brings his hand back, he holds a small black and gold ball in front of your face. You peer up at him again, and his eyes are closed in a pretty crescent shape as he beams down at you.

“There must be some mon– humans on staff if there are little flyheads buzzing around freely like this.” He’s making a face, like he’s holding down vomit just having to utter the word humans and for some reason this makes you laugh. Out of finding it genuinely funny? Out of fear? Out of nerves? Who knows? But, your laughter dies down after a few seconds and your eyes fall to the ball in his hand again.

“Did you just…absorb a curse?” You’d heard of his cursed technique, but obviously hadn’t seen it in action before. Until now.

Suguru chuckles softly, the sound making you shiver. You’re not sure if it’s in a good way or not. “I would need to swallow it later to truly absorb it, but I’ll spare you the sight for now.”He tucks the curse into his pocket, then he’s taking your hand in his and bringing it up to his chest where he presses his lips to the back of your hand sweetly.

Right. Him and Satoru used to be the best of friends. You’re sure they’ve used the same pick up lines on other people that they’ll probably end up using on you. You’re only hoping they’re here for genuine reasons. But more than that, you just hope that they’ll be able to coexist with each other.

“Absolutely breathtaking,” Suguru purrs, his lips curling into a bright smile. “More than I was expecting.”

You’re not sure what he means by the last part, but who cares? You’re fucking swooning again.

No wonder he and that blue eyed bastard were so close at one point. Two beautiful men that know how to say all the right things. It makes you feel shy, like a child trying to talk to her schoolyard crush and the cameras are quick to capture your expressions and broadcast them to the world.

“Thank you so much. You are, too.”

And because he’s Suguru Geto – charismatic, playful, manipulative – he leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to your cheek. It’s your first kiss of the night from any of the men so far, and this one has your stomach doing flips, has your heart crawling up your throat.

You give him a wide smile and he shakes his head like he’s just in disbelief. “Beautiful.”

“Thank you,” you acknowledge again.

“I’m so glad to be here. Can’t wait to get to know you more.”

“Likewise.”

Suguru kisses your cheek again before he waves goodbye and heads towards the mansion. You watch as he retreats, and for a second you think he doesn’t seem that bad. Except…he’s a fucking mass murderer.

You really need to pull yourself together.

There are still four more people to meet, but so far, you’re enjoying this experience. You don’t think you’ll mind meeting the others and you’re definitely looking forward to spending more time with the men already inside.

At least, you think so. Because just as the director calls “CUT” for commercial break, the hairs on the back of your neck stand high as you feel the telltale rush of two very opposite sources of cursed energy flare from inside the mansion. Those in the crew with even a smidge of cursed energy feel it too, because their heads snap over towards the building the men will reside in as well.

IN THE MANSION

“And then Yuji was like– what if we just put Panda in the exhibit? How much do you think it will freak everyone out when he stands up and just starts talking?!” Gojo speaks to Nanami enthusiastically. He’s waving his arms retelling the story, bursting into raucous laughter. “I swear that kid is hilarious!”

Nanami stares patiently at the wall ahead of him. In all honesty, he hasn’t heard a word Gojo has said. That’s usually how things go between them. Gojo rambles, Nanami grunts with feigned interest and eventually, Gojo gets bored and leaves to bother someone else. Unfortunately for him, with none of the students around or Principal Yaga, Nanami is now his sole target.

But Nanami doesn’t care about that right now. He’s thinking about you, and how he should have said more, made more of an impression. Now he’s inwardly beating himself up since he stepped into the house and was greeted by his colleague. He wonders if he’ll stand out among the other contestants. He should have put himself out there with you instead of scurrying off as soon as he had the chance.

It’s just that…you’re a lot more stunning than Nanami had anticipated and the moment he saw you, he’d reverted into formalities and awkwardness. It reminded him of how he was in high school.

Nanami is drowning out Gojo with thoughts of you and how he could possibly get more one-on-one time with you later tonight when he hears Gojo suddenly shut up. He peers up briefly, catching sight of Gojo’s scowl, brows furrowed harshly as he stares hard at the entryway. Another contestant must be here, one that Gojo isn’t particularly fond of.

And Nanami knew exactly who that would be.

The moment those soft steps carry in Curse User, Suguru Geto, Nanami instantly finds himself in the center of a pissing match of their cursed energies fighting for dominance in the room. Unlike most Sorcerers and curses, Suguru doesn’t fear Gojo in the slightest. Most people would cower away, move to the other side of the room and take a seat. But not Suguru. In fact, he strides right over to where his two old classmates sit on the sofa – Gojo on the end, Nanami in the center and now, Suguru on the other end of the sofa.

He grins tauntingly at Gojo, who holds his stare. “Nanami,” he greets, not even bothering to look at the blonde. His eyes are locked on his target. “Satoru…”

“Geto-san,” Nanami nods curtly. “Didn’t think we’d be seeing you here.”

Suguru hums cheerily. “Well, I suddenly found myself in the market for love.”

Satoru snorts, rolling his eyes. “You? Like you’d know how to love anyone besides yourself.”

Nanami sighs between the two men, already feeling his annoyance begin to build up. He had not missed these petty arguments.

“Oh, you know I’m capable of loving more than just myself,” Suguru purrs and Nanami can feel Gojo’s cursed energy waver slightly. Beside him, Suguru chuckles happily. Probably because he got the reaction he was looking for and so easily, too. “Anyway, Nanami, I’m truly surprised to see you here. You don’t strike me as someone interested in romantic relationships.”

Nanami doesn’t reply. Instead, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, feeling a headache already coming on. There were days where he had hoped to have Geto and Gojo be able to coexist in the same space again, as chaotic as they were together. But if it was going to be like this, they may need to get sent home quickly.

Wait–

Nanami’s eyes shoot open, scanning the room until his gaze falls on the bar across the massive living area. This is the perfect chance to get some time alone with his thoughts.

“Excuse me,” he interjects, pardoning himself from whatever was going on with the two men beside him.

It was time to think about how he can make a better impression, get some time with you after the others have arrived. Maybe even secure a rose tonight. He’s only interested in moving forward with you. And while Gojo and Geto are too busy taking sly digs at each other on the sofa, Nanami’s thoughts are cooking up a petty scheme to get rid of those two as soon as he can.

“You’re lucky I don’t blow a hole through your head right now, Suguru,” Satoru threatens, scowl deepening if possible.

But Suguru just smirks, leaning back against the sofa. “Well, you always were good at blowing my head, weren’t you?” He closes his eyes, smiling wide, like he’s reminiscing on some sweet memory.

It makes Satoru…feel weird. Suguru knows just how to get under his skin in ways that remind him of the old Suguru. But he’s not him anymore. Outside of this, he’s his enemy. In this house, he’s just his competition.

Satoru is here for you. He hasn’t seen his ex…friend in years and it’s bringing up all of these strange feelings that he hasn’t had to face in so long. And to make matters worse, Suguru is here for you, too. Now there’s just another person in the way of him winning your heart. Suguru was always popular with women and men.

Nanami? Satoru could absolutely win against him. Don’t get him wrong, he loves Nanami, thinks he’s great and respectable and maybe he’d be a great fit for you. But Satoru would be an even better fit for you. Perfect, even.

But with Suguru here now, there was real competition. And now The Strongest was beginning to doubt himself.

BACK OUTSIDE

“When’s the next contestant supposed to show?” The director calls to someone in the cast.

You’ve been waiting for a while now, and you’re pretty sure you should have been on commercial break twenty minutes ago.

“They’re having car issues,” someone calls back, a phone pressed to their ear.

Great, more waiting. Not that you have anywhere to be. You’re simply here to look pretty and smile when a Sorcerer shows up.

The mansion seems to have calmed down, those cursed energies dissipating and you hope that wasn’t the result of the guys killing each other in there. You don’t know all the gory details of Satoru and Suguru’s relationship. You just know they’re the strongest modern day Sorcerers at the moment, that they used to be extremely close when they were kids and then when Suguru snapped, their friendship quickly went up in flames.

If they had any contact after Suguru’s defection, you’d have no clue. But with the way those cursed energies went into overdrive the moment Suguru entered the mansion, you’re concerned with how their history will affect their time on the show.

You can’t say that you’d hate to be stuck between the middle of those two. How could you? You’re literally on a reality show about being the center of attention for multiple men! And so far, everyone is sexy and charismatic and–

The intense screech of metal scraping along the concrete disrupts your thoughts, and the cameras pan around just in time to catch a limousine rounding the corner and approaching the driveway. The rear tires are completely blown out, the metal wheels barely carrying the vehicle forward. The sounds make you want to cover your ears and hide. The car’s bumper hangs from the back, dragging and knocking loudly along the road as the car moves along. Sparks fly haphazardly across the ground and the smell of burning rubber almost has your eyes watering.

From the corner of your eye, you see another camera swinging around to catch your reaction which is that of astonishment.

“Who is this?!” You speak into the lens, eyes wide like saucers.

The sudden noise of the engine popping and sputtering, surely giving out, pulls your gaze back to the vehicle. It’s stopped for all of three seconds before one enormous fist bursts through the blacked out windows and sends shattered glass flying. Behind you, several people on the crew gasp. That same hand pats around the outside of the car, tattooed muscles flexing until it finally lands on the handle of the door. The chauffeur exits the limo and backs away as quickly and quietly as possible, abandoning their passenger.

And it isn’t until that large hand tears the entire car door from its hinges with little to no effort and tosses it aside carelessly that you see why. Out climbs the largest being you’ve ever seen in your life. No shirt – because how could you dress the four tattooed arms he possesses?! And surely wearing a shirt has to be quite uncomfortable when you have a mouth on your stomach!

It’s clear who this is, because everyone in the Jujutsu world is educated on the strongest curse to have ever existed. And yet you still can’t believe what you’re seeing with your eyes. You need someone else to confirm it for you. And so you turn your head towards the camera, staring straight into it as you shakily ask the audience…

“Is that **BLEEP** Ryoumen Sukuna?!”

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