#you wanted angst you got it Neo | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lotsoflola · 5 months

Text

all is fair in love and war [1] - s. johnny

summary: you hate johnny suh, you absolutely hate him, but when you're forced to spend time with him on a mission, your passionate hate becomes a different sort of passion genre: gang au, enemies to enemies with benefits to lovers warnings: mature themes, smut, angst, reader is a smoker (projection), TENSION!!!, hate fucking, heavy heavy heavy degradation, johnny's not very nice, the dirtiest fucking talk, dom!johnny, brat!reader, thigh riding, johnny gets head, johnny keeps fucking her despite threat of death, choking, wrote this at 2am lets be nice with my grammar word count: 6.6k author's note: welcome to part one of my baby!! this is the first chapter of all is fair in love and war and trust me, it just gets better...

series masterlist

neo city was a complete and utter shithole.

it had always been like that, at least as far as you were aware. you had lived here for the past five years, getting yourself a cheap starter apartment for half the price of anywhere else. it was a culture shock at first, being scared just to walk through the streets to your job, but you assimilated quickly, finding a job as a bartender in the inner city, in a cosy bar called the 'urban oasis'.

it was there you first had an interaction with gang life. it was a quiet night at the bar. you were practically dosing off, only a few regulars in the far corner playing darts, and everyone else had been sent home, leaving you to close alone.

a man walked into the building, and as he did so, the other men seemed to quieten down, stiffen slightly, stop playing their game. you were confused, but truly didn't care enough to question anything. instead, you turned to the man, and prepared to take his order.

he looked like neo city, if that was even possible. green neon hair, matching the fluorescent lights that covered the city, with tattoos up his neck and arms and a leather jacket to complete the look.

"whiskey on the rocks," he stated, voice harsh.

you rolled your eyes, hating rude customers like him. "what type of whiskey? we've got jack daniels, jamesons-"

"just give me your top shelf," he snapped again, and you gave him a pointed look before going to fulfil his request.

it didn't take you long, and when you passed him the chilled glass, you also handed him a receipt.

"that will be $45, would you like to pay cash or card?" you asked, watching as his face grew clouded.

"i'm sorry," his tone was almost testing, as if he was giving you a chance to take back your statement.

"i said it will be $45, you got our top shelf of whiskey," you repeated, going to wipe some glassware, but were met with a firm grip on your wrist. "what the fu-"

"leave it, honey," one of your regulars, a man called sooman, shouted across to you, fear lacing his voice.

"no, he got a whiskey, he'll pay for his fucking whiskey- let go of me," you tried to squirm, but his grip was harsh, and you truly couldn't escape.

"do you not know who i am?" he sneered, face dangerously close to yours.

you sighed. "i don't care who you are, i'm not getting fired because some dickhead wants to get away without paying."

and with that, you swang at him, your fist colliding with his head as he let go from the impact, giving you a chance to swing at him again. he jumped over the bar, and grabbing your arms, pinning them against your side before pushing you up against a wall, leaving you completely unable to move. it was only then you noticed the gun in his belt, and the tattoo at the base of his neck, one that had three letters.

n. c. t. the name of the most dangerous gang in neo city.

"fuck," you whispered to yourself, practically convincing yourself that you were about to die.

"recognise me now?" he almost joked, and you gave him a look. a look that said if you're going to kill me, might as well kill me now. "i'm not going to kill you."

that took you by surprise, and he must have been able to tell, as he carefully let go of your hands. "scram."

the rest of the customers ran out of the bar, leaving just you and the man alone, and he gestured for you to sit. you refused however, instead grabbing a bottle of tequila and pouring it into your own glass, waiting for him to make the first move.

"my name is taeyong, i'm the leader of nct," he spoke calmly, and you tried to not show your immense anxiety pumping through your veins. "and judging by what i've just seen, i think you would make a good addition."

you could have laughed, instead taking a swig of your drink, the bruning sensation grounding you to this unbelievable reality. "me? in a gang?"

"it's not all killing, and drug dealing, and all the other things everyone thinks it is. you've got bite, got drive, and we need someone like you," he took a sip of his drink, leaning closer towards you, "and you'll make more in your first week than you would in a month here."

and hearing his words, though you wanted to deny, you found yourself accepting his offer.

~~~

four years later, here you were, high in the ranks of the most feared gang in neo city, a force to be reckoned with. the bar you once worked for minimum wage at you now owned, and nct used it for meetings and to unwind.

no one could touch you know, instead of fearing the streets people now crossed the road for you, and you felt untouchable. you had honed your craft, mainly in charge of wooing policemen and being eye candy during meetings. you didn't care, you didn't want to be making all the decisions, it was the sense of community you cared about more.

so here you were, ten pm on a monday night, a group of you playing snooker in the bar. a cigarette held loose in your fingertips, with a fellow member jaemin lying with his head in your lap, playing with his hair with your other hand.

"do you ever think that this is all a simulation and we're all actually fruit in a fruit bowl?" the boy in your lap mumbled, the alcohol obvioudly affecting his thoughts.

jeno, another boy with you, chuckled slightly, finishing putting a pool ball. "shut up, jaemin. i always forget you're such a lightweight."

"now, now, he's not that bad," you hummed, taking a drag from your cigarette.

"stop playing nice, cherry. he's had about three shots and is contemplating life on this earth," haechan sneered, and you stuck your tongue out at him.

cherry was the nickname you had earned yourself, due to the amount you ate the fruit around the members. you preferred it to your own name at this point, making it easier to seperate your personal life and, well whatever this life was, life.

"he's not as bad as jisung though, remember that night after the bank heist," chenle joked, earning a slap from the youngest member.

"it was a celebration, god, leave me alone," jisung mumbled, as the older members ruffled his hair.

it was at this point haechan fell over attempting to put the ball, collapsing into renjun as they both fell on top of each other, roughly slapping each other as they rolled on the floor. the group erupted into laughter, only stopped as a knock was heard on the bar door.

"who's that?" jeno asked, and you shrugged, taking another hit.

"bar's always closed on a monday."

"well, go check it out."

"why don't you check it out, haechan?"

"it's your bar."

"nct owns it. that means we all own it."

"you chose to buy it."

"suck my dick."

"oh my god, you have a penis?"

mark, the oldest of all the members, cleared his throat. "jesus christ, stop bickering, cherry, go get the door."

you flipped haechan off, but stood up nonetheless, causing jaemin to pout against your thigh.

"i'm just going to the door, jaem, don't you worry?" you patted his cheek, before wandering over to the door, and opening the peep hole.

"bar's closed," you sung, "get fucked."

the man sighed. "it's me, open the fuck up."

you recognised that voice. of course you fucking recognised that voice. the one member of nct who you loathed, who for some reason you couldn't stand.

"gonna need the password, i'm afraid," you teased, mouthing to a confused mark who was at the door.

"let me in or i will blow this bar to the fucking ground," he spat, and you oblidged, however much you didn't want to.

johnny suh was a tall man, towering over you as you opened the door, with washed out jeans and an oversized hoodie, with a beanie on his head do deal with the cold winter weather. he was handsome, but you would never admit that to him, because his personality made him completely insufferable.

"hi cherry." god, you hated the way he said your nickname, almost with a twinge of disgust behind it.

"what do you want?" you asked, hand still firmly on the door, not letting him enter just yet.

he smirked. "play nice, need to talk to jaemin about something. and a drink wouldn't hurt, go get us a jack and coke, huh?"

he was insufferable, the way he spoke as if you were nothing, just a pretty thing to run and make drinks and flirt. even the non-affiliates got treated better than you, and you had been here for four years now.

"go fuck yourself, john," you spat, wandering back over to the boys and shaking jaemin awake. "someone's here to speak to you."

"is it the fruitbowl?" he asked, and you sighed, placing his head back down in your lap.

johnny wandered over, and you watched his face drop as he noticed jaemin's state. "why would you let him drink?"

the question was targeted at you, for whatever reason, and you fought back. "i'm not his mother, john. what did you want anyway?"

"don't be snappy, cherry," his voice was laced with venom, a patronising tone irritating you entire being, "it concerns you as well. it was meant to be you and jaemin, but someone's going to have to step in."

you hummed as you realised what he meant. a group of four of you had been working on stealing money from a large formal dinner happening at the mayor's house tomorrow night. that was partly why you and jaemin were drinking, courage needed for tomorrow. it was the two of you, johnny, and another member jungwoo, but the entire thing was already planned out. it was weeks in the making, so you didn't know what johnny was talking about.

"what do you mean?" mark spoke your mind, being somewhat in the know about the situation. he was selected before you were, when they decided they needed a girl to step in.

johnny sighed, palm stroking down his jaw. "you know how we were going to use that catering company, sneak in as waiters for the evening."'

you nodded, resisting the urge to role your eyes at him. you obviously knew this, you had gone over it again and again and again until you could recite the entire thing like the back of your hand.

"well, the numbers have dropped, and therefore we've been dropped from the waiting staff."

you tilted your head. "can't we demand they let us in?"

"they don't know we're nct, that was the only way we could get in," johnny groaned, once again looking at jaemin's drunk state, as if affirming that he was knocked out cold. "cherry, i need you not to freak out."

this startled you; sentences that start like that don't normally end well, especially when someone like johnny suh was saying them.

"there is another way we can get in though, through the hwangs."

haechan wandered over, perching behind you on the armrest of the sofa, grabbing the cigarette from your hand and taking a hit. "they're the businessmen, right?"

"yeah, very quiet, keep to themselves a lot of the time," johnny stated, copying haechan's actions as he settled behind jaemin's feet, "they're also with us, we do a lot of their dirty work."

"but how does that help us?" you jutted in, grabbing the cigarette back from haechan, almost burnt to the filter.

johnny tuts. "i was getting to that, sweetheart."

sweeheart was arguably worse than cherry.

"the hwangs have two children, hyunjin and yeji. but they've never been seen, both of them are off at school in a different part of the country. the plan was that jaemin would go in as their son, and infiltrate that way, but obviously he's not prepared to be briefed tonight."

your hand found it's way to jaemin's hair, your acrylic nails gently massaging his scalp. "so what else can we do?"

"well, there's another option. you," he gestured loosely, and you flipped him off before taking your final hit of the cigarette, putting it out in the ashtray as smoke filled the room. "you're going to go to the event as hwang yeji and represent your parents."

it wasn't that absurd of an idea. you could spend tonight learning some family history and dropping the rough slang you had learnt.

"that doesn't seem that bad," you hummed, grabbing your bag and pulling another cigarette out. "hyuck, have you got a lighter?"

he passed it to you, and you ignored johnny's judgemental stare of your brought the stick to your mouth, the low light of a flame illuminating your face. you took a long drag, head leaning back against haechan's thigh as you exhaled.

"well, i'm not sure whether you know, but for formal events like these, girls cannot attend without a male escort," johnny informed you, and you stopped in your tracks, understanding the implication. "no, no, johnny no."

"there's no other option, cherry," he groaned, and you took another hit.

haechan started laughing behind you, the vibrations travelling through his legs to your head. "you've got to go with johnny, cherry that's absolutely brilliant."

"fuck you, haechan," you spat, eyes locked onto johnny's. "why can't i do it with jungwoo?"

"he's a kim, he can't get away with that."

it was true. the kim's, despite many of them now turning to the crime world of neo city, used to be a very influential family. there was no way jungwoo could walk into the ball pretending to be someone else."

"and there's really no other way," you asked, desperation in your tone, taking another hit before haechan took it from your hands.

jisung wandered over to you. "come on, it's not that bad. johnny's supposedly a gentleman."

"ji, i love you, but there is no way johnny fucking suh is anything resembling a gentleman," you spat, making grabby hands towards haechan, wanting your cigarette back. "come on, hyuck, give."

"smoking's a vice, cherry."

"so's being a dick, give it back."

you could hear johnny tut, but chose to ignore it, instead trying to comprehend the situation. "can i get a makeover?"

haechan scoffed. "really? that's what you're after?"

"i'm just a girl, hyuck."

"yeah, she's just a girl," jaemin stirred, and you gave him a loving pat on the head.

johnny quickly checked his watch. "come on, we've got a fuck ton of backstory to get through."

"is there really no other option?"

"trust me, sweeheart. if there was, i would have found it."

and with that, you gently slid jaemin off your lap, placing a kiss on his forehead, before standing next to the tall man.

"come on then john. i need to get my nails done."

~~~

soft rnb music filled your apartment as the sun set over the skyscrapers, perched in front of your mirror as you carefully applied your eyeliner, ensuring they were equal either side. you had barely slept, spending the entire night with johnny and jungwoo, learning everything you would possibly have to know about the hwangs, and for a rich family in neo city, there was a fucking lot.

you had managed to convince taeyong to get allowance for your makeover, heading to the salon today to get a new set of nails, long and red to match your dress. your hair was in loose ringlets, fingers dripped in expensive rings, wrists the same with bracelets. a diamond hung around your neck, sitting way above your low cut dress. the hwangs were known for being scandalous, despite their quiet nature, so to fit the part, your dress was a low cut v, the back hollow crosses of loose satin, sitting halfway down your thigh.

with a swipe of lipgloss you were finished, packing a small clutch with perfume, lipbalm, and your gun. maybe the gun wasn't necessary, but it wouldn't blow your cover, so you though it better to be safe than sorry. half the people in neo city carried guns, and the other half walked with people who carried them/

you checked the time quickly. 5:57. johnny said he would be at your flat at 6, so you quickly checked through your phone. you had a few texts from mark, asking about the new show you guys had been watching, and a few from jungwoo, wishing you luck for tonight. it wasn't a scary thing anymore, you had done so many of these tasks that they felt like second nature. you were one of the few girls in nct that didn't mind going out, which made you incredibly useful for situations like this.

the doorbell rang just as you finished texting jungwoo, and you groaned, wandering through your kitchen before opening the door, seeing the man himself on the other side.

fuck. he actually looked good.

he was in a black tuxedo, bowtie tight around his neck. he was a tall man, that much was obvious, but with dress trousers he somehow look taller. his hair was in curtains, a deep brunette that hung just slightly over his eyes. not that you would ever say it out loud to him, but jesus fucking christ.

"you ready to go?" he asked, not even acknowledging your outfit.

you rolled your eyes. you knew you looked good, there was no way that he didn't realise how fucking good you looked. "nice to see you to. i just need to put my shoes on, calm down."

the set of red louboutin heels fit you perfectly, sliding into them with ease. you stumbled just after putting them on, but quickly grabbed your bag, a packet of cigarettes and a lighter off the table, before meeting him at the door.

"ready," you hummed, placing your key in the lock and shutting it behind you, before placing them in your bag.

he scoffed. "you really need the cigarettes?"

"you really need that terrible attitude?" you shot back, following him into the lift and pressing the ground floor button. you checked yourself out in the mirror, cleaning up the lipstick that had somehow escaped your lips.

"terrible habit," was his only reply, one that you didn't think needed a response, though you did notice the slight flick of his eyes to your boobs as you leant forwards slightly, an action that led to a smirk on your lips.

you quickly noticed that johnny's car outside, not a limo like you presumed. he seemed to notice your confusion as he deliberately didn't open the door for you, waiting for you to climb in yourself.

"ever the gentleman," you teased, watching as he started the engine, pulling away gently.

"we're driving to the oasis, that's where the limo is," he explained, not even given you a glance.

"why didn't you just ask me to walk to the oasis then?"

johnny scoffed. "like you would have walked through neo city in a slutty dress and high heels."

you flipped him off, but he did have a point. you would never do that anyway, least of all neo city. instead, you pulled out a cigarette, rolling down the window and lighting it, the bitter taste a comfort on your tongue.

"i'm serious when i say you shouldn't smoke."

"i'm serious when i say you have an attitude problem."

he rolled his eyes, eyes darting towards you as you tapped the ash onto the road. you could see the oasis in the distance, the familiar comfort of the bar calming you slightly. all you wanted right now was a drink, just a little bit to calm your nerves.

"fancy a shot?" johnny seemed to read your mind, pulling into the carpark quickly.

you both made your way into the building, the bustle quieting down as they noticed you and johnny walk in. you smiled as you saw jaemin behind the bar, the hangover evident in his eyes. his arms enveloping you in a tight hug.

jaemin was like a brother to you. he had taken you under his wing very quickly when you joined nct, but unlike a few of the other guys, he genuinely had no ulterior motives. he saw your beauty, understood why guys like haechan and jeno were so into you, but that just wasn't him. he was one of the few people you knew would always be there for you.

"fuck, cherry, you look gorgeous," he breathed out, and you planted a soft kiss against his cheek.

"thanks, jae. how's the hangover?" you chuckled, grabbing a bottle of tequila and two glasses, pouring two glasses for you and johnny.

he groaned. "how do you think? i am so sorry though, it should be me there right now."

jaemin had spent half the morning apologising over the phone, saying how you've taken his place and if only he hadn't drank so much. you appreciated his efforts, but you both knew you were more than able to do what needed to be done. despite all this, he paid for your lunch today, and that was a win.

"don't be stupid, besides now there's two of us going. even if one is practically incompetent."

johnny didn't like that, finishing the shot before turning to you. "watch yourself, sweetheart."

"bite me, john."

jaemin seemed to sense the tension, pouring you guys one more shot before leaving you to it. your rivalry was well known throughout nct, even some of the runners knew how much you loathed each other, and most people understood it was better to leave you guys to it, let you fight it out, and hope neither of you killed each other. or that whoever was your favourite made it out alive.

"you're insufferable, you know that," you spat, downing the second shot in quick succession, needing the alcohol to settle the violence in your gut.

"rich coming from you, can't even stand being in your presence."

"you're lying to yourself, suh. saw you checking me out in the mirror," you teased, leaning in closer to him.

he matched your energy, face bending down slightly saw your eyes were almost even. "i was not checking you out, i can assure you of that."

"tell yourself whatever you want, if it helps you sleep at night, but your eyes don't lie."

"half the guys in nct want you," johnny's voice was a low growl at this point, face so close to yours basically all you could see was him. "and do you know what? i don't fucking get it. you're a bitch-"

"lovely choice of words-"

"you think you rule the world, you think you're better than fucking everyone, but you're not. there is nothing special about you, and the sooner you realise that, the better."

"do you know what, suh?" you could feel the anger running through your veins, nails digging into your palms to stop yourself planting your fist into his face, leaving shallow crescents in your skin. "you think you're so smart, so precious. oh, johnny suh, johnny of nct, the johnny- no one can fucking stand you. god knows why taeyong keeps you around, half the young guys don't even want to know you- ever wonder why it's the same two guys who volunteer to be with you? because no one else even wants to be near you."

johnny opened his mouth, probably to insult you even further, smirk creeping onto his lips, but a notification on his phone went off, and he pulled away from you quickly.

"limo's here," was all he could say, and you pushed your anger back down inside you.

you were hwang yeji. be hwang yeji.

and ignore the weird feelings going on in your chest right now.

~~~

"hey, cherry, how's it going?" jungwoo asked, robotic voice over the phone as you pulled out a cigarette, locked in the guest bathroom at the mayor's house.

you sighed, taking a deep hit to calm your nerves. "all good so far, no one suspects anything. you and jae should be all good to hack the system come 12."

all jungwoo did was hum in response, and you hung up accordingly. you couldn't do anything suspicious at all, there was too much on the line. you took another hit, the smoke fogging the room as you took a moment.

you had spoken to about half the city elite, acting like the prestine proper girl you were supposed to be, but it was taking it's toll. you and johnny had been here for about four hours, and that was four hours too long of pretending to be enamoured by johnny suh. he was disgusting, hand settled in the small of your waist as he laughed at your occasional jokes, planting soft kisses into your hair.

it made you feel sick, sick to your core, sick enough that not even the cigarette was calming you down. johnny suh was an unbelievably irratating individual, one who made you genuinely revolted as his eyes locked on yours, and it took every morsel of self control not to announce to the whole room that you were hating every second of it, that you hated him.

you finished the cigarette, spraying some perfume in the bathroom before leaving the room, walking back over to your 'boyfriend'. he was with another two couples, not sure who, but he quickly introduced you as you slid under his arm, his hand resting against your side, thumb rubbing against your ribcage.

"this is hwang yeji, my girlfriend," god, how his voice made you feel ill. he sounded so in love, and the way his thumb felt against your body just added to it. some part of you felt confused, he definitely did not need to be doing so much, and yet he still was.

stop thinking about that. focus on what you need to be doing.

"yeji, my darling, gosh how you've grown," the woman, moon bora, planted a cheek on either cheek, hand cupping your jaw. "i bet you don't remember me, i haven't seen you since you went to boarding school."

"i know, it's been so long since i've been back here," you hummed, body tensing as johnny gently guided you over to a small table, where bora and her husband jinhyung followed you. he sat next to you, arm over the back of the chair, as you continued on the conversation. "i do miss it, yeah, though there are definetly benefits to living by the coast."

"oh, i can only imagine. do you get to go to the beach regularly, i know college can be quite intense," jinhyung asked, voice full of curiousity.

you went to respond, but your voice was a sharp choke as you felt johnny's hand on your thigh. "sorry, but no we do make time to go. it's beautiful in the morning, watching the sunrise over the ocean, it's really something."

bora and jinhyung kept their questions coming, and you could barely focus and johnny's fingers travelled higher and higher up your thigh, crawling underneath the silk of your dress, gently massaging the soft skin of your inner thigh. you squeezed his hand, a warning, a 'stop this', a 'what the fuck are you doing?'.

his hand got dangerously high, to the point where you could feel him just against the lace of your panties, before you heard an alarm on johnny's phone. 11:45. you needed to get a move on.

"god, i'm sorry," johnny broke the conversation, hand finally leaving your thigh to turn of the ringtone, "that's my medicine alarm. sweetheart, will you come with me to the bathroom to take it."

johnny excused himself, but you were convinced if you went with him now you would genuinely kill him. "let me just say my goodbyes, i'll meet you in a moment."

he shot you a look, but you gave him one back, and he dropped it. you turned back to the couple, with bora giving you a knowing look.

"gosh, you guys are so in love," she sung, and you resisted the urge to spit out your drink. "it reminds me of us when we were younger."

you smiled at her, lying through clenched teeth. "i'm glad you can tell, he's honestly incredible."

"don't think i didn't notice the way you were flirting under the table," she gave you a suggestive wink, and you swore then and there you were going to kill johnny. "young love, how much i miss it?"

you couldn't wait any longer to kill him, so you quickly excused yourself, and travelled through the mansion, past the toilet to the computer room, in charge of the entire house's security, one you had previously mapped out in the planning stages.

"what the fuck?!" you exclaimed, entering the room where johnny was sat on a desk, laptop open with a download completing sign on the front. you locked the door behind you, securing it with a desk you pulled across the front. "what the actual fuck?!"

johnny payed no attention to you, keeping his eyes on the laptop as the percentage went up and up.

"fucking answer me you dick, what's your game?" rage coated your voice, your hands gripping his dress shirt and pulling him out of the chair, forcing him up looking at you.

"whatever do you mean, sweetheart?" he cooed, and the fake loving tone drove you crazy, crazy enough that you brought your hand up to slap him across the cheek.

the action through him back, surprise across his face quickly turning to anger. "you have issues, fuck."

"i have issues?!" you were seething, anger clouding your vision and your hand gripped his shirt tighter, pulling his head down so you were opposite him again. "you've been touching me all night, fucking groping my thigh, grazing my waist, are you mental?"

"do you not understand the concept of fake dating, sweetheart?" his voice was low and dangerous and, however much you wouldn't admit it to yourself, sexy as fuck. "we have to pretend to date-"

"dating does not include groping me."

"i didn't fucking grope you, calm down cherry," johnny sighed, and you pushed him away ever so slightly.

your hand ran down his body, tracing a line down the centre of his abs, watching his muscles contract as they tensed under your touch. "so this doesn't bother you?"

"not in the slightest," he tried to keep it calm, but the way his breathing shortened told you the opposite.

but you kept going, you were fucking fuming. "so if i touch you here," you hand trailed further down, running over the waistband of his trousers, your long nail circling around the hem, "that doesn't bother you."

"fucking stop," he ordered through gritted teeth, but of course you didn't instead keeping your descent until you were over were he did not want you to be, pushing just enough to push johnny over the edge.

and he snapped.

his hands came to grab your wrists, his physical strength easily overpowering yours as he pushed you up against the wall behind you, vaging you against the wall, the paint cold against your open backed dress. your hands were pinned above your head, and legs forced still by johnny's thigh in between your own, body pressed up against yours.

"i thought i told you," he spat, mouth so close he genuinely filled all your senses, "to fucking stop."

you hadn't lost your fight yet, though. "i thought you knew, that what you say means nothing to me."

"do you know what you are?"

"please, do enlighten me," you fought against his grip, but you couldn't escape. johnny was told and strong, and however much fight you had, you could not beat that.

"you're a slut."

those words were unexpected, causing you to gasp as they went straight to your gut, weird butterflies emerging in your chest.

"you're such a fucking slut. act all you want but i saw how your body acted when my hands were on you, when i looked at you like that. like a bitch in fucking heat."

you were genuinely gobsmacked. no words could come out of your mouth to defend yourself.

"but do you know what, sweetheart?" his teasing was endless, however, not letting up despite your lack of retaliation. "i think you like this, i think you like me calling you what you are. a desperate little whore-"

"i don't," you're voice was nowhere near as strong as you wished it would be, because deep down you knew he was right. the butterflies in your stomach were definetly telling you that you were enjoying this, and the way your core was aching.

"tell that to your thighs squeezing around mine," his lips were centimetres away, "because i've realised what you need. you need someone to put you in your place, to remind you of what you are. a needy, desperate, slutty little bitch, don't you sweetheart?"

all you could do was whine at his words, your hips rutting against his knee without even thinking. his words were doing wonders, you could feel how soaked you were without him even really touching you.

"grinding against my fucking thigh, you really are a bitch in heat," he practically scoffed, a hand travelled down from your wrists to wrap around your neck, squeezing enough to cut off your airflow slightly, the feeling making your head spin and vision dizzy.

"i know you've fucked hyuck," he stated the words so nonchalantly, like they weren't personal details you had never told him, "and i know you've fucked jeno. i'm pretty sure you've fucked jaemin as well, but they obviously didn't fuck you good enough for you to still have this attitude, huh, sweetheart?"

you couldn't fathom the words to respond, overwhelmed by the pleasure between your legs. your breathing got shallower and shallower and your air was cut more and more, rings indefinetly causing dents against your soft skin. johnny tensed his thigh, and you couldn't hold back the whine that escaped your mouth, the feeling just too good as your clit rubbed against the fabric of his trousers.

he could only scoff, his hand dropping your wrists and instead sliding down to your hip, kneading the skin as he manouvered your body, sitting down and pulling you down onto his lap, or more specifically his thigh. he finally let go of your throat, grabbing the other side of your hip, and you let out deep breaths, trying to gain back some sense of clarity.

"if you want to be a pathetic little thing," his tone was almost teasing, his large hands beginning to rock you back and forth, "then go ahead. get yourself off on my thigh."

and you followed his instructions, swinging your hips and getting into a steady rhythm. johnny's eyes dropped to where your body met his own, one hand sliding under the soft satin of your dress and feeling the lace panties you had on underneath.

"god, you're dripping, you're actually dripping against your thigh," he practically laughed, your wetness sticky on his fingers as he pushed the lace to the side, and the pleasure was just too much to contain, a moan leaving your lips. "shut the fuck up, cherry. don't want anyone to see how much of a whore for my thigh you're being right now."

you dived into his shoulder, biting down on his jacket to stop the sounds he was practically forcing from your throat. his hands sped up your pace, forced you to keep going as you felt the knot tighten in your gut.

you panted out, the sound of your wetness filling the room as he leant up, looking into his eyes with a sense of desperation. "gonna cum, john, need to cum."

"oh, you need to cum, do you?" he sneered, leaning back against the desk chair, feeling a sense of gravity as he watched the girl he hates fall apart on his thigh. "you need to cum."

"need it- need it so bad," you whined, biting down on your lip hard enough to draw blood.

johnny tilted his head, a mischevious glint in his eye. "stop moving."

"what?" you panted, confused by his words but not stopping your movements. "no, no, i'm so close."

"i don't care, stop fucking moving," he spat through gritted teeth and his lifted you off his thigh, your hips moving in mid-air as you groaned, feeling the pleasure leave your body as your high left your body.

your eyes locked onto his, tongue poking your cheek. "what the fuck!"

"needy sluts like you don't get to cum," he said as if it was the most obvious thing ever, sliding back from the chair and spreading his legs, placing you down on the floor. you didn't even have the strength to hold yourself up anymore, collapsing against his leg, the cold concrete floor a shock to the system.

however much you hated to admit it, johnny looked majestic. with his legs spread, eyes glaring down at you, hair messy as his tongue ran over his bottom lip. you couldn't tell what he was thinking, and that worried you. you were on your knees in front of the man you hated, and for whatever reason you were actually excited about what was going to happen next.

johnny didn't say anything, but his actions spoke a thousand words, his hands going to his belt and undoing it with ease. you felt your mouth water as he slid his trousers down, revealing his hardening cock from his underwear. you leant forward, hands ready to grab it, but one of his own hands nestled itself in your hair, pulling it into a makeshift ponytail as he pulled you back.

"here's what's going to happen, sweetheart," he shuffled forward on the seat, tempting you to just have a look. you could tell from the bulge that he was big, and all you wanted at this point was your mouth around him.

god, how were you having these feelings about johnny suh.

"you're gonna let me fuck your face like the slut that you are," your thighs rubbed together as he returned to the degrading words, "and then i'll decide whether you deserve to cum."

his other hand pulled his now hard cock out of his pants, and your eyes widened at the sight. he was big, he was so fucking big, and there was no way that he could fuck your throat without cutting off your air supply.

"john, i can't-"

"you can, just open that slutty little mouth for me," his tip poked against your lips, and you complied, hesistantly parting your lips as he slid between them, the stretch agony at first. "there you go, relax your throat. don't want to hurt you that much, cherry."

those words were different, they were softer in a way. they were johnny being sincere, not 'putting you in your place' or 'teaching you a lesson'. and they relaxed you, enough that he slid even more into your mouth, tears building in your eyes, threatening to spill over.

"god, you have no idea how good that feels," he groaned, seemingly not to you, but just to the world. "tap my thigh if i'm good to move."

you followed his order, typing his thigh twice before he started to move back and forth. you tried your absolute hardest not to gag around him but it was so hard when he was practically stopping you from breathing, hitting the back of your throat over and over again until you physically had to gag around him.

johnny hummed, a pity hum, seemingly back to his old self. "what's wrong? thought you would be used to dick in your throat."

you took a deep breath as he pulled out, gasping for air as drool dripped down your chin, his dick hanging in front of you.

"don't tell me hyuck never fucked that pretty little face of yours?" he voice was playful, hand sliding from your throat to cup your jaw, thumb roughly dragging over your bottom lip. "look at how messy you are, sloppy little slut."

you took a deep breath, looking up at the tall man towering over you. "they weren't as big as you."

"aww," his tone was so patronising that if you weren't so dick whipped you would have slapped that expression off his face, "am i too big for you?"

you didn't resond, feeling like you were stuck in a trap, but that wasn't good enough for johnny. "i said, am i too big for you? because if you can't suck me off, you haven't done enough to cum tonight."

those words went straight to your desperate core, and you leant straight back to his dick, letting him back in as he pounded even harder and faster than before. you braced it, trying your hardest not to gag around him again. johnny's groans filled the room, and you just prayed you were doing well enough to get to cum later.

sa johnny's thrusts began to get more sporadic, he pulled out, hand leaving your head to jerk himself off. "open your mouth, tongue out."

you did as he said, sticking your tongue as you patiently awaited his cum, eyes glaring up at him as he kept his wrist moving at a quick speed.

"god, you're such a fucking slut, aren't you?" his words were said between low grunts and groans, obviously needed to get him over the edge. "tongue stuck out, drooling over my cock, thighs squeezing together at the idea of getting my cum in your mouth. fuck- cherry- fuck-"

and with that he came, most of it landing straight on your tongue, the salty taste filling your mouth. a small bit coated your lips instead, but johnny was quick to scrape that onto your tongue as well, before leaning down and spitting in your mouth. his saliva mixed with his cum as he barked out a 'swallow', and you did as he said. the action was so dirty, so vulgar, he was treating you like a messy, slutty object, and for whatever reason you were loving it.

"you did good, sweetheart," he cooed, thumb rubbing over your cheekbone, "i guess now it's your turn."

his hands settled under your shoulders, pulling you up from the group and back onto his lap, this time legs over his hips as you collapsed against his chest. you were fucking exhausted, head pounding from the pleasure coarsing through your veins. you could only imagine how you looked right now - mascara undoubtably smudged from the tears dropping from your eyes, lipstick removed from your lips and displaced onto your cheeks and chin, hair no longer its perfect ringlets and instead messy curls.

"god, you're still so fucking wet," he almost gasped, pad of his middle finger drawing a line through your folds. you could almost hear his actions, the squelching of your wetness deafening as your cheeks reddened with embarassment, your face hiding in his shoulder. "i bet you're so fucking sensitive- ah, yes you are."

your hips bucked as his finger pushed against your clit, so worked up from the lack of your last orgasm that you barely needed anything to become putty in his hands. he chuckled as he kept up his pace, other hand settled on your hip, rubbing up and down as you whined into his shoulder.

"still so needy, i wonder what would happen if i just...?" and with those words, a finger entered your pussy, curling up against that spot inside of you that caused your entire body to tense. "god, you're so fucking tight, would have thought this slutty cunt would be more used to cock than this, don't know how i'm ever going to fit."

you couldn't even understand the words coming out of his mouth. your orgasm was approaching so much faster due to how sensitive you were. and when he added another finger, the stretch just adding to the euphoria you were feeling, he could tell you were close. you just begged he would actually let you come this time.

but of course, he didn't. pulling them both out of you when you started to clench around him, and the denying pleasure for the second time made you absolutely crazy. your body was drained, completely drained of energy, and you didn't know how much more you could take.

"please," you sounded pathetic, most likely looked pathetic, and all you wanted was to cum. you sounded like the desperate whore he made you out to be, but at this point you couldn't even dispute it. "i can't take it, please."

johnny hums, as if considering your proposition, but really he knew your time was up. "need me to fuck you, sweetheat?"

"need you, john," you panted, using the last of your strength to push yourself up off his chest, to finally look him in the eyes, "please, wanna feel you in me."

that was all he needed, grabbing your hips and aligning you with his cock, and you were suddenly very aware of the position you were both in. there was absolutely no way you could ride him, you were far too out of it for that, but the way you were sat on top of him meant you couldn't think of another option.

but of course johnny was prepared, grabbing onto your hips and completely controlling your movements, sinking you down onto his cock for him and oh my god was he big. your mouth unknowingly feel into an 'o' shape with the stretch, feeling so so good as he bottomed out completely.

"pussy feels so good wrapped around me," johnny groaned, moving your hips up and down for you, so you were riding him without having to do any work. "dripping all over my cock, aren't you, my pretty little whore."

you couldn't even process the fact that he had called you both 'his' and 'pretty', instead trying not to scream and alert the entire house of the fact that you were locked in a room that you were definetly not meant to be in. your orgasm was incredibly fast approaching, the knot getting so unbelievably tight as you clenched around johnny.

"gonna cum, gonna cum," you repeated it like a mantra, until you heard a voice just outside the room. your hand flung to your mouth instantly, biting down on the flesh to stop any sound you were making.

johnny kept going though, despite the glares you were shooting him, to the point where you had to slap his chest in an attempt to stop him.

"fucking stop," your voice was a whisper, as quiet as you could muster while you could still hear voices outside. "i'm serious."

"you want to cum, don't you?" he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, and there weren't people outside who would definitely kill you if they found anything out. "so just keep quiet, and then you'll get what you want."

so you tried your hardest not to make a single sound, but johnny's pace was relentless, pounding into you at an angle that hit such a good spot inside of you, and you had to bite down into your hand to stop yourself moaning as you released all over his dick, the feeling so much better after your denied orgasms earlier.

but johnny kept going, still chasing his second orgasm, and you just let him use you as he thrusted up, soft grunts after every buck. "gonna let me cum inside of you, like the whore you are?"

"yes, please," you didn't even know what you were saying anymore, now chasing your own second orgasm while the voices outside grew louder and louder. "want your cum, johnny."

"of course you do, fucking slut," he spat, through gritted teeth, "i can feel you clenching around me, you close again? am i fucking this messy pussy so good that you're gonna cum again?"

you nodded against his skin, and you both came at the same time, and the feeling of him filling you up was the cherry on top of this entire experience. you couldn't move, you felt numb with pleasure as johnny lifted you off his softened dick, placing you on the chair as he ran over to the laptop, and a smile creeped onto his face.

"download complete," he smiled, voice low as possible, "let's get out of here, cherry."

you span around in the chair, looking at him like he was stupid, becuase that's how he was acting. "there's people outside, dumbass."

"then we'll have to climb out the window," he spoke in the same stupidly obvious tone, and you actually accepted his suggestion. you could see jungwoo's car from here, and a quick dash would mean no one would see your escape. "come on, let's go."

you tried to stand up, but your legs gave up straight away, causing you to collapse straight back into the chair. johnny chuckled slightly. "i fuck you that good, huh?"

"you mention anything that happened tonight ever again i will kill you, i promise you," you swore, voice low and serious.

johnny tilted his head. "so you didn't just beg for me to come inside of-"

"just carry me out of here," you snapped, and he oblidged, arms behind your shoulders and knees and he walked through the floor to ceiling windows, and wandered through to where jungwoo was parked.

"never mention it again," you repeated, "tonight never happened."

"tonight never happened," he agreed, but turned to look at you again, "but you better drop that attitude, cherry."

"or what?"

"or i'll have to fuck it out of you again."

#nct 127 imagine #nct 127 smut #nct imagine #nct smut #nct x reader #nct #johnny suh #suh johnny #johnny smut #johnny imagines #johnny suh smut #johnny suh imagines #johnny suh x reader #fic: all is fair in love and war

383 notes · View notes

acescavern · 8 months

Text

END TO START - LEE TAEYONG X READER

Navi - M.list

Pairing: Soulmate!Johnny x Soulmate! reader, Taeyong x reader. ( Ft Mark, Jungwoo, Ten, Jaehyun, Taeil, Yuta. Mentions Jaemin once.)

Genre: Heavy angst my guys, soulmates au, neo frat au, university au, fluff, Hanahaki Soulmate trope.

Synopsis: Taeyong had been perfectly happy to sit back and watch you and Johnny be together. However, when he starts to notice certain behaviors that are all too familiar, he finds himself unable to watch you slowly die. Just because Johnny may not love you anymore... doesn't mean Taeyong doesn't love you either.

wc: 4.9k

Warnings: Heavy angst, Blood, Mentions of death, suffering, choking, johnny is unfaithful, it's a Hanahaki au so they basically cough up dead and thorned flowers. It's not a graphic description but there are descriptions of pain too, mentions of weight loss due to being unwell, Unrequited love, hurt, Taeyong's been in love with the reader since before her and Johnny got together, heavy rejection, soulmate rejection ( Just because i have written this does NOT mean that i think any one of the nct members would cheat or act thi way. this is pure FICTION.) Please let me know if i have missed any warnings

Note: Hi! I have a few fics in the works but I'm worried I wont get them done for Halloween. So, I am blessing you with this heart-breaking fic. I wanted to release this fic early as a thank you for all your love on Operation Rizz! Now, this is the same frat universe as all my other NCT fics. they can all be read as stand alone though, so don't worry! Any feedback is once again appreciated. I do not own the concept of Hanahaki.

Likes and reblogs are appreciated

Soulmates were supposed to be someone's everything—the one person who was meant specifically for them. Someone you can lean on and cherish, who would dote and adore you. Someone to dish out as much love to you as you unto them. To stay by your side and grow old together. However, some people are already at that stage when they meet their destined person. There was also the worry of some people not having a soulmate. Legend says that only the blessed are gifted with such.

Gifted? Yes. To many, the Soulmate system is a curse - depending on what type you are assigned to. Tattoos? Easy. Mind reading? Okay a little more difficult. Red string? That practically takes you straight to them. Eternal life? Near impossible! You could spend many years with someone you thought was a soulmate only to see a wrinkle and realize you aren’t made for each other at all. Seeing things in black and white only to suddenly be overwhelmed with color at a music festival and not know who the hell you’d bumped into in that massive crowd that could possibly be your soulmate. Not everyone even had a soulmate, they could be with whoever they wanted without consequences.

But there was one type in particular that nobody wanted. Hanahaki. Named after the fictional Japanese Hanahaki Disease. It comes from the Japanese words Hana - meaning flower and Hakimasu - quite literally meaning, to throw up.

In a soulmate's case, when they first meet each other a seed is awakened. It grows thorned roses - the flowers of love - cradling the person’s heart and twining around inside their lungs. For the most part, other than the occasional flutter and heartburn, it goes unnoticeable. So long as the soulmate reciprocates the feelings of love. But, should one soulmate start to fall out of love? The other will suffer terribly. The flowers will die, the spikey stems squeezing at the organs they were once gently caressing with love. Crushing in their anguish.

Of course, unlike the other soulmate types, there are two ways out of Hanahaki... Let the weight of the unreciprocated love drag on painfully until you die, or convince your health insurance to accept the cost of the operation to remove the offending plants. However, by the time one realizes they are soulmates, it is likely that the bond has already been unreciprocated.

Taeyong knew this. He knew this because it happened to him. He had once been on the receiving end of the agonizing scratch of dead rose stems climbing up his throat in a mess of blood and wilted petals. Taeyong had nearly died. He recognized the signs clearly and that was the reason he was so shocked to see them in who he did.

Johnny’s soulmate.

Taeyong first took notice when you walked through the door of the club. A celebration night to celebrate the frat’s anniversary alongside Taeyong’s new choreographer position in the dance studio he works in. Your face had a slightly paler tone and although you were doing a good job at keeping your breathing even… Taeyong recognized the telltale signs of a wince when you took the air in too harshly.

But when he saw Johnny approach you and press a loving kiss to your forehead, he scolded himself for thinking such things. Taeyong knew something was up though, your smile didn’t meet your eyes and when you congratulated him with a hug, he swore he could feel your body tremble.

He tried not to worry too much throughout the night but when he saw Johnny by the bar, his charming smile dazzled at some sorority girls that had been invited… Taeyong wondered where you’d gone. The disappointment within him only grew when he watched his best friend and frat brother go home with one of them.

So, maybe his suspicions were correct. A few weeks passed and he’d not seen a glimpse of you, Johnny hadn’t even uttered your name. The rapper hadn’t had time to sit him down and ask him about the incident. Until now.

Taeyong dabbed the sweat from his brow with the neckline of his shirt, swiping his water bottle from the floor. He shuffled toward his friend, watching as he grinned at his phone as he typed. He was talking to someone and Taeyong only hoped it was you. That you’d both mended things to stop it getting worse. The thought of it all being a misunderstanding had a relieved smile spreading across his face as he settled on the floor next to Johnny.

“You texting ____? Tell her I said Hey.” Taeyong said, twisting the cap off his drink to take a swig. Taeyong was almost taken aback at the irritated flash that crossed Johnny’s expression at the mention of your name.

If Taeyong wasn’t so observant, he would have missed it. Johnny shook his head, swiftly locking his phone when his leader went to peer over his shoulder. “It’s not. It’s Yuki.”

Taeyong’s eyebrows scrunched, posture freezing for a moment. “The sorority girl you went home with?” He tried to keep his tone level. Memories of the same thing happening to himself reoccur in his mind. “What about ____?” The question hung awkwardly in the air, Johnny staring at Taeyong as if he’d asked something ridiculous.

“What about her?” He shrugged. “Just because I do stupid things, doesn't mean I don’t love her. She’s my soulmate.” He paused, an almost defeated sigh sagging at his shoulders. “The only one I got.”

Taeyong took notice of the slight bitterness in his words. Almost as if he didn’t realize that he did it. “Do you?”

Johnny rubbed at the back of his neck, his mouth opening but no words coming out. Once again, a defeated shrug of his shoulders. “Yeah… yes.” He cleared his throat as his voice broke. “I’m sure we’d of noticed by now if I hadn’t.” Johnny left no room for debate, standing up with a clap of his hands to suggest they continue their lacrosse practice.

You knew. You knew Johnny’s feelings for you were dwindling. You were reminded every time you coughed. Reminded by the way your breath left you in an agonizing squeeze when Johnny would kiss your forehead.

But, even though you knew… it didn’t make you love him any less. You knew what he got up to when your nights weren't spent together. You didn’t do a thing, didn’t bring it up. You almost tried to ignore it. You loved Johnny. You always would. And, as long as you continued to love him, he wouldn’t have the same fate as you. You would never wish this pain on him even if he was the cause.

You wished you’d heeded Mark’s seemingly lighthearted warning at the beginning of your relationship. ‘He’s one of my closest friends but he doesn’t always do the right thing, just… please be careful.’ Mark had said one evening. You hadn’t truly understood why he had said it, nor did you get to question him before Johnny had slid his arm around your middle.

You understood perfectly now. Especially as a sharp tickle wheezed in the back of your throat, your eyes discreetly scanning the new text message from your seat at the very back row of English lit class. ‘Can we rain check date night again? Coach is being a hardass and wants us to stay late.’ For the third week running, the same excuse. Sure, you’d seen Johnny. But Thursday was always date night. Something you’d both stuck to like glue once before.

Pain twisted in your chest, your breath rough. You brought the sleeve of your hoodie to your mouth, attempting a discreet cough. It didn’t do anything for you, the feeling like you’d swallowed razorblades. The world felt like it was spinning for a moment and you had to close your eyes and count to ten to steady it again.

One look at your sleeve had you frowning. The next stage had started. You’d read about this. Discoloured petals. You’d only coughed up one but one was enough for you to be sure. With one last attempt at clearing your throat, you brushed the blackened petal to the ground.

Taeyong shared this class with you. Whilst he didn’t often sit next to you, he was mostly always on the same row. Not many people occupied the back row and so, when he heard the muffled hack come from your direction he had looked over, shoulders tensing as he watched you.

He approached you at the end of class, watching your sluggish movements as you shoved your laptop back into your bag. “____, Are you alright?” He asked softly, noting the sheen of sickly sweat coasting your forehead.

Lips pressed firmly together, you nodded. You were certain if you opened your mouth you'd start coughing and choking again but you didn’t want to be rude. “I’m fine.” Bad idea. “Sorry, Yong, I gotta go-” Taeyong had never heard your voice so scratchy and coarse. He had also never seen you flee so quickly before he could even open his mouth, your notepad falling from your unzipped bag as you vanished before his eyes.

As he knelt down to collect it from the ground, his fingers made contact with a velvety, withered texture.

A blackened rose petal.

The next time Taeyong saw you, you were much worse than he could have imagined. He had only turned up at your apartment because he assumed Johnny had left his phone at your place. He couldn’t really understand the rushed words of ‘Shit! I left my phone at her place, I’m already late!’ When Taeyong offered to go and get it, he naturally thought of your place.

So when you answered the door, he was standing frozen at the sight of you. Your eyes had bags under them that would put JFK airport to shame. Your complexion was grey, lips cracked and dry. Taeyong could definitely see you’d lost some weight too, your knitted sweater nearly slipping off one shoulder. His gaze caught onto the marks along your neck, long red streaks almost looking like you had been clawing at it in your agony. Your winced call of his name kicked his brain into gear.

“Now isn’t a good ti-” His hands flew out to rub and pat your back as your words were interrupted.

Taeyong’s heart broke as he watched you struggle. You couldn’t get your breath, your face turning red from the strenuosity. Taeyong backed you into your apartment, kicking the door closed behind him. He sat you on your couch, disappearing from view for a moment.

You didn’t even take note of what exactly was being thrust under your nose, only that it would catch what your body rejected. One of his hands held the bucket, the other sweeping your hair away from your face. It was all too familiar for him. Except for Taeyong, he had done it alone.

“It’s okay, ____” He hushed, palm flattened over your back to rub comforting circles. “Breath through your nose and count to ten. It helps.”

You did as such, shoulders relaxing as the air finally seeped into your lungs. You wiped your mouth with the back of your hand, sighing at the crimson residue that was becoming all too familiar. You opened your mouth to speak, only to be gently hushed once more.

“It’s okay, it’ll hurt too much if you talk.” He set the bucket down on the side table. “You should get yourself some grapeseed oil. A teaspoon a day should at least prevent the attacks so often.” Taeyong didn’t look at you as he spoke, his hands busying themselves with opening the small drawer to your coffee table in search of tissues.

“You mean this?” You rasped, pulling the small droplet bottle from your pocket, and setting it down on the surface before you. Taeyong’s eyebrows creased.

It was the exact same bottle he was sure he had. Though, catching sight of the label on the bottle he knew it was his bottle. ‘Taeyong’ scribbled messily on the labeled sticker. He looked at you expectantly.

“Johnny gave it to me.” Just uttering his name sent a pang of hurt through you, a wave of emotion rippling from your jaw to the tips of your toes.

Taeyong understood immediately, a deep sigh resonating as he nodded once. “He knows then.” To which you nodded, eyes fixed on your lap.

He had never seen you cry, and he would hate to admit it but your eyes looked pretty when you did. It was as if the glaze of tears enhanced the colors of your iris. “He doesn’t know it’s this bad. He thinks the tickle has just started.”

“____, you’re dying and you’re telling me Johnny hasn’t noticed yet?” To say that Taeyong was in disbelief was an understatement. The new knowledge that Johnny knew now had floored him.

Why? Because Johnny hadn’t once let it show. Taeyong had been around the guy all week and he was still the happy comedic genius he always was. Not a hint of anything bothering him.

“Yong, It’s okay. I..” You drew your knees up to your chest, patting the spot next to you for him. “I’ve come to terms with it.”

“Come to terms with it?!” He spluttered. “____, you are in your twenties! You can’t be okay with dying in your twenties.” His hand raked through his hair, eyes blinking rapidly like he couldn't come to terms with how calm you looked right now.

Taeyong could feel the anger bubbling up in his chest, his gaze hardening as he addressed you once more. “You know he’s been seeing her too, don’t you?”

You were silent, shame eating at your subconscious. “If I ignore it then he won’t have to be like this too.”

Taeyong sprung up to his feet. “Wake up! He’s out there living his life with no regrets and you’re the one to suffer? I can’t…” He shook his head, shoving his clenched fists into his pockets. “I’m sorry, I just-” With one last shake of his head, Taeyong left you there. The slam of your front door announcing his absence.

Johnny remembered the conversation between the two of you very clearly. He was convinced he still loved you a lot. Just not in the way you need. At first, he thought it was doubt, but as time went on he started to notice the dry tickly cough and the abundance of petals scattered in your trash. He was sure it wasn’t harmful yet, certain that he still held the love in his heart for you.

Johnny didn’t love Yuki. She was fun. She was different. She wasn’t you. He could spend time with her without any strings attached. It was freeing, knowing he wasn't destined to be with her no matter what.

He felt guilt at first. He didn’t like lying to you, but it was for his own selfish gain that he did. Johnny had seen Taeyong go through the pain and near death of a soulmate falling out of love, he didn’t want that for himself. Johnny had too much to live for, as arrogant and self-centred as that sounded.

He remembered what you said when he gave you the vial of grapeseed oil, how your shaky hands had placed over his own. How you told him it was okay, it wasn’t his fault. But Johnny couldn’t help but think it was. Johnny tried so hard to make himself love you still. Your words of comfort swirled in his mind and kept him up at night. ‘Nobody can help who they do and don’t love. Feelings change, People don’t’ You’d said to him.

Johnny felt ashamed. Being unfaithful to you whilst you still loved him with every ounce of your soul. Deep down, Johnny knew you only had two options he just hoped you made a decision before it was too late.

Taeyong had been seen by barely anyone all week. It was as if he was attending his classes and then picking up every extra shift or odd job imaginable. The Neos were even more shocked when Mark slapped a flier down on the dining table ping pong table in front of some of the brothers. A for sale flier, advertising their frat leader’s motorcycle. The very same one that he cherished and spent a fortune to modify.

“Do you think he’s in debt?” Jungwoo frowned, setting his beer on the table.

That question alone earned a chortled laugh. “Woo, we’re in university. We’re all in debt.” Yuta clapped him on the back. “But, on a serious note, He’s been acting super weird lately.”

Everyone launched into debate, trying to determine why Taeyong would be selling his pride and joy so suddenly. Conversation ceased when the front door opened and the man in question shuffled into the open-plan living space with an exhausted wave.

“Ty, are you actually selling the bandit?” The question came from Taeil, Neo frat’s oldest member.

Taeyong moved through the living area, taking a seat at one of the beanbags littered around the table. “Already sold it.” He bobbed his head in a nod.

It earned him many concerned looks. “Are you in trouble or something? Are you trying to cover the water bill from when Mark broke the faucet?”

“No, Jae. I’m not in trouble. It’s not for me.” He reassured, his voice dying down quietly. “It’s for ____.”

Everyone stopped. Mark locked his phone, Yuta stopped chipping at his nail polish, and Taeil nearly spat out his beer. Jaehyun and Jungwoo were already staring at him.

“Why?”

Taeyong took a deep breath, anticipating the question.It didn’t take long for him to catch them up to speed. “You haven’t noticed? I can’t watch her die. Even if she’s come to terms with it.”

“She’s not been to class for a few weeks. Professor Choi just straight-up skips over her name now. I’m guessing they know.” Jaehyun hummed.

“Hm, Jaemin said he saw her last week on his midnight ramen run.” Mark recalled, “Said she looked like something out of living dead.”

“Mark,” Taeyong gave him a warning look. The younger just shrugged his shoulders. “I’m going to book the operation for her. She doesn’t know. I just need the deposit. After that, it’s monthly payments. I can scrape enough together for the monthly just fine.” He looked pained. “Whenever I see her, it’s like I’m watching myself go through it again.”

One by one, Jaehyun, Mark, Jungwoo, Yuta, and Taeil offered their help.

The six of them didn’t make it known what their plans were but soon enough, after Taeyong had put what he had already saved with what the others offered, it was enough. He rocked up to the private medical center, cash in an envelope that was tucked neatly within the inside pocket of his jacket.

Taeyong was pleasantly surprised that he was allowed to schedule and pay the deposit on your behalf. Acting on best interest. The receptionist did stress that you needed to fill in the form and sign consent upon arrival but Taeyong was more pleased that he was giving you a chance at life. That there was a possibility that you could carry on.

What he didn’t expect, was your immediate refusal when he brought the leaflet and forms over to your apartment the following morning. The smile dropped from his face as you tried to hide away from him. ‘He could die.’ You’d cried at him. And whilst it had been proven he wouldn't, you were convinced.

“He won’t, ____.” Taeyong begged. “Please, you can’t just accept this.” The bed dipped as he sat on the edge. The many times he had visited you now, you had always been. The last time you got up to open the door, Taeyong honestly worried that you would pass away right there on the doorstep. He took your spare key after that.

Taeyong’s gentle fingers lifted the damp wash cloth from the bowl at your bedside, running the cool material over your brow and cheeks. A light smile twitched at the corner of your lips, the sensation easing your fever, only a little but it was better than before. He knew he wasn’t going to get many more words from you this evening. You’d exhausted yourself already for the evening. Taeyong was just content enough to sit here and care for you.

Honestly, before it was known that you were Johnny’s soulmate, Taeyong had hoped you’d notice him. He had often found himself wishing that it wouldn’t last so he could at least have a shot with you. His hopes were crushed when Johnny had run through the fraternity declaring you were both soulmates. Taeyong had made peace with the idea that maybe he was meant to be alone, satisfied just by seeing you whenever Johnny brought you over to hang out.

He never wished for this, though.

Tenderest of touches brushed your hair away from where it had clung to your forehead. Taeyong clicking on the standing fan in an attempt to offer you some cool relief. “Trust me, ____.” He whispered, voice brittle. “I went through this.” His confession had your right eye cracking open.

“Back in the first year,” Taeyong recalled. “Watching you and Johnny go through this… it’s like a mirror. I nearly died,” He picked up your hand, engulfing it in both of his own. “I refused the operation until it was nearly too late. For the same reason, actually.”

Your fingers twitched in his own, your index finger hooking around his thumb to offer comfort. You have suspected Taeyong had some close experience with this. Especially in the way he always seemed to understand your pain, the sad gazes, and his drive to help you. You had never expected that he would be the one in your position though. The meer thought had tears welling up in your eyes. You seemed to cry a lot around the man these days.

“He didn’t die though. Apparently, he just… coughed up the root.” He lifted your hand, the ghosting feeling of his lips against your knuckles. “I promise you, Johnny won’t die… At least think about it.” To which you nodded in agreement.

Taeyong made you soup, your favorite kind. You weren’t even sure how he knew it was your favorite but he did. He parted from you with a lingering kiss to your hairline. Just like every night. This form of unrequited love seemed to of hurt him more than his last.

He’d left the forms and leaflets on the empty bed space by your feet.

You’d asked Taeyong not to come over for the last four days. As worried as he was, he had to respect your wishes. You didn’t want him to see your sudden decline as you entered the last stage of the rejection. Meaning, that Johnny had almost fallen completely out of love with you now.

You were expecting it, Taeyong too. You and Johnny had broken things off the last time you saw each other. Both of you doing so without even having to clarify the matter. He was free. Almost.

Taeyong had been stressed all week, even his frat brothers had given him a wide berth. Many put it down to the lacrosse game the pending evening. Only a select few really knew that it was because today was the same day Taeyong had scheduled for your surgery.

He hadn’t known it was the same day as the game, Jungwoo uttering the words with caution the day before. Taeyong swore to himself that he thought he booked it for next week. He didn’t even know if you were going to accept it… Any time he brought it up you tended to change the subject.

How Taeyong managed to even pass the ball with steady swings amazed even himself, his hands hadn’t stopped shaking. He had nearly skipped the game in favor of being with you, but he knew he couldn’t. The game had gone smoothly, they were winning by one. In fact, Johnny had to take the penalty shot.

The whole field waited on bated breath, all eyes on Johnny as he just stood there, his expression morphed in such a way that Taeyong exchanged a look with Jaehyun.

“Seo! Take the damn shot already!” The coach didn’t even get through his ending word before Johnny’s form curled over, knees slamming into the ground.

Taeyong rushed over as his friend tore off his helmet and spat his mouthguard to the ground. He would worry about that later. Taeyong slid to his knees beside Johnny, his own helmet crashing to the ground out of his grip.

Johnny had never felt such pain. His airways were burning. The sensation in his chest felt like all the oxygen was being torn from him. The team crowded around him, blocking anyone else's view of the scene. A choked cough left his throat, a shout of agony following after. Petals. Blood. Stems. The flower was unwinding itself, pulling at the roots from within his chest and lungs.

The team managed to maneuver Johnny back to the locker rooms, it took four of them to carry him but soon the male was slumped against the tiles of the showers. Taeyong was beside him once again. “Cough it up Johnny, you’ll do more damage if you don’t.” He tugged Johnny’s arm to sit him forward, his fist thumping down in the center of his back. “Johnny, come on!”

To say Taeyong was relieved when Johnny finally started coughing again was an understatement. “You gotta carry it on, it’ll hurt but I’ve got you.” He pleaded over the sound of his friend’s cries and chokes.

Johnny doesn’t know how long he continuously coughed for. All he knew was the last one to shake through his body finally offered him release, Taeyong tugging him away from the mangled mix of plant and blood only to rip him, Johnny, from his shock-induced state by shoving him under the freezing cold shower stream - kit and all.

A big, clear breath left him.

“What the fuck, John?” Ten peaked his head around the corner, having raced in after the team to check on his best friend.

“Dude, that's your flower.” Mark grimaced, crouched down next to the offending object.

The announcement made Johnny’s spine straighten, and Taeyong hung his head. “What does it mean?” Johnny shakily stood, pressing the button to stop the stream of cold water.

It was fascinating how Johnny already felt better. He felt no pull in his chest, no weakness even after the whole ordeal. He felt new. But if he felt like this… then what had happened to you? The realization of what had happened weighed heavy on his guilt.

He turned to address the sort of traumatized, faces around him but it wasn’t him that spoke up. It was Taeyong. “It means I need to find ____.”

Taeyong had raced past his teammates and into the locker room without any further explanation. His phone cramped between his ear and shoulder as he tugged on his sweats at record speed. “C’mon, Petal. Pick up.” He swore to himself, only removing the device from his ear to throw on a t-shirt from his locker. It was a term of endearment he had taken to calling you of late, though quite often when you were too dazed to notice.

He ignored the looks of confusion from his friends. Well, from those other than Mark and Jaehyun. From the look on Johnny’s face, he was still piecing things together. Taeyong didn’t have time for that, snatching the keys for the beat-up Honda he had gotten recently and sprinting from the room.

Taeyong continued to call you on the way to your apartment. He had just hoped you’d gotten yourself to the appointment. He didn’t want to think about the possibility of losing you like this. He found himself afraid to enter your building, scared of what he may find. His head thumped against the steering wheel, eyes burning with unshed tears. You had to be okay.

His phone buzzed, body jumped when he saw your name flash on the screen. He swiped to answer, bringing it up to his ear with a relieved sigh. “____.” He listened to your breathing for a split second, registering the steady beeps in the background.

“Is he alive?” Your tone was filled with urgency but your voice was clearer than Taeyong had heard in weeks. It had a relieved laugh bubbling from his chest, salty droplets cascading down his cheeks and leaving his tear ducts with the tension in him.

“He’s fine.” He sniffled, rubbing at his face. “ Petal, you’re okay. I tho-” You interrupted him with a soothing call of his name.

“You were right.” He listened to you pause, the sounds of you sipping through a straw present in the receiver. “There are things I do have to live for.” You spoke quietly. “The first one being myself.”

He hummed in agreement, starting up the car again. “Yeah? I’ll be there soon and you can tell me all about the second, Petal.” He was rewarded with a breathy laugh. “What?”

“Petal.” You murmured, Taeyong could hear the slumber lingering back into your tone.

“Get some rest. I’ll be there soon.” He was about to pull the phone away from his ear when you quietly called his name again.

“Yes?” He hummed, clicking the hands-free and setting the phone into the holder on the dash.

“Can I tell you my second reason?”

“What’s that, Petal?” He smiled softly to himself.

“It’s you.”

©Acescavern - I do not give permission for my works to be copied, translated or reposted

239 notes · View notes

yongility · 26 days

Text

NEO TV # I LIKE ME BETTER WHEN I'M WITH YOU. (jaehyun x reader) 4/?

genre: angst, suggestive, gang au, rich kid au, enemies to lovers (kinda), a lil of fluffy stuff. slowburn, series.

warnings: drug use mentions, gangs, fights, use of weapons, adult language, illegal activities, cheating (not on the main couple), toxic family environment, addictions, manipulation, insecurities, illegal street racing, death mentions. jeno is jaehyun's younger brother, angst, smut and if I slip something my bad haha.

warning for his chapter: cursing, verbal fight, fight. Small smut part teehee lol (back of the car make out, dry humping, fingering, just that by now) psd: not so good at smut I think, but if you want more for the next chapter, lemme know, you ask… I’ll deliver)

word count: +10k? Not proofread!!!

After Chris peeled out the tires of his car, it didn't take Jaehyun long to approach his brother and (Y/N) to drag Jeno inside the house, with (Y/N) walking worriedly behind them.

Anger coursed through Jaehyun's body, and he wasn't even sure who he was angry at anymore, was it towards Jeno or that for that idiot of Chris? He knew he couldn't make his brother understand, but what the hell was he doing to make all this happen? He wanted to yell at him, to confront him, but he didn't want to make a scene in front of (Y/N), so he closed his eyes and paced around the room, breathing deeply to try to calm himself.

The girl went to the kitchen and after finding the first rag she could, she dampened it before returning to Jeno and helping him sit on the couches, then passing the cloth over his face, trying to tend to the wounds there and causing Jeno to let out a groan of pain.

(Y/N) chose not to say anything for the moment.

"What the hell did you do this time, Jeno?" Jaehyun asked releasing a furious sigh.

"I didn't do shit," Jeno replied through gritted teeth, letting out a grunt of pain.

"Bullshit," Jaehyun said. "What the hell did you do? I told you not to get into more trouble, especially not with the Yellow Wood gang again. You should know better than that, you're an idiot."

"What is she doing here?" Jeno asked back, grabbing the girl's wrist to stop her from continuing to apply the cloth to his face.

"It's none of your business," Jaehyun replied sharply, approaching him and forcefully removing his hand from her wrist. "What the hell did you do? Why did Chris say you got into his area?"

"It's none of your business," Jeno repeated, provoking Jaehyun.

"Stop this shit, Jeno!" The boy shouted, causing (Y/N) to jump in her place and feel small in her spot.

Jeno stood up forcefully from his seat and after letting out a groan, he said, "You told me you wouldn't get involved in my businessanymore, what happened then? Huh?"

"Don't be stupid, Jeno," Jaehyun spat. "Of course I'll keep worrying about you!" He raised his hands. "I've been in this business since I was eleven..." He murmured. "Do you think I don't know about this shit? Just tell me what the hell you did?"

Jeno remained silent for a moment, debating internally. He glanced sideways at (Y/N), who was a few steps away from them, watching the scene like an intruder. She didn't know what to do or say, she just stood there like a statue while holding the cloth to her chest.

"Sooman sent me... me and Jaemin. We were supposed to deliver some packages at the entrance of Yellow Wood but Chris and his friends were there... we didn't expect them, and then things got messy," Jeno replied in a low voice.

Jaehyun took a deep breath and let it out heavily before bringing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "You got yourself into this shit, Jeno. I told you not to do it. I told you many times, and you know there's no turning back now, I don't know if you think this is some kind of game… but this," he pointed. "This is why I was after you and didn't want you to get into this fucking shit, your life will now become this. It won't be the first or the last fight or threat you'll have. Pull yourself together and realize what's coming," he said as he approached him.

Jeno just remained silent and clenched his fist on his lap.

"Do you think I chose this life for us? No, but you could choose to do something about yours. I was giving you everything, I was taking care of the business so you wouldn't have to! This is not a fucking game, Jeno!" Jaehyun exclaimed, feeling on the edge of anger.

"Jaehyun..." (Y/N) called him.

"No..." he said. "You don't know anything about this," and that was enough for the girl to fall silent.

"Yes, Jaehyun. (Y/N) knows nothing about this," Jeno said with annoyance. "Does she know your nightly routine? The number of packages you deliver in a week?"

"Jeno, shut up."

"Oh, I'm curious to know what she's doing here... you're not here for homework, are you? Oh, you're one of Jaehyun's little friends," Jeno blurted out. "Tell her, Jaehyun, tell her all about your life, all the truth, tell her how you manage to ruin people's lives. Or will you turn her into an addict too? Just like her cousin?"

"Jeno, shut up!" Jaehyun interrupted him loudly. "(Y/N), go to the car, I'll take you home."

"Jaehyun..."

"Get in the car," he repeated, this time in a low voice. After seeing that the girl did as he asked, he approached Jeno. "I'll tell you one thing, Jeno, you screwed up, and I won't be here to hold you up like I've been trying to do since I was eleven. It's time for you to realize your reality and what you chose... next time, you'll end up worse, and you know it, so try not to screw up so much, because you'll only dig yourself deeper," Jaehyun sentenced, turning away, not wanting to see him anymore for the moment.

He walked a few steps toward the exit, knowing that the girl would be waiting for him on the other side.

"Fucking someone from Kwangya won't make you escape your reality," Jeno muttered.

And although he had tried to avoid it all this time, that last sentence was something he couldn't help but let boil his blood because it was then that he turned around, walked up to Jeno and gave him a clean blow to his jaw.

"You're an ungrateful bastard. All my life I've tried to save you from this shit and this is how you repay me? I expected more from you, Jeno. Much more."

He turned away without letting Jeno say anything, continued his path, and found (Y/N) already sitting in the passenger seat with a bewildered look, waiting for Jaehyun to get into the car.

When he did, (Y/N) gave him a few moments to compose himself. Jaehyun slumped into the seat and closed his eyes, letting out a sigh and then a slight huff.

"You wanted to know more about me, didn't you?" He smirked slightly without opening his eyes. "There you have it. You shouldn't have seen all this shit but you did. This is my life, this is me."

The girl didn't say anything at first. She just let the words walk through her head.

"I'm sorry for what Jeno said," Jaehyun continued.

"You don't have to apologize," (Y/N) assured him. "I'm the one who wanted to come," she joked, and Jaehyun chuckled softly. "I know it's hard, but I think Jeno will someday see what you're trying to do for him... you're not a bad person, Jaehyun, you're an older brother worried about your little brother."

Jaehyun sighed. "Jeno doesn't understand how big of a deal this life is. I don't want to see him end up in a body bag or have to go identify his body. He's taking it lightly, as if it were a game."

"He won't," she told him. "As long as you keep trying, he might not."

"I see the way out further each time," Jaehyun confessed. "Every time I think I might get them out of here, something happens; first my dad's death, then Winwin's accident, and now Jeno starting to deal... it's like something wants to keep me tied here.

(Y/N) nodded slowly and seeing Jaehyun's hand on his own lap, she took a deep breath and stretched her hand to take his, which didn't seem to surprise him in the least, which caused something inside her.

"All those are reasons enough, Jaehyun," she said as she squeezed his hand. "I know that as long as you continue with that purpose... they might get out of here... I trust you."

The boy tensed under (Y/N)'s words and swallowed hard.

How could she trust him? How could she do it after seeing and hearing what happened moments ago? Why did (Y/N) want to make him feel this way?

He hated being selfish, he did it too much. But... now he felt there was something else to cling to. And he didn't understand it! As much as he wanted to, now all he could think about was how good it felt a few moments ago when (Y/N)'s body was pressed against his. How could a relationship with her end well? He didn't know, but curiosity to find out would end up killing him.

He didn't know if being attracted to (Y/N) would end up being just as dangerous as his life in Neo Zone.

But he wanted to take the risk.

"I wouldn't want to clash with your perfect life," Jaehyun murmured. (Y/N) scoffed and shook her head slowly.

"No life is perfect. Not even mine," the girl assured him. "Money isn't everything, Jaehyun... money has taken away my freedom to be whoever I want," she added with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.

(Y/N) smiled slightly.

"My whole life has been based on appearances. Eighty percent of the decisions I've made have been made based on what my parents want or ask me to do. They want to have this facade of the perfect family. Especially my mom; for her, showing off our status, our money, is all that matters; everything I do needs to be backed by my mom. I have no voice in that house," she murmured the latter. "And I know that you and I are in different contexts and situations, but I also want to break out of my routine, I want to be able to have my own voice."

And that was something they shared... wishing to have their voice, wishing to be someone for themselves and not for others.

That's what brought them together.

"My life has been about being the girl who doesn't cause trouble, who sits and agrees with everything others say, who shouldn't cause a scandal," she continued and chuckled softly. "My dad has been cheating on my mom for a long time, and she knows it, but she'd rather put up with that than endure a divorce scandal... it's all pretending."

"It seems like we both seek to know who we are," Jaehyun said, turning to look at her without letting go of her hand. "And where we belong."

The girl smiled slightly and nodded.

"I don't think I'd mind finding out with you."

Jaehyun returned the smile and nodded his head.

"I'll take you home."

Crossing the entire city was a long journey, however, this time it hadn't been an uncomfortable or silent trip, so when Jaehyun stopped the car outside the Hwang residence, he got out of the car to say goodbye to the girl.

"Thanks for showing me a piece of your life," the girl repeated when they faced each other.

"Well, it seems like you're very stubborn," Jaehyun replied, laughing.

"I've been told a couple of times," she joked as they approached each other. "But I mean it, it meant a lot to me."

"Even with what happened?”

"Even with what happened” she affirmed.

Suddenly the distance wasn't so long anymore, and Jaehyun's hands weren't in his pockets anymore, but now they were on the girl's waist as he leaned against the car door.

"It's good to know," the boy said softly.

The silence stretched, and as they looked at each other, (Y/N) let out a giggle and spoke: "Are you going to give me a goodbye kiss?"

"I wouldn't want to have your dad's bodyguards on my back," Jaehyun joked as he tightened his grip on her waist.

"Can't you handle them?" She played along.

"Oh, baby, we both know I can handle them. I just don't want to cause trouble," Jaehyun confessed.

"But I want you to cause trouble."

And once again, the boy's lips met hers, first moving slowly and advancing as the kiss lingered. The only thing on Jaehyun's mind was her, nothing else. At that moment, he couldn't think of anything else, their lips collided and he swallowed the slight moan that (Y/N) let out when he pulled her closer to his body.

Playing with fire would end up burning him more than he wished.

But he would enjoy it until he couldn't anymore.

(Y/N)'s fingers played with the hairs on his neck, causing his skin to tingle and his body to start feeling hot; what would happen next? Taking her to the back of the car? Fuck, how good she would look while she was on top of his lap.

He could imagine it in a thousand ways.

But his thoughts were interrupted when something caught his attention.

"What do you think you're doing (Y/N)?" The girl's mother was a few meters away from them, and as (Y/N) pulled away from Jaehyun, he could see her face turn pale.

"Mom..."

"Get away from that boy, now," her mother demanded as she approached her and pulled her arm. "What are you doing with this criminal?"

Jaehyun's hand didn't leave the girl's waist for a second.

"Sorry, Mrs. Hwang, but I don't think I've disrespected you for you to do that to me," the boy warned as he stared at her.

"Mom, don't make a scene."

"Don't make a scene? You'll see when your dad finds out about this, go into the house now!" she demanded as she pulled her arm and moved her in the opposite direction.

"Mom!"

"Get your ass into the damn house now, (Y/N). I won't repeat it twice," the mother exclaimed and pointed at Jaehyun. "And you, I want this to be the last time you come near my daughter. I don't know what you're after, I don't know if you want money, but you won't get it. You better make sure this is the last time I see you near my house."

Jaehyun scoffed and shook his head.

"Call me, baby," Jaehyun shouted to the girl who was standing at the entrance of the residence. "And I don't want your money."

_______________________________________________

"I can't believe it," her mother said as they entered the house. "How is it that I find my daughter in front of my own house with a criminal like that?"

"Mom..."

"No, oh God, what if the neighbors saw you, what will they think if they did?" Her mother ran her hands through her hair in exasperation. "You're grounded, and you're forbidden from seeing that boy."

"Mom, the neighbors couldn't care less about what we do! And no, you can't forbid me from anything," she countered as she walked up the stairs of the house.

"Of course I can! I'm your mother!" the woman explained as she approached her.

"You don't even act like it!" the girl exclaimed. "You're hardly ever home, all you care about is how to spend Dad's money and what else to show off, you don't care about me, I see the service workers more than I see you!" she cried as tears threatened to fall. "This whole life? Huh? Full of appearances and lies? When will you understand that money isn't everything in life? And that people don't care about what we do?" she continued. "I'm tired of all of this!"

"Stop complaining when all I've done is make this family well-accepted!"

"And what good does that do? Dad cheats on you, and the worst part is you know it!" she reminded her. "You'd rather keep up this lie of a perfect marriage than admit it slipped through your fingers!"

(Y/N)'s mother looked at her for a moment and then moved closer to slap her cheek, causing the girl to look at her in surprise and pain in her eyes.

"This house doesn't even feel like a home," (Y/N) murmured before turning around and walking to the second floor.

"Let this be the last time you see that boy!"

______________________________________________

(Y/N)'s appearance that day, could say... it surprised others. She wasn't wearing the usual attire she wore to classes; today she simply had on joggers with no specific brand and a gray hoodie with the hood pulled over her head.

The night before had been... chaotic to say the least. Not only had she experienced something new with Jaehyun, for which she couldn't be more grateful, but it had also been the last straw in her relationship with her mother.

Years of listening to and doing whatever she asked, only for her to lay a hand on her in a single night.

She didn't know where she stood.

She didn't know what to feel, and she didn't know what to do.

She could still feel the sting of her mother's blow on her cheek.

For her, the pain was more mental than physical.

How could her own mother do that to her?

Feeling lost, she didn't even notice when she reached the entrance and saw Jaehyun waiting for her eagerly.

"Angel?" he called out, receiving no response. "(Y/N)."

"Huh?"

"You seem a bit lost, sweet cheeks," the boy said as he approached. "What happened?"

"I'm fine, Jaehyun," she murmured.

"Well, I think it's the first time I've seen you in joggers and a hoodie. Especially covering your head with a cap, did you get into trouble last night?" he smirked.

(Y/N) shook her head.

"My mom grounded me... again."

Jaehyun chuckled softly and shook his head.

"It seems that ever since you started hanging out with me, your mom has felt the need to assert authority," Jaehyun commented mockingly, then his expression turned serious when he noticed the slight reddish tone on the girl's cheeks.

But this color wasn't the same as when he made her blush.

It was different.

He raised his hand to gently lift her chin and tilted the girl's head slightly to the side.

"What's this?" Jaehyun asked seriously. "Did she hit you?"

(Y/N) grabbed his wrist and tried to pull him away a bit.

"It's nothing, Jaehyun," she affirmed.

The boy huffed.

"She can't just do this to you just because of last night, are you kidding me?" he asked, desperate.

"Well, she did, and I still can't believe it," she commented. "In my eighteen years of life, neither my mother nor my father had laid a hand on me," she said with a shaky voice.

"(Y/N)..."

"Hasn't it been enough? What I've done since I was little? My effort? Does she think something like last night was worth it?"

"It wasn't your fault," Jaehyun murmured.

"But look what she's done."

Seeing her like that and vulnerable was enough for him to wrap his arms around her shoulders.

The man you're becoming, Jung Jaehyun.

"I had texted you because Lucas and I are going to see Winwin, I was about to invite you, but if you think it's better for you to go home," Jaehyun whispered, still with his arms around her shoulders.

Without hesitation, the girl replied.

"I'll go with you guys," she assured. "I didn't do anything wrong yesterday to deserve a punishment, so I'll go with you."

"Are you sure?" he questioned.

"Very."

"Alright then, let's go."

______________________________________________

She no longer wore the hoodie's hood over her head and instead, tied her hair in a high ponytail.

Jaehyun might have thought that look accentuated her features more.

The boy smirked when he saw her laughing at something Lucas had said.

He could get used to that.

She quickened her pace when she noticed she had fallen a bit behind, and after greeting the familiar nurse, they made their way to room 119.

The laughter of Lucas and (Y/N) ceased when the door to the room opened, revealing Winwin just as in previous times.

Facing the window, staring into nothingness while seated in the wheelchair.

For Jaehyun and Lucas, that sight never ceased to be heartbreaking.

It was like seeing their friend dead while still alive.

"Hey Win," Jaehyun said gently as he approached him.

"Oh, what's this? Your hair has grown more since last time," Lucas commented as he took a strand of Winwin's hair. "Should I tell the nurse to cut it a bit, or do you like it this way?" he asked.

The dynamic of entering the room and conversing and asking questions to Winwin as if he could respond was something they were both accustomed to.

But for (Y/N), it was difficult to imagine the pain they endured knowing their friend wasn't mentally present.

"Oi Xuxi, Winwin's hair looks good like this, we should leave it for a while," Jaehyun joked. "His bowl cut was too much."

Lucas laughed and nodded as he sat on the floor beside Winwin's wheelchair and looked out the window, just as his friend did.

Then, Jaehyun mimicked him from the opposite side.

And (Y/N) decided to watch the scene from the room's entrance.

"Haha, Winwin hated that haircut," Lucas chuckled. "But my aunt kept doing it despite his complaints," he teased.

"Sicheng could never say no to my aunt," Jaehyun continued. "He didn't like making her sad, and she loved that cut on him," he reminisced with nostalgia and bit his lip.

Lucas nodded and sighed.

"Man, I really miss them," Lucas commented as he stopped looking out the window and looked at his hands.

(Y/N) felt like an intruder.

"My aunt made the best hot pot," Jaehyun continued. "Sometimes I miss being able to go to her house and sit down to eat with them."

"At least we have Sicheng."

Jaehyun smirked and looked at the mentioned. Winwin's face hadn't changed much, nor had his body; he looked a bit thinner since his nourishment was only through the tube he was connected to. His eyes were a bit dull, but they knew he was the same Winwin they had always known.

They just had to wait for him to come back.

(Y/N) decided to approach when both friends fell silent for a while, she stood right behind Jaehyun and placed her hand on his shoulder to offer support.

There were no words to say, but Jaehyun understood that she was there for him.

A few more moments of reminiscing a few anecdotes were enough to understand what Dong Sicheng meant to them.

To know the great friend Winwin had been before the accident.

And how much they longed to have him back.

They hated it when the half-hour visit ended. They didn't even feel like they had been there long enough; when they stood up to say goodbye to their friend, Lucas put his hand on Winwin's shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze.

"We're still waiting for you, Sicheng," he said gently.

"We'll be back soon," Jaehyun assured him, looking at him. "Don't cause any trouble."

Sometimes, the view played tricks, so when something caught Jaehyun's eye, he couldn't really believe it.

His breath stopped, and his heart raced; his gaze went to Lucas, who was to his right, and then to Winwin's body.

That really just happened.

(Y/N) opened her eyes in surprise when she understood the situation.

"Lucas," Jaehyun called to his friend.

"Did it really happen?" the mentioned asked.

"He moved his finger," (Y/N) blurted out.

"Jaehyun," Lucas called to him and then took him by the shoulders. "He moved his finger!"

Jaehyun remained frozen in place as Lucas shook him with excitement and (Y/N) hugged him from the side.

It was the first time Winwin had a reaction in the whole year he had been in rehabilitation.

And finally, they could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

After informing the nurse and thanking her for what they had done for Winwin and feeling excited about his friend's recent achievement, unfortunately, they had to leave the rehabilitation center.

Jaehyun's heart continued to beat rapidly, the thought that his friend could return sooner than expected filled him with happiness.

Perhaps not everything in his life had to be bad in the past few months.

"Should I take you home?" he asked (Y/N), who was beside him.

"I really don't want to go there," she replied.

Jaehyun nodded. "We have a race in Neo Zone tonight."

(Y/N) bit her lip and looked at him for a few seconds.

"Would you take me?" she asked hesitantly.

"I'm not sure if I should take you back to Neo Zone, Angel," he commented as he smiled sideways.

"Jaehyun," she murmured. "I survived the first visits to Neo Zone, I think I can survive one more night," she assured.

"It's not that," the boy replied as he stopped walking. "As long as they see you with me, no one would dare to harm you."

(Y/N) approached him a little, and it was then that Jaehyun took the opportunity to put one of his hands around her waist to pull her close to him.

"So?" the girl continued as she blushed. "At this moment, I prefer that, rather than going home to see my mom."

"Hmm," Jaehyun shrugged. "What do I get in return?"

(Y/N) thought she couldn't blush more, but Jaehyun just managed to make it happen now.

Seeing Jaehyun's sideways smile, the girl couldn't resist for long, which is why she slowly approached until their breaths mingled, and their noses touched.

The girl could feel herself melting right there.

"Hey, lovebirds," Lucas's shout caught their attention. "Sorry to be the third wheel, but the car is insured, and I really want to get in."

Jaehyun rested his forehead against the girl's and chuckled softly before shaking his head and, without the girl being able to expect it, he planted a brief kiss on her lips and then stepped away from her to walk towards his car.

Leaving her alone for a few seconds as she collected herself and walked behind them.

_____________________________________________

When the clock struck seven in the evening, (Y/N) thanked Jungwoo for being the best friend in the world.

"This will be the last time I sneak into your house to bring you a perfect outfit and escape from your mom so you can go to Neo Zone," Jungwoo said, crossing his arms.

"You're the best," she said as she applied lip gloss and smiled.

"And you haven't even told me what's been going on between you and Jaehyun, and now you're going to Neo Zone regularly?" the boy accused.

"We're just seeing how things go," (Y/N) murmured.

"Well, things must be going well if your mom flipped out when she found you kissing him," Jungwoo said sarcastically.

"Don't even remind me," she continued. "Are you coming with us or not?" she asked when she received a text from Jaehyun letting her know he was less than five minutes away from Jungwoo's house.

"And miss seeing my best friend getting laid? No thanks," Jungwoo joked as he got up from his bed and walked to the door. "Hurry up and let's go to Neo Zone."

When they reached the entrance of the Kim mansion, her heart could feel excitement, which Jaehyun had been provoking in her in recent days.

A few meters away, she saw Jaehyun's car, with him and Lucas in the front passenger seat. It didn't take long for them to park in front of them, and with a leap, Lucas moved to the back seats, and Jaehyun got out of the car to approach his friends.

"Hey, pretty," he greeted her, embracing her around the waist and leaving a small kiss on her lips.

Not only Jungwoo was surprised by the reception his friend had, but even (Y/N) herself was.

Jaehyun smiled when they separated and pushed her a little closer to the car. Minutes later, the four of them were leaving Kwangya, and as they approached the Neo Zone area, the streets became darker.

Perhaps fifteen minutes were enough to start hearing the roar of car engines and the music that resonated became more present. Her body was filled with an endless stream of adrenaline and emotions, and despite this being her fourth visit to the area, something inside her told her that something would happen tonight.

When the car stopped on one of the avenues of Neo Zone, Lucas was the first to get out of the car, saying he would sign Jaehyun up for one of the races. Then the other three followed, and they approached where the crowd was.

Jaehyun walked with his hand on (Y/N)'s lower back, carefully guiding her through the crowd with Jungwoo by his side.

"I can tell you're tense," Jaehyun said in (Y/N)'s ear, hoping she could hear him over the loud music.

"I'm fine," she replied in the same manner. "It's just... be careful in the race, okay?" she said as she turned around and ran her hands over his neck.

"Baby, I told you once," he said with a lopsided smile. "I always win."

"That doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful," she replied.

Jaehyun pulled her closer.

"Why don't you just kiss me so I'll consider it?"

He didn't need a second request because their lips met. Slow at first, like the first times, savoring the taste of the boy's lips... she could even swear she could taste a bit of weed that he had possibly smoked before meeting her. But she liked the taste; Jaehyun squeezed his hands on her hips and pressed her closer to him to enhance the experience.

The kiss felt electric, as if a spark ran through her body, from her lips to the tips of her toes. The boy's hands provided warmth and made her feel like she was melting right there.

She loved feeling like this.

Jaehyun couldn't get his mind off anything other than (Y/N). How the past few days had transformed them after they had both confided in each other.

He wanted to know her in all her forms. That's what he desired.

But the moment (Y/N) could slightly feel Jaehyun's hard length as he pressed her closer to his body.

She wanted to regain her composure.

"We're in public, Jae," she murmured when she pulled away from him.

"Fuck, I won't care about that if you call me like that again," Jaehyun confessed as he kissed her lips again and bit her lower lip. "Wanna go to my car?" he asked when he pulled away from her.

(Y/N) nodded without thinking twice.

Fortunately for both of them, Jaehyun's car was a bit away from the crowd. Just enough for no one to pay attention to them when they slipped between people; (Y/N)'s hands were sweating, and her legs were trembling.

Jaehyun opened the door to the back of the car, and before she could enter, he took her waist again and crashed his lips against hers, this time in a passionate and lustful kiss. (Y/N) pushed him by the shoulders to get into the car, and both of them did so without separating even a bit. A session of hot kisses intensified when, without even noticing, (Y/N) climbed onto Jaehyun's lap, feeling his hard length through her clothes.

And that was enough for her to move on him.

"Shit," Jaehyun groaned against (Y/N)'s lips.

The warmth of Jaehyun's hands left her waist to go down a bit and rest on (Y/N)'s butt, guiding her to press her small body against his clothed cock that was getting harder as time passed.

It felt so good.

Both of them did.

(Y/N)'s fingers were tangled in Jaehyun's hair, and the latter let out a moan when the make-out session became more heated.

It went on like that for a few more moments; Jaehyun's hands were doing everything everywhere, squeezing her butt, returning to her waist, and caressing any part of her skin possible. This caused (Y/N) to pant sweetly, giving Jaehyun more courage to continue.

Immersed in the state of ecstasy she was in, she didn't even notice when Jaehyun's hand left her waist and now was skimming her inner thighs.

But she didn't mind when she felt that.

“Shit baby” Jaehyun panted. “You gonna make me crazy” he rasped.

“Jae” she moaned.

“Yeah pretty girl, keep calling my name like that” he said as his fingers got in contact with her slick. “You’re so pretty looking like a hot mess”

(Y/N) didn’t say anything back, she just moved more to get the feeling of Jaehyun's fingers on her.

“Please touch me” she asked looking straight to his eyes.

He didn’t need to heart it twice to move her panties to the side and slide a finger through her folds and hearing her let a moan out. “Baby you’re dripping”

“That’s how you make me feel” she said between moans. “Fuck, Jae”

“You sound so pretty like this” he kissed her lips while introducing another finger on her, starting to move two fingers inside of her. She gasped in his mouth and Jaehyun only speed his pace. Curling and moving his fingers deep inside of her, looking for any sweet spots she might have.

“Look at you, getting off in the back of my car” jaehyun said too intoxicated, loving the way she looked as she left out moans that only turned him on. “Didn’t think you would like something like this” he said as he curl his fingers in a particular spot.

“Jaehyun” she mewl opening her mouth and making her grip on Jaehyun’s shoulder tighter. “Right there”

“Here baby?” He asked adding a third finger.

His fingers started to scissor her folds, making her feel so full of just his fingers, she moved her hips back and forth just to get a better feeling of the things Jaehyun was doing to her.

She felt in heaven.

But Jaehyun was hell.

When one of his fingers moved to her clit, that was when she lost it, getting higher moans out and squeezing her eyes shut feeling so overwhelmed. The sensation was just too good and she wanted so much more, she needed to feel him. Needed all of him.

With just a couple more of movements were enough to feel a knot in her low stomach.

“Look at me” Jaehyun asked, taking her jaw with his free hand and making her look straight at him.

With her fucked out eyes, she let Jaehyun take the best out of her. It didn’t take too long for her to let a loud moan and collapse on Jaehyun's chest, panting heavily while she tried to compose herself. Jaehyun took his fingers out of her and he licked them clean, and with his other clean and free hand rubbing her back giving her time to herself.

“You did good, baby” Jaehyun whispered in her ear while kissing her temple.

They stayed like that for a couple minutes, until Jaehyun's phone was ringing and noticing that was Lucas the one that was calling him.

“Shit. Angel?” he called her. “You okay to go back?” She hummed while nodding. “The race is 'bout to start”

“Yeah, I’m okay” she assured him.

He smiled and let a kiss in her lips while she got off of his lap. She opened the door and the both of them got out and Jaehyun help her to fix her skirt.

“Next time, your skirt will be off” he winked at her, making her blush even more.

He intertwined their hands and starting to walk again to the Main Street. Seeing Lucas and Jungwoo waiting for them a couple of meters away from them.

The loud music was still on and the roaring noise of the cars was getting louder and louder but before they both could approach their friends, someone got in their way.

“We need to talk” it was all the person said to Jaehyun but it was enough to tense him up.

(Y/N) knew Mark Lee from school, she knew he was Jaehyun’s friend back in the days, but she didn’t knew why they broke their friendship.

So, to say she was confused to see Mark in front of them, was an understatement.

“We don’t” Jaehyun stated pushing him to the side with his shoulder and trying to keep walking with (Y/N).

“Jaehyun” Mark called him from the back. “I know we haven’t talked in ages but this is important” the called one stopped his steps and took a long breath and it was then when Lucas and Jungwoo came to their side.

“I don’t have anything to talk with you, Mark” he said not looking at him.

He wanted to keep walking but the next few words that Mark let out were enough to catch their attention.

“Please Yoonoh” he asked. “Listen to me”

He shook his head.

“I know who caused Winwin's accident” he let out.

Lucas and Jaehyun quickly looked at him and Jaehyun got closer to him taking the neck of his shirt on his fist.

“Don’t say Winwin's name if you’re playing around” he said angrily.

“I’m not” Mark said with confidence. “Look dude, I know you won’t believe me, but I’m not lying. Winwin was my friend just as it was yours, so I wouldn’t joke about this. I was just as hurt as you were and you know it” he explained taking Jaehyun's wrists on his hands.

Jaehyun tensed his jaw and looks back at Lucas who just nodded and got closer to his best friend and to his formal friend.

“I swear I know who did it” Mark mumbled.

Jaehyun cursed and let his shirt to look at Jungwoo and (Y/N). “Jungwoo, take her home” he asked.

“Jae” she called him. “I don’t want to go” she said getting closer to him.

“I’m not asking you” he replied. “Jungwoo take her home” he repeated.

What will happen now that he might going to find out who caused his best friend’s accident?

He just wanted revenge. He just wanted to make them pay for what they did to Winwin.

He was just so lost.

What will he do?

a/n: im sorry if is a shitty chapter or a shitty smut part but I had to haha, if you want a smut part next ch lemme knowwww.

taglist is open! if you want to be added just lemme know;)

taglist: @spicyryujin @kriizztin @daegalismybiasinnct @peachfulnight @gojoscumslut @bluedbliss @dear-97 @girlwholovespreppyattire @hana-off-icial @cigarettesafterjae @beomgyusonlywife @bts-iris @doejaejung @methneo

If you want to ask me something, feel free to send them here!

135 notes · View notes

starlightkun · 8 months

Text

❧ word count: 22.3k ❧ warnings: cursing, inaccurate descriptions of constellations bc this is a fantasy world ❧ genre: fluff, mild angst, slow burn, blind date, strangers to idiots friends to lovers, modern magical creatures au, college au, werewolf sungchan, human reader, ft. siren shotaro & various magical neos (and another extra special guest appearance!), same universe as strawberry sunday ❧ extra info: this work is set in the same universe as strawberry sunday but can be read as a standalone! there is no continuing plotline between fics in this universe, they simply take place in the same world/magic system and may have overlapping characters (neos may pop up in more than one work!) ❧ author’s note: so this is technically the spiritual threequel to my two werewolf jeno fics (pupsick + abh) but you still don’t have to read those to understand this one at all! this is absolutely meant to be read by itself! and this one is also very self-indulgent, from the a.c.e song title to werewolf sungchan, i had a very great time on this one, hence the word count. if you guys have even half the fun reading this as i did writing it, you’ll have a blast. enjoy! ❧ sequel

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ explore the strawberry sunday universe more here!

baby i’m your changer, changer, love is not a danger

Reclined on the plush, soft grass of the front lawn of your college with your hands behind your head, you basked in a particularly lovely patch of sunlight. It was January, the very beginning of the year and the semester, meaning that this would normally be a very chilly and unpleasant endeavor. Except you were sandwiched between two dryads. Dryads weren’t in and of themselves extra warm like dragons or werewolves, nor could one dryad on their own change the weather—and would most likely be influenced by it rather than the other way other—but if you got two together, and they were in a good enough mood, they could generate a little bubble of springtime around them. And for some reason, Jaemin and Donghyuck were in exceptionally high spirits today.

You knew the two dryads from Magical Botany Club, which you had joined your freshman year after you’d managed to kill the small cactus that your parents gave you as a housewarming present for your dorm. They were the only ones who didn’t immediately label you a lost cause, and instead saw you as a challenge. Now, your junior year, your apartment was a jungle to rival that of a dryad’s home, and you were even Vice President of the club this year.

After a long, refreshing inhale followed by an even longer exhale, you finally asked, “So what’s got you in such a good mood? It certainly can’t just be finalizing the calendar of club activities this semester.”

Jaemin was club President, and Donghyuck the Secretary/Treasurer, so this little sunbathing session before the start of the semester on Monday was really supposed to be an Executive Board meeting.

“Who, us?” Jaemin replied innocently.

“No, I was talking to the cardinal on Donghyuck’s leg,” you retorted sarcastically, gesturing to said bird that had also settled in to enjoy the cozy rays.

“We’re not planning anything,” Donghyuck said in the same tone as Jaemin.

You propped yourself up on one elbow to look down at your friend properly, narrowing your eyes at him suspiciously. “I just wanted you to share whatever good news you had, I didn’t think you two were planning anything, but now I definitely do. What’s going on?”

“Donghyuck, you idiot!” The other dryad hissed at him.

“What is it? Don’t tell me you and that fairy are going to try to convince your human friend that aliens are real again. Leave that poor guy alone, he’s got enough on his plate just dealing with all of you being real and jerks to him.” You scoffed disapprovingly, remembering when they recounted that story to you at club a couple years ago. You had been tempted to check on Renjun yourself when you spotted him at the library the next day, but you didn’t know him personally, and didn’t think he’d appreciate it in the moment. Especially not since he looked like he was really focused on his work at the time, so you just let him be.

“It’s nothing like that, I swear,” Jaemin promised. “It’s nothing bad at all.”

You sat up all the way to be able to look at both of them at once. “Okay, what is it then?”

Donghyuck sat up too, the cardinal hopping up to his shoulder. “Long story short, we have a friend that we want to set you up with.”

“No thanks, guys.” You shook your head.

“You won’t even let us tell you about him?”

“I’m not really looking for anything right now. Not after my ex—”

Jaemin pushed his phone screen in front of your face then, a picture of a guy on it. It was presumably the friend they wanted to set you up with. He was around your age, tall—if where his head was in comparison to the doorway of this building was to be believed, wearing a black leather jacket. It looked well-worn, though, as if it might not have been his originally, handed down or thrifted at least. And yeah, he was cute, you weren’t blind. But you also knew not to just eat with your eyes, or else you’d get a tummyache.

“Seriously, Jaemin?” You looked at your friend over the phone screen. “You think I’m that shallow? One picture and I’m going to throw everything away?”

“Dude, show her the—” Donghyuck flapped his hand at the other dryad insistently.

“Oh, right, right.” Jaemin nodded as he began swiping and tapping on his phone fervently.

Donghyuck kept talking to you, “Of course we don’t think you’re shallow. We always meant to tell you about him, too. His name’s Jung Sungchan, he goes here, too, he’s a werewolf, he’s really nice, uh… Jaemin? Some help?”

You let out a sound that was a mix between a snort and a scoff. “Yeah, he sounds great.”

“Okay, he’s really more Jaemin’s friend than mine, sorry,” Donghyuck admitted. “Jaemin? What’s taking so long dude?”

“I don’t know! I can’t find it for some reason, I think he deleted it!” Jaemin muttered, his voice panicked. “I’m checking Jeno’s Instagram right now.”

“So Jeno knows him?” You asked. You didn’t know Jaemin’s werewolf roommate as well as you knew the two dryads, but you did know that they were all friends. “Are they in the same pack?”

“No, they actually know each other through Jeno’s… Ha! Found it!” Jaemin yelled out in celebration, flipping his phone around for you to see.

It was another picture, this time of Jeno standing next to the person you now knew to be named Sungchan. They were at what looked like a u-pick strawberry patch, each proudly holding up a large bucket filled to the brim with strawberries. Sungchan was in a white tank top—a brave choice for a strawberry farm—and shorts. Despite the outfit showing off a lot more of him than the last picture, it was his bright, happy grin that caught your eye, and you had to consciously make sure your gaze didn’t linger too long on the picture.

Turning your attention back to your friends, you prompted Jaemin, “Well? Do you know any more about him than he goes to our college and is a nice werewolf that knows Jeno?”

“Right! Yes!” Jaemin sat up straight at attention as you saw Donghyuck do a little fist pump of victory out of the corner of your eye. “He’s tall—”

“I can see that, he’s like almost two heads taller than Jeno; I meant his personality. This isn’t me saying yes, by the way.” You pointed to yourself and Jaemin talking. “This is me gathering data. I wanted to take time for myself after what happened with my ex, remember? I think it might be enough time, but I need a bit more than ‘he’s nice’ to get me out there.”

“Of course, of course. I really appreciate you even considering this for us,” he squeezed your arm for a moment before letting it go. “He’s really smart, Dean’s List every semester, uh, it might take a minute for him to warm up at first, but once he does, he’s funny, and insightful. And he doesn’t have that constant go-go-go energy that werewolves usually do, he’s so much chiller, so if you were worried about that, don’t be.”

“And, sorry, I know he’s your friend, but I have to ask…” You winced. “He’s not one of those werewolf guys that only dates human girls as like… you know… an ego thing?”

Donghyuck snorted, “Oh he’s not, promise.”

Tension you didn’t know you’d been carrying in your shoulders relaxed at that. “Good.”

“We do have to tell you one thing though,” Jaemin grimaced.

“What?”

“This isn’t just a random set-up because we think you guys would be cute—”

“Oh God, what’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing! Nothing!” He rushed to reassure you. “Like, that part is true, we do think you’d be a good match.”

“Let me guess: the ‘but’ that follows that sentence is related to the ‘long story’ that Donghyuck mentioned earlier?”

Jaemin nodded reluctantly. “Yeah… long story long, Sungchan made a deal, and his end of it was letting us set him up with anybody of our choosing.”

“You’re using a date with me to punish him?” You stood up, brushing the grass off your back. “Yeah, hard fucking pass. Thanks, guys, you really know how to make a girl feel special.”

“No, not a punishment!” Jaemin scrambled to get to his feet as well. As you walked off, the air around you turned cold again, marking when you left their bubble of spring. He called after you, “Y/N! I’m sorry! Please!”

You didn’t want to go back to your empty apartment yet though, so you found yourself meandering into a familiar storefront. Jasmine & Pearls, a boba tea shop just around the corner from your college campus. There was only one customer ahead of you in line, and you stared blankly at the menu just to look at something. You weren’t feeling very adventurous today, so you’d probably get your regular go-to order. After the customer before you had been helped, you shuffled up to the counter, messing with your phone case to pull your punch card out of the back of it.

“Hey, Y/N!” Shotaro, the siren working behind the counter today, greeted you cheerily.

The iridescent pink scales under the tip of his button nose and apples of his cheeks shimmered in the fluorescent lights, making him look like he had a perpetual hint of rosy blush across his skin. That, and his cherubic smile could almost make you forget what those scales and his flashing silvery eyes really meant—he was a siren, could lure you to your death if he so wanted to. Obviously, he didn’t want to, had no reason to, and that would literally be a murder charge nowadays, but you nevertheless found it fascinating that such a being was just here serving you boba tea.

A few months ago, you realized that you came here probably too often once all the workers knew your name, but by then it was too late. It was just too convenient, delicious, and pleasant of an atmosphere for you to feel ashamed enough to stop coming.

“Hi, Shotaro.” You smiled back at him. “Just a regular honey milk tea with boba, please. No charms today.”

“On it!” He accepted both your punch card and credit card from you. After handing them back, he spun around to make your drink, and you went to go wait for it at the bartop at the other end.

Curious, and with nothing better to do in that moment, you pulled up Jeno’s Instagram on your phone. From the main grid on his account, all you could see was pictures either with or of his partner. Cute. Then you finally saw one of them at a strawberry patch, Jeno in the same outfit as the picture Jaemin had shown you before. You clicked on that one, and sure enough it was a whole set of photos. You swiped through to find the one of him and Sungchan holding the buckets of strawberries. And Sungchan was tagged.

You looked up at Shotaro. The customer ahead of you still hadn’t gotten their drink. You checked the notifications on your phone. Nothing new to reply to. Well, here it goes. You clicked on his account.

And he was private. Well, good for him. Internet privacy.

You went back to Jeno’s Instagram to check if Sungchan had maybe appeared in any more posts. You just wanted to see if you could glean anything more about him.

You finally found him again in what looked like a big group trip to Cape Solaria at the end of last summer. There were probably fifteen people here at least. He popped up in a few different shots, playing beach sports with Jeno and some other guys that you didn’t recognize; joining in on throwing some poor small guy—who you presumed to be a witch, judging by the ritual tattoos he was covered in from neck to ankle—into the ocean; and sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows with Jaemin and Renjun. And in every single one, Sungchan had such a genuine, pure, joyful smile. Like he was fully enjoying the moment and the people with him. Yeah, maybe you were projecting, but... surely it wouldn’t hurt to give it at least one chance?

“Y/N? Hello?” Shotaro was calling for you from the counter, shaking a drink that was presumably yours.

You snapped your head up, sheepishly turning your phone off and stuffing it away in your pocket. The other customer was nowhere to be seen; it was just you and the siren.

“Sorry, sorry.” You rushed up to accept the cup.

“It’s alright, you seemed like you were in the zone.”

You grabbed a straw, punching it out from the plastic wrapping. “In the zone of a little cyberstalking, as much as I hate to admit.”

“No shame here, we all do it. Who was it? Can I see?” He grinned mischievously.

“No,” you said flatly, stabbing your straw through the top of the drink. “My friends want to set me up.”

“Want to? Sounds like you haven’t said yes.”

“Perceptive.” You took your first sip.

“But you were cyberstalking them... So, you’re considering?”

“Ugh, I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Why not? Human lives are short.”

“Right. Thanks for that reminder.”

The bell above the front door rang then, announcing the entrance of another customer.

“Always here to help,” Shotaro patted your forearm before walking back to the register to greet the newcomer.

Two weeks later and you were nervously double-checking the name of the restaurant and the time that Jeno had sent you. Yep, this was it, and you weren’t weirdly early. You couldn’t believe how strange this felt, going on a date again. Comparing your outfit to the casual café as you walked in, you felt only a little better that you weren’t overdressed or underdressed either.

Your eyes scanned the building for Sungchan. You’d done enough cyberstalking on your own time in addition to the photos that your friends kept showing you to hype you up that you were certain you’d recognize him easily. It looked like you’d gotten here first. It was seat-yourself, so you might as well grab a table for the two of you.

You’d just come to a stop in front of a little two-seater and took your purse off to hang off the back of your chair.

“Y/N?” A voice came from behind you, accompanied by a gentle tap on your shoulder.

You spun around, immediately face-to-chest with someone. Looking up, you did, in fact, recognize the face of Jung Sungchan. He was admittedly cuter in real life than in the multitude of pictures that Jaemin and Donghyuck had continued to show you in preparation for the date. You didn’t want to know what they’d been doing to prepare Sungchan.

“Hi, Sungchan?” You still phrased it like a question, watching as the man’s features relaxed into an easy smile of recognition.

“Yes, hello.” He raised his arms up slightly at the same time that you did, and you realized that the both of you were now presumably having the same internal debate about if you were supposed to hug your blind first date hello as a greeting.

Ultimately, the two of you did go in for an awkward short hug, and you let out a nervous chuckle, feeling the warmth radiating off of him in the brief contact. You immediately looked down at the table, “Uhm, should we sit?”

“Of course, yeah.”

And as the two of you sat down on opposite sides, you looked up from your fidgeting fingers to your date’s face, not expecting his brow to be furrowed as if he were troubled by something, his gaze affixed on you.

You shifted in your seat uncomfortably. “Is everything okay?”

“You’re not wearing any perfume...” He commented, and you let out a minuscule sigh of relief. That’s all it was, he was just a bit put off that you hadn’t put on a perfume like one might’ve normally done for a date. A detail that he would’ve of course picked up as a werewolf.

“Not that I expect any brownie points for this, but I uh, I didn’t want to overwhelm your nose, in case there were any smells you’re particularly sensitive to,” you explained, picking up the menu that was already sitting on the table.

“You did your research.”

“Oh, I’ve dated a couple werewolves before, actually.”

“Really? You got a type or something?” As soon as the word were out of Sungchan’s mouth, he went to take them back, seeming surprised even at himself, “Sorry, that was—”

“No, no, I get it,” you cut off his apology, your tone reassuring. You knew that there were people who had a disturbing preference for werewolves, so you could understand why you dating now three werewolves might initially look a little suspicious. “Uh, I went to a kind of small high school. Private school. There were a couple of packs in my area that sent like all of their kids there, so my graduating class ended up being like 75% werewolves. It was just kind of statistics, I guess.”

“Oh, okay. Sorry about that, again,” Sungchan apologized once more, relaxing in his seat a bit more as he actually started to peruse his own menu.

“Anyway, that’s not a great first date topic.” You forced out a light-hearted chuckle.

“What’s not?”

“Past relationships? I think that’s third or fourth at least, don’t you?”

“Mm, yeah, of course. Sorry.”

Desperate to redirect the conversation to a much lighter, neutral one, you asked, “So what’s your major, Sungchan?”

“Earth Sciences.”

“Geology or Climatology track?”

He perked up at this. “Meteorology and Climatology.”

“And what made you want to study that?”

“Well, at first I thought I wanted to study astrophysics, but it was too much math and too little actual space. But I really liked my Intro to Weather class I took my first semester to cover a random credit so I switched to that and it stuck.”

“Wait, was it a morning Monday-Wednesday-Friday with Professor- Professor...” Suddenly, the memory struck you. “Oh! Hwang? Fall semester three years ago?”

“Yes, I believe so...” He answered, head tilting with intrigue.

“I think I had it too!”

“Really?”

“Yeah! I took it to get that Science credit as well.”

“I’m sorry to say that I don’t remember you at all.”

“It’s okay, I don’t remember you either,” you laughed, just amazed at the coincidence. “It was a big auditorium.”

Sungchan must have figured out what he wanted, as he set down his menu and leaned his elbows on the table to give you his full attention. “So what are you studying?”

“I’m an Interdisciplinary Major,” you told him happily, thrilled that the conversation was going much more smoothly now. “I was a bit indecisive, too. Except I couldn’t find one thing that stuck like you did. So I chose two: Sociology and Magical Creatures Studies.”

His eyes dropped from yours as he scoffed under his breath, sitting back in his seat.

And there went your pleasant conversation again.

“What was that?” You asked tersely.

“I didn’t say anything.” He shook his head like he was trying to clear the unpleasant tone from the conversation, but you weren’t going to let him go that easily.

“No, but clearly you have an opinion. So go ahead.”

“Not really, I was just wondering if you’ve even dated anyone that wasn’t a werewolf.”

You crossed your arms over your chest. “You think my major is just me cruising for a new boyfriend or something? Very expensive and essay-intensive compared to dating apps.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Y/N,” Sungchan held his hands up, looking back up at you again. His features turned apologetic. “I just… I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

“So were you going to actually ask me that if I didn’t confront you, or were you just going to make assumptions?”

“That really was rude of me,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “But, I mean… how do you ask someone something like that without coming off as a bit rude?”

“I suggest phrasing it like a genuine question instead of an accusation.”

“Right.” He took a second as if to compose himself, then asked, his tone much more conservational, “So, you said you dated a couple werewolves in high school. Uh, have you dated anyone else since coming to college, then? Before this?”

You did your best to return your own voice and manner to civility as well. “Dates here and there, but as for serious relationships, just one, I dated a human guy briefly.”

“And why did you break up? If you don’t mind telling me. I get it if it’s too personal.”

“It’s fine. He cheated on me.”

“So you’re of course looking for loyalty. Like, you know, a dog.” Sungchan fired back spitefully.

“Okay, I think we’re done here, Sungchan,” you declared, putting both your hands on the table to prepare yourself to stand.

“Y/N, I’m so sorry,” he rushed to try to apologize for the umpteenth time that night, but you’d heard plenty by now.

“No, it’s fine, really,” you assured him, still moving to get up out of your chair and grab your purse. “You’ve obviously had some bad experiences in the past, none of which I’m privy to. It’s not fair to you to constantly be suspicious that your date has ulterior motives for being with you. But it’s also not fair to me to have to constantly defend myself either.”

He was quiet at that.

You continued, “We both deserve to be able to relax and have fun, and that’s clearly just not going to be able to happen. It’s okay, sometimes things just don’t work out. So, I’m going to go, and I hope you have a great rest of your day.”

And with that, you turned around and left the café.

The ringing of the bell above the door of Jasmine & Pearls barely registered in the back of your mind as you lumbered right up to the cash register the next day.

“Good afternoon, Y/N!” Shotaro greeted you cheerily.

“Hi, Shotaro...” You couldn’t muster up anything close to his level of enthusiasm, letting out a sigh. “Same old, same old, please.”

“Uh oh. Sounds like the date didn’t go so well?” He surmised, ringing you up then starting on your order.

“No, it didn’t,” you leaned against the counter to keep talking to him. “Barely lasted ten minutes.”

“That’s rough. You end it or did he?”

“I did. It was for the best but still... I thought I was going to really like this guy.” Based off nothing but social media posts and word of mouth from friends, but you really were hopeful. You’d had a good feeling, and had trusted Jeno, Jaemin, and Donghyuck. And it blew up in your face.

Note to self, never fucking trust those three again.

“Don’t feel too bad, Y/N. Seems like it’s going around.”

“What do you mean?”

“My roommate’s date last night was a bust too.”

“We should make a club,” you chuckled cynically.

“Or I can set you up?” The siren offered hopefully.

“Thanks, but I’m good. I said I was going to take some time to focus on myself after my last relationship, and I meant that. Last night was me testing the waters, and I fucking drowned.”

“That special, huh? Or, I guess not, in the end.”

“Well, at least now I know, you know? No ‘what if’s to mess with.”

Shotaro enthusiastically slammed your drink down in front of you. “Hell yeah, Y/N. A clear head.”

“Exactly.” You pulled the cup over to you.

He put the packaged straw down on top emphatically. “Fuck that guy.”

“Bit extreme, Shotaro, but I appreciate the sentiment,” you grinned, hitting the straw against the counter to pop it out from the plastic wrapping.

“You’re coming to our Valentine’s Day event next month though, right?” Your friend asked, pointing to the poster taped to the wall advertising the event. The evening of February 13th at the boba shop, with a special themed drinks menu and activities to do.

“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Great!” He beamed at you.

“Anyway, I’ve got to go, and you’ve got more customers. See you.” You took your drink with you towards the exit that a whole gaggle of high schoolers had just come through, waving to the siren over your shoulder.

“Bye, Y/N!”

Pulling open the door of Jasmine & Pearls some weeks later, you were immediately greeted by an array of red, pink, and white. The entire store had been redecorated for the event. A short stage was set up against the far wall of the dining area, a small photobooth in another corner, and a station where you could learn to make an origami heart, if the pictures on the instructions taped to the wall above it were anything to guess off. The shop was already bustling and buzzing with energy, filled with couples and groups of friends. All in all, it looked like it was shaping up to be a successful night for them.

You got into possibly the longest line you could remember having waited in at Jasmine & Pearls in a while—you’d learned the rush times and had become a pro at avoiding them in order to get your boba fix as quick as possible—and continued looking around with a smile on your face.

Unfortunately, you were flying this one solo. Your friends were all either working or studying tonight, and you weren’t going to flake after already promising Shotaro just because you couldn’t find someone to come with you. But you could have plenty of fun by yourself. And, you didn’t make any promise to stay the whole night. You’d stay just to finish your drink and maybe make an origami heart or two, depending on how good you were at them.

Finally, it was your turn to order, and you walked up to the register already with a big smile on your face.

Shotaro was manning the register while another employee fulfilled the orders. Your friend’s face lit up immediately. “Y/N! You made it!”

“I told you I would. Did you doubt me?” You questioned in mock offense.

“Not for a second,” he declared. Pointing to the little standee menu that was on the counter, he asked, “So what’ll you have? I recommend one of our specials for the occasion, obviously.”

You looked over the three new drink options that were advertised as for tonight’s event only. One in particular caught your eye, strawberry milk tea with heart-shaped brown sugar tapioca pearls, and an added feel-good charm. “That Lovebug sounds good.”

“Perfect! I knew you’d get that one! Coming right up!” He rang you up, but only took your credit card from your hand. “Sorry, no regular punch cards tonight. Instead, every purchase of a drink comes with a special event-only punch card.”

“Oh?” You raised your eyebrows as he handed you a small pink card with four circles on it, one already punched out with a heart-shaped hole punch.

“Yep! If you complete all the activities we have tonight, you can redeem it for a free drink! You’ve already gotten a punch for purchasing a drink, then we’ve got the photobooth—” he pointed to the large box. “Just bring your photo strips up here, and I’ll punch the card for you. And the origami, same thing. They don’t have to be professional, as long as you tried, just show them to me, and I’ll give you another punch. And then my boss, Baekhyun, is going to be hosting Valentine’s Bingo in like ten, fifteen minutes. He’ll punch everyone’s cards who participates.” He gestured to the stage, where you now saw a man starting to mess with a microphone and small table. “Don’t worry, you can play single.”

“Huh. Sounds good to me.” You tucked the card into your pocket. “Thanks, Shotaro.”

“Your drink will be out in a second!”

When you finally heard your name being called out by the other employee, you walked up and took the cup from him gratefully. It was another siren, who you weren’t nearly as familiar with as Shotaro, but you still offered Yuta a smile as you accepted the drink.

You looked at the heart-shaped boba at the bottom of the cup fondly. “Cute. Thanks, Yuta.”

“Of course! Now enjoy the ambiance.” Yuta shooed you away with a smirk.

You saluted him casually. “Heard.”

Meandering around the store, you took in the kitschy decorations in various heart, Cupid, rose, and arrow shapes all around. Despite your own striking out in the romance department as of late, you couldn’t find yourself wanting to muster up any morosity for the atmosphere. It was too endearing, and you were someone who just loved love. And maybe the feel-good charm in the boba pearls was doing its job pretty well.

Legally, Jasmine & Pearls couldn’t sell any charms that had effects as strong as alcohol, drugs, or hexes, or they’d need special licenses for that, but the little charms and enchantments available in some of their boba options could influence one’s mood for a short amount of time. Feel-good, tranquility, energy, focus, that kind of stuff.

A lot of the tables had been pushed to one side to make room for the stage, so you took your drink to the bar seating that was against a window, keeping your eye on the figure on stage. As he was readjusting the microphone, you caught a flash of scales under his skin, realizing that he too was a siren, and suddenly the employment choices felt a bit more intentional than coincidental.

Red and pink heart-shaped confetti had been sprinkled along the bartop, and you brushed some of it aside to be able to set your cup down. You were humming along to the love song playing over the speakers as you scrolled on your phone when you swore you heard your name. Straightening up a little, you listened carefully for it again.

“Y/N?” Someone gently tapped on your shoulder this time.

You turned around atop the stool you’d been sitting on, not prepared for who was behind you. Jung Sungchan was standing there, hands stuffed in the pockets of his worn black leather jacket. Honestly, you hadn’t thought much about him since your date five or six weeks ago. Your focus had been on school— with this being your junior year, you had a lot to get together in order to be ready to apply for grad schools, Botany Club, still going to work, and keeping up with friends around all this somehow. One failed date that wasn’t even in your top five worst dates hadn’t really been keeping you up at night. And yet somehow here he was.

You were sure that the surprise was evident on your face, and you probably left just too long of pause hanging in the air before you finally said something. “Oh, Sungchan, hi.”

“I thought that was you. Hey.” He offered a friendly smile.

“How are you?”

“I’m—” He was cut off by a distant shout of his name that only got closer.

“Hey! Sungchan!” It was Shotaro, the siren approaching with a prepared drink and straw, shoving them in the werewolf’s hand. “Dude, you can’t just walk away from the counter like that while we’re making your drink, then I have to come chase you down when you don’t hear your name.”

Sungchan accepted it from the employee guiltily. “Sorry, Shotaro.”

“Anyway! I’m glad you two have met.” Shotaro beamed at the pair of you, throwing an arm around Sungchan’s neck. “Y/N, this is my roommate I was talking about, Jung Sungchan. Sungchan, this is Y/L/N Y/N, she’s a regular here and goes to our college.”

Your eyes widened minutely in alarm as you suddenly connected way too many dots. Oh god, Shotaro’s roommate had an awful date, Sungchan is Shotaro’s roommate, you and Sungchan had gone on a date that night, the very same date you had also complained to Shotaro about. And who knows what terrible things Sungchan might have told the siren about the date, about you. After all, you had been the one to walk out on him.

You felt like you were going to puke as Shotaro gave Sungchan a sharp slap on the shoulder, winked at you behind his roommate’s back, and walked back to his station behind the counter.

After a heavy, long, awkward pause, Sungchan finally spoke up. “So… what did you get?”

“Oh, uhm… the Lovebug. What about you?”

“Me too, same. Lovebug.”

Another pause as you watched Sungchan open his straw and poke it through the plastic seal covering the top of the drink.

“So are we going to address the elephant in the room?” You decided to just get it over with.

“Which one? I feel like we have a whole herd at this point.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Okay, fair. I meant Shotaro. I’ll be the first to admit that I confided in him after our—I’m sorry to say but—disaster of a date.”

“That’s a generous assessment, actually.” Sungchan agreed. “And I told him about it too. I mean, we live together, it was hard for him not to notice when I came back home less than an hour after I left.”

“Ah, yeah…”

“I didn’t say anything bad about you, by the way. I told him it went horribly, because I ruined it, of course, but you were perfectly lovely. Truly way more level-headed than I deserved.”

“Oh, no, Sungchan,” you tried to reassure him. “Really, like I said before— Sometimes things just don’t work out.”

“I know. But still, I treated you awfully, and I am really, really sorry about that.”

“Thank you.”

A crackling came from the speakers up front, snapping your attention back to the man on stage. Baekhyun had gotten the microphone connected, and you saw Shotaro darting from the stage to his spot at the register as his boss called for everyone’s attention. “Hello? Hello? Great, this is working.”

He flashed a dazzling smile to the small crowd. “Hi, if you don’t know me, I’m Byun Baekhyun, I own Jasmine & Pearls here. If you’re in line, don’t panic, we’re not starting quite yet. I just wanted to thank everybody for coming out here tonight, this is honestly a much better turnout than we had expected. I, of course, also want to thank my two incredible employees, Shotaro and Yuta, for working tonight too.”

The two sirens behind the counter both waved as they got a round of applause, then everyone’s eyes were back on Baekhyun.

“We’re going to be starting Valentine’s Bingo in about five minutes or so. I just want everyone to know that you will need a partner for this. So if you came out here by yourself, find another single person out there and you know… get talking.” He grinned, and you swore his gaze lingered on you and Sungchan for a millisecond too long to be coincidental. “Okay, awesome, I’ll be back up here in five to get it started.”

Your eyes flashed over to your friend that was working, remembering exactly when he told you that you could play the game by yourself, and now suddenly you needed a partner. Shotaro was contentedly ringing up a customer’s order, though, seemingly not even paying you nor Sungchan any mind.

“So, uh, want to partner up? For the bingo?” Sungchan asked, then rushed to tack on, “Unless you’re waiting for somebody?”

“I’m not waiting for anybody,” you smiled, gesturing to the stool beside you for him to sit down.

“How have things been with you?”

“Good, they’ve been pretty good. Just a lot of school and Bot Club.”

“Bot Club?”

“Magical Botany Club. I’m the Vice President this year.”

“Oh, cool. So that’s how you know Jaemin, then.”

“Yeah, yeah. Him and Lee Donghyuck, we’re all on the board together.”

“How’d you get into it?”

“Because I sucked at gardening,” you admitted with a laugh. “My freshman year, my parents gave me this cactus to have in my dorm, and I killed the thing somehow. They can survive in deserts and the most extreme climates in the world, and it perished in my dorm room. I joined Bot Club hoping for some tips, and everyone just immediately thought I was beyond help. Jaemin and Hyuck were the only ones who actually took the time to help me. And it took a lot of time.”

Sungchan was smiling too, genuinely. “You must have grown to really like it, to stick around after getting your cactus caretaking tips.”

“Yeah, I do.” You nodded. “What about you? How’s school been for you?”

He grimaced a little. “Could be better, honestly.”

“Oh no? Why? What’s wrong?” You frowned.

Before Sungchan could answer, another person had approached the two of you. It was Baekhyun, a stack of square bingo cards in one hand and box of markers in the other. His silver eyes seemed to glitter in the lights as he smiled at you, his opalescent scales refracting a whole rainbow of colors where they sat just under his skin along his cheekbones, bridge of his nose, and forehead.

“Hi!” He greeted the two of you cheerfully. “Are you two together?”

“Oh, uh, yes,” Sungchan nodded, reaching out to grab your bingo sheet and marker before the store owner flitted off to the next pair of customers.

He set them down on the counter in between the two of you, but your focus was still on your conversation.

“So what’s wrong, Sungchan?” You asked, taking another sip of your drink.

“I mean, it’s just been a bit stressful is all,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “One of my professors asked me to do research with him, and then I took an SI position with another professor too, on top of all my classes. Just kind of got a lot on my plate.”

“Oh, okay. But that sounds like a great opportunity, at least. Your professor asking you to do research with him.”

“It is, it’s some seriously cool stuff.”

“What’s—”

Baekhyun clearing his throat into the microphone from the front cut you off, and you gave the werewolf an apologetic look.

“Sorry. But I do want to hear about it later, Sungchan,” you squeezed his arm before turning around to face the stage.

“Alright, we’re going to be getting started then.”

As Baekhyun kicked off the first round of bingo, you found yourself tapping the marker against the bingo card as you sat there. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Sungchan awkwardly leaning over as he tried to look at the sheet too, and you realized you’d been hogging it.

“Oh, sorry, here,” you moved the sheet more into the middle, at the same time that you scooted your stool over towards him to lessen the gap between you. “Is that better?”

Sungchan’s shoulder was just behind yours as he looked over you at both the card and the stage. “Yeah, yeah, thanks.”

“Did you want to mark them off? Sorry, I just grabbed it without thinking.” You offered the permanent marker out to him.

“No, it’s all yours.” He shook his head, then tapped his finger to the middle spot. “But you did forget the Free Space.”

“Oh, shit, thanks.” You crossed it off with an X.

Baekhyun called out number after number, and you and Sungchan worked together to search the small card for them.

You clicked your tongue as you couldn’t find the one the shop owner had just called out, and were about to pick your cup back up to take another sip of your drink, when Sungchan spoke up happily.

“Found it!”

“Oh, where?” You hovered the marker over the card, scanning the little letters and numbers.

“Right there.” He’d pointed, but his hand was gone too fast, and you lost it again.

“Wait, where?”

“Right…” he reached over to wrap his own hand around yours that was holding the marker, and dragged it over to the correct square. You giggled as he guided your hand to draw a messy X like you were a toddler learning to write your letters for the first time. “…There.” He finished, letting go of your hand.

“Ahh, okay,” you nodded slowly. “I see… I’m illiterate.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to say it.”

“Hey!”

Sungchan laughed as you gave a half-hearted smack against his chest, and you couldn’t help but smile too. After all, it was your self-deprecating joke first.

He patted your back, apologizing through his chuckles, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“Apology taken under consideration.”

“Oof, I don’t like the sound of that. Anything I can do to better my chances here?”

“Hmm,” you hummed, pretending to think as you tapped the capped end of the marker against your bottom lip.

Sungchan watched you, his elbow resting on the bartop and his cheek in his hand. The only thing separating you two was the bingo sheet, the game which you weren’t even focused on anymore. Your back was entirely turned to the stage now, gaze set only on the werewolf next to you.

Just as you’d parted your lips to make your proposal, you happened to hear Baekhyun announce the next number.

“O13!” The siren’s voice carried well through the speakers. “O13!”

You let your eyes flick down, immediately catching on that open square on your card. And it completed the row. You marked it off, a giddy grin spreading across your face as you went to elbow Sungchan. “Look!”

“Oh damn! Nice!” He raised his hand, as did you, as he called out. “Bingo! We got bingo!”

Baekhyun’s features lit up as he stopped his progress of reaching for the next bingo ball. He practically purred into the microphone, “Well, well, seems like we’ve got our first bingo. If one of you could read it out so I can double-check it, then we’ll see about getting you two your prizes.”

Sungchan called out your five spaces, and Baekhyun nodded with each one, the room erupting into applause when he declared that you two had won that round.

“Alright, come up here so I can give you your prizes and punch your tickets.” The siren waved you up.

You looked to Sungchan expectantly, and he gestured for you to go up ahead of him. Instead, feeling a bit uneasy with the entire café’s eyes on you, you latched onto his forearm and dragged him up right alongside you.

“So you each are getting a gift card to the shop—” He handed you two small cards, then turned around, where Yuta had appeared with a couple more items. Baekhyun then handed each of you a denim baseball cap that had the logo of the shop on the front in lilac purple thread. “And Jasmine & Pearls embroidered hats. Thank you so much for coming here and playing.”

You accepted both prizes from him, feeling over the embroidery on the cap with your finger.

“And if you’d give me your event punch cards, I’ll go ahead and give you your punches now, since you unfortunately, won’t be allowed to play to win again. Fairness and all that.”

You and Sungchan handed over your punch cards, and the siren gave each of you another heart-shaped punch before giving them back.

“Now, we will be playing two more rounds, so don’t worry if you didn’t win this time,” he announced to the rest of the crowd as you and Sungchan headed back to your seats. “I’ll hand out brand new cards to everybody, and we’ll restart. Y/N and Sungchan, you’re free to play again for fun, if you’d like. You just can’t play for profit.”

Sungchan looked over at you in a silent question, and you shook your head. You were happy to play and win just the one time. After all, with everybody else still occupied, this would be the perfect time to do the other activities with little to no lines or crowding.

“No thank you, we’re bingo-ed out for tonight,” Sungchan called out, and the host nodded graciously.

“Very well. Everybody else hold tight while I come around to distribute new cards.”

As the two of you finally sat back down at your seats and looked over your prizes, you realized that you had never introduced yourself to Baekhyun. Not when he had passed out the cards, nor when he was giving you your prizes. But he knew your names. You snapped your head up towards the counter suspiciously again, but Shotaro was once again minding his business, cleaning out one of the machines.

Sungchan was readjusting the sizing of his hat, then finally pulled it on, offering you a lopsided grin. “What do you think?”

“Looks good on you.” You tapped the brim of it, feeling a familiar airiness in your chest, one that you hadn’t felt in some time. “You wear baseball caps a lot?”

“For sure, so I’ll get good use out of this.”

“Wear them for fashion or do you play a lot of sports?”

“Oh, uh, both, I guess? I like how they look, and I usually wear them when I’m out playing whatever to keep the Sun off my face, yeah.”

The pictures from Jeno’s Instagram of Sungchan on their trip to Cape Solaria suddenly came to mind, and you diverted your eyes down to the gift card in your hand as your skin started getting warmer and warmer. At this rate, he was going to be able to hear your heartbeat picking up the pace and the idea of that in and of itself was embarrassing enough to make it gain even more speed.

“So…” Sungchan inhaled, and you looked up with both your eyebrows raised.

Admittedly, you’d completely forgotten where the two of you were in your previous conversation. “Hm?”

“Do you want to finish the other two punches together?” He asked. “I know they’re not partner things, but we’re both here, and everyone else is busy doing bingo, so it’s probably the best time to do them and—”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” You grinned at him, standing up off your stool. “I’d love to, Sungchan. Besides, you’re still supposed to tell me about your research, remember?”

His features lit up as he followed you over to the origami station. “Right, right! Are you sure you want to hear about it, though? It’s on climate change and how it affects human disease, it’s a little doomsday-ish.”

“Ah, perfect for the holiday.” You pointed to the giant paper cut-out of a cartoon Cupid hanging above your heads, then reached for your first square of red paper. “I’m sure, go for it.”

“Okay, cool,” he beamed at you, grabbing a piece of patterned pink paper.

As Sungchan walked you through all the intricacies and machinations of the topic that his research with his professor was on, you were genuinely happy at how much you understood. He didn’t mind slowing down to answer your questions, or explain concepts that you didn’t know already. And you two could have an actual conversation tangential to the topic, because you had taken a Magical Conservation class just last semester that dealt directly with how climate change was affecting a lot of magical creatures, such as sirens who typically lived in and around glaciers that were now losing much of their native habitats due to the lack of year-round sea ice at the poles. And all the while, you both tried your damndest to make an origami heart.

“Okay, what the fuck?!” Sungchan huffed, cutting himself off in the middle of a thought about disease vectors. He smacked his crumpled piece of paper that looked nothing like a heart onto the table. “I’ve taken engineering classes, how am I getting bested by a primary school arts and crafts project?”

“It’s not a—”

“It literally says ages 8 and up on the instructions.”

You pressed your lips together in a line. “Ah. So it does.”

Yours didn’t look much better. It seemed as though you were both getting bested by a project meant for children.

“Well, Shotaro did say we just had to show him we tried and we’d get the punch,” you reminded him.

“No, no, I can get this,” he shook his head, grabbing a fresh sheet. “I just need to focus, and not talk while I do it. You’re too much of a distraction.”

“My apologies, I’ll be quiet this time,” you chuckled, covering your mouth with your hand as you leaned against the table to watch him try again.

He made every fold with precision, but you found that you weren’t really watching him fold so much as you were watching him. His brow was set in concentration, a small crease emerging in the knit of his brows, his eyes narrowed slightly, and the very tip of his tongue poking out from between his lips. It was cute, adorable, endearing, everything in the thesaurus, and you could’ve sat there and watched him fold origami hearts all night if he wanted to, punch card and free drink be damned.

Sungchan stood up straight, his features relaxing into a proud grin as he held his completed piece up for you to see. It was definitely a heart this time, a simple baby pink color, and you were amazed at how straight the lines were.

“Nice, Sungchan!” You praised him. “That’s what those engineering classes were for, huh?”

“I wasn’t going to let some project for ages 8 and up that Shotaro picked out get the best of me!” He declared, and you could practically see his chest puffing out with pride. “I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “So that’s what this was? Fragile STEM major ego?”

He narrowed his eyes at you. “Isn’t sociology a science?”

“I think you’re the first hard science major to ever say that.”

“It ends in -ology.”

“So do phrenology and astrology.”

“Fair. But seriously, is it not?”

“It is. But usually, you engineering and whatnot majors don’t like to consider us ‘soft sciences’ like sociology and anthropology and psychology to be ‘real sciences,’ whatever the hell that means.”

“Ohh, yeah… I’ve got better shit to do than tell a scientist that they’re not a scientist.”

“Like make children’s crafts.”

“Exactly.” He gave you another smile brighter than the Sun.

You nodded firmly. “A much better use of your time. Now, are you ready to take these to Shotaro?”

“Yeah, let’s go!”

As the two of you walked up to the counter, you continued your earlier conversation, “And I will remind you that I’m actually an Interdisciplinary major, and also study MCS. Both of which are considered humanities, a label that I wear with pride, even more so than the ‘soft science’ one.”

A smile tugged at the corner of Sungchan’s mouth as he looked down at you. “Noted.”

Shotaro was standing at the register, hands folded over each other and a smug smile on his face as he watched the two of you approach together. “Well, hey, guys! Congrats on your win!”

“Thanks, Shotaro.” You smiled back, holding your paper heart out to him. “We did the origami too.”

Sungchan held his up too, and you could see the proud look on his face as he did so.

“His is a lot better than mine,” you admitted as the siren took just a second to appraise them. Seeing the two side-by-side, yours was a bit misshapen, folds across parts that were supposed to be flat from you having to undo and redo parts over and over again.

“That’s okay! You guys just had to try,” Shotaro reminded you, picking up the hole punch. “Punch cards please?”

With just one punch left, you and Sungchan headed over to the photobooth in the corner. It was set up so that you didn’t have to pay for any of the films. Sungchan climbed in first, and you watched nervously where his head almost hit the top of the entrance.

“Goddamn this thing is tiny,” he observed as soon as he had poked his head in past the curtain.

“Is it small or are you a giant?” You asked pointedly.

Sungchan had fully entered the photobooth then, and retorted back, “Get in here and find out.”

As you parted the curtain and put just your first foot in, you immediately realized how cramped the two of you were going to be. “Okay, maybe a bit of both.”

“Uh-huh.”

Sungchan was already sat on the bench, and pressed himself as far back into the corner as he could to give you enough space to sit next to him. Your leg was squished in next to his, and his arm ended up around your shoulders. He was warm, as expected for a werewolf, whose body temperatures all ran naturally higher than humans.

As he shifted his shoulders and arm to settle around you, he double-checked, “Sorry, is this alright? It’s tight in here—”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s fine,” you turned your head to give him a smile, but were instead caught off-guard by just how close his face was to yours. If either one of you shifted forward right now, you would hit noses. Your breath hitched in your throat as you made eye contact with him. Oh, he could definitely hear your heartbeat in the tiny space afforded by the photobooth, surely as clear as you could hear it thudding in your own ears. God, you’d always thought he was cute, but something about being so close, and the lights in here hitting the angles of his face just right, he was striking, handsome. You curled your hands into fists in the material of your pants, not trusting yourself not to grab him and do something too wildly out of pocket.

The screen played a short melody at you, knocking you from your trance, and you turned your focus back to your task.

Pressing a couple buttons on the touchscreen, you looked between the height of the camera and Sungchan, squinting. “Is your head even going to show in frame?”

Sungchan swallowed, then cleared his throat before he spoke, as if his mouth had gone dry. “Guess we’ll find out after.”

“Alright, it’s a four-cut.” You announced after skimming the easy illustrated instructions. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” He gave you a thumbs up.

“Okay. 1, 2, 3.” You pressed the start button before sitting back in your seat against him again.

You smiled and held up a peace sign for the first one, and in the split second of the flash going off, you heard the werewolf next to you curse under his breath, “Fuck! That’s bright—” accompanied by the feeling of him flinching back, and immediately followed by a distinct thud.

Turning around as much as the space could allow for, you saw Sungchan curled in on himself, his eyes squinted shut presumably both in pain from the flash and from where he had just smacked the back of his head against the wall of the photobooth, judging by the hand he was cradling it with.

“Ooh! Sungchan, are you alright?” You asked through giggles, unable to get over the comical thunk! sound that his head had made.

Another flash went off, startling him into hitting his head again with another bonk! and this time you couldn’t help but burst out into full-bodied laughter, turning back toward the camera to not laugh directly in the poor guy’s face. You could barely see the third and fourth flashes because your eyes were squeezed shut as you laughed, running out of air and having to prop yourself up with a hand on Sungchan’s knee to not keel over.

Finally, you started sobering up enough to squint your eyes back open, and through your tears, you saw Sungchan smiling down at you as well.

“Alright, I don’t know if it was that funny…” he sighed, still holding his head.

“I’m-I’m sorry,” you tried to apologize through your wheezes. “It was the sound, and the two in a row, it was just too much for me. I’m not laughing at your pain, I promise. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m alright. Thanks.” He reassured you, dropping his hand from his head and resting it on the one that you still had on his knee. “I… I really like your laugh.”

Your hand suddenly tingled. “Oh. Thank you…”

After a beat, he shifted his gaze from yours. “So where do the films print out at?”

“Uh, on the outside of the booth. Should be two, one for each of us.” You said quickly, getting up to exit the booth and put some space between the two of you again.

Sungchan followed you out, and you easily found the dispenser, where there were in fact two film strips. He grabbed them for you, looking over them first. A smile spread across his face as he continued holding them, and you started getting antsy the longer that you hadn’t seen them.

“What, are they that bad?” You asked with a light chuckle.

“What?” He snapped his focus up to you.

“You’ve been smiling at them for an awful long time. Did I blink or something?” You joked, knowing very well that you were laughing for half of them.

He sucked in air through his teeth, shaking his head regretfully. “Yeah, I think for your own sake, I should keep both of these. I mean, I look great but—”

“Sungchan, let me see!” You reached for them, but he yanked his hand back from you at the last second.

You lunged for them again, but he once again kept them just out of your reach, a sly grin on his lips. The next time you tried to grab them, he held them above his head, and he most unfortunately had a significant height advantage over you.

You were already in his personal space from grabbing for them before, practically chest-to-chest (well, really chest-to-face), and now had to crane your neck straight up to look at them. With a huff, out of breath, heart racing for more than one reason now, you weakly pulled on his shoulders as you pouted, “Sungchan, please!”

“Here, I warned you.” He said melodramatically, handing you one copy of the film strips.

You eagerly held it in both hands, scanning over the four pictures on it. The first one was normal, it looked like Sungchan had taken your lead and both of you were smiling and throwing up peace signs. The second one was where everything went to chaos. Sungchan was wincing in pain in the corner, holding his head, as you had the back of your head to the camera, one hand reaching uncertainly towards him. In the third, you were turned back towards the camera, a little blurry as you laughed, and Sungchan was squinting one eye open to look at you. And in the last one, you were still laughing, leaning on Sungchan for support as there was nothing but simple joy on your face; and Sungchan’s features had relaxed out of pain as he gazed down at you with a fond smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Not as wide as yours was, but no less dim.

“These are so cute! You liar!” You elbowed Sungchan in the side.

“You didn’t let me finish. I look great, but you look radiant.”

“Good save.” You joked, but couldn’t suppress the smitten grin that wormed its way across your face. “And I’m keeping mine.”

Sungchan reached into the pocket of his jacket then, pulling out his pristine, baby pink origami heart from earlier. He held it out to you. “I-I wanted you to have this, too.”

“Aw, Sungchan…” You accepted the paper heart from him.

“Feel free to throw it out when you get home, I get it.”

“Hey, stop that.” You pinched his forearm where the sleeve of his jacket had fallen down. “Don’t do something sweet and then immediately take all the sincerity away by covering it with a layer of self-deprecation. If you’re going to be a sweetheart, own up to it or don’t do it at all.”

He rubbed at the back of his neck, and you could see a flush creeping up from his collar to his cheeks. “You’re right. I wanted to give you that, sans trash can.”

You were beaming, tucking it into the inner pocket of your jacket and patting it. “Thank you, Sungchan. I’d offer you mine, but I think it really should go in the trash.”

“Look who’s not taking her own advice, hm?”

“Alright, if you want it,” you sighed, taking your own lumpy attempt at the origami heart out of your pocket and handing it over to him.

Sungchan plucked it from your fingers smugly. “Thank you.”

“I expect you to be buried with that now, by the way.”

“I’ll be sure to write it in my will.”

The two of you were still chuckling as you walked up to the counter again, your film strips and punch cards in hand to show them to Shotaro. Your siren friend reviewed the pictures with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“You guys are so cute,” he commented so very subtly. “But uh, what happened here, Sungchan? Did you hit your head on something? How did you manage that one?”

As you covered your mouth to hide your giggles at the memory of the double bonk! resurfacing, Sungchan took his film strip back from his roommate. “Alright, are you going to give us the punches or not?”

Shotaro punched the final heart-shaped holes into both your cards. “And with that you’ve completed all the punches! Unfortunately, you can’t redeem the free drink tonight, but by all means, you are more than welcome to stay and hang out some more. We’ve got extended hours tonight, so you can keep doing the activities if you like, or just, you know… stay and chat or something.”

“Right, thanks, Shotaro.” Sungchan led you away with a hand on your back.

You ended up back at your original seat that you had sat at for the bingo game. The game finished while you were in the photobooth, the other patrons now milling around the shop again. Some were sitting, sipping on their drinks and enjoying each other’s company, others at the origami stations, others lining up at the photobooth, and still others back at the register ordering again. You looked down at the film strip in your hands before tucking it away safely with Sungchan’s origami heart. Looking around, you saw that Baekhyun was making rounds now that he was done hosting bingo, greeting customers and having conversations with everyone he stopped to talk to.

You didn’t want to leave yet, to have this night be over, to have your time with Sungchan be done. At least not without knowing if you’d see him again. This had been fun, really fun, and you wanted to see him again. Every bad first impression of him you’d gotten from your date had been wiped away.

“Hey, Y/N?”

You snapped your focus back over to him at the sound of his voice, trepid and unsure. You offered him a reassuring smile as you replied, “Yeah, Sungchan?”

He had taken his hat off, and was messing with the seam along the bottom band nervously. “I know I already said this, but I really am sorry for everything I said to you before. I was so incredibly wrong about you.”

“And I’ve already said thank you, so I suppose I’ll say I forgive you this time.” You squeezed his forearm. “So would you stop apologizing now?”

“I know we can’t start over completely, but…”

“Yes?” Your voice pitched up hopefully, your heart soaring along with it.

“Friends?”

Splat. Your heart plummeted back down with tremendous velocity.

It took all your willpower to keep your face from showing the disappointment you’d felt, and even then, you were sure it still fell minutely. You slapped on a rehearsed, customer service smile for him, too shocked that you’d apparently misread everything so badly to do much more than go through a script of what you should say. “Yeah, sure. Friends.”

Sungchan beamed at you, another heart-stopping, adorable, lopsided grin that now made your chest squeeze painfully. “Okay, great! Thank you, seriously!”

You threw open the door to Jasmine & Pearls the next morning so violently that it swung back the other way and rang the bell twice.

“Shotaro.”

The siren perked up to greet you. “Oh, Y/N! Back to redeem that free drink already, huh?”

“Sungchan here?” Your eyes flicked around the shop warily. You couldn’t see him, but now that you knew that the two of them were roommates, you had to be more careful.

“Oh, I see.” Your friend grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. “No, you just missed him, actually, he had class, popped in on his way to campus.”

“Thank god,” you groaned, collapsing into a stool near the pick-up counter, face in your arms.

“Uh, I’m going to make you a drink. Your usual?”

“Sure…” You mumbled, the sound even more muffled by your arms.

As Shotaro prepared the drink, he picked your conversation back up. “Now, what happened? You two looked like you were having a lot of fun last night. Not to pat myself on the back too hard.”

You lifted your head up just enough to rest your cheek on your arms so your friend could hear you when you spoke. “Did he tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Remember that awful date I went on last month?”

“Vaguely.”

“And Sungchan went on a bad date the same night.”

“Yeah. Did he do some kind of ‘all cards on the table’ confessional with you to try to scare you off?” Shotaro sighed, tossing his hand towel over his shoulder and putting his hands on his hips. “Listen, don’t worry, I know he says he ruined his date that night, but really he’s a big puppy—don’t tell him I said that, he’ll tear my throat out.” He paused, as if realizing what he had just said. “And don’t worry about that ‘tear my throat out’ thing either, I swear he’s super sweet. Honestly, something must have been wrong with that girl, he’s not—”

“It was me.” You cut him off bluntly.

“Huh?”

“Sungchan and I were each other’s terrible date that night.”

The siren slapped a hand over his face with a groan. “Oh my god, what did he do?”

“Now you think he did something? Two seconds ago, you swore there was ‘something wrong with that girl.’” You raised your eyebrows.

“Yeah, but I know you, Y/N. Him saying he fucked up and made you walk out? I can believe that.”

“We don’t have time to unpack all of that, but thanks, I guess.” You settled your cheek in your hand instead. “Anyway, it was all a mismatch at the time. He had his reasons, and I had mine, and I left. I didn’t harbor any ill will towards him, nor had I even thought about him until last night.”

Shotaro snorted, placing your finished drink in front of you. “Oh, well, can’t say the same for him.”

“What?”

“Whatever he did, he felt terrible about it. He kept talking about how he wanted to apologize to you, but he didn’t think you’d want to see him.”

You blinked at him. “Seriously?”

“I just thought it was like when you accidentally say ‘you too’ when the waiter tells you to enjoy your food and then you can’t stop thinking about that interaction for the next six months.”

Remembering the gist of your very short conversation from your one and only date with Sungchan, you shook your head. “No, not quite.”

“But it seems like you two made up last night, right?” Shotaro asked, head tilted.

“Yes, last night was so much fun. It’s what our first date should have been. We got to talk, and get to know each other, and joke, and laugh, and maybe flirt a little bit; and he’s funny, and smart, and a lot of fun...” You explained, trailing off pitifully at the end.

“So what’s the catch?”

“Well, I don’t know why I thought that at the end of the night, when he said,” you dropped your voice to mimic Sungchan, “‘I know we can’t start over completely, but—’ I don’t know why I thought that was going to be followed up by him asking me out, but it wasn’t.”

The siren’s jaw dropped. “It wasn’t?”

“Nope. Friends...” You said with weak enthusiasm, giving him two thumbs-up and a feigned smile as if you were being held at gunpoint.

“Ooh, Y/N...” Shotaro grimaced.

You dropped your head into your hands in defeat. “And somehow I feel even stupider than I did leaving that date.”

“I’m going to ask him what the hell he’s thinking.”

“No the fuck you’re not!”

“Y/N—”

“I told you this in confidence, Osaki Shotaro, not so you could you blab how pathetic I am right back to him!”

“But I just did that with him to you.” He pointed out innocently. “Seems a bit unfair.”

“Thanks for just agreeing with me on the pathetic part.”

“Well—”

“You’re not helping!”

“I’m trying!” He threw his hands up in exasperation. With a sigh, he came up to lean against the counter, voice turning sympathetic once more. “Look, Sungchan probably just thinks that you would want nothing to do with him romantically after he ruined it so stupendously last time. So he doesn’t even want to put you in the awkward position of rejecting him again— or, he at least thinks you would reject him again.”

“You really think so?” You asked quietly, watching a bead of water run down the side of your cup.

“Best I can come up with.”

And all the hope in your chest puttered out like a limp, half-filled balloon. “So that was a guess.”

“I’m a siren, not a mindreader, sorry.”

“Ugh, I’ve got to go. Thanks, Shotaro. For the boba. You were useless otherwise.”

“Bye!” Your friend waved to you cheerily.

Being friends with Sungchan was pretty easy, actually. You already had a lot of the same friends (it was sort of weird that you hadn’t met before that date, you realized), and as long as somebody else was there, it was easy to ignore the ever-present, ever-growing crushing pain in your chest whenever you were with him. You didn’t like that it was like this, you hated being that person pining over one of their friends who had explicitly said that they just wanted to be friends. You’d tried to get yourself to feel like this about other guys—the cute phoenix in your Criminology class, or the funny gryphon that you were partnered up with for a project in your Introduction to Interdisciplinary class. But it was useless, your thoughts always came back Sungchan. And you weren’t friends with him in hopes that one day it would be different, either; you really didn’t want to be that friend. You were just enjoying Jung Sungchan, in whatever capacity you got him in.

And right now, that was a rather tenacious study buddy. When you’d off-handedly mentioned an upcoming test that you hadn’t studied for yet, he immediately made you compare schedules so that the two of you could do a study session before it. So now you were reviewing flash cards of some key concepts as Sungchan was hunched over a notebook of his own. Working on his research with his professor, you were pretty certain. He switched between his computer and handwritten notes so frequently that you weren’t sure how he kept it all straight, and all the numbers and Greek letters and letter letters made your head swim trying to decipher it. As long as it all made sense to him.

It all mostly made sense to you when he would explain it to you, if you were actually listening to the words he was saying and not just thinking about how nice his voice sounded, or how pretty he looked that day. Your brain was truly rotting from the inside out.

And you two were alone. You didn’t know if he had invited any of your other friends and they couldn’t make it or if this was a “just us” thing. That was something that he did that always made it so hard for you to keep your rule of never hoping for more. Sometimes you two would hang out and invite Shotaro and Jaemin and Jeno and Jeno’s girlfriend and maybe even some more of their friends that you weren’t as familiar with; and sometimes when you’d ask if you should invite anybody, Sungchan would reply with a shoulder shrug and a casual non-explanation that this should be a “just us” thing. You could never delineate what made an activity worthy of a group invite or a “just us” thing.

You stared at your screen with immense focus. Not on what was on the screen, your thoughts had long drifted from dryad folk tales and were now in an endless rumination on what the hell a “just us” thing was. You’d been to group study sessions and study sessions with just Sungchan. Group movie nights and movie nights alone with Sungchan—those were an especially bittersweet kind of awful, as he liked to share blankets. Group dinners and dinners with just the two of you. So what made something a “just us” activity? What was the—

Something in your periphery caught your attention, and snapped you out of your pensive thoughts that you’d been stewing in. It was a small, white, origami heart being pushed up from the bottom corner of your computer screen. You took it, smiling at Sungchan across the table from you, who sat up straight now that he no longer had to reach so far to deliver it to you.

Upon second glance, it looked like the heart was made out of notebook paper from his spiral notebook with notes on it in blue ink. You squinted to make out some of It in his messy scrawl, but gave up after reading just a portion of a complicated, technical word.

“Thanks, Sungchan.” You ran your fingertip along the crisp edge of the paper heart.

This had been one habit he’d picked up since the Valentine’s Day event at Jasmine & Pearls, he now made origami hearts whenever his fingers grew restless and he had access to a suitable piece of paper that could be torn to size if needed. You were usually the target of receiving them and now had a steadily growing collection in a small jar on your coffee table. You didn’t have it in you to throw them away.

“Something wrong, Y/N?” Sungchan asked. He had presumably noted the intense way you’d been staring at your screen the moments prior. “Or is the material just that bad for your test?”

“Ehh…” You sighed, rolling your neck out. “Just tired. Ready for the semester to be over, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Is this made of your notes, by the way?” You held up the origami heart.

“Stuff I had to rip out and redo, I messed it up.”

You then stood up to crack your back, groaning at the cathartic cracking sounds that came with it. “God, I think my spine needs to be folded up like that origami, holy shit.”

“Fix your posture,” Sungchan snorted. “You sit like a little shrimp using a computer.”

Your jaw dropped as you put a hand to your chest, unsure of whether to laugh or be offended. Ultimately, you keeled over with laughter, having to plop back down in your desk chair—hunched over—to catch your breath again. Sungchan was watching you with a fond smile, reclined back in his chair with some not very great posture himself.

“A shrimp?”

“A little shrimp,” he corrected you. “A cute little shrimp using her little computer and fucking up her back in the process.”

“Alright, it’s not my fault you’re literally a tree. Anybody is a little shrimp compared to the man who almost broke a photobooth because he was too tall for it,” you teased him back through the fresh squeezing of your chest at him calling you ‘cute,’ even if it was followed by the words ‘little shrimp.’

“You’re never letting me live that one down, huh?”

“Never. I’ll be telling that story at your funeral, where you’ll be buried with my mangled origami heart, remember?”

“You’re banking on the fact that you’re going to outlive me in this scenario.”

“Right, my bad. Werewolves are the hardier species, so obviously you’ll outlive me.”

“Well, statistically—”

“Statistics say nothing about the power of spite, Sungchan. I will outlive you out of spite, so that I can tell that story at your funeral. And if not, I will have a backup recording of me telling that story, and in my will, have orders that it be played at your funeral.”

“You’re going to put it in your will to make sure you have the last word in case I outlive you? Which, statistically, I will.”

“Yes.”

The two of you held your defiant eye contact for another moment before you burst out in coordinated laughter, all tension fizzling out.

“I do expect that fucked-up origami heart to go down with you, though,” you pointed at him through your laughs, still only half-serious.

“Only if one of the hundreds I’ve given you by now makes it down with you,” he nodded, holding his pinky finger out.

You linked yours with it. “Deal.”

“Deal.”

As you walked out of the library together after you’d finally determined that your studying was over, Sungchan checked his watch.

“You doing anything else tonight?” He asked.

“Nothing in particular.” You shrugged. “Eating dinner. Sleeping. Why?”

“Want to come over?”

“Is Shotaro going to be home?”

“He’s closing at the shop today I think.”

You bit the inside of your cheek. Apparently sensing your hesitation, Sungchan nudged your side as he teased, “What? Am I not fun enough for you? You need Shotaro there to convince you to come over, too?”

“Yeah, you’re such a snoozefest, Sungchan,” you wrinkled your nose, elbowing him back. “Taro’s the only thing that keeps me from falling asleep every time I’m over at your place.”

“You hurt me, Y/N.”

With a melodramatic sigh, you relented, “I suppose I’ll make an exception. But I will nap where I see fit if you bore me too much.”

“I’ll take my victories where I can get them.”

At Shotaro and Sungchan’s place, you followed Sungchan into his bedroom. Normally, if Shotaro were home, the three of you would all hang out in their living room. But it was just you and Sungchan.

He toed his shoes off and flopped onto his bed face-first, spread-eagle.

“Oh, and who were we worried about taking a nap?” You scoffed, taking his desk chair. He had a gridded whiteboard above his desk that was mostly taken up by a to-do list of upcoming deadlines. But a small area labeled “Notes” by the company who made it was dedicated to pictures instead: the film strip of you two from Valentine’s Day at Jasmine & Pearls hung there by a magnet in the shape of a hurricane, a picture from the group trip to Cape Solaria from last summer under a tornado, and another of a younger Sungchan and Shotaro (early high school if you had to guess) at an arcade pinned by a tsunami.

Your friend rolled over onto his back. “I’m not napping, just basking.”

“Basking? In what?”

“Being done with today.”

“Have a bad day?”

“Just long. Had a long week, long semester, long three years.”

“Mm, felt that,” you agreed, knocking your own shoes off and folding your legs up in the desk chair.

The two of you were quiet for a while, and you would’ve thought that Sungchan had actually fallen asleep, if you couldn’t see that his eyes were open as he apparently just stared at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling with even breaths. You let the silence remain, content to just rest your arms on the back of the chair with your chin atop them, and look at him.

“Y/N?” He finally spoke, his voice soft.

“Yeah?”

Sungchan’s head lolled so he could look over at you, his warm brown eyes focused on your face. He had an unreadable expression on his features; not one of sadness, or pain, or really much of anything. It was like he didn’t even know what he was feeling. “Have you gone on a date? Since... you know, the one we went on?”

You blinked. You weren’t sure what exactly you were expecting him to say, but it wasn’t that. After a moment, you shook your head. “No, I haven’t. Have you?”

The corner of his lip twitched, but from your positions, you couldn’t tell if it was pulling towards a smile or a frown. “No.”

Another beat of silence. You continued staring at each other.

“Do you want to?” He asked, his voice so unnaturally devoid of intonation that you once again couldn’t glean the purpose of this discussion.

“What?” The word tumbled out of your mouth fast, defensively.

“I-I mean, are you going to? Like, is there anybody...?”

You looked at him, taking a good few seconds before you answered. He at least seemed nervous now, stuttering, his eyes flitting between you and the ceiling fan.

“No.” You answered plainly. No qualifying statements: any attempts at expounding would just land you in trouble. “You?”

“No...” He echoed. “You would tell me, right? If you were?”

This felt like a trap. Not from Sungchan, you knew he wasn’t like that, but from the Universe, somehow. And no matter what you did, you were going to fall into the spike pit.

“Yeah, Sungchan, of course.” You mustered up your well-practiced casual smile. “Always need approval from the counsel of friends for that kind of stuff.”

He did smile at that—not a full one with teeth, and it didn’t reach his eyes—but he smiled and nodded. “Good. Got to make sure they’re not a weirdo. You know there’s all kinds of magical creatures who will just date human women for the ego trip in bed, right?”

“I did know that,” you chuckled. “But thanks for looking out for me.”

“Always am, Y/N. And I always will be.”

Rocking back and forth from your heels to your toes nervously, you kept your eyes trained on the apartment door in front of you. Sungchan knocked on it. Your actions were stopped by your friend grabbing your arm and pulling you back down to flat feet.

“Y/N, I told you it’s going to be fine, seriously. They’re your friends, too,” he reminded you for probably the twelfth time that day.

When he’d randomly texted you earlier that morning asking if you wanted to go to Jeno’s birthday party with him tonight, you were very hesitant to accept. Mostly because you hadn’t received an invite from the birthday wolf himself. But after some more pestering from Sungchan, you gave in. Maybe if you didn’t have such a weak heart, you would’ve been firmer on your no. But instead, here you were, having signed your name under Sungchan’s on the birthday card the two of you bought on your way over, a gift card tucked inside with enough money pre-loaded on it to cover a nice meal for Jeno and his girlfriend.

“Then why didn’t he—” Your whispered question was cut off by the door swinging open, the bright smile of Lee Jeno greeting you.

“Hey guys, come on in!” The werewolf opened the door even wider, not seeming surprised at all to see you there next to Sungchan. He gave the both of you hugs after closing the door behind you.

You patted his back in the hug, offering a sheepish smile, “Hey, Jeno, Happy Birthday. Sorry to just show up. Sungchan insisted it was fine…”

“Oh, don’t worry about it! Everyone knows if we’re inviting Sungchan that we’re inviting you, too. It’s cool.” He said brightly. “You want something to drink?”

Trying not to get stuck on that little information bomb he’d dropped so casually, you looked around the fairly packed apartment, recognizing most everyone who was there, including a couple people by the drinks table. “You know, I see Jaemin and Donghyuck over by the drinks, I’ll go get it myself. Thank you, though, and Happy Birthday again.”

Jeno perked up in a different direction as if he’d heard his name being called—which he very well could’ve with his superior hearing—and he took off, disappearing into the kitchen. You’d been to Jeno and Jaemin’s place a few times before, mostly to hang out with Jaemin over the time that you’d known the dryad from Bot Club, and more recently, a couple times for group hangouts since Jaemin, Jeno, Jeno’s girlfriend, and Sungchan were all friends.

“I’m going to get some food,” Sungchan nodded towards the same direction Jeno had gone in. “Want anything?”

You stood on your tiptoes, unable to discern any of the options they had available, other than the fact there would be a lot of it to feed the werewolf guests. “Just get extra of whatever you think I’ll like, I’m not very hungry right now.”

“On it.”

While he went to do that, you made your way across the living room to the two dryads you had spotted earlier, both standing by the drinks table.

“Hey…” You said, still feeling awkward despite Jeno’s easy acceptance of you.

“Y/N! Hey!” Donghyuck greeted you cheerily.

“You made it!” Jaemin gave you a one-armed hug.

“Sounds like you were expecting me then?”

“Well, yeah.” Donghyuck said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world (which was bewildering to you, considering you didn’t even know you were coming until this afternoon).

The two dryads exchanged a look.

“I mean, Sungchan was coming, so…” Jaemin shrugged.

Donghyuck peered around the party. “Speaking of, where’d your wolfboy go?”

“He went to get some food. And he’s not. my. wolfboy, you little shit.” You glared at him. “And don’t call him a wolfboy either, you know he doesn’t like to be called stuff like that. Call Jeno ‘puppy’ or whatever all you want but leave Sungchan out of it.”

“I thought he didn’t like dog terms, but wolf terms he was fine with, since he is a werewolf.” Jaemin said.

“Yeah.” Donghyuck nodded.

You put your hands on your hips with a frank sigh, “As if wolfboy isn’t also diminutive and meant to—”

“Woah, abort, abort, Y/N’s going into Renjun-mode.”

Jaemin looked over at the other dryad regretfully. “Worse than Renjun-mode, this isn’t just educational.”

“You two are so obnoxious, I’m going to stage a coup in Bot Club one of these days,” you declared with a scoff.

“Hey...” Another voice entered the conversation from over your shoulder, and you looked up to see Sungchan stepping in between you and Donghyuck, a plate loaded up with food in his hand.

“Speak of the wolf and he shall appear.” Donghyuck had a wicked grin on his face. You were amazed sometimes that he wasn’t a fairy.

“What were you guys talking about? Y/N didn’t look happy.”

“It was nothing, Sungchan, don’t worry about it.” You tried to reassure him, sending pointed stares at each of the dryads with you.

Donghyuck was apparently not going to let up, though. “Hey, Sungchan, you down to do a little thought experiment with me?”

“Thought experiment?” The werewolf echoed.

“Yeah, just real quick. I ask you a hypothetical question, you give me a hypothetical answer. Just for fun.”

“A thought experiment with Donghyuck. Sounds thrilling, sure.” Sungchan agreed humorously, popping a piece of food in his mouth.

“So, if someone were to call you dog-like terms—which we know you’re not cool with and would never do—who would you most be okay with doing that?”

The werewolf narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Why would anybody do that?”

“It’s a thought experiment, Sungchan, come on. Play in this space with me!” Donghyuck whined, shaking the other man’s shoulder.

“Let’s rephrase then,” Jaemin joined in, a mischievous glint in his eye. You looked around to make sure Chenle wasn’t secretly listening in or something, because this surely had to be the work of your fairy prince acquaintance. You spotted the fairy very engaged in his conversation with his dragon roommate Jisung and a few other people. It seemed like the two dryads really were just deciding to be the absolute worst all on their own.

“Narrower scope. Would you be okay with, for example, Y/N calling you stuff like that?”

“Why would she do that?” Sungchan asked, confused.

“Yeah, why would I do that?” You asked, angry. They were clearly trying to get at something specific, make him admit something.

Jaemin offered an example, “Well, you know, Jeno’s girlfriend calls him ‘pup’ as a term of endearment.”

“And why would I do that?!” You repeated, feeling your stomach drop to the floor at how exactly he stressed those words.

“We’re getting off-topic here, it’s all hypothetical, remember?” It was amazingly Donghyuck who sort of saved you. “We know Y/N would never do it. But like… if she did, for some reason unbeknownst to us, what would you do? Would you be okay with it?”

Sungchan’s brow was furrowed as he seemed to genuinely contemplate this while he ate another bite of food. You, meanwhile, were plotting how best to kill two dryads. You knew enough from Bot Club, maybe a super-strong version of the magical weed spray you used would work... Were dryads more plant or more person?

“Well…” The werewolf finally began his answer, seeming to choose each word carefully. “Since I know Y/N, I know that if she were, in this batshit, hypothetical scenario, to do that, that she wouldn’t mean it in a derogatory way. So I guess I’d be more okay with her doing it than other people. Definitely more than you two weirdos who are posing this thought experiment that isn’t fun at all.”

“Thank you, Sungchan.” Donghyuck grinned at him, then turned to Jaemin. “I thought that was very fun and enlightening. What about you, Jaemin?”

Jaemin nodded thoughtfully. “I had a great time. Y/N?”

“You guys are so fucking annoying.” You groaned, grabbing a piece of food from Sungchan’s plate. “Leave me out of your thought experiments next time, please.”

The spring semester ended not long after Jeno’s birthday party, and you very thankfully didn’t have to take any summer classes, freeing up a lot of spare time for you. Sungchan, on the other hand, had to take a couple courses in order to make sure he would graduate on time. While you jokingly whined and complained when he told you about it, you were secretly relieved to have extra reasons to avoid him. As terrible as that sounded.

This afternoon, while he was in class, you had gone down to the river with Shotaro and Yuta, who miraculously both had a day off work at the same time. You didn’t even realize Jasmine & Pearls had enough employees to let the both of them take the same day off.

You were sat in your pop-up chair on the small beachy area, pulling your phone from your bag to check it while the two sirens continued lazing about in the waist-deep water. There was a text from Sungchan from a few minutes ago, and as you opened it up to read it, you realized that he was just sending you a funny picture he’d found somewhere online.

[you: aren’t you supposed to be focusing on class right now?]

“Sungchan?” Shotaro called out to you knowingly.

“What?” You yelled back, holding a hand up to shadow your face from the sun. Looking around your chair, you grabbed your baseball cap that you’d won in Valentine’s Bingo, pulling that on now that you were out of the water.

“You’ve got this little smile on your face that you only get when Sungchan texts you.”

“No I do not.”

Yuta stood up from where he had been floating on his back, shaking the water out of his hair as he asked you with a smirk, “So you don’t have a text from Sungchan on your phone screen right now?”

Your phone buzzed then, a welcome excuse to not have to answer that.

[sungchan: allegedly]

[you: i don’t want you whining to me when you fail that class]

You clicked your phone off, showing them the blank screen. “Nope, nothing on my screen.”

“You’re such a liar,” Yuta sighed, saying it as if it were as simple of a fact as the sky being blue or the grass being green. He trudged through the water up the shore until he could join you, plopping down in his chair next to yours. They had both kept their legs this afternoon instead of bringing out their tails, and he kicked his apart as he got comfortable.

Shotaro jogged up from the water too, grabbing the cooler and rooting around in it for a second. After securing the other half of his sandwich from the lunch that you all had eaten earlier, he sat down next to Yuta, taking a big bite from it.

You took Yuta’s lead and settled back in your chair, closing your eyes and just enjoying the warmth of the late afternoon Sun.

“He talks about you all the time, by the way.” Shotaro cut into your peace and quiet. If you had something within arm’s reach other than your metal reusable water bottle, you would’ve thrown it at him.

“Shotaro...” You groaned, rolling your eyes. You didn’t even need to ask who he was talking about.

“Seriously! ‘Y/N and I did this today.’ ‘Don’t wait up for me, I’m going to the movies with Y/N.’ ‘Y/N told me this funny story today.’ ‘Did you know such and such about this or that? Y/N’s so smart.’” He admittedly did a pretty good Sungchan impression. You would’ve laughed at it in any other context, but instead you were just annoyed.

“Yeah, well, we’re friends. We hang out, and do things together. He’s going to be talking about me,” you snapped. “He talks about you a bunch too. Because you guys, you know, live together. He also talks about his professors, and Jeno, and—”

“But it’s not the same.”

“Really?”

“Really.” He insisted.

Shotaro clearly wasn’t going to let up, so you momentarily engaged this line of thinking, hoping you could squash it. “What’s so different, then?”

“He’ll find just any reason to bring you up, for one. We’re grocery shopping? ‘Oh, Y/N likes this flavor.’ ‘We should pick this up for when Y/N comes over.’ ‘Shotaro don’t get that, Y/N doesn’t like it.’” His impression turned more high-pitched and whining. “We’re watching TV? ‘This reminds me of when Y/N and I did this...’ ‘I bet Y/N would love this show, we should watch it the next time she comes over.’ ‘Y/N has a shirt just like that character.’ We’re hanging out with other people? ‘Hey Sungchan, what uh, what are you giggling at on your phone over there?’” He first kept his normal tone of voice, then switched into his over-the-top fake-Sungchan. “‘Oh, Y/N just texted me something funny. But it’s an inside joke, so you guys wouldn’t get it, sorry.’ ‘Man, I wish Y/N could’ve come, sucks she had to work.’”

“Are you done?” You asked tersely, unamused.

“I could go on ad nauseum—”

“One could argue you already have.”

Yuta snickered.

“—but let’s call it there.”

“Thank God.”

Shotaro wasn’t done with his spiel yet, though. “I have had multiple friends, when he’ll first bring you around somewhere, quietly ask me if you’re Sungchan’s girlfriend and they like, missed when you two started dating.”

“I get it, I get it.” You said firmly, bringing a hand up to rub your face.

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Y/N, you’re an MCS major, I’m sure you’ve heard about what can happen to werewolves if there’s something discordant in their lives that isn’t alleviated?”

“You think he’s going to get pupsick because he’s allegedly got a crush on me?” You sputtered out in disbelief, your voice caught between a chuckle and a scoff at how absurd that sounded to you.

“It happened to Jeno.”

“Yeah, but he’s Jeno. With all due respect and no intention to kinkshame, he probably lets his girlfriend put a collar on him.”

Yuta shot up as he cackled, slapping his knee and coughing. He scrambled to grab his water bottle, taking a couple sips as he struggled to catch his breath.

Shotaro pushed on like you hadn’t said anything, “Now, I don’t want to have to put up with a pupsick Jung Sungchan, do you? That sounds awful. For me, obviously, since I live with him.”

“Shotaro, you are half-right about one thing.”

“And what’s that?” He asked smugly.

“I am kind of an MCS major. So I also know that Sungchan isn’t overly touchy with me, he hasn’t given me anything of his that smells like him, he doesn’t feed me, or do any other pre-mating behaviors that are ingrained in werewolves.” You ticked them each off on your fingers. “Look, I hate stereotyping you guys by your species. But if he’s apparently so down bad that he can’t help but talk about me every waking second of the day, wouldn’t at least one of these things that are literally instinctual to him have happened?”

Shotaro raised an eyebrow. “You do know that he’s half-werewolf, right?”

“What?” You blinked at him.

“Yeah, his mom’s a werewolf, and his dad’s a human.”

You’d had an MCS class on the Effects of Modern Integration, which had a unit specifically on the subject of cross-species offspring. Some species could have offspring together while others couldn’t, it depended both on genetic similarity and compatibility of their magic. With humans having no magic, that left only genetic similarity as a factor, making them a lot more compatible for producing such cross-species offspring. Werewolves and humans were one of the more common pairings to have such offspring, as they had one of the most extensive histories of living together.

Sungchan’s behavior on your first and only date immediately sprung to mind. His hesitance around humans dating werewolves just because they’re werewolves. “Are they...?”

“Happily married. They helped us move into our apartment last year.” Shotaro apparently knew exactly where your question was going. “But yeah, Sungchan’s half-human. As best I can tell, he’s kind of like a super-zen werewolf. Able to control everything a lot better than full werewolves because all of the wolf instincts and stuff aren’t as powerful.”

“He still shifts?” Despite the estimated number of half-werewolves being greater than the confirmed population of sphinxes, unicorns, and phoenixes combined, there was little actually known about them academically. It was all word of mouth, as no large-scale study had been able to be done on them. They were apparently reluctant to come forward and make themselves known to researchers. And their friends.

“Yeah, every full moon. Which I think is why he really just considers himself a werewolf.”

“I didn’t know,” you admitted, biting the inside of your cheek as you were still absorbing this information.

“Anyway, he can probably control whatever pre-mating instincts he does have a lot better than full werewolves!”

“And he’s probably doing that because he knows that you know what pre-mating behaviors look like and thinks you would get weirded out.” Yuta suggested, finally entering the conversation instead of just letting you two go back and forth over him. “Since you’re kind of an MCS major.”

“Exactly!”

You pursed your lips, an uneasiness creeping up on you about the whole situation. “I don’t know guys…”

“You said he doesn’t feed you?” Yuta questioned thoughtfully.

“No, he doesn’t. And you two are around us plenty, have either of you ever seen him try to?” You asked pointedly.

“No, but what Shotaro was saying about grocery shopping. He always buys your favorite foods, flavors he knows you likes, even makes Shotaro put stuff back that he knows you think are unappetizing.”

“I’ve never asked him to do anything like that.”

“And yet he does. Now, overly touchy is subjective. Does he—”

“No, we’re not doing this.” You cut him off, crossing your arms over your chest.

“Doing what?”

“Dissecting mine and Sungchan’s friendship and putting it up on a conspiracy board. I’m not playing. And if that’s all you guys are going to do, then I’m leaving.”

Shotaro jumped in, “Y/N, why can’t you even consider that—”

“Because he already asked to be friends and I said yes,” you said angrily, feeling your blood finally reach its boiling point. “I knew what I was getting myself into, and having you guys trying to convince me that it’s something that he already said it’s not, isn’t fucking helping.”

They were both quiet for a beat, and you clenched your jaw. You couldn’t keep sitting right now, you had to go somewhere, do something. If you stayed here, somebody’s feelings were going to get hurt. You stood up, stuffing all of your things haphazardly back into your bag. “Actually, fuck it, I’m leaving anyway.”

“Y/N, we didn’t mean to—”

“I know, you think you’re trying to help or whatever the fuck. But just drop it, okay?” You shoved your feet back in your shoes and slung your bag over your shoulder. “I need to go or I’m going to end up saying something nasty that I don’t really mean and regret it. I’ll see you guys later.”

And with that, you took off, leaving the chair you had borrowed from Yuta on the shore. You took your baseball cap back off to mess with your damp hair as you speedwalked down the city sidewalks. All the angry energy from wanting to just go off on your friends was still coursing through you, and despite Yuta having to pick you up and drive you the couple miles or so to the river, you figured that you might as well walk the whole way back home to blow off steam.

A little more than halfway home, your phone buzzed in your hand with a call, and you glanced at it intending to just send it to voicemail. But it was Sungchan. You stared down at it as you waited to cross a street, an unsure thumb hovering over your screen.

Glancing between your phone and the crosswalk signal, it changed to walk, and you rushed to cross. The call went to voicemail.

Just a few seconds later, your phone lit up with the missed call, a voicemail, then a text from him. You sighed, clicking on the voicemail first.

“Hey, Y/N,” Sungchan’s voice came through clearly. It sounded like he was outside, probably on campus and fresh out of class, if you had to guess by the time. “It’s Sungchan. Obviously. Uh, anyway, I just got out of class, wanted to see if you maybe wanted to come over? I know you’re supposed to be with Shotaro and Yuta, but Shotaro just texted me and said—well, it’s kind of a long story. Just let me know if you can come over, and I’ll tell you when you get here, okay? I’m headed back to my place right now. Okay, bye.”

Shotaro.

Still fucking meddling after you asked him to drop it. If you were less than halfway back from the river, you’d turn around and throttle him.

You checked the text from Sungchan.

[sungchan: hey! i’m out of class. are you busy?]

[you: i can be over in twenty. is that okay?]

You shifted uncomfortably as you stood in front of the front door to Shotaro and Sungchan’s apartment. Your hair wasn’t as damp thanks to your long walk in the hot Sun, and your skin was dry, but you still held yourself as you stared down the center of the white door. You hadn’t knocked yet. You didn’t want to know what Shotaro had told Sungchan, having already convinced yourself that it was everything. That you were about to walk into Friendzoning 2: Electric Boogaloo, this time with Letting Y/N Down Easy. It made your stomach churn, your chest squeeze like a vice around your heart, and your head feel like it had been cast in lead.

You shifted your weight between your feet on the welcome mat, trying to muster up the strength to just knock on the fucking door, when it swung open.

Sungchan was in a pair of dark sweatpants and a dark red t-shirt from your school’s astronomy club—dated for fall two years ago. He offered you a familiar smile, stepping back from the doorway to make room for you. “Hey, I thought I heard you. Come in.”

“Hey. And thanks.” You nodded, slipping by him into his apartment.

Wordlessly, he started leading the way further back towards his room. You longingly looked at the wide-open space of the living room as you disappeared down the hallway. In his bedroom, you saw his desk taken up by his laptop and a spread of notebooks and papers. His bookbag was in his desk chair.

“Sorry, I know that’s your usual spot, but I was doing some homework.” Sungchan had noticed where your gaze was focused. He patted the foot of his bed as he went to sit down against the headboard. “Come on, you can sit with me for once.”

You swallowed and nodded, stepping back out of your shoes and setting your bag down. Climbing onto the end of his bed, you sat with your legs criss-crossed, fidgeting with your fingers in your lap.

“So why did Shotaro text you?” You decided to just go straight into it. No small talk or pleasantries about his class or what homework he was working on. “What’d he say?”

“He told me that he told you that I’m half-werewolf,” Sungchan said bluntly. “I figured I owed you a bit more of an explanation.”

Oh. Well that wasn’t what you were expecting at all.

“You really don’t owe me anything, Sungchan,” you shook your head, your eyes trained on his comforter. “You don’t have to explain who you are to me if you don’t want to.”

“I want to.”

It was a touching sentiment, but it felt like a hot knife right in your gut. He wanted to because he cared about you as a friend. Not in the same way that you cared about him.

You could only manage a soft, “Okay…”

“It’s not some big secret, really. I’m not ashamed of my dad or anything. I love him, he’s a cool guy.” Sungchan started, and you felt like that first part was more to reassure you that it was okay for you to know. He was pointing to a picture that you’d seen a countless number of times before, hanging next to the mirror above his dresser. It was of him at his high school graduation, flanked on either side by his parents, proud, beaming smiles on all of their faces. You’d always assumed they were both werewolves when you’d looked at that picture, and only ever noticed that Sungchan got his smile from his mom, and his nose from his dad. The height difference between his mom and dad never really registered to you, as Sungchan towered over both of them, but now you did see that his mom was almost a head taller than his dad. Not a trait intrinsic to either species, just more of a trend.

But then, his tone turned a little more pensive, “I just... don’t tell people at first because I get a whole slew of questions, from the mundane stuff like ‘How was it growing up with one werewolf parent and one human parent?’ Which like... I don’t know, it was like growing up with two parents? To the people who think that I’m some oddity and therefore they can just ask me completely unprompted about what my dick looks like. And then at the end of it, it doesn’t really matter anyway. I’m just some dumb mutt to them, no matter how you look at it.”

“Sungchan—” His name came out of your mouth instinctually, pained, as you could only imagine what he had experienced to ever be able to call himself that, even cynically as he was doing now.

“It’s okay. I don’t really care about those kinds of people.” He reassured you, offering a small smile. “That’s why I don’t waste my time on them anymore. I just say I’m a werewolf, and eventually they’ll find out more if they need to.”

“I’m sorry, that Shotaro just—”

“Y/N, it’s fine, seriously. I’m okay with you knowing. I know you’re not going to be weird about it. And Shotaro knew that too; I’m sure however it came up in conversation, it made sense for him to tell you.”

You thought about the context of when Shotaro revealed Sungchan’s lineage, wincing minutely. “Okay. Thanks.”

“You can ask me questions, I don’t mind since it’s you.” He then added teasingly, “Come on, Miss Magical Creatures Studies, I know you want to…”

“Not because I think you’re some oddity to be studied, but because I care and I want to understand more about you…” You prefaced your question. “Shotaro said that you still shift every full moon. Are your shifts any different than full werewolves?”

“From what I can tell watching other wolves shift, it’s not as painful, for one. So, bonus!” He said the last word with mock excitement. “The shift itself doesn’t last as long. And some wolves, especially younger ones who are going through their first shifts, tend to get kind of moodier in the days leading up to the full moon. I never got that. Just, everything is kind of… less for me.”

“Everything?” You asked, brows furrowed with confusion.

“My senses are more heightened than a human’s but less than the average werewolf, when I’m not shifted.”

“Ah.”

“And I probably wouldn’t fare great in a werewolf arm wrestling championship,” he tacked on lightheartedly.

“Damn, I had you signed up in one for this weekend,” you joked, clicking your tongue in the back of your throat in fake disappointment. “Put money down and everything.”

He played along, “Well, I guess I can still try for you.”

You smiled to yourself, then looked up at him as you took a deep breath. Whether or not you two were here because you cared about each other in different ways, you at least still cared about each other. And you’d be an idiot to throw out that kind of connection. You’d have to suck it up, hunker down, and connect with him on his terms.

“Thanks for being so open about this with me, Sungchan. I know it wasn’t your choice to tell me, and I know you already said it wasn’t a secret either. But still, I feel... very grateful that you would want to share any part of yourself like this with me.” You tried to pick your words carefully, to convey as much genuine emotion as you could without veering too far into romantic territory. You could still easily picture yourself saying something like this to Jaemin, or Shotaro. Maybe not Donghyuck, though.

“Ah, what’s that?” Sungchan squeezed his eyes shut, a bashful smile coming to his face.

“What’s what?” You asked with a breathy chuckle, feigning offense. “Am I not allowed a moment of sincerity?”

“No, you’re not.” He said it in an overly joking tone, so you knew that he wasn’t actually upset with you.

“And why not?” You mimicked his tone.

He sighed, teasing falling from his voice as he fully leaned back against his headboard, seeming to take you in for a few seconds before answering. “Not if you’re going to be looking at me like that when you’re being all sincere.”

“Like what?”

“Never mind.”

“No, no sir. You do not get to start an avenue of conversation like that and not finish it,” you pointed at him accusingly. “What am I looking at you like?”

The werewolf held your gaze steadily as he said, “Like you want something more.”

You felt your stomach drop as you rushed to get up from his bed, putting even more distance between the two of you. “I’m sorry, Sungchan. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

He knew, he knew, he knew.

“Y/N, don’t get me wrong, please.” Sungchan stood up after you, grasping your hand before you could run out on instinct. His grip was loose so that you could leave if you wanted, but the presence was enough to let you know that he still wanted you there, to listen to him. His hand was warm as it held yours, but it burned like you’d grabbed red-hot metal. “I-I think you’re one of the most incredible, smart, fantastic people I’ve ever met. And I’m so grateful that you gave me a second chance.”

“But you don’t like me like that. Yeah, I can see where this is going.” You shook him off, searching the floor for your bag and shoes. This was going to be embarrassing, putting sneakers back on after getting rejected like that.

“No, I do.”

Sungchan’s words stopped you in your tracks, and you slowly turned back around to face him again. Your heart was a drum banging in your ears, you couldn’t trust that they weren’t all—your heart and your ears—playing tricks on you.

“You… what?” You were dumbfounded, staring up at him with a mixture of disbelief and thinly-veiled suspicion. You’d spent far too long convincing yourself that he just liked you as a friend to throw it all out over three words.

“I was going to ask you on another date, that night at the boba shop, I really was,” he explained. “But I realized just how lovely and wonderful you were. And I thought that you didn’t deserve... all the hatred that would come with it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I love my parents, but growing up I got to see firsthand just the worst sorts of people… The things that my parents would be called, that I would get called, by other humans and other werewolves. It’s gotten a lot better, but I mean, Jeno’s girlfriend got called a knotslut at the park out of nowhere. And you don’t deserve to have that be your life.”

You narrowed your eyes up at him. “You think you’re not worth it?”

It was his turn to be thrown off-guard. “What?”

“You think that you, and being with you, aren’t worth it?” You reiterated.

“I wasn’t really thinking of it like that,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head.

“Do you think that? That you’re not worth it?”

“Well now that you say it like that, no, I don’t think that.” He frowned thoughtfully, his brow set with determination.

“And, I know you didn’t mean it like this, Sungchan, but you took the choice away from me. For a very sweet reason, I acknowledge that. But you didn’t give me a say in the matter. Imagine how that makes me feel.” You sighed, watching guilt flicker across his face. “I’m not going to pretend like I know at all what it was like for you growing up. Or what it’s like now. But I can tell you that I want this, that I want you. I want to be there for you, just like I know you’d be there for me if something ever did happen.”

“Of course I would be,” he declared.

Taking a step closer to him, you tentatively let a familiar airiness return to your chest, chasing out the painful squeeze that had been suffocating you since February. “See? We’ll have each other, Sungchan. Someone calling me something won’t matter as long as you’ll be there with me afterwards. You don’t have to prevent everything bad ever from happening, just hold my hand afterwards until it’s all better, okay?”

“Okay,” he nodded resolutely. “I can do that.”

“And I’ll do the same for you. Deal?” You held your pinky finger out to him.

He hooked his with yours. “Deal.”

Sungchan lowered your connected hands, and you watched curiously as he unlinked his pinky, only to turn your hand over with both of his and trace gentle circles into the palm of your hand with his pointer finger.

“Y/N?” He murmured.

You snapped your focus back up to his face at the sound of his voice, trepid and unsure. He was still gazing down at your hands as you replied, “Yes?”

“I know we really can’t start over completely now, but…”

“If you say ‘friends’ right now, even as a joke, I’m going to kill you with my bare hands, half-werewolf strength be damned.” You whispered through gritted teeth.

He sputtered out a chuckle, shaking his head fondly and the circles on your palm never slowing. “No, no, I wouldn’t do that to you. That would be a terrible joke.”

“Good.”

“I was going to ask...” He inhaled shakily, finally drawing his eyes up to yours. “If we could try that date again?”

A smile pulled at the corners of your mouth, and you nodded quickly. “Yeah, Sungchan. I’d love that.”

Sungchan beamed at you, a heart-stopping, adorable, lopsided grin that now made your chest flutter with hope. “Okay! Thank you, thank you!”

You couldn’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm. “You’re welcome.”

Leaping to your feet at the knock that just came from your front door, you ran to answer it. You threw the door open, abuzz with excitement.

It was just about a week later, and you and Sungchan were finally trying that date again. You’d actually seen him once in the intermittent days, at a previously scheduled group movie night at Jeno and Jaemin’s place. The two of you were all knowing smiles and questionably accidental bumps and brushes of skin under the blanket that you shared that night.

But tonight Sungchan was in your hallway, smiling nervously down at you. “Hi.”

“Hi, Sungchan.” You fidgeted with your shirt. He had specifically told you to dress casually and comfortable, but you still felt weirdly underdressed, even seeing that he was in a t-shirt and jeans himself.

“These are for you,” he said quietly, bringing out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

As you accepted them from him, you immediately realized that they were made of paper, intricately folded tulips, lilies, and roses of all colors. You couldn’t help but let out a small gasp, thinking about how much time it must have taken him. “An origami bouquet. Oh, Sungchan…”

“I figured you had plenty of hearts by now…” He said as he flushed from his neck upwards.

“They’re beautiful.” You got on your tiptoes, putting a hand on his shoulder to steady yourself as you pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

His cheeks were bright pink as you turned around to set them down inside, then looked back to him expectantly. The werewolf led the way out to the parking lot, except you didn’t see his car anywhere around. There was a familiar old blue pickup truck, however, which he was walking towards.

“Your car in the shop or something?” You asked curiously. “Why are you driving Yuta’s truck?”

“Utility.” He answered cryptically, opening the passenger door for you.

“What does that mean?” You questioned with a chuckle, scooting into the middle of the bench seat.

You’d gotten your seatbelt situated by the time Sungchan had walked around and opened the driver’s side. He didn’t seem to have been expecting you to be in the middle, pausing for a second, and looking around flustered as he climbed into the truck too.

“It’s a surprise, like I said,” he muttered, fastening his own seatbelt and starting the truck.

Sungchan drove with one hand on the wheel, the other on his leg next to yours. You drummed your fingers on your own knee contemplatively.

“Sungchan?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I hold your hand?”

“Wh— Yeah, of course.” He laughed shakily as you laced your fingers with his. “You don’t need to ask me about stuff like that.”

“Well you’re so tense right now that I was afraid that if I just grabbed your hand, you might freak and crash the car.”

He cringed. “So you can tell?”

“Yeah, I can tell.” You patted his arm with your other hand. “What’s got you so wound up? It’s just me.”

“Well, yeah, it’s you,” he repeated. “I’ve already messed up so many times with you. I don’t want to fuck up again.”

You contemplated this for a second, watching the passing streetlights. “Think about it like this: Could you possibly fuck up again worse than our first date?”

“I hope not.”

“Then you’re already off to a great start.”

“Y/N, I think you need higher standards,” he said without an ounce of humor or joking in his tone.

You couldn’t help but burst into laughter at that. “Sungchan, you made me an entire origami bouquet and organized a whole night out to surprise me. I think my standards are pretty okay.”

“Alright, but you’ve got to promise that this is my last chance. Like, three strikes and I’m out. Seriously, if I was some other guy, I would’ve told you to throw me to the curb a long time ago.”

You looked over at him incredulously. “Are you seriously advocating against yourself right now? Is this some kind of reverse psychology flirting technique that I’ve never heard of?”

“No, I’m just not going to stop being a good friend because you’re on a date with me. I told you I would always look out for you, and I meant it, even if it’s not in my best interest.”

Nodding with a raised eyebrow, you decided to take his advice at face value. “Okay, your input is noted as part of the council of friends’ round table on my new guy.”

You saw a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. “Good.”

“So, did you tell Shotaro what we were doing?” You asked, curious now that the topic of friends had been brought up.

“I told him we were hanging out.”

“Did you tell him it was a date?”

“No. Did you?”

“If I did, do you think you would have gotten out of your apartment unscathed?” You snorted.

“Fair point.”

The car ride passed with mostly idle chitchat, until he made a turn away from the city center, off onto a back road that you were unfamiliar with. The buildings gave way to trees, the streetlights being replaced only with moonlight and the headlights of the truck or any lone car that you would pass occasionally. A while later, the asphalt became a dirt road, the trees around you getting thicker and thicker. You looked around in interest as he slowed the truck to a stop in a clearing.

“We’re here?” You asked, looking over at him. Your eyes had long adjusted to the nighttime, and you could clearly make out his features.

“We’re here,” he confirmed with a nod, turning the vehicle off.

Sungchan climbed out, helping you down with a hand, and you immediately knew why he’d had both of you dress casually. You were in the middle of the woods, being led to the back of the truck by the hand by your date. He opened the tailgate, and let go of your hand to hop up into the empty bed.

“Wait there,” he requested, now well and good towering over you.

You nodded.

He retrieved a large duffel bag from the truck bed, and you looked curiously at everything he brought out of it. Pillow after pillow, blanket after blanket. The truck bed soon looked like a bed bed, and Sungchan came back over to plop down on the tailgate, toeing his shoes off and setting them aside at the end. He gestured to the bedding with little fanfare.

“All done!”

You hopped up next to him, pulling your shoes off as well and putting them away next to his. Looking at him with a knowing smirk, you nodded to the fact that the two of you were still sitting up. “Now what, Sung?”

“Ah, you’re going to make me spell it out?” He rubbed the back of his neck, ducking his head awkwardly.

“No,” you laughed. “I’m not.”

He took that as his cue to lay down first, leaving an open space right beside him. You settled into his side with no hesitation, resting your head on his chest as he pulled a final fluffy blanket over the two of you. Being a half-werewolf, Sungchan was pretty warm, but you were grateful for the extra comfort anyway.

Up above you two was a gorgeous expanse of a night sky. A waxing gibbous glowed down at you, stars twinkling and winking in and out at irregular intervals.

“It’s so peaceful…” He murmured quietly, shifting under you, still settling in.

“I don’t know, it’s kind of scary out here…”

Sungchan moved to sit up slightly, looking down at you with concern. “Really? You think so?”

“Yeah, what if there’s wolves?”

“Oh my god you’re so annoying,” he groaned, even as he readjusted his arms to hold you closer.

You, meanwhile, were giggling maniacally at your incredible joke, hiding your face in his shirt as you tried to recover. “You mean I’m the funniest person you know.”

“In your dreams.”

Looking back up at the sky, you pointed to a random speck of light. “Do you know what star that is?”

“Which one?” Sungchan asked, craning his head to try to get in your line of sight.

“I don’t know, any of them.” You dropped your hand back down to his front. “You’re in astronomy club, tell me about them, you big Earth Science nerd. Which I say with great affection and fondness.”

“Okay, so you see the Moon?”

“That’s not a star. I do know that.”

He chuckled, which you felt underneath your cheek. “I figured as much. So, starting at the Moon, if you go due North—” he pointed, and you tried your best to follow the path of his index finger. “The first and brightest star you can see. See it?”

“Yep!” You nodded, seeing the exact star he was talking about.

“Then go the right, just a little, there’s a pair of twin stars, see them?”

“Mm… mhm! Yes!”

“Okay, down, and over to the right some more, we’re tracing out the top of a head, then we’re going back up, there’s another pair of twin stars, you see?”

You squinted, losing the top of the head he was talking about, but finally found the second set of twin stars he’d mentioned. “Yeah, found them!”

“Cool. Straight down from that pair, we’re going to find one, two, then over to the left to get the chin, over and up to get the other cheek, and up to round out the head.”

You nodded, vaguely able to picture what he was talking about. “Okay… so whose head was that?”

“Oh, I get to teach Miss MCS Major something!” Sungchan teased.

“Interdisciplinary major…” You reminded him under your breath.

“So that was Lykos, the great wolf in the sky. As in, lycanthropy.”

“Back when scientists thought werewolves were humans with an affliction that could be passed on to other humans. The quote ‘condition’ they were diagnosed with was lycanthropy.” You easily pulled a basic definition of it from class. “Of course we know now that’s not true. Like witches, werewolves are an entirely different species, not just a variety of human. And there’s never been any credible account of a werewolf turning a human into a werewolf.”

“Why is it that humans just think everything is also a human, even when it very clearly is not?”

“Well, if I were to give us humans benefit of the doubt? Uh, to relate to it? Empathy? Recognition of yourself in the other? I mean, it’s better than labeling everything a monster and hunting it down. Which, we also did a bit of.”

“Us monsters did plenty hunting of you guys, too.”

“You say as if you’re not also half-human.”

“Hey,” he frowned down at you suspiciously. “Are you recognizing yourself in the other with me right now? I think we should really save that for the second date—”

“Oh, shut up!” You gave his front a smack as you let out an indignant scoff.

Sungchan was kicking his legs under the blanket as he laughed from his stomach, and when you looked up at him, you saw his eyes squeezed shut tight as he cackled. You watched him with a smitten smile, unable to even pretend to be annoyed for any longer as his guffaws petered out to chuckles then to giggles until he eventually sobered up, and settled his gaze with a heart-stopping grin on you.

The two of you were quiet for a moment, just looking at each other, then he broke the eye contact, turning his eyes back up to the stars. “Uhm— I didn’t finish telling you about Lykos.”

You settled back into your spot, and with your ear to his chest, you could hear that his heartbeat was faster than it’d been before. You wondered if he was thinking the same thing about yours in that moment.

“So, Lykos,” Sungchan picked up where he’d left off before. “You can easily find him by starting at the moon to find his left ear. According to werewolf stories, Lykos was the very first werewolf that we’re all descended from. Because he was so great and powerful, once he passed, his soul ascended to be in the stars to watch over all of his descendants.”

“Wow…” You looked at the stars harder, willing Lykos’ shape to be a little more visible to you than before.

“In astronomy, though, the two twin stars that make up his left ear are called LK 1C04 and LK 2C04. They’re both red giants.”

“Are they going to explode any time soon?”

“Stars are kind of always exploding,” he explained enthusiastically. “They’re perpetually combusting and performing nuclear fusion. Well, most stars, if they haven’t run out of fuel yet.”

“What about when they run out of fuel then?”

“Depends on how big they are. LK 1C04 and 2C04 are both red giants, so when they run out of fuel, they’ll turn into white dwarves. So instead of being a burning ball of gas, they’ll just be emitting a very faint light from the remaining energy leftover from their previous nuclear fusion reactions that they can no longer perform.”

“So they don’t get to go out with a bang.”

“No, not really.” Sungchan pointed up at the sky again. “Okay, you remember Lykos’ chin?”

“Yes…”

“So that’s actually the end of the tail of a squirrel, according to some dryad traditions, or a gecko in some human ones.”

Sungchan sketched out the next constellation for you, then relayed the accompanying folk tale. Some scientific factoids would be interspersed too, and you loved hearing the enthusiasm in his voice as he told you about something he was very clearly interested in. And at some point, with his legs tangled up in yours, your hand curled around his waist, your cheek pressed against his chest, his hand casually rubbing up and down your back underneath your top as he still spoke so eagerly, you found your attention slipping away from black holes and how legends of ancient wyvern society said this or that about some other constellation. You were suddenly grabbing him by the collar with two hands and yanking him over to look at you.

“Y/N?” He asked, absolute bewilderment in his features.

“Jung Sungchan, I’m going to say this once, and please don’t take this the wrong way,” you murmured, holding eye contact with him very seriously. “You’re very attractive when you talk about things that you’re passionate about, and if you don’t kiss me right now I think I’m going to explode.”

Sungchan didn’t need to be told twice, reaching up to cup your cheek. Despite your rather blunt and unromantic request, he still tenderly guided your lips to his. Your eyes fluttered shut as you melted into the kiss, the grip you had on his collar relaxing. His mouth was soft as he moved it ever so slightly against yours. His thumb stroked over your cheekbone, the hand on your back pulling you even closer to him. One of your hands grabbed his waist to anchor yourself down to something on Earth.

It ended all too soon for your liking, though. You were pretty sure you could kiss Jung Sungchan forever. He pressed one more quick kiss to the corner of your mouth before leaning back to drink you in.

“You’re so beautiful…” he murmured, stroking your cheek again.

“Sung?” You whispered.

“Hm?”

“Do you want to kiss me again?”

He nodded, and you leaned forward to bump your nose against his. A giddy smile spread across your face.

“Good. Me too.”

sequel :･ﾟ✧｡･:･*

⤷ blog masterlist ⤷ anthology masterlist

273 notes · View notes

lattaeyongs · 2 years

Text

sugar pt. 2 (jjh)

original gif

↳ pairing: jung jaehyun x reader

↳ word count: 14k

↳ genre: ceo/single dad!jaehyun, secretary!reader, friends to lovers!au, fluff, slight angst, smut

↳ summary: They say it’s lonely at the top, especially for Jung Jaehyun, owner and founder of Jung Industries. As a single dad who just wants to be the best father to his daughter, he realizes that you make his life a little sweeter when you’re by his side.

↳ warnings: explicit sexual content (oral, penetration, thigh riding, dirty talk, rough dom!jaehyun, sub!reader, daddy & sir kink, spanking, reader has big boobs, implied use of birth control, etc.)

↳ a/n (1): read part 1 here. not necessarily required to understand the second part since most events in part 1 are explained here, but i highly suggest you do so.

There was a line between personal and professional life.

In a matter of seconds, you crossed that line after Jung Jaehyun, CEO of Jung Industries who is also your boss, asked you out on a date. Well, that line was sort of crossed after you attended his daughter's seventh birthday party and even after you became good friends with him while working so closely with him as his secretary at Neo City Tech and at his startup, Jung Industries.

It has been one week since his daughter Yeona's birthday party, the Saturday that Jaehyun arranged for you to go on a date together. Tonight, you would be dining at The Sunset, a hot new restaurant that opened downtown a few months ago. Apparently, there was a waiting list, and patrons that made reservations three months ago are only now able to dine due to the popularity this place has gotten for its delicious cuisine. But apparently, Jaehyun made a few calls and was able to squeeze you both in on such short notice.

You and Jaehyun weren’t the go-grab-a-beer-together type of friends, but more of a working-together-in-a-friendly-way arrangement. You gave him advice about managing his professional life because you knew his schedule and his personal life intimately as a part of your job, and that was how you got to talking. Never had you once seen him outside of work, except for that day that you babysat Yeona after her babysitter had to cancel last minute and then Yeona's birthday party. There was a part of you that always noted how handsome he was, how beautifully sculpted his face is, how his hair kisses his forehead in a way that makes him look like the boy next door, not the CEO of a huge, successful company.

But sometimes to you, he seemed like the boy next door, with the prettiest smile and the sweetest, honey-like voice.

So you have a tiny crush on your boss, and your boss may have a tiny crush on you, thus asking you out on a date. Many people have been in your position.

It took every fiber of your being for you to not squeal with giddiness when you see Jung Jaehyun at your doorstep, looking as gentlemanly as if he's going to pick you up for prom. Jaehyun wears a gray suit, designer, a white, pleated dress shirt at the neck, and a red rose is in his pocket, fresh. His hair looks clean and washed, and he wears a pleasant smile on his face. He holds out a hand after admiring how you look; you're wearing a red dress that hugs your figure, one that has thin, red straps and a sweetheart neckline.

"We're matching," Jaehyun notices in a sheepish voice; this was completely not planned. But you can’t help but notice Jaehyun’s voice; that wasn’t the type of voice that CEO Jung has, but tonight he's not CEO Jung, but just Jung Jaehyun, a boy who likes a girl.

You and Jaehyun walk arm-in-arm out of your apartment, careful not to make eye contact with people nearby, who are speculating that the guy you're with looks suspiciously like Jung Jaehyun.

In a visitor parking spot is a white Kia, an older model that wouldn't be immediately tied with a rich CEO. Jaehyun opens the door for you. "My lady," he says dramatically, with a jubilant smile. You smile as well, rolling your eyes at Jaehyun's joking chivalry, and Jaehyun gets into the driver's seat. The two of you make the thirty-minute drive downtown, and Jaehyun takes another ten minutes to find parking.

In the crowded streets, people are busy with their own business to notice the two of you together, and you successfully make it to The Sunset.

This is where the fun begins.

There's always paparazzi around here due to all the high-profile clientele, and you told Jaehyun that he didn't have to do this, that you would be perfectly happy doing something more lowkey like grabbing a beer, but Jaehyun insisted that you deserve something nice after serving him for so long and for so well.

Ignoring the stray flashes you can see reflecting through the window as you wait in line for the hostess to match your name with the reservation, you observe the scenery. The room is filled with warm tones, browns, oranges, burgundies, and clean whites and off-white. Not a single thing is out of place; not a single table cloth has a stray fiber and not a single inch of the hardwood floors is not freshly waxed. Such opulence is something you never thought you would see for yourself, only through a window or in a movie.

"Jung for two," Jaehyun gestures to the hostess. She smiles as she drags her finger across the old-fashioned reservation book, meant to give the place an old-timey, classy vibe, and when she sees the matching name, her eyes light up.

"Yes sir. This gentleman will take care of you," she briefly looks at an older man wearing formal pants, a dress shirt, and a vest, who takes you up a flight of stairs

The table that the waiter leads you to gives you a view of the other dining customers and you are next to a large window, which shows the city at night, beautifully lit. You stare in awe.

"Been living in this city for ten years, and the view never fails to strike me speechless," the waiter interjects when he notices you staring. You meet his gaze bashfully.

"Yeah," you agree, a lippy smile on your face. "Everything just feels so small after seeing such a view," you comment astutely.

When you and Jaehyun sit down on the soft, velvety chairs, the waiter changes the subject.

"Back to the food," he hands out laminated menus.

He waits as you two scan the menu for something to eat. Even after looking at The Sunset's website, you're still not sure what you want to order. Half of the meats offered, you never tasted in your life.

"What do you suggest?" You ask wistfully, trying to sound cool as if you're not at a loss about what to order.

"I absolutely love the creamy spinach stuffed salmon in garlic butter," he says, the light in his eyes dancing as he gives this suggestion, happy that someone wants his opinion.

"I'll have that," you smile.

Jaehyun looks up from the menu, looking sure of himself. "I'll have the roast beef tenderloin," he says courteously.

"Rare or medium rare?"

"Medium rare," Jaehyun replies as if his order is practiced. Of course it is, given how many fancy dinners he must have attended as CEO, dinners that you arranged.

The waiter acknowledges, writes it down on a small pad, and walks away. A few feet away from you and Jaehyun are another couple, taking turns exchanging kisses over the dining table. Another couple on the first floor, which you have a view of from your high position, laugh politely, with smiles on their faces, yet affection brimming underneath. You and Jaehyun remain stiff in your places. Usually, you both are able to exchange playful banter no matter the situation, but there is only awkwardness in the air.

The question that is bugging your mind: where do you both stand in your relationship?

Despite how high you are, you still manage to see flashes from the ground outside, from cameramen zooming in. Although Jaehyun has dealt with being a celebrity for a long time and has thus gotten used to being watched, you haven't, and your nervousness can be felt on the other side of the table.

"Y/N, I just want to thank you again for your services. You have managed to keep me afloat all these years, and I would never trade you for the world." Jaehyun's eyes look serious as he says these beautiful words, but he doesn't reach for your hand, only offering you a consoling smile.

"I should thank you for being a really great boss," you chuckle. "How many employers take their secretaries out to dinner at the hottest restaurant in town?" You say, your heart breaking a little as you avoid calling this excursion a date.

Jaehyun smiles, and by this time, and not long after, dinner is served. The waiter comes back with full trays in both hands, carrying them on his forearms as waiters do in the movies.

You're a bit disappointed with how small the serving is. Although the tray is large, it was mostly meant for the presentation of the dish. There were only a few pieces of stuffed, flavorful salmon in the center, on top of rich, green leaves.

You don't let your disappointment show.

"Bon appetit!" The waiter says with a playful glint in his eyes. "Let me know what you think." He shuffles away, leaving you and Jaehyun alone again.

Jaehyun's portion is also pretty small, and he takes his fork and knife and starts digging in after he puts a thick, white napkin on his lap. You imitate him.

The cheese and spinach give a fresh and umami flavor to the dish, but you're not sure how you feel about the slimy salmon. Only occasionally did you eat seafood, preferring something simple like chicken or lamb or potatoes, and the feeling is unfamiliar in your mouth. Sure, the meat is well-cooked, but the salmon taste wasn't for you despite how the waiter raved about it.

At how slowly you're eating your food, while Jaehyun is more than halfway done with his pork tenderloin, he gives you a cheeky smile.

"Don't like the food?"

You're shocked by Jaehyun's sudden words. You didn't think you were so transparent, but noticing how only one of the four salmon pieces is gone, you realize you weren't doing a good job hiding your distaste.

You feel a little bad that Jaehyun will be picking up the bill on a meal that you're not finishing, so you force another piece into your mouth, a tight smile on your face.

"I like it," you say in your most convincing voice.

Jaehyun titters. "Y/N, you wouldn't even fool a two-year-old,"

You laugh, deciding to come clean. "Okay fine. It's not that I don't like the food but that I'm not used to it. When I was younger, chicken tenders were a delicacy," you say fondly, remembering your childhood years. Your parents were middle-class, hard-working people, and growing up without lots of money to spare meant you weren't eating medium-rare tenderloin or stuffed salmon.

Then Jaehyun understands. He puts down his fork and says, "How about a run to the convenience store? I'm really craving instant ramen." Before you can argue, Jaehyun calls for the check.

"What did you think, miss?" The same waiter asks. You manage to pop two more pieces in your mouth, revolted by the slimy taste.

With a forced smile, you report, "It was good." You even give a thumbs up, which makes Jaehyun almost laugh on the spot.

The waiter is oblivious to these signals. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." He eyes one last salmon piece, and you quickly pipe in before he can ask you about that.

"The flavors were so rich, like a storm! I think I need a break," you try to save.

You're thankful the waiter doesn't ask too many questions, and he leaves you both after taking your dishes, fetching you the check.

After Jaehyun pays, you both stand up, and Jaehyun's hand is at the small of your back, leading you through the crowded streets. Some people start asking him for a comment about Jung Industries’ high stock prices, and he successfully avoids them, but you know the real questions they have are about you, the mystery woman who it seems that Jung Jaehyun went on a date with. Jung Jaehyun, who has been so busy with work that he barely dates, is seen with a strange, unknown woman, not even a socialite or an heiress.

You both are able to lose them by the time you are in the parking garage, and Jaehyun quietly pays before getting out of there and landing head-first into city traffic.

"I know a good place on the outskirts of the city," you say. Jaehyun nods, and you give him the directions.

The convenience store parking lot is practically empty by the time you and Jaehyun arrive, except for the employees' cars. When you walk into the store, it's as empty as you thought, and the bell on the door dings, signaling your presence. The girl at the front desk meets your eyes for a millisecond before going back to reading her magazine. You're glad she didn't look too hard; she's probably seen weirder at this hour.

So here you are with your boss, the CEO of Jung Industries, completely overdressed and about to buy instant ramen. Not exactly how you thought the night would go.

Jaehyun starts pushing a cart and you both read the signs hanging from the ceiling, labeling where everything is, and you both are scanning the aisles until you find the "microwavable food" section, where you turn. You drop five packets of instant ramen, and go to the nearby "sandwich meats" section, grabbing some pork wrapped tightly in plastic. Then, Jaehyun suggests that you get chicken tenders, for old times’ sake. You oblige, heading to the "frozen foods" section and grabbing two boxes before getting to the checkout. To avoid recognition, Jaehyun hangs in the aisles, giving you his credit card to check out the food at the counter. You do as he says and check out without any problems, and Jaehyun meets you outside the store

"Let's go to your place," you suggest. "Surely all this food is too much for ourselves to eat," you say.

"Yeah," Jaehyun agrees. "Yeona likes chicken tenders."

You and Jaehyun hop into his car after loading the food into the trunk, and you start driving back to his penthouse. After parking in the attached garage underground, you and Jaehyun lift a bag and carry it into the lobby, taking the elevator into his penthouse.

When the door dings and the elevator opens, you're instantly met with Yeona, playing chess with Mrs. Kim. No wonder Jaehyun thought she was the best babysitter for Yeona.

"Daddy! Y/N!" Yeona shouts, completely forgetting about the chess game and running to you both. Jaehyun drops the bag and kneels down to hug his daughter. You do the same when Yeona gives you a tight hug as if she hasn't seen you in ages.

"Hi Yeona, how are you?" You ask.

"Great now that you and Daddy are here. Mrs. Kim and I were playing chess, and she says I'm a natural!" Yeona says excitedly, looking back at her babysitter. Mrs. Kim has a soft look on her face as she looks at Yeona before standing up and talking with Jaehyun for a few moments in a hushed tone. You don't hear any of what they say, deciding to keep your attention on Yeona.

"Your daddy and I brought some goodies," you say, holding up your bag. Yeona looks inside curiously and gasps at the chicken tenders. "Yay!" She squeals. "Can we have them now?"

"Of course." You lead Yeona into the kitchen and arrange the frozen food on the toaster oven tray, watching as Yeona gazes with wide, excited eyes. Jaehyun joins you guys after Mrs. Kim leaves.

"Having fun without me?" He asks with mock hurt.

"Yes." You giggle. "Have you heard of a Jung Jaehyun?" You ask Yeona.

Playing along, Yeona shakes her head. "Nope, never."

"Well, I guess if there's no Jung Jaehyun, then I guess there's no ramen," Jaehyun has a playful disappointed face as he holds up his plastic bag with the ramen and meat.

"Of course I know a Jung Jaehyun," Yeona says now that the ramen is in danger, and you and Jaehyun laugh.

The laughs dissipate after Jaehyun finds a large pot and fills it with water. As he waits for it to boil, the chicken tenders are done in the oven, but not well-cooked enough, so you set the toaster again, much to Yeona's disappointment. After the second time you cook the chicken tenders, they are well-cooked and crunchy, after you had a taste test, of course.

In a few minutes, the ramen is done after Jaehyun poured all five packets inside and stirred, watching the fused ramen noodles separate in the boiling water.

Since your job is practically over, you decide to open the pork and start searing it on a pan. Jaehyun makes sure that Yeona doesn't eat the chicken tenders too early.

You take a knife and a cutting board and cut the meat into strips before putting them on the oiled skillet and hear the meat sizzle. You flip it over after adorning the pieces with spices, and wait until there is a nice char. Then you put the pieces on another plate.

"Now we can feast!" Jaehyun says, and Yeona squeals happily. Jaehyun takes out three plates, and you distribute the ramen on the plates, sprinkle the pork, and then add three chicken tenders for each person.

All three of you have the same thought and make a beeline for the couch. Jaehyun tries to find the remote, but Yeona finds it first, turning it to Peppa Pig

"Aw shucks!" Jaehyun says, careful not to use a curse word around his daughter.

You both sit around, watching for a few moments as Yeona explains the story (she has seen this episode before). You and Jaehyun listen intently until Jaehyun interrupts.

"Sweetie, I'm going to use the restroom, but why don't you talk to Y/N? I'm sure she's very interested." Jaehyun gives you sort of an evil look, and before you can narrow your gaze, Yeona looks at you with joy in her eyes.

She continues explaining and talking about her favorite characters, and after a while you both fall into silence, eating your ramen and chicken tenders.

"Y/N, can I ask you a question?" Her voice sounds oddly serious to your surprise. She looks from the TV, where she sees Peppa, Mommy, and Daddy Pig with George.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Are you going to be my mommy?"

You almost drop your spoon in shock. In the scene on screen, Mommy Pig and Peppa are hugging, and of course, you know why this question is cropping up.

"Why would you say that?" You ask, in your most gentle voice.

"Because you and Daddy went on a date. Doesn't that mean that you're gonna get married, and you're going to be my mommy?"

You chuckle at how innocent yet logical Yeona's remarks are. "Your daddy and I like each other a lot, so we went on a date just to get to know each other a little more." You reason. "I'm not going to be your new mommy just yet, but we don't know what the future holds."

At the end of your monologue, Yeona looks crestfallen.

"Everyone else at school has a mommy. They make the best food and come to all the school events." She pauses for a moment. "Why don't I have a mommy?"

You take a deep breath. You're not sure how to handle this. The topic of Yeona's mother has always been a touchy subject for Jaehyun. Recently after Jaehyun took in Yeona when he was at Neo Culture Tech, you asked about Yeona's mother and what happened to her, and you were received with the coldest look. 'She's dead' you recall him saying. 'At least, dead to me.' The words send an icy shiver down your spine. You're not really sure if she's dead or alive or if Jaehyun has any contact with her. After that, you decided to never touch the subject again for the next eight years. From what you know from organizing his schedules, Jaehyun hasn't been officially meeting with her.

Before you were stuck with answering that question, Jaehyun reappears from the bathroom, and you silently thank him.

"Hey look, daddy's back!" You swiftly change the subject. Yeona receives him with the same excited manner that she has, but there is a darkness in her eyes that you think you're the only one that notices.

One thing's for sure: Yeona hasn't forgotten this conversation.

Just like Yeona, you haven't forgotten the conversation either. On Sunday, you were pondering the events of your date. After eating and helping Jaehyun clear the plates since the maid went home early, you decide to take a cab home rather than let Jaehyun or his driver take you home. On Sunday morning, you got a text from him asking if you got home safe.

All of a sudden, you feel like everything is moving too fast between you and Jaehyun. His daughter asked if you were going to marry him. Sure, kids say the weirdest things, but there's something you cannot shake from your interaction with Yeona.

She's becoming too attached to you only after you have been with her a couple of times. You never really thought about what dating Jaehyun would be like, only crushing on him from the distance. Imagine if it doesn't work out. Can Yeona take it if she becomes more and more attached to you? Are you ready to be a step-mom? These questions might seem like they are really in the future, but it doesn't hurt to think about them now.

On top of all that, you just saw an article from the Daily Star, a trashy celebrity spotting magazine, and the headline reads "Jung Jaehyun on a date?" It shows a picture of you and Jaehyun at The Sunset and at the convenience store. You guessed the cashier was more attentive than you thought. Of course, you knew that the paparazzi and celebrity sightings would be a part of your life if you dated Jaehyun, but now that it has really happened, you suddenly feel anxious, watched. Not to mention if this becomes office gossip, where your reputation will suffer more than Jaehyun’s.

All of this stuff sounds romantic in the books and the movies, but they were definitely not what you expected it now that you really thought about it.

You decide that the best course of action is to maintain a strictly professional relationship with Jung Jaehyun, as much as your heart hates it.

On Monday morning, you quietly slip into work, taking your place at the desk outside of Jaehyun's corner office. You resume taking calls and adding events to Jaehyun's calendar as if nothing at all happened this weekend, and thankfully, no one has approached you about the article in the Daily Star. You're ready to put this all behind you.

As you sip the coffee you have in the flask that you brought, a figure enters your field of vision. You look up to see a woman in a white blazer and matching pencil skirt, wearing a silky blouse under her blazer. She wears a heavy opal necklace and matching earrings, and her hair is in a tight ponytail. You stare at her for a few moments longer than you should without saying anything, swearing that this face is oddly familiar.

"How can I help you?" You ask the woman. She looks about Jaehyun's age, and she clutches the purse hanging from her shoulder, expecting that you were just supposed to let her in just because she was standing there.

"I need to see Jung Jaehyun," she says.

"Name please?" you ask politely, opening up Jaehyun's calendar on your computer. She looks like she could be a client.

"I don't have an appointment," she says tersely. You stare at her, puzzled.

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Jung won't see anyone he doesn't have a previous appointment with." As you finish your sentence, you can see Jaehyun approach you from across the hall from the bathroom, where he took a five-minute break before he was arranged to be in a meeting.

"Y/N," Jaehyun says. His face pales at the sight of the woman in front of you.

"I was just saying that you don't see anyone without an appointment-"

"It's okay," Jaehyun says quickly, his gaze not leaving the woman. He gestures for her to open his office door, and she does; Jaehyun follows in suit.

You find the whole interaction weird, and the way that she looked so familiar also struck you, but you don't let yourself get too lost in your thoughts. As you continue with your work, you can hear muffled, angry voices inside Jaehyun's office.

Slowly, you turn around and face Jaehyun and that woman. Jaehyun is tense as he claws at his desk angrily, and he grits his teeth as he responds to the woman. She looks as though she is pleading, but Jaehyun is having none of that. In a few minutes, the argument ceases, and before Jaehyun and the woman can accuse you of eavesdropping, you turn around as if your attention for the past few minutes has only been to your work.

The woman bursts out of the office and huffs, walking away with anger and disappointment.

You've never seen Jaehyun this angry before. Right now, it seems as though he is having a personal moment, so you take the time to leave your desk, go to the break room, and grab a cup of black coffee, his favorite. You knock on his office door, with a weak smile on your face as you hold up a black coffee for him. Jaehyun curls his finger to gesture to you to come in.

When you walk in, you start to feel uncomfortable. "I brought you a coffee." You say. You step forward to place it on his desk. "You need to be in a good mood before you meet with Huang Shipping, Co." You say, laughing, but it was a harsh sound from your throat.

"Thanks," he says. Clearly, there is a lot on his mind.

"Do you want to talk about it?" You ask without thinking.

Jaehyun doesn't respond for a long time, so you think it's your cue to go.

As you turn around, you hear Jaehyun speak.

"That was Yeona's mom." You stop in place. Yeona's mother, the subject that Jaehyun never wants to talk about? You turn back to face him, shock laced in your expression. You wait for him to keep talking. Indirectly, you're doing your job – you're giving him an outlet to express his feelings before his meeting. But it better be quick because the representatives from Huang Shipping are notoriously on time, and that meeting is in five minutes.

"Yes, Yeona's mother. Kwon Yeonjoo," he says with relief, finally letting go of the secret he has been keeping for so long.

"Kwon Yeonjoo," you murmur to yourself. It was a name that sounded eerily familiar.

Sensing your thoughts, Jaehyun continues. "She was a corporate lawyer at Neo Culture Tech, second in command to Go Hyungwon. Brilliant legal mind," Jaehyun says, his expression impossible to decipher, full of regret, longing, and admiration.

"We instantly hit it off when I was chief analyst," he says, smiling as he remembers the fond memories. "We constantly were hooking up outside of work, so HR wouldn't get on us. Fraternizing was a fireable offense. Then she told me that she was pregnant."

"I was only five years out of college, and my career only just started. I couldn't get married so soon or have a child. And neither of us wanted an abortion either. So Yeonjoo had Yeona. I was under the impression that she would give Yeona up for adoption because she wanted to further her career, to become head lawyer at Neo Culture Tech, or start her own firm. And if she was a mother, she knew she couldn't do that. But," Jaehyun chuckles ruefully, "apparently she already decided that I was to be Yeona's adoptive parent. She didn't want to give up her child to a stranger."

"And you took her in." You finish the story. Jaehyun nods. So much you didn't know behind the scenes in Jaehyun's life, the person you have been working with for eight years. You used to see Kwon Yeonjoo occasionally around Neo Culture Tech when you were in the break room or heading to the bathroom; your paths never really crossed since she was in a completely different department than you, but also probably because Jaehyun was keeping their relationship under a tight lid.

"Yeonjoo asked if she could become more involved in Yeona's life. I," Jaehyun pauses, "lost control. I just," Jaehyun's lips flatten into a thin line. "She hasn't been involved in Yeona's life for seven years, and suddenly she wants to act like those seven years didn't happen. Where was she when Yeona needed her?" Jaehyun's voice is raw with emotion. "You know what Mrs. Kim was telling me on our date?" Jaehyun asks, more rhetorically. "Yeona apparently asked her who her mom is."

You gulp. You decided that you would keep your encounter with Yeona a secret.

"I think you should let her get involved in Yeona's life." You say suddenly. Jaehyun cocks his head.

"It isn't fair to Yeona to never know her mother just because you don't want her to meet her. It feels petty," you say boldly.

Rather than getting mad at you for rejecting his anger, Jaehyun smiles.

"This is what I always liked about you Y/N. You're not scared to give your opinion." At the compliments, you smile. Jaehyun doesn't say anything for a while, looking pensive.

"You're right. Every child has the right to know their parents." Jaehyun nods, all traces of anger gone from his face. Behind you, you notice two Chinese men, standing by Jaehyun's office. You quickly rush out and welcome them in.

Getting involved in your boss's personal problems? So much for a professional relationship.

From what you were able to gather, Yeona has been regularly meeting her mother on Sundays, supervised by Jaehyun. Things have been peaceful for the past two months, and thankfully, Jaehyun has not been asking about another date. He has been pretty busy with meetings from various suppliers, so he has not been able to address the way that you are distancing yourself from him.

But one day, you are unable to keep your mouth shut and work only as his secretary. It was a Sunday, a day that Yeona would be meeting with her mother, and when you answered the door, you were surprised who you saw.

"Jaehyun?" You ask. You feel a little embarrassed at what you are wearing; just some sweatpants and an old T-Shirt. You were planning a night in before you started the week again tomorrow, and you were expecting to be alone until tomorrow morning.

“What are you doing here?” You blurt out. Jaehyun isn’t wearing a designer suit, but a gray hoodie and some light-wash jeans. He swings his car keys around his finger, biting his lip as he tries to find a good explanation for why he is at his secretary’s doorstep on a Sunday night.

“I let Yeona’s mom take Yeona to her city unsupervised for the night and is dropping her at school tomorrow morning. I don’t really have much work to do, so I thought we could…” Jaehyun trails off, shrugging his shoulders. His eyes are crinkled as he flashes you a friendly, dimply smile.

A second date. You don’t even realize you’re holding your breath when you suddenly feel the urge to take a deep breath.

“Oh,” you say, a bit more despondently than you thought. Jaehyun came all the way here to be with you, and although you don’t owe him anything for showing up at your house unexpectedly, you could use the company.

“Come in,” you say, a bit nervously. You step aside, and Jaehyun walks inside. You’re a little embarrassed about how messy your apartment looks, with an old pizza box still lying in the kitchen and a bunch of clothes and blankets hanging on the couch. Quickly, you scoop your clothes into your arms and smile.

“I’ll be right back,” you say, going to your room. You drop them on your bed and look into the mirror hanging on your wall. You take your hair out of the loose-ish ponytail it is in and run your fingers in your hair to quickly comb any unruly strands. You straighten your shirt and realize that there’s a sauce stain. You curse to yourself and go into your closet, grabbing another T-Shirt. After a few moments of analyzing your appearance, you come out of your room and see Jaehyun in your living room, eyeing the pictures of your family hanging on the wall.

“Do you want anything?” You ask, afraid that you were interrupting him.

“Just some water, thank you,” Jaehyun says. You go into the kitchen, get a cup, and fill some water into it. You hand it to Jaehyun, who is still observing your family photos.

“Sorry it isn’t mineral water and just plain old tap water,” you chuckle. After years of knowing Jaehyun, you know that he only drinks mineral water.

“That’s okay,” Jaehyun responds, a small smile on his face. A moment of silence ensues between the two of you.

“You know a lot about me and my life, but I don’t really know anything about you or your family,” Jaehyun says.

You knit your fingers over your stomach, the same pose you have when you’re reporting to Jaehyun at the office.

“Because it’s my job to know about your life, and I’m just your secretary,” you say formally, despite how informal the current occasion is, given your setting and your outfit.

“You know you’re not just my secretary,” Jaehyun says impulsively, turning his gaze to you; he is searching your expression, wondering what happened to the girl he went on a date with a short two months ago.

You feel uncomfortable under his powerful gaze, so you clear your throat in an attempt to regain control of the situation.

“Want to watch a movie or something?” You ask, changing the subject. Jaehyun nods, and he follows you to the couch.

“Should I make popcorn?” You ask.

“Sure,” Jaehyun replies. You go back into the kitchen and open a cupboard where you keep the microwavable popcorn, and you pop it into the microwave for two and a half minutes. You open the microwave to a steaming bag, and after a few moments, you pull open the bag, pouring the contents into a bowl. You appear back in the living room and place the popcorn between you and Jaehyun.

Jaehyun looks disappointed, only for a moment.

You grab a blanket off the couch and spread it across your lap. Jaehyun takes another blanket and does the same. Taking the remote from the coffee table, you turn on the TV.

“What do you want to watch?” You ask politely.

“What’s there?” He asks.

“Let’s see,” you say a little awkwardly. You open your Netflix account, anxious that your boss, the man who is giving you employment, is looking at what is suggested for you or what you have watched recently, but you take a deep sigh and open your “watch later” list, which after filibustering for ten minutes, made you realize that you would be more productive browsing the shows Netflix recommended you. Finally, you both agreed on a documentary about otters, and you start the show.

Periodically, you get some popcorn and check your phone, but your attention remains primarily on the documentary as you try to forget that your boss is sitting beside you in a sweatshirt and jeans, watching an otter documentary – not exactly where you thought your Sunday night would go! It seems as if the film is the last thing on Jaehyun’s mind as he stares into the side of your face longingly, but he masks his looks as he takes a few pieces of popcorn at a time, using it as a chance to look at your face.

When the forty-minute documentary is over, the popcorn is long gone. Jaehyun takes this as a chance to put the popcorn bowl on the coffee table, and he scoots closer to you.

Your heart is racing with newfound fervor as you can feel the heat from Jaehyun’s body radiate. It’s as if you can feel the disappointment in the air as Jaehyun wishes for you to be less distant, but he just doesn’t know the extent of it all. You’re not doing this because you don’t have an insane crush on him, but because there are repercussions to your actions, especially if your crush is the CEO of Jung Industries who has a young daughter already.

Jaehyun turns to face your cheek, one leg hanging from the couch and the other folded. You try to ignore him, fiddling with the remote.

“I think there’s a lion documentary by this same documentary maker–” Your dialogue evaporates from your tongue as Jaehyun grabs your wrist. Now, you’re forced to look at him.

“Why are you ignoring me?” Jaehyun asks directly. You weren’t ready for such direct confrontation, searching your brain for a professional response.

“I’m not ignoring you. I do whatever you ask at work–”

Jaehyun’s hands are suddenly at your waist as he presses you against the couch. Your breath catches in your throat.

“We’re not at work.” He murmurs. The space between you both is alarmingly low. No more words need to be said to convey the way Jaehyun feels about you right now. You can feel your pussy lurch with arousal; Jaehyun has never been this close to you.

“You should know better,” you say softly. “We need to think about the consequences. About our futures.”

“I’ve been thinking about the future for so long,” His breath hits your skin. For the past four years, all he was thinking about were ways to make Jung Industries more successful than it was. Jaehyun took a loan from his well-off parents to start his own company, one of his oldest dreams, and if he wasted their hard-earned money, then he would never forgive himself. He hadn’t the time to think of love or relationships, especially since he wanted Yeona to have a steady life. But he can’t just ignore his manly urges, manly urges that have been festering slowly for eight years. “I want to think in the present.”

With that, he seals your lips with a kiss. You don’t want to keep kissing him, you want to pull away and tell him that if your relationship flourishes, you’re not ready to be a step-mom, or that CEOs shouldn’t be making out with their secretaries, but you don’t care either. All these years of pent-up sexual tension between you both is released as Jaehyun brings you onto his lap, and you can’t help but feel warm and blissful at this moment. Your bodies are pressed up against each other as Jaehyun readjusts his position and lies down on his back on the couch, and not for a second does he let you go, forcing you on top of him. He brings his hands down to your clothed butt and gives it a squeeze, and you moan in Jaehyun’s mouth at the feeling of his firm, confident hands. You can feel his length grow against your upper thigh as your bodies readjust. Jaehyun’s hands slip under your shirt, caressing his body. You straddle his thigh, your pussy throbbing at how it’s brushing his jeans, how close you are to his length.

“That’s hot,” he mutters before kissing you again, nibbling on your lower lip. He takes his time with you; it’s been driving him crazy to see you come to work for the past eight years, to see you in a tight blouse and pencil skirt that highlighted your womanly curves and not touch you at all. He wants to feel all of you, and he wants to feel you now.

Jaehyun slides you out of your T-Shirt, leaving you with a tight bra and your sweatpants. He plays with the clasps of your bra, but you move away, getting off of his body after you feel a sinking feeling in your gut. This feels wrong. This wasn’t just making out anymore, you realize as Jaehyun’s hands grip your naked waist, looking up at you hungrily.

“Jaehyun, we should really think about this. How am I supposed to come to work every day now?” You ask breathlessly. Your breasts bob as you pant, and Jaehyun’s gaze doesn’t leave your chest as he eyes it shamelessly.

“The same way you’ve been coming to work for the past eight years.” Jaehyun has you trapped in his arms as he leans over slowly and pins you down. He brings his lips to the shell of your ear. “Only this time, you’ll know what my cock feels like.”

Jaehyun doesn’t let you second guess him when he slides off his jeans, throwing them down, leaving you to see his white underwear, an erected, aroused member poking through.

“You see,” Jaehyun murmurs, “You’ve been doing this to me. I think you should pay.” You watch Jaehyun’s eyes as he drinks in your body lustfully.

You can’t keep your eyes off of his massive erection as your body is in between his legs. You realize that you want him, no matter the consequences; you can feel your being become ensnared with lust, all sirens of reason becoming quieter.

“Turn around,” Jaehyun commands in that CEO voice you’ve been hearing for years that suddenly makes your pussy feel tight with arousal. You bend your leg a little, and your knee meets his dick gently.

“Make me,” you say defiantly, a confident smirk on your face.

Jaehyun gets off the couch and without hesitation grabs your arms. Forcefully, he turns you around as if you weigh nothing, and your chest is pressed against the couch cushions. In one fell swoop, Jaehyun kicks off his underwear, and you can see a flash of white hit the ground. Jaehyun’s fingers grasp the waistband of your sweatpants and underwear on your hips and pulls it down to your ankles, removing it effortlessly and throwing it away. You whine as Jaehyun repositions himself on top of you, your body between his legs, his hands gripping your ankles and moving up your calves, your thighs. He can feel wetness on your bare pussy.

“Wet so soon?” He murmurs in your ear. You nod, and Jaehyun forcefully takes off your underwear and throws it carelessly. “I’ll take care of that later.” Jaehyun squeezes your bare ass affectionately. He is in absolute control, and he loves it. The dominance he feels in the office with the way everyone works under him isn’t enough, and he needs to establish his dominance in sex, his dominance on you, who have been making him horny for years behind closed doors.

You’re not at all prepared for the way Jaehyun thrusts you from behind. You scream so loud that you’re pretty sure that your neighbors heard you.

“One thrust for every year you’ve worked for me. Two,” he continues. You squeal out in pain at how rough he is, at how tightly his hands grip your skin, at how he shows you no mercy as he satisfies his erection, his craving to make you as submissive as a child. You thrash around, but with the way Jaehyun is perched on top of you, he can have his way with you.

“Four,” he counts. He takes off his sweatshirt and it lands on top of his underwear. He takes off the shirt under his sweatshirt and flings it over the couch; he is completely naked.

“Five,” continues methodically. His hands are on your back as he has a good view of the clasps of your bra, and he unhooks them. He cleanly brings the straps down your shoulders and your arms, and after he removes it from your body, he yanks the article of clothing from under you, throwing it on top of his other discarded clothes.

“Six.” His fingers become the barrier between the couch cushion and your stomach. They trail up your hot skin until he squeezes your breasts. You feel hysterical at the pleasure that’s coursing through your veins.

“Seven, eight,” Jaehyun finishes counting, yet he doesn’t stop.

“You cheated,” you whine feeling his continued hard thrusts. Jaehyun doesn’t let go of your breasts, only leaning in closer, and bringing his lips to your ears.

“No, I didn’t. I make the rules, darling.” You’re screaming with pleasure, and you start to feel dizzy with the way he is groping your breasts, rubbing your nipples, and thrusting into you, all at the same time without a break.

“Call me Mr. Jung,” he mutters into your ear. “Then I’ll stop.”

“Yes sir, Mr. Jung,” you say obediently.

“Nice bonus,” Jaehyun says. He relaxes his grip on you as you turn around as a means to face him. Jaehyun is completely naked, and you don’t hurry as you gaze at his bare body. Jaehyun is somewhat of a working-out aficionado, so his arms are muscular, and his stomach is toned. The sheer power that you’ve been imagining under his dress shirt at work is no longer a fantasy but something completely real as Jaehyun is naked in front of you.

His dick is dripping with fluid, and as you watch this, Jaehyun roughly takes your hair. You yelp as his grip doesn’t slacken until he lies down on the couch and brings your head to his dick.

“You know you want to do it, my dirty little slut,” he says. You carefully place a hand on his thigh as you wrap your lips around his cock, sucking whatever is left. You gulp the whitish fluid down obediently, and you can hear Jaehyun moan. The foreign sounds from your boss make you hesitate as you suck his cock, but Jaehyun spanks your ass.

Hard.

“More, baby, more.” He continues to groan at the pleasure of your lips on his cock, and after a few minutes of sucking, you unwrap your lips from his cock, a few drops of his fluid dripping on your chin. You stare at Jaehyun with wide eyes, eyes that are ready for Jaehyun to command.

“Good girl,” Jaehyun mutters in a raspy voice. You both sit upright as he pets you. “Don’t you think it’s time for me to return the favor, baby girl?”

You don’t say anything.

“That’s not the answer I was looking for.” Jaehyun pries open your legs as he dives in, deliciously squeezing your thighs as he brings his mouth into your pussy, kissing it. This was the same dominance that ran a huge company that Jaehyun brought home with him, and you want more.

You giggle at the sensation of someone’s lips being at such an intimate part of you, and you loosely wrap your legs around his neck. You feel wetness trickling down your thighs, and Jaehyun laps it up. You can’t stop yourself from laughing and moaning as hard as you do at Jaehyun’s rough tongue on your skin, steadily licking.

Jaehyun’s done eating you out, and he forces you against the arm of the couch as he starts kissing your neck. You feel his dick rub against your leg rhythmically as he nips and sucks your neck, and your breasts bob under his chin as you pant, your back arched. He squeezes your thighs so hard that you think that you’re going to wake up with bruises tomorrow morning. Jaehyun enjoys manhandling every single part of you, touching you as if he’s never going to touch you again. He hasn’t dated in so long, and that’s because he’s only had eyes on you, on your firm ass as you walked around the office oblivious to your own sexual power.

The rage at how he didn’t fuck you sooner consumes him, and Jaehyun brings his hands back to your breasts. Your back is arched over the arm of the couch as you feel Jaehyun’s hands once again, at how his thumbs brush your breasts. His lips let go of your neck, and he feathers you with kisses along your collarbone, down down down.

He brings his face close to yours, continuing to massage your breasts. Your waist is between his legs as his dick crushes your lower stomach.

“I’ve waited a long time to do this.” Those tight blouses that your closet was full of, God those drove him crazy. The neckline was deep enough to still be considered modest for work, but he could still see some cleavage from your perky breasts. If he was lucky, the office was chilly, and your nipples would stick out of your shirt.

Jaehyun buries his face in between your breasts, leaving long, open-mouthed kisses on the hot skin as his face kneeds the delicate flesh. His face slowly moved to the nipples, which are proudly sticking out now with enough arousal. He sucks your nipples, his hand finding a way in between your legs. He gently traces designs on your legs with the wetness from your pussy, and it takes him a good three minutes for him to start sucking at your other breast.

“Why are you so obsessed with my boobs?” You giggle at the feeling of Jaehyun’s teeth gently nipping at your full breasts. Fourteen-year-old boys are less obsessed with breasts than Jaehyun is with yours. “It’s so childish.”

Without a rush, Jaehyun stops sucking on your other breast and brings himself close enough that his bare chest touched your breasts. The feeling was intoxicating, your hard nipples against his skin.

“Are you calling me a child?” Jaehyun asks.

“N-No, Mr. Jung,” you stutter.

Jaehyun runs with your hesitation and sticks his first and middle finger into your dripping cunt. You scream an ear-shattering scream.

“Mr. Jung! Sir!” You say, trying to appease Jaehyun.

“That won’t help you now, girl,” Jaehyun says in a sultry voice. “If I want to do something, I’ll do it.” He sticks his fingers into your cunt over and over again, and it feels like you’re drowning in a pool of pleasure.

Suddenly, you don’t feel hard fingers, but you feel Jaehyun’s fleshy, aroused dick. You gasp at the feeling of Jaehyun inside you again.

“I wanted to look into your eyes this time, baby,” He says. “Can you keep focused on me?”

You nod, whimpering again. Jaehyun’s brown eyes are lustful as he thrusts his dick into you over and over again, and you can feel him fill you up inside, compared to the last time, where he was only releasing pent-up sexual desire.

You have a hard time keeping your gaze fixed on him as he pleasured you, so Jaehyun grabs your face, holding your cheeks with one hand.

“Y-You’re so big,” you groan. The walls in your pussy trap around his dick, as if forcing him to squeeze his cum inside of you.

“I know babycakes,” He murmurs. Jaehyun leans in and kisses you, and this is a messy, open-mouthed kiss as he takes your lips inside his mouth. Jaehyun is dripping all over your couch, spilling his seed all over your stomach and your thighs, but you don’t care, you just want him in you over and over again.

“Mr. Jung,” you whine, “more. Please. I want more.”

Jaehyun does as he is asked, and it feels so delicious to have Jaehyun’s seed inside of you. You’re so dizzy from lust that you can’t stand the feeling of Jaehyun not touching you.

“Jae, Jae,” you moan as he continues to thrust.

“It’s Mr. Jung. I told you a million times,” Jaehyun smacks your thighs hard.

“Mr. Jung, Mr. Jung sir,”

To get a more powerful thrust, Jaehyun separates from you, and you whimper.

“It’ll only be a second.” He takes you by the legs and drags you in a way that you are completely flat on the couch. Jaehyun now straddles your hips and thrusts himself inside of you.

“Mr. Jung,” You whine, your vision becoming hazy. He needs a place to put his hands, and what’s a more apt place than your squishy breasts?

In between your middle and ring finger, a bulbous nipple protrudes from Jaehyun’s hands. From the sheer feeling of it all, you can feel yourself climaxing, your vision turning black despite your eyes being wide awake. You feel cups and cups of cum leave your pussy and moisten the couch.

“I can’t,” you whine. At the glazed look in your eyes, you’re orgasming, and after a few moments of leading you to complete ecstasy, Jaehyun stops. Slowly, you return back to Earth, back to the completely naked Jaehyun and completely naked you. You feel your cheeks flare up.

You don’t know how you let this happen but at the same time, you know exactly how this happened. Immediately, you want to kick Jaehyun out and hide in your room in shame after having sex with your boss, but suddenly, you hear a loud crack of thunder and aggressive rain pattering against the windows. From the look of the roads, pools are collecting in divots; It’s been like that for some time, but you haven’t bothered to notice until now.

You shudder. You didn’t want to send Jaehyun home in this bad weather, yet at the same time, you feel too embarrassed to see him right now.

“Y-You can stay the night,” you say. “I heard thunder, and I don’t want you to go home in bad weather. You have an important interview tomorrow.” You crack a smile, forgetting that you’re completely naked. Jaehyun hears your words, but his eyes shamelessly remain on your shapely body, your big breasts, how small your waist was compared to your ass.

“Yeah.” Jaehyun says, finally looking you in the eye.

“So, do I sleep on the couch?” Jaehyun asks. It’s stained, and you look at it bashfully, at how much cum you both spilled. You make a mental note to put the couch covers in the wash later.

“No,” you say softly. “You can sleep on my bed.”

“With you?” Jaehyun asks hopefully. He comes closer and caresses your naked back. His cheeks are against your collarbone as he stares at you in a soft manner.

“Yeah,” Jaehyun sits upright and you kiss him with passion, the passion that you tried to hide for so long, the passion that’s been lying dormant since you’ve been working for him.

“One night.” You murmur against Jaehyun’s nose. “Tonight, I’m completely yours.” There was no point in trying to pretend that these sexual feelings that you had for Jaehyun didn’t exist anymore. And if he was going to spend the night anyway in your apartment, it was like the heavens above wanted you to spend even more time with Jaehyun.

You’ve already dug a deep enough hole for yourself the second that you stopped fighting against Jaehyun’s kiss. And there was only one way to get out of this hole.

You weren’t going to like it, and Jaehyun wasn’t going to like it, but it was the only way.

That night, you and Jaehyun indulged in fiery, passionate sex. Jaehyun was in you more than he was out of you, and that wasn’t a problem. Your bedsheets were soaked by the time the pale rays of the sun penetrated your windows. Jaehyun is still fast asleep, and it would be one hour before his alarm would go off.

Carefully, you displace his arm that is slung over you, and you put on your slippers. You’re sore and completely naked, but since no one else is awake, you pad out of your bedroom and into the living room. In the mild morning light, you can see bruises forming around your neck, around the rest of your body as Jaehyun bit you and bit you as a way he could claim you as his little slut, at the way he tightly clawed at your flesh as he forced his member into your throbbing, dripping cunt.

You want to keep reliving the night, reliving Jaehyun’s open-mouthed kisses and his hands kneading your soft breasts like dough, but you stop yourself, shaking the thoughts away as if they were pesky flies. You don’t take the time to sift through the pile of discarded clothes and take the first thing, which is Jaehyun’s shirt he wore under his sweatshirt.

Your apartment is a bit chilly this morning as you find your laptop on the kitchen counter. But first, you make yourself a pot of coffee.

With the bubbling sound of coffee brewing, you take a deep breath, find a mug from the cupboard, and pour black coffee.

This morning, you needed especially strong coffee, you think as you take a seat.

You open Microsoft Word on your laptop and place your fingers on the keys.

Dear Mr. Jung,

I thank you for the years of employment you have given me as your secretary, and I value the professional friendship that we have kindled. Unfortunately, we must part ways, and you know the reason why. My parents have taught me to be a professional, and due to the nature of some of my actions and yours, I am unable to maintain the professionalism that I strive to maintain at any job that I hold. At 5 PM today (8/15), my resignation is effective.

I hope we can meet again under different circumstances.

Your’s truly,

Y/N.

After you press the period and space key, your resignation letter feels complete. The words needed little re-drafting – they were vague enough so that any nosy people at HR looking at your resignation letter won’t know the true context to your letter: although, it can give them a pretty good idea. But as long as it’s not written blatantly, like ‘I am resigning because you came over to my apartment, and we had some of the hottest sex I’ve ever had in my entire life’ will completely tarnish your’s and Jaehyun’s reputation. It’s better that you and Jaehyun now can at least deny sexual relations.

“You made coffee?” Jaehyun asks in a tired voice. His alarm hasn’t gone off yet. The scent of coffee must have woken him up from a slumber. He’s completely naked, and you try not to look, closing your laptop abruptly before Jaehyun has the chance to see what you were doing.

Jaehyun saunters into the living room, looking for his shirt, only to find out when he looks a little closer that you’re wearing it.

Jaehyun has a cheeky look as he approaches you sitting down by the kitchen counter.

“You’re wearing my shirt,” Jaehyun chuckles in a deep, manly way. You sniff him.

“And you used my shower.”

He bends down and kisses you on the lips. He nibbles your lips as he brings his hands to your waist, bunching his shirt in one first and squeezing your thigh with another. You stand up after indulging in his sweet, soft lips.

“Hey, I only said you had the night,” you say weakly.

“It’s not fair,” Jaehyun gripes. He presses you against his body and fondles your butt. “I want to be with you every night.” Jaehyun picks you up and places you on the kitchen counter. Now, you’re at eye-level with him as he holds your neck gently, sucking on your soft, cherry-flavored lips lustfully. His hands get bored of your neck as he moves his lips there, licking the purpling bruises; he grips your waist, holding your thighs and wrapping them around his waist. You can feel his dick in between your legs, and you can already feel your pussy starting to get wet, how it begs for Jaehyun to come in you once again.

This was a slippery slope.

“I’m going to shower,” you say abruptly. Before Jaehyun can say or do anything else, you scurry to the bathroom and strip of Jaehyun’s shirt before hopping in the shower and rubbing bodywash on yourself. When you’re done, you take Jaehyun’s shirt and put it in your room with only just a towel on your body. You change into a high-necked blouse and pencil skirt, your purse slung over your chest.

After fifteen minutes, you reappear into the kitchen. Jaehyun is sitting at the dining room table, playing with his fingers.

“Should I make breakfast?” You ask kindly after you pull away, in a disarming voice that didn’t give away any of your future plans.

“Absolutely. Does it include you?” Jaehyun flirts. You roll your eyes.

“No. We have to get to work soon,” you say, looking at the microwave clock. You should be changed and ready to leave your apartment in fifteen minutes.

“Oh, right,” Jaehyun’s voice sounds deflated as he gazes at your figure, wearing your regular uniform of a blouse and a pencil skirt, but of course, this was a high necked blouse that hid any of his markings. Of course he had been thinking about how it would be like to go back to work, with the secretary he banged sitting outside his door. He just didn’t think it would be this soon.

Jaehyun didn’t even realize that you were scouring the fridge for something. “I have milk. Maybe we can have cereal.” You say to yourself.

“Sure,” Jaehyun says. You whip your head around to face him. “We do need to get going soon.” You nod, grabbing a cereal box from the pantry.

“Fruit Loops?” Jaehyun asks.

You wrinkle your nose at him in good humor. “It was on sale.”

Without another word, you and Jaehyun eat two bowls of Fruit Loops between you both.

“By the way,” you tell Jaehyun, who is now wearing the pants he discarded in your living room last night. “Your shirt is in my room.” Your tone didn’t mean to seem cold, but slowly, you were turning on ‘business professional’ mode in your brain.

Jaehyun nods in response and goes into your room. You take this as the perfect time to email your resignation letter to yourself on your work email so you can print it out later.

Before Jaehyun can ask you what you’re doing when he comes out of your room, you close your laptop loudly. Jaehyun stares at you quizically.

“Just checking my email.” He seems to believe you.

You leave five minutes before you initially plan on leaving. Jaehyun takes his white Kia back to his penthouse, and you wait for him in the front passenger seat as he goes to find a suit and fix his hair. He comes back out and sits in the driver’s seat; he’s probably opted out of his driver taking him to work so that he doesn’t know about the situation with you.

You’re thankful for that consideration.

The two of you make the fifteen-minute drive to Jung Industries, and Jaehyun parks his car in his designated parking spot.

You don’t know what sparks you to do what you do right now – maybe it’s the finality of the resignation letter burning a hole in your purse. You’re doing what you’re doing because you care about both your careers, but that’s not necessarily what your heart – or pussy – wants.

After both of you unbuckle your seatbelts, you grab Jaehyun’s wrist. You climb over the parking brake and spread your legs so that Jaehyun’s legs can fit in between. Your skirt is hiked up to your waist, and you kiss Jaehyun one final time.

You pull away, but Jaehyun doesn’t let you go for long. He grabs the back of your head and shoves your face in his, and he messily kisses you. At the way your face changes its angle while kissing Jaehyun, trying to taste every milimeter of his lips, your body shifts against his, your back gently hitting the steering wheel, but the animalistic urge in you doesn’t mind. Jaehyun lifts up your skirt, and your ass is sticking out as he gropes your butt shamelessly.

You can already feel yourself starting to get wet at the way Jaehyun’s dick becomes aroused at this activity, and you pull away. Your breasts are tucked under Jaehyun’s chin as you sit on his lap, shifting to feel his erected member against your pussy one last time.

“I thought you said it was only for the night.”

Your index finger traces his lips. “I felt bad leaving you hanging like that his morning.” You feel confident in your lie.

“You’re so sweet,” Jaehyun murmurs. He lets his hands slide up and down your bare thighs one last time before he looks around. At this point, everyone has already clocked in for work, so the parking garage is practically empty.

Jaehyun opens the door. “You go first. I’ll join you in twenty minutes.”

It’s the end of the work day. 4:58 PM. In two minutes, you will officially be leaving your post as secretary to CEO Jung Jaehyun. After using the printer, you haven’t left the letter at his desk because you’re afraid that Jaehyun will see the letter before 5 PM and confront you about resigning. In a way, you weren’t being fair, but this was for both of your well-being.

Seven minutes have passed, five minutes after you have quit your job. Since Jaehyun is away at an interview with TIME magazine, he won’t be back for another thirty minutes. That gives you enough time to drop the letter at his desk so that it won’t get lost in all his papers and leave Jung Industries for the last time. You knew that he would first try your apartment when he saw the letter, so you planned to go to the lake on a long-needed vacation. And if Jaehyun tried to call you, you wouldn’t answer his calls. By the time you got back in town, Jaehyun would have found a new secretary and would have forgotten all about you; he must only have had sexual urges around you because you were friendly and well dressed, prancing around him for eight years. It was the perfect escape plan.

You follow the first part of your plan: you drop the letter on Jaehyun’s desk. Then, you packed your desk using a small trash bag you found; despite working for Jaehyun for eight years, you weren’t fond of having personal possessions at your desk.

Then, you took the elevator with other people who were leaving work.

Everything seemed to be going according to plan until you saw Jaehyun on the first floor of Jung Industries talking with the doorman. You freeze. The TIME interview was supposed to last longer!

Jaehyun, after finishing his conversation with the doorman, starts walking to the elevator. You make a run for the bathroom on this floor. As you watch him wait for the elevator, you don’t move a muscle until you see him get inside and the doors close.

You then scan your keycard for a final time and walk out of Jung Industries. The parking garage is on the other side of Jung Industries campus, and it was about a five-minute walk. If you walked fast enough, then Jaehyun might not be able to intercept you.

You’re walk-running in your platformed shoes as you head to the third-floor parking garage where you parked. It was a reserved spot just for you, but before you can open your car, you hear someone calling your name.

“Y/N!” A breathless Jaehyun shouts. Your fingers are nervous as you click the unlock button of your car, but before you can get in, a hand snatches your keys, putting it in his suit pocket. There goes your perfect escape plan.

Jung Jaehyun is standing in front of you, his hair windswept and his suit wrinkled. You’re pretty sure you see a dirt stain on his socks.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Jaehyun asks. He holds up a crumpled piece of paper, your folded resignation letter.

“Exactly what it says,” you say stiffly. “I’m resigning.”

“No you’re not,” Jaehyun says.

“Jaehyun, I can resign whenever I want.”

“Then who’s going to be my secretary?”

“HR will find you a new one,” you say. To Jaehyun, this seems like blasphemy.

“A new one?” Jaehyun echos, confused.

“Yeah, a new one,” you reply. “I’m just your secretary.”

“You very well know you’re not,” Jaehyun says pointedly. “Y/N, when I asked you on a date, you seemed thrilled. When we went on said date, you were thrilled.”

“I’m allowed to change my mind.”

“Don’t lie to me,” With his free hand, Jaehyun grabs your wrist and pins you against your car, crumbling your letter and throwing it on the ground. You’re glad no one here is able to witness this.

“I’m not lying to you.” You argue.

“Then yesterday,” Jaehyun brings up. “What was that?”

“I indulged a bit. I realized I was wrong, and I can’t work for someone that I had sex with!” You whisper-exclaim.

You take a deep breath, composing your thoughts. “It’s the most professional thing to do. It won’t look good for you or me if we ever date. I realize that now.”

“I don’t care about professional,” Jaehyun says. “In the papers, it looks like I haven’t dated after eight years because I am so focused on my career,” Jaehyun says. He tilts your chin upwards, forcing you to face him. “While that’s a part of the reason, it’s also because of you.” His voice becomes quieter. “After me and Yeonjoo craashed and burned, I only wanted you.”

“Can I tell you something?” You ask Jaehyun. He nods in acknowledgment. “On our date, Yeona asked me if I was going to be her new mom,” you say. “I-I don’t know, I sort of freaked out after that. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be a step-mom or even a recurring maternal influence in her life. She’s a sweet girl, but I…” You lose track of your words.

“So that’s what changed,” Jaehyun murmurs.

“And then I thought about my reputation. And yours. What if people think that I’ve been sleeping with you for years?” You ask. “If anything, my reputation will suffer more than your reputation.” You laugh wryly.

“If that’s the case,” Jaehyun says, “then I must really not know you at all.”

You look at him, confused.

“I only know the strong, independent Y/N that doesn’t care what anyone thinks, not even me.” Jaehyun smiles a dimply smile. “If she loved something or someone, then she would dive headfirst into the chaos.”

“Love?” You ask dumbly.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Jaehyun asks. He laughs. “You’re so oblivious, it’s adorable. I’m so, completely, utterly in love with you Y/N.”

It’s as if the world just… stopped. Jaehyun, a big fish in the corporate sector, is in love with you? His secretary?

“The question is,” Jaehyun asks slowly. He takes both your hands in his. “Do you love me?”

You think. Of course, you had sort of a crush on Jaehyun; who didn’t with his good looks! Many publications even recognized it, calling him the most handsome CEO. You admired how he was able to run a Fortune 500 company and raise a daughter and be in her life. You admit that he’s a great kisser. You love how he treats you as his equal despite you being his secretary, you love how there was barely ever an awkward moment in your relationship. You love his voice, you love how kind he is to his employees, you love how he’s a hard worker despite being born into money, and he never gives up.

You do, in fact, love Jung Jaehyun.

“I love you too,” you say. You look into his eyes, his beautiful eyes that you just want to keep staring at until the world ends.

Jaehyun pushes you against your car and steals a famished kiss from you. He puts his knee in between your legs, and you loosely sling your arms around his neck as his nose bumps into yours at the different angles he’s kissing you, making sure he fully kissed your plush lips.

“You’d make a great stepmother,” Jaehyun murmurs against the shell of your ear.

“Should we take this somewhere else?” You ask, noticing the way Jaehyun snuck his hand under your shirt.

“Sure.” You and Jaehyun decide to go to the closest place you can think of: Jaehyun’s office. It’s in a secluded part of Jung Industries, so any people working late wouldn’t be able to see you or hear you. Plus, people still thought he was at the TIME interview, which means less people would be by his office now.

Today, that works in your favor because no one in other departments will be around for another forty minutes.

You and Jaehyun manage to keep your hands off each other as you take the elevator into his office. Only a few people see you, and it was commonplace for either of you to be around each other. You and Jaehyun walk to his secluded corner office, and when he closes the heavy glass door, his gaze is pinned on you, sultry and lustful.

You weren’t leaving this room until Jaehyun fucked your brains out.

Every step Jaehyun takes, you take a step backward until your butt meets a wall. Jaehyun shrugs off his expensive suit jacket and throws it to his desk, displacing some papers. He takes a few steps back, observing you as if you’re a specimen in a science experiment.

“Strip.” He says.

“Wha–” You’re at a loss for words.

“I said strip.”

“Y-Yes sir,” you say hesitantly.

You bring your hands to the buttons of your blouse, eyeing Jaehyun as you do; the building could be on fire, and Jaehyun’s penetrating gaze would still be on you.

You feel a little anxious at how he’s staring so intently, waiting for the show to start.

“Don’t be shy,” Jaehyun says in a sultry tone. “You know you want Mr. Jung to take care of you.” He bites his lips, and all you can think about is how you want him so badly.

You first kick off your platform heels, standing barefoot in front of him. Then you unbutton your silky, white, high-necked blouse. Jaehyun stares lustfully as he gets a better view of your cleavage, your red bra bleeding through your cami. You pull off your cami, leaving Jaehyun to ogle your full breasts. You take the zipper of your pencil skirt in your hands and pull it down, and you let it fall to your ankles.

You pull of your underwear, and unclasp your bra, revealing your naked breasts. Jaehyun stares as if he hasn’t been groping, gripping, biting, kissing, and spanking your body in the last twenty-four hours, and he eyes the light bruises starting to form from the hours and hours of rough sex, evidence that you’re his and only his.

He’s more turned on than ever before.

“On your knees.” He says. When your knees hit the carpeted ground, he curls his index finger, instructing you to him.

“Crawl.” He says. You crawl like a child who hasn’t learned to walk yet. Jaehyun watches as you do so, watches how your breasts bob up and down, how your ass moves. Your head is inches away from his dick when he tells you to stop. He undoes his belt and throws it on the ground. He lets his unbuttoned pants fall to his ankles.

“Suck,” He points to his erected penis, and he leaves you to take off his underwear. You suck like you’ve never sucked before.

Jaehyun’s groans at your innocent lips around his cock, and he massages your hair.

“Good girl.” He says in between moans. He has a warm look on his face mingled with lust.

“You’ll continue to work for me, right?” He asks.

You nod, your legs folded under you as you look up at Jaehyun in complete submission. “Yes, Mr. Jung,” you say obediently, knowing it’s the answer he wants to hear.

“And you’ll never quit?” He asks softly.

“Never Mr. Jung.” You shake your head violently.

“Good. But just in case you do,” Jaehyun looks down on you. “This is what you’ll get.”

His hands grip your shoulders as he forces you down on the ground. The couch in his office is only a few feet away from you, but he wants you on the ground, wriggling under him as your waist is in between his legs; he wants to express his full power.

Jaehyun holds your wrists above your head with one hand as he pins you down, watching how you look meek under him. You struggle a little at his strength, but you’re no match for Jaehyun. With his free hand he grips the sides of your clit and pinches it. You think you’re seeing stars in your vision as Jaehyun’s fingers become forceful, bruising such a delicate area of your body.

You’re screaming uncontrollably in pain and pleasure, but Jaehyun puts his palm to your mouth. “Do you want everyone to hear how much of a little slut you are for Mr. Jung?”

You shake your head.

“Then you better keep quiet, baby girl.” Jaehyun brings his head in between your legs after he holds your thighs apart. He rubs his face against the hot skin of your thighs, and you shudder and moan loudly at the pleasure. Suddenly, Jaehyun’s teeth sink into your meaty thighs, and you scream shrilly.

Your shrill voice is muffled under Jaehyun’s hand, and he narrows his eyes.

“You want the whole world to know that you’re Mr. Jung’s pretty little toy.” He stands up and grabs you, forcing you against the glass walls of his office.

Your breasts, stomach, and legs are squeezed against the glass as Jaehyun starts possessively biting the side of your neck, leaving fresh bruises to cover the bruises from last night. You whine loudly, and that is when Jaehyun starts thrusting from behind.

Stars and flashes enter your vision as Jaehyun does this thrusting, groping your waist tightly, his knuckles hitting the glass as he starts to squeeze your bulbous breasts. Jaehyun has the ultimate power, and you can’t think of any other way you would have it.

You moan loudly, turning into wails.

“That’s right, let everyone hear. Let them come this way and think you’re a little slut who’s good for Mr. Jung.”

“Mr. Jung, sir!” You whine. You’re silently praying that no one sees you like this, so weak for the man most people (including you) call “boss.”

Jaehyun bangs you against the sturdy glass. He stops for a moment to untie his tie and drop his dress shirt onto the ground. He turns you around and grabs your deliciously thick thighs, forcing you ass to rub against the glass as Jaehyun holds you up. The wall makes a loud squeaking sound, but the throbbing in your ears, the obsession with Jaehyun groping you, was louder. You wrap your legs around his waist and sling your arms around his neck as you kiss him and kiss him and kiss him, with more fervor and passion than you felt like you’ve never felt before.

You tilt your head every few moments to snatch Jaehyun’s mouth into yours, at the pleasuring feeling that Jaehyun’s hands are giving you as they wander around your body, moving up your abdomen, squeezing your breasts, shoulders, then wrapping around your neck.

The act of choking you isn’t what gets him off but that he can at any time.

Jaehyun forces you down a little, and your cunt is wide open for him to force his dick inside. You gasp at the sudden sensation of his dick fully inside of you – not mere thrusts to enforce his power. You can feel him fill you up, feel the bliss if him inside of you.

“You’re not leaving this office without a baby in you.”

“No sir Mr. Jung,” you say. “I want a little Jaehyun.”

The stars in your vision return as Jaehyun’s seed brings you to climax again for probably the twentieth time in the past twenty-four hours.

“Fill me more,” You say breathily. At the way your walls close around Jaehyun’s dick you want to scream again at the pleasure, but you only let out a few weak moans.

At the glazed, ecstatic look in your eyes as his seed flows in you, Jaehyun can tell you’ve reached your limit and reluctantly pulls out. He lets you go, and you stumble, so he carries you bridal style, back to his desk. You feel sleepy – you barely got a wink of sleep last night with how much Jaehyun pounded into you, and you can’t help but feel that you’ve overextert yourself now.

“Jae,” you murmur softly. Jaehyun smiles a soft smile, showing his dimples. This was the Jaehyun you fell in love with, the Jaehyun who’s romantic and sweet and hard-working.

“Yes?” He murmurs, dipping his face into the crook of your neck. He moves his face along your collarbone and leans down to plant his face in your breasts, giving your chest loud smooches.

“Nothing,” you pant softly. You couldn’t express in words how much you loved how Jaehyun was dominant, in his work as a top CEO and in sex. The bruises on your skin are starting to show, evidence of his rough handling that felt so delicious, that you suddenly feel like you can’t live without.

“You’re still my secretary, right?” Jaehyun murmurs, his lips still between your breasts.

You giggle at the sensation of Jaehyun’s face buried in such an intimate, womanly part of you. But Jaehyun made you feel like a woman who was in love with a man.

“Mmh?” Jaehyun hums in a throaty voice, still waiting for a response.

You couldn’t think of working for someone else, now that you think about it. All that was on your mind after Jaehyun gave you the sex that has made you feel the giddiest you’ve felt in a while was resigning, but you didn’t know what you were going to do after that, truthfully. Maybe send your resume to some places, but you weren’t sure.

Now, you were ready to embrace the love that has been wrapping your heart for eight years like vines on a tree, slowly, without you knowing it was love. You relish the fact that you know a Jaehyun that no one else has ever met, a Jaehyun that you want to hang on to.

A Jaehyun that you still want to work for. Sure, it would take some getting used to, to show up to work, seeing the man who banged you from front and behind, who ruthlessly yet deliciously grabbed and groped you from lust as if you were a play-thing, but there’s a part of you that doesn’t want to leave him, to not see him every day in his crisp suits, even though you could still date if you quit being his secretary.

“Yeah,” you say. “I’m still your secretary. That notice was invalid,” you say professionally, which is jaring compared to the situation you’re in. Jaehyun has his chin mounted in between your breasts as he stares into your eyes.

“Good.” Jaehyun says in his brisque CEO voice. “I don’t have to teach you again what happens if you quit.” With that Jaehyun moves his face to kiss you, a long loud kiss as his nose bumps into yours.

He sets you down on his desk after he pushes some papers away, spreading his legs to trap your knees. He holds your waist as he stares into your eyes, a soft, loving look on his face before he presses his forehead against yours.

“I think I broke a record,” he says in a deliciously deep voice. “Most times to bang secretary in a twenty-four hour period.”

a/n (2): thank you so much for reading! this was way longer than i expected it to be, and the series isn't even over here! hopefully, i will get around to writing a third part. let me know what you think in the comments or in an ask! don't be shy!

#nct #jaehyun #jung jaehyun #nct fluff #nct scenarios #nct imagines #jaehyun fluff #jaehyun scenarios #jaehyun imagines #nct smut #jaehyun smut #nct reactions #nct 127 smut #nct au #ceo au

2K notes · View notes

factual-fantasy · 3 months

Text

28 ASKS! THANKS AGAIN YALL!! 🥰💥

I've thought about this a bit actually :00

Way back when the crew was only four people, (Seafoam, Octo, Ellie and Louis) they got caught in a great storm while out at sea. Becuase there was only four of them, they didn't have enough hands on deck to control the ship.

Blue Beauty saw this ship clearly struggling and in danger so she helped guide the ship back to calmer waters. It was her help alone that prevented the ship from sinking. Seafoam thanked her profusely. She hadn't been treated so kindly before.. So she secretly followed them around for a while before making herself more known and officially joining the crew. :}

XD I imagine that wouldn't fare well for Blue Beauty-

XD Foxy would be like "..Am I malfunctioning or are those cookie talking--"

Hmm.. I assume the textures all relate to the food/animal they're based on. Or maybe their personality..? <:0 I don't know!

OOO these are so good!! Thank you! :DD

XDD Its really tough for me ngl. I've never been the best with names-

@luna-purple454 (Post in question)

The Undyne one is a bit vague.. I pictured the group has a run in with an Undyne. She is able to maybe separate Papyrus from the group and even capture him. Maybe her Papyrus is dead or he's on the other side of the underground. For one reason or another she knows this is "not Papyrus". So she questions this imposter to his face.

..But Papyrus is silent. Its been so long since he's heard Undyne's voice.. he suddenly cant speak..

Now the Alphys is actually an older character in the AU. I mentioned that at some point early on the gang found an AU with an old Alphys. This Alphys had made a bunch of robotic arms for Monster Kid in all different sizes.

Well since MK is all grown up, some of the smaller arm models don't fit him anymore. So she gave some to Goner Kid! I didn't really have intentions for her to come back into the AU in any major way. I just felt like drawing her :)

Oooo that sounds cool!! :DD

ASKJANJ SALTY TENTACLES XDDD THATS AMAZING!

Also thank you so much!! :DD

XDD Well "actively", I don't tend to dip my toes in that fandom too much anymore. I've dealt with a surprising amount of uncomfy stuff there so I'd rather mostly stay away from it-

But I have drawn a decent amount for it none the less! And I'm glad you like what you see so far! <XDD

Oh boy, the Jevil gang wouldn't stay there then! <XDD

@astaherussy

I unfortunately still to this day have not watched the Mario movie. So I cannot answer the first part of that question :( I think I have a problem upstairs-

As for Peach or Daisy breaking down, I believe they would approach them the same way Luigi did Rosalina :00 Very gently and try to figure out what's wrong 🥺

@neo-metalscottic

Thank you!! :DD I'm glad you liked what you saw! And I'll keep Jevil and the gang in mind! :))

AND YESSSS THE CALICO JACK IDEA WAS SO GOOD!! Thank you so much!! :D

And once again- thank you for the compliments to my Toadsworth drawing! I was rather proud of that one! XD When it comes to his relationship with Peach,, that is a good question.. I was thinking it was an Alfred Pennyworth situation. Kind'a a royal advisor turned father figure situation.? :0 He was running the Kingdom while Peach was gone, and he was overjoyed to see her returned safe and sound!

(Post in question)

XD Just wait till you find my Super mario bros tag and all the comics and angst under it

(Also thank you!! :}}} )

@rotting-glitter-corpse (Link in ask)

I NEED!! TO LIVE THERE!!! RIGHT NOW!! 💥💥

Oh man, he'd do everything he could. I'm not sure what kind of demands he would make to the rest of the group. But if there was something they could do to help he would absolutely demand they to it :0

@fawncr33k

<XD I don't know if Seafoam would want to have kids at his age- but its a good question. I'm not sure what a child between them would look like, considering that Blue is a mermaid- :0

@pinkbomb08 (Post in question)

My Welcome Home AU is kind'a all over the place becuase of some changes I'm making to Sally and Poppy.. <XD But I can talk a bit about Julie! She hasn't changed much--

The idea I have for Julie is that her and her sisters are actually these huge grotesque monsters.. much more horrific looking than they are in canon. Anytime anyone saw them they'd run away screaming.. Julie grew up knowing that she was scary and people are afraid of her becuase of her appearance..

Now at some point when she was little, she discovered the Neighborhood. She would see Wally, Barnaby, Poppy and Eddie walking around every now and again. She wasn't sure why.. but she was so fascinated by them and their lives. Something about the way they walked, the way the talked, how they dressed, how they sounded, how they looked. She loved all of it.

She was so fascinated by the Neighborhood and she dreamed of becoming apart of it one day. But she knew that she couldn't show up looking like.. this.. so she used the Neighbors as a reference and began to drastically alter her appearance.

No one has horns, so she was able to greatly shorten hers and make them look more.. cute! All the residents have 2 eyes so she shall as well! Poppy has pretty eyelashes.. so shall she! She cant get rid of her tail but she can make it shorter and cuter! Wally, Eddie and Barnaby all have 4 fingers. So she shall as well!

Now the feet.. She never saw Wally or Eddie without shoes on.. but Barnaby is always bare foot. So feet paws she shall have! A lot of her form was transfered to her mane-hair! To her hair- :DD

Now she was trying to get her legs to be shaped more like Wally's. So she altered them a bit and began to practice walking. But she tripped and fell, letting out a yelp!

Someone heard her, and came looking.. Since she couldn't use her new legs yet- she couldn't escape-

..Poppy found her. .

Julie hadn't completed her transformation from "monster" to "person" yet! So when Poppy saw her she thought she blew it. Surly Poppy would run away screaming upon seeing this horrible monster.. Julie started to cry.. but Poppy didn't run. She saw this poor little child covered in mud and with a scraped knee. She quickly jumped into action, "Oh dear! You poor thing, here sweetie let me help you up," Poppy guided Julie out of the woods. After she was cleaned and patched, they talked a bit about Julies situation.

"Where are your parents, dear?"

"..I don't have parents.."

Suddenly Poppy had adoption papers in her hand XD Huh, wonder how those got there-

(Post in question)

I mean... I got my skin back at least.. 🥺

thh... thank yoiuuuu!!! :33 ✨💖✨

I don't know.. is it offensive in the games for a character to be called a cracker? Are there cracker characters?? <:00

Oooo I'll keep this in mind! :00 Thank you!

@djadecutie

AKJJSD CRIMINAL XDDD

@storylover2

<XD Oh man, I looked through some doodle dumps and found I drew that creature at least 20 times. None of which looked the way I saw it in my head.💀I gave up on drawing Chain Chomp a looong time ago.. 💔💔

(Thank you for the suggestion though! :000 )

I'm not sure <XD Google doesn't want to tell me what real seafoam tastes like. Its only showing me what the candy seafoam tastes like!

I cant really remember much of that movie,, so I'm not sure how they would interact with the residents there. But a world made of candy? I'm sure they'd feel right at home! XD

@beryl-shade

Oh yeah for sure :0 that could be what happened to Tuna! 😱

(Also sorry for not including the gifs! There wasn't a way I could paste them into this ask post :((( )

@yourstrulylightstar283

Aww! That's adorable! :D

#my response #cookie run #cookie run kingdom #cookie run ocs #my ocs #super mario bros #welcome home #undertale #deltarune

57 notes · View notes

thatsatricky1 · 2 months

Text

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 || ‘𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞’ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐈

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Eight of the top ten most popular players in Korea are invited to be the first people to test out the newest device and gameplay by NEO a video game company known as of recent to be the best of the best. An opportunity of a life time handed to them to be able to trial and get a contract to promote it later on. The eight couldn’t resist as they gladly accepted the invitation. Not being able to predict what was to come. A trail test that wouldn’t just be focused on graphics and playablity, no this would test relationships, strength, resolve and many more unpredictable things.

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Nct Dream ot7 x Reader

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Angst, Fantasy, Fluff, Gaming, Humour, Romance Smut (in future chapters), Thriller.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 6,5k+

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Cursing.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: This does not depict an accurate picture of Nct Dream and this is strictly fantasy/fiction for entertainment purposes.

“A game store inside a game, a bit ironic if you ask me.” Jaemin pointed out after stepping into the store after holding it open for Y/N.

“Something tells me they’re really taking the opportunity of us agreeing to contracts with them.” Y/n mused out gesturing at the posters hanging in the store. There were posters of all eight of them hanging around the store, specifically their promo photos they’d taken only a week prior.

“They are fast.” Jaemin huffed out a laugh, hand moving to teasingly poke Y/n’s poster with his finger against the area of where her cheek would be underneath the character mask she’d worn.

“Very funny of you, careful I’m sure we can rip posters off the wall with how realistic everything is.” She replied having to hold back with rolling her eyes trailing further into the store.

Jaemin placed a hand against his chest in mock pain as he caught up to her.

“That’s a bluff, you wouldn’t rip my poster down from me doing a little poke, plus the game would probably just regenerate my poster back up.” Jaemin spoke of her bluff knowing fully well Y/n wouldn’t act a menace just yet in the game.

Y/n stopped at a certain aisle, a soft smile forming on her lips as she gazed at what was in front of her with a look of nostalgia in her eyes. Moving a hand to touch the old console gently as if it would disappear if her fingers touched it any harder.

“Is that a PlayStation 3?” Jaemin asked moving behind her, bending down slightly to rest his chin on her shoulder looking at where her hand was.

“It is. Man, my first ever console was a PlayStation 3.” Y/n muttered as her fingers brushed over the side of it.

“I thought it was a GBA that you had first?” Jaemin asked out confused arms moving to wrap around her waist. Causing Y/n to look over her shoulder up at his face at his question.

“No I got the game boy advance after that, it was in the clear sky blue coloured one.” She corrected him before watching the way his eyes trailed over the varying consoles and nodded his head.

Y/n turning to look in the direction he’d nodded to, her small smile growing as she saw a few GBA’s one in the colour clear sky blue.

“My guess is they researched us well enough to find out about our childhood, we all had GBA’s at one point or another, mine was the orange one.” Jaemin guessed as rested his chin back onto her shoulder.

Y/n reached out both hands, taking both the orange GBA and the clear almost see through sky blue GBA pulling them closer for the two to see.

“Orange? Why orange?” She asked out, nose scrunching at the thought of owning an orange coloured GBA.

“It was the only colour left available by the time I was allowed to have one.” Jaemin answered back defensively at the choice in colour his friend clearly wasn’t impressed with.

“I bet they also have all our childhood games we’ve played, what we play now, what we want to play. All on display.” Y/n guessed out causing Jaemin to hum, eyes closing as he listened to her speak enjoying the time alone.

“I’m not sure the game store is going to be helpful during our gameplay though, it must just be a little Easter egg for us to stumble upon, how about we go to the grocery store we just saw nearby?” She thought out loud before giving the other a suggestion where they should go next.

“Right we probably should, I mean we have hunger stats, so that means eating and drinking is necessary.” Jaemin sighed out realising he’d have to remind himself of that too.

“Alright, let’s go.” Y/n finalised the decision trying to move but her body was halted. Silence slowly filled the game store.

“Nana?”

“Hm?” Jaemin hummed out hearing her call him, he liked the way his name flowed out of her mouth.

“Could you let go?” She asked, causing Jaemin’s eyes to snap open, not even remembering closing them again, raising his head and unwrapping his arms from her waist giving her a sheepish smile when she turned to face him.

“Start moving.” Y/n gestured with her hands causing him to pout but nodded turning around to head out of the store, with her right behind him.

The two made it to the grocery store nearby without any trouble or problems. Standing in front of it gazing at the aesthetic of it. Without another word Y/n grabbed Jaemin’s hand to pull him towards the entrance, walking through as the automatic doors opened with a swoosh noise.

Entering the grocery store, a song was playing over the speakers. The ambiance of the store was dead, seeing as there were no players in the area due to it not being released to the public yet. Once released it would surely be bustling.

“Split up to look for supplies we might need?” Y/n suggested as she glanced towards the aisles and tags hanging above certain areas to show where, what was.

“Absolutely not, I’m glued to you till we head back, also do we even have any credit score to buy anything or are we becoming fugitives right from the start?” Jaemin denied her idea.

Y/n looked towards Jaemin at his words, mulling it over before letting out a sigh. It was most likely they didn’t have any credit yet but it didn’t hurt to try, maybe Taeyong would gift them a bit of a credit score to start off with.

“Hey Jayu, please show me my credit score.” Y/n said out loud, Jaemin watching her as her eyes unfocused.

“Player T/n, your current credit is currently 600 Neo coins. Gifted from Neo Ceo.” Jayu’s voice spoke to her in return. Y/n seeing an image flash through her head of her credit score.

“600 Neo coins, we all probably have the same amount.” Y/n said out loud to Jaemin so he also knew, causing him to raise an eyebrow impressed at the amount generously given to them.

“Don’t get too excited. We still have to see how much things cost around here.” She shut down whatever he was about to say, it could be incredibly inflated prices like some games loved to do, but something told the two that it would be good pricing.

“Alright then let’s go check everything out.” Jaemin gestured with his free hand. The two walked towards the food aisles.

“Shouldn’t we get a shopping cart?” Y/n asked wondering if they’d need one if they end up buying a lot of items.

“Right, let’s look, then grab a shopping cart afterwards. We still have enough time.” Jaemin thought about it as he swung their intertwined hands.

“Alright, but-” Y/n voice cut off as the two hear a loud cackle in the distance.

“Looks like those two found the store before us.” Jaemin, not having to say their names as she already knew he was referring to Donghyuck and Mark.

Y/n only hummed moving to cup her hands around her mouth so the sound traveled better, Jaemin pouting again at the loss of her hand but watched in amusement taking over his face.

“Either that is a bugged out NPC or a Donghyuck!” She hollered out, her voice echoing through the grocery store.

Silence followed short before the two could hear footsteps bounding in their direction. Jaemin leaned against the aisle as they waited. Though the wait wasn’t long as Donghyuck raced past their aisle in excitement, clocking them as he went causing him to slide back towards their lane.

“Nana and N/n, just the two people I was looking for!” Donghyuck greeted them as he moved down the aisle towards them.

“I wonder what gave it away that we were here.” Jaemin joked back as Donghyuck gave him a side hug.

“You know we could hear you laughing from the other side of the store right?” Y/n asked out hands on her hips. He’d need to learn to be quieter in game if stealth was required, Donghyuck had an infinity for finding trouble during game nights when it was voice activated, always getting caught because of his volume.

“Oh come on, right now we’re safe.” Donghyuck whined out moving to hug her.

From where Jaemin was standing it looked like Donghyuck’s whole body swallowed her up from the size difference. Jaemin had to place a hand over his mouth to hold back a laugh at the sight.

“Channie- Donghyuck! Put me down!” Y/n changing her sentence as she feels him lift her up by the waist, starting to spin now.

Her hands automatically moving in panic, one going around his neck and the other into his hair, fingers wrapping around the dark chocolate coloured locks. Donghyuck laughed at her reaction as he continued spinning them in circles by pivoting his feet.

“Not what I was expecting, but similar.” Mark’s voice sounded from the end of the shopping lane, causing Donghyuck to stop spinning but still held Y/n in the air, her head moving to look up, both their cheeks squishing together.

“Tell him to let go.” Y/n whined out, though she didn’t struggle not wanting to fall on her ass.

“As if that would work.” Jaemin snorted while Mark moved forward pushing a half full shopping cart filled with various items he had thought the group would want.

“Donghyuck put me down or I will poke your eyes out.” She threatened causing him to gently place her down, Y/n glad her feet were back on the cream white floor.

Jaemin sees his window of opportunity open up at this grabbing her hand again and tugging her towards the shopping cart. The two peered in, Jaemin’s head snapping up to grin at Mark while Y/n continued looking at the items.

“Everything’s really affordable, hopefully after the game releases it stays this way. We got mainly what we needed, but also grabbed a favourite snack or drink for everyone too.” Mark explained as he watched Y/n look at the items.

“Plus a few other items because Donghyuck wants to cook something next time we’re in the game.” Mark muttered as he started pushing the shopping cart towards the cash register. The three others following close behind.

“We can probably exchange and gift currency so I say one of us buys the groceries, then we give our fair split of credit to them or just pay the next round.” Jaemin suggested all the while swinging his and Y/n hands together at their sides.

“Sounds good to me.” Donghyuck agreed easily while moving to hop into the shopping cart ignoring Mark’s protest of pushing extra weight.

The four made it to the register, finding out by Jayu that once the game is online worldwide npcs and players would be cashiers but for now they’d be able to buy their items through a store. Which Mark did, as he gave away 102 Neo coins, leaving him with 498 Neo coins left in his credit score.

“We spent so long in the game store and grocery store, an hour is nearly up we should head back.” Y/n offered to the group so the others didn’t wait too long for them.

“Wait there’s a game store?” Donhyuck asked as Mark agreed with her at the same time.

“Yeah, there’s more Easter eggs in there with our old childhood gaming stuff.” Jaemin explained as they all headed out of the store, Mark still pushing Donghyuck with the shopping cart.

“Jaemin’s ugly GBA was there too, he had an orange one.” She joked causing him to groan annoyed, hand squeezing hers.

“You had an orange Game Boy, Jaemin, why?” Donghyuck asked out, nose scrunching in distaste.

“It was the only ones left.” He grumbled out his reply.

“Is that food?” Chenle asked out once the four approached Jeno’s parked car.

“Yes, now help us load it into the car so we can get back, we only have an hour left in-game.” Mark instructed, already tugging Donghyuck out of the cart.

“I hope we can taste the food and drinks, if we can do that then this will truly be the best game.” Chenle excitedly decided to grab some of the shopping bags, placing them into the boot of the car that Jeno had opened for them.

Once the cart was empty, Y/n let go of Jaemin’s hand in favour of grabbing onto the cart.

“I’ll be right back, I’ll just go and bring this back real quick.” She explained moving to leave but was stopped by Renjun’s hand being gently placed on her shoulder.

“Want someone to go with you?” He asked out, silently offering his own help with his eyes.

“I think I can survive two minutes alone.” She shut down the offer as she moved to leave by herself.

“We love an independent woman.” Jaemin joked only for Renjun to shove him away with a few choice curse words.

Y/n made her way to the grocery store pushing the cart back in with the rest of where they were before stopping and walking over to another store gazing at a television playing inside the window.

It showed a report on the real world's current weather report. The weather was going to be very good for another week but a storm was due in two weeks, a weather warning advised for people to be prepared just in case. With a hum she made a mental note of it before returning to the car park.

“That was three minutes.” Jeno called out to her from where he leaned against his car, twirling his set of keys around his finger.

“Shut up, you’re following me this time. Don’t even think about bumping into my car or scratching it.” Was her only response but he knew not to think to heavily on it by the smile she sent his way.

Jeno gave a salute before sliding into the driver side of his car, the others already inside since he’d unlocked it. Y/n jogging over to her car seeing Chenle whining about getting to be in the passenger seat this time.

“Next time Lele.” Y/n reassured her hot headed friends as she unlocked the car, all four getting in.

Both cars took the same route home, Y/n having memorised it by the sheer luck of it not being too far away. Pulling up with Jeno parking outside the house again, while Y/n parked inside the garage.

Everyone gathered into the living room talking for a while before everyone went their separate ways to explore the base properly since they didn’t have a lot of time left in the game for today.

Y/n heading towards where her room was located only to groan when Jeno snagged her waist with his arm using his strength against her to move her further down the hallway towards his own room.

Walking through the door she raised an eyebrow having not needed to ask for permission and as if reading her mind Jeno let out a laugh flopping onto his bed, back hitting the soft mattress.

“Already ahead of some of you, I took off the permission request for you. You can walk in when you like, I already know you’ll knock before entering, unlike some of the gremlins running around here.” Jeno explained as he moved his upper body higher using his elbows and forearms to do so.

“Right, and why am I currently here?” Y/n asked the question she was wondering this whole time.

Jeno stared at her for a few seconds before shuffling his way backwards to rest his back against his bed’s headboard and spreading his arms wide in a gesture for her to come over and lay with him.

The two hung out regularly just as much as they did with the rest of the group together and separately. Though lately after a particularly rainy day where they were stuck in Jeno’s apartment they’d fallen asleep watching a movie on the couch cuddled up together.

It was normal to hug or be more snuggled up in the group together on movie nights but it had just been the two of them that night. Even so, it felt very normal, right even. So they continued to cuddle every now and then. Ignoring how intimate it was in favour of just pulling it off as something ‘every close friend’ does.

Y/n didn’t comment on his actions and instead sighed as she moved towards the bed giving in to his silent request. Which seemed to please Jeno from the fact his smile turned into a full on grin.

Getting onto the bed she let her body flop onto Jeno’s, head tucked under his chin, laying on her stomach as he moved to wrap his arms securely around her torso.

“So what do you think?” Y/n whispered out, finding the lower tone of voice appropriate in the moment. Jeno’s eyes fell shut as he let out a hum.

“I think a cuddle session was in order after all that exploring.”

“Jeno, I mean, what do you think about the game so far?” Y/n let out a laugh at Jeno’s mistake who only let out his own sheepish laugh in return.

“I think the world isn’t ready for such a realistic game, it’s either going to go down very well or very bad.” Jeno’s answer was very cryptic as it could mean anything but she didn’t comment on it seeing as technically it was also correct.

“I wonder what the true purpose of the game is. It has to have an overall plot and of course a genre.” She voiced her thoughts to him, tone even lighter than before.

Her own eyes slowly closed, drooping shut when she felt one of his hands shift from her waist to her back rubbing soothingly against it. One of her hands was curled inwards towards her own chest, whereas her other hand lightly traced patterns against Jeno’s shoulder.

“Usually that’s how it goes, but I’m not sure. That Ceo seemed set on it being not just a massive plot line based game but more so a variety of plot lines, as for the genre it could be anything.” Jeno hummed out, not really saying anything different, his own thoughts aligned with hers more focused on the feeling of her fingers tracing patterns against him then the conversation.

As Jeno laid there he couldn’t help but let his mind wander, wanting to pretend that it was only the two of them in the homebase, the game in general too. Just the two of them cuddled together in bed with no one around. His chest was warm at the thought.

“Jeno, I can hear literal cogs turning in your brain, what are you thinking about?” Y/n asked curiously, finger stilling against his shoulder before dipping down his collarbone.

“Was just thinking about what to stream tomorrow.” Jeno tried coming up with something random as fast as he could without failing.

Y/n’s eyes fluttered open as she moved her head upwards away from where it had been resting to look at Jeno with her eyes squinting at his shitty excuse.

“You? Thinking about what you’ll stream? Come on, Jeno. You’ll just stream some game play like usual if you don’t have a set idea. What were you really thinking about?” Y/n called him out knowing her currently blonde haired friend a bit too well.

Jeno peeked one of his eyes slightly open to see her face close to his own, hoping she didn’t pick up on the way his eyes roamed her face before landing back on her eyes. Closing his peeking eye again, head sinking further into the pillow below his head.

“I was thinking about us.” Jeno revealed his true thoughts knowing well enough she’d see through him again if he said another excuse.

Y/n wordlessly moved her back underneath Jeno’s chin, snuggling into the crook of his neck with a little huff. He’d brought up the seemingly forbidden topic they always danced around, they weren’t the only ones though.

“That’s a dangerous thing to think about.” Came her muffled response, Jeno having to bite back a nose at feeling her lips unintentionally brush against his neck as she does so.

“I know, but I can’t help it.” Jeno nearly grumbled out, his hand no longer rubbing her back soothingly in favour of moving to rest his palm flat against her lower back.

It wouldn’t ever be wise for any popular person on the internet to get into a relationship with another social media influencer, even when hidden it always has been found out.

Y/n wanted a private relationship, that was for sure, especially with how many curious eyes were watching her daily. Though she also knew a part of her craving to be able to go in public around with her partner if she ever had another one, one day, without people eyeing them.

“I know there are many reasons why… that wouldn’t work.” Jeno swallowed a lump in his throat.

Jeno understood because he felt the same way with wishing for privacy in such an intimate relationship. He would want his partner to feel safe with him and not constantly on edge because of unwanted attention. Not to mention if the other person was also known online, then their privacy would be null if it would ever become public.

Y/n fingers moved in favour of laying her hand flat against his chest. Her thoughts now full, thinking about their situation, but also the whole situation as it wasn’t just them. Not noticing how her hand curled into his shirt.

“How about we talk about it another time hm?” Jeno suggested after realising he shouldn’t have brought it up especially not during their time testing out the game internally cringing at the idea of any game makers watching.

Y/n didn’t say anything but her silent actions were enough for Jeno to realise she agreed to his suggestion by the way her hold on his shirt loosened. Jeno’s grip on her tightening for a split second before his fingers fiddled with her white crop top.

“Players, you have ten minutes left in your first trial.” Jayu’s voice spoke out causing Jeno to grumble having nearly fallen asleep after ten minutes of silence between the two of them.

“We should head to the living room.”

Jeno only let out a noise not wanting to budge, his arms tightening around her, turning them over so she was no longer laying on top of him but beside him as he pulled her back against his chest, snuggling his face against the back of her neck.

“Five more minutes.” Jeno groggily responded, voice deep and thick from being only half-awake.

“Alright Jeno, five more minutes.” Y/n agreed reluctantly, though she could admit to herself that she also didn’t want to get up yet. Her tired eyes glanced occasionally at the digital alarm clock beside Jenn’s bed on top of the bedside table.

As the clock changed minute numbers for the fifth time she let out a sigh, turning around in Jeno’s grasp so she was face to face with him. Eyes roaming his face watching how he took deep slow breaths in. A small teasing smile on her face as she came up with an idea.

Grabbing a piece of her light pink dyed hair and moving it towards Jeno’s face, letting the tips of hair slowly trance down his nose. She had to hold back a laugh as she watched his nose scrunch slightly from the intruding tickling feeling of her hair.

Slowly her hand moved to brush the tip of her hair against his cheekbone, Jeno not reacting too much to this until she moved her hair over to his ear circling it before poking him with it. His hand flew from her waist to itch his ear.

Jeno’s eye’s finally opened, yet only half way as he looked at her unimpressed, though he couldn’t help but match her smile when seeing the pure amusement in her eyes and plush lips stretched into a smile.

“Would you let me ask for another five minutes?” His question was answered by her as she wiggled out of his grasp, rolling over so there was space between them.

His hand automatically moves to chase after her touch, moving to interlock their hands. Squeezing her hand gently, his lips pouting at her actions as he moved to squish his face into the pillow letting out an annoyed groan.

“Time to get up, or I’ll drag you buy your tail out of here Samoyed.” Y/n jokingly warned out hand moving to grab the pillow under his face tugging at it so he had to hold his head up.

Y/n getting out of bed, stretching her body letting out a satisfied hum feeling her body pop and crack where it needed to after being still. Giving one more glance at Jeno before heading for his bedroom door.

“I’ll be a minute.” Jeno called after her, watching her wave her hand as if to dismiss his words knowing very well he’d be rushing at the last minute.

As she left the room she walked down the hallway hearing the door close on its own, something she’d have to get used to. Noticing no one in the hallways meaning they were all already in the living room.

Raising a hand to run it through the pink locks on her head to make sure she didn’t have any bed head from her short nap. Letting her hand drop as she finally entered the living room.

“Look, the princess finally graces us with her presence.” Jaemin mocking joked moving his hands upwards in a cheer motion from where he sat on one of the large couches.

“Says you passenger princess.” She quipped back as out of game, Jaemin always tried getting shotgun when she was driving with the group.

“Fair enough.” Jaemin backed down from the debate knowing it would be a losing battle this time.

“Where’s Jeno we’re going to be leaving the game-oof.” Renjun’s question cut off as he let out a dramatic noise from being unprepared for Y/n who sat down on half on his lap, the other side was Chenle who casually placed his arm around her waist.

“Either asleep again or rushing to get here in time.” Y/n answered Renjun’s half asked question, moving to rest her back half against Renjun, half against Chenle.

“You both had a nap together and didn’t invite me?” Donghyuck butted into the conversation, his hand flying to land on his chest over dramatic with an offended look on his face.

“Yes we did, it was quiet and I wasn’t smothered in limbs.” She responded letting her eyes close, eyelashes fluttering for a second. Her jab against Donghyuck’s tendency to move a lot in his sleep causing a few snickers to go around the group.

Though loud thudding footsteps approaching the group caused most of the attention to move over to the doorway where Jeno appeared flustered having finally made it out of his bedroom. His hair sticking at odd angles, bed head evident.

“So now you’re hogging Y/n out of game and in game?” Donghyuck called out to his tired friend.

“Maybe next time, keep up.” Jeno grumbled back in response, moving to sit in the last available spot on one of the two couches.

“Hello Players you will all be taken out of Project starting in ten seconds.” Jayu’s voice floated through the living room. Meaning Jeno was ten seconds on time.

“Ten.”

“Y/n, after this you should come over to my place for a mini movie session and you can sleep over.” Donghyuck suggested giving Jeno a look, the other too tired to shoot a look back.

“Nine.”

“Channie, it’s going to be eleven p.m when we get out of the game.” She responded, eyes still closed humming when she felt Renjun twirling a piece of her hair around his finger.

“Eight.”

“That hasn’t stopped us before, plus you can pick the genre tonight.” He sweetened the deal. Though it was true, everyone in the group were night owls at this point in their careers.

“Seven.”

“Or we could all go to one of our apartments and have a mini movie night together.” Mark suggested a new idea causing Donghyuck to give him a look as if to say ‘Seriously?’

“Six.”

“I could go for a movie night, salted popcorn and too much caffeine.” Jaemin shrugged, agreeing to the idea. Donghyuck’s head whipped in his direction only to get a small smug smile from Jaemin.

“Five.”

“We could go to the convenience store beforehand to grab some snacks.” Renjun furthered the idea as his hand moved to rub at Y/n’s scalp, as she leaned more into his touch enjoying the sudden head massage.

“Fine… but then we do the movie night at Y/n’s apartment it’s the least messiest at the moment.” Donghyuck finally agreed to a group movie night.

“Four.”

“Half our apartments aren’t messy, Hyuck, that’s just yours.” Renjun scoffed out, his hand still moving against Y/n’s head.

“Three.”

“We can do the movie night at my apartment.” Y/n agreed to having it at her place to stop a petty arguement from brewing.

“Two.”

“Do you have cookie and cream ice cream in the fridge Y/n?” Jisung asked out curious, if not he’d have to remember to grab some at the convenience store. Getting a hum in return from Y/n who still had half a tub left from the last time he’d been over.

“One.”

“Rise and shine Dreamies.” Taeyong clapped watching the slumped figures in their respected reclined chairs. His hands automatically clasping together, a grin on his lips, eyes roaming from one player to the next.

All eight of them slowly and groggily sat up from their reclined positions, though none touched their techwear headgear in favour of waiting for someone to take it off for them.

Workers heading in their respected spots as they started taking off the headgear for them. Some rolled their necks after the headgear came off while others rubbed at their eyes or ran a hand through their hair.

“Much to discuss on how the game play was. Though you only got to do a bit of exploring today. Which was good in itself for you all to get used to it and luckily no one ran into any problems or glitches.” Taeyong spoke as he walked closer towards the center where all eight could see and hear him clearly.

“But I’ll spare you all from the boring debriefing, we were watching this time anyway. Next time we won’t be. So all you need to do is write up your thoughts on what you experienced today and get it to me by the end of the week, quite simple.”

“It would be great if all eight of you as you continue playing our game could make weekly reports and send them to us.”

Everyone listened to Taeyong’s words as they slowly caught up with being outside of the game. Unlike the Vr from before this, they would have motion sickness, but due to the fact they had been laying down comfortably the whole time there was no motion sickness.

“Alright I’ll have someone show you out of the building once you all get your footing back, thank you all for taking part in our trials it means a lot. This game and headgear will be a big game changer in the gaming industry and you’re a part of that.” Taeyong thanked them before gesturing behind him.

“I have to go now, but do please contact us in regards to any questions you may have.” Taeyong said his last goodbye before flashing them a pearly white smile and headed out of the room.

“You’re personal headgear and a manual will be boxed up for you and you can all take them with you today.” Doyoung spoke up as he moved away from the monitors after shutting them down.

“Alright, sounds good to use.” Mark announced to Doyoung for the whole group, taking up his leadership role for the group once again.

“Great wait here while they package up your headgear and then you can all leave. A big thank you from all of us at Neo for your active participation in the trials, we hope you all continue enjoying Project Impact. I will be taking my leave as well.” Doyoung finalised with a short and brief polite bow of his head before following after Taeyong.

“Taeyong and Doyoung seem to be the opposites of each other.” Chenle pointed out as he got up from his recliner chair groaning feeling his stiff limbs.

“They complement each other well though.” Y/n shrugged moving to stretch her arms, feeling her muscles slightly burn from the sudden use.

Before they could all discuss anything further they were all given their techwear headgear in aesthetic Neo packaging to be able to safely transport it. The eight exited the room and down to the main lobby.

Jeno and Mark pulled out their car keys as they’d been the ones to collect and drive everyone there today. Everyone politely bowed towards the reception desk employees before leaving the building through the underground car park.

“Let’s meet at our regular convenience store and grab some things before we head to Y/n’s.” Mark suggested as he unlocked his car. Chenle opened the door straight away, diving into the back seats followed by Jisung. Mark having to deal with the two on their way there.

“Sounds good, don’t steal the good parking spot.” Jeno responded since he was the other driver, Renjun passing by snatching his car keys to unlock the car doors for the rest of them.

The rest got into Jeno’s car while he talked to Mark.

“Do we really need twelve different versions of cookies?” Renjun asked with his arms crossed unimpressed at the sight in front of them where Chenle and Jisung were in an intense debate about chocolate chip cookies or double chocolate chip cookies.

“Just let them have their fun.” Y/n nudged her shoulder into his watching in amusement enjoying these types of moments with her friends.

Renjun moving to look at her side profile before slowly letting his arms uncross thinking about it as Chenle let out a shrug grabbing both and dropping them into the basket that was filling up at an alarmingly fast rate in Jisung’s hands.

“Make that thirteen types of cookies.” Y/n teased Renjun and turned to face him after the two had witnessed Chenle’s decision to get both.

“You spoil them too much.” Renjun shook his head facing her as well.

“Well…” Y/n started off moving to grab one of his hands playing with his fingers absentmindedly before she continued on “Sometimes we all deserve to be spoiled here and there.”

“Yeah? Is that a subtle meaning I detect behind your words?” Renjun hummed out letting her fiddle with his hand.

“Definitely, meaning I get to choose the movies tonight. My apartment, my rules.” Y/n reposted with a grin before leaning closer to whisper.

“But I won’t tell the others if you have movie suggestions just text me them and I might just put one of them on the list we’re watching today.”

“Oh? Well I guess I can’t pass up that opportunity.” Renjun replied subconsciously leaning his face closer to hers too as he whispered.

“Did you guys find anything yet, Jeno and Jaemin are grabbing drinks.” A sudden voice interrupted as Donghyuck squeezed his way between them draping his arms over their shoulders.

“If you mean Chenle and Jisung wanting to buy thirteen different types of cookies then yes.” Renjun replied, giving Y/n a side glance before properly looking at Donghyuck.

“Please tell me they at least got those soft chewy ones.” Donghyuck groaned out watching the two in front of them now seeing they’d moved on to picking out different bags of crisps.

Y/n only humming as her hand moved up to rest against his hand that was hanging from her shoulder. Watching the two pick between two different types of dorito flavours. She’d most likely see both on her living room table later tonight anyway.

“Let’s get sunglasses.” Y/n suddenly suggested walking away, causing Donghyuck to follow as his arm was around her shoulder, ending up with Donghyuck dragging Renjun along by his other arm.

“It’s eleven at night.” Renjun pointed out the fact that sunglasses were not needed in the dark.

“You’re obsession with sunglasses is becoming worrying, your collection is growing at a fast rate.” Donghyuck added on, she had a whole drawer full at this point.

“Stop nagging me and let me have my fun.” Was all she said as they made it to the sunglasses section, the stand having different sides, one side aesthetically please, the second side being more goofy, then a child section and lastly very modern sunglasses.

Her hands grazed down a row of glasses, before wrapping around a classic rounded white pair of glasses. She wondered how she didn’t have these types of sunglasses yet. Moving to slip on the pair of glasses, ignoring the slight awkward scratchy feeling of the tag against one of her ears.

Spinning on her heels to face the two she let a hand rest against her chin, making a exaggerated look adding on the classic meme’d fuck boy lip bite. Silently asking what they thought.

Donghyuck let out a bark of a laugh while Renjun ran a hand down his face in second hand embarrassment, though he held back his own laugh not wanting to encourage her behavior in the convenience store.

“My turn.” Donghyuck excitedly called out rushing over to the sunglasses and grabbing a heart shaped pair of cherry red sunglasses slipping them on, his vision going a slight shade darker.

The two turned to look at Renjun at the same time having come up with the same plan, a grin on their lips as Renjun’s eyes turned into a glare knowing what they wanted to do. Donghyuck took a step forward as Y/n grabbed a random pair of sunglasses.

“Hey do you guys want sprite or-” Jaemin who’d turned the corner after hearing their voices wanted to know what drinks they wanted but cut his own question off at the sight in front of him.

The trio in front of him turned their heads to look at him, all three wearing sunglasses with Renjun in the middle with ruffled hair from trying to escape their grasp. Jaemin not being able to hold back a smile.

“Are you wearing sunglasses at night again?” Jisung asked out to Y/n as they all headed back to the cars with bags of junk food in their hands.

“Fashion baby, look it up.” Was her only reply as they continued walking towards the parked cars.

Chapter one | Chapter two | Chapter three (coming soon…)

𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @rotinyzen @wonyoungmywife @snflwrhaerecs4u @thegreenlynx @serinebsblog @delululi @bubusebu @hanniehq @molensworld @morkiee @marvelahsobx @kaciebello @kgneptun @bluedbliss

(If you want to be tagged in my Nct Dream writing comment, inbox or message me)

Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed. Don’t forget likes, reblogs and comments are always encouraged and help keep writers like myself motivated to continue our stories.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭:

⤻ Click here.

𝐊𝐩𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭:

⤻ Click here.

47 notes · View notes

peanutpinet · 7 months

Text

Protection - Mafia! Jungwoo x fem reader

A/N: yes, this is another mafia NCT, this time, for a member that I rarely ever did but because my lovely friend @mymoodwriting is a fan of Jungwoo and she has always give in to writing for me, I want to do something for her and her bias. Hope you like it, Lin :)

Also, to the one that requested Jaemin, that is my next to-do and I already have a bit of a plot in mind. Minor spoiler in this one. Oh and you don't have to read Jeno, Haechan, or Taeyong's one to understand this but if you want to, I'll link it right below

Synopsis: NCT was developing a new technology to help them expand more and help them to always be one step ahead of their enemy

Warnings: mafia activities, a bit of cursing, slight angst, torture\

Taeyong's story: here

Jeno's story: here

Haechan's story: here

A smile could hide so many things that a person is feeling or doing. Whether it is their feelings or true identity. But Jungwoo learned to use his smile to not only protect his personal feelings but to also hide his true identity.

To his neighbours, Jungwoo was just a smart young man who was working in one of the best tech companies in the country, Neo-Tech. When in reality, Jungwoo co-owns the tech company along with Lee Taeyong, the leader of NCT, an infamous mafia in South Korea that has members from different parts of the world and has worldwide connections.

The only thing that people didn’t know was the core NCT members. While everyone knew the core leaders, Lee Taeyong, Mark Lee, and Qian Kun. There were many other core members under the leaders who were not made known to the world and oftentimes were just blending among the regular people. One of which was Jungwoo.

Walking into the tall building, Jungwoo greeted every single worker, from the security, the administration, to even the cleaning services of the building; all with a smile. Despite his tall, slightly unreachable figure, Jungwoo tries to be kind to everyone. Jungwoo would help the old lady from finance bring her paperwork, hold the door to the content team who were bringing big and heavy filming equipment to help his coworker’s work even if it wasn’t what he did.

Arriving at his desk, Jungwoo took his regular working laptop and got to work which was helping the HR filter out some candidates for an internship to be working under Jungwoo. Hours went by and Jungwoo started to get a bit hungry so he ordered some food while going to the breakroom to get coffee when he saw Taeyong and his personal assistant, Doyoung walking pass the breakroom. Stopping when he noticed Jungwoo gossipping with one of his coworkers.

“Ehem” Taeyong coughed, grabbing both Jungwoo and his coworker’s attention. “My office, now, Jungwoo” Taeyong stated, leaving his office but Jungwoo caught Doyoung eyeing and signalling him to come asap

“Sorry, I have to go. Boss is calling. But I hope that your operation will go well, Ms Choi” Jungwoo replied, throwing the paper cup into the trash as he went back to his desk to grab the necessary paperwork and laptop to Taeyong’s office, not forgetting to lock the door and closing the blinds

“You wanted to see me, boss” Jungwoo joked, acting as if he was a new worker in the company

“Drop the act, Jungwoo” Taeyong stated, unamused

“Geez, would it kill you to just live a little?” Jungwoo shrugged, sitting across Taeyong while Doyoung stood next to him. “Also, since when do you follow TY around?” Jungwoo asked, looking at Doyoung

“I’m part of the HR team here and his personal assistant regarding other business” Doyoung replied, rolling his eyes at the younger one

“Still. You follow him around like a pet” Jungwoo commented, annoying Doyoung that he almost strangled Jungwoo

“Enough. I can’t believe the younger ones are more easier to tame than you both” Taeyong reminded, making the two younger members stop

“So, what is it that you need from me? Broken weapons? Need an upgrade for your vehicle?” Jungwoo asked, crossing his leg over the other one

“Doyoung” Taeyong commanded and Doyoung took his tab out that showed a resume of a young college girl, placing it right in front of Jungwoo

“A college student?” Jungwoo questioned, swiping the tab to read more of the girl. “Holy. She’s from Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST)?! Top of her class?! Researched about the potential worldwide satellite tracker?!” Jungwoo gasped

“She’s applying for internship here and will be directly under you. I want you to get close and work together to figure out that worldwide satellite tracker” Taeyong stated, making Jungwoo stopped scrolling

“You mean, you actually want me and this girl to upgrade our current satellite tracker to be able to be used worldwide?! Hyung, I’ve been researching and doing trials here and there for the past few months. I—” Jungwoo complained but Taeyong stopped him

“Don’t underestimate the girl, Jungwoo. I didn’t underestimate you when you first join us. When your college “friends” betrayed you and used your findings against you” Taeyong stated, standing up from his chair and swiped the tab once again

“She’s won multiple science fair since junior high. Always at the top of her class when it comes to anything science or maths related subject. Always receive scholarships since high school up till university. Her research on the worldwide satellite tracker won multiple attention from many other scientists. Even the US government wanted her knowledge. But of course, our government made a deal with us and it would benefit us greatly if you both actually managed to complete that tracker” Taeyong explained. “I don’t need you both to finish it that quickly but I need you to get as many information from her to upgrade our current tracker. She’s only going to be interning with us for only 6 months. Make them count” Taeyong added, placing a handful of the intern’s research in front of Jungwoo right as there was a knock to the door

“Come in” Taeyong mentioned. “Sorry to disturb you sir, the intern is here” the building’s security mentioned. “Right, bring her in, thank you” Taeyong mentioned and the security opened the door wider to reveal the new intern

“H-hi” the intern stuttered, clearly nervous when entering the boss’ room

“Hi. Don’t be nervous. Come, take a seat. That’s Jungwoo, by the way. He’s going to be your supervisor throughout your internship” Taeyong greeted the new intern

“H-hi. I’m (y/n). Please to meet you” the intern bowed at the older men before taking her seat right beside Jungwoo

“Hi. I’m Jungwoo. Welcome aboard! I promise you that you’ll learn lots of things and there won’t ever be a dull day with me around” Jungwoo exclaimed, taking in on (y/n)’s feature

“Oh, is that my research on the worldwide satellite tracker?” (y/n) questioned, looking at the paper on Taeyong’s table

“Right. I was just telling Jungwoo that you were also researching about that tracker. Jungwoo himself has been trying different things and I believe that with you onboard, it would help him a lot. You don’t have to finish it by the end of your internship. But if Jungwoo does manage to finish it with your help, there’ll be a big bonus for both of you” Taeyong explained

“I’ve never actually tried it myself since you know, I don’t have the equipment” (y/n) mentioned

“Then this is the perfect time for us to try it together. We have the equipment and you have the brains!” Jungwoo exclaimed, making (y/n) chuckle. “Yes, we can”

“Well, looks like the two of you are getting along. I trust Jungwoo will teach you around. Also, we don’t to overtime unless there’s a launching event but you don’t have to worry about that because we’ll compensate you for it. If Jungwoo gets a bit too much, feel free to tell Doyoung here. He’s the main HR of the company and my personal assistant” Taeyong explained

“Got it, boss!” (y/n) exclaimed back. “Here’s your laptop and welcome goodie bag. Jungwoo will show you around before actually giving you your tasks” Taeyong mentioned, taking out a laptop and goodie bag, handing it to (y/n)

“Oh?! Thank you!” (y/n) thanked Taeyong. “Here, let me help you. Let’s go, shall we?” Jungwoo offered, taking (y/n)’s laptop and standing up from his seat

Right before both Jungwoo and (y/n) leave, Taeyong called out to Jungwoo. “Jungwoo. Think about it” Taeyong reminded the younger one as Jungwoo and (y/n) left

Jungwoo’s POV After the little meeting with Taeyong, I helped (y/n) take some of her things to her new table which was right beside mine. Introducing her to the rest of the team before bringing her around the office for a mini office tour.

We started off with the regular floor which is where everyone does their work, a mini breakroom to make coffee or heat up some food or drinks. I then directed her towards our pantry where people can come to cook, have breakfast because as cold as Taeyong looks, he’s pretty considerate and provide different kinds of food, beverages, and snacks for everyone.

“Can we really take any of these food and drinks?” (y/n) asked

“Of course. I know Taeyong might look intimidating but he’s a very considerate boss. He pays us all well. He doesn’t push us. He would oftentime be hands on in some of the work, especially when it’s a busy week like launching a new product. You have nothing to worry about when Taeyong is the boss. Well, as long as you don’t get on his bad side” I joked

We then went to the floor where we do product testing where everyone run tests on the products, tries it, making revisions on the spot and even taking product pictures and video shots.

“So, this is where we do all our testing. We have 2 floors for testing. Well, we mainly use this floor for testing and the other floor is more so for product shots and videos. Sometimes with models as well” I explained

“Jungwoo, I need your help because Hae— is this the new intern?” I heard Jaehyun calling out to me

“Yeah, meet (y/n), the new intern. She’s directly under me. (y/n) meet…” I introduced (y/n) but apparently it seems that she knows Jaehyun first

“Jung Jaehyun, right? I’ve seen you model for Prada. Your last drama series was also amazing! I can’t believe that I get to see you. In real life!” (y/n) exclaimed, making Jaehyun’s ears turn bright red. “Thank you for the compliment, it’s always a pleasure to meet a fan. I hope Jungwoo hasn’t been too much for you” Jaehyun replied

“I’m right here?! What were you saying again, hyung?” I asked

“We can talk later, Jungwoo” Jaehyun brushed me off. “So, (y/n), I heard that you did research regarding the worldwide satellite tracker?” Jaehyun asked (y/n)

“Yeap. It was just a theory. But Taeyong boss said that me and Jungwoo oppa might be able to test the theory out!” (y/n) explained, her energy was very cheerful despite being at the office this early in the morning

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I read your research paper and let me tell you, you’re definitely smarter than Jungwoo” Jaehyun half-whispered. “I heard you, hyung!” I scoffed whereas (y/n) just giggled

“A-are you a fan of all these science things? Sorry, I didn’t mean to just, you seem quite different from your on-screen persona” (y/n) asked

“No worries. I guess it’s because I’ve been a close friend of Taeyong for a long time. We go back since like senior year of high school and we’ve helped each other since. When Taeyong said that he needed my help to model his products, I was more than happy to help since Taeyong had helped me before. Plus, I used to suck with technology until this one taught me some tricks I could do with some of the products” Jaehyun explained, pointing at me

“Okay!! That’s enough backstory of you and Taeyong-hyung. Come (y/n), let’s go to the other floors and then we can start upgrading the satellite system” I mentioned, placing my hands on both of (y/n)’s shoulders, guiding her away from Jaehyun

“Don’t forget that I need to talk to you later, Jungwoo!” Jaehyun exclaimed and I waved him off

After bringing (y/n) around, it was lunchtime and I took (y/n) to our cafeteria and got her some food as we sat near the entrance since we came in a bit later than everyone else. Right as we were talking and getting to know each other, Haechan decided to come and disturb us.

“Hi. The name is Haechan. You must be the new intern” Haechan mentioned, sliding right beside (y/n) who was shocked at the sudden presence beside her

“Ya! You can’t just suddenly waltz in like that. Can’t you see we’re having lunch and how scared she is? Ignore him. He’s just a weirdo” I mentioned, reassuring (y/n) that Haechan is harmless

“I’m alright, Jungwoo-oppa, thank you. Hi! I’m (y/n), nice to meet you” (y/n) replied, taking her hand out which Haechan took to shake

“See, Jungwoo. You’re overreacting. Anyways, I’m Haechan, as I’ve mentioned. I work part-time here as the IT guy and part-time streamer. If there’s anything wrong with your laptop or anything wrong in terms of your technology, I’m the guy for it” Haechan boasted himself, making me scoff

“Thank you, Haechan. I’ll keep that in mind” (y/n) giggled

“Another thing to keep in mind is to not get on Taeyong’s bad side, you can bully Doyoung whenever you like because it’s fun. Oh and, I’m not sure if Jungwoo mentioned this to you already but do not. I repeat. Do. Not. Go to the absolutely forbidden place in this entire building. The backup backup storage room. Whether someone you know is in there and needs your help, do not go in there. Even if you have the access, you ask? Yes. Do not go in there” Haechan pointed out a piece of information that I accidentally forgot to mention

“Why? You keep dead bodies in there?” (y/n) joked, making me and Haechan look at each other

“Just don’t go in there, (y/n). You might not have access to that room but just in case if anyone who has it accidentally drops it, don’t use it to go in there. Even if there is an earthquake or whatever disaster” I mentioned, my tone was serious that it might’ve scared her a bit

“Okay. I won’t. I promise. Oh, lunchtime is over, shall we go, Jungwoo-oppa?” (y/n) asked

“Yeap. Let’s go grab some snacks from the snack bar and then start our work of the day” I exclaimed, helping (y/n) grab her tray. “See you later, Haechan” I mentioned

“Bye, hyung. Bye (y/n)!!” Haechan exclaimed

After grabbing some snacks, (y/n) and I went to one of the testing rooms to get started on our worldwide satellite tracker. I started by telling her about our current satellite tracking system which uses the current South Korean database hence we could find anyone in South Korea.

“It’s more complex when we’re talking worldwide database and we have already tried to access lots of the database from here and there but sometimes the connection would cut off” I explained, showing (y/n) the database that we had connected to the satellite

“Ahh right, I mentioned this in my thesis. I wrote that we need connectors in each continent like one in Asia, one in Europe. It acts like a phone, like our SNS in a way. You connect with one another to give and take information with each other” (y/n) explained

“Great. All we have to do is just build the connection devices, right?” I exclaimed

“Not quite. Each connection/transmitter device needs to be built with a chip that connects each of them together and activates them as a transmitter that links the data with one another” (y/n) explained. “Meaning, we need to create a chip that can be linked to our own devices so whenever our database is updated, so do the transmitters and the satellite” (y/n) added on

“Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s get to work!” I exclaimed, smiling at (y/n) as she turned a slight pink hue

Time Skip to 5 Months Later

Throughout the past 5 months of (y/n)’s internship, we’ve gotten closer and even went to hang out with each other outside of working hours. I’ve come to know that (y/n) didn’t have the brightest childhood with her parents being harsh on her as she was their oldest daughter.

Not only that, she was always compared to her other family members who either are running a business, a doctor/lawyer, married to a rich guy and have kids already, and the list just goes on. It was heartbreaking to hear a young talented and smart girl being put down like this just because she was different from what most girls enjoy.

Plus, I also found out that her parents didn’t like her taking mechanical engineering, saying how it’s “too manly” and they even went as far as not wanting to fund her degree. But luckily enough, (y/n) was a smart and bright girl that she managed to get a fully funded scholarship from the university.

Throughout those 5 months, both (y/n) and I have slowly built all the chips that were linked to our main computer where our team would always update the database and while we haven't gotten to the exact part of building the transmitters, we have made much more progress as compared to before (y/n) joined us.

Because of this, I talked to Taeyong about potentially bringing (y/n) into our company full-time which he agreed since we were making a lot of progress because we’ve tested the chips on other devices between our internal NCT members to connect the database and it worked perfectly fine. Now the only thing left was building the transmitters; which is the easier job and then assembling everything and testing it in a larger distance. Which is the hard part.

3rd POV

But of course, building the machines wasn’t just the hard part because Haechan mentioned that there was a mole in the company who was working for one of NCT’s enemies who was also in the tech industry. While NCT wasn’t looking to sell our worldwide satellite tracking system, our enemies were and they have been eyeing (y/n) ever since her thesis on the tracking system went viral.

During lunchtime, Jungwoo was talking with (y/n) and Haechan like any other day when Kyungtae, one of their IT employees went up to their table, telling Jungwoo and Haechan that there was a bug, a virus in the company’s main computer, saying that one of the new IT guys accidentally bugged their computer which spread out through the company’s central computer.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me. I told you that the new guy was weird. C’mon, Taeyong is gonna kill us” Haechan exclaimed

“(y/n), you’ll most probably leave early today so don’t wait on me. I’ll call a cab for you, alright?” Jungwoo mentioned, getting up along with Haechan. “Thanks for letting us know, Kyungtae” Jungwoo added, patting Kyungtae on his shoulder

“No problem, hyung” Kyungtae replied, patting Jungwoo back

“Alright. Be careful then, two of you! Hope everything will get resolved quickly” (y/n) reassured them, offering a smile as she watched the two males leave her

“You’re the new intern, (y/n), right?” Kyungtae asked, looking at (y/n)

“Yeap, that’s me. I think I’ve seen you before. You’re from IT, right? Sorry, I don’t know your name. I’m always in the lab with Jungwoo-oppa” (y/n) replied

“No worries. It’s Kyungtae. I heard that Jungwoo was going to call a cab for you, do you happen to go home alone?” Kyungtae asked

“Yeap. Typically I take public transportation but Jungwoo-oppa has been dropping me off since he found out I took public transport late at night” (y/n) replied

“Well, I can take you home, if you’d like. Jungwoo is right to take you home since it’s not really safe to be going home alone late at night” Kyungtae offered

“I’ll think about it. If I do, I’ll need to text Jungwoo-oppa first. Anyways, I think I should get back to my work. I’m finishing up my transmitters and my internship report. See you later, Kyungtae-oppa” (y/n) replied, slightly bowing before leaving the office canteen and going back to her work

Jungwoo’s POV

Haechan and I rushed to Taeyong’s office after walking past the IT section who were all in chaos trying to figure out the virus that was spreading through the computer. Knocking on Taeyong’s office door, we heard a rough sound from Taeyong, telling us to come in.

“Hyung? We heard what happened” I mentioned, coming in with Haechan

“It’s not just a regular virus. Someone breached all of our security and nearly reached the one that NCT made” Taeyong replied, showing us each security wall that was breached

“Shit. Let me check it real quick, hyung” Haechan exclaimed, going over towards Taeyong’s desk and opening the computer to review all the security walls that were broken by the virus

“Also, there’s a mole working in this company” Taeyong pointed out, making both me and Haechan look at him in shock. “Do you have any leads on who it could be?” I asked

“Someone from IT. Because the only people who would and could access anything on our database would be the IT system and engineer. But I’m 100% sure that it’s the IT because only someone that smart and knows the computer and system back and forth would be able to come here and even hack into the system” Taeyong replied

“Hyung!! We need access to the NCT system” Haechan mentioned

“Alright, let’s go there then” Taeyong replied as the 3 of us headed to the forbidden storage room where we have one of NCT’s main computers that helps power up all the tech and database for the company.

However, upon reaching and opening the door to the storage room, all three of us were shocked to see (y/n) in the room. Without even thinking, I yanked (y/n)’s wrist. Questioning her on why she was here. “What are you doing here?! Who brought you in here?! You’re going to get in trouble” I exclaimed

“What’s the difference with you?” (y/n) whispered back, making me confused

“What are you?” I asked. “You used me. All of you! You just wanted me to finish your satellite and then ditch me, weren’t you?” (y/n) confronted and that’s when I noticed all the computers behind her showing all her background information

“(y/n), let’s talk about this, alright?” I reasoned but she yanked her arm away from my grip and walked away, standing in front of Taeyong

“Are you going to do some MIB shit and wipe my memory of all of this? Or are you going to put me somewhere until you know what you want to do to me?” (y/n) asked and Taeyong let out a long harsh sigh. “You didn’t see much since the important information is completely protected by the top cyber security in the country. So, go to my office and wait until I get back” Taeyong stated and (y/n) just slightly bowed before leaving the room, leaving the three of us together

“Which one of you lost the card?” Taeyong asked right when (y/n) left and the door was locked again

“I have it with me since I was the one that opened it” Haechan replied and both him and Taeyong looked over at me

“It’s in my…” I mumbled but as I rummaged in every single one of my pockets, it was nowhere and I instantly panicked. “Shit. I, I lost it. I swear I always have it with me, hyung” I exclaimed

“Haechan, fix the virus that’s spreading in the company. I’ll find Jungwoo’s key access card” Taeyong-hyung stated, going towards one of the computers to find my card since every single one of our cards have a tracking chip on it

“My card. It’s…” I mumbled. “Moving. Someone stole your card. Recall anyone touching you near your pockets or anything? Because it’s moving fast from this building to another…” Taeyong asked as he tries to use our current satellite tracker to track my card

I tried to recall who would steal the card or who touched me, specifically my pockets throughout the day since I know for a fact that I still had my card the other day. Right as I was trying to remember, Jaehyun suddenly called us through our in-ear.

“Guys. Is (y/n) alright? I saw her going into Taeyong’s office but right when I walked past again, she was gone. I asked someone if they saw anything and one of the staff mentioned that Kyungtae was carrying her and that she was unconscious. Kyungtae said that she fainted right as he was putting some paperwork into Taeyong’s office” Jaehyun mentioned

“She was fine literally a few minutes ago” Haechan replied, finally fixing the cyber security of our company. “Hyung, you might want to check this” Haechan exclaimed and we went to his side right as Haechan opened the front security camera and saw Kyungtae putting (y/n) in a black minivan

“Jaehyun! Go with Jeno and find this van” Taeyong exclaimed, sending Jaehyun and Jeno the security footage that we just saw

“Jungwoo. Finish that global tracker. We need it. Kyungtae must know that there’s a tracker chip in that card. He’s going to eventually take that chip out. So I suggest you finish that tracker while you can” Taeyong instructed

“But hyung, the transmitters should be placed in each continent to collect the data” I debated. “We don’t need to go that far just yet. But we do need every information about (y/n) and Kyungtae. I’m sure that that won’t be so hard since it’s just an upgrade from our Korea tracker” Taeyong replied

“Alright. I’m going to grab the chips and put it in the computer” I mentioned, going out of the room to grab the chips that both me and (y/n) finished making and even testing

Back in the storage room, both Haechan and I put in the chips with the new database and started to look for (y/n) and Kyungtae through every single security camera in South Korea. Hacking into every tech device that has a built-in camera to search for their faces, what vehicles are they in, and even tracking their live location.

“Taeyong. The signal is gone. They took out the chip” Jaehyun stated. “Jungwoo” Taeyong called out to me

“We’re just about done, hyung. Our computer is using the satellite to connect with every tech devices in South Korea. There we go, they…They’re at the harbour in Busan. They’re going to make an escape to another country!” I exclaimed, immediately rushing out

“Hold on!” Taeyong exclaimed. “Haechan, I’ll have Doyoung come here and accompany you. Standby and keep us updated. Jaehyun, Jeno, go after them. Make sure they don’t escape. Go on the ship if you have to. Jungwoo, you can bring one of the chips and they’ll still be connected with the one Haechan is handling, right?” Taeyong added and I nodded

“Alright. Grab one of the chips, we’re going to sea. I’ll let Yuta, Hendery, and Johnny know that we might need their help since it’ll be on sea” Taeyong mentioned and I quickly followed him

Arriving at the Busan harbour, Jaehyun and Jeno told us that Kyungtae hasn’t left yet because according to Yuta and his Japan team, they were waiting for backup from Japan but Yuta and his team found out about it first and hijacked their ship so when Kyungtae is waiting for backup, it’ll actually be our backup.

After Taeyong instructed us on the plan, both Jaehyun and Jeno immediately confronted Kyungtae who was immediately flustered. “Better stop what you’re thinking. Even if you escape, we’ll always find you again” Jaehyun mentioned but Kyungtae just laughed

“Because you build that tracker that can track almost anyone? So what? I have the girl that can build a device to counter yours” Kyungtae exclaimed but Taeyong and I immediately came towards the other side, cornering Kyungtae

“No way we’re letting you take her with you” I exclaimed, grabbing everyone’s attention

“Right, because you need her to finish your little transmitters?” Kyungtae questioned, taking the blueprints that both (y/n) and I worked day and night to finish then ripped it in front of us right as a ship from Japan arrived

“Even if the leader of NCT himself is here, you all can’t possibly match up against a lot of people, now can you?” Kyungtae chuckled as he took an unconscious (y/n) out of his car, making sure to hold a knife right by her neck, just to make sure that we wouldn’t do anything

But right as Kyungtae thought that it was his backup that came, Yuta held a gun right behind Kyungtae’s head, making him shudder. “I think you want to rethink that” Yuta growled right as Jeno and Jaehyun handled Kyungtae while I took (y/n) out of Kyungtae’s grip

Jungwoo’s apartment - 9:12 pm

It’s been hours since I came back and Xiaojun and Kun took a look at (y/n), telling me that she was just asleep since Kyungtae most probably drugged her and the only injury she had were just a few bruises which Kun concluded that she got them from trying to fight off Kyungtae.

Not knowing when she’d wake up, I decided to clean up the apartment, cook some soup just in case (y/n) woke up hungry and showered. Right when I finished my shower, I heard some shuffling from (y/n)’s room and quietly opened the door to see her slowly wake up.

“Hey. Are you hungry? I made some soup” I uttered, grabbing (y/n)’s attention but she didn’t respond to me. Instead, she just scanned the room she was in. “You’re in my apartment. I brought you back here. To make sure that you’re alright. And to apologise” I added but (y/n) still didn’t respond so I just kept on going.

“I’m sorry that it might seem that I, Taeyong, and the company were using you by offering you a large amount of income. But I’m not sorry that we were the ones that took you in first. Sure, maybe during the first few weeks was just me trying to get more information out of you but after a few months, all that thought of using you was gone. I even convinced Taeyong that you should join us, permanently. We were about to break the news to you but then you went into the storage room and found some of our information” I admitted. “I know that it might feel that we, I, am betraying you because I know how much you yearned for that recognition from someone close to you and it seemed that we were using you but we’re not. And I promise you that you’ll be save under us” I added, sitting right by her feet

“It’s not like I got much of a choice, is it? Even if you guys let me off and I want to just bury everything underground, you will always be watching me and I don’t want that” (y/n) finally uttered and I instinctively grabbed her hand. “You’ll always have a choice. I promise you that. Watching over you is not because you saw something that’s supposed to be a secret but because I made it so that you’re under our protection” I replied

“I know that things might’ve gotten a bit…rough but I hope that you’ll forgive us because it’d be a bummer if we don’t get to finish that thesis of yours” I joked, making (y/n) chuckle a bit

“I get that you guys have your secrets but don’t ever do something like this to another person. Ever.” (y/n) argued and I chuckled. “Promise” I smiled at her

NCT Base - 2:17 am

“This is like the third guy that won’t admit unless Taeyong gracefully walks in and enlightens us with his presence” Haechan groaned

“What do you expect, he’s the leader after all” Jeno replied, making Haechan roll his eyes

“I expect for us to be done quicker so I can go home and cuddle” Haechan ranted. “Why don’t we just, you know, somewhat drown him but not drown him? Just make it so that he’s on the verge of not being able to breathe, you know?” Haechan added on, standing right behind Kyungtae. “I mean, you wanted to go to Japan, right? How about we help you, you know, just in case your ship drowns and you have to swim all the way to Japan?” Haechan provoked

“Lee Haechan” Taeyong scolded, making the younger one backed away. “No fun at all” Haechan scoffed

“You had your fun, remember Haechan?” Taeyong stated, making Haechan huff in annoyance

“Going to talk? Or I’ll let Jungwoo and Haechan have their way with you. Who do you work for and why do you want (y/n)?” Taeyong questioned

“You don’t know. Do you?” Kyungtae scoffed but it intrigued Taeyong

“See, I have many enemies. And many wanted (y/n) to work for them so they could have the most advanced technology. Unfortunately for you and your client, we have her first” Taeyong replied

“My client doesn’t want (y/n) to just advance their technology. There’s a specific person he’s searching for” Kyungtae stated but when Taeyong questioned him again, Kyungtae stayed silent

Taeyong looked over to Jungwoo and signalled him. Jungwoo then moved to stick some patches on the side of Kyungtae’s temple. “Wh-what are you doing?!” Kyungtae protested

“Nothing much. Be grateful that you’re going to be our first test subject” Jungwoo smiled as he turned on the machine, shocking Kyungtae’s brain, making him have an intense headache but also gathering some data

“Who is this specific person that they’re looking for? My members? Me?” Taeyong questioned again but Kyungtae refused to answer again which made Jungwoo send more shockwaves to his brain

“See, we have all night to do this and when we get tired and bored with your brain, we can have other kinds of fun. Maybe even let Haechan help you swim” Taeyong taunted

“You. You don’t understand. He’ll kill me if I admit everything to you” Kyungtae pleaded

“Could be worse. I’d have you torture first until you admit something or you wish we would’ve killed you. Now talk while I’m being patient. Who is it” Taeyong taunted

When Kyungtae didn’t let out any sound, Jungwoo was ready to fire the shockwave again until Taeyong stopped him. Telling him that Kyungtae let out a whisper. A name. A name that he hasn’t heard since the day he helped Na Jaemin. Nam Goongmin.

A/N: Yeap, that's a tiny spoiler for the next mafia story, Na Jaemin :)) Also to anyone who wants to request a fanfic while also supporting my writing, you can request it on my Fiverr. Hope you all enjoyed reading this story and I'll see y'all in the next one. Stay safe and healthy xoxo vinet

Support me on Fiverr

#nct #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct x reader #nct 127 #nct 127 scenarios #nct 127 imagines #nct jungwoo #nct 127 jungwoo #kim jungwoo #jungwoo scenarios #jungwoo imagines #kim jungwoo scenarios #kim jungwoo imagines #jungwoo x reader #nct mafia #nct mafia au #nct mafia fic #nct mafia imagine

96 notes · View notes

luvhaos · 2 years

Text

the language of flowers | lsm

pairing: lee seokmin x f! reader genre: flower shop! au (seventeen), tattoo shop! au (nct), rivalry (slightly subverted), fluff, angst, comedy word count: 10.0k summary: you have a big, fat crush on the owner of the flower shop across the street but there are two pretty big problems: you’re pretty certain he has a girlfriend and both of your staff hate each other’s guts. warning(s): cursing, very suggestive content (tipsy almost-sex, sexual references and allusions, etc.), reader has some tattoos, insults and slander between both shops (everyone kind of acts like a jerk to one another), seokmin lifts reader off the ground, unedited author’s note: wow, this was a doozy! i didn’t expect it to get this long tbh and i definitely should have been working on a paper instead of writing this but seokmin has really been hitting different to me recently, so this was born out of that! playlist: fallin’ flower by seventeen • call out my name by the weeknd • take a chance on me by niki • tattoos together by lauv • la vie en rose by édith piaf

You weren’t sure when the whole Neo Tattoos and Piercings versus Fallin’ Flower rivalry happened but what you were a hundred percent sure about was that it started with Donghyuck. You loved him like a little brother but you knew it had something to do with one of the flower shop employees spilling something on Donghyuck one day when he was in a foul mood. And Donghyuck in a bad mood was something none really wanted to deal with.

Or maybe it started when Doyoung made some off-handed comment about how little effort it took to create wedding bouquets versus tattooing and piercing.

Or maybe it was because Yuta and Mark laughed very loudly when one of the flower shop workers, you were pretty sure his name was Hansol, pulled on their push door.

Okay, maybe you weren’t a hundred percent sure how this mess all started.

You did think the owner, Lee Seokmin, was pretty cute though. He had been extremely friendly the first day he had opened his store, coming across the street to introduce himself and you welcomed him to the neighborhood. You even invited him to grab some lunch the next day and that meal together had you smitten, embarrassingly so.

So this supposed ‘rivalry’ between your store really threw a wrench in your plan to ask him out.

“Do you see this shit?” growled Donghyuck as he practically flung the door to your shop open. “They’re opening a cafe in that flower shop!”

“Seriously?” Mark asked, rushing to your storefront to peer out. “Oh, shit, they are!”

“Did you think I was lying?”

“I don’t know, Hyuck, you kind of have a track record for that.”

“Fuck you, Mark Lee, this is why you get no bitches.”

“Fuck you, I do get bitches!”

“Children, children, calm down,” Johnny cooed mockingly. You caught Taeil’s eye and you both rolled your eyes.

“Doyoung, what’s on schedule for today?” you asked and your staff quieted down to listen to Doyoung, one of your receptionists and schedulers along with Jungwoo and Taeil.

“Johnny, Chanyeol’s coming in today to finish his tattoo at ten-thirty. Taeyong, you’ve got two new clients at eleven and at three today; the first one’s not sure what she wants so you’ll have to help her with that. Jaehyun’s got a helix piercing at one, and Yuta has a septum piercing a two, another one twenty minutes later, and then a belly button piercing at four. Mark, you’re shadowing Yuta—”

Yuta cheered a little, lunging at Mark and squeezing him in a hug. You all snickered at the way Mark flailed a little before wrapping his arms around Yuta to return the embrace. “—and Donghyuck, you’re with Johnny today.” Doyoung pointed at you and said, “Soojin’s coming into get a tattoo at eleven today too.”

You grinned at Taeyong and Johnny. “Guess we’ll be working side-by-side today.” They smiled back at you, Johnny opening his mouth to say something but there was a knock at your door and everyone looked up, faces immediately darkening.

Seokmin stood outside, unperturbed by the glares coming his way, and you rolled your eyes at your staff members as you walked over to the door and stepped out. “Hey!”

“Hi!” Seokmin chirped. He jabbed his thumb back at Fallin’ Flower. “We just opened a coffee shop inside so I wanted to bring you something to try. You like an iced latte, right?”

“I can’t believe you remembered,” you said as he handed you an iced latte and a slice of cinnamon coffee cake wrapped in wax paper. “Thanks so much, this was so sweet.” He slipped a single flower in with his gifts.

“What’s this?” you asked, wiggling the flower in your hand.

“A white gardenia,” Seokmin said. “We just got some in today.”

“It’s beautiful, thank you. You’re really too sweet,” you said, feeling your face warm.

He chuckled and you could have sworn his ears were pink. “You deserve it all,” he said.

Someone cleared their throat behind you and you peeked over your shoulder to see Jaehyun leaning against the closed door. Even with his arms crossed, it was clear he was trying to make himself look larger and more intimidating, which was a pretty simple feat for Jaehyun given that he was already both of those things to a lot of people. He frowned and said, “We should get ready for opening.”

Seokmin chuckled, taking a step back from you. “I got it,” he said. “We should get ready to open too.”

“I’ll see you around,” you said. Seokmin nodded and smiled brightly, which had your heart thumping.

Jaehyun snorted and you glared at him. “What is your problem?”

“What’s my problem?” he asked. “You’re fraternizing with the enemy.”

“How is the flower shop an enemy? We don’t even have the same clients.”

Jaehyun huffed and didn’t respond, electing to open the door and let you duck under his arm to go back inside. Yuta scoffed, “Who does he think he is?”

“Right?” Jungwoo grumbled.

“Okay, everyone’s got to lay off them,” you said.

“We’ll back off when they do,” hissed Donghyuck. “That Chan fucker said our shop always looked dirty yesterday.”

“And what’s-his-face… Soonyoung said tattoo artists—”

“I couldn’t care less about what they said,” you said. “I told Jae this outside already — we don’t share the same clients, so there’s no loss of revenue. I know that there have been incidents in the past that have bred some weird hatred but I need you all to be professionals like I know you all are. No more of this today, do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. We’re opening in five, so everyone should get to their stations and get ready.”

Everyone scuttled off to where they needed to go and you sighed, sitting at your station and setting your coffee and the flower aside. You practically inhaled the coffee cake Seokmin gave you. It was perfect, just the right amount of sweetness without it being overpowering. You took another bite and sipped a bit of your coffee and you finally understood why coffee cake was called coffee cake. The pairing was heavenly.

“You sure he didn’t poison that?” Johnny asked. You gave him an exasperated look and he said, “I’m kidding… mostly.”

He said, “We’re not doing it to cause trouble. We’re just protective of one another and of the shop.”

You ran a hand down your face. “I know, I know. And I’m sure the guys across the street are the same.”

Johnny shrugged and you said, “I just need you guys to tone it down. We can’t have this petty feud hurt business.”

“We’ll be on the best behavior we can be.”

You said, “You realize that that’s not a high bar, right?”

Johnny laughed and Taeil led Chanyeol inside for the first appointment of the day.

Before you knew it, you were sitting on your stool, bent over Soojin’s arm as you did the linework for her new tattoo — the moon with some stars dotted around it. She was talking with you as well as Chanyeol and Johnny at the station beside you. You half-listened to her and Chanyeol talk about a concert they were both at the night before but didn’t know the other was there while you listened to Taeyong patiently talk through the steps of getting a tattoo to his new client.

You rolled your chair over to take a sip of your coffee quickly before resuming Soojin’s tattoo. She asked, “Is that from the new cafe in the flower shop?”

“Yeah!”

“I was thinking of going over there after my tattoo. Do you like their stuff?”

The shop went eerily quiet with only the buzzing of yours, Taeyong, and Johnny’s tattoo guns making any noise. Yuta and Jaehyun had stopped chatting, and Donghyuck and Mark stopped bickering. You felt your eye twitch. Were they all fucking serious?

“Yeah, I really like it,” you said and you heard a sharp inhale of breath a few feet behind you. “And the owner is lovely.”

Something like a snort came from the corner. You focused only on Soojin and said, “I definitely think you should check it out.”

“I think I will,” she said, “because I’m really jealous of your coffee.”

“You can take a sip if you want?”

“Really? Can I?”

“I’ve injected ink into your skin for hours, Soojin, I’d say we’re good enough friends for you to share a drink.”

She giggled and reached over with the arm that wasn’t getting tattooed to take a sip. “Shit, this is good.”

You hummed in agreement and looked over your shoulder, pointedly glaring at your staff. They immediately went back to what they were doing but the energy in your store definitely dropped. If you had any free hand, you would be massaging your temples in frustration right now.

Soojin’s tattoo took about an hour and she gleefully told you how much she loved it and loved you. You gave her whatever she needed for aftercare and watched as she crossed the street to Fallin’ Flower. Doyoung said, “Still think they’re not competition?”

“No, I don’t because they’re not curbing revenue from us.”

“Maybe we should open a cafe,” said Jungwoo.

You snorted, “Who would run it? Mark can’t even cook an egg, much less make a tulip out of crema and steamed milk.”

“Hey!” Mark shouted from the back. “You promised not to bring that up again!”

You heard Johnny ask, “Didn’t Gordon Ramsey respond to the tweet Donghyuck posted about that?”

“You all suck.”

It was around four in the evening and you were busy shoving chicken lo mein into your mouth with Jaehyun, Johnny, Taeyong, and Donghyuck in the break room when you thought you heard the entrance bell jingle. You had had a bunch of walk-ins throughout the day; seven people looking to get pierced and five wanting tattoos. And one was a hookup from a few nights ago that Jaehyun didn’t call back, which had you all either laughing at Jaehyun or giving him looks while he ushered her outside, his ears bright red.

Taeil opened the break room door and said, “There’s a woman here asking for you.”

“Me?” you asked, putting your takeout container down on a side table.

Johnny snickered, “Is it a hookup you didn’t call back?” Jaehyun threw a wrapped fortune cookie at Johnny’s head with a “Fuck you” accompanying it.

“I don’t think so,” you chuckled, following Taeil to the front of the shop.

The woman was making small talk with Doyoung and Jungwoo, and she brightened up when she saw you. “Hi,” she said, “I’m Yuna and I was wondering if you had time to tattoo me today.”

“We do,” you said. “It’s nice to meet you, Yuna. Do you know what you’re looking for?”

She nodded and pulled out her phone, showing you a photo of the word ‘first’ in elegant script. “A friend of mine recommended you specifically to do it.”

“I’m flattered,” you said. “Is this your first time getting a tattoo?”

She nodded and you said, “I’ll walk you through the process and then we’ll get started.”

You wrote out the stencil, showing it to Yuna, who clapped her hands and said, “It’s perfect!” She chose to place the tattoo on the back of her arm, right above the bone of her elbow. You had her fill out the paperwork and settle up payment, cleaned the area on the back of her left arm, and reaffirmed that it was exactly where she wanted it placed.

The tattoo didn’t take long given that it was just black lettering, no shading or coloring necessary. As you dressed the tattoo and gave her instructions on how to take care of it, you asked, “Can I ask who recommended me to you for tattooing?”

She replied, “Dokyeom did.”

You raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think I know a Dokyeom.”

“Oh!” She said, “Sorry, you probably know him as Seokmin. Dokyeom was his nickname back in high school.”

Something ugly twisted in your gut. “Got it,” you said. “That was very kind of him.”

Yuna nodded and said, “He’s the sweetest.”

“He is.” For some reason, the words felt bitter on your tongue.

“Thanks so much again,” Yuna chirped, giving you a bright smile. You did your best to return it despite the pit in your stomach. You wanted to ask her more about Seokmin and how they knew each other and what they were to one another but were scared, frankly, scared of the answer.

The day flew by with a couple of more walk-ins asking for various piercings and tattoos. When the clock hit eight, Jungwoo flipped the sign on the door from ‘open’ to ‘close.’ Taeyong stood up and stretched his arms above his head, sighing in satisfaction when he heard cracks and pops. Doyoung commented, “That’s how you know you’re getting old.”

Taeyong shot him a glare. “Sleep with one eye open, Doyoung, I know where you live.”

“Oh, I’m so scared.”

“What’s he doing here?” Yuta hissed and you all followed his gaze to the door, where Seokmin stood outside with a vase of flowers. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Johnny move to get the door so you hurried over quickly, opening it first.

“You need anything?”

Seokmin shook his head and held out the vase of flowers to you. “No, but I wanted to thank you for taking good care of Yuna today. She was kind of nervous to get her first tattoo and she told me just how amazing you were with her and how you made her feel so comfortable.”

That ugly feeling reared it head again as you accepted the vase. “Just doing my job.” You glanced at the flowers and asked, “What are these?”

“Yellow lilies,” he replied.

You nodded. “Thanks.” The word came out much more curt than you intended it to be and you caught the flash of surprise go across Seokmin’s face before it melted back into his warm smile.

“Just doing my job,” he parroted back at you. You wanted to give him a nicer smile but the question about just who Yuna was to him and who he was to her were still plaguing your mind. The two of you stood there in an awkward silence — a rare occurrence for someone like Seokmin — before he piped up quietly, “I’ll see you Monday, then.”

“Yeah, see you.” You retreated back into your store and watched as he made his way across the street, back to his. It was only then when you noticed his employees peering out the window and into your store, where you absolutely knew all your guys were glaring from.

You didn’t even have the energy to tell them to knock it off. The vase felt heavy in your hands as you placed it on a side table. You remembered the gardenia Seokmin had given you in the morning and you grabbed it from your station, placing it among the yellow lily bouquet.

Jaehyun nudged you and asked, “Are you going to Jungkook’s on tonight?”

“I honestly totally forgot about that,” you said. Jungkook was a friend of yours and Jaehyun’s from college. He took over his father’s company right after you all graduated so you rarely saw him since he was always so busy. Recently, though, he successfully completed a merger with a different company, and he finally was able to justify a break for himself, which included throwing a party in his uptown penthouse.

You weren’t really sure you were in much of a partying mood right now, though.

Jaehyun said, “I think you should go, we haven’t seen him in a while.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“I can pick you up at around ten,” Jaehyun said, “and we can go over together.”

“Perfect.”

It turned out that every one of your college friends going to Jungkook’s party remembered it but you. You got a FaceTime call from Jihyo, who asked what you were wearing and then gasped when you said a t-shirt and jeans. “You cannot do that.”

“Why not? What’s wrong with it?” you asked her, taking a few steps away to show her the full outfit as if it would change her mind.

“How often do you get to be all dressed up?”

“Jihyo…”

“Y/n…”

You crumbled under her stern gaze and sighed, “Fine, fine. I’ll look in my closet.” You opened it up, rifling through it until you came upon a periwinkle blue halter top and the matching skirt. You couldn’t remember the last time you wore it, maybe to some club in your senior year?

You showed the set to Jihyo, who squealed and nodded emphatically. “I remember that one! You always looked so sexy in it! Plus, it’ll show off your tattoos and I know lots of guys who’ll love that.”

“I’m not trying to get laid at Jungkook’s.”

“You may not be trying but that doesn’t mean you can’t.”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Wait, wait! Are you coming alone or are you going in with someone?”

“Jaehyun’s coming with me.”

Jihyo wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and you said, “You and I both know it’s not like that.”

“I’m not sure why it isn’t, though, that man is fine.”

You made a face. “I’ve seen Jaehyun take soy sauce shots and drink milk straight from the carton then put it back.”

Jihyo waved you off. “Semantics.”

“I’m hanging up.”

You met Jaehyun in your lobby about fifteen minutes later and he gave you a once over and a whistle. You punched him in the shoulder and he just chuckled, “I haven’t seen you like this since college.”

“Yeah, I know.”

He glanced at you again and said, “Jungkook should throw parties more often.”

“Jeong Jaehyun, do you want to die?”

He just smirked back at you and the two of you got in a cab to Jungkook’s high-rise. You rang the buzzer for Jungkook’s apartment and you weren’t sure who replied and buzzed you up but you had a feeling it was a very, very drunk BamBam.

“Yo!” Jungkook answered the door, dressed in a tight dress shirt and slacks. “You two look great! Thanks for coming!” He dapped Jaehyun up and gave you a tight hug. Then, he gently poked the tattoo on your shoulder — a small abstract representation of the moon and the ocean that Taeyong did for a you a couple of months back. “This one new?”

“Not really,” you said. “Got it about six months ago.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened. “Shit, has it really been that long since we’ve seen each other.”

“Time flies,” you said. Jungkook nodded and stepped aside, letting you and Jaehyun cross into his apartment. He was lucky that owned the entire floor because if you were his neighbor and the music was this loud, you’d be issuing a noise complaint right now.

Jungkook showed the two of you to the bar, manned by two shirtless bartenders. Jungkook introduced them as Jimin and Jin, who both agreed to work the party as a favor to Jungkook. Jaehyun ordered a screwdriver while you said you’d take some of Jin’s specialty sangria.

“My favorite friends!” You and Jaehyun watched Dongmin stumble toward you, draping his arms around your shoulders in a hug. You and Jaehyun smiled as you steadied Dongmin; he had never been particularly great at holding his liquor, which meant that Dongmin didn’t often get drunk. It would be endearing to see your normally cool and collected friend red-faced and staggering if you weren’t worried that he was just going to tip over at any moment.

You patted Dongmin on the back and asked, “Are you going to be okay standing up on your own?”

“Totally fine,” he said, giving you a drunken grin. He reached up to squish Jaehyun’s cheeks. “I missed this face.”

Jaehyun gave you a look that screamed “Help me!” but you just smirked at him and said, “You’re doing great, Jae.”

You ignored his protests as you slipped away to find some more of your friends. You located Jihyo and Mina, who were doing rum shots with Taeyang and Hyunjae. “You look even sexier in real life,” Jihyo said. She pointed at you and asked the other three, “Doesn’t Y/n look hot?”

“Definitely,” Hyunjae said. Mina and Taeyang nodded in agreement. Distantly, you heard the buzzer go off again and, again, BamBam took up the task of answering it with a garbled yell. You glanced around the penthouse; you thought everyone was here.

“Who else could be coming?” you asked Jihyo.

“I think Jungkook invited some friends from high school.”

You hummed and took the shot Mina poured for you, setting your cup of sangria down and tilting your head back, gulping the shot down just as Jungkook opened his front door. You choked on your drink as you saw Seokmin walk in with two other Fallin’ Flower workers — Mingyu and Minghao — and Yuna.

Oh, you have got to be kidding. Not only were the two people you really didn’t want to think about here together, but you weren’t in the mood for Jaehyun to get into some altercation with Minghao and Mingyu.

“Give me another shot,” you demanded, turning back to your friends. Taeyang and Hyunjae shared a glance but Hyunjae still poured you some more Bacardi. You relished in the burn of the coconut rum, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand. “Excuse me.” You left without another explanation, searching for Jaehyun. You needed to get to him before he saw Seokmin, Mingyu, and Minghao on his own, and you also just wanted to avoid seeing Seokmin and Yuna together.

“Thanks for your help,” Jaehyun deadpanned when you found him near one of the floor to ceiling windows, free of Dongmin.

“Sorry,” you muttered, swiping Jaehyun’s drink from him and taking a sip.

He snatched it back from you and said, “You seem kind of tense right now.”

“Okay, I’m going to tell you something and I need you to not freak the fuck out.”

“Okay…”

“Minghao, Seokmin, and Mingyu are here.”

Jaehyun immediately straightened up and his jaw clenched. His eyes scanned the crowd and it was clear when he found them. You grabbed his shoulder to bring his attention back to you. “This is the first time Jungkook’s been able to relax in a while. Please don’t start some inane argument tonight.”

Jaehyun exhaled through his nose and said, “I won’t.”

You nodded but there was still an uneasy feeling in your stomach. You couldn’t tell if it was from the possibility of some blowup between the guys or if it was because of Seokmin and Yuna, who you spotted in a corner together, their heads bent close to one another.

You took in Seokmin’s profile, all the sharp points of his face that were contrary to his gentle personality. He was handsome, undoubtedly so, and it made your heart hurt just a little.

Whatever he and Yuna were talking about, it was intense and passionate and you wondered if it would end in some equally intense kiss. You didn’t want to watch and find out.

“I’m getting another drink,” you announced to Jaehyun. You made your way to the bar station again when you bumped into someone, who just barely avoided spilling their drink on you. “Fuck, I’m so sorry.”

“You’re all good,” the man said. He smiled at you, the corner of his mouth dimpling. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Chan.”

“Y/n.” You shook his hand and asked, “How do you know Jungkook?”

“We studied abroad together,” he explained. “What about you?”

“College too,” you replied. “I’m sorry, I feel like he definitely mentioned you before but I can’t remember.”

Chan shook his head good-naturedly. “It’s okay. He’s clearly got a lot of friends to remember.” He motioned with his drink to the apartment and you laughed a little.

“Clearly.” You pointed at his drink. “What do you have?”

He peered inside and swirled his cup a little, both of you watching as the liquid sloshed around inside. “I think it’s a Long Island iced tea but Jungkook just shoved it in my hand when I arrived. I really haven’t drank any.”

“Can I try?”

“Sure.” He handed you the cup and you took a long pull from it, feeling the delicious rush of alcohol to your head.

You pushed it back into Chan’s hand. “It’s good, try some.”

He took a drink and said, “Wow, that is good.” He handed the cup back to you and you took turns drinking from it, the booze making your head feel light and airy.

The music picked up into a slow, seductive song and you grabbed Chan’s arm, setting the drink down on some random surface. “Do you want to dance?”

“Yeah, let’s do it!” You giggled at his enthusiasm and dragged him closer to the middle of the room, where people had started pairing off to grind against one another. You drew Chan closer to you, guiding his hands to your hips. He pressed your back to his chest, resting his chin on your shoulder as you swayed to the beat together. Some hazy voice at the back of your mind told you to look around to see if Seokmin was dancing with Yuna but it quickly disappeared when Chan nuzzled your neck, his hot breath against your skin making you shiver. Your hands slid to rest atop his on your hips and you pressed yourself closer to him.

You whined when you felt his lips finally make contact with the nape of your neck, sending electricity pulsing through you. You flipped in his arms, draping your arms around his shoulders as he wrapped around your waist. You tipped your head up and kissed him, running your hands through his hair as you still moved to the rhythm of the music.

“This is a little forward,” Chan murmured in your ear, low and slow, “and I don’t usually do this and I’m a little buzzed but do you want to get out of here?”

“Yes, please,” you answered breathlessly and you peeled yourself away from him, grabbing his hand and leading him to the door. You shot Jaehyun and Jihyo separate texts to let them know you were leaving with Chan. Jihyo was the first to reply, requesting that you share your location with her. Your fingers fumbled but you eventually sent your location to her. You didn’t read Jaehyun’s reply, too occupied with peppering kisses along Chan’s neck as he ordered an Uber for the two of you.

You stumbled up the stairs of his walk-up, eventually coming to his front door. He unlocked it as quickly as he could and as soon as it closed behind the two of you, he pressed you against it and kissed you again.

As you two made your way languidly down the hall to his bedroom, Seokmin’s face flashed bright in your mind and you started wondering what it would be like kissing him, grating your hips against his, pressing pecks along his elegant neck.

You fell back against Chan’s bed and he hovered of you, hands hot on the bare skin of your waist. You slipped your hands underneath his shirt, feeling the rows of lean muscle. He kissed along your shoulder, pressing a particularly reverent kiss to your tattoo, before continuing a path along your collarbone. He began trailing closer to the chest when you pushed your hand against his shoulder, gently urging him away from you. Chan immediately backed away and asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” you said. You took a deep breath. Seokmin’s smiling face appeared in your mind again and there was a knot in your stomach. You said softly, “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can sleep with you.”

Chan said, “No need to apologize for anything.”

You smiled weakly at him. “You’re much nicer than most of the guys I’ve turned down for sex.”

“Well, being nice about that is, like, the bare minimum of being a decent person.” Chan glanced at the clock at his bedside and said, “I’m not totally comfortable letting you go off into the night on your own so you can sleep here and I can sleep on the couch.”

“I’m not kicking you out of your bed, Chan,” you said.

“I’m seriously okay with sleeping on the couch.”

“Chan, it’s your bed. If anything, I can sleep on the couch.”

“No.”

You said, “We can share your bed.”

Chan raised an eyebrow. “Are you comfortable with that?”

“You just had your tongue in my mouth and we almost had sex,” you said. “I think I can handle sharing a bed.”

Chan barked out a laugh and said, “Got it. Let me get something more comfortable for you.”

Chan climbed out of his bed, staggering a little drunkenly. He righted himself quickly and reached into his drawers, pulling out a t-shirt and basketball shorts for you. He turned around when you changed and clambered into bed next to you when you laid down.

“Can I ask you a question?” he asked.

You hummed in assent and he said, “Do you have any more tattoos? Other than the moon and ocean on your shoulder?”

You nodded, sitting up and reaching over to turn his dim bedside lamp on. “Yeah.” You showed Chan your underarm, where your birthday was written out in Roman numerals. You also lifted your (his) t-shirt and pulled the band of the shorts down slightly to show him your hip, where you had a sprig of lavender.

Chan said, “I’ve always thought about getting one but I keep chickening out.”

“You could drop by my shop some time and we could have a consultation.”

Chan’s eyes widened. “You’re a tattoo artist?”

“Yeah, I even did some of Jungkook’s.”

“That’s wickedly cool.”

You grinned at him. “Thanks.” Your eyelids drooped, either from the alcohol or your own tiredness but it was enough for Chan to reach over you and turn the light off.

“We can talk in the morning if you’re still here,” Chan said. “Let’s go to sleep now, though.”

“Okay. Good night, Chan.”

“Night, Y/n.”

Your head was throbbing and your mouth was as dry as the desert when you woke up. You heard Chan groan behind you and you guessed he was feeling just as shitty as you were. “I’m never drinking again,” Chan grumbled.

“Never say never,” you replied. “But I’m inclined to agree.”

Chan huffed a laugh and said, “Do you have to get to work this morning?”

“No, the shop’s closed on Sundays.”

He said, “Do you want to go to this new cafe? My friends told me they have good hangover baked goods.”

“Sounds perfect.”

You both struggled to get out of bed and Chan let you use his shower first. He also let you keep his t-shirt and shorts, which you wore over your party set, since wearing it by itself at eleven in the morning was not the vibe. You, unfortunately, did have to wear the party heels you stuffed your feet into because there was simply no way you’d fit into Chan’s shoes.

You insisted on paying for the cab to wherever Chan was taking you, finally getting Chan to agree to let you do so as long as he paid for the food and drinks. When you stepped out of the car, you felt fucking stupid that you didn’t realize where he was taking you.

Fallin’ Flower.

You pursed your lips as he held the door open for you. You didn’t go over to Seokmin’s flower shop as much as he came over to Neo Tattoos and Piercings so you weren’t sure what his staff’s reaction would be to you, their persona non grata, strolling in.

Immediately, your mood soured when you spotted Yuna. Logically, you knew you shouldn’t feel this negatively towards her. If she and Seokmin had a thing, if they were boyfriend and girlfriend, that was none of your business, but you couldn’t help the way your heart sank at the thought.

You wondered if you were doing a bad job of hiding that you didn’t like her because, when you walked in, she looked almost appalled and angry. Mingyu was at the counter and you mentally cursed as Chan and you walked up to it. Mingyu looked up with a broad smile but it swiftly slipped off when he spotted you and Chan. “What are you doing here?” he asked brusquely.

Chan frowned, taken aback. “Excuse me?”

Mingyu’s eyes narrowed at you and he spoke past Chan to you, “You have some fucking nerve.”

You almost rolled your eyes. This fucking feud really was the most obnoxious thing you’ve ever experienced. But you had to set an example for the rest of your staff and friends at the shop and, honestly, your hangover didn’t put you in any mood for this bullshit so you tried your best to ignore Mingyu’s attitude. Chan, however, did not. “Don’t talk to her that way.”

Mingyu’s head snapped towards him. “Are you her boyfriend or something?”

“Mingyu! Do you have—” One of the other workers, Jihoon, came out of the florist part of Fallin’ Flower, freezing when he saw you. His expression immediately became colder and he said, “You’re here.”

Chan scowled. “Is this really how you treat customers? Because if it is—”

“Chan,” you said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll explain later but don’t get worked up over this. I’m fine.”

He looked at you incredulously. “Are you serious?”

“Just stay out of this,” you muttered to him. You turned back to Mingyu and squared your shoulders. Despite Mingyu’s larger frame, you’ve seen how he acted like a golden retriever with Seokmin, so whatever intimidation he was trying to carry out failed miserably. “I’ll take a—”

“You’re still going to order here?”

“I have a right to be here as a paying customer,” you replied tersely. “If you walked into the shop and asked for a piercing or tattoo, we wouldn’t turn you away.”

Mingyu sneered at you and from next to him, Jihoon opened his mouth to say something but they were cut off by two sharp calls of their names. Seokmin rushed out of the flower shop and into the cafe, and you were a little startled by how he looked. His eyes were a little bloodshot and puffy and his shoulders were slumped. Still, he said sternly, “This is not how we treat people here.”

“But—” Mingyu began to protest but Seokmin gave him a warning glare. Seokmin mad was much scarier than you ever envisioned. You couldn’t even fathom what he would look like mad before now.

“Go to the back and cool off. Both of you.” Jihoon and Mingyu left and Seokmin took over the register. “I’m sorry about that, Y/n. What can I get you today?” He gave you a polite smile but it didn’t reach his eyes.

You frowned but gave him your order with Chan giving his own after. Seokmin rang you up and, though you tried to pull out your card first, Chan beat you by tapping his own on the chip reader. “Nice try,” he said, nudging your shoulder. Out of the corner of your eye, it almost looked like Seokmin was queasy. Maybe he was just as hungover as you were.

You shuffled to the pick up area and watched as Joshua and Minghao made your drinks and handed you your food. Minghao’s glare sent an unpleasant shiver down your spine but he didn’t say anything to you.

You didn’t want to stay in Fallin’ Flower any longer than you needed to, so once you got your orders, you suggested that you sit in the small park a few blocks over. As you left, you swore you heard Yuna mutter, “Heartless,” as you passed her but you couldn’t be sure.

You were almost down the street when one of the flower shop workers, Hansol, came running after you. He held out a small bundle of flowers and said breathlessly, “On the house.” He sprinted back into the shop and slammed the door.

You and Chan exchanged equally perplexed looks as you stared at the flowers. You two still continued on your way to the park. You were lucky it was a cloudy day because the sun would have been way too bright for the state you were in. The fresh air helped soothe your raging headache a little and as you settled onto a bench, Chan said, “You said you’d explain what the hell was up with the way they treated you back there.”

You sighed heavily and told Chan all about the rivalry between your stores across the street from one another. He made a face. “That just seems stupid.”

“It is. Seokmin — he was the one who took our orders — and I have tried to get them to cool off but it seems like they just keep inciting one another.”

Chan frowned and said, “They seemed pretty sharp with you even though you’re not the one carrying out this feud business.”

“They’re just hostile to anyone at Neo.”

“I have half a mind to write a bad review about customer service.”

“If you did that, you’d have to write one about my shop too since that’s how my guys act when Fallin’ Flower guys come around.”

Chan gave you a small smile as he sipped his coffee. “Then I won’t.” He looked at the flowers next to you on the bench and said, “Is this part of the feud too?”

“I’m not sure; this is new.”

Chan eyed the flowers and said, “I think those are yellow carnations.”

“You’re a flower expert?”

He blushed a little. “No but my mother’s an avid gardener.”

“Why would they give these to me for free when they obviously don’t like me?” you wondered aloud.

“Maybe they mean something,” Chan suggested. “Flowers all symbolize something.”

You nodded slowly and said, “Maybe. I’ll look this up later, I don’t think I can stomach looking at a screen right now.”

“Same here.”

You and Chan finished your coffee and food and parted ways after exchanging numbers, promising to hang out another time without a) tipsily making out or b) being hungover.

“I still feel like walking death,” you said to Jaehyun as you started to prepare for the work day. Monday came around much sooner than you wanted, especially given that you were still recovering from Jungkook’s party. “How are you so chirpy?”

Jaehyun shrugged with a smirk. “Better alcohol tolerance?”

“Screw you and your genetics.” You massaged your temples and asked Jungwoo, “What’s on schedule for today?”

You zoned out while Jungwoo read what appointments were made for the day. Blessedly, you only had one appointment on tap and it was much later in the evening, which meant you had a fairly relaxing day even if there were walk-ins.

As everyone dispersed to their stations, you remembered something. The yellow carnations. You were about to whip out your phone when you recalled that Johnny was pretty well-versed in flower symbolism given that he specialized in realistic tattoos, specifically flowers and plants. He was the one who tattooed the lavender sprig on your hip, after all.

“Johnny?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you know what yellow carnations symbolize?”

He thought for a second and said, “I can’t remember; I know there was a client who almost got them tattooed but their friend stopped them before she could for some reason. Why?”

You contemplated telling him about the flowers from Hansol but decided against it. It seemed like the flowers couldn’t have any positive connotation to them, which you had already figured, and you didn’t want to fan the flame anymore so you responded, “I’m coming for your brand, Suh.”

He glared playfully at you. “I’ll kill you before you can even try.”

You chuckled and shoved him lightly, earning a laugh from him as well before you both went back to getting ready. You pulled out your phone this time and plugged the flowers into the search bar.

Your stomach dropped when you read the first result.

Yellow carnations: rejection, disdain, and disappointment with someone.

Well, that was certainly a very clear message. And you weren’t super surprised. That doesn’t mean that it didn’t stump you. You understood the disdain part — it was very clear how much Fallin’ Flower employees didn’t like you or the rest of the Neo Tattoos and Piercings crew, but what was up with rejection and disappointment in someone. As far as you knew, you didn’t reject anyone they would care about recently.

What a bunch of weird guys. Still, the flowers were pretty so you put them in a vase with some water and set them up in the window.

Not that you were keeping track or anything, but you’ve spotted Yuna going into Fallin’ Flower a lot more in the past few days. You tried to push down the ache in your chest when you’d see her enter the shop.

You were fortunate that things had been hectic recently. It seemed like there were a lot of birthdays going on, thus a lot of people coming in for celebratory tattoos and piercings. You didn’t have a lot of time to think about Seokmin and the way he looked when you last saw him nor about the rest of the Fallin’ Flower workers and Yuna in those moments, but it was safe to say that in your free time, you were pretty in your head about all that stuff.

You knew the guys saw your change in demeanor and you appreciated the way they tried to cheer you up. Yuta and Mark began calling each other increasingly ridiculous pet names; your favorite one was Yuta’s ‘my sugar plum spice cake.’ Johnny and Taeyong dragged you into random dance parties in your down time. Doyoung and Jaehyun bought you your favorite treats. Jungwoo and Taeil belted the lyrics to your favorite songs. It made you smile and it warmed your heart just how much your friends wanted to make you happy, but you knew your sadness wouldn’t just go away.

Chan dropped by your store one day with a bouquet of chrysanthemums, telling you that he had looked up what the yellow carnation meant and that he hoped these would be a kinder replacement for them since they represented joy and optimism. You ignored the curious looks from Taeil, Doyoung, and Jungwoo as you placed the chrysanthemums in a vase on their desk.

For some reason, you didn’t want to take the carnation down. It almost felt like giving into the defeat by getting rid of them. You wanted the guys at Fallin’ Flower to look at the bouquet and know that they didn’t scare you one bit.

It was the end of the day and you just finished tattooing your last client, Chaeyoung, resting up in the break room with Yuta and Jaehyun, when the bell in your shop sounded very loudly, which meant the door was opened with a lot of force. You heard shouting from Taeil, Jungwoo, and Doyoung, catching only a bit of what they were saying. “You’re not allowed back there!” cried Jungwoo.

“Hey!” Doyoung huffed.

Seokmin burst into the room, looking a little panicked. Yuta and Jaehyun immediately stood up and you followed them quickly, placing your hands on both of their chests before they could do anything further. You leveled Seokmin with a firm look and said, “Only employees are allowed back here, Seokmin.”

“I know, I know, I just need to ask you about something.”

“Okay, let’s do it outside then.”

You brushed past Jaehyun and Yuta and followed Seokmin outside, pulling him around the corner so that you were away from prying eyes. “What is it?” you asked.

“The yellow carnations in your window display. Who gave them to you?”

“Hansol from your shop.”

Seokmin’s frown deepened and he sighed, “I was afraid of that.”

“I know what they mean, Seokmin.”

“You do?”

You nodded, staring down at your shoes. He said, “I swear I didn’t ask them to do that.”

“I know,” you mumbled quietly. “I know you wouldn’t do that.”

A tense silence fell over the two of you. You weren’t sure what else to say to him and then Seokmin, almost inaudibly, said, “Those chrysanthemums are nice.”

“Pardon me?”

A little louder. “The chrysanthemums are nice.”

“Thanks.”

Seokmin crossed his arms and leaned against the outer wall of your shop. “Did your boyfriend give them to you?”

“My what?”

“Your boyfriend,” Seokmin said. “The one you left Jungkook’s party with.”

You stilled. You didn’t even think that Seokmin saw you at Jungkook’s, much less that he saw you leave with Chan. You said slowly, “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“You seemed awfully cozy with him.” Your eyebrows raised at Seokmin’s flippant tone and even he seemed shocked by what came out of his mouth.

Something white hot burned in your chest. Who was he to judge you about anything? “What’s it to you?”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“Save it.” You scowled. “And tell your boys at the shop that they need to do a lot more to scare me off.”

You turned on your heel but Seokmin grabbed your elbow, spinning you around to face him again. “Wait!” he said. “I came here to apologize on behalf of Fallin’ Flower about the yellow carnations.”

“Okay. Is that all?”

“I—”

“Hey!” Johnny rounded the corner. “What the hell are you doing?” Before you could react, Johnny’s pulling Seokmin away from you and shoving him back.

Seokmin stumbled back a little and put his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t—”

Johnny pulled himself up to his full height as you saw Mingyu storming across the street.

Oh, great, just what you needed today.

Yuta, Jaehyun, and Donghyuck came around the corner, which seemed to prompt Jeonghan, Soonyoung, and Chan (also known as Dino and not be confused with the Chan you met at Jungkook’s party) to cross the street and join whatever argument Johnny and Mingyu were in.

There were so many voices and so much noise and so much chaos and all you wanted was some fucking peace and quiet to gather your thoughts and calm yourself down. You wanted to run but you knew you were responsible for your staff. Plus, the last thing any of you needed was police being called in for disturbance.

As the voices got louder and louder, you took a deep breath and yelled, “Everyone, shut up!”

All involved parties seemed shocked by your shout. They all turned to you and you dragged a hand over your face, feeling the pent up anger and frustration, not just for the past few days, but from when this ridiculous feud began, start to bubble to the surface. “For once,” you said quietly and steadily, “for once, I just want a day where nobody antagonizes someone else across the street. Clearly, that’s too much to ask from any of you grown men to do. I can’t believe that this fight has been going on for this fucking long over some minor fucking thing that just snowballed into this mess. I’m so sick of listening to everyone bitch and moan about the shop across the street and of being antagonized just for going over to the other side. I’m sure Seokmin is sick of it too.”

You turned towards your employees and said, “We’re closing early today. I’m going to take a long walk and I want you all to stay in the break room and reflect long and hard today. Do I make myself clear?”

Donghyuck weakly protested, “But what about the Fallin’—”

“Seokmin can do whatever he wants with them, I don’t really care.” You tried your best to not think about the way Seokmin flinched at your words. “But as long as you work at Neo Tattoos and Piercings, you’ll do as I say. I’ll ask again: do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

You didn’t look at any of them as you brushed past and started off down the street on your long, long walk.

You walked down to the pier on the other side of the city. You used to come here a lot when you first started Neo Tattoos and Piercings, but you haven’t had a chance to do it in a while. You leaned against one of the guardrails, staring out at the bay. The breeze felt nice on your skin and you breathed in the salty air of the brackish water.

You felt someone stop a few feet away from you and you didn’t even need to look to know it was Seokmin. You side-eyed him and he said, “I swear I didn’t follow you.”

“I know.”

Silence.

“I’m having my staff members reflect on their actions as well.”

“I’m glad for you.”

Silence.

“I wasn’t judging you about leaving with someone from Jungkook’s party.”

You rubbed a hand across your face. “I— I know you weren’t. I’m sorry, I think I was just— these past few days have been emotionally draining for me so I guess I lashed out and I apologize for that.”

Seokmin shuffled a little closer to you. You didn’t move away. He said, “I’m sorry as well. About the yellow carnations Hansol gave you. I gave him an earful about it; he’s a good kid, but he was egged on by some of the older guys.”

You snorted. “He looked scared shitless when he handed them to me.”

Seokmin laughed a little. “I can only imagine.”

Silence.

Seokmin asked, “Do you know what the other flowers meant?”

“What other flowers?”

“The other ones I’ve given you?”

You wracked your brain. “The, uh…”

“The gardenia and the yellow lilies.”

“Right. No, I don’t know what they mean.”

Seokmin replied, “Yellow lilies symbolize thankfulness.” Thank you flowers for tattooing Yuna.

“Right.”

Silence.

“What does the gardenia mean, then?”

Seokmin was looking anywhere but you. He muttered something but you couldn’t hear it over the churning of the bay water. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Seokmin glanced at you. “Secret love,” he said finally. “It means secret love.”

Secret love.

Your heart stopped.

There was no way Seokmin was confessing feelings for you. You whirled on him, furious. “Are you fucking for real right now?”

Seokmin’s eyes grew giant. “What?”

“You’re seriously confessing a secret love for me while you have a girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend? I don’t have a girlfriend!”

“Yuna!” you practically shouted. “You’re dating Yuna!”

Seokmin blinked at you three times before saying, “I’m not dating Yuna.”

It was your turn to blink at him. “What?”

Seokmin said, “Yuna’s a good friend of mine but she would never date me.”

“How’s that possible? You’re handsome and kind and generous and—” You stopped yourself, feeling your cheeks heat up.

Seokmin grinned at you, relaxing as he shuffled close enough that your shoulders brushed against one another. “She has a girlfriend, Y/n. She’d sooner date you than me.”

You didn’t expect that. “Oh.” You fiddled with the rings around your fingers. “Then why was she giving me such nasty looks the last time I was in Fallin’ Flower?”

“That… that’s my fault.”

Your eyes narrowed and you shifted away from him. Seokmin quickly added, “I didn’t ask her to do it! I… I just…” He sighed, “When we were at Jungkook’s party, I was supposed to confess to you there and ask you on a date and while I was talking through the plan with Yuna, we saw you and that guy... you know…”

You were pretty sure you were very up-close-and-personal with Chan by then. “Yeah…”

Seokmin flushed a little as he continued, “I… I was so hurt by that that I just started crying and Yuna, Mingyu, Minghao, and I actually left pretty soon after that because I was so upset.”

Your heart cracked. “I’m sorry, Seokmin.”

His face was pink as he waved you off. “You didn’t know. I was just being a baby about it.”

“No, I get it. I was… the past few days have been so hard because I thought you and Yuna were dating.”

Seokmin’s head whipped toward you so fast you were scared he got whiplash. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Does that mean that you like me too.”

You felt a shy smile creep across your face. “Yes, Seokmin, that means I like you too.” You chanced a look at him.

His grin was as bright as the sun and before you knew it, he was wrapping you in his arms and picking you up, spinning. You yelped and gripped his shoulders tight, whining, “Seokmin, put me down! I’m getting dizzy!”

“Sorry, sorry!” He set you down but didn’t let go of you, arms wound around your waist. “I’m just so happy.”

“Me too.” You paused. “So all those times you brought me flowers for the shop, they had some hidden love confession?”

“Well, not all of them.”

“The red tulips?”

“Yeah, those meant ‘true love.’”

“What about the peonies?”

“‘You’re the most beautiful.’”

“The sunflowers?”

“Adoration and pure love.”

“The—”

Seokmin cut you off, “Can I kiss you?”

“Hell yeah.”

Seokmin pulled you closer and pecked you chastely on the lips. You scoffed playfully at him, “You call that a kiss?”

“Guess I need you to show me how it’s done—”

You dragged him into a passionate kiss and Seokmin’s hands grabbed tightly at your hips. You slid your tongue into his mouth and you swore you heard him whimper when you tugged on his hair. You filed that away for later usage.

You parted with him, delighting in his half-lidded, glazed eyes and his still slightly-parted mouth. “Oh, we’re going to have so much fun together,” you purred, planting a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah,” he said absent-mindedly. He brought your knuckles to his lips, pressing reverent kisses on each one.

“Can’t wait to break the news to everyone.”

Seokmin groaned, “Don’t remind me. I don’t want to think about them right now.” He buried his face in your neck.

“Don’t worry. Right now, it’s just us.”

You and Seokmin thought it would be better to actually deal with the rivalry between your shops before revealing that you were dating to them. You stopped about a block away from your respective stores — you pulled him in some alley for another quick make-out session — and you went ahead of him to Neo Tattoos and Piercings.

When you opened the break room door, Donghyuck instantly threw himself at you, wrapping his arms around your legs. “We’re sorry!” he wailed.

“Donghyuck, get off her,” Doyoung scolded.

“We really are sorry though, Y/n,” Mark said, trying to pry Donghyuck off of you.

“We thought we were protecting you and each other,” Johnny said with a sigh. “But we know that it wasn’t the right way to go about it.” He helped Mark peel Donghyuck from you.

“Please accept our humble apology cake,” Taeyong said, motioning to the break room table, where a cute, circular, pastel blue and white cake sat with green lettering: We’re sorry for being immature assholes.

You approached the cake, glancing down at it. “How did you guys even get this done on such short notice?”

“We called Sicheng and his friend, Kun, is a baker and he had this cake available and we just asked him to write that,” explained Yuta.

“Do you like it?” Jungwoo asked.

“What flavor is it?”

“Chocolate with vanilla frosting layers,” Taeil said.

You turned to your staff and said, “You know I hate chocolate with vanilla layers, right?”

Donghyuck cried out, “We’re sorry, Y/n!”

Doyoung grumbled, “I knew we should have gotten a different flavor. Taeyong, this is all your fault.”

“My fault? Jaehyun ordered the cake!”

“Wow, way to just throw me under the bus there.”

“Guys, guys!” You said before they could erupt into further hysteria. “I’m kidding, I actually love chocolate cake with vanilla frosting.”

“You’re evil, you know that?” Johnny said.

“Call it payback,” you said with a small shrug. “Now, let’s dig in.”

As you ate the cake on paper plates and with plastic forks and knives, you said to them, “You know you still have to apologize to the Fallin’ Flower staff, right?”

You felt the wave of dissatisfaction but Taeyong replied before anyone could say anything stupid. “We understand and we will. We also hope that they’ll apologize to us.”

You nodded. “I’m sure Seokmin is seeing to that.”

“Speaking of him,” Yuta said, swallowing his piece of cake, “are you going to tell him how you feel?”

You choked on your cake. “You knew?”

Taeil hummed, “It was kind of obvious,” just as Mark yelped, “What?”

“Did you seriously not know?” Jaehyun asked.

“No!”

“Mark, I swear you’re so dense,” Johnny said.

“I am not!”

Your staffs did, begrudgingly, go over to each respective shop and apologize to the other staff. Both you and Seokmin knew the ice wouldn’t thaw overnight so, as a way of trying to quicken the process, you both begged Jungkook to let you use his penthouse to throw a party for your staff under the guise of it being the anniversary of both of your shops. Jungkook, being the good friend that he was, let you on the condition that nothing gets broken.

The party started out a little tense at first, given the long history between your shops and that neither you nor Seokmin told your staffs that the other would be there.

The ice thawed a lot quicker than you expected though. Joshua and Johnny bonded over growing up in America; Hansol, Wonwoo, and Mark traded rap lyrics and favorite musicians; Donghyuck took shots with Soonyoung, Doyoung, Dino, and Taeil; it turned out that Jaehyun and Seungcheol went to the same gym; Jihoon and Taeyong both had a passion for music production; Jeonghan and Yuta had a kindred fondness for pulling pranks on their friends; Jungwoo and Seungkwan became fast friends; and it turned out that you all shared a mutual friend with Jun and Minghao in Sicheng.

As you all sat around at Jungkook’s enormous table, exchanging stories and eating the food you ordered in, Seokmin held your hand under the table. You still hadn’t told your staffs that you were dating yet, even after your conversation with the guys. You wanted to wait until the dust finally settled, which it seemed it had, but before you could say anything, Soonyoung poked Seokmin’s neck. “Dude, is that a hickey?”

Seokmin dropped his fork and his hand flew up to his neck to cover the spot Soonyoung touched. He let go of your hand and grabbed his phone, flipping the camera and tilting his head. Sure enough, there was a small bruise just under his jaw.

Whoops.

Yuta pointed accusingly at you. “That was you, wasn’t it, Y/n?”

“Yeah, that was me.” You leaned your head on Seokmin’s shoulder. “Can you blame me though? I’m just so happy to have my boyfriend with me.”

And like that, the room descended into chaos with people cheering and shouting and whining, “Why didn’t you tell us!”

Seokmin put his phone down and rested his head on top of yours, muttering just loud enough for you to hear, “Who would have thought that we’d ever get here?”

“If you told me we’d all be eating together and that we’d be dating, I would have told you to pinch me.”

“By the way,” Seokmin said, his voice cutting through the din and quelling it, “I have something for you.” He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out one long-stemmed red rose. “For you.” He handed it to you.

Well, you didn’t need the internet to know what a rose meant.

#lee seokmin x reader #dokyeom x reader #seokmin x reader #dk x reader #lee seokmin #seokmin #dokyeom #dk #seventeen #seventeen x reader #seventeen imagines #seokmin scenarios #kpop

789 notes · View notes

starlitmark · 9 months

Text

Summary: You were so close, but some things aren’t meant to be. Pairing: bunny!Jaemin x fem human!reader Tropes: established relationship au, hybrid au Genre: angst, a little fluff Rating: PG 13 Warnings: mentions of death, mentions of surgery, severe cramping, blood, language miscarriages, lots of crying Word Count: 3,398 Note: Everyone can blame @raibebe for this

Neo Hybridverse Masterlist || Cashmere Lop!Jaemin Masterlist

Jaemin has expressed for years now that he wants multiple kids. You tried so hard for so long to have Miyoung, and she’s more than you could ever ask for. She’s ten months old now and lights up your entire world daily. Her oversized tan floppy ears continuously fall in her face wherever she crawls off to. You giggle slightly each time you hear her make a little annoyed noise. Jaemin is at work right now, so it’s just you and Miyoung at home until late this evening.

In reality, it’s you, Miyoung, and the tiny unborn baby you just learned about. Most people would be scared or nervous about having two kids so close in age. After all, by the time this baby is born, Miyoung will only be a year and a half old. You aren’t worried about it at all. If you’re being completely honest, you’re rather excited. Jaemin told you not too long ago that he wanted another one already. You can’t blame him, even with your daughter so young. You wanted another one already, too. Once you saw those two little pink lines on three different tests, it was evident that you and your husband got your wish. This time, instead of telling him about your pregnancy, you just left the tests out and decided to let his nose do the work. As if on cue, the front door of your home pops open and shut again. Your eyebrows furrow, knowing Jaemin shouldn’t be home long after you put Miyoung to bed. Though, you only put your daughter to bed half an hour ago. You hear your husband sigh, followed by footsteps approaching you.

“Hi, sweetheart,” he says, voice laced with exhaustion.

“Hey,” you start, turning around to wrap your arms around him, “I thought you weren’t supposed to be home until eleven.”

“Supervisor cut my shift short.”

His voice sounds exhausted but not as usual after a long day at work. It borders on sounding depressed rather than tired. You search his face for any hints as to why he’s feeling the way he is. Nothing seems to give it away, though.

“Did something happen?” you ask gently.

Jaemin worries on his lower lip, “I lost a patient in surgery today.” he admits, “The little premature puppy baby. I was trying so hard to get him to a state where he could go home with his parents and-”

“Jaemin,” you speak in a sympathetic tone, “You did everything you could. We both know that.”

“There must have been something else I could’ve done for him. He was only a week old.”

You take your husband’s face in your hands, holding his ears out of his face. Your thumb gently wipes away a stray tear he was trying to keep in. He silently cries for a moment, and you don’t say anything. You stand there and wipe away tears as they fall. He’s always cared so deeply for his patients. It tears him apart when he loses one, especially while trying to save them. Once his tears stop, he sighs and starts to talk again.

“I just hate that his parents go home without him in their arms. It’s not-” he lets out a shaky breath, “Knowing what it’s like to lose a child, I hate that I know how much pain they’re experiencing right now.”

“I know.” you sigh, “I know. After we lost-”

You can’t bring yourself to finish your sentence. Though you never met your first baby, you know the pain of losing a child. Before you got pregnant with Miyoung, you were supposed to have another one. Jaemin was over the moon excited to have a baby finally. You’d been trying for months on end to get pregnant, so when you finally did, there was no bringing him down from his high. At around the eleven-week mark, though, something felt wrong. You were cramping like you had never known cramps before. Jaemin rushed you to your obstetrician only to discover that your child no longer has a heartbeat. After that, there was the spotting and eventually a rather heavy period that you knew was your body, removing the small life from your body. You had never known a low like that. Jaemin wasn’t doing much better than you were, either. He supported you through it all as best as he could.

You let out a shaky breath and pull away from your husband slightly.

“I’ll let you be alone for a few moments. I’m going to check on Mi and get ready for bed.” you inform him.

“I’ll be there in a few moments, my love.” he responds, voice still a bit shaky.

You walk down the hall and peer into Miyoung’s room, only to see her peacefully sleeping. She’s fast asleep on her belly, one ear over her shoulder while the other is splayed out alongside one of her arms outstretched above her head. Seeing her so peaceful comforts you in knowing you’ll at least have her. You know it’s not the time to tell Jaemin about your pregnancy, though, not with his current mental state. You sneak into your en suite bathroom and start to pick up the positive pregnancy tests.

“I thought I smelled something different.” You hear your husband’s voice.

“Jaemin I-”

He walks up to you and takes the tests from you, “You’re actually-”

“I am.” You nod, “I just found out this morning.”

A bright smile bursts across his face. Brighter than you’ve seen in a while. It’s the same smile he had when you told him about Miyoung.

“You have another little life growing in you.” he muses, placing a hand against your belly.

“I do,” you smile, tears starting to form in your eyes, “We’ll have another little one come November.”

For a few weeks, Jaemin tries to convince you to tell Miyoung already. Each time, you tell him it’s not the best idea purely because if you try to explain that to your ten-month-old, you’ll be opening a can of worms. Additionally, your daughter is brilliant and would likely pick up her father’s habit of touching your belly every chance she could reach it. Of course, that would spark multiple questions when she does it in front of someone who doesn’t know about it. The only people who you’ve told about it are Jeno and his girlfriend. They’ll be the ones to have Miyoung when it comes time for you to give birth, and you all know Jeno’s nose will quickly pick up on Jaemin’s scent embedded in you the moment he sees you.

You’ve just about hit the three-month mark of your pregnancy without a hitch. You get to go find out the gender of the baby later in the week, which Jaemin is over the moon about. He wants another little girl so desperately that you think he may manifest it into existence. Jeno said his bet is on a boy just because Jaemin wants them to be a girl so badly. As always, Haneul is currently zooming through the home while Miyoung tries to keep up with himhaving just learned to walk. You can already tell the two of them will be thick as thieves when they’re older. Aerum is fast asleep in her room. Both Jeno and his girlfriend take it as an advantage for now. Though, the moment the seven-month-old wakes, she’ll start howling. Haneul, being two, assumes that means he can howl too. Jeno has mentioned on many occasions that he’s thankful they don’t live in an apartment anymore for that reason.

You’re peacefully sitting on the couch, Jaemin’s arm resting along the back of it behind your head. Jeno and his girlfriend sit on the couch catty cornered to you. It seems as though you have their undivided attention, but you know they’re also keeping an ear out for their son who’s a walking safety hazard and their infant daughter who as of recently hasn’t been sleeping well. You have a hand resting on your belly despite there not being a visible bump yet. Something about the contact makes you feel heat burst through your chest knowing you have another little on the way.

Suddenly, you feel a sharp stab of pain through your back. It feels as though someone stuck a knife in you and dragged it around from your spine to just below your belly button. It makes you scrunch yourself into a ball and immediately Jaemin has one of his strong arms wrapped around you. It’s almost as if the four hybrids can smell the disturbance in the air. Haneul comes running into the room and tries to get your attention with small whimpering sounds. You can hear your daughter’s uneven footsteps against the floor as she approaches accompanied by small honks of frustration that she can’t get there quicker. Jeno quickly and carefully whisks Miyoung and his son into his arms.

“You go get checked out. We got Miyoung taken care of.” he informs you.

With that he takes the two little ones down the hall, you assume into his game room to distract them with his farming game. Jaemin move to kneel in front of you to try to get a read of your face. You’re very much hidden behind your hair and hands though. Jeno’s girlfriend is already grabbing Jaemin’s car keys to get everything ready by the time your husband manages to get you to the car.

“Honey,” Jaemin asks quietly, “Can you tell me what’s happening?” “It hurts.” you gasp out, “It hurts to fucking bad.”

You know Jaemin is starting to panic. He know he won’t be able to get you to walk down the stairs and out to the car, though. He picks you up and carries you. You need to see a doctor, one that isn’t him. One that can check on you and the baby. The entire drive to the hospital is a blur. All you can think about is the excruciating pain you feel in your stomach. Jaemin keeps one of his hands firmly holding yours even as you walk into the emergency room. It’s too perfect that the moment you step into the building you see Yuta’s wife walking toward the exit. She can smell something wrong too, she walks over and helps Jaemin support you despite her small stature. With her free hand she pulls out her paging device to get the first obstetrician that she could.

You don’t know how long you would’ve sat in the waiting room if it wasn’t for her. Luckily she’s here though.

You find yourself admitted to a room within the hour. Jaemin is doing his best to hide his anxious state but you can read your husband like a book. He’s terrified. You’re not doing so amazing either. They gave you some medication for the pain but still you’re not comfortable physically or emotionally. All you can do is wait for this doctor to be ready for you.

“Jaemin,” you whisper.

Your husband looks over at you. One hand still tightly locked with yours while the other hand is playing with his ear anxiously. His nose is twitching too. The only time his nose ever twitches is when he’s absolutely terrified. Last time it happened was when you were going into active labor with Miyoung.

“I’m going to use the bathroom real quick.” you inform him, “I need my hand back for a little bit.”

“Do you need help getting there or any-” he immediately starts worrying.

“I’ll be okay.” you give him a pained smile.

You should’ve let him help you. The moment you begin to pull your clothing down you see the red spots in your underwear. Your heart drops. Still, you try to contain yourself and just begin redressing. Your initial plan to let your body do what it needs before the doctor come goes out the window instantly. You slip out of the bathroom and lean back against the door facing toward your hospital bed. Jaemin looks at you with a concerned but expecting face. Yours is blank though. Spotting is never a good sign when you’re pregnant, especially after getting copious amounts of pain through your back and stomach.

“Doctor. Now.” you say flatly, looking at the floor in front of you.

“Baby, is everything-”

“Get a fucking doctor in here now, Jaemin. Is that so hard to do?” you snap.

Jaemin flinches and practically runs out to the lobby area to get someone in here who could do something. Now alone in the room you break down sobbing loudly. You couldn’t care less about who hears you right now. You know your baby isn’t alive. You should’ve known the moment you got those cramps that something’s severely wrong. That’s how your husband finds you. Curled up against the wall, sobbing into your hands.

“The obstetrician is coming.” he says softly.

He pulls you to stand up and walks with you over to the bed to sit down properly. Jaemin wraps his arms around you as you cry. You’re wetting his ear with your tears but neither of you care about that right now.

“Sweetheart, I-” he sighs, “I told them to have some mifepristone and misoprostol ready too, j- just in case.”

His voice is pained. You know those medication names all too well. If your pregnancy isn’t viable, it helps your body remove the fetus without surgery. Hearing him say those words only makes you sob harder. You know your baby isn’t with you anymore, and he does too. It’s a pain you don’t wish on anyone.

After several minutes of sobbing in your husband’s arms you slow to a sniffle. The obstetrician walks in a moment later and ushers you both toward where the ultrasound machinery is housed. You’re numb now. You can’t feel a thing emotionally. As a psychiatrist you know you’re disassociating, but maybe for right now that isn’t the worst thing.

Jaemin still holds your hand tightly, eyes brimmed with tears. You go through the motions as you move your shirt and the doctor places the cool gel against your belly. It takes mear moments for her to find the baby and confirm your worst fear. You knew it was coming, still, it’s another stab through your heart. Jaemin bursts into tears beside you, his hand letting go of yours for the first time since he returned from getting a doctor. His ears fall in his face as he looks down at his shoes.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” she says, voice laced with pity, “Would you like to know what they would’ve been had you gone to term?”

You nod silently.

“Dad?” she asks carefully.

“Yeah,” he says through sniffles, “If you could.”

“A little girl. Seems as though she would’ve been human too. There was no early development of rabbit tail or ears.”

Jaemin lets out a pained noise. You feel all your emotions rush back through you and tears stream down your face as the doctor wipes the gel from your belly. As you leave the hospital with the medication in Jaemin’s hands you feel as though you enter some sort of dissociative state again. You don’t remember getting in the car or Jaemin calling your Samoyed hybrid friend asking if they could keep Miyoung for the night. All you know is that you stay in the car and suddenly Jaemin comes back with a bag full of things Miyoung will need.

When you arrive back at the Lee household your one-year-old is anxious to see you. Jeno’s girlfriend tries to contain the two toddlers but Miyoung is practically climbing your leg when you enter her field of vision. Her long tan ears bouncing with each motion she makes. Neither of the other two adults need to ask what ended up happening. It’s evident that you and your husband have been crying. Jaemin had explained to you after your first miscarriage that he could smell when your pregnancy was no longer progressing. So when you see Jeno’s ears droop slightly, you know he knows what happened.

“Baby?” Miyoung asks when you pick her up.

“No, sweetie, no more baby.”

The sentence pains you to say but you don’t want to lie to her either. She doesn’t need to know what happened, she’s fine just knowing that mommy doesn’t have the baby anymore.

“You’re going to have a sleepover with Haneul and Aerum, okay? You get to have lots of fun while Mommy and Daddy do boring adult things.” you explain to her.

That’s all she had to hear. She squirms in your arms to get down. Jaemin leans over and kisses her cheek before you do the same and put her down. She and Haneul zoom off again, likely to cause trouble somewhere. Jaemin passes the overnight bag to Jeno, who quietly takes it.

“I’m sorry, guys. I don’t know what it’s like but-” Jeno starts.

“You’re right. You don’t.” you say curtly, “Jaemin can we leave now?”

You don’t even let your husband respond. You walk out of the home and back to the car. Jaemin lingers a moment and gives your friends an apologetic look before bidding them goodbye.

The drive home is silent. You keep your hands folded in your lap the entire time as you look out the window. You’re avoiding looking at Jaemin for now. If you look at him it’ll be the last pebble that will break the dam. The moment you pull up to your house you get out of the car and walk toward the front door, still not looking at your beloved bunny hybrid husband. Just as you reach the door though you feel Jaemin’s arms wind around you from behind.

“I know it’s hard, but don’t ignore me. Share the burden with me. It’s the least I can do as your husband and father of our children.” he says against your hair.

Again you start crying, “Child. We have one child.”

“We have three.” he states firmly, “Only one is with us physically but we have three children.”

“Why does it have to be so hard for us to-” you interrupt yourself with more tears.

You turn around in his hold and cry against his shoulder in the cool late spring night air. If anyone driving by sees you they pay you no mind and likely assume you’re a young couple sharing a romantic moment. They couldn’t be more wrong.

“And with how my pregnancy records seem to track it’ll only get harder as we get older. Jaem, we’re only 26 but I’m worried that it’ll become nearly impossible by the time were 30.”

“I know. I know.” he soothes, rubbing your back gently, “If it ends up being that we only have Miyoung with us then we’ll love her as much as we can.” he offers, “Maybe so much that she’ll want to go away for university because she’s tired of us.” he jokes slightly. “Now, you clearly need some food in your stomach and a drink of water. Let’s get inside and into more comfy close. Cuddles all night, doctor’s orders.”

Jaemin keeps his word, the moment you’re fed, hydrated, and in more comfortable clothing you’re snuggled up in your shared bed. Your head is pillowed against Jaemin’s chest and you play with his fingers absentmindedly. Your mind seems to run a mile a minute while also being completely blank.

“I love you.” you whisper so quietly it’s practically a breath.

“I love you too. Thank you for being my wife and the mother to our babies. I’m so proud of you and you’re so damn strong. Never forget that, okay?”

You nod, “Okay, I won’t.”

“I mean it,” he continues, “I don’t know how I lucked out this much but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

“Even if-”

“Nothing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” he stops you before you could finish your thought, “I love you so much. We’ve had far too long of a day and I fully plan on cuddling you the entire night.”

“I love you too. Good night, bunnyboy.”

“Good night, my love.”

Networks: @kwritersworld @k-vanity

Tag List: @jaehunnyy @umbralhelwolf @wooyoungmybelovedhusband

#jaemin x reader #kwritersworldnet #kvanity #nct fanfic #nct x reader #nct angst #nct fluff #nct dream fanfic #nct dream x reader #nct dream angst #nct dream fluff #jaemin fanfic #jaemin fluff #jaemin angst

115 notes · View notes

itsclydebitches · 1 year

Text

Let's tally things up, folks!

Ruby's entire depression arc is "resolved" by a one sentence exchange wherein she just... decides she's better now? 'Is this the message?' Ruby asks, on her knees in front of a not at all subtle broken piece of glass. 'That I'm just supposed to give up?' and then literally the next moment she sees Crescent Rose, the weapon she's been flinching from because it represents all the failures she hasn't actually grappled with this season, and decides that depression and suicidal ideation are for losers. Let's go fight a randomly evolved cat!

The group still doesn't care about Ruby's Volume-long struggle. What are you talking about, evil kitty? Ruby's never been confused, or weak, or feeling like she's broken. We're oblivious to all that. That's why we follow her, because we can easily ignore everything that's going on in her life and instead just focus on ourselves. Didn't she have a breakdown a couple of hours ago about having to lead all the time? Should we really be announcing the moment she steps out of the tree that we expect her to be in charge again? ... nah, it's fine!

I guess the overall message is that any and every horrific act is excusable because you're just being yourself? Sorry we doomed a Kingdom and have actively helped Salem in trying to take over the world. The horrors we've enacted are good things though because it means we're being ourselves.

Ruby is conveniently the only Ascended who retains all her memories. Can't have the protagonist undergoing any kind of actual change, after all.

Neo throws herself into the tree despite that going against every iota of her characterization. Will we ever see her again? Who knows.

Is the blacksmith lady Alyx? I still have no idea.

Jaune is made young again, because of course he is. Love that they act like this is some curse he's suffered from - "It's been so long..." - and not an actual life lived across several decades. If I got stuck somewhere for twenty-ish years and then someone tried to magic me back to my 18 year old self I'd be like wtf? No? I'm not a teenager??? Will the show ever acknowledge that Jaune is actually an old man in a de-aged body now? I doubt it, considering this plot-line had no impact on his personality, skill, or outlook.

Also love that the brothers' story is treated like this wonderful tale of growth and exploration. The blacksmith is going on about how amazing it is that you don't know what you'll get when you create something, tone all fond for the demi-gods that have left her world to toy with new ones, and I just wanted one of the characters to start screaming about all the horrors they've caused. They killed an entire population in one fell swoop and have cursed two individuals for funsies, with the entirety of Remanent permanently under threat of annihilation if they don't meet the Gods' ambiguous standards of unity. Oscar didn't fall into the void because if Ozpin had been there he would have gone feral and attacked the blacksmith with his bare hands.

We're heading back to Remnant and Ruby still doesn't know that Jaune killed Penny! Ruby didn't even get her sword back. Or consider her in the tree therapy session. Why was killing her off necessary again? Oh yeah, Jaune angst🙃

We got a "when you're needed" from the blacksmith, so expect that time-skip in Volume 10. Can't wait to see how much important stuff the story skips over...

Also, this is so minor in the grand scheme of everything else, but I YELLED when Summer admitted that she'd lied about the mission. For nine Volumes these characters have been dragging Ozpin for every problem under the sun including, in Volume 7, for the mysterious disappearance of Summer, only for it to turn out that she LIED about where she was going and on whose orders, setting him up to take the fall when she doesn't come back. Who's going to have Qrow apologize to Ozpin for blaming him for years? Who's going to have Ruby unpack that her whole family is made up of liars and she was foolish to think that anyone, including Ozpin, could survive this war with a completely clean record? Hell, who's going to have Ruby simply tell anyone - including her sister - what she now knows about her mother's death? Not the RT writers, I'd wager.

Especially when they gave us a scene of Summer leaving on what she recognizes may be a suicide mission and leaves a token of affection for one daughter but not the other. Summer is Yang's mom too! Yeeeeeaaah the story is really bad about actually writing that.

Overall this Volume just feels like a colossal waste to me. The story ignored most of what was set up in Volume 8, introduced a world it didn't have time to flesh out, threw in an unnecessarily shocking story line about the hero trying to kill herself, 100% dismissed the ramifications of that, reset everyone so that none of the characters have to actually grow or change, and has now implied that all the plot important stuff - the Atlesians' survival in the desert, trying to ally with Theodore, Salem's next attack on Remnant, the development of most of our B Team, etc. - has occurred off screen.

The only thing this Volume accomplished was getting the bees together, which was something we should have had years ago. That admission hasn't changed their dynamic in any way, or introduced new conflicts (remember, no one cares about Ruby's breakdown, including her correct accusation that Yang has cared more about her girlfriend than her struggling little sister). It's just... there, not queerbaiting anymore, thankfully, but that feels like a very low bar to meet.

2+ months later and all I'm feeling is

#rwde #rwby #mymetas #suicide tw #also also a lot of the dialogue was just AWFUL #not Ruby's with the Blacksmith so much #but the Cat's?#Weiss'?#Jaune's?#god I was cringing through so much of that fight #'Nooooo these FEELINGS!'#like putting aside that none of Jaune's plan makes sense #(why is this hallucinatory Alyx suddenly helpful instead of ~evil~ like what the girls saw?)#(why would the smoke impact Neo if she supposedly has not connection to Remnant anymore - the reason the Cat can't leave?)#(why would feeling things fix possession when it's clear that the Cat feels SO MUCH via that broken heart?)#it was just awful to listen to #honestly highlights of the episode were Ruby looking cool going after Crescent Rose #and the newly introduced mystery of what Summer and Raven were up to #that's it #that's all I've got

212 notes · View notes

mint-yooxgi · 1 year

Text

{13} - Morning Mist - Yandere!Dragon!Ateez X Chubby!Reader

Yandere AU & Dragon AU

Genre: Mature, Horror, Angst

Pairing: Ateez X Reader (Focus on Jongho)

Words: 5,900

Warnings: Past trauma discussed: torture and imprisonment, scars, death, violence, a lot of angst but with a happy ending. This is a Yandere story, it will contain themes such as stalking, violence, obsession, possessive natures, and just general overall creepiness and swearing. You have been warned.

A/n: Wow, it's really been a whole ass month since I've updated this series. Lmaooo whoops! Anyways, I really hope you all enjoy this chapter, I've got a lot more planned coming up as the following parts will really focus on the development of OC's relationships with all of the guys. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated! Enjoy~

Also, gentle reminder that I do not do tag lists.

Chapter One - Chapter Two - Chapter Three - Chapter Four - Chapter Five - Chapter Six - Chapter Seven - Chapter Eight - Chapter Nine - Chapter Ten - Chapter Eleven - Chapter Twelve - Mini Masterlist

It’s early that same evening when eight dragons sense a somewhat familiar presence getting closer to their own nest. Focussing in, they soon realize that there are actually two.

Stepping out of their home, all of the Halas (minus Jongho who currently sits on the roof), stare up at the two Neos who descend into their yard. Both dragons are blue in colour, though one is quite a lighter shade than the other. The darker of the two is slightly bigger, but the smaller radiates more of an air of intimidation. A moment later, they discover why.

Landing gracefully on the grass, both Jeno and Renjun appear before the eight Halas.

“Sorry to intrude like this,” Renjun begins, dusting off the front of his pants lightly.

“How did you find us?” It’s Yeosang that asks, brow furrowing slightly as he stares at the Neos.

“Is everything okay?” Immediately, Jongho hops down from the roof, worry clear in his eyes.

“Everything’s fine, don’t worry.” Jeno smiles at him faintly, and he watches as the youngest Hala’s shoulders relax. “You would have heard us roar if something had happened.”

“To answer your question,” Renjun shifts his gaze to Yeosang, “It was easy to find you. You guys don’t really hide your scents as well as you think.”

Hongjoong, San, and Mingi all purse their lips slightly at this, a minor furrow to their brows.

“Why are you here?” It’s Seonghwa who says it, but his tone isn’t as sharp as the Neos are used to. Instead, it holds a genuine curiosity as the eldest Hala crosses his arms over his chest.

“Well, I was sent here to collect a certain dragon.” Renjun says, before motioning to Jeno with a jerk of his head. “Her cub just wanted to ‘tag along’.”

At this, more than a few eyebrows raise.

“I came to make sure you don’t butcher her offer.” Jeno huffs, a roll to his eyes. “You make it sound like you’re here to bring back one of their heads on a spike.”

“Offer?” This catches Wooyoung’s attention, his entire demeanour perking up instantly.

“Who?” San doesn’t even attempt to hide the eagerness in his voice.

Both Renjun and Jeno spare a glance at one another out of the corner of their eyes before their gazes are shifting onto the youngest Hala standing across from them.

“Him.” Renjun jerks his chin in Jongho’s direction.

The younger male cannot help but stand a little straighter in his spot, heart racing in his chest. You sent for him?

“What about?” Yunho does his best to ask the question casually, but his feigned disinterest only serves to make the slight desperation in his voice all the clearer.

“That’s between him and her.” Renjun replies, a mild shrug to his shoulders as he turns back around. “She’ll be waiting.”

“Wait!” It’s the youngest’s voice that has Renjun halting right in his tracks for the moment. As soon as Jongho sees the Neo spare a glance over his shoulder, he’s continuing, “where can I find her?”

The corner of Renjun’s lips quirks upward before turning back around and taking off into the evening sky.

Jeno lets out a sigh, shaking his head. He meets Jongho’s gaze. “Let the lights guide you home.”

In the blink of an eye, Jeno has shifted and taken off into the air, following closely behind Renjun without another word.

All Halas turn to look at their youngest.

“The hell is that supposed to mean?” Mingi frowns, arms crossing over his chest.

“Don’t worry about it.” Jongho breathes, blinking after the two retreating dragons as he attempts to wrap his head around this turn of events.

You want to see him? He can still hardly believe it.

Before any more of his brothers can say another word, Jongho is taking off into the evening sky. The faintest hues of pink and orange begin to dust the clouds as the sun begins to set, warming the earth with its final rays. The way his golden scales glint in the fading light is synonymous with the way that his tail eagerly flicks back and forth through the air, cutting through the sky with a newfound purpose as he flies towards you.

It takes Jongho all of three minutes to reach that little special clearing on the edge of the cliff. He sees you just through the thicket of the trees, that small tower of stones resting beside you as you sit on the ground. The way he can feel your eyes on him, tracking his every movement has a pleasant shiver caressing his spine.

He circles lower.

If he’s being honest with himself, Jongho is a little cautious of flying directly into that clearing. You told him the last time he found you here that you only allow people that you have granted permission access to step foot on such a sacred part of your territory. He’d really rather not run smack into that invisible wall again.

Then, as if you’ve read his every thought, you chuckle.

“You may land, you know.” You smile softly as you stand to your feet. “I would not send for you to join me here if I haven’t already granted you permission to set foot inside this circle.”

Jongho’s breath catches in his throat, and he bets more than anything that you’ve heard his reaction loud and clear. So badly does he want to let out a rumble of content, but he feels as if it might be too much for the moment. He simply does not want to read into this more than is necessary. Yet, with everything that you’ve told him so far, he cannot help but do just that.

You called for him. You wanted to see him.

That alone gives him more hope than you could ever imagine.

Gliding towards that small opening on the side of the cliff, Jongho can still feel your eyes on him. The sensation of having your gaze roam over his true form is unlike any other, and for the first time, he senses that you are taking your time to memorize every detail. He simply hopes that you are as mesmerized by him as he is always mesmerized by you.

With his heart soaring in his chest, Jongho stretches his wings as far as they will go while he comes in for his landing. He purposely puts himself on display, fanning his crown as his tail flicks behind him. The way the light of the setting sun catches on his scales, illuminating the clearing with little iridescent reflections of golden hues has him preening proudly as he shakes out his muzzle.

The feeling of your eyes on him is like no other. That soft smile is still on your features as you stand with your arms gently supporting one another by the elbows. Your cloak rests open over your shoulders and as soon as he shifts back into his human form, you begin to take a few steps towards him. Only, Jongho cannot shake that brief look of longing that crossed your features for a moment.

Why did you just look so sad?

Closing the distance between your two bodies, you come to stand directly before him. Slowly, you take his hands in your own, staring deeply into his eyes.

He swallows thickly, doing whatever he can to keep his body from physically trembling while being held in your touch. “You wanted to see me?”

“I did.” You confirm, a slight nod to your head. “I’m glad you came.”

Jongho nearly hums at your words. “I will always come when you call for me.”

You motion for him to join you near the edge of the cliff, sitting down so that your legs are dangling off of the side. “I desired to speak with you.”

The pleased rumble that escapes him could not have been smothered, even if he tried. “About?”

“I have come to a few realizations over the past day, and there are some things I would like to share with you now.” You say, staring out over the valley as you continue to watch the sun set before you. “If this is to continue between us, then you have a right to know. I want you to know.”

Jongho wishes he could deny the way his breath catches once more in his throat. Slowly, he sits beside you on the edge of the cliff, feeling as if his heart is about to beat right out of his chest.

“I am not promising you anything, Jongho.” You turn to look directly into his eyes as you say this. “I cannot. That does not mean that I am not beginning to trust you. If you are as serious about me, about us as you say you are, then I need you to listen to what I am about to tell you. I need you to understand.”

His expression softens, and he has to prevent himself from reaching out and grabbing your hand in his own. Still, he turns towards you, giving you his full and undivided attention.

“I understand.” His voice is low, eyes flitting over your every feature and committing this moment to memory for years to come. The way the sunlight dances across every inch of your figure makes you glow, a warmth flooding his veins the longer he stares at you.

“You continue to prove yourself to me every day that I know you,” you continue, a slight tremble to your voice. “I think it’s only fair you finally get to know some things about me in return.”

“Please, only tell me if you’re comfortable telling me.” He says, a hint of concern in his gaze. “If you’re not ready, don’t force yourself. I can wait.”

“See,” you smile reassuringly, but he’s unsure if it’s more for yourself or for him at the moment, “You just did it again.”

“Did what?” He blinks at you.

“Proved you’re ready to hear what I am about to say.” The corner of your lips twitch upwards, and Jongho notices a few fireflies beginning to float around the area, dancing lightly around your head.

A brief silence settles over the both of you as he waits for you to speak. That is, until you’re letting out a low sigh.

“These are not easy subjects for me to discuss with anyone. Only my closest friends know these specific details about me, so I apologize in advance if it takes me longer to voice certain thoughts over others right now.” You say, shifting your gaze out toward the setting sun. “The chat I had with your brother last night made me realize that it wouldn’t be so bad if you knew some things, too.”

“Take all the time you need,” he gently assures you, his fingers twitching lightly as he rests his palm in the grass between the two of you. “I’m right here.”

He notices you swallow thickly, your hands resting in your lap clinging onto one another as your fingers nervously wring together. This is the most anxious he’s ever seen you, and his heart aches not knowing what he can do to make it better. The urge to pull you into his arms and whisper sweet nothings into your ears is strong, but he holds himself back for now.

Taking a deep breath, your mouth parts, only to close a moment later. Then, you exhale through your nose, shutting your eyes briefly as you steel your nerves.

“I will start with the easier admissions first,” you begin, “But everything I admit to you this evening does not leave this clearing.”

“I would never betray your trust like that.” Jongho replies instantly, nothing but the deepest sincerity shining within his gaze.

A firm nod from you is all the confirmation he needs that you believe him.

Again, you sigh.

“I understand that you and your brothers perceive myself along the likes of the ancients.” You breathe. “You would be correct.”

Jongho blinks in shock.

“Though I am no ancient, I was raised by one.” You tell him. “My father is one of the oldest of the original dragons still alive to this day. Other than my Uncle Ken, of course. He has power unlike anything you could believe, and it has been ingrained in me to be as strong as he is ever since I was small.”

“My mother was a powerful witch.” A slight purse to your lips. “I never met her, for she died during childbirth. My father loved her deeply, and was devastated when he lost her. Every time he looked at me, all he could see was her face, and how he failed her.”

Jongho swallows thickly, already not liking where this seems to be going.

“My Uncle Ken raised me for the first ten years of my life. I thought he was my actual father for a time, for he always treated me better than my biological one.” You huff out a dry laugh. “My father couldn’t bear the grief that came with seeing me, so he gave me away to his best friend. It wasn’t until he learnt I could summon the same powers as my mother that he finally made his presence known in my life.”

The growl Jongho has to suppress nearly chokes him, a deep hatred already blooming in his chest for your father. How could anyone not want you, let alone your own flesh and blood?

“I thought he wanted nothing to do with me after I found out,” you scoff lightly. “Imagine a twelve year old finally being told the truth.”

He has to keep himself from shaking, but still, he remains quiet.

“My training started after that.” You lean back onto your hands, looking upwards into the darkening sky as those fireflies float lethargically around your head. “I was sent to survive on my own in the wilderness. I nearly died eleven times in the first week, were it not for my Uncle Ken.”

Jongho’s jaw clenches, biting his tongue before he says something he might come to regret.

“I was young, and I didn’t know anything about survival. Hell, I didn’t even know I was a dragon at this point yet. My Uncle wanted me to live as normally as possible for as long as I could before subjecting me to certain types of magic.” You swallow. “I learned everything there was about this earth before I was fifteen, and I knew how to wield every type of weapon by the time I was twenty.”

“You were a child.” He seethes, eyes swirling with a deep golden hue.

“I was a prodigy.” You finally turn to meet Jongho’s gaze. “After all, my father had a reputation to uphold.”

“That’s despicable,” Jongho’s frown is prominent, smoke escaping him with every exhale.

“The past is passed, Young One. I’m not going to change it now.” You sigh.

“That doesn’t mean what you went through is okay.” His chest heaves with every breath. “It doesn’t make it okay.”

“I know it doesn’t.” You nod in agreement. “Remember, I am telling you this so you can understand.”

Again, Jongho bites his tongue.

“My father was adamant on me learning physical defence before ever properly training my magic. He believed that my powers should only be used as a last resort since they could destroy anyone in the blink of an eye.” You go on to say. “I realize now he only trained me the way he did because he was always scared of what I could become.”

“Scared?” Jongho’s brow furrows.

“You see, Jongho,” you chuckle, “because of the anomaly my entire existence centres around, I am potentially even more powerful than my father.”

You swear he stops breathing.

Taking a deep breath, you sit back upright.

“Do you recall what I told you the last time we were both in this clearing?” You ask, not even bothering to spare him a glance out of the corner of your eyes. “About My Cubs?”

A brief memory flashes within his mind as he nods.

“I told you that my father ensured I could never have ones of my own.” You continue. “Do you know why that is?”

He shakes his head.

“Other than the fact that my own children could potentially be more powerful than me, my father has never gotten over my mother’s death. He has blamed me for it every moment of my existence.” You tell him. “However, that did not stop him from developing a twisted sense of love towards me. He took away my ability to have hatchlings of my own to ensure I never incurred the same fate as my mother. I am the last living attachment he has of her, so he will do whatever he can to ensure my safety now. It’s why my training only got harder after what happened with Daisy.”

A moment’s pause before Jongho asks, voice soft and barely above a whisper, “what happened with Daisy?”

The way you instantly curl in on yourself does not go unnoticed by him. Your hands grip at the sides of your cloak, pulling it tighter around your body as you look down for the moment.

“Are you familiar with the S’ber Hunters?” Your voice is much quieter than it was before, blinking blankly at the valley before you.

“The ones that are always hunting for the ancients?” He frowns, attempting to wrap his head around what they have to do with anything. “I’ve heard that they haven’t been seen on this side of the fjord for almost fifty years.”

“There’s a reason for that.” You shift your gaze to him, and he notices tears beginning to gather in the corners.

“What did they do?” His heart pounds, already fearing the worst.

Your lips purse for a good thirty seconds, chin beginning to wobble as you attempt to control your emotions. Only, the second you go to speak a choked sob tears from your throat.

“They took her.” Your voice is no more than a mere whisper, words strained as you take an unsteady breath in. “They killed My Daisy right in front of me.”

Your eyes squeeze shut as you cover your mouth with one of your hands. A vicious sob wracks your entire body, and Jongho instantly goes to place a comforting hand onto your back. Only, before he can so much as graze your skin, he stops himself.

Slowly, he shifts closer, reaching over to grab your free hand in his.

Any and every comfort he can, he will offer to you. Even through something as small as this, he wants you to know that he is here for you. You are not alone, and he will be with you every step of the way.

“They killed her for loving me.” Your voice is rough as you sniffle, wiping away your tears for the moment.

Yet, you do not pull your one hand away from his own.

“I had just-“ your breath hitches in your throat, more fireflies coming to float around the two of you as if to offer their silent support. A deep, shaky breath later, you continue, “I am sure you are aware of our marking rituals between imprinted.”

Jongho’s back straightens. “I am.”

“Her mark - my mark - was on full display when she went traversing through the village that day.” You close your eyes, as if the visions are coming back to haunt your memories once again. “They followed her home and ambushed us. I begged her to deny their accusations of loving me. They would have let her go free if she did.” Your eyes blink open, more tears spilling onto your cheeks as you force a strained smile onto your lips. “She didn’t.”

His expression falls, hand squeezing yours tightly as his heart absolutely aches for you.

“My Daisy fought up until the very end. She was so brave, yet I couldn’t save her,” a broken sob tears from your throat as your whole body begins to shake. “I was still so young, and so weak.”

“No-“

“I was.” You cut him off. “I had been neglecting my training, and I couldn’t sense them creeping in around us. They caught me with iron before I could react, and all I could do was watch as the love of my life bled out before me.”

Again, Jongho shifts closer, placing his one hand overtop of your own still held in his other.

“S’ber Hunters are ruthless. They kill anyone who associates with dragons, but they never kill the dragon.” You shake your head slightly. “No. They do something much worse.”

Sliding your hand from his grip, you meticulously roll up your sleeves. Extending your arms to him, you put your scars on full display. The light from the fireflies illuminate the faint lines raised in jagged peaks along your skin, the weight of those iron shackles still ever prominent despite them having long since been broken off.

Jongho’s eyes go wide, his chest rising and falling dramatically as he takes in the sight before him. Furious doesn’t even begin to describe him right now as he sees the scars lining your skin. Though, nothing could prepare him for the anger and guilt that he feels towards himself. How has he never noticed before?

Carefully, Jongho raises his hands to cup your forearms gently in his grip. His thumbs trace lightly over the raised tissue over your wrists, entire body trembling as he attempts to put a leash on his anger for the moment.

“I’ll kill them for touching you.” His voice is low, eyes the darkest you’ve ever seen from him.

You smile, somewhat tensely. “You’re a few hundred years too later.”

His gaze darts up to meet your own, his fingers tightening the slightest bit as he continues to hold your arms gently in his grip.

A moment of silence passes between you as he attempts to keep his whole body from trembling.

“How long?” Jongho cannot keep the fear out of his voice.

You manage to meet his gaze.

“Five hundred and two days.”

The way his eyes shine says it all. You can see the pain, the grief he holds for you. Yet, also the anger, and the concern, along with the growing need to comfort and protect you in every and any way that he can.

“It doesn’t matter what type of dragon you are. To them, we’re all the same.” Your voice is low, and you don’t realize how he grabs your hands back into his own. “To them, we all have connections to the ancients, and we all know where their nests are.”

There’s a part of him that wants to ask, but he’s scared. The thought of you telling him just what type of tortures you had to endure terrifies him because he wasn’t there to protect you. Knowing that you have suffered, and that he could do nothing about it, pains him more than you’ll ever know.

“The S’ber are smart.” You add. “Tell me, Jongho. How do you kill a dragon without taking away their life?”

He shakes his head, a single tear already beginning to trail down the side of his cheek.

“You go for their wings.”

The mere thought of what you had to endure suffocates his very soul. He clings onto you for dear life, squeezing your hands as an unbridled rage festers beneath his skin. This must be why you react so intensely whenever someone touches your back.

“Everyday they asked me where the nest was, and everyday I received a lash for not answering.” Your jaw begins to tremble. “They were smart, too. Keeping me locked up in the dark so I couldn’t tell what day it was, or how much time had passed. The only way I knew was through the lashings. Everyday they would add one to the tally, until they reached one hundred. Then, they would start all over. The scars littering my back still have never fully healed, and it took me years to be able to shift again. I honestly don’t even know what the state of my wings look like now. Not after-”

You cut your words short, lips clamping shut as if admitting to whatever you were about to is far worse than anything you’ve already said. He doesn’t push.

Instead, Jongho’s entire body trembles, golden eyes staring at you with nothing but concern on his features. Right now, comforting you is more important than any rage he feels festering within his soul. No wonder you keep yourself so guarded.

If he ever so much as catches a single whiff of one of these hunters, they’re dead.

“That wasn’t even the worst part, though.” Your eyes are blank as you stare at your hands. The way you can feel him looking at you has a tight smile pulling at your lips. “No, the worst part wasn’t the beatings. It wasn’t being in the dark, or not allowing myself to grieve for Daisy during all of that time. The worst part was knowing that I was alone. My father didn’t once come looking for me when I got captured. He immediately thought I was dead, and would have rather succumbed to his own grief than spare a hope I had survived somehow. It was My Neos who rescued me, but even they had some help.”

“Your own father didn’t even bother to look for you?” Jongho is this close to hunting this bastard down and frying him alive, ancient or not.

“No.” You shake your head. “It was my Uncle Ken that helped the Neos, and destroyed the S’ber hideout. There’s not but ash left. Ash and memory.”

Jongho’s eyes flash, his whole body stilling as realization washes over him. A second later, and each breath he begins to release boarders on a feral snarl.

“My brothers,” his eyes are wide, a crazed gleam shining within, “they compared you to the likes of them. They ruthlessly compared you to the people who hurt you the most without a second thought.”

His fangs elongate, the air spiking with electricity.

Jongho sees red.

“They didn’t know.” You reply, much calmer than anything he could ever expect. As if you’re used to this type of reaction from people.

“That’s still no fucking excuse for comparing you to those beasts.” He snarls, pulling away from you for a moment as his claws extend.

The last thing he wants is to hurt you, or to scare you away. You’ve already extended more trust to him this evening than he could have ever hoped for. Like hell is he going to damage that, or make you regret telling him all of this.

“You understand why My Neos and I react the way we do now?” You state, meeting his gaze which flashes with the heat of his fury. “Why that promise I made to My Daisy is so important to me? Why I do not allow true hunters into my village anymore?”

Jongho blinks, digging his claws into the dry earth beneath him to ground him for the moment. “I do.”

“Good.” You nod once, wiping at your lingering tears with the back of your hand. “Then, I have one final thing to tell you.”

You go on to tell him the exact same thing about the prophecy as you told Seonghwa last night. The way Jongho remains quiet through it all has you watching him carefully. Every minuscule movement of his brow, every twitch of his jaw, you see, gaze calculating and calm.

“I despise your father.” He spits, rather harshly as a scowl tugs at his features.

This causes you to chuckle. “You, me, and all of My Neos. I’m pretty sure my Uncle Ken has started resenting him a long time ago, too.”

“If I ever meet him, I’m going to kill him for what he put you through.” Jongho turns to meet your eyes, nothing but the deepest form of sincerity shining within his electric gaze.

“I haven’t seen my father in over twenty years, and I’d like to keep it that way.” You say, and you feel the faintest of touches brush over your cheek in comfort. For a moment, you believe it to be Daisy, so you think nothing of it to lean into such a touch. However, at the warmth you feel remaining pressed against your cheek, a thumb tenderly stroking over your skin, you realize that that is not the case.

“I am deeply sorry, My Light, that you have experienced such hardships, and that I have not been there to protect you from them.” His voice is low, cupping your face gently in the palm of his hand. “I swear to you that I will never let anything hurt you again. Not as long as I am here to watch over you. I will never go back on my promise. You mean too much to me.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Jongho.” You gently place your hand over his own on your cheek, and he thinks you’re about to pull it away. However, the moment your eyes flutter shut, you leaning even more into his touch, he knows that that’s not the case. “I cannot tell you what happened to me fifty years ago yet, for the wounds are still all too fresh in my heart. I cannot promise you that this will be easy, either.”

A lone firefly lands atop the back of your hand, the subtle glow illuminating the side of your face in the dark of the night.

“I have denied most, if not all dragons who have imprinted on me in that time because I could not bring myself to love again.” You admit, a single tear cascading down your cheek. He’s quick to wipe it away, holding his breath as he waits for you to continue. “However,” that single word has his heart stuttering with hope in his chest, “I am willing to try again.”

Jongho swears that he stops breathing. Your words have filled him with such an unbelievable sense of warmth that radiates outwards from his chest, flooding his veins with every breath he takes, that he cannot help but shed a few tears of his own. Nothing but pure and utter happiness sparks through his soul, his hands beginning to shake as he holds you in his embrace.

He doesn’t even realize that his tail has emerged until he physically draws you in closer to his body. The way your eyes widen the slightest bit, a faint amount of amusement dancing behind your orbs says it all.

He goes to retract his tail, cheeks warming beneath your gaze. “Sorry.”

You smile at him faintly, allowing your thumb to lightly trace over the back of his hand still cupping your cheek gently. “I don’t mind.”

Jongho freezes, your words washing over him. He can feel his heart leaping for joy inside his chest, his eyes searching your face for any hesitancy or uncertainty. When he finds none, he smiles.

His tail, which he had slowly been shifting away from your lower back is instantly around you once more. He pulls you closer to him, your one leg pressed right up against his own as the tip of his tail swishes happily over the skin of your one thigh. There is nothing more intimate to him than this moment, right here, right now, with you, and Jongho is going to revel in this euphoric feeling for as long as he can.

Again, he searches your gaze.

“Thank you,” he breathes, shifting impossibly closer, even if only the slightest bit. “For everything tonight. For trusting me with this. For giving me a chance to prove myself to you. For letting me love you, and continuing to let me love you despite it all.”

You opt to remain quiet for the moment, blinking at him lightly as you observe his every move. You don’t want to acknowledge how quickly your own heart is racing for the moment, but with each passing second, you find yourself melting even more into his touch.

Just what is this dragon doing to you?

“I won’t let you down.” He leans forward, resting his forehead against your own as a pleased rumble escapes his chest.

Jongho doesn’t even attempt to hide the way his hooded eyes continuously flick down to your lips. His tongue even darts out to wet his own, nuzzling the slightest bit against you as he draws you in closer with his tail.

“You are so beautiful,” his voice is a mere whisper, the ghost of his breath trailing against your lips with every word he speaks. A pleased rumble builds in his chest, “And strong.”

It’s almost as if he’s gone into a trance. A trance of which where all he can see is you.

“My Light,” he hums contently, “I do not wish to overstep,” he swallows, his throat bobbing with the movement, “but, please,” his eyes flick down to your lips once more before coming up to stare deeply into your eyes, “please, may I kiss you?”

Your own breath catches in your throat, and you cannot deny the way your heart skips a beat in your chest. It’s been so long since someone has asked you this, and you find that it feels just like the very first time with Daisy.

Softly, you smile. “You may.”

His lips are on yours without another moment of hesitation.

With everything that he is, Jongho pours his entire heart and soul into this kiss. He cups your cheeks gently with both of his hands, tail wrapped securely around your lower waist as he presses you against him. The way he can feel your own hands find purchase on his body has a pleased rumble building within his chest, tingles erupting beneath his skin wherever you touch.

All too soon, he pulls himself away, not wanting to overstep or make you uncomfortable. His eyes remain shut as he leans into you, pressing his forehead gently against your own once more.

“I love you, My Light.” Jongho breathes, golden eyes blinking open to stare deeply into your own.

The subtle pull of your lips upwards is nothing short of sweet, and the way he can hear your own heart racing inside of your chest has a warmth unlike any other spreading throughout his body.

Jongho is used to the feeling of electricity flowing beneath his skin, but nothing could have prepared him for what your touch, your kiss does to him. Now, he only craves more, but even he knows not to push you any further tonight than you’re willing to go.

“Thank you for waiting,” your own voice is soft, tone gentle as you shift slightly so that your body is leaning against his.

“Always.” He hums, grasping your hand in his once more and intertwining your fingers together.

A small silence settles over the both of you now, comfortable and warm. Fireflies begin to dance around the clearing and over your heads, twinkling like the stars above. Both of you are more than content to bask in the other’s presence for the moment.

The way you softly rest your head against his shoulder as you lean into him says it all.

388 notes · View notes

sexysapphicshopowner · 1 month

Text

🤎 Context/AU (Alternate Universe): Big news for the dreamgirls!! Aftermath of 'Twenty Foreplay'

🤎 soft!wife!dreamgirl!sevika x wife!dreamgirl!reader

🤎 CW/TW: abuse, violence, death, murder, child sexual abuse, adult language, pregnancy, lesbians, pet names, fluff, angst, abortion attempt, sevika has a tragic backstory, eating disorder, drug use, mentions of alcoholism, sorry if I forgot any, not proofread/edited so excuse any mistakes

🤎 A/N: It's late, I know, life happens. I actually cut it short bc it was starting to get a lot heavier than I wanted and the flow was starting to get a bit sloppy. So have this.

🤎 Notes: Um, I cried while writing most of the flashback parts. I love the dreamgirls.

🤎 Word count: 12.4k

Aromatic wisps of rosemary and sage wafted through the bathroom, the scents intermingling with that of the light and warm, semi-bubbly milk bath your wife had drawn for you when she’d gotten home for the day. You let out a soft sigh, your head barely hanging over the edge as you sunk further into the calming water, trying to let as much stress seep out of you as possible.

Familiar and comforting hands found your shoulders, a kiss being planted on your temple as she spoke, voice barely a rumble over the neo-soul that was playing from the speaker on the sink counter, “How are you feeling, dream girl?”

“Better now that you’re in here,” you hummed as you looked up to her, pressing a kiss to her chin as she massaged your shoulders.

Her laugh was quiet as she ducked lower to press an upside-down kiss to your lips before kissing up the bridge of your nose. The playful little pecks turned reverent as her lips landed back at your forehead, peppering across the area as her hands moved.

Fingers splayed out over your neck and partially your collar as she pressed her thumbs behind your ears, rubbing in circles. You all but melted in her hands, letting your eyes slip closed once more as you enjoyed her touch and kiss.

“Have you started yet? I dropped last night.”

You shook your head, letting out a little sigh, “Not yet, though I wish it would hurry up. These body aches are killing me and if I keep gagging, I’m gonna throw up and that’s gonna make me cry.”

She cooed, thumbs now tracing down, applying a slight pressure as she dragged them along the line of your jaw, “My poor little mama...”

“Why poor me? You’re the one that’s actually on. I should’ve been the one drawing a bath for you when you got home.”

“Sure, but if you never drop then, you know what that means,” she hinted.

You rolled your eyes playfully, humming, “True... we’ll see. I’ll let you know what happens. We both know my cycle is still very off and weird.” “Right, right. Now about this gag-”

“No.”

“You didn’t even let me finish,” she pouted.

“I don’t have to. You were about to ask if it’s too bad for me to suck a lil’ dick. You’re so sick and twisted and completely un-slick, little nasty,” you shook your head, pushing her face playfully.

“Well, you’ve got me there. It was worth a try in my book,” she shrugged.

“Uh-huh. You disgust me.”

“Do I? Do I really,” she asked playfully, as you looked up, leaning your head back just a little further.

You beckoned her closer as you leaned your head back a little further, “Kiss, kiss.”

She happily obliges, leaning down to meet your lips as you stretch up just the tiniest bit. The kiss isn’t long, but it was enough to sate you until you could kiss her properly later. She mumbles against your lips as she pulls away, “I’m so in love with you and everything about you...”

Your breath caught as you looked up at her, finding that same indescribable flame that always burned within her silvery eyes. Somehow the color still hadn’t dulled against the harsh reality of life as a Zaunite. Even more, that loving look in them only seemed to be larger every time you caught her eye.

You were swooning.

It wasn’t until her lips pressed to your forehead that you were pulled out of your reverie, blinking up at her as you turned around in the tub to look up at her properly as you leaned onto your arms, folding them over the edge of the bathtub, “I love you more.”

“Yeah?”

You nodded, beckoning her closer with the crook of a finger, “Uh-huh. C'mere. I’ll show you how much I love you.”

She all but fell back into your lips, sighing into your kiss as it consumed her, your nails raking over her scalp as your fingers slid into her hair, thumbs tracing her jaw just in front of her ears.

In a very uncharacteristic move, she pulled from the embrace before you could even deepen it, huffing, “You can’t kiss me like that, dreamy...”

“Why not?”

She shook her head to clear it, wiping her face, “Because then I’m gonna wanna get into the tub with you, then I’m gonna fuck you and I’m supposed to be focused on doing other things right now.”

“Such as?”

She just chuckled in response before planting a much more chaste kiss to your lips, following it with another to the tip of your nose, the final one touching your forehead as she stood, “What fun would it be if I just told you, mama? I’ll be back in a sec with some sparkling white grape. Just in case I did knock you up, which... not to toot my own dick, but I’m pretty certain I did.”

Your laugh was more of a splutter as you choked on your spit and air at the same time, “For Janna’s sake, Sevi, it’s ‘toot my own horn’. I can’t stand your nasty ass sometimes.”

“Then it’s a wonderful thing you’re in the tub right now, isn’t it?”

“Girl- just hurry up, I want cuddles when I get out of here.”

She blew you a final kiss from the doorway before disappearing into the rest of the house to do whatever it was she was hiding from you. As promised, she’d come back with the sparkling juice, to which you accepted gratefully with a little kiss before sinking back into your bath, lazily holding the champagne flute over the side of the tub as you sipped on the drink idly.

Sevika doesn’t like men.

All the men out there who’ve ever wanted to fuck her can thank her father for the aversion.

You see, when your childhood consists of being pimped out to strange men to pay your alcoholic father’s gambling debts, constantly getting into street fights, and then getting your ass handed to you once you get home- you don’t have much time to really discover yourself.

Maybe in a different universe- one where Sevika wasn’t born in Zaun... where her father wasn’t abusive... where she wasn’t sex trafficked by the very man that was meant to protect her... she might’ve been attracted to men.

But this wasn’t that universe.

Her fear of relationships with men quickly grew into an outright disgust of them.

And then it got worse.

For Sevika, it started with the vomiting.

For probably all the ladies living up Topside, the first sign would’ve been a missed period. Thanks to life in the Lanes, however, Sevika was pretty used to her period not coming at all sometimes. It never came with a baby before though.

She’d been dancing the line of unknown pregnancy scares since she was 11. Now she was 21, still under the thumb of her father, and even worse- pregnant.

It wasn’t long before you were wrapped in a fluffy robe, feet slid into your house slippers as Sev guided you into the kitchen with her hands over your eyes under the guise of ‘driving you’ to her secret little surprise.

You stumbled a bit and she took a little pause, “You okay?”

“I smell food.”

Her chuckle was hearty and you could almost hear the head shake that accompanied her words, “I’m sure you do. Almost there, dream girl.”

Her hands were removed from your eyes without warning and allowed your eyes to adjust as she leaned her face over your shoulder, hands coming down to their usual home base of your waist as you took in the ambient, candlelit dinner she’d put together for you guys, “Sev...”

She shook her head before you could continue, “Yes, I’m on my period and that’s your favorite time to spoil me, but I wanted to treat my wife.”

You poked your lip out as you turned your head to look at her, “Sev...”

She giggled, peppering the side of your face with kisses, “Don’t cry, mama... it’s just dinner. I can’t even cook like you.”

You sniffled, fanning your eyes, “Shut it, my emotions are just everywhere right now. It’s not about your cooking skills, even though we both know I’ve taught you well... It’s about the gesture, and you know it.”

She nodded, lips now at your shoulder, “I know... hope you love it.”

“Of course, I love it... I love you...” you mumbled, holding a hand against her cheek.

“Alright, alright, sit and eat,” she prompted, pulling your chair out with her foot. Before you could protest as she sat you down, she pressed several kisses to your face, “And I love you too. Never forget it.”

You had a stupid smile on your face throughout the entirety of dinner.

Emetophobia.

The fear of vomiting or seeing others being sick.

Sevika had experienced her father’s violent reactions to her throwing up before.

The first time was when she was 6.

It was a particularly bad winter in Zaun. The smog was thicker, the cold seemed to seep into the very core of the Lanes.

She’d been battling the sniffles and a nasty fever for days, all the while still being forced to ‘put herself to use’ by her father.

Then it got worse.

Then she began to throw up.

At first, she hid it well. She’d swallow it down when she couldn’t get out of his sight. When she could, she’d always go out to an alley, ducking and weaving through bodies of what the little girl only hoped was just drunkards and junkies who’d passed out on a bender rather than what a six-year-old Sevika knew in her heart were either already dead or close to it.

Up until this point, the extent of physical abuse coming directly from her father was a slap across the face or being picked up by the front of her shirt and shaken around.

Then she brought him breakfast and didn’t make it out of his room fast enough to go puke out back.

That was the catalyst for the abuses that would be-fall her for the next few decades of her life.

Throw up tastes disgusting.

It tastes even worse going back down after being licked up off your father’s grimy boots.

Even worse, the feeling of wanting to re-release those fluids again when you were forced to lick those same boots clean until they were no longer grimy.

Sevika trained herself to hold her throw up in after that.

Your music from the bathroom was moved to one of the counters in the kitchen, incense burning in the holder as you and Sevika cuddled up into each other, you perched up on her lap with the two of you picking from the same plate in between soft kisses and intimate looks.

It was just you and your wife, enjoying the presence and company of one another in the midst of the meal she’d prepared.

You leaned back against her chest, letting out a happy sigh, “You know... I’m so proud of you for this.”

“Yeah,” she asked softly. The softness of her voice, the genuine question in that one word was so cute. You turned in her lap, sitting sideways atop her, cupping her cheek in a hand as you smiled warmly, pressing a kiss to the bridge of her nose.

You kept your voice at the same level of hers as you responded, “Of course, I’m proud, baby. You pan fried the rice properly and everything. I’m so very proud to see you picking up cooking a little more.”

Your heart broke a little at the tears that glossed over her silver orbs as she looked up at you, “Really? You mean it?”

“Yes, baby, I mean it. What’s wrong,” you cooed, bringing your other hand to her cheek to stroke both of them with your thumbs, “Talk to me, baby.”

She shrugged, looking away, “I dunno... I just... I feel like I’ve been struggling to eat lately. Like I’ve been having to force myself to eat so I just... I wasn’t sure if I was in the right headspace to be cooking tonight, but I wanted to treat you, you know?”

“Sev...” you began.

“Don’t... it’s okay, doll. I’ll-”

“Sevika,” you stopped her, keeping her face turned to yours as you moved again, this time to straddle her, “Will you look at me? Please?”

She shook her head in your gentle grip, tears beginning to well, threatening to spill over as she fought hard to blink them back, “I can’t...”

“And why not?”

“I don’t want to see you disappointed in me...” she whispered, voice barely the ghost of a whisper. It was the smallest you’d heard her voice in a while. The last time was... you softened, further, bringing your voice to a warmer tone.

“I’m not disappointed in you, baby. And I never could be, especially not for something like that. I’m actually proud of you. Very proud that instead of shutting down, you’re talking about it. I know how hard that is for you, especially when it comes to your eating. So with that being said, will you please look at me?”

Watery eyes met yours as she nibbled the inside of her cheek, whispering, “Promise?”

“Of course, baby. I promise, I’m not disappointed.”

She took a shuddery, breath, closing her eyes as she leaned her forehead against your chest, “I love you...”

You pressed a kiss into her hair, rubbing her back, “I love you too, baby. You wanna try and eat a little something more for me? Or do you just wanna talk? What did you eat today?”

“Um.... I had a few bites of the lunch you made me, but then I.... let Ran eat the rest... I’m sorry...”

“Baby, you don’t have to keep apologizing. Can you at least drink some water and eat a little something? Just a couple of bites?” She whined and you let out a little sigh, running your fingers through her hair, “Have you smoked yet?”

“Mhm.”

“Didn’t help?”

“No.”

“Okay... You’ll try again later?”

“Sure.”

“If you can’t that’s fine, but you gotta promise me you’ll try and eat well tomorrow, okay?”

“I promise...”

A plaintive silence fell over the two of you. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just... somber. You didn’t comment when she began to pick a few bites off the plate again, simply smiling that she was getting some form of food in her, even if it wasn’t a lot.

At some point, Sevika had stopped eating, hands gripping at your waist, hips and thighs as she pressed kisses along the line of your neck and shoulder. Her hands strayed to your stomach as she mumbled, “Hey, mama?”

“Yes, my love?”

She chuckled as you stuffed your face with food, wiping some from your cheek, “What if I really did knock you up in one try?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. I mean, how many times did you nut in me? And we were both ovulating around that time too. It was like perfectly timed for us to actually end up with a baby.”

She didn’t say anything else for a few moments, and you went right back to eating before she rested her chin on your shoulder, tracing your side with her mechanic hand, “You make me want a family...”

“Yeah?”

She nodded, “Yeah... even with life down here... the work that I do... you make me wanna have something to leave behind... a little family that’s like... a legacy of our love. Like, yes, I wanna be a mother and give our kids the things that I never had, but I also want people to see our kids and know that those are our kids. Like... they know that our kids have two loving moms that are actively in love.”

You let out a little giggle, turning to the side in her lap to wrap your arms around her neck, pressing a kiss to her cheek as you held her other one, stroking your thumb over her cheekbone, “You’re so cute... I love you, and I would love to have your babies, and I know what you’re trying to say, I promise.”

She relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief as she leaned into your hand on her face, “Thank Janna, I thought I was just rambling stupidly.”

You shook your head, pressing more kisses to her face and lips, “No, I understood you perfectly.”

“Have I told you how much I love you today?”

You giggled, nodding, “Yeah, a little bit. You always remind me that I’m loved... it’s why I married you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Baby, you told me you loved me within our first four dates. It was so cute because you were still learning to navigate love and healthy relationships... we both were, and still are, but here I had the big, scary lady of Zaun and she was looking at me like a puppy and telling me that she thought she was falling in love with me. I think that was the moment when I truly felt like I had found my person in you. And well... the rest is really history. By the time you asked me to marry you, I couldn’t say anything but yes.”

She had idly reached for her wedding band that she always wore on a chain around her neck, fiddling with it as she looked up at you in her lap, “You never once like... entertained saying no? Or maybe waiting a little longer?”

“Never. I knew when I met you that I had to snatch you up and it was just my luck that you seemed to have the same thought process when it came to me. I love you. And that’s not changing. So yes, I mean it when I say I wanna have your children, or that I love you more than anything, or that I’d do anything you asked of me because you’re... you’re everything to me, Sev... and I know that when it comes to us talking about kids it’s hard for you... but you’ve given me so much and I wanna give you the same thing in return. If given the chance, I wouldn’t change a thing about our relationship... well...”

Her eyes snapped up to you from her ring as worry laced through her features, “Well?”

You snickered, placing a gentle kiss to the bridge of her nose, “If I could go back, I would make sure I’d asked you to marry me before you could ask me.”

“You’re so,” she rolled her eyes, unable to hide her smile as you shut her up with another little kiss. She pulled you further into her lap with a happy little sigh, “I love you, dream girl.”

You leaned into her, resting your head on her shoulder as you wrapped an arm around her, your other hand coming up to her chest, fingernail tracing along her collarbone, “I love you too.”

“Done eating?”

You nodded, patting your stomach, “May or may not be a baby-baby in here, but there’s definitely a food baby in here.”

The way she perked up almost like a little kid was too cute as she asked, “I did good?”

The sated and full sigh you let out was all the answer she really needed, but you furthered it as you spoke, “Fuck yes...”

She rubbed your back with one hand, her other one grabbing hold of your hand to kiss each of your fingertips, “You’re so cute. It wasn’t even all that, mama.”

“Uh-huh, it was gourmet. My compliments to the chef.”

She raised a brow, voice full of ulterior motives and that all-too-familiar lilt as she muttered, “If you weren’t clearly about to fall asleep, I would ask for some better compliments, you know.”

You quirked a brow sleepily, looking up at her through low and hooded eyes, “Huh?”

“Alright, c’mon. To bed with you,” she prodded, adjusting her hold on you to pick you up with your legs wrapped around her waist.

You instinctively looped your arms around her neck, pressing a few kisses to it as you hummed, “I love you.”

“So I’ve noticed. I love you too.”

“I love you.”

She chuckled, “I love you too, baby.”

“I love you.”

She used her foot to push open the door to your shared bedroom, nodding as she used her foot to close the door once more, “Uh-huh, I love you too, dreamy. What’s up?”

You shrugged as she sat down on the edge of the bed with you in her lap again, “Just feel like I haven’t said it enough today, you were at work all day, baby. Gotta reach our quota.”

“We have a quota?”

“Mhm,” you nodded against her shoulder, eyes closed as you planted lazy kisses against whatever skin was closest to you.

Her breath hitched in her throat and she assumed a firmer grip on your hip as she hummed, “And what exactly would that number be?”

“We say ‘I love you’ at least 76 times a day. And we kiss at least 280 times.”

She chuckled, hand stroking along your hip and thigh as she nodded, “And where did you get these numbers from? Your ass?”

“I’ve always counted.”

That shut her up before she asked her next question a few moments later, “Are these exact numbers?”

“An average. I did say ‘at least’.”

“Huh.... you’re gay.”

“Okay, but you married me so what does that say about you?”

“That I did.” She turned to press a kiss to your forehead, just below your hairline before resting her head against yours, “I love you, dream girl.”

You melted in her arms, nuzzling into the crook of her neck as you tightened your hold around her waist, “I love you...”

“I love you,” she called again with a soft lilt in her tone as her thumb traced circles at the side of your hip.

A heavy blush was creeping up from your chest, your skin growing warm as you let out a shaky breath, “I love you...”

“You okay?”

“Uh-huh...”

“Words, mama.” You huffed and she shook her head, “No, ma’am. Talk to me. You goin’ to sleep on me?”

“No.”

“No?”

You shook your head against her, “Mh-mh.”

She just chuckled, rubbing your back with one hand as she cradled the back of your head with the other, pressing kisses into your hair, “Whatever you say, mama.”

Sevika’s pregnancy scares were probably a lot more than she realized, but with little actual knowledge of her body, and the compounding factor of probably the world’s most irregular cycle, she spent the majority of her tween, teen, and young adult years none the wiser to any of the times where her body was seemingly contemplating the creation of a child.

Until it started.

At first, it was just a random nausea spell here and there.

Then the nausea grew constant, the smallest smells setting her off with this horrible gagging.

And then she threw up.

All she could think of was what she was supposed to do when her father found out. No, no... he couldn’t find out.

Flashbacks of that day when she was 6 have been haunting her since the first day of nausea. The intensity all but doubled when she woke up running for the toilet.

Terrified didn’t even begin to cover the amalgamation of emotions Sevika was feeling when she realized what was going on with her.

She thrust herself into ‘working’. Unsure of how far along she was and unable to actually find out, she decided to swallow down her daily morning sickness whenever it cropped up if she could, and when she couldn’t, she was straight to the nearest toilet.

That didn’t stop her father from finding out.

Sevika was sat on the bathroom floor, groaning under her breath after being unable to force herself to swallow her vomit back down. She was too weak and out of it to scramble and get herself together.

If it wasn’t bad enough that she’d thrown up- didn't even get the chance to flush the toilet yet- her lack of reaction to his presence only further incensed the already drunk and irate man that called himself her father.

It was a shitshow.

Sevika was hemmed up by the collar of her shirt, his fist shaking as he barked in her face, questioning if this was why she’d been ‘underperforming’ lately. Too stunned to speak and reeling from the sudden yanking up from the floor, she sputtered, dizzy with a pounding headache as she tried to form a response.

The more she floundered to actually engage with him, the more angry and downright belligerent he became.

As always, he didn’t see his daughter, shaking under his grip of her collar.

No, he saw the extra mouth he’d been having to feed.

He saw the reason his wife was dead.

He saw red.

By the time Sevika found her words to even begin attempting to answer his barrage of questions and demands, his fist was already connecting with her face, his grip on her shirt the only thing saving her from ending up sprawled on the bathroom floor.

It was going to be a beating for the books.

You didn’t even realize it when she’d laid you down in the bed on the pillows, tucking you in, until she was sliding into bed next to you, wrapping her arms around you from behind with a kiss to the back of your shoulder, “Hm?”

She shook her head, reaching a hand into your robe to hold one of your breasts as another kiss was planted to the side of your neck, “Go to sleep, mama. I just had to go get out of my work clothes.”

You let out a little groan, turning in her arms to nestle into her, your face tucked under her chin as you mumbled, “Hmmm... g’night.... love you...”

With a little chuckle she pressed kisses into your hair, rubbing your lower back as she whispered against you, “Good night, my love. Sleep well.”

You didn’t sleep very well at all.

Along with the aches and random pains in weird places in your body- a tugging in your lower abdomen that also had a random stabbing along with it, back pain, an almost constant headache, and just a general discomfort and ache in your body- you also had this constant metal taste that was like having a mouthful of rusty change in your mouth at all times.

You were constantly waking up throughout the night from the discomfort, the violent urge to brush your teeth to purge your mouth of the vile metallic tang plaguing you. This, compounded with your incessant gagging, had you growing nauseous with the mere thought of your toothbrush starting to make you want to dry-heave.

You were presently standing over the sink, tears in your eyes as you tried to prepare yourself to gargle some mouthwash after having thrown up for about the fifth time since you woke up in the middle of the night.

Sevika, ever the stony sleeper, had no idea until she rolled over, finding your cold spot in the bed next to her. She groaned, calling out in a sleep-filled voice, “Baby, what’re you doin’? Come back so we can cuddle...”

You huffed, gripping onto the counter of the bathroom sink, fighting the urge to dry-heave again, “I’ll be back in a second....”

You could hear her trudging footsteps coming closer to the bathroom until she was coming up behind you, rubbing your back and pulling hair out of your face, concern and sleep both written on her features, “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I just.... I’m fine, I’ll be fine,” you shook your head, pushing her hand away before grabbing the capful of mouthwash.

“You can’t lie to me, dream girl. You’re crying, you’re pale... you look like shit and you’re supposed to be asleep right now. Talk to me.”

“I’m in pain, gagging now has nausea with it, I just threw up, so now I gotta wash that out of my mouth, but that’s still not going to get rid of this fucking taste in my mouth and I just-”

“Hey,” she moved to stand right in front of you, hands on your arms as she rubbed them to try and calm you back down, “Avalanche, you’re spiraling, dreamy. Take a deep breath with me and we’ll go sit down and talk, okay?”

You nodded as you looked up at her, taking a shaky but somewhat deep breath along with her as she nodded along, continuing to rub your arms with her thumbs tracing circles.

You let out a hiccup when you went to exhale and the second the tears started to brew again, she shook her head, “No, no, eyes on me... You’re safe... you’re okay, I promise. I’m here. You are okay, you’re doing so well, my love. Let’s try again, okay? Deep breaths.”

It took a few more tries before you finally relaxed in her hold, wrapping your arms around her. She brought one hand up to play in your hair, the pads of her fingers rubbing your scalp as her claws on her mech hand trailed lightly up and down your back.

She ended up taking you to the kitchen, sitting you down as she made you a glass of water with two and a half ice cubes- just the way you liked it after an episode like that, holding your free hand and kissing your knuckles and fingertips as you drank with your other hand.

When you sat the glass down, she stepped between your legs, still stroking her thumb over the back of your knuckles, “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll talk. If you don’t wanna talk, we can go back to sleep. If you want a distraction, we can watch something, or I could read you something. Just let me know, okay?”

You nodded, reaching up with your other arm for her to come closer. She pressed a kiss to your cheek before leaning into the embrace, wrapping you up in her arms. The two of you remained that way for a few quiet moments until you looked up at her with a sniffle, your chin on her chest, “Sev?”

“Yes, dreamy?”

“Can you read to me in bed?”

“Absolutely, baby. Do you wanna stay with me while I grab a book or go get comfy?” You held onto her tighter and she nodded, stroking your hair, “Alright, I got you.” She moved so that she could give you a piggyback while she grabbed a book. She ran her finger over the titles, moving on to the next one when you let out a little ‘mh-mh’ sound at each one until giving a nod when she got to a book you wanted to hear.

Once you were both back in bed, Sevika sat up against the headboard with you lying on your stomach between her legs curled up into her chest, she started reading the book, her voice still rather raspy from sleep. She held the book in one hand, her other one up at your face, stroking your cheek with the back of her fingers and only moving to flip the page.

Eventually, you closed your eyes, enjoying the vibrations of her voice in her chest beneath your head and the feel of her fingers on your face. Unconsciously, you took hold of her hand, fiddling with her fingers. She paused in her reading to check in, “You okay?”

“My mouth feels empty,” you lamented softly, the traces of whining laced in your voice.

She kissed your temple, “You’ve got my fingers, mama. Do you want me to keep reading?”

Sevika was no stranger to your occasional bouts like this. You hadn’t had a panic attack like that in a while, but usually when you did, you came out of them feeling very subby, not saying much, and your oral fixation would kick up, usually leading you to say things like ‘my mouth feels empty’.

You nodded in response to her question as you closed your eyes again, softly sucking and gnawing on her index finger. She smiled as your breathing evened out, setting the book aside as she pulled the covers over you both, allowing you to keep her finger before she picked the book back up.

A little groan left you as you took one more finger into your mouth, shifting atop her with your right arm wrapped around her. She shushed you softly, pressing a kiss to your hair, “I’m right here, dream girl... I’ll never let you go... promise...”

First, he punched.

Blow after blow into her face.

To this day, Sevika still has the slightest taste of blood that crops up in her mouth for no apparent reason from time to time.

It was clear that he was just making himself angrier with each hit, the strikes growing more violent and frenzied the more he spoke, barking at her about bringing another unwanted mouth into the household, about how she was still going to have to work. How could she be so foolish as to allow something like this? Half of his yelling barely made any sense but one thing was clear- he was saying that she’d gotten pregnant on purpose, trying to get out of pulling her weight around here.

His grip started to shake on her collar until he’d thrown her to the floor, too lazy to bend over and keep using his hands, so here came the infamous worker’s boots, smashing into her stomach and chest with seemingly reckless abandon- yet somehow still managing a concentration of kicks to her stomach. Sevika curled in on herself slightly, instinctively going to guard her stomach which left her chest open.

There was a sick crunch with each kick there, blood bubbling up out of her mouth as her body was wracked with coughs, the blood spattering across the floor with each one. Her father stopped for a few moments, leaning against the wall to catch his breath as he wheezed.

"You... are fuckin'.... pathetic..." he huffed, turning back around to prod her face with his foot.

He spat down at her as she lay there, voice gruff as he all but growled, “Get the fuck up.”

Sevika was already weak when he came in, having been throwing up essentially all morning before he'd come in to find her when he got home. It hurt to even breathe, ribs threatening to puncture her lungs with every shallow breath she managed, let alone for her to actually get up off the floor.

She didn’t move.

He gave her a shove with his foot, pushing her onto her back as his voice got louder, “Did you not hear me, bitch? Get the fuck up!”

Tears brewed at the back of her eyes. She always says the back because she learned early on not to cry. He hated that almost more than he hated her.

With a great amount of effort, she rolled onto her side, then her stomach before bracing her hands against the floor to push herself up, low grunts and huffs escaping her the whole way.

She barely got a few inches off the floor before he used his foot once again to kick her, knocking her back down, “Get up.”

It was getting harder to hold those tears.

She wasn’t foolish enough to hope that actually ending up pregnant would change things. She never hoped for anything. But some subconscious part of her did. While she had no plans on keeping the child, not that her father would let her anyway, something deep within her secretly wanted to.

Her arms were wobbly, weak as she started to push up again. Each time she started to get up as he was demanding, he’d kick up under her, right into her stomach.

She knew what he was doing.

She didn’t want to lose the baby.

Not like this.

But she couldn’t do anything.

For years after his death, she berated herself for not killing him sooner.

After all if she had...

To say you had a disgusting cocktail of things seemingly going wrong with you would’ve been an understatement.

You were locked in an almost unending cycle of sorts. First, you’d feel so nauseous it was almost like you were seasick. Then you’d throw up, which meant you had to brush your teeth after, lest the unceasing metallic taste be joined by vomit, which meant more gagging and possible throwing up. Then to make you feel even worse, now your gums were bleeding.

And there was the pains.

Sevika could barely keep up, but she was doing her best. She went into work less often, explaining the situation to Silco. When she did go in, he kept her for shorter hours, having her back home to you before afternoon.

You guys were still awaiting your now questionably late period when you called from the bathroom one morning, “Baby?”

“Yes, mama?”

“Can you bring me a liner from the closet?”

“You dropped?”

“I think?”

She entered the room with a liner in one hand and fresh panties in the other, “You think?”

“It’s never been this light before. It’s not spotting, but it’s not my usual first day either,” you explained, letting her see the red and brown that now stained the panties you were wearing initially before you tossed them across the bathroom and into the hamper, taking the fresh ones and the liner from her with a soft ‘thank you’ as you changed.

She leaned against the sink, clearly studying you, trying to rack her brain for any sort of explanation.

“This just started?”

“Yeah?”

“Hm.”

“What are you thinking about over there? I’m not dying, am I?”

She looked at you like she could kill you before whatever this was did, “Don’t talk like that. I’m just trying to make sense of this. Perhaps we should visit your mom...”

The last line was muttered more to herself, but you responded all the same. Your mother was a doctor. More than that, she was a pretty damn good one, and she specialized in childbirth and care. She’d helped numerous women through what could’ve otherwise been fatal pregnancies, not to mention you come from a very... fertile line of women.

“Would that make you feel better if I did?”

She nodded immediately, “Yes, please. If anyone will know what’s going on with you, it’s definitely her.”

“You know that’s a six-day trip, right?”

“Don’t care. I’ll work something out with Silco if need be, but I need to know what’s going on with my girl. Start packing when you get out of here, I’ll be back in 45, okay?”

You huffed, grumbling to yourself, “Watch it just be somethin’ stupid."

“Nothing’s stupid when it comes to you, dream girl. Don’t make me fuck a reminder into you when I get back.”

“You’re leavin’ without my kisses? Do y’even love me anymore,” you wailed dramatically.

You could almost sense her playful eye-roll as you heard her steps clunking back toward your shared bedroom. She bent down to meet you as you placed the liner into your new panties, pressing two kisses to your lips, “Happy now?”

“No,” you pouted, your bottom lip poked out as you looked up at her sadly.

She stooped down to your level, face softening, “What’s wrong, my love?”

“You only gave me two kisses....” you whined, dead serious.

Her face fell and she pushed your knee, “Don’t scare me like that, I thought something was really wrong, dreamy. Mmmmwah, better?”

You couldn’t help the giggle that escaped you as she planted a very audible kiss on your lips, nodding, “Yes, thank you. And insufficient kisses it very much serious business.”

“Yeah, when it’s you depriving me, not the other way around. Hurry and get ready, okay? The sooner we figure out what’s going on with you, the better.”

“I know, I know. I’ll be fine. Go talk your way into going with me,” you waved her on, getting up from the toilet as you flushed with one hand, turning the sink on with the other to wash your hands.

She got maybe three steps away from the door before she was back in the bathroom, tugging your face to hers for a searing- almost teasing- kiss as she muttered before pulling away, “I love you, lock the doors and windows, I’ll be back soon, okay?”

Despite already missing her presence with her standing right in front of you, you managed a smile, pecking her lips once more, “Hurry, Sevi. The longer it takes you to leave, the longer I have to be here by myself.”

“Say it back first,” she mumbled against your lips, the two of you still trading kisses back and forth.

You pressed a lengthier kiss to her lips, looking up at her with a whisper, “I love you...”

She tilted her head to rest her forehead against yours, closing her eyes, “I’ll be back, okay?”

“Sev-”

“I’m fine. I’ll be back.”

She quickly suppressed the brewing tears, heading to go ask Silco for some time off to make the trip.

Sevika spent that night on the bathroom floor, bloodied and bruised, still coughing up blood periodically as she cradled her stomach, praying to whoever was out there that she didn’t die on that floor.

She didn’t die.

Even more, neither did her baby.

Sevika wasn’t excited.

She wasn’t happy to be bringing this life into the world.

Sevika was petrified about the mere idea of it all.

If she kept the baby, there was the chance her father would kill the baby, or worse, the baby would end up being abused just as she was. She couldn’t have that happen.

But did she truly want to give it away?

If the baby was lucky, it would end up being sent topside to Piltover. It’d be safe there as much as she hated to think about her child ending up being a topsider.

But more likely than not, the kid would end up just in the system. Sent off from home to home around the Lanes. Or even worse, the kid could end up being one of the many orphans on the street.

Sevika didn’t know what she wanted. Or what she would do.

To make matters worse, her father acted as if she weren’t even pregnant in the first place.

She was still working, now having to do even more ‘work’ to make up for the “lackluster performance” from the week she first found out she was pregnant. She was also working at home again, something she hadn’t done much since she’d become an adult.

It took months for her to begin showing, and by the time she had, it was almost as if her father intended for her to keep the baby. The physical abuse was now reduced to the occasional slap or hair snatch here and there, and though the verbal and emotional abuse intensified in its place, he’d begun seemingly making room for the new addition.

He was by no means happy about the prospect of his daughter having a child. But the way he saw it, that was another worker to bring money in to fund his drinking, gambling, and other vices.

The way Sevika saw it? She'd rather die than let her child go through the same things she did. Whether this was something she wanted or not, she knew that if she had to have this child, she’d protect it with her life.

It’s nowhere near the first time you’ve had to make this trip to see your mom. 6 days there, 6 days back.

The majority of your journey is spent with your symptoms playing a twisted game of roulette, alternating between which ones will be your biggest issue that day.

You’re a constant mess of tears, throwing up, gagging, whining, and for the life of you, you cannot stop peeing, only to end up releasing barely a trickle if even a few drops.

You’re tired.

Sevika is also tired.

Your wife wasn’t much of a caregiver when the two of you met. She wasn’t the worst, but it was clear that she was still very much learning. By now she's got it pretty much mastered.

She’s been holding you through everything, offering up massages, cuddles, and her fingers whenever you’re starting to get too overwhelmed by all the different compounding symptoms of what’s looking more and more like a pregnancy.

That’s when the nosebleeds started.

You’ve never had a nosebleed before. Aside from getting your nose broken that one time, you’d only ever dealt with Sevika’s nosebleeds that she gets during the winter from her nostrils drying out. But you? Never had it happen.

However, you knew what it meant.

It ran in the family. Bloody noses and sensitive- sometimes bleeding- gums were some of the earliest pregnancy symptoms within your family. If you didn’t know based on your other symptoms, all other weird yet slightly common symptoms of pregnancy, you definitely knew now.

You were both in your hotel room, the last stop before the final half-day stretch that would get you to your mother’s house, your back to her front as she trailed her fingers over your stomach, muttering affirmations and praises under her breath at how good you’d been holding up when you felt what you thought was your nose running.

You reached up to swipe at your nose with a sniff, pulling your sleeve away to find red now smeared across it, “Oh no...”

She sat up with you, eyes going wide, “Baby?”

You held your nose, pinching the bottom of your nostrils as you cupped your other hand under your chin, holding your head forward while running to the bathroom.

It’s not an overwhelming amount of blood. You’ve seen Sevika come home with much worse from particularly bloody brawls at The Last Drop for sure. But to your wife? You may as well be dying.

Sev is right on your heels, a face towel in her hands already being run under some warm tap water as she pulls you in front of her, taking hold of your chin with her mech hand and assessing the situation as she cleans your face with the towel in her other one.

“This isn’t normal.... d’you think we can leave tonight? Get a jump on some answers? I’m worried about you.”

“Baby, it’s just a nosebleed. I won’t bleed out by morning. It’s not even bleeding anymore.”

She shakes her head, turning your face side-to-side face for signs of any bruising or other things that may be outwardly wrong with you. When she finds none, she starts to gently prod at your nose with a finger, pushing against the bridge and around, ��You don’t get it, dreamy. You don’t get nosebleeds. I get those like an orphan gets the cold and flu. Not you... I don’t know a single person in the Lanes who’s just never had a nosebleed like you... I’m scared.”

While you were now very certain about being pregnant, you wanted to wait to tell her, so you simply took hold of her arms- standard panic protocol between the two of you- as you spoke gently, “Baby, there’s a lot of things going on with me that just aren’t normal for me, but that’s why we’re on this trip. We’ll get answers in the morning, okay? Breathe for me, deep breaths.”

Sevika’s barrage of questions and worries fizzle out on her tongue as she locks in with you, mumbling a small, “Avalanche,” as she takes a deep breath in time with your own.

“There we go, my love. What can I do for you to make you feel a bit better right now? If you wanna get back on the road, we can. Or we can go cuddle and I’ll braid your hair. Or we can watch our show. Whenever you’re ready, just let me know, okay?”

She closed her eyes as she took a final breath, opening them once she blew it back out, “Can you braid my hair and we watch our show?”

“Of course, baby. Come on, relax time. If my nose bleeds again tonight, we’ll get up and head on immediately.”

The two of you ended up back in bed, Sevika’s head in your lap as you gave her a few braids to pull back into two little pigtails in place of her usual half pony, you guys’ show playing in the background of her giving you updates on the things she’s gotta do for Silco when you two return back home.

“And then he was literally all whiny talking about how he needs me to come in at some point when we get back so I can go head up the factory and take stock.”

You snickered, pulling a hair tie around her first little pigtail, “We need to get this man a calculator class or something. Oh, remind me it’s time for a trim when we get home, your undercut is practically long enough for me to braid it too.”

She rolled her eyes, rolling over in your lap to face you so you could do the other side of her hair, “Oh hush, it’s not that long.”

“Nah, I’m just being extra.”

“I love you...”

“I love you too.”

She squeezed her eyes closed, gritting her teeth, “I love you...”

You noticed the tense in her jaw, voice softening, “I love you more, baby.”

“Avalanche,” she said meekly, fist gripping your shirt.

You set your comb aside, pulling her up and into your arms as you wrapped your legs around her, allowing her to bury her face in your chest. Slowly rocking side to side, you stroked her hair with one hand, holding her tightly with your other arm as you pressed kisses to her temple and along her hairline, “I got you, Vika.... I’ll never let you go.... never leave... You’re safe... I love you... I’m always going to love you... nothing you do will change that... We’ve been married for so long now... We’re planning babies... We’re still gonna get our homestead... And you can have your animals... I’ll have my fruits and veggies... Me ‘n you, baby...”

You kept whispering little reassurances, reminding her about you guys’ life plan, the things the two of you have already accomplished together, the ones still to come, all while rocking her and playing in her hair. She was holding onto you for dear life. You’d been waiting for it to hit her again, knowing what time of year it was.

When her breathing evened out and her grip on you relaxed just the tiniest bit, you pulled back slightly, cleaning the crust from her eyes with your shirt before pulling the article off, tossing it to the floor. You finished her cute little pigtails while she slept, pausing to press a kiss to her nose every time she started to stir a little bit.

You watched a few more episodes of you guys’ show, making sure to put it back to where it was when she fell asleep before you relaxed as well, pulling the covers up over the two of you.

With a final kiss to her nose, this one earning a soft smile in her sleep, you leaned your head against hers before following her to sleep, mumbling, “Sweet dreams, my love... You’re gonna be a great mother...”

Pregnancy was... well...

Sevika wasn’t sure how to describe her pregnancy. She was in such a weird place after the initial day of her father finding out that she wasn’t sure what to make of anything.

One moment, he was “caring” for her- which really just meant not beating the shit out of her and pimping her out- and the next he was either acting like she didn’t exist or, again, human punching bag.

As far as symptoms, her vomiting didn’t last very long, took her maybe two weeks after that day for her to get a handle on forcing her morning sickness back down no matter what.

She really didn’t get the chance to think about it much. Sure, she had aches and pains. Sure, she had cravings. Sure, she was in and out of bathrooms like it was nobody’s business. But, those were all just minor- trivial things that ranged from annoying to slightly inconvenient at times.

The hard part was delivery.

Sevika delivered her daughter herself.

Alone, in a back alley, deep in the very heart of Zaun.

Giving birth hurt more than anything she’d ever felt before and anything she’d ever feel after.

Sevika didn’t know much about her body.

Besides the hateful things spewed about it from her father, the lustful words from her “clients”, and the few things she’d managed to sneak and read back when she was younger, she actually didn’t know much about how her body worked, let alone pregnancy.

But something seemed to come over her.

It was as if suddenly she knew everything she needed to have her baby safely.

Yes, she was giving birth in a dirty alleyway- the whole of Zaun was dirty, it was unavoidable- but even through the pain she was... calm.

She wasn’t worried about someone finding her and interfering. She wasn’t worried about her father.

All she cared about was making sure her baby made it out into this world.

And she did it.

With nothing but a lighter, a shoelace, a pocketknife, and some stolen whiskey, she delivered her baby.

A girl.

She always wanted to have a daughter when she was little.

She told herself that she’d have a girl so she could give her all the love and care that her father never showed her.

She named her Mieko.

Sevika didn’t know who the father was before now.

And even though Mieko was but a newborn, she knew.

This baby belonged to her father.

The next morning was a rush.

Sev wanted to get to your mom’s as soon as possible. She didn’t say anything about last night aside from asking if your nose had bled any more after she fell asleep, and you didn’t mention it either.

But the cloud still hung.

You noticed her fiddling with the two shell casings that hung from the same chain as her wedding ring. Every so often her hand would stray up to her neckline, fingers practically searching for the items that sat just beneath the fabric of her shirt. Each time you just gave her mech hand a little squeeze, kissing the back of it just the same as you would her flesh hand.

She was thankful you didn’t pry. You never did, actually. Sure, you knew what the casings held within them, and even more you knew exactly what it meant when she started to play with them, but you didn’t bother her about it. You gave her breath and space to grieve in her own way, never pushing for answers, never making her feel weak for showing her sadness. It was one of the many reasons she loved you so much.

Naturally, the somber mood slowly started to lift the closer the two of you got to your mother’s place of residence. You knew Sev was only mostly trying to distract herself, but you also knew how much she and your mother adored one another.

Presently, she was still fiddling with that chain of hers, rubbing the casings between her fingers as she spoke, “D’you think she’ll try and keep us here if it turns out we’re just having a baby?”

“As if you’d be opposed. The way you two act, people would swear I was the one who married in.”

She chuckled, sticking her tongue out at you, “Don’t be mad at me because moms prefers me. I’m just that guy.”

You rolled your eyes, playfully mushing her in the face, “Literally die. Don’t ever say some stupid shit like that again.”

“Or what?”

“No booty.”

“What?!” She cried incredulously, immediately on her knees, “C’mon, mama, you know I was just playing. ‘M sorry...” she trailed, looking up at you with puppy eyes.

You couldn’t help the snicker that escaped you as you pulled her up by her chin, being sure to press your lips to hers when she got close enough before she was once again standing over you, “You gotta be nice to me, okay? I’m 65 percent sure mom wrote me out of her will to put you in it.”

She rolled her eyes playfully before leaning down to kiss you once more, “Oh, please, even if she did you already know I’d just give it all to you anyway.”

“True, true.”

“You ready?”

“Yeah, are you?”

“Hell yeah. If you end up not being pregnant we’ll just try again when we get home... so long as you’re not dying or something.”

“What if I was?”

“Don’t make me beat your ass, dreamy.”

You gasped dramatically, “You tryna eat my ass?!”

“I most certainly would hope not.”

The two of you immediately forgot about the little argument that was about to start as you both raced to get to your mom first from where she stood on her porch.

“Mommy,” you exclaimed as you launched yourself into her arms.

She let out a dramatized grunt as she wrapped you up in her embrace, squeezing you tightly, “I wish you’d have told me you were coming before I felt you. Would’ve made your favorites.”

“Sorry, it was kind of an emergency.”

Sevika cut in, tugging you out of the way, “Yeah, kinda like you hogging moms right now.”

Your mother snickered, squeezing Sev just the same, “You two need to be nice and stop fighting over me all the time. You both know that I love you equally.”

“But Sev’s not even-”

“What did I just say, gummy?”

You huffed, folding your arms as you grumbled under your breath, “I can’t stand either of you.”

When the two finally released each other, your mother turned her attention back to you, raising a brow, “Sevi, baby, can you do me a favor?”

“Anything, moms.”

“Go to the garden and gather the vegetables I’ll need for stir fry, please. I’ll be in the kitchen after I finish with this one,” she requested, eyes never leaving you as she seemed to be scrutinizing you. Sev left with a kiss to your cheek and another to your mom’s temple before she practically skipped away into the garden like the overgrown kid she really was.

“Do you have something you wanna tell me?”

“What do you mean, ma?”

“You’re choosing that card? Step into my office, gummy.”

You bit your lip as you followed after her into her home office, fiddling with the hem of your hoodie, “I swear to you, I don’t think I’ve got anything worse than a cold-”

“Sit down,” she instructs, not looking to play these games with you. You shut up immediately, sitting back as she takes your vitals, “Last period?”

“9 weeks ago.”

“6 weeks late, huh?”

“I know what you’re thinking and-”

“Did you know I’ve been dreaming about fish for a month now? Tiny little fish swimming around with tadpoles.”

You looked up at her as she handed you a cup, “Seriously, ma? I’m literally your only gay child.”

She raised a brow, “What does that have to do with me? Piss. I’m testing everyone, it hasn’t just been you.”

“So you tested Ky?”

“Sure did.”

You rolled your eyes the moment your back was turned, a slipper promptly smacking you in the back of the head, “Ow! I didn’t even say anything.”

“You rolled your eyes and you were grumbling in your head about me making your brother take a pregnancy test. Obviously, I tested his wife, genius.”

You smacked, rubbing the back of your head, “I didn’t even-” she raised her other slipper and you promptly shut your mouth before grabbing her slipper from earlier, handing it back to her. “I started getting the nosebleeds,” you mumbled softly.

She looked up from her clipboard, voice and eyes softer than before, “Dear, why you know-”

“That it means I’m pregnant? Yeah... I know...”

She set her things aside, wrapping her arms around you, “Oh my little girl... all grown up... about to have a little girl of her own.”

You chuckled through the tears that had begun to fall, “We don’t even know if it’s a girl yet. Not even close to finding that out.”

She waved your argument away, rubbing your back, “Did you forget who your mother is?”

You didn’t answer, holding her a little tighter. Your mom softened, voice quiet as she questioned, “What’s wrong, gummy?”

“I’m scared...”

“Of?”

“All of it.... being a mom... having a kid in the heart of Zaun... what if... what if Sevika falls out of love with me? Or I fuck up and lose the baby somehow? Or-”

“Excuse me? I know this isn’t how I raised you to think.”

“I know, but-”

“No buts. You’re scared of being a mom? Comes with the territory. You’re scared of having your kid in the heart of Zaun? Guess what, baby girl, that’s where my mom had me, and look at how I turned out. You think you’ll somehow breathe wrong and lose the baby, I already know because I know you- you won’t. I’ll check you two out properly before you guys go back home just to be sure everything is fine and in working order with you and your body and the baby.”

“As for Sevika? Sweet girl, if you think that girl is going anywhere away from you, then you clearly have a lot of learning to do. She looks at you like you’re the very air she needs to breathe; as if you hung the sun, moon, and stars just for her. That girl loves you even more than I do, and you’re my baby,” she chimed, playfully pinching your cheek, “Make no mistake, there’s nothing that could make her fall out of love with you. Not this one. And by Janna, if she does- call me.”

You chuckled through your tears, letting out a little sigh, “I got this?”

She gave you a kiss to your forehead, “Yes, sweet girl. You’ve got this. And I’ll be here the whole time, okay? And you’ve got a wife that loves you... You’ll be okay. And if you ever want to move back up here at any time during your pregnancy or after, let me know. My door is always open, you know this.”

“I know....”

The two of you stood like that for a good while before you mumbled, “Mommy?”

“Yes, gummy?”

“Thank you.”

She let out a soft sigh, shaking her head as she held you a little tighter, “Anything for my girl. I’ll keep the news to myself so you can tell my other daughter, alright?”

“Thanks... I love you.”

She planted an audible kiss to your forehead, “Of course, little one. I love you more. Now clean that pretty little face and get yourself together. I’ll tell your wife you’re using the bathroom while we get dinner going, okay?”

You let out a happy little sigh, giving your mother one last good squeeze, “Thanks, mommy.”

She gave your stomach a little pat before turning to leave, “Don’t take too long or you know she’ll come find you. Also, you have a cold, sit your ass on the couch when you come out and don’t you dare set foot in my kitchen, you hear?”

“Yes, mommy. I’ll be out in a second.”

The door closed behind her and you placed a hand on your stomach letting out a little breath, “Now I’ve gotta figure out how to tell your mom about you, angel.”

2 years.

Sevika had been hiding her daughter from her father successfully for 2 years.

She doesn’t know how he found her. She didn’t know then and, to this day, she doesn’t know now.

She’d returned to her childhood home from a day of “work”, heart falling from her stomach as Mieko came tottering to her, wrapping around her leg.

For the longest time, fear was the only word she could use to describe that day, but no... it was something more than that. Sevika wasn’t just afraid. She was horrified. Petrified even.

How long had her daughter been alone with her father? How did he find her? How long had he known about her? Was this his first time coming into contact with her?

A million questions and terrible scenarios ran through her mind, the soft pat of her daughter’s hand on her leg pulling her from the slow descent into panic. She couldn’t help but smile at her baby, picking her up and smothering her in kisses as the little girl dissolved into giggles. She could feel her father’s eyes watching her every move.

“You take her to the back room.” His voice was gruff as always, words short and to the point.

Sevika froze. She knew what was coming for her if she let go of her daughter and faced him alone. She didn’t move, arms clutching onto her child as her heart raced even faster than her thoughts.

There had to be a way out of this.

Her father hated repeating himself. His anger was palpable, a churning storm ready to roll through the house as he slammed his fist down, “Back room, now!”

The loud noise and his elevated voice scared Mieko. She started crying. He hates crying.

Sevika slowly backed toward the front door, holding a crying Mieko to her chest as she tried to quiet her.

Wrong.

Her father was in front of her in an instant, large hands reaching for Mieko. Sevika went to turn around, run back out the door, only to have her face smashed into it, her daughter torn from her arms by his other hand. He shook the crying child, screaming at her to shut up.

Disoriented with blurry vision, Sevika stood on unsure feet, trying to reach for her daughter back.

She felt that familiar tiny hand clutch her finger for the briefest of moments before a shot rang out.

She saw red.

Sevika’s hand strayed to the shell casings around her neck frequently throughout dinner, her eyes misty and sort of far away. Your mother looked to you, wondering what was up with her daughter in law, but you waved off her concern, stroking your thumb over Sevika’s thigh in a show of silent comfort each time she withdrew from the conversation.

After dinner was finished and the dishes had been put away, your mother left for bed with a kiss to each of your foreheads. You sat on the couch with your wife, rolling a cigar for her as she curled around you, her flesh hand at your stomach, tracing patterns over the bit of skin poking from beneath your top.

You placed the ‘gar between your lips, lighting it before taking a hit and holding it out for your wife.

She took it, not hitting it, but studying it before she took a hit, sighing upon her exhale of the smoke.

“How are you feelin’,” you asked softly, playing with her semi-wavy hair that had been freed from the braids and pigtails you’d made the night prior.

“Stressed... worried...” she trailed off, voice falling quieter as she passed the blunt back to you, “sad...”

“Where do you wanna start?”

She shrugged, unwrapping herself from around you to sit up beside you, “Dunno... it’s all just a lot right now...”

You leaned your head on her shoulder, taking a couple more hits of the blunt before you passed it back to her, taking up interest in her mech hand as you started to fiddle with the metal, “Okay.... what’s got you stressed?”

“Everything...”

“But in particular at this moment?”

She didn’t answer for a few moments, eyes clouding over again. You gave her mech hand a squeeze, whispering gently, “Hey...”

“Hm?”

“You keep leaving me... Talk to me...”

“Is it possible to miss someone you’ve never met?”

Her mom.

You gave a small nod, “Entirely possible.”

“It’s like.... this longing... But it’s more than that because how can you long for something you never truly had? Even worse to miss someone who... who’s not here anymore because of you...”

Her last sentence was like a ghost, the words dissipating the moment they left her lips.

“Sevi...”

“It’s fine, I’m-”

“No, you aren’t, baby... And you don’t have to be. It’s okay to not be okay... But I wish you’d stop faulting yourself for that...”

She let out a sigh, holding the blunt out for you, “I know... Just.... can we talk about something else? Or just cuddle and smoke?”

You nodded as you took another hit, “We can do that.”

The silence that fell was comfortable, the two of you sharing the blunt back and forth until it was nothing but a roach left. You leaned to place it in the ashtray on the coffee table before moving to lay aginst Sev’s chest.

Your body was buzzing. It had been a while since you last smoked and you felt that familiar sensation of both floating and sinking into your wife’s body as you lay atop her, her arms wrapped loosely around your waist, flesh hand trazing lazy patterns along your spine.

You tilted your head slightly to look up at her, her eyes fixated on the ceiling, but not really- she was thinking.

“You have such pretty eyes,” you whispered.

Her grin was immediate as she moved her vision down to you, those silver orbs darkened in her high state, “You think so?”

You nodded, curling further into her as you closed your own eyes, “So pretty... I hope the baby gets your eyes.”

Sevika is known for being a woman who revels in violence.

The Scary lady of Zaun.

She’s the one who kicks ass and takes names- no questions.

But it wasn’t always like that.

The shot flipped a switch in her.

To be quite honest, she’s not sure what exactly killed him.

Maybe it was her beating him.

Maybe it was her bashing his skull into the wall.

Maybe she’d broken his ribs with her kicks, punctured a lung or even better his heart.

She didn’t know.

But when the rage had settled and her father lie dead on the floor, she saw her little girl.

She crumpled, those tears she’d been holding back for so long in her life ripped from her as she held her girl in her arms.

Those tiny fingers wrapped around her pinky for the last time, matching silver orbs growing dim as Mieko took her final breath in her mother’s arms.

Sevika’s heart stopped in her chest as she froze beneath you.

You sat up, looking down to find her eyes glossed over, a single tear escaping, “Sev?”

Her eyes were wide, heart hammering away in her chest, threatening to burst from it as she just barely managed to speak, “You... you’re...”

You took her hands, nodding as you whispered, “Yeah, baby... I’m pregnant.”

You were holding back tears of your own. You’d only seen your wife cry once, and that was on your wedding day. Sevika crying was as rare as you getting a nosebleed.

You cupped her face in your hands, wiping away her tears as they fell. She seemed frozen, eyes faraway again as she whispered feebly, “You...”

Sevika didn’t know what to say. She had dreamed about this moment, played it out a million different ways in her head. She just knew she’d wrap you up in her arms, a mess of kisses and giggles. But now that it was here, the two of you under the light of the fire in your mom’s living room, she was stuck.

Her eyes focused on you as you spoke, tears in your eyes, “Hey, come back to me? You okay?”

No, she wasn’t okay.

“You’re pregnant...” she whispered, still sounding like she didn’t believe it.

You let out a soft chuckle, nodding as you leaned in to kiss a line down her nose, ending with her lips, “We made a baby, Sev...”

There were stars in her eyes as she stared at you. She was never one for flowery language, she’d tried, but she always stumbled over her words or felt like she’d just come off cheesy. Her hands moved to your waist, thumbs stroking the sides of your stomach as she looked up at you, “We did...”

“We’re gonna be parents...”

“We are...” she whispered, her words thick as she blinked away a fresh batch of tears.

You didn’t wipe them away this time. Instead, you pulled her closer, wrapping your arms around her as she tucked her face into the crook of your neck. If you felt her tears soak through your shirt, you didn’t say anything, fingers combing through her hair as you rocked softly.

Sevika was swimming through her thoughts in her mind. She was petrified and ecstatic at the same time, but the fear seemed to overtake the happiness by an astounding wave, causing her to press further into you. You simply wrapped your arms tighter around her, pressing a kiss into her hair as you rubbed her back to keep her grounded.

Her mind was running about a million miles a minute. Flashbacks of her own pregnancy, her labor and delivery in that cramped alley... the few moments of peace and happiness shared with her daughter.... Mieko’s eyes as the life leaked from them...

Then she thought about you. The life the two of you have settled into together. The day that started all of this when the two of you decided to try for a baby. About all the shit you’ve had to put up with thus far and all the things to come.

She pulled back to look at you, silver eyes glistening still in the lowlight, pupils blown as she found her voice, whispering under her breath, “Thank you...”

Your eyes caught on your mother, a soft smile on your face as she mouthed, “I told you so.”

🤎©️ All work belongs to sexysapphicshopowner. Do not use or repost my content in any way without my consent or permission. Thank you! 🤎

🤎 Taglist 🤎:

@certainlynotasimp @trafalgardvivi @love-sugarr @archangeldyke-all @fyeahnix

49 notes · View notes