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yournameloveskpop · 4 months

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Not So Bad Boy

Paring: Taehyun x Reader

Summery: Taehyun and his friends the playful bad boy crew rule the school. They liked to push each other about until Beomgyu pushes Taehyun to hard and making him collide into, y/n, his long time crush.

Style: SFW, highschool AU, romance, friendship, Valentine’s Day special

Word count: 10.958

As Taehyun and his notorious gang – Hueningkai, Beomgyu, Soobin, and Yeonjun – strutted down the school halls, their presence commanded attention, drawing whispers and wary glances from their peers. They were the quintessence of high school rebels, seamlessly stirring up mischief wherever they roamed. Teachers watched with a mix of awe and frustration, well aware that the week would be filled with challenges due to these influential troublemakers.

"Look at them," muttered a nearby student, eyeing the group with a mix of fear and fascination. "They're like walking chaos."

Taehyun flashed a grin, seemingly fueled by the murmurs around him. "Let them talk," he said coolly to his gang. "They know we run this place."

Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the school, Y/N was engrossed in arranging her books for the day, her bubbly energy reflected in her friend Jim-In's demeanor. The air was filled with excitement about the upcoming Valentine's Day, with Jim-In enthusiastically speculating about the surprises her boyfriend might have in store.

"Do you think he'll go all out with roses and chocolates?" Jim-In asked, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Y/N shrugged, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Maybe. But you know me, I'm just here for the discounted candy the day after."

Her acceptance of spending another Valentine's Day solo, devoid of secret admirers or grand romantic gestures, was met with a comforting pat from Jim-In. "One day, Y/N, someone's going to sweep you off your feet. Just you wait."

As Y/N signaled to Jim-In that it was time to head to their next class, the focus shifted back to Taehyun and his friends. Their laughter echoed through the halls, their playful shoves showing their camaraderie, seemingly unaware of the annoyed glances they attracted from other students.

"Come on, you guys, we're going to be late again," Taehyun said, trying to herd his friends along.

Beomgyu, always the joker of the group, quipped a particularly bad joke, earning a mock groan from Taehyun. "Seriously, Beomgyu? That's the best you've got?"

In response, Beomgyu playfully shoved Taehyun, but the push was stronger than intended. Taehyun stumbled dramatically, crashing into someone walking by. The impact sent both of them tumbling to the ground, with Taehyun accidentally pinning the other person beneath him.

To his surprise and embarrassment, he found himself looking down into Y/N's startled eyes. Jim-In, along with a few other students, stopped in their tracks, mouths agape at the scene.

"Y/N, are you okay?" Jim-In exclaimed, rushing over to her friend's side.

The boys, initially struggling to hold back their laughter, quickly sobered up at the seriousness of the situation. Taehyun, meanwhile, was acutely aware of the person beneath him. Y/N, who had unknowingly been the object of his secret affection for years, lay there with a stunned expression. She represented everything he felt he wasn't – kind, bright, a beacon of positivity – while he played the part of the misunderstood rebel.

Their faces were just inches apart, creating an intense, unexpected moment that seemed to freeze time around them. The laughter from their peers was immediate, filling the air as Taehyun and Y/N lay in an unexpected heap on the floor.

"Is this a new way to meet girls, Taehyun?" Soobin joked, unable to suppress his amusement.

"Looks like Taehyun's finally found his match!" Hueningkai added.

Amidst the laughter, a teacher pushed through the crowd, his expression stern. "What's the meaning of this? This isn't a playground!" he scolded.

Yeonjun, still chuckling with the others, managed a half-hearted apology. "Sorry, sir, it was just an accident," he said, trying to look remorseful.

Taehyun, his cheeks reddened with embarrassment, offered his hand to Y/N. "I'm really sorry about that," he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

The teacher, clearly frustrated, rubbed his temples. "I expect better from you all. Be more careful in the future," he warned, though his words seemed to be ignored by the still laughing group.

As the crowd started to disperse, whispering excitedly about the incident, Jim-In joined Taehyun in helping Y/N to her feet.

"Are you okay, Y/N?" Jim-In asked, full of concern.

"Yeah, I think so," Y/N replied, dusting herself off.

Taehyun, about to speak, was abruptly pulled away by Yeonjun. "Come on, man, let's go," they said, still laughing.

As Taehyun's gaze lingered on Y/N's retreating figure, Beomgyu's laughter brought him back to reality. Slapping his back with a teasing grin, Beomgyu chuckled, "Hey, tough guy, snap out of it!"

Taehyun sighed, feeling his heart rate finally begin to slow. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, trying to shake off the fluttering in his chest.

Yeonjun, ever the joker, nudged Taehyun playfully. "Man, you turned redder than a ripe tomato! What's the deal, Taehyun?" he teased, grinning widely.

Taehyun, struggling to maintain his cool demeanor, attempted to deflect. "What are you talking about? There's no deal," he said, feigning confusion.

Soobin, Beomgyu, and Hueningkai exchanged knowing glances.

"So, Taehyun, got a little crush, do we?" Soobin teased, pinching Taehyun's cheek lightly.

"Crushing? Since when?" Yeonjun joined in, his voice laced with mock surprise.

Taehyun rolled his eyes, swatting away Soobin and Yeonjun's hands. "Cut it out, you guys," he grumbled, but his protest only fueled their laughter.

With a shared look, the group decided to skip class, heading to their usual hangout in the field. The air was filled with their laughter and chatter as they playfully pushed each other around, momentarily leaving behind the constraints of the classroom.

Meanwhile, back at the school, Jim-In was buzzing with excitement over the earlier incident.

"Y/N, can you believe what just happened?" Jim-In exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.

Y/N, still processing the unexpected encounter, smiled wryly. "Yeah, it was... something," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"But Taehyun! Of all people!" Jim-In continued, her voice rising with each word. "He's like the school's mystery guy, and he just... fell on you!"

Y/N shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It was just an accident, Jim-In. Don't make it into a big deal."

"But the way he looked at you!" Jim-In insisted, not ready to let it go. "Did you see his face? He was totally flustered!"

Y/N sighed, trying to divert the conversation. "Let's just focus on our next class, okay? Beomgyu pushed him so I don't think his fall was anything more than a clumsy moment."

Jim-In, however, was not convinced. "I don't know, Y/N. There's something there. I mean, Taehyun is always so composed, and then suddenly he's all red-faced and awkward around you? That's not just a coincidence."

Y/N pondered the possibility but quickly dismissed it. "Jim-In, it's Taehyun. He's probably already forgotten about it. Let's just move on."

Jim-In gave Y/N a skeptical look but decided to drop the topic, at least for the moment. "Fine, but I'm keeping my eye on this. I sense a story brewing here," she said with a mischievous grin.

As they walked towards their next class, Y/N couldn't help but feel a tiny flutter in her stomach. Despite her efforts to dismiss it, the encounter with Taehyun, the bad boy, had left a lingering impression. Jim-In and Y/N walked into class, finding their seats as the teacher began roll call. When he called out the names of Taehyun, Beomgyu, Hueningkai, Soobin, and Yeonjun, there was silence. No one was surprised; they were known for their habitual tardiness.

The teacher sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Absent as usual," he mumbled, then moved on with the homeroom activities.

Thirty minutes into the lesson, the boys made a grand entrance. The teacher raised an eyebrow, "Decided to join us? I hope skipping class was worth it."

Yeonjun flashed a grin, "You know us, always seeking adventure."

Beomgyu added, "The hallways were calling our names."

"Take your seats, gentlemen," the teacher directed, his tone firm yet resigned.

As they sat down, Yeonjun immediately tried to catch a quick nap, while Hueningkai and Beomgyu started crafting paper airplanes. Soobin was doodling, and Taehyun tried to focus on the lesson, but his gaze kept drifting to Y/N, who was diligently paying attention.

The monotony of the class was broken when a pair of students entered with a Valentine's gift trolley. "Special delivery for some of you!" they announced, sparking a mix of reactions in the classroom.

Jim-In received a grand bouquet, a stuffed bunny, and chocolates, likely from her boyfriend. "He really went all out!" she gushed, beaming.

Then, surprisingly, Yeonjun's name was called. He received an anonymous gift, causing him to flush a shade of red. Soobin, Hueningkai, and Beomgyu tried to hold back their laughter, earning a glare from Yeonjun.

"Someone's got a secret admirer," Soobin teased.

Yeonjun, trying to regain his composure, shot back, "At least someone appreciates my charm."

Taehyun, seeing Yeonjun's reaction, couldn't help but smirk, "Guess you're not as tough as you thought, huh?"

Finally, Y/N's name was called. Her heart raced as she was handed chocolates and roses, along with an anonymous note expressing admiration and the promise of more gifts leading up to Valentine's Day.

Y/N read the note, her voice tinged with disbelief, "Someone's been liking me for a while?"

Jim-In leaned over, her curiosity piqued. "What does it say? Come on, spill!"

Meanwhile, Taehyun watched from his seat, his heart pounding. He had sent the gifts but remained stoic, fearing his friends would immediately connect the dots.

Beomgyu nudged him, "You see Y/N's gift? Wonder who's got a crush on her."

Taehyun, feigning indifference, shrugged. "No idea, man."

Soobin, eyeing Taehyun, smirked. "You're unusually quiet, Taehyun. Something on your mind?"

Taehyun shook his head, "Just thinking about the test next week."

Yeonjun, still holding his own anonymous gift, chimed in, "Looks like love is in the air for everyone but us, huh?"

The classroom remained abuzz with whispers and speculation as the lesson came to a close. Y/N, her mind racing with thoughts about the anonymous note, couldn't help but keep glancing at it. Taehyun, meanwhile, sat in silence, his mind consumed by his secret Valentine's plan.

As they left the classroom, Jim-In was practically radiating excitement. "Y/N, you have to read me the note again. It's just so cute!"

Y/N, a soft blush coloring her cheeks, unfolded the note and read, "I hope you like the gift. I've liked you for a while but never knew how to confess. I hope I have the courage to tell you on Valentine's Day. I remember your favourite flavour is strawberry chocolate. Love, anonymous."

Jim-In squealed with delight, "Oh my gosh, Y/N, that is so romantic! Someone really likes you!"

Y/N couldn't help but smile, though she felt a bit overwhelmed. "Yeah, it's... really unexpected."

At that moment, Jim-In's boyfriend approached, a curious smile on his face. "Hey, what's all the excitement about?"

Jim-In, beaming, pointed at Y/N's gifts. "Y/N has a secret admirer! Look at this!"

Her boyfriend laughed, "That's awesome! Y/N, you've got a mystery on your hands. Any guesses who it is?"

Y/N shook her head, her curiosity piqued. "I really have no idea."

Back in the classroom, Taehyun and his friends were taking their time to leave. Yeonjun, holding his anonymous gift, looked both amused and puzzled. "I mean, who sends me a Valentine's gift anonymously? It's not like I'm hard to approach."

Beomgyu chuckled, "Maybe it's someone who's been admiring you from afar, Yeonjun."

Hueningkai added, "Or someone who enjoys playing the mysterious admirer."

Soobin, still laughing, said, "Who knows? Maybe they're just shy."

Yeonjun rolled his eyes, "Shy or not, it's got me intrigued."

Taehyun, still deep in thought about his own secret, tried to remain inconspicuous. Hueningkai noticed his quiet demeanor. "Taehyun, you're unusually silent. What's up?"

Taehyun quickly composed himself, "Just thinking about the project due next week."

Beomgyu raised his eyebrows, "Since when do you worry so much about school projects?"

Taehyun shrugged nonchalantly, "Just want to make sure I do well, you know?"

The next day brought another surprise for Y/N. As she opened her locker, heart-shaped balloons floated out, causing her to jump and let out a small yelp. The unexpected spectacle drew the attention of nearby students, many of whom turned to look, some with smiles and others with curious glances.

Jim-In, who was standing nearby, burst into laughter at Y/N's startled reaction. "Oh my gosh, Y/N, this is too cute!" she exclaimed, reaching into the locker to retrieve a note nestled within a basket. The basket was filled with more chocolates and a plush bear, adding to the charm of the gift.

Y/N's cheeks turned a deep shade of red from both the surprise and the attention it garnered. "I can't believe this is happening," she muttered, half embarrassed and half delighted, as she tried to stuff the balloons back into her locker.

Meanwhile, Taehyun observed the scene from a distance, standing by his locker with a subtle smile playing on his lips. His friends, unaware of his involvement, were busy with their own antics. This time, Beomgyu was the recipient of a Valentine's gift, causing the tables to turn as he faced a round of laughter and teasing from the others.

Yeonjun, still amused by his own experience from the previous day, pointed at Beomgyu, "Looks like the cupid's arrow found another target!"

Beomgyu, holding the gift awkwardly, tried to play it cool. "Yeah, well, who wouldn't want a piece of this?" he joked, trying to deflect the teasing.

Soobin joined in the laughter, "Who knew our Beomgyu was such a heartthrob?"

Hueningkai chuckled, "Seems like everyone's getting a secret admirer these days."

Taehyun, joining in the laughter, watched as his friends enjoyed the moment. Despite his amusement, his attention was still partially on Y/N, who was now reading the note Jim-In had handed her. The look of genuine surprise and happiness on her face made him feel a mix of nervousness and excitement for his plan leading up to Valentine's Day.

Back at Y/N's locker, Jim-In was eagerly waiting. "Well, what does the note say this time?" she asked with an expectant grin.

Y/N read the note, her voice soft, "It says, 'Another day closer to Valentine's Day. I hope these gifts bring a smile to your face as much as your smile brightens my day. Counting down the moments until I can finally reveal myself. Love, anonymous.'"

Jim-In squealed, "This is like a fairy tale! You have a real-life secret admirer!"

Y/N, still processing the situation, replied, "It's definitely unexpected. I never thought something like this would happen to me."

On this particular day, Taehyun and his friends, known for their habitual tardiness, surprisingly made it to their science class on time. The class, often a scene of their pranks and mischief, buzzed with a sense of expectation. Memories of Soobin and Yeonjun's last experiment, which had turned the classroom into a gooey mess, were still fresh in everyone's mind.

As Y/N and Taehyun approached the classroom, they accidentally collided at the doorway. They shared a brief, awkward moment of eye contact before Taehyun, with a slightly exaggerated gentlemanly gesture, stepped aside and said, "After you, m'lady," his voice a mix of playful and smooth, accompanied by a cheeky grin.

Y/N, taken aback by this unexpected chivalry, managed a shy "Thank you," and stepped into the room, with Taehyun following close behind. Inside, he seized the opportunity to address a recent mishap. Gently taking her arm to get her attention, he said, "Hey, about the other day... Sorry for crashing into you. Beomgyu pushed me a bit too hard."

Y/N, surprised by his apology, felt a flutter in her heart. "Oh, um, it's okay. I know you guys were just messing around," she stammered, her cheeks slightly coloring as she caught a whiff of his cologne mingling with her perfume.

From behind, Taehyun's friends watched the exchange, barely concealing their smirks. Taehyun, sensing their gaze, tried to maintain his cool demeanor.

The teacher entered the classroom, breaking the moment. "Alright, everyone, take your seats. We have a lot to cover today," he announced, moving to the front of the class.

As the lesson progressed, the teacher began pairing students for a lab experiment. "Yeonjun, you're with Lisa," he said, assigning Yeonjun to a girl in the class. Yeonjun flashed a charming smile and sauntered over to his partner.

"Hueningkai, you'll work with Mark," the teacher continued, pairing Hueningkai with another boy who seemed enthusiastic about the experiment.

Finally, he paired Taehyun with Y/N, causing a slight buzz among their classmates. Soobin and Beomgyu were paired together, much to their delight.

Initially, the atmosphere between Taehyun and Y/N was tinged with awkwardness, but as they began the experiment, they found common ground. They shared jokes, and Taehyun's usual tough exterior began to soften in Y/N's presence.

"So, those gifts you've been getting," Taehyun ventured, "must be quite a surprise, huh?"

Y/N nodded, mixing the chemicals as instructed. "Yeah, I've never gotten anything like this before. It's nice, but also kind of overwhelming. I'm really curious about who it is."

Their conversation flowed naturally, and they laughed together, forgetting the experiment for a moment.

Meanwhile, Yeonjun was laying on his charm thick with Lisa, making her giggle with his playful antics. Hueningkai, on the other hand, looked bored as Mark enthusiastically explained their task.

Suddenly, a loud pop interrupted the calm of the classroom. A bright pink goo exploded from Soobin and Beomgyu's workstation, drenching them and splattering Taehyun and Y/N as well.

Soobin and Beomgyu, caught in the epicenter of the mess, burst into laughter, high-fiving each other despite the disaster. "That was epic!" Soobin exclaimed, covered in pink goo.

The teacher, however, was far from amused. His face red with anger, he glared at Soobin and Beomgyu. "This is unacceptable! Look at this mess! You've not only ruined your own experiment but also disrupted the entire class!"

The rest of the class erupted into a mix of laughter and groans, with some students trying to dodge the flying goo. Y/N and Taehyun, now both splattered in pink, shared a look of disbelief mixed with amusement.

"This is going to take forever to clean up," Y/N said, trying to wipe the goo off her arm.

Taehyun chuckled, "Yeah, but it's kind of funny, isn't it?"

As the teacher began to reprimand Soobin and Beomgyu, the rest of the class started to clean up the mess. After the chaos subsided and the class was brought back to order, Taehyun and Y/N worked together to clean themselves up from the goo explosion. Fortunately, the mess wasn't as bad as it initially seemed.

The teacher, having finished his stern lecture to Soobin and Beomgyu, received only half-hearted apologies in return. The pair, still chuckling from their antics, sauntered back to their desks, Beomgyu clapping his hands joyously, clearly pleased with their mischievous success.

Yeonjun and Hueningkai joined in the laughter, finding the entire situation amusing. Taehyun, attempting to be more mature about the incident, couldn't help but chuckle along, occasionally glancing over at Y/N.

"Your friends are very interesting, huh?" Y/N remarked with a small smile, as she dabbed at a pink stain on her shirt.

Taehyun blushed slightly, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, they are... a bit crazy, but they're the only friends I have. We've been tight since middle school. Almost like brothers, even if we are a bad influence in this school and for each other."

Y/N nodded, understandingly. "It's nice to have friends like that, though. People who stick with you through everything."

"Yeah, it is," Taehyun agreed, a soft smile forming on his lips. "They're a handful, but I wouldn't trade them for anything."

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. As the students began to file out, Taehyun hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Hey, Y/N? I know this is kind of sudden, but would you like to hang out with us sometime? I mean, it might not be your scene, but it could be fun."

Y/N was taken aback by the invitation, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Hang out with you and your friends?" she echoed, a mix of curiosity and nervousness in her voice.

"Yeah, just to, you know, see the other side of us. We're not always causing trouble," Taehyun said with a half-grin.

Y/N considered for a moment, then smiled. "Sure, why not? It could be interesting."

Taehyun's smile broadened. "Great! I'll let you know when. Thanks, Y/N."

As they left the classroom, Taehyun felt a sense of excitement at the prospect of spending time with Y/N outside of school. It was a step forward, a chance to show her a different side of him and his friends.

Back at Taehyun's locker, his friends were waiting, still buzzing from their latest science class escapade. "So, Taehyun, you and Y/N seemed pretty cozy cleaning up together," Soobin teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

Taehyun rolled his eyes, trying to downplay it. "We were just cleaning up the mess you two made. And I invited her to hang out with us."

Beomgyu whistled. "Look at you, bringing new people into our circle. This should be interesting."

Yeonjun chimed in, "I bet she'll run for the hills once she sees what we're really like."

"Or she might surprise you," Taehyun shot back, closing his locker with a definitive click. "Let's just try not to scare her off on the first hangout, okay?"

The group laughed and joked as they made their way out of the school, the bonds of their friendship evident in their easy banter. As Y/N and Jim-In walked home, the balloons and gifts from Y/N's secret admirer were a colorful and tangible reminder of the day's unexpected events. Jim-In was practically buzzing with excitement after hearing about Taehyun's invitation.

"Wait, let me get this straight," Jim-In said, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Taehyun, the notorious Taehyun, invited you to hang out with him and his friends?"

Y/N nodded, a mix of nerves and excitement in her voice. "Yeah, it was really out of the blue. He just asked me after the science class fiasco."

Jim-In's boyfriend, who was walking with them, chimed in, sounding equally surprised. "That's...wow. That's really something. Taehyun and his gang are like legends in our school. And not necessarily for the best reasons."

Y/N glanced down at the gifts in her hands, her mind racing with thoughts. "I know, it's strange. I mean, I'm just...me. Why would he want to hang out with someone like me?"

Jim-In playfully nudged her. "Because you're amazing, Y/N. Don't sell yourself short. But this is so unlike Taehyun and his friends. They're like this tight-knit circle that no one penetrates."

"Yeah, I'm curious about what it's like to be with them outside of school. I mean, they can't be causing chaos all the time, right?" Y/N mused, trying to imagine what an afternoon with Taehyun and his friends might entail.

Her boyfriend laughed, "Well, I guess you'll find out. Just be careful, okay? Those guys are known for being a handful."

Y/N smiled, feeling a surge of adventurous spirit. "I will be. It's just hanging out. What's the worst that could happen?"

As they continued their walk home, the conversation shifted to other topics, but Y/N couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation about the upcoming hangout. It was a step outside her comfort zone, a dive into the unknown world of Taehyun and his friends. Little did she know, this decision would open doors to experiences and relationships she never expected.

Meanwhile, back at school, Taehyun was discussing the plan with his friends. "So, I invited Y/N to hang out with us. Just thought it would be nice," he explained, slightly apprehensive about their reaction.

"So, the good girl joins the dark side, huh?" Soobin joked, elbowing Taehyun playfully.

Taehyun shrugged, "I just think she should see that we're not as bad as everyone makes us out to be."

Yeonjun looked thoughtful. "It's going to be interesting, that's for sure. But hey, maybe it's good for us too, you know? Mixing it up a bit."

Beomgyu nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's show her a good time. Who knows, she might even enjoy our company."

Upon entering her home, Y/N was greeted by the familiar, comforting sights of her family. Her mother was in the living room, her brother lounging on the couch. They both noticed the gifts in her hands almost immediately.

Her mother's eyes lit up with a warm smile. "Are those from your secret admirer again?" she asked, her tone laced with gentle teasing.

"Yeah, it was like a surprise attack in my locker today," Y/N replied, setting the gifts down on the coffee table. The heart-shaped balloons bobbed gently in the air, adding a festive touch to the room.

Her brother, looking up from his phone, raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Why would anyone want to give you a gift?" he quipped, only half-serious.

Their mother promptly smacked him lightly on the arm. "Don't be rude! It's sweet that someone thinks so highly of your sister."

Y/N rolled her eyes, used to her brother's teasing. "Thanks for the support, bro," she said sarcastically.

Her brother grinned and shrugged. "Just keeping it real. But seriously, do you have any idea who it could be?"

Y/N shook her head, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "No clue. But it's kind of exciting, not knowing."

Her mother leaned forward, her expression turning thoughtful. "Just be careful, dear. Secret admirers are romantic, but you never know."

"I know, Mom. I'm being careful," Y/N reassured her, picking up one of the chocolates from the basket.

Changing the subject, her brother asked, "So, how was school today? Anything fun happen?"

Y/N hesitated for a moment before sharing the day's events. "Well, something interesting did happen. Taehyun, you know, the one from the 'bad boy' group at school, he invited me to hang out with him and his friends."

Her mother looked up sharply. "Taehyun? Isn't he the one always getting into trouble?"

Her brother whistled. "Wow, hanging out with the rebels, huh? That's unexpected."

"It's just as friends," Y/N clarified. "I think it could be interesting to see what they're really like outside of school."

Her mother still looked concerned. "Just be careful, Y/N. Those boys have quite a reputation."

"I will be, Mom. It's just hanging out. Plus, I think there's more to them than the rumors say," Y/N said, a trace of conviction in her voice.

Her brother smirked. "Well, if you're going to infiltrate the bad boys' club, you'll have to keep us updated. This could be better than TV."

Y/N laughed, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort in her family's presence. "I'll be sure to give you all the juicy details," she promised, a playful glint in her eye.

When Y/N's father heard about her plans to hang out with Taehyun and his friends, his reaction was one of immediate and intense disapproval. "You're planning to spend time with those boys?" he asked sharply. "I've heard nothing good about them. It's out of the question."

Y/N, trying to calm the situation, assured him, "Dad, they're just being playful. Taehyun isn't as bad as he seems. It's just a friendly hangout, nothing more."

Her father, however, was adamant. "I don't want you associating with that crowd. They're known troublemakers. It's my job to keep you safe, and I won't have you getting mixed up in whatever they're involved in."

On the day of the hangout, Taehyun and his friends waited outside Y/N's apartment, feeling a bit out of place in the unfamiliar area. They were excited about the hangout, especially with someone as different as Y/N, but also curious about why Taehyun was so interested in her.

"Man, why are you so keen on Y/N hanging out with us?" Soobin asked, eyeing Taehyun curiously.

Taehyun, his heart racing with both nervousness and excitement, shrugged noncommittally. "I just think it's cool to mix things up a bit, you know? Show her a different side of us."

Beomgyu smirked, "Sure, Taehyun. 'Different side'."

As they talked, Y/N emerged from her apartment, casually yet stylishly dressed. The boys were visibly impressed, having only seen her in school attire before.

She gave a shy wave and approached them, but before they could leave, her father's voice boomed from above. "Y/N! Where do you think you're going?"

Y/N's face fell, and she turned to see her father leaning out of the window, his expression stern. "Dad, we talked about this. I'm just going to hang out with them for a little while."

Her father was unyielding. "I've made my decision. You are not going anywhere with those boys. It's final."

Y/N looked down, disappointment etched on her face. The boys exchanged uncomfortable glances, sensing the tension.

Just then, Y/N's mother appeared at the window, her tone firm yet soothing. "Dear, don't you think you're being a bit too strict? Y/N is a responsible girl. We should trust her judgment."

Her father seemed taken aback, his stern demeanor faltering slightly. "But..."

Y/N's mother continued, "She's growing up. We can't keep her sheltered forever. Let her go, she'll be fine."

After a moment of tense silence, her father sighed deeply, his expression softening. "Alright. But be back before it gets dark." Her father's eyes then shifted to Taehyun and the others. "And you boys, I expect her back home safe and sound. Understand?"

Taehyun met her father's gaze. "Yes, sir. We'll take good care of her."

With a final, cautious look, her father withdrew from the window. Y/N let out a small sigh. "Sorry about that. He's just... protective."

Taehyun nodded, "It's cool. We get it. Let's go have some fun, yeah?"

As they arrived at the arcade, the atmosphere instantly turned energetic. The boys, true to their nature, were a lively bunch, their laughter and jokes echoing around the arcade as they jumped from one game to another.

Taehyun, while still part of the fun, seemed to have toned down his usual antics. It was clear he was trying to make a good impression. He stayed close to Y/N, ensuring she felt included in their group's dynamic.

"This is crazy! I've never seen you guys outside of school like this. It's... different," Y/N commented, a smile on her face as she watched them.

Taehyun chuckled, "Yeah, we can get a bit wild. But it's all in good fun. Are you enjoying it?"

"Yeah, it's fun. You guys are really into these games, huh?" Y/N replied, watching as Beomgyu and Soobin competed fiercely at a racing game.

Just then, Yeonjun came over, a bunch of tickets in hand and a playful glint in his eyes. He casually slung an arm around Y/N's shoulder. "Look at this, Y/N! We're winning big today. You've brought us good luck!"

Y/N laughed, slightly taken aback by his friendliness. "I guess I have. Nice job with the tickets!"

Taehyun, noticing Yeonjun's arm around Y/N, couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, but he quickly brushed it off and joined in the fun. "Yeonjun, planning to win something big with those?"

Yeonjun winked, "You bet! We're gonna get the biggest prize they have. Y/N, you get to pick it out!"

Y/N's eyes widened in mock seriousness. "Oh, the pressure! I'll have to choose wisely."

The group moved on to try other games, with Y/N occasionally playing alongside them. The boys' enthusiasm was infectious, and she found herself getting caught up in the excitement.

As they played, Hueningkai nudged Taehyun, "You seem different today, man. You're usually the first one to start the craziness."

Taehyun shot him a quick smile. "Just trying to make sure Y/N has a good time, that's all."

"Looks like you're doing more than that," Hueningkai teased, raising an eyebrow.

Taehyun shrugged, a slight blush on his cheeks. "Maybe."

As Y/N and Soobin engaged in a spirited game at the arcade, Soobin casually asked, "So, Y/N, have you figured out who's been sending you those gifts?"

Taehyun, who was nearby, perked up at the question, his interest piqued as he pretended to focus on his game.

Y/N shook her head, concentrating on the game. "No, I still have no idea. But it's kind of intriguing. They knew I liked chocolate with strawberry filling, which is pretty specific."

Soobin paused the game momentarily, thoughtful. "Maybe they overheard you talking about it with Jim-In, or saw her give you that kind of chocolate as a gift."

Y/N considered this for a moment, then shrugged. "Maybe. It is cute that they paid attention to that detail, though."

As the game resumed, Y/N emerged as the winner, her face lighting up with a cheerful clap and a small victory dance. Soobin playfully sighed in defeat, but he couldn't help smiling at her enthusiasm. The rest of the boys, especially Taehyun, found her celebration endearing.

Yeonjun, ever the playful one, approached Y/N with Beomgyu. "Hey, Y/N, how about a game against us next? Let's see if you can keep your winning streak."

Y/N laughed, accepting the challenge. "Sure, bring it on! I'm feeling lucky today."

As they set up for another round of games, Taehyun's gaze lingered on Y/N, his face softened by a gentle smile. He found himself increasingly drawn to her genuine nature and vibrant enthusiasm, a refreshing change from the usual group dynamics.

The evening unfolded with a mix of games and laughter, and Y/N proved to be a formidable competitor, much to the boys' delight. They each took turns playing against her, relishing the friendly competition and the camaraderie that was steadily building.

In between the games, Taehyun often caught himself watching Y/N, admiring the way her energy and spirit seemed to light up the room. He realized how much he valued these moments, breaking away from their usual routine.

Deciding to take a break, the group headed to the fast-food section of the arcade. Amidst the banter and jokes, Hueningkai's attention was suddenly drawn to his sisters, Bahiyyih and Lea, approaching them.

"Causing trouble again, Kai?" Lea, his older sister, asked with a knowing look.

Hueningkai, a bit surprised to see them, retorted playfully, "What are you two doing here?"

"We're keeping an eye on you, of course," Bahiyyih, his younger sister, teased. She then glanced at Y/N. "And I see you've found an innocent victim."

Hueningkai quickly introduced his sisters to Y/N. "This is Y/N, she's not a victim, just hanging out with us today."

Bahiyyih, with a hint of mischief in her tone, then dropped a bombshell. "By the way, the school called about the science room incident."

Hueningkai's face registered shock. "They called our parents? But it wasn't even my fault; it was Soobin's and Beomgyu's doing!"

Soobin, overhearing the conversation, chimed in, "Hey, it was an accident! We didn't mean for it to explode like that."

Beomgyu added, "Yeah, who knew that mixing those two things would cause such a mess?"

Lea shook her head, half amused and half exasperated. "You guys really need to be more careful. You're lucky it was just a harmless mess."

Taehyun interjected, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, at least it made for a memorable science class, right?"

Y/N laughed, "Definitely memorable. I've never seen anything like that in class before."

As they settled in with their food, the conversation among the group was lively and engaging. Bahiyyih, being the social butterfly she was, directed a stream of questions at Y/N, who answered them with ease.

"So, you're in the same school and year as these guys?" Bahiyyih asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Y/N nodded, taking a bite of her burger. "Yeah, that's right. I've known them mostly just from around school, though."

"And how did you end up hanging out with them today?" Lea inquired, a playful smirk on her face.

"It was actually Taehyun's idea," Y/N replied, glancing at Taehyun, who gave a small, embarrassed smile. "I have to say, I was a bit surprised at first, but they're really fun to be around."

Lea laughed, her gaze sweeping over the boys. "Yeah, they can be a riot. A bunch of misfits maybe, and known to skip a class or two, but they mean well."

Hueningkai feigned offense, "Riot!?" he exclaimed, trying to look scandalized.

Beomgyu joined in, "Misfits?" he echoed, his tone mockingly hurt.

Yeonjun, ever the playful one, flicked a fry at Taehyun, grinning. "At least we're fun," he declared.

Taehyun, dodging the fry, chuckled. "Yeah, we have our moments. But hey, we're not that bad, right?"

Y/N smiled, enjoying the banter. "Not at all. I've had a really great time today. You guys are different than I thought."

Soobin, leaning back in his chair, added, "See, we're not just troublemakers. We have our charming sides too."

Bahiyyih giggled, "Well, I'm glad to see Kai has friends who are as lively as him. Makes for an interesting day, doesn't it?"

Bahiyyih and Lea decided to leave after their meal, giving the boys and Y/N some space to continue their fun. Before leaving, Bahiyyih playfully warned them, "Alright, boys, don't corrupt Y/N too much, or you'll have me and Lea to answer to!"

The group laughed, and Soobin called after them, "No promises, but we'll try our best!"

Once Bahiyyih and Lea had left, the group headed back to the arcade games, their energy seemingly endless. After a while, they decided to switch it up and go bowling. The game was filled with cheers and friendly taunts, and it wasn't long before they amassed a sizable number of tickets.

At the prize counter, the attendant gawked at the mountain of tickets they had collected. He presented them with two prize options, and Yeonjun announced, "This is gonna be a gift for Y/N. You pick."

Y/N's eyes settled on a large plushie. "I think I'll go with this one. It'll go well with the bear I got from my Valentine's gift," she said, a soft smile on her lips.

The boys collectively let out an "Awe," and Taehyun's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, though he tried to hide it.

As the sun began to set, they decided to cap off the day with ice cream. The boys, their energy finally waning, were noticeably calmer, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Y/N, trying to juggle her giant plushie and her ice cream, was a comical sight. "I might need an extra pair of hands for this," she joked, struggling to balance everything.

The boys offered to help, with Taehyun taking the plushie off her hands. "Let me carry that for you. You've got enough on your hands with the ice cream."

As they walked Y/N back home, the conversation was filled with reflections on the day's events. "We should definitely do this more often," Hueningkai suggested. "You're a lot of fun, Y/N, and it's cool having you around."

"Yeah, it was great having you with us," Yeonjun agreed. "You fit right in."

When they reached Y/N's apartment, Taehyun walked her to the door, the rest of the group hanging back. "I had a really good time today," Taehyun said, his voice sincere. "Thanks for joining us."

Y/N's smile brightened. "Thank you all for having me. I had a lot of fun too."

There was a moment of silence as they exchanged glances, a hint of something unspoken lingering in the air. Taehyun opened his mouth to say something more, but the moment was interrupted as the door swung open, revealing Y/N's father with a stern expression.

"Ah, I'll see you at school on Monday," Taehyun said quickly, stepping back.

"Thanks again, Taehyun. Goodnight," Y/N replied before turning to go inside, her smile unwavering.

As Taehyun rejoined his friends after leaving Y/N at her doorstep, his usually composed expression was replaced by a more contemplative look. His friends, quick to notice the change, gathered around him. Hueningkai, with a teasing grin, slung an arm over Taehyun's shoulder.

"Ooh, what's with the pensive look? You've had that face all day," Yeonjun prodded, a playful edge to his voice.

Hueningkai nodded, his own smile spreading. "Yeah, it's not just today. We've seen it for a while now. You've got that faraway look in your eyes whenever Y/N's around."

Beomgyu leaned in, his tone mischievous. "And what about when you bumped into her, huh? Plus, that overly dramatic apology in the science class... Were you planning to keep your crush on Y/N secret forever, Taehyun?"

Soobin, who had been observing the conversation quietly, finally spoke up, his gaze fixed on Taehyun. "I bet you're her secret admirer, right? You've been the one leaving those Valentine's gifts for her. You always seem so... happy, content even, when she's around."

The group's playful yet pointed observations finally nudged Taehyun's defenses. He let out a resigned sigh, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Alright, you guys are too sharp for your own good. Yes, I like her. I've always liked her, and yes, I've been leaving those Valentine's gifts for her. I was planning to tell her on Valentine's Day."

The group erupted into a mixture of surprise and excitement. Yeonjun laughed heartily. "Our Taehyun, the tough guy, turning all soft for the good girl. This is epic!"

Hueningkai, still grinning, gave Taehyun a playful punch on the arm. "Man, you've been playing the mysterious admirer all along. That's kind of romantic, you know."

Beomgyu, leaning against a nearby post, looked at Taehyun with newfound respect. "You've been planning this for a while, haven't you? Going all out with the gifts and the secret admirer angle."

Soobin, who had always been more observant, added thoughtfully, "It's nice to see this side of you, Taehyun. But why wait until Valentine's Day? Why not tell her sooner?"

Taehyun ran a hand through his hair, a bit embarrassed but honest. "I don't know, I guess I wanted to build it up, make it special. I've never felt this way about someone before. I wanted to do it right."

Yeonjun nodded, understandingly. "Well, you've definitely made an impression. She seems to really like the gifts."

The conversation shifted as the boys started offering Taehyun advice on how to reveal his feelings to Y/N. They threw around various ideas, each more elaborate than the last.

"Why not a grand romantic gesture in front of the whole school?" suggested Hueningkai, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Beomgyu laughed. "Or you could write her a song. Girls love that stuff."

Soobin, ever the voice of reason, chimed in. "Or just be yourself, man. Tell her how you feel, simply and honestly. Sometimes that's all it takes."

As they walked home, the boys continued to discuss plans and ideas, their laughter and jokes echoing in the night. Taehyun felt a sense of warmth and gratitude for his friends. Despite their teasing, he knew they had his back. Monday at school found Taehyun more anxious than usual, his mind preoccupied with the upcoming Valentine’s Day. His friends, meanwhile, were immersed in their usual playful antics. In the midst of a casual game, Beomgyu lobbed a basketball at Soobin, who, lacking any coordination, missed the catch. The ball veered off and accidentally hit a freshman passing by.

“Hey, watch it!” the freshman exclaimed, more startled than hurt.

Beomgyu burst out laughing, followed by the rest of the boys, their apologies half-hearted as usual. “Sorry, dude! Didn’t see you there,” Beomgyu called out, still chuckling.

Yeonjun, always quick to smooth things over, approached the freshman. “You alright, man? These guys are a handful,” he said, playfully rubbing the boy’s head.

Taehyun, although part of the group, was distracted. His gaze followed Y/N as she approached her locker and discovered another gift he had left. He had noticed over the weekend that her favorite lip gloss was almost finished, so he had replaced it with a new one, along with a matching lipstick from the same expensive brand.

Y/N’s reaction was exactly what Taehyun had hoped for. Her eyes widened in surprise and delight. Jim-In, who was with her, exclaimed, “Wow, Y/N, these are seriously pricey! Whoever your secret admirer is, they have great taste.”

The boys’ laughter subsided as they overheard Jim-In’s comments. Taehyun felt a flutter of excitement but also a twinge of apprehension. What would others think if they found out about his crush? What about the teachers, or worse, Y/N’s father?

Meanwhile, Y/N and Jim-In continued their conversation about the gift. “It’s crazy, right? Someone actually knows I love this brand,” Y/N said, still marveling at the gift.

Jim-In, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, asked, “So, how was hanging out with Taehyun and his gang? They’re quite the notorious group at school.”

Y/N smiled, a fond look in her eyes. “It was actually really fun. We went to the arcade, played some games, met Hueningkai’s siblings… They’re not as bad as they seem. They’re mostly just jokers and pretty playful.”

Jim-In noticed the change in Y/N’s demeanor. “Sounds like you’re quite fond of them, especially Taehyun?”

Y/N pulled out the almost empty lip gloss and compared it with the new one. “It’s funny that someone knew I like this brand. I only buy it once a year because it’s so expensive.”

Then, a realization dawned on her. “I was using this when we were hanging out over the weekend.”

Jim-In’s eyes widened. “What if it’s Taehyun or one of his friends who’s your secret admirer? Who else would know about the brand you use unless they were around you?”

Y/N paused, the possibility sinking in. “That… that would be something. But why would Taehyun do something like that?”

Jim-In grinned, nudging Y/N playfully. “Why not? Maybe he likes you. It would explain a lot, actually.”

Y/N blushed, the thought both exciting and nerve-wracking. “I don’t know, Jim-In. It seems far-fetched.”

“Maybe,” Jim-In conceded. “But it’s kind of romantic, isn’t it? The bad boy falling for the good girl?”

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “You sound like you’re describing a movie.”

As the girls walked to their next class, their conversation continued, with Jim-In playfully teasing Y/N about the possibility of Taehyun being her secret admirer. Y/N, although unsure, couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement at the thought.

The school day concluded with Taehyun caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Every glance towards Y/N was a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The thought of revealing his feelings in a matter of days filled him with a sense of dread and exhilaration.

Back at Y/N’s home, the latest gift from Taehyun sparked a mix of reactions from her family. Her mother and brother examined the expensive lip gloss and lipstick with wide eyes.

“Wow, your secret admirer must be loaded,” her brother remarked with a chuckle. “I say go for it. Anyone who gives gifts like these is a keeper.”

Her mother, amused but thoughtful, added, “It’s certainly impressive. Someone is going to great lengths to impress you.”

Y/N laughed, slightly embarrassed but also intrigued by the idea. “It’s just a gift. I don’t even know who it’s from.”

Her father, however, still harbored reservations from the weekend’s events. He glanced at the gift, his expression one of caution. “Remember, Y/N, expensive gifts don’t always mean good intentions. Be careful about who you trust.”

Y/N nodded, understanding her father’s concern. “I know, Dad. I’m not taking it too seriously. It’s just nice to receive something like this.”

The conversation at dinner revolved around the mysterious gifts and possible admirers. Y/N’s brother kept teasing her, suggesting various dramatic scenarios of secret love confessions, while her mother enjoyed the playful banter. Her father, though participating in the conversation, maintained a watchful eye, protective of his daughter.

Meanwhile, at Taehyun’s home, he found himself in his room, lost in thought. His mind kept replaying the day’s events, especially Y/N’s reactions to the gifts. He felt a mix of hope and trepidation about revealing his feelings.

As he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his phone buzzed. It was a message from Soobin.

Soobin: “Hey, how are you holding up? Nervous about the big day?”

Taehyun typed a response, his fingers hesitating over the keys.

Taehyun: “Yeah, kind of. Just hoping it goes well.”

Soobin: “It will. Just be yourself. That’s who she’s been hanging out with, right?”

Taehyun smiled, feeling a bit reassured.

Taehyun: “Thanks, man. It means a lot.”

Soobin: “Anytime. We’re all here for you. You’re not going through this alone.”

Closing the chat, Taehyun felt a sense of gratitude for his friends. Their support was a constant in his life, something he could always rely on.

The night passed with Taehyun’s thoughts alternating between optimism and worry. He tried to distract himself with music and games, but his mind invariably drifted back to Y/N.

The next day at school, the atmosphere was charged with the excitement of the upcoming Valentine’s Day. Students were abuzz with plans and speculations about who would confess to whom.

Taehyun tried to focus on his classes, but his attention was frequently drawn to Y/N. He noticed her cheerful demeanor and the way she interacted with her friends. She seemed oblivious to the effect she had on him.

During lunch, Taehyun and his friends gathered at their usual spot. The conversation naturally drifted to Valentine’s Day.

Beomgyu leaned in, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “So, Taehyun, got any last-minute jitters?”

Taehyun gave a wry smile. “Maybe a little. It’s just… a big step, you know?”

Hueningkai offered, “You’ve got this, Taehyun. No matter how it turns out, it’s better to express your feelings than to keep them hidden.”

Yeonjun nodded in agreement. “Yeah, and who knows? She might feel the same way. You’ve been nothing but thoughtful and kind to her.”

As the school day progressed, Taehyun’s nervousness was almost palpable. He found himself constantly glancing at the clock, each tick bringing him closer to the moment he would reveal his feelings to Y/N.

In a rare occurrence, Taehyun and his friends arrived to class before the bell, surprising everyone, including Y/N and Jim-In. Jim-In, ever the playful one, couldn’t resist making a comment. “Look who decided to grace us with their punctuality,” she quipped, eliciting laughter from the class.

The boys tried to maintain their cool, but they couldn’t help but playfully point fingers at Taehyun. “Yeah, Taehyun here wanted to be an exemplary student today,” Soobin joked, drawing more laughter.

Y/N took her seat next to Taehyun, who noticed she was using the lip gloss he had given her. It suited her perfectly, he thought, but he refrained from commenting.

Noticing Taehyun’s unusual demeanor, Y/N leaned over. “Are you okay, Taehyun? You seem a bit… off today.”

From behind, Hueningkai chimed in, trying to cover for his friend. “Oh, he’s fine. Just got a lot on his mind, right, Taehyun?”

Y/N smiled, seemingly unconvinced, but didn’t press further.

Jim-In, seizing the opportunity to tease, joined in. “Is it because tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day? Why would a bad boy like you be nervous about that?”

Taehyun, caught off guard by the comment, managed a weak smile. “Who says I’m nervous? Just another day, isn’t it?”

Yeonjun, overhearing the conversation, couldn’t resist adding his two cents. “Maybe our Taehyun has a secret Valentine he’s worried about impressing.”

The class erupted into whispers and giggles at Yeonjun’s implication, while Taehyun tried to play it cool, despite the heat rising to his cheeks.

Beomgyu, leaning forward, whispered teasingly to Taehyun, “Smooth, man. Keep it mysterious.”

Y/N looked at Taehyun, a curious glint in her eyes. “Do you really have someone you’re thinking about for Valentine’s Day?”

Taehyun, feeling the weight of the room’s attention, shrugged nonchalantly. “You never know. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.”

The bell rang, signaling the start of the class, and the teacher walked in, drawing everyone’s attention away from the banter. Throughout the lesson, Taehyun found it hard to focus, his thoughts constantly drifting to Y/N and the impending Valentine’s Day.

As the day came to a close, Taehyun felt a mixture of relief and heightened anticipation. The final school bell rang like a clarion call, marking the end of the day and bringing him one step closer to his confession.

Y/N, packing up her things, turned to Taehyun with a friendly smile. “Well, whatever your plans are for tomorrow, I hope they go well for you, Taehyun.”

Taehyun, looking into her eyes, felt a surge of courage. “Thanks, Y/N. I hope so too.”

As they left the classroom, Taehyun’s friends rallied around him, offering last-minute words of encouragement and advice. The walk home was filled with their laughter and teasing, but Taehyun’s mind was elsewhere, focused on the day that lay ahead.

Valentine’s Day had dawned with a mix of trepidation and excitement for Taehyun. He walked through the school corridors, carrying an unmistakably large Valentine’s gift basket, drawing a mixture of whispers and giggles from the students. His friends, Yeonjun, Soobin, and Beomgyu, were at his side, providing a blend of teasing and moral support.

“You got this, man,” Yeonjun encouraged, clapping Taehyun on the back. “Who knows, maybe Y/N’s good-girl vibes will rub off on us. Well, on you at least,” he added with a half-joking tone.

Soobin, with a wide grin, ruffled Taehyun’s hair. “In every story, the bad boy changes for the good girl, right?”

Despite their comments, Taehyun felt a surge of nervous energy. Beomgyu, sensing his hesitation, gave him a gentle push towards Y/N, “Go on, man. This is your moment.”

At that moment, Jim-In was deep in conversation with Y/N about her boyfriend’s plans for the day. She stopped abruptly as she saw Taehyun approaching. With a nudge, she turned Y/N around to face him, drawing Y/N's attention to the spectacle unfolding.

Y/N looked up, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Taehyun standing before her with the large basket. “Taehyun, what’s this?” she asked, a mixture of shock and curiosity in her voice.

The corridor fell silent, all eyes on Taehyun and Y/N. Taehyun took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Y/N,” he started, his voice barely above a whisper. “I need to tell you something. I'm the one who's been sending you those gifts. I've... I've liked you for a long time. I just didn't know how to say it, you know, with me and my friends... our reputation.”

Y/N's eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Taehyun, then at the basket, and back to him, her expression a mix of astonishment and curiosity. “Taehyun, this is... I had no idea. You've been...”

Taehyun paused, searching for the right words. “Yes, it's been me. I wasn't sure how to approach you, given how different our worlds seem.”

Y/N, still processing this revelation, took a moment before responding. “I've always seen you around, Taehyun. I thought you were just this unreachable bad boy. I never imagined you’d notice someone like me.”

Taehyun stepped closer, the noise of the corridor fading into the background. “Y/N, you’ve always stood out to me. I've always seen you.”

In a moment driven by pure emotion, Taehyun gently pulled Y/N by the waist towards him and kissed her. Startled at first, Y/N soon responded, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him back.

Their kiss, amidst the hustle of the school corridor, was a silent confession of the feelings they had harbored. Around them, cheers and applause erupted from their classmates.

Yeonjun, Soobin, and Beomgyu were cheering the loudest, their voices resonating through the corridor. “Look at Taehyun go!” Yeonjun exclaimed.

Soobin added, laughing, “Who knew our Taehyun was such a romantic?”

Beomgyu shouted, “This is one for the school history books!”

Their cheers were so loud they attracted the attention of nearby teachers. “Enough with this commotion!” one teacher scolded, but the jubilant atmosphere was undeterred.

As Taehyun and Y/N broke apart from their embrace, they were both flushed with a mix of excitement and bashfulness. Y/N gazed up at Taehyun, a soft smile on her lips. “I didn’t see this coming, Taehyun. But I'm glad you told me.”

Taehyun, his nerves eased by her smile, replied warmly, “I'm glad too. Happy Valentine’s Day, Y/N.”

Jim-In, who had witnessed the entire scene, approached them, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Wow, Y/N, this is like a movie! You and Taehyun, who would’ve thought?”

As the day unfolded, Taehyun and Y/N’s relationship became the highlight of the school’s gossip. They, along with Jim-In and her boyfriend, found themselves at Taehyun’s usual hangout spot. Taehyun kept his arm casually draped around Y/N’s waist, a gesture that symbolized their new bond.

The group was in the midst of lighthearted banter when Hueningkai, with a twinkle in his eye, turned the conversation to the Valentine’s Day gifts. “Hey, Beomgyu, Yeonjun, did you guys ever figure out who was sending you those secret admirer gifts?”

Yeonjun, who had been momentarily caught up in the couple’s closeness, was jolted back to the conversation. “Oh man, I almost forgot about those. No, I still don’t know who it was.”

Just then, Lisa, the girl Yeonjun had flirted with in science class, approached. She looked slightly nervous but determined as she focused on Yeonjun.

“Hey, Lisa,” Yeonjun greeted her with his characteristic charm. “What brings you here?”

Blushing, Lisa handed him another gift. “I… I wanted to give this to you. You were always nice in class, and I just thought you should know…”

Yeonjun, taken aback, found his usual suave demeanor slipping as a blush crept onto his cheeks. “You’re my secret admirer? Wow, I didn’t expect this. Thank you, Lisa, this means a lot.”

Y/N leaned towards Taehyun, whispering, “Looks like the romance bug is catching on.”

Taehyun laughed, watching his friend’s bashful reaction. “Yeonjun losing his cool - now that’s a rare sight.”

Beomgyu, feeling a bit left out, remarked jokingly, “Hey, what about me? Don’t I get a secret admirer too?”

Almost on cue, a girl from another class, who had previously given Beomgyu a small gift, approached him with another gift in hand. Beomgyu’s playful demeanor shifted to a more bashful, appreciative tone as he accepted it. “Looks like I spoke too soon. Thanks, this is really kind of you.”

As the break ended, Taehyun escorted Y/N home, ensuring she arrived safely. At her doorstep, he tentatively suggested, “Would you like to go out somewhere nice this weekend? For a date?”

Y/N’s eyes lit up. “I’d love that, Taehyun.” She pulled him in for another kiss, a gentle confirmation of their feelings, before walking into her home.

Inside, Y/N’s brother, who had been watching the door camera, smirked and turned to their parents. “Guess what? Taehyun’s Y/N’s secret admirer. He was the one sending those gifts all along.”

Their father, who had been wary about the mysterious admirer, almost choked on his drink. “Taehyun? The boy with the… reputation?”

Their mother, more amused than concerned, added, “Well, it seems like he’s quite smitten with Y/N. Maybe he’s not as bad as his reputation suggests.”

Y/N’s brother, still smirking, quipped, “Seems like our Y/N has tamed the school’s bad boy.”

As the evening wore on, Y/N’s family engaged in playful banter about her budding romance with Taehyun. Though her father was initially apprehensive, the warm and affectionate way Taehyun had acted around Y/N softened his concerns.

Months had passed since Taehyun and Y/N began dating, and their relationship remained strong. The dynamic within their friend group was lively and joyful, with Taehyun and his friends maintaining their playful, slightly rebellious streak. Y/N, now an integral part of the group, often played the role of keeping Taehyun in check, something he surprisingly didn't mind.

One particularly vibrant afternoon in the school corridor, the group's energy was at its peak. Beomgyu was giving Yeonjun a piggyback ride, skipping along with exaggerated steps, drawing laughter from the students around them.

"Beomgyu, you're going to drop me!" Yeonjun laughed, holding onto Beomgyu's shoulders for dear life.

"Not a chance!" Beomgyu replied, a mischievous glint in his eye.

As they passed by Lisa, Yeonjun saw her and swiftly jumped off Beomgyu's back, sliding over to her with his signature charm. "Hey, Lisa, saved by the bell, huh?" he said with a wink.

Meanwhile, Beomgyu spotted his own girlfriend in the crowd and jogged over to her, playfully making her jump as he approached. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed, laughing as she playfully hit his arm.

Soobin and Hueningkai, still enjoying their single status, watched the scene unfold with amusement. Hueningkai's gaze then met with Mark, the science enthusiast he had been paired up with for a project.

"Hey, Mark! Ready for our science presentation?" Hueningkai called out, waving him over.

Mark, pushing up his glasses, walked over with a smile. "Absolutely, Hueningkai. Our project is going to rock the class."

Y/N and Taehyun stood off to the side, watching their friends with affectionate amusement. Taehyun wrapped an arm around Y/N's shoulder, pulling her close.

"Looks like we've created quite the lively bunch," Taehyun remarked, a content smile on his face.

Y/N chuckled, leaning into him. "I wouldn't have it any other way. They're all crazy, but it's our kind of crazy."

Jim-In, overhearing their conversation, chimed in with a laugh. “You two have really brought some balance to this group. It’s like watching a rom-com unfold every day.”

Her boyfriend nodded in agreement. “It’s great seeing how everyone’s changed, especially you, Taehyun. You’re still the bad boy, but now you’re also, like, the romantic lead.”

Just then, the school principal walked by, shaking his head at the commotion but unable to hide a small smile. "You lot are quite the spectacle. Keep it down a bit, will you?" he said in a tone that was more amused than stern.

"Of course, sir," Yeonjun replied, giving him a mock salute as the principal walked away.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the break, the group gathered their things, still chuckling and joking with each other. They made their way to their next classes, their laughter and chatter echoing through the hallways.

As they parted ways, Taehyun gave Y/N a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you after class, Y/N. Can't wait for our date tomorrow."

Y/N's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Me too, Taehyun. It's always an adventure with you."

As they walked into their respective classrooms, Taehyun couldn’t help but think about how much his life had changed for the better since Y/N came into it. He had found love, strengthened friendships, and even discovered a softer side to himself.

When the next day arrived, they all gathered for their group date, the laughter and fun continued. They ended up at a local amusement park, where Yeonjun tried to impress Lisa by winning a giant teddy bear at a game stall, only to be hilariously outdone by Beomgyu, who won two.

Soobin and Hueningkai, meanwhile, engaged in a friendly competition to see who could eat the most cotton candy, resulting in both of them feeling slightly ill but laughing nonetheless.

The day ended with a group photo, everyone’s arms around each other, big smiles on their faces. This photo would later find its way into the school yearbook, captioned, “The Unforgettable Bunch.”

As they all said their goodbyes, Taehyun looked at Y/N, happiness evident in his eyes. “You know, I used to think being the bad boy was all there was to me. But you, all of you, have shown me there's so much more to life.”

Y/N smiled, squeezing his hand. “And you’ve shown me that there's more to the bad boy than meets the eye. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

They walked away, hand in hand, under the starlit sky, surrounded by friends, laughter, and the promise of many more adventures to come. In the world of high school, where everything seemed fleeting and temporary, Taehyun and Y/N had found something enduring – a love that was as unexpected as it was genuine, and a friendship that would last a lifetime.

#fanfic #fanfiction #txt #tomorrow x together #txt x reader #txt x y/n #txt x you #txt x fem reader #taehyun txt #txt taehyun #taehyun x y/n #taehyun x you #taehyun x reader #taehyun fluff #taehyun imagines #txt fanfic #kang taehyun #kang taehyun x reader

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breaddwoo · 1 year

Text

-Warm Light-

pairing: xavier x reader

word count: 2.73k

warnings: none :)

desc: when xavier sees your ability to glow, he gets a lil crush and y'all have a sleepover :))

a/n: my friends bully me because all i did today was write this 👊

had you been a normal child, life would have gone much differently. your emotions wouldn't get outed by your very skin; every boy you've liked wouldn't instantly understand through your illumination.

no matter how much you tried to control it, your flesh seemed to have its own conscience that made its own decisions.

your skin glowed. bright, radiant lemon or sometimes just a comforting, somewhat dim gold. this curse had embarrassed you more times than one should be mortified in a life time. a malediction passed on to you by a higher being with unknown intent.

so, there came a time when the bullying was too much. it was never violent, there were no harsh words spat in your direction. you tried your best to be nice to every classmate.

it was the isolation. a metaphorical twin of suffocation; you had no friends and never once held a romantic partner. no one wanted to get close to you, either wierded out by the power or didn't want to be associated with it.

in the end, nevermore was inevitable. no one paid any attention to you in the beginning of your enrollment; all eyes were on you, however, once you gleamed like a beacon during a school assembly after someone's hand brushed your ass.

that's how you met enid and ajax, and in turn, wednesday. you could tell she was perplexed by your ability just as the other two were, but she never gave into her curiosity. they made you happy.

you had some control when it came to your ability; you could "turn it on", as enid would say, whenever you wanted. you just couldn't flick the light switch off when you became a human light bulb.

but night time in dark hallways was the perfect place to practice, especially the halls of nevermore where moonlight was scarce and pitch blackness was abundant.

with a snap of your fingers, you'd illuminate the narrow corridor; another snap, and sometimes the light would go away. most of the time it just stayed on until you were randomly plunged into darkness.

as you continued this, you came upon a dead end. there was a large, looming figure in front of you but it was impossible decipher what it was.

with a snap, you tried to get a better look. nothing.

you snapped again and the blackness continued. by now your eyes had adjusted enough to understand that the figure was an antique statue; however, curiosity got the best of you and you needed the statue in full visibility.

to anyone wandering these shadowy halls at night, these random clicks may have made for a good horror story at a slumber party.

in frustration, you snapped your fingers a few times in attempt to get your skin to brighten when you heard a loud click.

then, low rumbling within the walls in front of you.

your body took this as the perfect opportunity to become a floodlight, revealing that the statue was now gone and a large set of stone stairs spiraled into mystery.

even this school is a goddamn oddity.

you sighed, knowing that this meant you'd have to go down the stairs or this scene would haunt you to your grave.

the first step you took was hesitant. no booby traps, no arrows flying into your chest. is this safe??

the decision had been made to enter, so with more confidence, you descended the twisting staircase.

you feared that your light would dissipate, but continued on until you saw a circular library holding old, dusty books.

"... hello?" you whispered. there was no one you expected to answer, but you were weary of the volume of your voice anyway.

"hello?" you asked again, this time with a bit of wavery confidence.

then, someone stepped out of a hallway to your left. someone tall, wearing a costume-like robe.

"jesus, can you please put that flash light away? you're blinding me," the figure complained, covering their eyes with a comically large sleeve.

you tried to dim the lights a bit. surprisingly, your skin successfully emitted a soft golden glow instead of the headlight it was before.

when you did this, you could make out that the figure was, in fact, a boy.

a very cute one.

"was- was that your body that scorched my eyes?" the boy asked with intrigue before backtracking, "wait, sorry, wrong question right now. who are you and how did you get in here?"

you laughed a strained laugh, wringing the hem of your skirt in your hands, "uhm, yeahhh. i was- i was just practicing my, uh, glowing and happened to somehow make a statue move? i don't know, i'm probably as confused as you are."

you were nervous, afraid that you had happened upon a cult that would cut you up for finding their secret lair.

the boy studied you for a second, then stepped forward. you could see the details of his face a little better when he did this. man he's cute.

the room may have been dark, but your light cast shadows on his face in all the right places. he was taller than you, and he may not have had a conventionally attractive face, but you were nevertheless starstruck.

he gave an awkward, but adorable, smile.

"this is the hideout for a secret society called the nightshades. there's really no point in hiding it since you already know about it, though you can't tell anyone you found this place, " he explained, running a hand through his shoulder length hair.

"oh, okay, then i definitely shouldn't be here. i'll get going."

you hurriedly began for the stairs; a small tug on your sleeve stopped you from going further.

"wait, wait," the boy protested, "can i get your name? just, y'know, for future reference."

you snorted, "what would you need my name for in the future?"

"many things," he grinned.

"also, i wanna see your... light?" he said for lack of a better term.

you dropped down from the step you currently stood on so you were once again on ground level with the boy.

"i'll show it to you in exchange for your name."

he crossed his arms, "but i asked you first."

"maybe, but im the bargainer here. deal or no deal, " you stated, stifling a laugh.

the boy placed his fingers on his chin to feign consideration, saying, "you give a tempting offer."

you raised your brows to ask so, deal or no deal?

he let a grin spread on his face, "fine. xavier thorpe, that's my name. can i see the light now?"

xavier. what a cute name for a cute boy.

you gave an obviously exaggerated sigh and tried to make your skin glow a little brighter. holding out your hand, you let him examine your abnormality that brought you to this school.

xavier's hazel eyes glittered with wonder as he ran his hands over your candlelight skin.

beginning to feel embarrassed, you pulled away with a faint blush painting your cheeks.

"anyway, i- i should go," you mumbled, feeling too bashful to stay there any longer; your skin may glow again as it did with every boy that piqued your interest and you'd had quite enough of that and the reaction the boys would give.

you could tell that xavier had more to ask, but he kept his queries to himself and allowed you to ascend the stairs.

"oh," you began, halfway up the stairs, "and my name is (y/n)."

when xavier heard the wall at the entrance of the stairs close above him, he wandered to the step you were standing on when he touched your warm, illuminated hand.

"(y/n).. " he whispered to himself, a small, innocent smile painted on his face that was hidden by the darkness.

> > >

after that day, you noticed xavier in the halls much more often. he was even in your third period class. how have i never noticed?

xavier would catch up to you on your way to different classes, talking about whatever came to mind. the company was new and unusual, but not unwelcome.

after a little while, you were able to call him your friend. your best friend, even.

it was friday, the weather outside was abysmal as rain streaks on the windows beside you cast odd shadows on your desk.

it was a quiet study hour instead of the usually rowdy third period debate class.

there was a small tap on your shoulder, so you turned around to feel the brunt of a small folded paper hit your forehead.

"ow..." you whispered to yourself, frowning at the offender. xavier presses his lips together to keep himself from laughing and pointed at the floor.

looking down, you found the little weapon sitting on your book bag.

you gave him a really? are we in middle school? look, but picked up and unfolded the tiny note anyway.

inside were crudely written words that said:

hangout at the paint shed tonight?

you couldn't help the smile that stole your expression, giving him a small thumbs up. the little invitation left you giddy; you could already feel your skin beginning to warm with a warning flare.

xavier retaliated with a gracious smile. god, he's so adorable.

now the school day was going to take forever.

> > >

"xavier, what is this?"

the art studio now looked like a girl's room after a slumber party. there was a thin foam mattress in the middle of the wooden floors, decorated with many plush pillows and knitted blankets. snacks covered almost every empty surface that wasn't occupied by art supplies. there were even fairy lights hung above the makeshift bed, giving the room a comfortable and inviting appearance.

xavier looked proudly at his work, "i just thought, since we rarely get to spend more than an hour together, that we could have a little- uh, sleepover."

looking at his embarrassed blush, you burst into a fit of giggles.

"i didn't know we were middle school besties. did you ask your mom?" you jested, covering your mouth to attempt to suppress the laughter.

xavier noticed your skin begin to emit it's usual glow that he adored, but he feigned frustration as he crossed his arms. the blush on his cheeks became a fiercer shade of scarlet.

"sorry, sorry. i know you worked hard on this, thank you," you grinned, wiping a tear caused by your outburst.

"so, what did you want to do first?"

the question left xavier quiet. there was a very specific activity he wanted to do, but he was afraid the very question would reveal his true feelings.

"do you- uh, do you remember the first time me met?" he questioned.

you nodded, "of course. how could i forget the night that i burned my image into your poor pupils."

"well..." he began, "ever since then, i've wanted to paint you. with that glow, it'd give me insane practice at lighting with acrylics." and you're insanely pretty and i want to watch you glow any time i wish.

he didn't add that last part, though.

the request forced the dim luminosity of your skin to radiate a brighter light.

just seeing you like this, xavier melted. ever since the first day he felt your light touch his skin, everything about you occupied every corner of his mind.

each time he walked with you in the hallway, each day you sat together drawing, he felt himself falling for you a little more.

tonight those feelings turned him into a tight envelope of emotion ready to burst, his wax seal already cracking.

you looked down, "okay then."

xavier could tell you were embarrassed but quickly grabbed his paints. tonight he would paint a masterpiece.

> > >

the whole process had been difficult, what with you laughing every time he made his concentration face and him playfully scolding you not to move.

"do you ever sit still?" he asked, almost finished.

"do you ever concentrate without biting the inside of your cheek?" you shot back.

he squinted his eyes, "touché."

you were about to giggle again, but restrained yourself to avoid more reprimanding.

finally, with the acrylic still drying, he was done. "do you want to see it?"

you breathed out, "i don't know. i'm scared."

xavier put a hand on his chest to feign offense, "and why would you be scared?"

"uhm, cuz- because i'll see myself through your eyes."

the room went silent; you could even hear one of the shed's lightbulbs go out.

"what does that mean?" he questioned, putting down his brushes. you shook your head to avoid the topic, dismissing him, "nevermind. forget it, i don't even know what i'm saying."

he pushed on, "no, seriously. do you think i see you in a bad way?"

"no- it's more like i'm afraid you won't see me in the way i most want you to."

xavier knew exactly what that meant. considering the way you brightened the room every time he was in it, he guessed that maybe you felt the same; but here was some (hopefully) solid proof. this was it: the opening he needed.

he lifted from his stool, walking over to you and guiding you to the flimsy bed he had put together.

when you both were laying down, he turned on his side to look and you and you reciprocated.

"(y/n), you- god, how do you not see? i feel like im pretty obvious, even if i don't physically glow every time i see you," xavier began, moving to prop his head on his hand with his elbow using a pillow as support.

"well i'm sorry! if i could control this damn ability i probably wouldn't even be here," you said defensively.

he back tracked, remembering he can be a bit rude at times, "no that's not what i meant, sorry. what i mean to say is that i look at you as if you hang the stars in the sky. when we're together i can't rid myself of a stupid grin that plagues me even after we've parted, and though i enjoy it, it sure makes my cheeks hurt. "

you laughed at the last comment and he felt warmth in his stomach. "well, i literally glow when i see you so i think i win."

"i didn't know this was a contest of affection," he teased, moving a bit closer.

"it's not, but i want a prize anyway."

both if you knew what you were suggesting, xavier just needed to take the initiative to do it.

he leaned over you, your back pressed to the soft foam beneath.

the moment his lips touched yours, a bright white light exploded in the room.

he pulled back, an uncomfortable tingling sensation rising to his face.

"did you just...?"

"oh my goodness," you gasped, reaching for his now sun burnt face.

"i-i'm so sorry! i didn't know i could do that!" you were mortified. you've ruined everything. you burned the first boy you've ever kissed.

then came a chuckle, along with full blown laughter. xavier rested his face in your neck as he continued to laugh.

"i can't believe the first time we kiss i get sun burned! that's so adorable!"

the word adorable wasn't how you would describe it, but you smiled and went along with his positive reaction.

"god, I'm so in love with you, " he blurted out of pure affection.

another snap of light almost caused xavier's eyes to dry out of his head, but you luckily covered his face just in time.

"please xavier, " you stated, your whole body a beacon of light that lit up the room, "no more of that. i'm literally going to cook you alive."

xavier laughed. he was fine with that, as long as you and your warm light were his.

> > >

-extra-

the both of you lay on the bed, sprawled across each other.

"i want to give you a pet name," xavier stated matter-of-factly.

"you can do that if you enjoy a 24/7 sun burn, " you laughed.

"hmm... " he stared at the ceiling, deep in thought, "i've got it!"

"and?"

"my little glow stick."

you gave a horrified expression, "xavier no, do not call me that."

"aww cute little glow stick," he teased.

"bro stop."

you spent the rest of the night smothering xavier with a pillow.

#xavier x reader #xavier thorpe imagine #xavier thorpe x reader #xavier thorpe #wednesday netflix #enid sinclair #wednesday addams #wednesday imagine #xavier x you #xavier x y/n

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bestworstcase · 22 days

Note

Thanks for your response ala Ruby & Yang, great stuff!

Idle aside, but do you have any thoughts on Yang's role as the sort of black sheep of the family by dint of Raven associations?

Cos like, Tai overtly favors Ruby, projects Raven onto Yang, resents Raven being rough up and is bad enough about reminders of her Yang feels she has to apologize for his negative reactions. Let alone his... Everything else.

Then there's Qrow who doesn't seem to interact with Yang over much at all and one of if not their most major interaction. Involves him straight up saying he thinks she's either a liar hurting people for fun or "crazy".

I recall someone I was chatting with wondering: Imagine doing everything you can to keep your family from breaking apart & being compared to the woman who left you when you were a baby?

Cos I do wonder how Yang feels about all that given she seems to downplay and or try to work around her family's issues when she can. Let alone what it says about the adults in the room.

smth i think about a lot is the way yang’s narrative about her childhood shifts between v2 to v5

’cause in v2 it’s: “it was tough. ruby was really torn up, my dad kind of shut down. it wasn’t long before i learned why…” all to provide context for this anecdote about putting ruby in a wagon and running away to find her mother. and then her conclusion is “my stubbornness should have gotten us killed that night.”

and while there is a degree here of yang framing the story to emphasize the point she wants blake to understand, it’s also very obvious in her delivery that the emotional reality of this memory for yang is “the time my stupidity and stubbornness almost got me and ruby eaten by grimm”—when she was [checks notes] like five, six years old, and regularly left at home unsupervised.

but in v5, it’s: “my mom left me. ruby’s mom left too. tai was always busy with school, and ruby couldn’t even talk yet; i had to pick up the pieces. i had to pick up the pieces. alone.”

aside from the telling slip (tai, not dad)—yang centers her own feelings and the harm this situation did to her this time. which is something she’s always felt but i don’t think she could have brought herself to say it out loud to anyone during the beacon arc, because it was pressed down under the guilt on display in burning the candle, the feeling of having been inadequate and too stubborn and too selfish and and and–

coughs quietly. “my stubbornness should have gotten us killed that night.” / “you were predictable. and… stubborn. and maybe a little boneheaded.” yang’s narrative about the wagon incident—which happened when she was five or six!—pinning the blame on the thing tai imagines to be her fatal flaw is…probably not coincidental. yang in v4 after a year of being loved by her team and supported by mentors like glynda / oobleck / port has the perspective to know that tai doesn’t know what he’s talking about; but as a small child who’d just had a terrifying near-death experience with her baby sister… 😶

it definitely had a big impact on the way yang sees herself

BUT i do read qrow's talk with yang in 3.8 pretty differently ->

because the context is: yang saw mercury attack her and struck back in self defense, then had like a dozen synthetic soldiers point guns in her face, then looked up and saw the replay footage of herself walking over to shoot a boy who was just kneeling on the ground. and some of the most powerful authority figures in the world are pushing this narrative that stress and adrenaline "clouded her judgment."

like this would make anyone doubt their sanity. bc holy shit.

yang, though...a couple weeks ago, yang after being knocked unconscious woke up and blearily saw someone she thought was her mother walk away from her and disappear in a flash of red light. she hasn't mentioned it to anyone, because it's just so bizarre—yang doesn't know about raven's semblance yet—she must have just been seeing things. right?

aside from raven (who isn't here) and yang (who believes she hallucinated), the only other person who knows that yang saw her mom on the train is qrow, because raven told him about it. he also knows that:

tai insisted on not telling yang ANYTHING about her mother, and qrow respected that up until now; so yang doesn't know about raven's semblance and can't make sense of what she saw.

salem's infiltrators are the same people who attacked amber, and qrow didn't get a good look at them because they seemingly vanished into thin air—pretty damn good chance that one of them has a semblance that manipulates what you see.

ozpin wants #2 kept secret, so yang has some very powerful people actively trying to convince her that she's crazy. ironwood is straight up gaslighting her.

qrow also—based on the first thing he says, which is "why'd you do it?"—seems to consider it a possibility that it is what it looked like but yang did have a good reason, and i actually do not think that is an outrageous thing for qrow specifically to think. because qrow was emotionally abused as a child, and he knows yang, and in the event that yang really did suddenly turn around and punch a guy who was kneeling on the ground, why would she do it?

glances at shay d. mann. well. maybe this kid has been harassing her? maybe he said something horrible or threatening to her and in the heat of the moment she just snapped? maybe "he attacked me, i saw him attack me" isn't really a lie per se, she's just scared that "he's been picking on me ever since he got here and he made a disgusting remark and i just couldn't take it anymore" won't be taken seriously? as in, he did attack her—verbally/emotionally.

it's probably worth asking, at least!

so, qrow leads with "why'd you do it?" in case there is some invisible reason justifying the apparent action. yang says "you know why." qrow goes okay, well, i only know what i saw, so you're either lying (i.e., yang had a reason she now isn't telling) or crazy (i.e., yang saw something different from reality that was very real to her).

she says "i'm not lying." qrow believes her: "crazy, got it."

at this point, he knows the most probable explanation is that one of salem's infiltrators fucked with her head. the inner circle's gaslighting doesn't sit right with him; he's not going to buck ozpin by telling her the truth outright, but he wants to make sure yang knows she isn't losing her mind. he also has all the info needed to guess that yang is actually really really scared that she might be crazy.

which is why he kicks off the wall and begins to pace around. the language he uses sounds dismissive, but his tone is mild and his body language implies "let's talk about it, let's figure this out."

leading to:

YANG: Who knows? Maybe I am. QROW: And here I thought your dark-haired friend was the emo one. YANG: I saw my mom. …I- I was in a lot of trouble, took a pretty hard hit. But when I came to, the person attacking me was gone, and I thought I saw… her. Her sword. Like the one in you and dad’s old picture. QROW: You’re not crazy, Yang. That was your mom, alright. Let me guess—she didn’t say a word, did she? YANG: How did you know that? QROW: I don't see my sister very often, but she does try to keep in touch... whenever it suits her. YANG: Wait—you mean you talk to her? That was real!? QROW: Yeah, she found me. Had a tip from my most recent assignment and wanted me to give you a message.

it's really telling that yang responds to him this way. 'cause we've seen how yang acts when she feels dismissed or belittled:

TAI: Well, "normal" is what you make of it. YANG: What is that supposed to mean? Do you want me to just pretend like nothing happened? I lost a part of me. A piece of me is gone. And it's never coming back. TAI: You're right. It's not coming back. But that doesn't have to stop you from becoming who you wanna be. You're Yang Xiao Long, my sunny little dragon. You can do whatever you put your mind to. So whenever you're ready to stop moping, and get back out there? I'll be there for you. YANG: I– I...

she freezes and shuts down! her teachers have to come to her rescue!—but when qrow goes "crazy, got it" and suggests she's being "emo," yang blurts out her big secret. i saw my mom. to me that suggests a level of trust and understanding that isn't there with tai: qrow says stuff like "okay, so you're crazy" and "here i thought your friend was the emo one" but what he means is "hey, i know something's really bugging you, tell me about it," and yang picks up what he's putting down.

it's akin to how ruby goes "did you miss me? DID YOU MISS ME??" and qrow's like "nope" and they both laugh. or the back-and-forth ribbing between him and the girls in 3.4. there's this layer of mild ironic meanness in the way qrow converses with his nieces that all of them are fluent in, and in this scene he's using that mode to signal that "crazy" is not off-limits, that it's okay to talk about openly.

crucially, there's a code-switch in the middle of the conversation: as soon as yang gets real and says "i saw my mom," qrow reflects that seriousness back to her. you're not crazy, that was your mom, she found me afterward and told me about it. it was real. you're okay. qrow's ability to do that—to shift into a more serious mode when irony isn't appropriate—is why yang can have this rapport with him that she doesn't have with tai, because tai isn't... being ironic when he says mean or dismissive things to her.

anyway, qrow passes on raven's terrible message and then kind of annotates it: "raven's got an interesting way of looking at the world that i don't particularly agree with, and she's dangerous." (which is a very diplomatic way of saying he thinks raven is full of shit. lol.) but then he connects this whole conversation about raven back to what happened after the match: "you're a tough egg, kiddo. don't let this tournament thing getcha down. you had a slip-up; sometimes bad things just happen."

implicitly: yang isn't crazy. what she saw on the train was real, a product of raven's personality and her semblance. sometimes bad things just happen. qrow believes that yang had the experience she says she did when she punched mercury. he doesn't know why she had that experience—yang doesn't either!—but he knows she isn't just "crazy." sometimes things that seem crazy are actually real.

remember what he tells the girls in 3.4? "you may be acting like huntresses, but you're not thinking like one." same thing here. he's telling yang, hey, you're not crazy, you know what you saw, but you don't know what or who caused you to see it. "you cut off the head of the king taijitu, but now the second head's calling the shots."

hint, hint.

it's subtler than the hints qrow drops for ruby in 3.12, but very much in the same vein, and yang is plenty smart enough to figure it out. she might... not have? in the couple of hours between this conversation and everything going to straight to hell, but if they'd had literally just one more day, just long enough for the wheels turning in yang's head to click together with what ruby heard from velvet about coco hallucinating during her and yatsu's 2v2 against emerald and mercury, she would've had it.

more... generally, i've never gotten the sense that qrow projects raven's flaws onto yang in the way that tai does; qrow is definitely a lot closer with ruby than yang, but i think that has less to do with favoritism on qrow's part than it does ruby thinking he's like the COOLEST uncle ever and wanting to use a scythe like he does.

'cause like, qrow isn't their parent, he doesn't live with them, he's not responsible for raising these kids like their dad is, so while he obviously did contribute to fucking them both up because: alcoholic, ultimately there just isn't the same degree of betrayal or emotional abandonment; he's not their dad. both times yang talks in detail about her childhood, it's "my mom left, ruby's mom left, tai wasn't really around, ruby couldn't even talk, i was alone"—she doesn't mention qrow. there isn't that deep hurt, that feeling that qrow is someone who left.

when he isn't drunk, yang seems to feel pretty okay around him, and qrow likewise treats her... honestly a lot better than tai does:

he stops by their dorm in v3 to hang out with both his nieces; yang is fully in sister mode—cheers for ruby to beat him until ruby loses, immediately shoves her out of the way like "my turn!! >:D"—and qrow ribs them both, takes ribbing from both of them in good humor, tells both of them "you two are gonna go far."

qrow nicknames to show affection; ruby is "pipsqueak," yang gets "firecracker."

we only see qrow's goodbye to ruby, but in 5.4 yang indicates that qrow came to talk to her before he left, too. she also has complete trust that he's keeping the promise he made to look after ruby.

yang, as noted, opens up to him about seeing her mom; she's also shocked that he's still in contact with raven and indignant that he didn't tell her sooner, but—unlike with tai—she doesn't seem surprised that qrow is willing to talk about raven in general.

which tracks with what tai says in 4.11: "despite asking him numerous times not to, i know qrow told you where you're mother's been at these days"—meaning, this was a point of contention between him and qrow. behind the scenes, while tai refused to discuss raven at all, qrow was going okay well, let me tell her then, she deserves to know. and then ultimately he just bit the bullet and told her behind tai's back. i wouldn't be surprised if it turned out qrow had been straight with yang that her dad wanted to be the one to tell her the important stuff, and he wanted to be respectful of that, but raven wasn't an off-limits topic.

general contrast between yang-tai and yang-qrow dynamics; for example both of them say almost verbatim "you've got a long way to go before you're ready for the real world" (3.4/4.4). from tai it's belittling, he's insulting her; from qrow, it's meant to encourage, it's "remember you're still new to this, you'll make mistakes, just keep learning, keep trying." (rwby does stuff like this all the time, refracting an idea in different directions to highlight contrasts between characters; ozpin's advice to ruby vs port's advice to weiss is another example.)

a lot of qrow's resentment toward raven is centered on her abandonment of yang: "did you know yang lost her arm? [...] rhetorical question, i know you know. it's just obnoxious that you'd bring up family and then carry on like your own daughter doesn't exist. [raven: "i saved her."] once. because that was your rule, right? real mom of the year material, sis." like he is PISSED on yang's behalf that raven won't even try.

my impression is that qrow—although a) often away on long missions in far away places and b) an alcoholic who sometimes got blind drunk and became a burden yang and ruby needed to take care of—when he did manage to be there, made a serious effort to connect with both of them. he ended up being closer to ruby bc she wanted to learn scythe-wielding, but i do think qrow would've trained yang too (or instead) if the girls had different combat interests.

and while his relationship with ruby has a mentorish aspect, i don't get the sense either of the girls see him as a parental figure: he wasn't part of their household, he traveled a lot, his alcoholism in combination with tai's neglect eroded the adult-child boundaries because they had to be responsible for him as often as the reverse. he's a friend who also happens to be related to them. and that's especially true for yang, because he wasn't her teacher.

(i know it's a... pretty common headcanon / fanon that qrow lived with them, but i really don't think that's supported by the text? whenever ruby or yang look back on their childhoods, the family unit is always them + tai, and qrow isolates himself out of fear that his semblance will injure those he cares about. plus ozpin sending him all over the place as the one member of team strq still active. it makes way more sense to think he lived alone, and visited when he had the chance. which is the main reason i'm WAY softer on him than on tai, 'cause qrow wasn't in a caretaker/parent role; at most he was an occasional babysitter. so while his incidents of turning up drunk on the doorstep contributed to the harm... it's like, it would absolutely have been better for them if qrow were sober, but that wouldn't have changed anything about their home life. they'd just have somewhat easier relationships with qrow.)

TO WRAP THIS BACK AROUND TO THE QUESTION, tai is unfairly judgmental and harsh with yang bc he projects his idea of her mom onto her; yang also has a better relationship with her mom's brother than she does with her dad. how do these two dynamics interact? how does yang feel about hearing from tai that she's too branwen, so to speak, while also getting along better with the branwen side of her family? how might that fuel her desire to find raven?

if her uncle treats her better than tai does, then... maybe her mom would too, if only yang could reach her?—obviously it's not rational, but like. i don't think five year old yang put her baby sister in a wagon and ran away to find her mom because she thought she would ask "why did you leave me?" and then get her answer and go home. as yang grew older and developed a more realistic perspective it shifted to "i just need to know why she left" and she projects that backward onto herself as a child, but at the time what she wanted, what she was looking for, was someone who would take care of them.

#never-ending heap of yang thoughts

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voidpetrova · 8 months

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we've got spirit — stiles stilinski x reader

☄. *. ⋆

content warnings: none!! aside from corny clichés — hurt/comfort

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

synopsis: you had spirit, there was no doubt about it. but with stiles? you had chemistry.

✧.*

beacon hills high school was a microcosm of teenage life, complete with its cliques, dramas, and the unlikeliest of crushes. stiles stilinski, the resident “sarcastic loser”, navigated the treacherous halls with the grace of a newborn deer on roller skates. his unruly hair, a chaotic mess of brown curls, seemed to mirror the chaos of his daily life. stiles had a knack for getting into bizarre situations, thanks to his penchant for meddling in the supernatural mysteries that plagued their town. but amidst all the weirdness and danger, there was one thing that remained perfectly normal: his infatuation with you, the most beautiful, popular cheerleader at beacon hills high.

your name was a melody that echoed through his thoughts, a name he'd never dare utter aloud. you were like a vision of radiance in the halls, your cheerleader uniform fitting you like a second skin, the blue and gold colors accentuating your flawless features. your long, graceful legs seemed to stretch for miles, and your smile could light up even the darkest corners of the school.

stiles often found himself daydreaming about you in the most inconvenient moments, like during history class when mr. harris was droning on about the civil war. he'd imagine scenarios where you'd notice him, where you'd flash that dazzling smile in his direction, and where he'd somehow manage to utter coherent sentences. but alas, stiles was convinced that you were light-years out of his league. you were surrounded by the popular crowd, including the likes of lydia martin and jackson whittemore, who were more likely to be seen discussing the latest fashion trends or planning extravagant parties than mingling with someone like him.

as fate would have it, the universe had other plans. it was a warm, sunny monday morning when the school's chemistry teacher, mr. dawson, announced a dreaded announcement. “class, i've decided to assign lab partners for our upcoming chemistry project,” mr. dawson declared, his voice sounding like a death sentence to stiles.

stiles slumped lower in his seat, dreading the impending humiliation of being paired with someone who undoubtedly cringed at the thought of working with him. he glanced around the room, noting the looks of indifference from his classmates. except for one person. you.

with a grin that could melt glaciers, you turned to him, your sparkling eyes locking onto his in a way that made his heart race. “looks like we're lab partners, stiles,” you said, your voice sweet as honey.

he blinked in disbelief, half-expecting someone to burst into laughter or for this to be some cruel prank. but no, it was real, and you were smiling at him like he was the most fortunate person in the world.

“y-yeah,” stiles stammered, his cheeks flushing crimson. “lab partners. lucky me.”

as you settled into your seats and mr. dawson continued his lecture, stiles couldn't help but steal glances at you. this was a dream come true, a fantasy he'd never dared hope for. and little did he know, your life was about to get a lot more complicated too, as you discovered that maybe, just maybe, the sarcastic loser had captured your heart as well.

while the days passed after the fateful lab partner assignment, stiles found himself sinking deeper into his infatuation with you. it was as if he had stumbled upon a secret garden, and you were the most beautiful, elusive flower within. every time you smiled or laughed, it was as though a piece of sunlight had broken through the clouds that often hovered over his life.

one sunny afternoon, stiles sat in the bleachers overlooking the football field, watching you and the cheerleading squad practice the routine you had come up with one your one. the sight of you in your cheerleader uniform, executing flips and high kicks with precision, was nothing short of mesmerizing. each graceful move you made, each toss and catch of your pom-poms, sent a rush of adrenaline through stiles, making his heart race. he had been so entranced by your performance that he didn't even realize when you approached him, taking a seat on the bleachers next to him. the soft rustling of your cheerleading uniform drew his attention, and he turned to see you, looking even more stunning up close.

“hey, stiles,” you greeted him with a warm smile.

startled, he nearly toppled over in his attempt to sit up straight. “oh, hey there,” he replied, his voice cracking slightly. you chuckled at his flustered reaction. “i was just wondering if we could discuss our lab project. maybe work on it together?”

it took stiles a moment to process your words. he was so caught up in the whirlwind of emotions that your presence induced that he almost forgot the reason you had come over in the first place. finally, he managed to form a coherent response. “uh, yeah, sure. my house would probably be the best place,” stiles replied, his heart still pounding like a drum in his chest.

you agreed to meet up at his place later that day, and as you walked away, stiles couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. this was it—the opportunity to spend time with you outside the confines of the school walls. he was on cloud nine.

however, when your discussion concluded, and you left to rejoin your cheerleading practice, stiles was blissfully unaware of the disapproving glares that jackson and lydia exchanged from a distance. they had noticed your interaction with him and were far from pleased. lydia, always sharp and opinionated, leaned in to whisper to jackson, “this is a terrible idea, jackson. she's risking her reputation for someone like stiles.” jackson, who had an inflated sense of self-importance, scoffed. “exactly. she's the most popular cheerleader in school. she shouldn't be seen with him. what if it ruins her image?”

lydia sighed, recognizing that their words of caution were falling on deaf ears. stiles had cast a spell on you, one that seemed to defy all reason. but little did they know that your heart had already chosen, and no amount of reputation or peer pressure could sway your feelings for stiles stilinski.

the day moved swiftly, and the sun began to set as the time for your lab project meeting with stiles drew near. you couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as you approached his house. the thought of spending time alone with him outside the confines of school was both exhilarating and daunting.

you arrived at the stilinski residence, standing before the front door. taking a deep breath, you knocked softly, wondering how this evening would unfold. the door swung open, revealing stiles' father, sheriff stilinski, who greeted you with a warm smile.

“hey there, you must be (y/n), right?” noah asked. you nodded, feeling a bit surprised by his friendly demeanor. “yes, it's nice to meet you, sir. is stiles home?” despite the aura your beauty radiated, it was safe to say that his father was pleasantly taken aback by your formal and respectful demeanor.

the sheriff chuckled. “yeah, he's been waiting for you to come. so, come on in.” as you stepped inside, you couldn't help but overhear sheriff stilinski muttering to himself, “stiles, you scored a good one.”

unaware of his father's comment, stiles rushed into the living room, his face lighting up when he saw you. “hey! you made it. thanks for coming.” you returned his smile, feeling your heart skip a beat. “of course, stiles. let's get to work.”

you both settled down at the kitchen table, textbooks and lab equipment spread out before you. as you began discussing the project, you quickly noticed that stiles was struggling with some of the concepts. “so, this is where we need to calculate the molar mass,” you explained, pointing to a section of the textbook. “and then we can use that to find the moles.” stiles listened intently, his brows furrowing as he tried to grasp the concept. it was in this moment that you realized something important: not only were you popular and beautiful, but you also had a natural talent for breaking down complex ideas into simple, understandable terms.

“wow,” he muttered, looking at you with admiration. “you're really good at this. i mean, you're not just a cheerleader. you're— smart.” you couldn't help but blush at the unexpected compliment. “thanks, stiles. i like to think there's more to me than meets the eye.”

he nodded, a goofy grin spreading across his face. “definitely. you're like a multi-layered mystery. i'm starting to think there's a lot more to you than just pom-poms and cheer routines.”

emboldened by his words and the growing connection between you two, you leaned in closer, your voice dropping to a soft, flirtatious tone. “maybe you'll just have to stick around and find out.”

stiles swallowed hard, his cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink. this was the moment when the tables turned, and it was you who had left him utterly flustered. the chemistry between you wasn't just limited to the lab project; it was an undeniable attraction that had taken root in both your hearts.

as the evening wore on, you continued to work on the project, interspersing it with moments of laughter and shared stories. it was a night that neither of you would forget, as you discovered that there was so much more to each other than the stereotypes that had once defined you. and in that quiet, shared moment, your feelings for stiles only deepened, setting the stage for a love story that defied all expectations.

the chemistry project continued, and so did the playful and flirtatious interactions between you and stiles. each moment spent together seemed to solidify the connection between you, making it feel as if you had known each other far longer than just a few hours. stiles' sarcastic humor was a perfect match for your quick wit, and you found yourself laughing at his quips and jokes, feeling completely at ease in his presence. as you discussed the intricacies of chemical reactions and balanced equations, you couldn't help but let your legs brush against his under the table. stiles, in his usual fashion, pretended not to notice at first, but the spark between you was undeniable. the air was charged with anticipation, as if the universe itself was conspiring to bring you closer.

stiles glanced up from the textbook, his gaze locking onto yours. “you know, i never thought chemistry could be this exciting.” you chuckled, your eyes locking onto his. “oh, it can be. you just need the right elements.”

stiles leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a soft whisper. “i think we've found them.” your heart fluttered as his words hung in the air, the tension between you almost palpable. it was as if the world had faded away, leaving just the two of you, lost in each other's eyes.

however, not all stories have a fairy tale ending. the following day, as you walked through the crowded halls of beacon hills high school, you couldn't help but notice the worried glances exchanged between jackson and lydia. it wasn't long before they approached stiles, pulling him aside for a serious conversation.

you watched from a distance, trying to read their expressions. their faces were stern, their words intense, and it became clear that they were voicing their concerns about your growing relationship with stiles. their gestures were dramatic, arms flailing as they argued vehemently.

stiles, on the other hand, seemed torn between his loyalty to you and his desire to avoid causing you any harm. the weight of their words hung heavily on his shoulders, and he looked conflicted, glancing in your direction several times during the conversation.

finally, jackson pointed forcefully in your direction, and lydia gave stiles an ultimatum. it was clear from the way she spoke that they believed your relationship with stiles was jeopardizing your reputation as the school's head cheerleader. feeling your heart sink, you watched as stiles reluctantly agreed to something. it was then that you realized what he had decided.

as he walked over to you, his expression was pained. he cleared his throat, and his voice was shaky as he spoke, “we need to talk.” the knot in your stomach tightened as you followed him to a quieter spot, away from prying eyes. you knew that something had changed, and you dreaded what was about to come.

stiles took a deep breath, his eyes filled with regret. “look, (y/n), i've been thinking—i can't do this anymore.” confusion washed over you as you tried to comprehend his words. “do what?”

he sighed, his gaze dropping to the floor. “us. our— thing. it's not good for you. i don't want to mess up your life and your image.” your heart ached as the realization hit you. he was ending things, breaking off the connection that had felt so incredibly real and promising just moments ago. tears welled up in your eyes, but you fought to keep them at bay.

“but stiles,” you began, your voice trembling, “i don't care about that stuff. i care about you.” he looked at you with sadness in his eyes, as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “i care about you too, (y/n). that's why i have to do this. i can't let you throw everything away for me.”

with those words, stiles walked away, leaving you heartbroken and miserable. the world around you seemed to blur, and the cheerful chatter of your classmates became a distant hum. the love that had blossomed between you and stiles had been torn apart, and the pain of that loss was almost unbearable. as you stood there, trying to hold back tears, you couldn't help but wonder if you would ever find a way to mend your broken heart and make sense of the whirlwind romance that had been so abruptly extinguished.

the following days were a torment for you, as the misery of losing stiles weighed heavily on your heart. every glance in the hallways, every moment between classes, was marked by his absence. stiles refused to meet your gaze, as if he had become a ghost in the very halls he used to roam. it was as if he had vanished from your life completely, leaving behind a void that you couldn't fill.

you would catch glimpses of him in the distance, talking to scott or discussing some new supernatural mystery with his friends, but he never so much as acknowledged your presence. the playful sarcasm that had once defined your interactions was replaced by an agonizing silence.

one day, as you sat in the history classroom, unable to concentrate on the lesson, the pain became too much to bear. the tears that had been threatening to spill finally overcame your efforts to hold them back. it was as if a dam had burst, and the emotions you had been bottling up for days now flowed freely.

with a choked sob, you stormed out of the classroom, not caring about the bewildered looks from your classmates or the concerned voice of your teacher calling after you. the only thing that mattered was finding a place to let it all out.

you stumbled into the nearest bathroom, hastily locking yourself in one of the stalls. the tiles were cool against your clammy palms as you leaned against the door, tears streaming down your face. you cried not only for the love you had lost but for the pain of losing a friend, too. it was a loss that cut deeper than any breakup. minutes turned into hours as you allowed yourself to grieve, the bathroom offering a solitary refuge where you could let your emotions run their course. the echoing sobs seemed to reverberate off the cold, unforgiving walls, a testament to the turmoil that had taken hold of your heart.

finally, after what felt like an eternity, you took a deep, shuddering breath. you knew you couldn't let this pain consume you forever. you had a game to prepare for, a team that depended on you, and an audience that expected nothing but perfection. with trembling hands, you wiped away the tears, determined to put on a brave face and push through the heartache that threatened to engulf you. you knew that the moment you stepped back onto that field, you had to be the confident, charismatic cheerleader everyone expected you to be. the show must go on, no matter how shattered your heart felt.

summoning all the strength you could muster, you composed yourself, fixing your makeup and taking a moment to gather your thoughts. as you looked at your reflection in the bathroom mirror, you saw not just the tear-streaked face of someone who had loved and lost, but a resilient young woman ready to face the world, no matter the obstacles in her path.

with a deep breath, you opened the bathroom door, leaving behind the echoes of your despair and stepping back into the world outside. it was time to prepare for the game, to rally your team, and to prove that you were more than just a reputation or a broken heart. you were a fighter, and no matter how tough the game got, you were ready to give it your all, even if it meant hiding the pain that still lingered beneath the surface.

when the night of the big game had arrived, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. the lacrosse field was bathed in the warm glow of stadium lights, and the stands were filled to capacity with enthusiastic fans. as the head cheerleader, you were responsible for rallying the crowd and boosting the team's spirits. it was a role you had always embraced with enthusiasm, but tonight, it carried a weight of significance that went beyond the cheer routines.

as the game began, your squad performed flawlessly, their synchronized movements and infectious energy setting the tone for the evening. the cheers of “go, team, go!” and “beacon hills, all the way!” reverberated through the stadium, matching the rhythm of your pounding heart. however, something was different tonight. You couldn't help but notice stiles on the bench, something he had chosen to do voluntarily. it took you by surprise that he was there, watching you with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine. the realization that he had come to support you, despite the pain of your recent breakup, filled your heart with a mixture of gratitude and longing.

the game unfolded with exhilarating intensity, and your school's team played with unmatched determination. beacon hills high school was on fire, and the scoreboard reflected their dominance. the cheers grew louder, and the excitement in the air was palpable.

then, the final buzzer sounded, and victory was theirs. your school had won, and the crowd erupted in a deafening roar of celebration. as the head cheerleader, it was your moment to shine, your moment to address the crowd.

stepping forward with the microphone in hand, you felt the eyes of thousands fixated on you. your voice trembled slightly as you began to speak, “ladies and gentlemen, tonight, we've witnessed a remarkable victory on this field. but there's someone special i'd like to dedicate this win to.” silence fell over the stadium as you locked eyes with stiles. in that moment, all the pain and uncertainty melted away, leaving only the burning intensity of your feelings for him.

“i know this might be unexpected, but I can't hold it in any longer,” you continued, your voice unwavering. “i want to dedicate this win to someone who has shown me the true meaning of courage and love, even when it meant sacrificing his own happiness.”

the crowd leaned in, captivated by your words, as you confessed in front of everyone, “i'm in love with stiles stilinski.”

a hushed gasp swept through the crowd, followed by a moment of stunned silence. then, as if on cue, applause erupted, drowning out any doubts or judgments that might have lingered. the stadium thundered with cheers and claps, showing their support for your courageous declaration.

and then, as if drawn by an irresistible force, stiles ran onto the field, his eyes locked onto yours. in the midst of the celebration, he reached you, capturing your lips in a sweet and passionate kiss. the world around you disappeared, leaving only the two of you in that perfect moment.

breaking the kiss, stiles cupped your face in his hands, his eyes glistening with emotion. “i love you,” he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity and devotion. tears of joy welled up in your eyes as you replied, “i love you too, stiles.”

with the cheers of the crowd still echoing around you, you both embraced, knowing that in each other's arms, you had found a love that was worth every obstacle and sacrifice. the night that had begun with uncertainty and heartache had transformed into a storybook ending, proving that love could conquer all, even in the most unexpected and public of declarations.

#teen wolf #tw #teen wolf imagine #teen wolf fanfiction #teen wolf smut #teen wolf angst #teen wolf fluff #stiles stilinski #stiles #stiles stilinski fanfiction #stiles stilinski imagine #stiles stilinski smut #stiles stilinski angst #stiles stilinski fluff #stiles smut #teen wolf stiles #stiles x reader smut #stiles stilinski x reader

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sophie-hatter-jenkins · 6 months

Text

Hair

Written for @hinnymicrofic November 2023 - Prompt 10

School year 96/97, told through the medium of Hair

He first noticed Ginny’s hair in October, at Quidditch practice. Well, not so much noticed, because of course he had noticed before that she had hair in a general sense. She obviously wasn’t bald, was she? No, it was more like he paid particular attention to her hair, specifically. It happened when she dived sharply for a loose quaffle, twisting as she went, and whatever she’d used to clip it up to her head came loose. Suddenly, her hair was tumbling behind her, first as she hurtled towards the grass, then as she soared upwards, aiming for the hoops. It caught the late afternoon sun, and almost seemed to glow, like flames streaking through the air behind her. Ron saved her shot (with his face. Classic.), and as she pulled up in front of him, face alight with laughter, her hair fell forward, like a cloud around her shoulders. Harry decided the odd feeling in his stomach was hunger - must be time to head back up for dinner.

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Ginny was grateful to Dean, checking over her Charms essay, really she was, but honestly, it was a bit dull, just sat there in the common room, waiting. Her gaze fell idly on the table in the corner, where Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting, deep in conversation. Harry had his back to her, and, for want of anything better to do, she traced the line of his hair with her eyes, where it fell, curling just slightly towards his collar. She imagined running her finger there, feeling where his hairline met the pale skin of his neck, and she shivered slightly.

“It’s pretty good, Ginny. You just need to add a bit more about the Substantive charm’s practical uses and then I think you’ve covered everything.”

Ginny jumped at the sound of Dean’s voice, suddenly feeling very guilty about the direction of her thoughts, and more than a little surprised. I mean, where the fuck did that even come from?

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The Slug Club Christmas party was every bit as appalling as Harry had feared. Luna’s company helped to make it just about bearable, as did the amusing spectacle of Hermione attempting to avoid McLaggan. The biggest problem was that no matter how many utterly terrifying/incredibly dull/undoubtedly influential (delete as applicable) people Slughorn seemed determined to introduce him to, Harry found his attention constantly drawn to the flashes of long, red hair from across the room, everytime it caught the candlelight. It was impossible to miss, a beacon that always drew his gaze. But as always, Ginny remained just out of his reach.

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At breakfast, before the Hufflepuff match, Ginny watched Harry carefully. Sure enough, she quickly picked up the signs that he was stressed. Losing Katie was bad enough, but Ron’s (ahem) mishap and Cormac’s subsequent recruitment was significantly more concerning. It seemed like every few seconds, he’d run his fingers through his hair. Long, slender, strong fingers, oddly delicate despite the callouses from his wand and the handle of his firebolt, though why her stupid brain insisted on noticing that, she had no idea. Well okay, maybe she had a bit of an idea. But anyway, the constant agitation made his hair stick up in spiky black tufts, even more unruly than usual - which was really saying something, wasn’t it?

Maybe it would be neater if he cut it shorter? she thought - but he wouldn’t like that, would he? Because if it was shorter, it wouldn’t flop down over his forehead, covering his scar. And, now she came to think about it, she wouldn’t like it either. There was something strangely hot about he always looked so dishevelled, like he had perennially just got out of bed. She wondered, not for the first time, whether it was as soft as it appeared? She imagined running her own fingers through it, the feeling of it against the delicate skin between her fingers and… oh crap, she didn’t just sigh out loud, did she?

“Everything okay, Ginny?” enquired Hermione, her tone solicitous, but her expression irritatingly knowing. “You look a bit… flushed.”

“Yes, fine,” she answered, smoothly, returning Hermione’s arched eyebrow with one of her own. “Just a bit warm in here, isn’t it?”

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By the time Harry arrived at The Burrow at Easter, he knew he was in real trouble. Being in such close proximity to Ginny was… problematic. Everything about her was just so bloody attractive, and it did things to him. Case in point: when Hermione was finally persuaded to make up the numbers for two-aside Quidditch. Harry honestly didn’t expect this to be an issue - after all, he’d played Quidditch with Ginny countless times, and okay it was often a bit distracting, but this was something else. Obviously, her lips didn’t help, pink and slightly parted as she concentrated on stealing the quaffle from under his nose, but the main difference was the way she was dressed, in the unseasonably warm weather. Those unnecessarily short shorts, and the way her t-shirt stretched over her chest… well, anyway. He needed something else to focus on, and fast. Ron! Yes, genius. Thinking of Ron, instant mood killer. Ron with his ginger hair. It was the exact same shade as Ginny’s ginger hair, wasn’t it? Ron’s ginger hair, which was cut short, and not at all like Ginny’s which was long and thick and shiny, and currently braided into a thick plait, hanging down her back towards… Oh Merlin! This isn’t helping AT ALL!

“Harry! Look out!”

Unfortunately, Hermione’s warning came way too late, but at least sorting out the minor cuts and bruises from his collision with the tree branch and subsequent tumble to the ground gave him something else to think about.

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The moment they stepped through the portrait hole, Harry pressed her against the wall, his mouth on hers. With only a moment of hesitation, Ginny allowed her hands to slip up his back, feeling his shoulders tense at her touch, before sliding them through his hair.

Yeah, I was right, she thought to herself, it really is as soft as it looks.

After that, she really didn’t do much in the way of thinking at all.

#hinny microfic #ginny weasley #harry potter #harry x ginny #hinny #Not really micro is it?#Got a bit carried away with this one #School year 96/97 told through the medium of hair

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casparscunttt16 · 9 months

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"You're jealous" |Stiles Stilinski|Oneshot

Jealous!Stiles x Reader.

Summary: In which your friend Javier is tutoring you for an upcoming quiz in your Spanish class leading you to be spending more time with him rather than your boyfriend Stiles.

Warnings: Jealous Stiles, slight arguing.

(Gif not mine)

I walk through the busy hallways of Beacon Hills High, rushing to my locker hoping I can be quick enough to not get caught in a group of students. I make it to my locker and put away my books and binders, then heading down the hallway towards the cafeteria. "Hey wait up!" I hear a familiar voice and I turn to see my friend Javier. "Oh hi Javi" I smile at the messy haired boy, and pull him into a hug.

"Hey do you wanna start studying now? We can definitely do so in the cafeteria if you're okay with that" he chirped with a toothy grin. "Of course whatever works for you works for me" I respond as we walk down the hallway side by side. "Thanks for tutoring me by the way I really appreciate" I add on. "The least I can do for you helping me snag a date with Danny" he chuckles. "Sooo how's that going?" I drag out.

Javier tells me how it's going with him and Danny and I smile listening to the details of how the date went, how things are between them, if they'll be anymore dates in the future etc. We walk into the cafeteria and sit at a table, Javier places his bag on the table and takes out his laptop, flash cards, highlighters and other things for studying. About 10 minutes into the study session my boyfriend walks over to the two of us.

"Hey baby" he coos hugging me from behind and resting his head on mine. "Hi babe" I say turning around and kissing his lips. "Did you wanna go out to lunch with me and Scott?" he asks casually because on most days thats what we did. "No I can't I'm studying with Javier, maybe after school we can hangout?" I suggest raising an eyebrow. "No yeah that's fine" He smiles and kisses my forehead then walking off to Scott.

"Well isn't he cute" Javier compliments "How long have you two been a thing?" he asks as he picks up the flash cards. "He's very cute, but almost two years. A year and nine months next month" Javier smiles at my answer then parts his lips to speak. "Okay let's get started on fill in the blank, I think that'd be easiest".

Throughout the remainder of the week I was hanging out with Javier in and out of school to prepare for this Spanish quiz, it'll be about 70 percent of our grade because it's about everything we've learned this quarter so this was not something I wanted to take lightly y'know? Today was Thursday and the quiz was on Friday. It was the end of the school day and Javier walked me out to the parking lot. "You're going to do great, girl don't even stress" Javier reassures me then pulling me into a tight hug. "Thanks Javi, but you're literally crushing me" I squirm as he laughs. "Sorry" He smiles before we part ways.

I see Stiles in the distance standing by his jeep as he always did to take me home. I walk over to him eagerly. "Hi Stiles" I kiss his cheek and he looks down at me and rolls his eyes. "What? Did I do something" I ask confused. "Why don't you go kiss Javier since you seem to love his company" he says jealousy dripping off his tongue as he pouts slightly. "Stiles you do know he's been tutoring me right?" I scoff in a bit of irritation as I get in the passenger seat and buckles myself in. "Yeah but it's so painfully obvious he's into you and you're oblivious to it" he says through gritted teeth, tightening his grip on the steering wheel as we pull out of the parking lot and begin driving on the main road. "Stiles he is not into me." I respond in a flat tone, the car fills with silence between us for a few minutes, the radio in the background quietly. "You're jealous" I state in a firm yet questioning tone.

Part 2?

#teen wolf stiles #stiles stilinski x reader #stiles stilinski #teen wolf #teenwolf #stiles stilinski x you #stiles x you #no use of y/n #jealous stiles #jealous

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taeswolfie · 7 months

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𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 : 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑶𝒏𝒆

☽︎𝑾𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏☾︎

Ch.2

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Stiles Stilinski x fem!Reader

Word count: 9.3k

a/n: I started writing this in November of 2020 on Wattpad and finished a few years later, and although it's kind of old now it's still one of my favorite things I have written so far. I wanted to give it a bit of new life here on Tumblr. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I had writing it. There were about 90 chapters so wish me luck on this massive, and probably slow, migration 😅

A teenage girl sits cross legged in the middle of her bed dressed in pajamas. A book is held up in front of her. The cover of black leather has no title but the Triple Moon is embossed vertically in the middle, a moonstone sewn into the middle moon. Her head moves slightly as she reads and she mutters the words under her breath. She suddenly looks towards her window, a flash of purple is reflected when her eyes meet themselves in the glass before she blinks and they're back to their original color. She tilts her head a bit as if listening for something and squints her eyes before she gets up. The book closes and plops down onto the covers in front of her as she gets up, her hands unfolding from their place in her lap.

She pauses a few steps from her window with a sigh and a roll of her eyes. She takes the last few steps and quickly pulls open the window, sticking her head out and startling the brunette boy currently scaling the trellis on the side of the house. "What are you doing, Stiles?" She asked once he regained his hold on the structure.

"God! Y/n! You nearly scared me to death! How did you know I was here?" He asked, slightly out of breath from the combination of climbing the side of her house and getting a scare.

She shrugged a shoulder. "I heard you."

"How?! I was super careful not to make a sound. Also why weren't you answering your phone?"

"Not careful enough, apparently. And I was busy reading. I didn't want to be disturbed. Now, again, what are you doing, Stiles?"

"I saw my dad leave like 40 minutes ago. Dispatch called, everyone from the Beacon Department and even State Police were called in because two joggers found a body in the woods."

"No."

"No? What do you mean no?"

"I mean no. School starts tomorrow and I don't want to spend my last night of summer traipsing through the woods looking for a body."

"Half body." He corrected.

"Let me rephrase. I don't want to spend my last night of summer traipsing through the woods looking for a half body. Go drag Scott out of bed and make him go with you."

"Uh, he already did." Scott's voice drifted up to the two and Y/n looked past Stiles to see Scott giving her a sheepish grin.

She gave him an unimpressed look before leveling it on Stiles. "There's no way I'm gonna get you to leave me alone tonight, is there?"

"Nope." He grinned at her when she rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Fine." She pulled her head back in her room and stalked over to her closet.

"What are you doing?" She glanced behind her to see Stiles now haphazardly hanging onto her window sill.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm putting on some clothes. I don't want to go out, but I don't want to go without proper clothing more. Now, you can either watch me change or get off my window, but choose wisely."

He flushed a bit as he started to stammer. "Uh-um- I'm uh- I'm gonna go. Down there. With Scott."

"Good choice." She squinted her eyes at him with a sarcastic smile. Once he was out of sight and on the ground with a quiet 'thump' she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Idiot." She mumbled under her breath but still couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her lips. She hurried and got dressed in a sweater and some pants before climbing onto her window sill and down the trellis, leaving her window ajar for when she came back. When she was on solid ground she made her way to the blue Jeep that she has come to associate as purely Stiles.

Stiles comes to a stop in front of a sign labeled Beacon Hills Preserve No Entry After Dark. All three teens hop out of the Jeep, Stiles holds a flashlight. "We're seriously doing this?" Scott asked with worry in his tone.

"You're the one who's always bitching that nothing ever happens in this town." Stiles shot back with a pat on Scott's shoulder when he passed. Y/n comes up next to Scott with a sigh.

"He's kinda got you there, Scotty." She also pats his shoulder before reluctantly following behind the overly excited boy.

"I was trying to get a good night's sleep before practice tomorrow." Scott also reluctantly followed.

"Right, 'cause sitting on the bench is such a grueling effort." Stiles retorted from five steps ahead of them.

"Hey, be nice Stilinski. Scott's trying to play this year."

"I will play this year." Scott corrected. "In fact, I'm making first line."

"Hey, that's the spirit." Y/n smiled at Scott with a nudge that he returned with a smile of his own.

"Everyone should have a dream, even a pathetically unrealistic one." Stiles said.

"Like chasing after Lydia Martin." Y/n mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" Stiles couldn't hear her over the crunching of leaves and Scott's scoff.

"I said 'how much can these woods darken?'' Stiles threw a questioning glance over his shoulder at Y/n's innocent expression. He then looked at Scott, but the shaggy haired boy just shrugged. Stiles shook his head and continued looking forward as Y/n smirked to herself.

"Just out of curiosity, which half of the body are we looking for?" Scott asked.

Stiles slowed in his walking for a moment. "Huh! I didn't even think about that." He chuckled.

"I've got a question too." Y/n said with a finger raised slightly in the air. "What if whoever killed this person is still out here?"

"Also something I didn't think about."

"Of course you didn't." Y/n shook her head.

"It's... comforting to know you've planned this out with your usual attention to detail." Scott joked as they climbed up a steep incline making him start to breathe a bit harder.

"I know."

"Maybe the severe asthmatic should be the one holding the flashlight, huh?" Scott leaned against a tree and pulled out his inhaler. Y/n stopped with him as Stiles kept going.

"You good, Scott?" She asked, concerned.

He simply nodded as he shook the inhaler and waved her on. She took a few steps still looking at him before facing forward as he continued to walk with her. Stiles stumbles to the ground to lay on his stomach, Y/n following more gracefully with Scott falling beside her like Stiles had. Scott wheezes as they watch several flashlight beams scan the area, the figures holding them looking for any sign of the other half of the body.

"Okay, come on!" Stiles suddenly jumps up and runs in the direction of the other people.

"Stiles!" Scott calls but he doesn't answer.

Y/n groans. "I'll go after him." Y/n also jumps up and starts running after him.

Scott takes a puff of his inhaler before he also follows. "Wait up!" The three run through the woods, Y/n whisper yelling at Stiles at how much of an idiot he's being. "Stiles!" Scott also tries to whisper yell at the boy.

"Stiles, stop!" Y/n's forceful tone finally gets him to slow to a walk, looking behind him for his friends. Y/n catches up just as a dog barks at him, scaring him into falling back, which happened to be right into Y/n, sending both teens to the ground.

"Hold it right there!" An officer yells, the dog still barking as lights are shined on the two.

"Hang on, hang on!" Another voice calls over the ruckus. "This little delinquent belongs to me."

"Get off me, you oaf! You're crushing my ribs." Y/n groans with effort as she pushes Stiles off while he tries desperately to get up.

"Dad, how are you doing?" Stiles greets his father once he manages to stop crushing his friend.

"Y/n." Noah Stilinski greets.

"Hello Sheriff." She gives an innocent smile as she stands.

"Does he know you're out here?" Y/n didn't need him to name anyone to know who he was talking about.

"Would you believe me if I said yes?" He just looked at her and she looked away. "Yeah, thought not."

"So, do you, uh, listen in to all of my phone calls?" He then asks Stiles.

"No, heh." Stiles tries to deny, but then, "Well, not the boring ones." Y/n shakes her head.

"Now, where's your usual partner in crime?"

"Who, Scott?"

"No, the Gingerbread Man. Yes, he means Scott!" Y/n sasses before she gives the Sheriff a polite smile. "Scott's not with us, right now. He said he wanted to get a good night's rest for tomorrow's practice and he didn't want to come." What she said wasn't a lie, Scott wasn't with them because he trailed behind and he had said those words earlier.

Stiles nodded in agreement with what she had said. "It's just us. In the woods. Alone."

She gave him a short jab in the side with her elbow and a look that said shut up. Noah raises his flashlight and scans the surrounding trees. "Scott, you out there? Scott?" He calls but gets no answer. He sighs and lowers the light. "Well, young man, I'm gonna walk you back to your car. And you and I are gonna have a conversation about something called invasion of privacy." He grabs the scruff of Stiles' clothes and pulls him along, glancing back at Y/n. "And you, missy, I'm gonna give you a ride back home."

"Yes, sir. That sounds great actually." She takes one more look out at the trees with a small frown before following the Stilinski's.

After Noah made sure Stiles got in his car and drove away, he led Y/n to his car where she got in the front seat. Thunder crashes in the distance as she stares out of the front window, a worried look on her face. Rain gently patters against the road. She fidgets in her seat, an uneasy feeling in her gut. Her head whips towards the passenger window as she faintly hears a distant howl, the feeling getting just a bit worse.

When Noah pulls in front of Y/n's home she winces at the sight of Alan Deaton on the porch and sighs. "Thanks for the ride, Sheriff." Y/n glumly says as she unbuckles.

"No problem." He waves goodbye when she gets out and she watches him leave, prolonging the time before she has to face her guardian.

"Y/n." He says in his normal cool tone.

She slowly turns to look at him. "Yes, Alan?"

"Why did I get a call saying that you were wandering around in the woods in the middle of the night?"

"Because I was." She responded plainly.

"Why?"

"Stiles, being Stiles, listened in on the Sheriff's phone call and he heard about a dead body being found, but it was only half, and there was a search party for the other half and Stiles wanted to be the one to find it. He dragged Scott out too, and what kind of a best friend would I be if I had let them go by themselves? But now what kind of best friend am I that I left one of them in the woods after we were caught." She frowned.

"Who?"

"Scott. The Sheriff didn't see him because he hid behind a tree."

"And you know that how?"

"I heard him."

"I see." He nods in understanding. "I'm sure he'll be fine. Scott's a strong boy, he'll be okay. Come on, let's get inside. School starts tomorrow."

"Yeah." She mumbled. He held his arms out and she obliged by hugging him. He pulls away but still keeps an arm over her shoulder. Just before she steps inside she looks over her shoulder, back to the woods.

"What's wrong?"

She shakes her head a bit, a frown still tugging at her lips. "I don't know. Just a feeling." She sighs as she turns away and follows him into the house.

…

Y/n rides into the parking lot of Beacon Hills High School on her bike. She balances on one foot as she smoothly glides up to the bike rack, using her other foot as a brake once she's close enough. She notices Scott's bike and Jackson's Porsche as she's fixing up her bike lock. "Oh, yay, I'm parked next to him." She mutters sarcastically. She turns to face the school, fixing her bag on her shoulder, and takes a deep breath. "First day back to school. What a joy." With one more breath she makes her way to the front doors. She scans the crowd and spots Scott and Stiles, the former holding up his shirt to expose his side. Y/n squints and catches a red splotch on the gauze he has taped there before he puts it down and the two continue walking. She picks up her pace and jogs to the two, catching up when they stop again and she can clearly hear what they're saying.

"All right, well, if you don't believe me about the wolf, then you're definitely not gonna believe me about when I tell you I found the body." Scott's tone lowered with the last few words he spoke.

"What's this about a wolf?" Y/n asked once she stood next to the two, her curiosity piqued.

"Did you not just hear him about the body? Are you kidding me?" Stiles directed the last at Scott.

"No, I wish. I'm gonna have nightmares for a month."

"Oh, God, that is freakin' awesome."

"Yeah, awesome. You saw a wolf?" Y/n looked at Scott in question.

"No, but I heard one howling."

Y/n's brow furrowed a bit in worry but her thoughts are cut off by Stiles groaning out a sigh. "I already said that that was impossible. There are no wolves in California."

"You'd be surprised." She pointed out.

"Look, enough about the wolves. How are you focusing on that more than Scott found the body? I mean, this is seriously gonna be the best thing that's happened to this town since..." He trailed off as he spotted a particular strawberry blonde head. "Since the birth of Lydia Martin. Hey, Lydia... You look..." Lydia passes without a glance at Stiles but a small wave in greeting towards Y/n who returns the gesture. "Like you're gonna ignore me." Stiles sighs and looks at Scott. "You're the cause of this, you know?"

"Uh-huh." Scott 'agrees' with a smile.

"Draggin' me down to your nerd depths."

"Uh-huh." The three continue walking as the bell rings.

"I'm a nerd by association. I've been Scarlet Nerded by you. At least you haven't tarnished Y/n with your nerdy influence. How are you friends with Lydia, by the way? How did you get in there?" He rounds on Y/n.

She scoffs. "There's no 'in' to get to. We just so happen to be very best friends."

"I thought we were your best friends?" Scott points between himself and Stiles.

"You are, Scotty, don't worry." She pats his shoulder. "You're my guy best friends and she's my girl best friend."

"You think you could put in a good word for me so I can be her guy best friend?" Stiles asks with a hopeful tone.

"No." She shoots down immediately, giving a playful coo when he pouts and she lightly pinches his cheek. He bats her hand away with a laugh and the trio continue down the halls.

...

"As you all know, there indeed was a body found in the woods last night." Mr. Curtis informs as he writes on the white board. Scott shares a knowing smile with Y/n and Stiles, the h/c in the seat next to him with Stiles right behind her. "And I am sure your eager little minds are coming up with various macabre scenarios as to what happened. But I am here to tell you that the police have a suspect in custody," Mr. Curtiss turns to face the class, Scott throws a questioning look at Stiles who shrugs, "which means you can give your undivided attention to the syllabus which is on your desk outlining this semester."

Y/n picks up the paper to skim it over, barely glancing out the window when she heard the cell ringing outside. She sees a pretty brunette girl on the bench outside that she doesn't recognize yet doesn't really give it another thought. She looks back to her paper, but her eyes are drawn to movement beside her. She glances over and sees Scott looking around before rubbing his ear in confusion. She narrows her eyes at his actions and keeps watching him as his focus is drawn out the window and his eyes slowly sweep across the room until they stop at the door. A moment later the Vice Principal walks in with the brunette girl behind him.

"Class, this is our new student, Allison Argent. Please do your best to make her feel welcome." The VP leaves and the girl, Allison, moves to sit in the empty seat behind Scott. Y/n watches as Scott grabs one of his pens and turns to give it to Allison.

A confused look flashes across her face before it lights up with a smile. "Thanks."

"We'll begin with Kafka's Metamorphosis, on page 133." The teacher started speaking again as they looked at each other for a minute before Scott turned around. Y/n raised a brow at the exchange and caught Allison's confused look return. With one more glance at Scott Y/n turns back to her own papers, noting to herself to watch Scott a bit more closely.

...

The bell rings and students flood the halls. Scott fiddles with his locker's lock and glances down the hall spotting Allison. She looks over at him and smiles. He just blinks at her in a slight daze as Y/n comes up behind him. "Hey, Scott."

He turns to her. "Oh, hey, Y/n."

"I was meaning to ask, I saw you had a bandage on your side as I was catching up to you guys? What happened? Are you okay?" She asked in concern and he gave her an easy going smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Stiles doesn't believe me but I think a wolf bit me. It was dark and I couldn't see well but I heard a wolf howl."

"You're sure?"

"Pretty sure."

"Can I see? The bite I mean?"

"Yeah, sure." He glanced around before he lifted his shirt enough for her to see. She carefully pulled the top part of the bandage away and he winced. Quickly, but carefully, she put the bandage back and he let his shirt fall.

"Yeah, that's uh... That's some bite." Stiles came around to Scott's other side at that point and she tuned out their conversation as her mind swam with the new information and worry. She only snapped out of her head when Lydia called her name from down the hall. She was standing next to Allison and waving Y/n over. "I'll see you guys later." She said to the boys before she made her way over to Lydia and the new girl.

"Allison, this is my best friend, Y/n. Y/n, this is Allison." Lydia introduced.

"Nice to meet you." Y/n held her hand out which Allison took.

"You, too." Allison gives her a kind smile.

Jackson sidles up beside Lydia with an arm thrown around her. "Hey." She greets and gives him a kiss. Jackson spots Y/n and rolls his eyes.

"Y/n." He says in obligatory greeting.

"Jackson." She says boredly. The two proceed to ignore each other as they talk to Allison.

Across the hall Scott and Stiles watch the exchange as another girl stops beside them at the sight of the four. "Can someone tell me how new girl is here all of five minutes, and she's already hanging out with Lydia's clique?" The girl questions the two boys.

"Because she's hot." Stiles answers.

"Does that mean you think Y/n's hot?" Scott smirks at him.

"What?" Stiles looks at him almost offended. "I'm just saying beautiful people herd together."

"You just called Y/n beautiful." Scott's smile got wider as Stiles glared at him.

"Your point is?"

Scott shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing."

"I'm just stating facts. Y/n is obviously pretty hence why she's with Lydia and the new girl."

"I'm not saying anything." Stiles rolled his eyes as Scott just smiled at him and turned to the girl they were talking to. Scott's smile slowly fell as he looked back over at the four. His ears were able to pick up the conversation taking place across the hall.

"So, this weekend, there's a party." Lydia hints to Allison.

"A party?" The brunette questions.

"Yeah, Friday night." Jackson informs. "You should come."

"Uh, I can't. It's Family Night this Friday. Thanks for asking."

"You sure? I mean, everyone's going after the scrimmage. Even Hermit over there is going." Jackson gestured towards Y/n and she gave him a sarcastic laugh with squinted eyes.

"You mean like football?"

"Football's a joke in Beacon."

"The sport here is lacrosse." Y/n informed. "It's like... A big thing."

"We've won the State Championship for the past three years."

"Because of a certain Team Captain." Lydia smiled up at Jackson and fixed a piece of his hair.

"Well, we have practice in a few minutes. That is, if you don't have anywhere else-"

"Well, I was going to-"

"Perfect." Lydia cut Allison off. "You're coming." Lydia grabbed Allison's wrist with one hand and Y/n's with the other and started to pull them both along.

"Is she always like this?" Allison whispered to Y/n.

"You get used to it." Y/n shrugged with an unbothered expression.

...

Lydia leads the trio as they make their way to the stands and sit. Y/n spots Scott and Stiles already geared up and on the field. She gives them a wave when they look over although Y/n notices Scott wasn't looking at her but at the brunette next to her making her smirk to herself. Coach Finstock talks to Scott and Y/n sees him hand Scott the gear for goalie. Oof. That's gonna be rough. She thought as Scott takes position in front of the goal.

"Who is that?" Allison asks.

"On goal?" Y/n clarifies and when Allison nods she smiles. "That's Scott. He's one of my best friends." Y/n looked back at Scott to see him already looking in their direction with a tilted head and her smile dissolved into a slight frown. Coach blows the whistle and Scott grips at his head as if someone was shouting at him, Y/n's frown goes a little deeper. Another player throws the ball and it goes right into Scott's mask making him fall flat on his back. Stiles grimaces and Scott gets back up. He braces himself as another player throws the ball again, but this time he caught it.

He looks at it surprised and smiles. The lined up players all look around each other to see what McCall had done. Stiles sits up and yells, "Yeah!" Scott catches ball after ball and Stiles whoops. Y/n watches with raised brows and a disbelieving scoff.

"He seems like he's pretty good." Allison comments.

"Yeah, very good." Lydia agrees.

"Uh oh." Y/n mutters when she sees Jackson skip the line to take his shot at Scott. The air is tense as everyone watches Jackson run up and hurl the ball at Scott. But to everyone's surprise he swiftly catches it. Stiles jumps up, hooting in joy. Y/n stands with Lydia as the strawberry blonde cheers and Y/n cups her hands over her mouth. "GO SCOTT!"

"THAT'S MY FRIEND!" Stiles yells making Y/n laugh. Lydia screams some more cheers and Jackson glares over at her. When he catches her eye she just gives him a what? look and sits back down.

...

"I don't know what it was." Scott leads the way through the woods and across a small stream as his two friends follow him. "It was like I had all the time in the world to catch the ball. And it's not the only weird thing. I can... hear stuff I shouldn't be able to hear. Smell things."

"Smell things? Like what?" Stiles questions from behind Scott.

"Like Mint Mojito gum in your pocket. And Y/n smells like flowers."

"I do?" The girl muttered as she pinched her shirt and sniffed it, only smelling her laundry soap and a bit of animal from her time at the Animal Clinic. She then held her wrist up to her nose, focusing on her sense of smell, and there it was. A faint scent of flowers that clung to her skin like a mist. Something she had almost forgotten about because there wasn't anyone who would notice it like her.

The three pause as Stiles rummages through his jacket pockets. "I don't even have any Mint Mojito-" He cuts himself off as he pulls a slightly opened piece of gum from his pocket. Y/n raises a brow as Stiles looks up at Scott who gives him a see? gesture. They continue walking and Stiles shoves the gum back in his pocket. "So all this started with a bite."

"What if it's like an infection, like my body's flooding with adrenaline before I go into shock or something?"

"You know what? I actually think I've heard of this- it's a specific kind of infection."

"Are you serious?" They all stop again, Y/n looking between the two, nervousness flashing through her system as she realizes what Stiles is getting at, albeit jokingly, but this was anything but a joke to her.

"Yeah." Stiles puts his hands on his hips in seriousness. "Yeah, I think it's called Lycanthropy."

"What's that? Is it bad?" Scott worries.

Y/n folded her arms. "He's talking about Werewolfism."

"Yeah! You know, the full moon and the awrooo." Stiles howls. Scott lightly pushes him away and continues walking as Stiles laughs. "Hey, man..." He follows, an unusually quiet Y/n following. "Hey, you're the one who heard a wolf howling."

"Hey, there could be something seriously wrong with me." Scott frets.

"I know! You're a werewolf! Ow!" He rubs his arm from Y/n's sudden attempt to make him shut up. He looks at her in question and she glares at him.

"Don't joke around like that, Stiles." She catches up with Scott. "Ignore him. I'm sure that it's nothing too bad, okay?"

Scott just sighs and Stiles speaks up. "Okay, obviously I'm kidding. But if you see me in shop class trying to melt all the silver I can find, It's 'cause Friday's a full moon." While Scott ignores Stiles, Y/n bites her lip in worry. If it was just a random ordinary wolf, Scott should be fine. But if it wasn't... If it really was what she thinks it was, then things were going to get very complicated very soon.

Scott looks around on the ground but doesn't see anything. "No, I- I could have sworn this was it. I saw the body, the deer came running. I dropped my inhaler." Scott crouches to look through the leaves.

"Maybe the killer moved the body?" Y/n suggests.

"If he did, I hope he left my inhaler. Those things are like 80 bucks." Y/n chuckles a bit but when she feels another presence her head shoots up and she spots a broody looking man with dark hair and a black leather jacket. Stiles notices the man a second later and pats Scott to get his attention. Scott looks back and stands up to face the man.

The man starts walking closer to them at a brisk pace making Y/n take a few steps of her own to where she now stood in front of the boys. Used to her protectiveness neither of them give the action a second thought. "What are you doing here? Huh?" The man asks quickly. "This is private property."

"Sorry, we didn't know." Y/n speaks up for them. "We were just looking for something. You wouldn't have happened to see an inhaler around, would you?" Without another word the man pulls something from his pocket and tosses it towards Scott, but Y/n catches it from the air without looking away from him. She tossed the object back to Scott which he sees as his inhaler. After another moment of Y/n and the stranger staring each other down he turned and walked away. Once she was sure he wasn't coming back she turned to see Stiles gaping towards where he left and Scott frowning.

"All right, well, I've gotta get to work." Scott went to leave only to be stopped by Stiles.

"Guys, that was Derek Hale."

"Hale?" Y/n questioned, the name sounding vaguely familiar to her.

"You remember, right?" He asked Scott. "He's only a few years older than us. This was, like, a few years before you moved here, Y/n. His family burned to death in a fire, like, ten years ago."

"That's awful." Y/n frowned.

"I wonder what he's doing back?" Scott mused.

Stiles scoffs and shrugs his shoulders. "Come on." He started to walk away, Y/n and Scott following after one more look towards where Derek Hale disappeared to.

...

Y/n sat at home that night, curled up in the corner of the couch and worrying at her bottom lip. She stared into space as her mind swirled in a mixed mess. It was only the first day back at school and things are already kind of stressful. She didn't notice the other person in the room until the couch sagged next to her. She turned her head to see Alan giving her a concerned look. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know." She said honestly.

"Well, I don't think the wall will be alright if you keep burning a hole through it." She gave him a weak chuckle as she looked at the wall again. "What's bothering you?"

She sighed and shook her head a bit. "It's hard to explain."

"Do your best."

She was quiet while she tried to get her thoughts in order. "The other night, I heard a howl. It was distant but I know what I heard. And now I find out today, Scott heard it too and he swears a wolf bit him." She looked at him again, concern, worry, and a slight bit of fear written on her face. "He's been acting strange too. He's hearing things only I would normally hear, and he's smelling things like my natural scent of flowers. I think that... I'm scared that..." She sighed in frustration. "My thoughts are so jumbled."

He put a comforting hand on her knee. "Tell me what you feel, then, instead of what you think."

She closes her eyes for a moment and when they open, they glow a slight purple before dimming back to e/c. "I feel like he's been bit by an Alpha. He's turning."

Alan's face turns serious. "Well, if your feeling is correct, and I've never known it to be otherwise, then Scott's going to have a tough time ahead of him."

"Tell me about it." She huffed. "What do I do?"

He was quiet for a moment as he thought of what best to advise. "Just be there for him and help him. If he's really been bitten, he's going to need his friends more than ever."

"What if he or Stiles starts asking questions about what I know? I can't tell them about me." She frowned at the thought. She's never had a reason to reveal what she was and when they learn about the supernatural she'd be lying about it.

"They'll be too preoccupied with Scott's new transformation to wonder about it much. For now, at least, don't worry about it."

"I'll try. Thanks... For helping me." She gave him a small smile and hugged him which he returned. "It's what I'm here for." He patted her back and pulled away. He got up and left her to her thoughts again, but this time they weren't as stormy.

...

"Y/n! Y/n!" The girl looked to the spastic boy who was yelling her name across the lacrosse field as she sat on the stands. She squinted her eyes in confusion watching Stiles run like a bat out of hell and got off the stands so that he wouldn't pile-drive people just to get to her.

"Whoa, whoa!" She cried out when he nearly rammed into her and held tightly to her shoulders. "Calm down there, Speedy. What's wrong?"

"Scott was right." He blurted.

"What? Right about what?"

"Scott was right! About a wolf! There was animal hairs on the body, wolf hairs!"

She opened her mouth to speak, but he rushed off as he spotted Scott, which was probably a good thing because she wasn't even sure what she would say. Her feeling is turning out to be more and more correct as the seconds ticked by. As the game started Y/n could only watch in concern and a slight bit of awe as Scott easily skirted around other players and flipped over three other guys blocking his path to take a quick shot. The team gathered around Scott, praising his score and patting him on the shoulders. Coach called Scott over and she listened in, smiling a bit when he put Scott on first line. Maybe being a werewolf wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for him. Maybe it'll actually be good. Maybe.

But the pit in her stomach told her that maybe it won't be as good as she hopes. She looked over to Stiles to see him with a worried expression. She went over to him and sat next to him. "What's on your mind?" She nudged his shoulder lightly.

"I think- and I know this sounds crazy- but I think I might have been right. That joke I made the other day. I don't think it's much of a joke anymore. I think Scott is actually a werewolf." He looked at her in worry and all she could do was put a comforting arm around his shoulders.

"Whatever is happening here, we'll get through it. I know it." Stiles didn't answer. Just continued watching Scott in worry.

Later that day Y/n pedaled to a stop in front of Stiles' house, Scott doing the same a minute later. "Hey." She greeted.

"Hey. Do you know what Stiles called us for?" He quizzed.

"Nope." She shook her head. Well, she had a pretty good idea what it was. They both made their way into the house and up to Stiles' room where Scott knocked loudly.

The excitable boy opened the door and sighed in relief when he saw it was his friends who smiled at him. "Get in. You gotta see this thing." Stiles closed the door. "I've been up all night reading- websites, books. All this information."

"How much Adderall have you had today?" Scott asked.

"A lot." Y/n and Scott shared a smile at that. "Doesn't matter. Okay, just listen." Stiles urged.

"Oh, is this about the body? Did they find out who did it?" Scott sat his bag on the bed and sat himself down on the edge, Y/n placing herself next to him.

"No, they're still questioning people, even Derek Hale."

"Oh, the guy in the woods that we saw the other day." Scott realized.

"Yeah! Yes. But that's not it, okay?"

"What, then?"

"Remember the joke from the other day?" Stiles scoffed. "Not a joke anymore." When Scott didn't catch on to what he was saying he elaborated. "The wolf. The bite in the woods. I started doing all this reading. Do you even know why a wolf howls?"

"Should I?"

"It's like a signal." Y/n finally spoke up, both boys turning to face her. "A wolf howls to tell its pack where it is." When they both just stared at her she raised her brows at them. "What? I live with a vet and I like animals."

"Right." Stiles agreed. "So if you heard a wolf howling, that means others could have been nearby. Maybe even a whole pack of 'em."

"A whole pack of wolves?" Scott wondered.

"No... Werewolves." Y/n frowned. This had been exactly what she thought this was about. But, while she was nervous, Scott was unbelieving.

"Are you seriously wasting my time with this?" Scott got up and started to grab his bag. "You know I'm picking up Allison in an hour."

"Scott, maybe you should listen to him."

"Not you, too." Scott looked at Y/n, slightly aggravated.

"He's got a point. I mean, Scott, we saw you on the field today. What you did wasn't just amazing, it was practically miraculous."

"Exactly!" Stiles pointed at her excitedly.

"Yeah, so I made a good shot." Scott brushed it off.

"No, you made an incredible shot, I mean..." Stiles grabbed Scott's bag and put it back on the bed. "The way you moved, your speed, your reflexes. People can't just suddenly do that overnight. And- and there's the vision and the senses, and don't even think I don't notice that you don't need your inhaler anymore."

"Okay!" Scott interrupted. "Dude, I can't think about this now. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?! What? No! The full moon's tonight. Don't you get it?"

"What are you trying to do?" The tension in the room rises and Y/n stands, feeling the spiking emotions. The first moon is sometimes the worst for newer wolves. "I-I just made first line. I got a date with a girl who I can't believe wants to go out with me, and everything in my life is somehow perfect. Why are you trying to ruin it?"

"He's not trying to ruin anything, Scott. He's trying to help you."

"You're cursed, Scott. You know, and it's not just the moon that will cause you to physically change. It also just so happens to be when your bloodlust will be at its peak."

"Bloodlust?"

"It's like an uncontrollable urge to maim and kill." Y/n provided the info again.

"I'm already starting to feel an urge to kill, Y/n." Scott said irritably.

"I'm sure you are." Y/n muttered under her breath.

"You gotta hear this." Stiles continued to rant. He grabbed a book and searched for what he wanted from it. "'The change can be caused by anger or anything that raises your pulse.' All right? I haven't seen anyone raise your pulse like Allison does. You gotta cancel this date. I'm calling her right now." He moved around Scott to his bag and rummaged around for Scott's phone.

"Wait, Stiles. You shouldn't-" Y/n tried to warn but she was cut off by Scott.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm canceling the date." Stiles had finally retrieved the device.

"No, give it to me!" Y/n felt heat flush her body as she felt Scott's anger reach a crescendo making him grab Stiles and shove him against the wall, fist raised and ready to strike.

"Scott, stop!" Y/n yelled forcefully. Scott's fist shook and he yelled as he swiped at Stiles' desk chair making it clatter to the floor.

Scott panted heavily as he looked between Y/n and Stiles. The air was thick as Scott realized what he was going to do. "I'm sorry." No one spoke. "I-I gotta go get ready for that party." He, more calmly, got his bag from the bed and went to the door, pausing to look at his friends again. "I'm sorry." And then he left, closing the door behind him.

Y/n let out a breath to calm herself as Stiles leaned his head back onto the wall and she looked over at him. "Are you okay?" She asked. He didn't answer but nodded his head a bit. Even with his assurance she wanted to assure herself so she went over to him and pulled him into a hug, which he gladly reciprocated. The two teens stood in silence for a moment before he pulled away with a sigh. She raised her brows in question and he nodded at her again.

"I'm good. Thanks." He gave her a small, appreciative smile.

"Anytime." He looked at his fallen chair and went over to it. He crouched down and picked it up, sitting it back on its wheels, but paused in his movements. He looked over his shoulder at Y/n with furrowed brows and moved for her to see. She frowned when she saw the three slash marks that scarred the chair from Scott's hit.

...

Y/n sat in her room and bounced her leg anxiously. The party was soon and she didn't want to go, she wasn't much of a party person unless she was in the mood for it, but tonight was the full moon and so she had to. She had to watch out for Scott. The first change is often the hardest and it'll be no different for him.

She jumped slightly when she heard a honk from outside. She looked out her window and smiled when she spotted the blue Jeep, giving Stiles a wave when he spotted her. She took one more glance in the mirror and flattened out any wrinkles in her clothes before she went downstairs. She spotted Alan on her way and stopped in front of him. "How do I look?" She asked.

He twirled a finger and she obliged by turning for him. When she faced him again he smiled. "Stunning as always." He finally said.

She rolled her eyes but still smiled. "You always say that."

"Because it's always true." He was silent for a moment, a tender look in his eyes. She felt a nostalgic feeling from him as he looked at her but also at something else, something not quite in the same space as them. "You look just like her."

A sad smile graced her features as she looked down and remembered her face. It's been a long time since she last saw her mother in person. Yeah, she has pictures, but it's not quite the same. The camera doesn't quite catch the proud gleam in M/n's eyes when Y/n showed off her growing skills. All she has is the memory that she desperately holds onto. And that's enough for now until she can see her again, one day in the future.

She looked back up at Alan and gave him a sudden hug. He huffed a laugh in amusement but hugged her back. "Thank you." Her voice was soft but he still heard her. He just squeezed her a bit tighter before they both pulled away. "Okay. I should go now. Stiles is waiting."

"Have fun. And be careful." He warned gently.

"I will." She gave him one more smile before she turned and rushed out the door and hopped into the Jeep. "Thanks for giving me a ride."

"No problem. You look really good, by the way." Stiles complimented.

"You don't look so bad yourself." They smiled and he started to drive to the party.

Music pounded through the house as teens danced together, several of them holding red or blue cups. Stiles and Y/n stood in the middle of moving bodies and looked around. "I don't see Scott." Stiles yelled over the noise and looked at her.

She took one more glance around. "He's probably not here yet. Stay in here. I'll keep an eye out for him outside."

"Sounds good." With that Y/n made her way to the backyard where more people were having a good time together. She looked around for her friend, but spotted someone unexpected. Her eyes narrowed as she made her way to the mysterious Hale, his eyes already watching her cautiously.

"I know what you are." She said as soon as she was close enough and folded her arms. "All I wanna know is, are you an Alpha?"

"No, I'm not."

"Show me." He rolled his eyes before they flashed a brilliant blue. She frowned at the color but decided to ignore it for now. "Okay. Then what do you want with Scott?"

"I'm just looking out for him. There are Hunters here."

A rush of fear coursed through her and she nearly stopped breathing. "What?" It came out a little more breathless than she intended, but wouldn't you be breathless too if you were presented with one of your biggest fears?

He didn't say anything else as his eyes were drawn behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Scott had arrived with Allison. Scott spotted them, looking between his friend and the stranger as a dog started barking. Derek looked behind him at the dog and then back at Scott, Y/n giving the canine creature a glance. Scott kept staring until Allison had gotten his attention. Derek took this chance to leave. Y/n gave the moon a nervous glance before returning to the party. She wandered aimlessly until a pair of familiar hands grabbed her and she found she was inside the house again. She looked up to see Stiles giving her a worried look.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

She opened her mouth to say something, but slowly shut it realizing she didn't really have anything to say. So she just settled with, "Yeah, I'm fine." A sudden pull in her gut told her that something was happening and that that something was Scott. "But I don't think Scott is." Not even a moment after she said that Scott had started to practically stumble into the house, sweat on his brow and breathing heavily.

"Yo, Scott, you good?" Stiles asked as he got closer.

"Are you okay?" Another girl asked yet he just bypassed everyone and made his way to his car, speeding off as fast as he could. He was gone by the time Y/n and Stiles made it outside and they just barely caught Allison getting into Derek's car and driving off.

Y/n huffed in frustration and grabbed Stiles' wrist. "Come on." She dragged him to his Jeep and he drove them to Scott's house. Melissa wasn't home as the two bounded up the steps and to Scott's door. That was probably for the best. She tried to open the door and found it was locked so she pounded on it instead.

"Go away." She heard his meak reply.

"Scott, it's us." Movement from the other side and the door opened just a crack. They tried to open it further but Scott wouldn't let them. "Let us in, Scott. We can help."

"No! Listen, you gotta find Allison."

"She's fine, all right?" Stiles assured. "We saw her get a ride from the party. She's- she's totally fine."

"No, I think I know who it is."

"You just let us in. We can try-"

"It's Derek. Derek Hale is the werewolf. He's the one that bit me. He's the one that killed the girl in the woods."

"Wait, no." Y/n tried to correct. "No, Scott, he didn't-" She was cut off.

"Scott.. Derek's the one who drove Allison from the party."

"Oh, shit." Y/n felt Scott's mood shift a second before the door slammed on them and was locked again.

Stiles banged on the door. "Scott!" Stiles kept trying the door as Y/n heard a thump. Her breath hitched when she heard a roar and she pushed Stiles from the door and out of the house. "It's too late. Just check on Allison. I'll try and follow Scott."

"Wait, what?! You can't go out there by yourself! You could get hurt! Whoa!" He nearly fell as Y/n practically shoved him into the Jeep.

"Don't worry, I can handle myself. Just go." She didn't give him anymore time to argue as she started sprinting towards the woods. There wasn't time to track him so she just went in the general direction she had heard him run for a bit before she resorted to getting some help. She stopped for a minute and closed her eyes. When she opened them they blazed with a violet glow and she looked around at the few people now standing around there. "Have you seen a boy run through here?" She got a few nods. "Please, show me which way he went." One by one the figures pointed and she continued running, now following the dead's guidance.

She felt them before she saw them, the wolves and the Hunters. Her eyes returned to e/c as she saw a flash of light and heard Scott's scream of pain. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw three Hunters there. Like a truck hitting her, memories flashed through her head. Running through the woods. She was crying and she heard her mother scream. "Y/n! Run, just run!"

She was snapped out of her flashback when she heard, who she assumed, the lead Hunter speak. "Take him." That's when she spotted Scott, shifted and pinned to a tree by an arrow through his forearm. Suddenly one of the other Hunters was yanked back and she caught a glimpse of Derek. A rush of adrenaline urged her forward and to Scott where she broke the arrow and pulled him away as Derek threw the second Hunter before following them.

The three ran through the woods until Scott collapsed to the ground against a tree, panting. When he turned around and sat with his back on the tree he was back to normal. Y/n dropped to her knees taking deep breaths, her hands gripping onto any fabric they could find to stop from shaking. Derek looked around to make sure they got away for now. "Who were they?" Scott asked.

"Hunters." Derek answered. "The kind that have been hunting us for centuries."

"Us? You mean you! You did this to me!" Scott jumped up from the ground and shouted angrily.

"Is it really so bad, Scott? That you can see better... Hear more clearly, move faster than any human could ever hope? You've been given something most people would kill for. The Bite is a gift."

"He should have had the choice to receive it." Y/n spoke up, finally finding her voice again. She shakily stood up, clenching her hands to stand stronger. "It should have been his decision."

"There's nothing to be done about that now. He has it."

"I don't want it." Scott said.

"You will. And you're gonna need me if you want to learn how to control it." Derek bent over and placed his hand on Scott's shoulder. "So you and me, Scott... We're brothers now." Derek walked away, leaving the teens by themselves. Scott gripped his injured arm and leaned his head back.

Y/n looked at him and his arm. She carefully made her way to his right so she could see it better. "Can I see?" She asked. He looked up at her like he was just realizing she was there but nodded and moved his hand. She gently took his arm and inspected the wound. It wasn't too bad, she could easily heal it. But the problem was healing it would raise more questions than she was willing to answer so soon. So instead she tore off a strip of her clothes, not really minding since she could always fix it later. She tied the fabric around his arm and he hissed at the contact. "Sorry." She pulled her hands away when she was done and looked up at him. "That should do for now. It might take a while, but you'll heal."

"Thank you." She gave him a small smile and a nod. She looked around with a sigh and stood up, holding a hand out to him.

"Come on. It's a ways before we get back home. Better start walking now." He took her hand, she helped him stand and they both started to trek through the woods.

...

By the time the sun was up Y/n and Scott were going down the side of the road, Scott still babying his injured arm. The sound of a car coming drew her attention and she looked over her shoulder, smiling in relief when she saw the most beautiful blue Jeep she had ever seen. She tugged on Scott's good arm to get him to turn as Stiles pulled to a stop next to them. Scott got into the front and Y/n happily hopped in the back, tossing a spare blanket at Scott before curling herself up in one and sprawling in the back.

"You know what actually worries me the most?" Scott asked after a while.

"If you say Allison, I'm gonna punch you in the head." Stiles responded.

"Leave the boy alone, Stilinski." Y/n mumbled tiredly from the back.

"She probably hates me now." Scott practically lamented.

"Ugh." Stiles sighed. "I doubt that. But you might want to come up with a pretty amazing apology. Or, you know, you could just... Tell her the truth and... Revel in the awesomeness of the fact that you're a frickin' werewolf." Scott gave him a look and Stiles backpedaled. "Okay, bad idea. Hey, we'll get through this." Stiles patted his arm. "Come on, if I have to, I'll chain you up myself on full moon nights and feed you live mice. I had a boa once. I could do it."

"I'm pretty sure l could get some puppy chow from the Clinic." Y/n offered with a sleepy smile. Scott scoffed at them with a smile and they continued their drive in silence.

After Stiles dropped Y/n off at home a few hours before school she closed the door behind her and just stood there for what felt like hours but was only a few minutes. Her eyes were glued to the floor, her mind filled with white noise. Alan had been waiting for her to get home and when she didn't come through the living room a bit after the door closed he decided to go to her. When he spotted her her expression looked almost exactly like it had years ago when she was a terrified little girl in front of his door, eyes watery with shadows of the past flickering in the e/c depths. This worried him because she wasn't one to be scared so easily. Something had to have happened that truly shook her.

She didn't seem to notice his presence, even when he was stood right in front of her. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders as if he was handling a scared animal, and by all rights, he was. Her eyes flicked up to his and she just stared at him for a moment. Then it seemed like the night's events finally caught up to her as her breath hitched and tears spilled down her cheeks.

She practically fell into him and he held her up, not asking any questions because right now, all she needed was to be comforted. He would get answers later when she calmed down and was finally able to tell him what happened without choking up. It was moments like those she was thankful that she had found Alan and had been taken in by him and she would always be grateful for it.

Ch.2

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elteccorp · 11 months

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ilovewriting06 · 4 months

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Hello, sorry for the inconvenience but I wanted to know if you can do one of Chris Argent where he is married to Yn and they are expecting their second daughter since Allison is the first, also that Peter has been obsessed with Yn since they have been in high school but Yn I have always been in love with Chris.

@allisonargent144, thanks for the request and it's no inconvenience, I love getting requests! I hope you enjoy your fic!

I also want to point out that I changed Allison's age to 16 and she never failed a grade because she wasn't moving all over the place. The Argent's are still hunter's but they actually stick to their code (kind of) and Chris has been in Beacon Hills since he was a child.

I still hate Gerard and Kate so Gerard still broke the code and was killed and Kate just never existed, no one needs that bitch for anything anyways.

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

I knock on the white door of Allison's room again as I yell, "Come on Allison! You're gonna be late for school."

There's a muffled grumble, "Fine! I'm up, Jesus, give me a minute."

I roll my eyes, teenagers, yay, "Watch your mouth young lady! If you aren't downstairs in the next ten minutes I'm coming in."

I can practically feel the eyeroll that my comment earned before she mumbles out an okay and I smile as I hear her stumbling across her room.

When I walk into the kitchen Chris looks up from one of his books and smiles, "She awake?" I hum in affirmation as I grab orange juice from the fridge, "Yeah, and from the attitude I got I'm going to bet she woke up to a surprise throughout the night."

Chris snorts as I place a kiss on his cheek and slide onto the barstool beside him. He closes his book after marking the page he was on and then turned to me, "And how's our other little princess?"

I sigh as I rub my stomach, "Energetic, she'll make a great soccer player if her kicking is anything to go by." He smiles and rubs my lower back, "Only a few more months and she won't be bruising your intestines anymore."

I lean into his touch after I take a sip of orange juice, "I can't wait, but I have been asking myself why we waited so long to have another baby. I mean, I had Allison when I was 18 and now I'm 34. I wasted my 20s. I'm putting this out here for future reference, I am all for having more kids but I refuse to get pregnant once I'm 40."

Chris laughs before grabbing his coffee, "I think we held off on more kids in our 20s because Peter decided to start his whole 'Y/n's rightfully mine' movement and my father went on a killing spree. You know, I saw him the other day and he asked me if we were still married. I told him yes and he walked away grumbling about how we need to get divorced."

I roll my eyes and snort, "That man just doesn't know when to give up, honestly wish he would have stayed dead. He's been chasing me for years and I tell him every time that I love you and I always have. Makes his eyes flash blue every single time."

Before Chris has time to respond are grumpy little gremlin comes stumbling into the kitchen and grabbing a coffee cup. I smile as she gets her coffee how she likes it before she turns around and there's a shy smile on her face.

She brushes a hand through her hair before coming over and giving me a hug, "Sorry, Mom, I woke up at like 3am and had to change sheets and get a shower."

I give Chris a look that says 'I told you' before pulling away from the hug and kissing Allison's temple, "It's okay Ally, I figured something happened."

As we're getting ready to leave to drop Allison off at school, because she doesn't want to get her license, I still don't understand that one, she turns to me and whispers, "Umm, can I talk to you in the car?"

I smile and nod, "Sure, Sweetheart, come on." I grab my keys before looking at Chris, "I'll take her today, I feel like she wants some privacy."

He nods and with that Allison and I are out the door.

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

I look at her at a stop light, "Alright, what's on your mind?"

She looks at me with a blush that I recognize almost immediately, oh this is going to be fun, Chris is going to lose his mind.

"Okay, well, do you remember Scott?" I raise an eyebrow before asking, "The bitten werewolf? The one with the really funny friend?"

She nods before speaking, "Yeah, yeah him. I was wondering if you could kind of break it to Dad that I'm dating him."

I let out a cackle and squeeze her hand, "I'll try my best, but I make no promises. He doesn't like the idea of werewolves dating Argent women."

She raises and eyebrow in question and I realize she never heard the story, "Oh my goodness, I never told you." She shakes her head and I smile, "Okay, so I met your Dad in high school, as you know. He was this attractive, older, 'bad boy' type and like every other girl my age I was enamored. Loved him from the first time he said hi."

Allison rolls her eyes with a smile as I continue, "Anyways, there was another boy, your Dad's age, named Peter." Her eyes widen, "Peter Hale? The one that bit Scott and used Lydia to resurrect him? Seriously, who uses 16 year old kids for that?"

I nod, "Yeah, that's him, anyways, he didn't know how to take no for an answer, especially after I started dating your Dad and found out about the supernatural."

She looks at me eager for details and I laugh, "Okay, well after my lest rejection to him in high school he went absolutely crazy. Like batshit crazy. Turned into a stalker and it got to the point where I was terrified he would hurt you to get to me. So, Gerard took things into his own hands and royally fucked everyone over. He did genuinely care about you but he also used Peter as an excuse to start a whole 'every supernatural creature deserves to die' lifestyle."

Allison's eyes widen, "The Hale house fire." I frown and nod, "So many undeserving people suffered, even Peter didn't deserve that, none of them did."

Allison frowns before asking, "So, what happened on your final rejection to Peter?"

I snort before telling her the story, "Okay, it was senior year and you know your father and I got married the weekend after I turned 18. Well, the last rejection in high school happened a few weeks before I turned 18...."

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

Flashback-

"Hey, Beautiful." I roll my eyes as I slam my locker shut to come face to face with Peter Hale. I roll my eyes before spinning on my heel to walk away. I groan slightly when I hear feet following behind me, "Come on, Beautiful, just one date."

I stop and spin around smacking the side of my face with my ponytail in the process. I look him in the eyes, before speaking "No, I already told you, I'm not interested. How many times do I have to say that?"

I spin around again and start marching down the hall to help with cheer practice but I'm stopped by a hand grabbing my forearm forcing me to stop. I huff and turn to look at Peter before ripping my arm out of his hold, "Peter, look, I've told you a million times that I'm in love with Chris. I love him and we're actually actually getting married in a few weeks, so I think it's time you got over your obsession with me."

Peter's eyes flash blue and I frown remembering the reason behind the different eye colors of a werewolf. His eyes return to their normal blue before he growls, "Why the hell are you marrying him?"

I take a deep breath trying to maintain my patience before replying, "Well for starters I love him, and maybe if you used your werewolf senses you'd know the other reason."

I cross my arms as Peter's eyes close and he focuses on his senses. His eyes fly open, lit up in the supernatural electric blue before he yells, "You're pregnant!"

I smile and nod, "Yeah, we were already engaged when I found out but we moved the wedding up a few months."

"Get rid of it."

My eyes widen and my mouth falls open, "Excuse me! What the hell, Peter?! I'm not getting rid of my baby, I have no reason to and even if I did I still wouldn't!"

He growls, eyes still glowing blue, "It should be my baby, not some low life Argent."

This time I growl, "Fuck this! Peter, get this through your stubborn, thick ass skull, we will never happen, ever! I'm in love with Chris, and I'm never going to love you! I never have and I never will! So, just leave me, Chris, and our child the hell alone or so help me god I'll put you down myself."

I storm away from him and out the doors before he has a chance to respond.

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

Present Time-

"Holy shit, Mom, I never knew you were so badass and don't even yell at me for my language you know it's true."

I roll my eyes and put the car in park, "Look, perfect timing, and maybe just a little."

She grabs her bag and jumps out the door but before she closes the door I yell her name, "Allison!" She turns around and tilts her head in question, "I'll talk to your Dad, but no promises it'll end pretty."

She smiles and cheers, "Yes! You're the best, Mom."

She runs off slamming the door and I watch as she runs straight to Scott excitedly talking to him. He looks up and makes eye contact with me before smiling and waving. I smile and wave back before remembering something.

I pull up to where Scott, Stiles, and Allison are talking with the window down and I catch part of there conversation, "Guys, my Mom just told me that when she was in high school Peter Hale was obsessed with her and when he tried to keep her from having me and marrying Dad, she went all badass and cussed him out before storming out like the badass she is!"

I chuckle slightly when Stiles responds, "Dude, I'm just saying, I told you she was badass when I met her. She's freaking awesome."

I decide to make my presence known after that, "You're right, I am pretty awesome."

All three jump before Allison turns to me, "Are you spying on me?"

I shake my head, "Nope, just forgot to tell you I love you, and good luck on your chemistry test. That Mr. Harris is a complete ass."

I faintly hear Stiles not so quietly whisper, "She keeps getting better and better." I ignore him when Allison smiles and responds, "Thanks Mom, and I love you too."

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

I kiss Chris on the cheek when I walk into the living room before ripping of the Band-Aid, "Allison's dating, Scott McCall."

I walk straight out of the room barely stopping to talk to him and I have to bite back a smile when I hear his book hit the floor, "She's what?!"

#teen wolf #chris argent x reader #chris argent #jr bourne #allison argent #scott mccall #stiles stilinski #peter hale

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endwersed · 18 days

Text

WIP Whenever

Tagged by the lovelies that are @dear-massacre & @violetfairydust 💘

Here's a little snippet from my main WIP: an ABO humans-as-second-class-citizens AU 😊

“Um, yeah,” Stiles stutters out, trying not to cringe at the strength of Talia's grip. “That’s... hi. It’s nice to, uh – to be here, too.”

Her painted mouth is pursed as she releases his hand, and he quickly tucks it behind his back, flexing his sore fingers out of sight from her appraising stare. There is an almost regal posture to her as she stands, her shoulders drawn back and her torso stretched out, her hands clasped together in front of her stomach. It makes him want to shrink a little, to be honest, but he fights that instinct back down.

“Yes, I can imagine,” she says primly, before letting her gaze drift to his side, where it lands heavily on her eldest daughter. “And has my Laura been behaving herself?”

Not really, he thinks.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he says out loud, smiling briefly at Laura with a tip of his head. “She’s been nice enough to start showing me around the place.”

Laura smirks back at him. “I’m a regular one-woman welcoming committee.”

Talia hums, narrowing her gaze towards Laura for a moment.

“Yes. Quite.” The corners of her eyes crinkle as she pulls her focus back to him. It should be a kind expression, of laughter lines and etchings of joy, but instead of any of that, it just seems disingenuous. “So, Mr Stilinski. You graduated high school last month, is that correct?”

He nods. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And you’ll be starting college after your time with us here?” she presses.

“Nursing school,” he corrects carefully. “I have a place locally back in Beacon Hills.”

Talia’s smile, perfectly perfunctory at best up until this point, suddenly shifts into something actually like real. Her teeth flash, and there is a certain sharkish quality to it that makes his heart want to miss a beat in his chest, because it’s nothing like Laura’s specific brand of vibrant cheekiness.

No. With Talia, it’s almost… malevolent.

Huh, he thinks. He’s never noticed that before, when he’s seen her photographs in the papers.

“My son is due to begin medical school in the fall,” she announces proudly, and he doesn’t miss the way that Cora rolls her eyes down at the floor, just behind her mother's vision. “My boy, Derek. I imagine you’ve heard of him.”

Oh – Stiles has heard of him, all right. Being the only son and the only alpha, and with his dashing good looks and notoriously bad attitude, Derek Hale is by far the most well-known of all of the Hale children. And that – that is saying something, considering how much press time Laura and Cora get.

For sure, Stiles knows precisely who he is.

Also, he may or may not have jerked off to a shirtless picture or two (or twenty) that the paparazzi managed to snap of the guy at a private beach about a year back, too.

Obviously, he does not say this part out loud to the guy's mother.

“Yep,” he says instead, nodding slightly. “That’s, uh… great. For him.”

“Yes, it is.” There is a sharpness to her tone that implies she is not at all impressed with Stiles’ underwhelming levels of enthusiasm. He ducks his head and shuffles under the discomfort. “Well. I should let you and dear Laura get back to your tour. I do hope you enjoy your stay with us here, Mr Stilinski.”

“Thank you,” he hastens to reply. “I – I’m sure I will.”

No pressure at all tags! @aurevell @crownofstardustandbone @hedwig221b @lucky-bishop @thotpuppy

#sterek #my fic #talia is the bad guy in this one so apols to any fans #i just really enjoy exploring the idea that derek being a mama's boy is actually a Bad Thing

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cranetreegang · 1 year

Text

The Return - Ominis x FemReader

Summary: She returns from her harrowing battle with Ranrok and is quick to get to the only place she wants to be. But, she fears her actions will have consequences. And how long before those she loves have to feel her choices.

Word Count: ~2,500 words

****DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE GAME SPOILERS****

Warnings: blood, peeps talking about peeps getting nay nay'd (aka DEATH mentioned), angst, kissing, comfort, FLUFF, then more angst, emotional turmoil

Read my other Ominis Fics Here

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

Her feet are like lead and every step she takes up the stairs makes her stagger and wobble. But, she pushes on - shoving open the gate and shuffling her way out of the dungeons. Her focus keeps coming in and out and she’s not sure how she managed to get out of the Repository. She realizes she’s in one of the school’s numerous hallways, but she’s not sure which one. Despite the warm fire light from the candles and sconces, it feels dark and cold in these lonely halls. So, she keeps walking, her destination calling to her - like a beacon leading her to shore after a long voyage.

A force makes her stop in place - gripping her by her shoulders in a firm, strong grasp.

Something is shaking her and she finally registers Sebastian in front of her.

“Sebastian?” She mumbles with confusion and exhaustion drags down her voice.

“Yes. Yes, I’m here.” He whispers, his dark brows pinched in worry and his eyes trying to hold her darting ones. “Are you alright?”

Am I… alright?

Flashes of the battle play out in her mind: Ranrok’s Dragon. Fig’s dying breath. All that power…

She presses herself against his chest with a shaky breath. He hugs her, feeling her body tremble and shake.

“It’s alright,” he murmurs in the silent corridor; as if speaking any louder would shatter her.

While the contact helps her become more grounded, she finds it not to be enough.

This… isn’t what she needs. This isn’t where she wants to be.

“Ominis? Wh-Where is he? I-I need… him.”

Sebastian nods and holds her against his side to help her walk to the Undercroft.

Ominis sits against a pillar in deep concentration. Once he arrived back at Hogwarts with Natty, he felt her heart race and he knew she was in battle once more. And he immediately suppressed their bond until he could no longer feel her. He didn’t want… He couldn’t bear the thought of feeling her heart stop. He struggles to suppress it - fighting within himself to check and ensure she’s alright. But, the fear of not feeling her reach back - the steady lilts of her heart, silenced - makes him dowf and sick. So, he decides he’ll wait and focus everything on quieting their bond. He’ll wait for either her… or someone else, to come to him. At least then, he can hope against all hope that she will return to him - alive.

The gate slams closed and his head whips over to hear who’s here - not daring to bring his wand up to check.

“Ominis.”

Her voice.

He’s on his feet, the bond unleashed and free once more, and he’s nearly brought back to the floor from the force of it. She breaks from Sebastian and rushes to Ominis and he meets her halfway. He whispers her name as she embraces him. She buries herself into him - hiding herself away in his loving arms.

“Oh, my love. You’re here. You’re safe. I got you.” He whispers to her, stroking her hair and relishing in her warmth. He places soft kisses on her temple, her neck, her shoulder, her cheek, her hair - any part he can shower her with affection, he does. All she can do is hold onto him as tight as she can.

Sebastian watches the two for a moment. The relief is palpable and he can nearly taste it. He can’t help but smile at how happy they both are. He looks down and notices the red stains blotching his clothes.

He heads towards the exit without a second thought and says before he leaves, “I’ll bring some healing supplies.”

Ominis’ eyes widen as the gate shuts once more and he tries to feel over her, “Healing? Are you alright? A-Are you hurt?”

Her body gives out. She can’t muster any more strength to stand - as she made it to where she needed to go. And it takes all of Ominis’ strength to not have them both fall to the hard, stone floor. He lowers them until he’s able to cradle her in his arms. She’s holding on to him like a life-raft. He leans back against the pillar as he traces over her face and down her body. Warm, wet patches on her chest make his stomach sink and the gashes on her arms all but break his heart.

“Please… tell me. Are you hurt?” He begs.

“I-I… did it. I did it.” She whispers.

Her voice is weak from exhaustion, but she's alive. She’s thrumming in his arms like a sweet song - strong and full of life despite what he hears of her labored breath and the blood he tastes on his lips. Ominis decides that will have to be good enough until Sebastian returns.

He presses a kiss against her forehead, “And I’m so proud of you. Please, rest now. I got you. And I won’t let anything hurt you.”

He’s not sure who these words are meant to comfort, but she relaxes all the same. Her breathing shifts into an uneasy sleep. He strokes her hair - taking in the scent of her battle. Smoke, ash, dirt, gravel, blood - they tarnish her sweet smell and he wonders what horrors she had to face. He holds her tightly against him as if someone would snatch her away if he were to loosen his grip for even a moment.

Sebastian returns with a satchel of supplies and he kneels down next to them.

“How hurt is she?” Ominis’ brows are pinched and his knuckles are white from holding onto her so tightly.

Sebastian examines his battered, unconscious friend. Most of her wounds have already healed while others need another dose of Wiggenweld. But overall, he didn’t see anything life threatening. Swipes of blood brush her cheeks from gentle touches and Sebastian notices Ominis’ hands are covered in blood. He curses himself for not describing Ominis of her state before he left. Instead, he let Ominis wallow in distress all on his own.

“Not terribly,” Sebastian sounds upbeat and optimistic - much to his own surprise. “Most of the scars are healed. A few burns and scrapes here and there. Some nasty looking bruises. All in all - I’d say she’ll be just fine.” Sebastian gives Ominis a small grin and Ominis lets out a relieved sigh.

Sebastian takes out a damp cloth and hands it to Ominis, “We can try to get some of the blood off, if you want. I got some Wiggenweld you can give her as well.”

“Thank you, Sebastian,” Ominis whispers as he grabs the cloth.

Ominis rearranges her limp body to administer the potion - which she swallows with only a few mumbled complaints before she slips back asleep - and they begin to wipe away the grime covering her. As Sebastian cleans a particularly deep gash on her forearm - her skin stitching itself back together as he wipes away the dried blood - he glances up to Ominis, whose eyes seem to stare off into the far distance.

“Did she say what happened?” Sebastian wonders.

He shakes his head, “No. Just that she did it. I can only assume she won. And put a stop to Ranrok once and for all.”

Sebastian nods, “I hope so.”

With her cleaned up and her wounds healing, Sebastian spares one last look over her. She’s peaceful in Ominis’ arms, sleeping soundly. Meanwhile, Ominis looks like a great weight has been lifted from him, his gray eyes no longer pained. Ominis strokes her hair with a warm smile and her steady breaths sound less labored than earlier.

Sebastian sighs as he stands, “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“You’re leaving?” Ominis questions with raised brows.

Sebastian grimaces and he turns away from them, “It would be best if you’re the only one she sees when she wakes up.”

Ominis frowns to himself as he hears Sebastian walking away.

“She still cares about you, Sebastian. You’re still her friend. I hope you know that.”

Sebastian falters, but continues out of the Undercroft without a reply.

Ominis turns his attention back to her and he listens to her steady breaths - feeling the gentle rise and fall of her chest pressing into his own. He lays his head against hers and shuts his eyes to await her.

==========================

It’s silent. It presses down on her, squeezing her tighter and tighter until she’s left gasping.

You are more powerful than you realize.

The words reverberate in her mind. She opens her eyes to find Isidora staring back at her. She turns to look away from Isidora’s far too warm smile. But, she’s met with more eyes staring at her. They loom in the distance. Then they approach slowly from the mists surrounding her and reveal themselves one by one.

Natty. Poppy. Garreth. Amit. Sebastian. Anne. Then… Ominis.

Ominis looks at her in such a way it makes her heart rip from her chest. It’s unfamiliar and cold. She glances between all her friends’ faces and they all share the same expression. They all stare at her with dead eyes. The blank, lifeless eyes of Isidora’s Father. They’re husks. And she knows she’s the reason why. They all point their fingers towards her and utter the same phrase in unison:

You are more powerful than you realize.

She tries to run away, but when she turns to flee, she’s met with Professor Fig. He glares at her - ashamed and furious. He falls to the ground in a limp heap before her feet and he faces towards her - his eyes beginning to dim. She wants to reach out to him, but a hand snags her wrist. Her friends’ hands latch onto her, digging into her flesh, and they start to drag her down. She thrashes and fights but it’s of little use.

Isidora watches from above with a smirk as she whispers, “You are more powerful than you realize. More powerful than even I could ever dream of.”

She can’t breathe and she’s dragged into the shadows without so much as a scream.

The hands are still on her as her eyes fly open. Ominis' panicked face appears in front of her and she freezes. Her arms are stiff and she’s pressing against his chest.

“It’s alright. It’s alright,” Ominis says, his blanket of calm landing over her. He rubs her arms, easing them until they start to relax. She lets him guide her into his chest and he tucks her head into his neck. Through the bond, he soothes her frantic emotions until her breathing isn’t heavy and frenzied. But with the calm, comes her tears. She sobs and the sound breaks his heart. He cradles her to his chest and whispers,

“You’re okay. You’re safe with me.”

But are you safe with me?

She shivers and fights back the sickening feeling. Instead, she embraces him - every part of him. Through the stench of blood and dirt and ash - is his arboreous spiced cologne. His body is cold against her feverish, clammy skin. His fingers are gently brushing her hair and his breath is warm - breathing a calmness within her. She could stay right here - right in his embrace.

“Can you tell me what happened?” His question prevents her from fully slipping away and she debates about remaining silent.

She takes a shuddering breath, “He’s dead. Professor Fig. He… died.”

He’s in shock, but he’s quick to hold her tighter. She continues,

“Ranrok killed him then he absorbed the power in the Repository.” The words tumble from her mouth and she can’t stop them. “I fought Ranrok. He was so powerful, but I-I did it. I stopped him.”

He closes his eyes, grateful she’s alive and unharmed. He kisses her temple and runs his hand down her tangled, gritty hair.

“Does that mean it’s over?” He wonders.

She frowns, “I-I don’t know. With Ranrok destroyed, the rebellion should cease. And…,” She pulls away enough to look at Ominis - cupping his cheek. Her thoughts start to all come at her at once.

“It wasn’t goblins that cursed Anne,” she states.

“What? H-How do you know that?” He holds her hand to try to calm her, but this makes her more frantic.

“Rookwood said something right as he kidnapped me. ‘Children are meant to be seen, not heard.’ It’s the same thing Anne heard before she was cursed. It was Rookwood the whole time.”

She gasps, “I-I have to tell Sebastian! He needs to know.”

She suddenly tries to leave, but Ominis - still reeling over the information - manages to pull her back to him.

“Wait,” he pleads. “Just wait a moment. I-I don’t understand.”

She’s a whirlwind and he can’t begin to understand what she’s feeling, let alone what she’s just told him. Her near maniacal state makes him hold her tighter.

“Start over,” he says in a calm, slow voice. “Rookwood. He cursed Anne, not a goblin? Are you sure?”

She takes a deep breath and nods, “There is no doubt in my mind it was Rookwood. He told me the same thing Anne heard before she was cursed.”

He grabs her hand with a worried frown, “And… Professor Fig. He’s… dead.”

“Yes,” her breathless reply makes him pull her closer to him.

“I’m so sorry,” he presses a soft kiss on her forehead and she shudders at his gentleness.

“He’s with Miriam now. I suppose that’s what he’s always wanted.”

He frowns, “And the Repository? You said Ranrok absorbed it. Does that mean it’s destroyed along with him?”

While she has calmed down since her terrified awakening, the fear still has its claws sunk deep into her. It’s threatening to drag her back into its despairing depths.

He strokes her cheek, “What troubles you, my love? Why are you so scared?”

Her whole body becomes rigid. Flashes of the nightmare burrow into her mind’s eye. And as she looks at Ominis, she can see the blank, lifeless expression encroaching onto his features. She can’t breathe. This rising panic that’s clawing its way up her throat is unstoppable. Her heart lurches in her chest the longer she stares into his haunting eyes.

How long before she becomes just like Isidora? How long before the rush and need of power devours her, and everyone she loves?

He doesn’t stop touching her. His hands, gentle as the sunlight, are the only thing which keeps this darkness from consuming her.

“Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.” He insists, his tone betraying how worried and terrified he is for her.

“It’s… nothing. The Repository is… I’ve dealt with it.”

He grimaces and his lips press into a firm line, “What does that mean? Are you safe? Is it over?”

She shakes her head with a whimper, “Please… don’t make me speak any more of it. I don’t want… please.”

His features twist with worry and she can’t stand the sight of it. She wrests herself from his embrace and gets to her labile feet. He looks towards her with shock and his mouth parts in a silent plea. He reaches for her, but she stumbles away.

“I-I need to go. I… need to think,” she murmurs as she turns away and runs out of the Undercroft.

Ominis lets his hand fall back into his lap. He clutches his chest over his heart with a strangled whimper.

“Please… come back,” he whispers.

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

AN: Choo Choo! All Aboard the Angst Express! Next stop, MORE ANGST! MUAHAHAHAHAHA

Also yeah i'm combining endings because i thought it was hella lame that i didn't get a #moment with Fig all cause I thought the Keepers were dumb and the power should be #shared and i'm #ungovernable

also when i put in the first part of this (before the nightmare) ChatGPT told me that Ominis' and the protagonist relationship was heartfelt and their reunion was emotional and tender. I'll ride this high for awhile my dudes.

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