cromernet

[cromernet]

→ NEW RELEASE: Hidden Histories, Heated Nights by @xomakara

Feedback: The irony of the fact that the last place on this earth you'd ever find me would be a frat party lmao. Nah not Yunho and that sexy brain comment, he really went for hwa's throat right there and of course hongjoong joining. Who's surprised? Not me

Hidden Histories, Heated Nights

SUMMARY | At a wild summer frat party, you unexpectedly encounter Seonghwa, your rival undergrad TA in the History department, and the simmering tension between you soon evolves into a passionate, emotional connection, revealing hidden vulnerabilities and a potential for something far deeper than rivalry.

PAIRINGS |  Seonghwa x Reader 

RATING |  Mature, NSFW, EXPLICIT, MDNI, 18+, Any Minors and Ageless Blogs will be blocked

GENRE |  smut, romance, rivals to lovers

CONTENT/WARNINGS | chubby reader, reader has insecurities about her body, non-idol au, college au, profanity, flirting, teasing, protective sex, office sex, mutual masturbation, oral sex (f.receiving), face riding, dirty talk, kissing, skin marking, skin biting, hair pulling, fingering, multiple positions, body praising and worship, sex toys, ass spanking, seonghwa has it down bad for reader

LENGTH |  10,617 words 

TAGLIST |  @yuyu1024 @lovetaroandtaemin @ikeukiss @pars-ley @aerangi

NETWORKS |  @illusionnet  @cromernet  @othersideoutlawsnetwork  @winerys-collection  @cosyhomenet  @keopihaus  @ksmutsociety  @k-vanity 

AUTHOR’S NOTE | She's doneeeeee 💛💚 thank you @ikeukiss for beta-reading the beginning of the fic.

ATEEZ Main Masterlist

When your friends invited you to the biggest summer pool party at the ATZ frat house, you did not imagine that you would be staring at a shirtless Park Seonghwa, your fellow History undergrad TA, his hand around the neck of an unopened bottle of tequila, offering you a smile so sexy that it threatened the heat of the hot, blazing sun.

Worse, you hadn't thought that you could meet him like this; at a house party full of sweaty drunk people that spilled beer onto the floor of the house and could not be heard over the music thumping through the speakers, the entire area smelling of a potent cocktail of alcohol and sex. Your friends and sorority sisters, all dressed and ready for the party with their makeup and clothes done up in their best efforts, were already gone; hooking up with frat boys left and right before stumbling into separate bedrooms like it was the greatest thing in the world. You hung back, knowing better than to engage in anything tonight when you were fresh off from a breakup, and nurse a glass of something alcoholic all night, enjoying the ambiance while avoiding drunk and tipsy frat guys looking for their own hookups for the night.

The truth was that you hadn't had a good lay since you and your boyfriend had broken up and you wanted to save that experience for someone with actual romantic appeal. And if you wanted to do that, then tonight was not the time, given that you knew just about anyone you ran into was nothing more than a stranger that was looking for the next one-night stand. But that didn't change the fact that you needed some sort of action. A desperate one. A casual one. One that would never reach the surface or bring any shame upon yourself in the morning. Just enough for a night where you could fall asleep, content, happy.

Standing awkwardly by the table, unsure if you should stay, you hope no one would take notice of you; and with so many intoxicated college students in one room, you'd be fine if no one ever did. Your sisters dressed you down to the nines, complimenting you on how "hot" you looked in your short sundress that hugged all your curves and emphasized your assets. They reminded you that you were a college student too, and thus you were allowed to enjoy parties and frat parties like the rest of them, even if you were called the stick in the ass History uTA.

"This is new," you hear a voice mutter from your side. "I thought that someone like the prim and proper Y/N would never show up to a frat party. Shocking, really."

Rolling your eyes, you glance to the side where you see that familiar grin, a lopsided smirk that you always want to wipe off of his face. Seonghwa was tall, dark and handsome, which probably accounted for how he was so confident about his presence and ability to attract others, as well as the amount of girls that chased after him. He was the more popular History uTA that seemed to know how to handle things much easier than you could, always out partying every weekend, probably surrounded by a throng of girls begging to get him. Whereas you were the studious, proper, responsible one that other students steered away from, deeming you far too serious about everything. The both of you didn't exactly get along all that well, given how Seonghwa enjoyed being the students' favorite and the life of the party while you were considered the stiffest stick in the box when it came to rules and regulations.

"My sisters invited me along," you answer shortly. "If anything, it wasn't my ideal plan to be here on a Friday evening. Trust me."

A small grin flashes across his face before he holds his hands up. "Hey, no judgement from me. Just a bit surprised, is all."

"Right," you mutter, wanting to roll your eyes. Of course, someone like Park Seonghwa would question why you were even present. But you weren't here to engage in the age-old battle or bickering contest, between the two of you. Instead, you were just going to stand here quietly, sip on your glass of whatever, and then find an excuse to leave once no one was looking.

Seonghwa looks even better under the dim lights, his sharp jawline highlighted in a way that drew attention, the collarbones prominent under the golden illumination that gave his skin a radiant glow. Ditching the usual slacks and button-ups you always saw him wear in the classroom, his black tank had you eyeing his abs through the fabric, his exposed, muscular arms strong from the late summer workout and constant visits to the gym. It was no lie that you were attracted to Seonghwa in every sense. Even while the two of you argue heatedly on a constant basis, there was no denying that he was a nice specimen of a man. And you couldn't help it; he just did things for your libido and your attraction to his sharp tongue.

"You're dressed a little differently, though,” he eyes your outfit.

"What?" you exclaim, bringing your attention back to him. Seonghwa points at you and you try to force away your embarrassment that he was even addressing you in such a way, wrapping the shawl you had draped over your shoulders a little closer.

"Normally you wear those god awful sweater vests and cardigans and pleated pants to teach classes. I thought you were, like, straight-edge, especially given your whole attitude," Seonghwa's tone sounds mocking as a smile rises over his face. "Then again, who knew, underneath all those layers, was a beautiful young woman just dying to be unleashed upon the world, huh?"

"Fuck off, Park," you spat. "Why are you talking to me, anyways?"

His eyes drift, smirking as they travel from your face and to the drink in your hand. "Thought maybe we'd talk. We are the only ones who are both sober and un-hooked-up here, so..."

That much was true; a majority of the people around the both of you had already paired off, heading for separate parts of the house, and only a few remained here, nursing their drinks and not caring much for their surroundings. If you wanted, you could leave now and no one would notice or care enough to do anything to prevent that, since most of the students here were completely and utterly wasted.

"Listen, Y/N," the sound of your name rolls off his tongue and causes your heart to flutter slightly. "How about we be honest, huh? I can't stand you, you can't stand me, and everyone in this damn building knows it." His words are so frank, so brutally honest, and the tips of your ears redden, because you know it was true. But you didn't stop Seonghwa, unable to find your voice, as he continues, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips, "But there's something here, between us, isn't there? This tension. This spark. This... electricity. Something more than just rivalry and animosity."

You narrow your eyes. You would be lying if you said you didn't feel that spark between you and Seonghwa on a regular basis. That crackle of energy when you would go at it with one another in the halls or during a mutual lesson in History. Even now, under these lights and standing by the table, you felt your fingertips itching as your eyes fell back on his muscled arms and chest.

"You are talking some shit right now, Park," you hiss under your breath, barely audible above the booming music. "Why the fuck do you think I'm going to be okay with-"

Before you could react, you watch as he grabs a bottle of tequila on the table before turning to grab your wrist firmly with his other hand. Despite the gentleness, despite the grace of his hold, your feet quickly trails behind him as he brings you out from the frat house, towards the pool outback where a few drunken students were hanging about. Some of them cheer at the appearance of Seonghwa and others wave, chugging their beers. He said nothing to any of them; he simply leads you towards the more private side of the pool, secluding the two of you together as your heart starts to beat out of your chest.

As soon as Seonghwa feels that there was privacy and seclusion from the others, that smile slowly fades to a sultry smirk, his face mere inches from yours and you could feel the heat starting to rise. He ushers you to sit on the edge of the pool with him, his feet dangling over the water. You say nothing, opting instead to mimic his movements as you let your legs rest in the clear water, a jolt passing up your skin at the temperature. Your sundress rides up past your knees at the position and your body trembles with excitement, although you know you shouldn't be anticipating anything. You could end this now and it would probably not happen again.

"Well," you mutter. "Just what exactly is your game tonight?"

"No game," his voice sounds surprisingly sincere as the smirk begins to fall. "Not tonight." Seonghwa has his gaze on you, raking across every feature of your exposed flesh with unashamed hunger in his eyes as his hands drop down to grip the top of your dress. "Fuck," his teeth bit at the corner of his lip. "Do you even know how you look in this thing?"

"Excuse me?" You squawk, appalled as you tried to bat him away, the touch of your wrist meeting firm muscles that refuse to bend under your will.

"Hottest thing here tonight," Seonghwa's breathing turns harsh. "I mean, I already knew you were, but dressed like this...it really doesn't help my self-restraint around you."

And he was right; the shawl did little to conceal the revealing dress, tight against your voluptious body, and his eyes hungrily took in the sight. 

The only reason you wore such conservative clothes normally, that didn't emphasize your curves or assets, because who would want a chubby, plain girl like you to get attention? And yet, here he was; your long-time rival that always dislikes everything you stood for, standing here and calling you one of the hottest girls of the night, his voice hungry and impatient with a lustful edge.

"Cute, real cute," you said as the grin returned to your face. "Are you fucking serious, Park Seonghwa? First, you're talking a bunch of shit about hooking up and getting together. You think I'm gonna fucking believe-"

And before you can finish your sentence, you're blinking at a soaked Seonghwa who was pushed into the pool, the tequila bottle still in hand. The tank is sticking to his chest, emphasizing those pectorals and his nipples visible through the thin fabric. He doesn't look angry, merely amused at his brothers' antics, his smile still pleasant as he swims towards you. "Well, that's one way to start the fun," Seonghwa chuckles as his soaked frame grows closer and closer.

"Sorry!" His friend, who appears rather intoxicated himself, hollers from the edge. "Didn't mean for that to happen."

"It's fine," Seonghwa says smoothly before shooting you an innocent look. "Wanna come join me?"

You can't help but stare back as Seonghwa peels his soaked tank top over his head, leaving the man in his broad shoulders and nicely defined torso, the glistening muscles shining under the lights of the pool, the necklace around his neck emphasizing his collarbones, a chain you would love to run your fingers through. God, it just wasn't fucking fair, you tell yourself. No, a lot of people were attracted to Seonghwa and sought him out constantly. Who wouldn't? With a pretty smile and the voice of a songbird that carried an interesting depth to it, he was no doubt good company in and out of the classroom, and certainly the bedroom, as you could imagine.

You couldn't help the desire to rub up and down his pectorals, to flick those nipples and cause his jaw to clench with the desire to repress a moan, to allow you to dip beneath the water's surface, pressing kisses into his abdomen, moving further down. You couldn't help the growing warmth between your legs at the thought of grinding on top of his cock while he fucked you hard and deep in the bedroom, filling the air with moans of lust and desire.

Fuck. You need to get laid and a half-naked Park Seonghwa was not making this any easier.

"Y/N? Are you good?" He smiles. "Water's fine. Complementary liquor, as well," he notes, the bottle still in his hand.

"Fat chance," you growl, glaring down at him before getting up, "I think I've had enough of this whole evening."

"You're leaving?" his smile had finally disappeared.

"Yup."

You can see the irritation spark across Seonghwa's face, and in the next instant, he just nods, a soft chuckle leaving him. "Guess I'll be seeing you on Monday."

You don't answer, just give him a nod, and spin on your heel. When you allow yourself some distance between the pool, far enough away, you pause and cast a quick glance over your shoulder. Your heart leaps into your chest as you watch Seonghwa talking to other girls, his black hair slicked back, the tequila bottle still in his grasp, and they were clearly all falling for whatever spell that he cast with his words alone.

This whole evening has been embarrassing, a complete joke, and you wonder why your sisters wanted you here in the first place. Just some stupid guy and a stupid party full of stupid drunk college kids with stupid expectations. You don't need anyone's validation and you are perfectly fine with your own plans.

So why did it bother you so much, though, seeing Seonghwa casually entertaining a crowd of women? And why did your heart feel so... hurt by seeing it?

No. There's no reason that should bother you, no matter how handsome he might look or the gentle smile upon his face. It isn't like the two of you are dating. So, why do you even care that Park Seonghwa seems perfectly content chatting with other girls while you stand here watching like a lovestruck fool, on the verge of tears?

Seonghwa sighs as he thinks back to that conversation that had happened less than a few hours ago. After a few more rounds of tequila, and girls flocking towards the group, he knew where he would spend the rest of his evening. Of course, he wouldn't sleep with any of them, even while inebriated; he had much better willpower and standards than that, but that didn't stop him from trying to forget his encounter with Y/N.

He hates it. Seeing her dressed like that, her outfit doing wonders to showcase those delicious curves. It took all the effort that he had to keep his hands to himself, not wanting to cross an uncomfortable line. She wasn't his. And no matter how badly he wants to shove Y/N to the wall and kiss that plush mouth and run his hands over her soft body, there wasn't any reason for him to force himself on her.

Fucking idiot, he mutters under his breath, pissed off by the entire situation and how hard his dick throbs to life when he first saw her walking in, the way the sunlight illuminated her as if she was a goddess from above. He wants to taste that skin underneath, sink his fingers into that soft, luscious ass, listen to her gasps as he nips at her tender folds with his tongue. All these years he thought Y/N was straight-laced and proper, her clothes designed to emphasize modesty and not the voluptuous body that was covered up by baggy sweaters and turtlenecks.

Even her reputation was a shocker; Seonghwa never once in his entire life saw the pristine Y/N participating in any kind of rule-breaking. The type of girl that probably went to bed early and studies with the lights on. Sure, she could be annoying at times, but she did everything with an efficiency he had no idea anyone could even have. Never procrastinating on her work, handing her projects in on time, never had a single tardy or absence from class; everything about her was model student behavior.

And her brain, fuck, she’s wickedly smart, just as sharp tongue as Seonghwa himself. She wasn't scared to match him word-for-word, bantering on and on, never backing down. And he loves that; the fact that she could meet him, head on and toe to toe. Y/N wasn't easily defeated when it came to words or a battle of wits, which is why he ended up falling head over heels for her. And why he would forever admire her, not for her body, but her drive, her stubbornness and refusal to surrender.

It's almost shameful how Seonghwa finds his heart racing whenever he and Y/N go at it, his blood running hot and his dick responds whenever she challenges him. What the hell was wrong with him, that he found such pleasure in pissing her off or annoying her until she was at wit's end and wanted him out of the damn building?

Truthfully, Seonghwa wasn't sure when his rivalry with Y/N became a source of sexual frustration. Perhaps it was when they argued so loudly and heatedly one day, over some papers or another, that their noses were mere inches away. They were so close, in fact, he could smell her sweet shampoo and the floral body wash. It didn't help that her lips were a gorgeous color of natural gloss, so alluring, begging to be kissed. That's when he realized how badly he wanted Y/N, so much so that he'd fuck the living daylights out of her given the opportunity.

It was also when he realized that no, she wasn't his at all, and she might not have ever been, if her relationship history was anything to judge by. How she was already with a boyfriend before they met. One that was pretty douchey from what he heard and was clearly a grade A asshole from his social media. Just his luck; the most perfect girl he'd ever met, both mentally and physically, and she was already off limits.

That didn't prevent him from dreaming though; a fantasy or two would've been nice. Having Y/N bending over his desk, sweat glistening across her skin, as he drills his thick cock in and out of her plump, delectable pussy that was dripping wet around his shaft. Seonghwa wants nothing more than to leave her moaning, writhing and panting with his dick buried within her cunt that pulse around his length, drinking his cum like it was nectar from the Gods.

Now his dick was completely awake, completely erect beneath the thin fabric of his pants, and it was all because of the thought of having Y/N's eyes roll to the back of her head and his name pouring out of her in loud screams. And now, on a lonely Saturday day, Seonghwa was very close to resorting to jerking off. His dick hadn't seen any action in nearly four months. Long and agonizing months of being denied relief while the image of Y/N was tattooed within his mind. He really needed to get laid but he wanted his next lay to be her.

But here he was, watching her sit on the campus lawn in her oversize t-shirt and talking to her sisters and some friends around her. He could see her hair down for once, free of the braids or tight buns or other kinds of style that she had to wear whenever they were in the History Department. Without the glasses and cardigans, Y/N really did look adorable, all round and chubby in the most pleasant ways, and he felt his heart clench.

"Fuck," Seonghwa growls into the crook of his elbow, cursing his luck and cursing her beauty.

"What are you up to?" Hongjoong, a good friend and uTA for the Music Department, plops down in a chair beside Seonghwa, catching him in the middle of his dilemma. His eyes follow the stare, grinning widely when he sees what has caught his friend's attention. "Oh." Hongjoong whistle. "Y/N."

"Hongjoong," Seonghwa narrows his eyes. "Don't you dare start."

"Someone's in loooove," his tone sings, enjoying every second of Seonghwa's suffering. "I heard you two fight often, but you've really got the hots for her, huh?"

"Seonghwa's in love with someone?" Yunho, another good friend and a dance major, plops down in the other vacant chair. "Really? Don't tell me it's-"

"Shh!" Seonghwa's glare made its way to him.

"Ha! It totally is," Yunho's gleeful laughter.

Hongjoong also snickers behind his hand. "Can't say I'm surprised. You always did love women with a sexy brain."

Seonghwa shoots them a dirty look, unable to refute anything they said; if he said no, it would only cement them onto that particular path, if he said yes, he'd have his dignity practically thrown in the shredder, which would have them teasing him mercilessly. "Don't you both have someone better to harass? What the fuck?"

"What is the harm in a little teasing? Besides," Hongjoong's expression suddenly becomes serious. "Not many people could match your wits. I think that's pretty attractive, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah, but you know I'm not gonna pursue her, no matter how hot or cute she is," Seonghwa tries to ignore the other's shared glances and Yunho's chuckling. "No, she's got a boyfriend already. A pretty shitty boyfriend, I must add."

"You know they broke up," Hongjoong tells him. "Several weeks ago, actually. Or was it a few days ago?"

His curiosity getting the better of him, despite his resolve not to indulge, Seonghwa hums. "What happened there?"

"Oh, something about him not wanting to be with a chubby girl, who is supposedly boring." Hongjoong answers.

"That sounds like a huge, steaming pile of bullshit," Seonghwa murmurs before casting a sideways glance to his friend. "Y/N's gorgeous and anyone's lucky enough to land her. To call her boring or chubby is a total jerk move and whoever did deserves to have his ass beaten."

Both men stare back, slightly surprised by how quickly he responds and the protective edge. "Damn, you really got it bad, huh?" Yunho glances down, pretending to fiddle on the cellphone in his grasp.

"Pretty bad, man. It's rare that we hear you get so worked up over anyone," Hongjoong comments lightly.

Seonghwa stays quiet, watching as Y/N tucks a strand of hair behind her ears. They had no idea how deeply he desires to brush his thumb along her smooth cheek and listen to her soft hum of content when he brings her close and presses his lips against hers. How his heart clenched in his chest every time her bright eyes lit with excitement, watching her beam, listening to her voice that would never cease to captivate him with her stories. He hates thinking about how good, how great, their time could be together if the two could somehow put aside their rivalry for even a moment.

As if the world was laughing at his lack of progress, Seonghwa curses his luck when someone catches Y/N's attention, pulling her up from her spot in the lawn. Her sisters laugh and urge her to follow, which made his stomach drop, seeing Y/N stammering in confusion. But still, she eventually followed.

"Seriously? Goddammit," Seonghwa nearly wants to crumple. The universe was seriously against his happiness today. He glance to Hongjoong, whose smile had grown wider, amused by all of this. "Don't. Say. Anything."

Hongjoong tilts his head playfully. "I wasn't going to..."

"Liar."

"Look, man, there's plenty of fish in the sea and there's a reason why I'm single, but you're gonna go fucking insane if you keep all of that," Yunho waves his hand toward Seonghwa's nether regions, "to yourself any longer. Go fuck your hand or something."

"Shut up," Seonghwa mumbles.

Monday evening and you're sitting in your office, frustrated beyond belief as you grade a couple of papers that need to get done soon. Seonghwa is in his office on the other side, you could hear his light tapping of keys on the keyboard through the adjoined wall, but he hadn't once said a word. Even though you want him to stop, since the clicking was beginning to irk your patience, it bothers you more that Seonghwa hadn't spoken to you all day. Normally you were always involved in petty arguments, but not today. Today was silent and empty.

You sigh and roll the chair back, abandoning the assignment and closing your eyes. But every time your eyes close, all you can think about is Seonghwa and his chest. You swallow and resist the temptation to whimper at the memory; the strong arms, the toned chest, those prominent collarbones and perfect abs. How in the absolute world were they even remotely fair? You want to see that again, without all of the surrounding people. All alone, with his hands tugging on your own clothing, and Seonghwa gazing upon your flesh, smirking and delighting himself in every delicious inch of your skin, kissing you desperately with a neediness unlike any other.

To say that you were sexually frustrated these days would have been a gross understatement. Sex with your ex-boyfriend had been...awful and bland. He was selfish in bed, never truly caring or paying attention to your own pleasure, and while he was somewhat decently hung, his sex game had been more like a few thrusts and coming within a minute flat. It hadn't been satisfying by any means and he was not a generous or talented lover by any means.

But Seonghwa…he would definitely last longer, you were positive about that. And if the way you heard the female population talking in the hallways was to be believed, then he probably had the technique to match it. You couldn't help but run a hand down your clothed mound, to think what would happen if you ever ended up beneath Seonghwa and spread apart. You had no idea what to expect, but the way it would feel with him is guaranteed to be great.

"Shit," you say to yourself before rummaging in your bag for a vibrator, hidden deep within. "Sorry for disturbing the peace, Park," you spoke as if he could hear you through the walls, which he definitely couldn't, "but I'm in desperate need to, ugh, get rid of some sexual tension and if you so happen to hear anything that doesn't sound normal, just don't worry."

You turn on the vibrator, a quiet and discreet little bullet that could probably fit in a backpack pocket if needed. Hiking your legs up, your skirt bunched up around your hips, you push aside your thong, you slowly lower the vibrator until the tip comes in contact with your clit, gasping and releasing a shiver down your spine as the device comes to life. Slowly and leisurely, you slide the tiny vibrating ball across your nub, hearing its rhythmic and incessant hum. It tickles and buzzes against your bundle of nerves as your thoughts wander back to the man behind the wall. What would it be like, being pinned between his firm body and his muscular, toned arms? He would definitely hold you down as he fills you with his big cock.

It was frustrating and not enough; his body wasn't here, so your finger slips under and circles the hole where you were dripping. Slowly, you insert a finger inside, then two, moaning aloud at the way they bent and curved along your insides, teasing you until you're writhing helplessly in your chair.

A third finger joins soon enough, sliding in and out as you picture Seonghwa's thick fingers in their place. The heel of your palm grinds against your aching clit that feels on fire. How wonderful it would be to have him whispering dirty and lewd words into your ear as he slowly tortures you with those perfect fingers. Would he kiss you as he fingers you, making a mess of you until you're coming hard around his digits, pulling them out and giving you a satisfied look as he licks his lips off your nectar? What if Seonghwa spreads you apart on his lap as you bounce helplessly and drool at how good his fat dick made you feel as he slams up into you again and again, his balls slapping against your dripping, cum-dripping pussy.

Unbeknowst to you, Seonghwa is standing right outside the door that adjoins the two offices and watches the scene from the crack of the office door. He should be glad that it's late into the evening where there are hardly any students and faculty around. Yet, there are no coherent words within his brain as he watches you gasp and mewl on your hand. There's nothing to do about the pressure against his pants or the image of those voluptious, plump titties bouncing as you work yourself.

"Shit," Seonghwa gasps, pulling open his pants and pulling out his aching cock. No, he shouldn't be doing this. Shouldn't jerk his dick as you rub that little vibe all over your clit. But fuck, he couldn't bring himself to turn away as his shaft began to grow harder and bigger. "Damn, fuck," he hiss to himself as you lift up your blouse further up, exposing a cute belly. He could only imagine the sight of his cum coating your abdomen and how desperately he'd want to lick the rest up, not leaving a drop of his semen left on that flawless skin.

And your curves, fuck, those delicious thighs would be amazing to mark. Nipping and sucking them to his content, maybe a couple of teasing bites to go along with it until your legs tremble from the sheer need to be fucked. How he would love his head to be between your plump and luscious thighs and sink his tongue into your cunt, drinking all of the delicious honey that would seep out.

"Seonghwa...Seonghwa...." his name falls out of your mouth. At first, he thought that you may have found out that he was behind the door but the vibrator that you held grew stronger, faster, and all of the words you would be unable to say. "Fuck me...please...give me your cock," you moan, "want your cock, fuck my pussy, please!"

Seonghwa leans against the doorframe. Oh, how badly did he want that as well. Shoving his dick in, smacking his hips against yours until your bodies grew slick from sweat and skin slapping against skin. Wondering if you would ask for more of his fat cock, pushing your hair away from your face so he could hear you squealing with a sweaty face, eyes rolled into the back of your head as his cock came in and out of your slick, messy cunt, ramming into your heat like his life depends on it.

And the way that you cry out, breathlessly murmuring, 'fuck' and his name, Seonghwa was moments away from letting loose inside of his hand. There was a thick rope of precum dribbling from the slit, dripping to the carpet floor. It took a second of biting into his other hand, before he came with an obscene grunt, his cum shooting into the air and onto his hand. He shudders from the waves of orgasm flowing throughout his body before slumping back and fixing his clothes.

When you stop, Seonghwa has barely enough time to adjust his pants and retreat back to his desk. After a few minutes, you call out to him, "Park! Are you finished?"

There's a pause where Seonghwa checks the computer screen and lies, "Yeah. Want to grab dinner then? My treat."

"I'm not turning down free food," you tease as the door opens and Seonghwa could feel himself falling more and more in love, more and more in lust with each passing second.

He could feel the outline of his now semi-hard dick twitch as the both of you walk downstairs to the restaurant that was more of a fast food place, than an actual restaurant. While you're ordering, Seonghwa watches you, trying desperately not to stare at the curve of your butt or those delicious legs. When your eyes meet for a second, Seonghwa shoves his hands into his pockets, feeling his cheeks warming up with embarrassment.

As you eat, he thinks about your orgasm; how you bit your lip, closed your eyes, and tried to hold in the sound but it still fell past your lips anyway, pretty and lewd and filled with want. His imagination runs wild as he thinks of how much your voice would escalate if he had been the one to give you that. How you would cum while sitting on his face, squirting all of your essence directly into his mouth.

And yet, he shouldn't be thinking these types of things. This shouldn't be what's on his mind, while he and you eat and discuss upcoming events for next week. Yet, as you go on about the department's party this weekend, Seonghwa can't bring himself to concentrate or say anything that doesn't end up being some half-thought statement of nonsense.

Your eyes narrow. "You okay, Park?"

"Huh?" His brows furrows. "Yeah, yeah. Of course, I am. Why?"

"Nothing, you've just been zoning out a lot tonight. Something wrong?"

"Nope," Seonghwa grins in an attempt to placate your curiosity, "not at all. Just thinking about the department's party. Are you bringing someone along?"

For a split second, there was a look of sadness, before it quickly morphs into irritation. "I wasn't planning on it, actually. Who would want to go to the History Department's party and talk about history all night long? Who would want to go to a party with a chubby girl like me?"

That last sentence tugs at something within him. The frown on his lips become clear as his hand curls into a fist beneath the table. Whoever made you think such a thing and gave you a low self-image deserved to have their dick ripped off, chewed and spat back out. "Anyone who's lucky to take you out, should treat you better. Seriously, anyone would be more than blessed to have you."

"Except someone already broke up with me because they preferred girls who didn't look like me," you shrug.

"Bullshit, Y/N," Seonghwa snaps. "Anyone who can't appreciate the fact that you have brains, charm, and is one of the most beautiful women to exist, should get their vision checked and an assessment on what's important in this world."

"Park, you-"

He sighs heavily and runs a hand through his black hair. "I can't stand to hear how terrible and unattractive people have made you think of yourself. Every word of that is a lie. You're a hundred and ten percent perfect to me."

"Seonghwa..." There's disbelief and suspicion in your tone. "I don't get you. One minute we're like enemies and the next you act like you're concerned."

Seonghwa frowned. "Is that really what you think?"

"Honestly," you hesitated. "I don't really know. One day you're glaring at me with this stupid smirk when we get in an argument, and the next day, it's this soft and kind smile that seems so genuine. I've never met anyone like you." You lean back against your chair and run a hand through your hair, having completely abandoned your dinner and taken an interest in your paper cup of soda. "It doesn't make sense," you murmur.

It was strange to have his name spoken by you without being followed by a venomous or condescending insult, though it was also a bit worrying. Seonghwa considers it, briefly, before he said, "Let's call a truce."

"A truce?" you cock your head.

"Until the end of the year," Seonghwa leans forward, arms folding atop the table.

"I thought you hate me," you murmur with suspicion.

"I don't hate you.. .honestly," Seonghwa admits quietly, averting his eyes elsewhere, "you're an incredible woman."

There was a slight shock crossing your features, which was almost comical, especially seeing your eyebrow lift slightly. "Don't tell me," you laugh softly, "is this the part where you confess your hidden desires or something? All because of my moping about a crappy ex-boyfriend?"

"No," Seonghwa retorts, quick and dry. "What is there to hate? Besides, not many people can go toe-to-toe with my wit."

"Well," your nose twitchs with amusement, "same."

"So?"

There's another hesitant look, another delay, which leads you to saying, "Well, sure. Fine. Let's try it."

The corner of his lips lifts and Seonghwa tries his best not to feel victorious in finally getting somewhere other than petty banter, he thinks this would be great for him to work towards you. "Since we're in a truce and all," Seonghwa tilts his head curiously, "want to go to the department party together then? A truce-first sort of thing."

"Sure, why not?" you roll your eyes, a smile on your lips.

The night of the party, the History Department gathers in the designated meeting room, which was decked to the nines in historical and pastel paraphenalia. A multitude of round tables were littered around the room, white linens covering the tops and fancy, engraved plates beside expensive crystal flutes of champagne, courtesy of the donors, most likely, that often frequented these soirees. A variety of professors and lecturers were mingling and eating, as the party was well underway.

You're standing next to Professor Kwon, a friend of your father's and a history lecturer at another university, who is rambling on and on about some long-winded and monotonously boring story when you spot Seonghwa dressed in a dark suit. The sight took the wind out of your sails, though you caught yourself watching, seeing the smile on his face brightening, just enough, as he converse with his colleagues. A couple of women surround him and Seonghwa's professional stance never seemed more formal. They're all tall, skinny and beautiful, each dressed in gorgeous gowns and they giggle loudly, laughing and flirting in hopes that Seonghwa's charms would work in their favor, much like their peers.

They seem to want something out of him, which Seonghwa clearly notices but could not find a way to weasel himself out of this conversation that must surely grow dry, especially since they clearly have nothing substantial to say other than what a good person he is and how handsome Seonghwa looked this evening. You snort as one of the taller women lightly trailed a manicured nail down his arm and Seonghwa stiffen with discomfort. There's a slight lift of his eyebrows and a hum in his throat that had a noticeable 'get me out of this mess' plastered to his lips.

For the rest of the evening, you can't seem to be rid of Professor Kwon, which irks you, since that old coot loved to go on and on about the latest and greatest technology within his field as he babbles to his peers, none of which are really listening, instead glancing around the room with little interest. More often than not, the male faculty were far more interested in talking amongst each other, speaking in low tones that had something about a car or some vacation abroad as they sip the fine champagne provided.

Some time later, in between conversations, someone taps Professor Kwon on the shoulder and says, "Excuse me, I need to borrow Miss Y/N. For just a moment," Seonghwa says brightly, taking your elbow and leading you to the opposite side of the room. He doesn't stop until you're far, far enough away, hiding behind a wall of foliage that was brought in for the occasion.

"Oh, thank goodness, thank you," you sigh as you sink back against a marble wall. "I really thought I was going to suffocate back there with the professor talking everyone's ears off. I'm so glad that we aren't his TAs. That would have been a living hell."

Seonghwa laughs as he leans forward, planting a hand against the wall, right above your head. His arm nearly brushes against the bare skin of your neck and a jolt shoots up and down your spine as the close proximity between the both of you leaves you breathless. There's a smile playing on the edges of his lips, as he glances up and down before letting his hand slowly brush the stray strand of hair away from your neck. "Well, at least you're in the clear for now. Anytime you need to escape," he says, voice a teasing whisper, "I'll happily rescue you."

There's a brief flash of...something in his eyes, barely there and gone in an instant, but your breath was already gone. "Thanks," you manage to squeak out, only half aware of the blush forming across your cheekbones.

"Oh Park, L/N, you two are here?" a man wearing a sleek suit interrupts your moment, peering over at the two of you with his beady brown eyes. Professor Go, whose research areas focused on the Joseon Era and your professor, looks between the two of you curiously. "Are you two getting along? No arguments, are there?"

"No Professor Go," you reply. "Not at all. We've established a temporary truce."

The answer seems to please the older gentleman, whose crow's feet crinkle around his eyes as his smile grows more prominent. "Truce? Now that's a surprise," he replies. "It seems like you two were always on each other's throats. But that's good, keep up the hard work, yeah?"

"Of course, sir," Seonghwa nods politely.

"Excellent," Professor Go pats you on the shoulder. "By the way, the two of you look good together."

The instant he walks away, the air between you two changes and Seonghwa bursts into a small fit of laughter. You feel flustered beyond belief, thankful that it was dimmer over where you two stood, tucked away within the corner. Yet the faint flush upon your cheeks was visible by anyone who peers close enough. And to make things worse, Professor Go, bless his sweet old soul, had made a comment about you and Seonghwa.

"You look beautiful by the way," Seonghwa whispers, "more than beautiful, honestly."

"Stop," you groan, resisting the urge to duck away. "Stop, Park. You're only being nice because it's required during events like these."

"Why is it that I always need to prove my honesty?" he asks.

"Because it's too good to be true. It doesn't make any sense," your hands dig into the soft silk of your gown, your heart beginning to flutter, fast and frantic. "Besides," you begin, a soft smile on the corner of your lips, "look around us, there's women here who are a thousand times prettier. More sophisticated. All the beautiful ones, the skinny ones, they want you. And you should go for them."

"Okay," Seonghwa lets out a breath and sways his body towards you. "Then what if," his voice drops to a seductive murmur, "I don't want them. If the one I really, really want," he pauses before saying, "is standing right in front of me, hm? What about then?"

There's a giddiness filling your chest. Butterflies fill your stomach to the point of pain. And yet, despite that, your brain refuses to believe him. "Me?"

"Yes, you," he says it in a breathy sigh. His hand rises to your cheek to hold and caress it gently. His fingertips are gentle against the skin of your cheek and it's overwhelmingly sweet and tender in a way that makes you speechless. "Please let me show you just how wonderful you are and how beautiful. Will you let me do that?"

"I-" you have to hold yourself from rambling and sounding incoherent. You close your eyes to calm the anxiety that builds inside you from this. There's a huge part of your mind screaming to just throw caution into the wind and just go with this, even when a voice whispers, 'He's playing with you. Like all the rest.'

And it's painful, hearing it repeat over and over, feeling your throat tighten with a whimper. Yet, the hand upon your cheek shifts and Seonghwa's fingers slowly glide over your bottom lip as if to press your doubts back within. "Y/N? Are you okay?"

You hadn't realized you had grown quiet or that there were tears upon your waterline, until Seonghwa wipes them away from the pad of his thumb.

"Seonghwa," you whisper quietly, "are you sure?"

"Never more sure of anything in my life," he answers honestly. "And I know that you want me too."

The air of his words thickens as a finger trails under your jaw, the pad slowly and ever-so-tentatively, tracing a trail towards your neck, until it comes to a rest at the hollow dip of your throat. His stare was piercing, and you could practically hear your breath hitch, unsure how to continue. "How are you so sure?"

"Because the evening we were grading essays," there's a blush upon your cheeks as Seonghwa's voice went to a softer, gentler tone, "you weren't so discrete in how much you wanted me, hmm?"

"I wasn't doing it on purpose!" you yelp indignantly. "That...that was-"

"It's alright. I liked it. To be honest," he mutters as he takes your hand and leads you away from the hustle and bustle of the party. "The sight was nice to watch. Pretty as a picture."

"Pervert."

"For you? Maybe," his eyes sparkle.

"Where are we going?" you manage to gasp, attempting to keep your step and mindful of the high-heels upon your feet and the material of your gown.

"You'll see," Seonghwa says, sending you a knowing smirk. He leads you towards his office, pulling the keys out from his breast pocket to unlock and push open the door. He steps in, guiding you and shutting the door behind him and locking it, the light from the lamp post, lighting the area just a smidge.

"Your office? Really? How scandalous of you," you tease with an exasperated laugh. "Did you finally decide to make your move on me?"

"Was planning on doing it, somewhere," Seonghwa breathes as he brings his face closer to your own. "But honestly, with how good you look tonight," his free hand tugs you against his firm chest, "I can't bring myself to wait for it."

"At least you have a couch," you whisper softly as you feel his lips hovering over yours, only a scant away from pressing into them. "Guess that's one bonus."

"Yeah, and I'll bet you'll look amazing against it," he mumbles back, pulling away briefly to kiss down the skin of your neck. "Naked, legs spread, flushed, dripping," each word is accentuated with a nip, the action has your heart racing fast within the confines of your chest.

"Seonghwa..." you moan quietly. There's no fight left inside you, and every bit of strength and logic leaves you the further that you sink within his warmth. Your legs move instinctively and your heels make a light 'tap tap' sound against the floor as you stumble backward to the black couch that rested at the far end of the room, right in between the windowsill.

"Damn, I was right that you'd be pretty on the couch," Seonghwa says as he dips down to capture your lips. The action was bold and has your entire body tightening with tension.

You melt into him easily, giving in to your desires for a moment. Your hand curls within the fabric of his blazer, tugging on his tie, in an attempt to deepen the kiss. He catches onto the fact, immediately, that you're just as into this as he is, which has his hands touching over your form slowly, inch by inch, making certain to admire all of it. His hands smooth down to grope your rear end and pull you closer, in between his legs as he falls to rest atop the couch cushions. There's a small whimper that escapes you and it gives him more fuel, making the both of you addicted. He knows, he knows so damn well what you need, and will deliver on that need.

Clothes thrown aside, discarded in piles upon the floor, Seonghwa is trailing his lips down your body, mapping out the shape and contour of every little curve, dip and softness until his mouth is directly at the junction of your thighs. He peels your panties off, sliding the soaked pair down the length of your legs and carelessly tossing them aside. "Damn Y/N. I never thought you would be one of those girls that shave her pussy bare."

"Shut up," you groan, completely and utterly mortified.

"No, no it's not bad," his fingers ghost over your cunt, drawing them back with a gleaming web of wetness clinging to his skin. "In fact, it's really fucking sexy." Seonghwa holds up his fingers, examining the liquid coating them. There's a quick shift and before you can object, he slides two of his digits directly into the middle of your folds. "C'mere," he whispers. "I want you to ride my face."

"Are you sure? What if I suffocate you or something?"

"Fuck, and what a way to go," he grins wolfishly. "Give me a slow, sweet ride 'til death?"

You pinch his arm in warning, only eliciting a laugh from him.

"C'mon," Seonghwa lets himself fall back against the cushion, his black hair splaying out, and looking rather inviting for your fingers to tug on. "I have strong hands and a hard grip," he promises as his thumbs rub circles at the divots of your hip bones. "If I'm smothering, I'll give a pat. Don't worry."

"That doesn't reassure me," you tell him as you hesitantly place your knees beside his head. "But I trust you. Just promise not to bite me or anything."

"No promises, sweetheart," Seonghwa breathes heavily, eyes gazing up at you in hunger. "Now fuck yourself on my tongue like a good girl."

"Yeah...yeah," you gasp and moan as soon as Seonghwa's tongue flattens and draws long strokes between the folds of your flesh, eating and slurping your juices as if he's an addict and you were the greatest hit to ever exist. Tremors rack your entire frame, hands falling down to grasp and grasp at the black material that covered the top of the sofa. It is only the strongest self-control, what is left of your conscience, and the burning embarrassment within your chest, which keeps your hands steady.

Seonghwa's grip tightens and his nails dig in just a little, his palms cupping your ass firmly in an effort to keep you steady, allowing you to roll your hips forward without resistance. A moan makes you throb harder, sending sharp waves of arousal to clamp through you at the knowledge that he enjoys every last drop of the pleasure you're getting from him.

"God," he rasps hoarsely against your clit, tongue teasing and toying the little button until you're shuddering, body curling with tension. "You taste incredible," Seonghwa murmurs. He kisses the hood, his lips painted glossy from your juices, which made you buck. "You can grab onto my hair and grind down, sweetheart. I don't mind a bit."

"Oh fuck," you whisper hoarsely, throwing caution to the wind to grab and tangle your fingers within the black strands and pull. "Shit...Seonghwa..."

There's a chuckle and the wet warmth returns, unrelenting and so, so pleasurable.

His tongue rolls over and around your clit until you were so close to finishing, hips pressing back on his mouth with an urgency that was all instinct, that you could focus on the thick and wet pressure building until it breaks and shudders, waves of bliss shuddering you from your head down to the tip of your toes. You fell over backwards, your legs twitching and numb after being suspended, barely aware enough of your actions to ensure you didn't accidentally smother him. Your hips wriths helplessly, your back arching as your insides clamp and clench with pleasure. You're practically dripping all over him and Seonghwa moans his delight as he drinks and swallows everything you release.

A strangled curse followed by your broken sob. You fall and let yourself land as your entire frame falls prey to the effects of a mind-blowing orgasm, hands clawing and fisting the upholstery in an effort to hold back your whimpers. You feel weak and your energy has been fully and totally drained. "Holy fucking hell..."

"Doesn't matter how many times you swear," he mutters thickly against you. "You sound incredibly sexy doing it."

"Oh, shut the hell up."

Seonghwa laughs, sitting up. "I'm ready to go," he grins wolfishly and tilts his head down, drawing your gaze to his erection. "What about you, huh?"

"Nowhere else to be," you reply honestly, though your heart is still racing at an irregular pace as it pounds madly in your throat, which Seonghwa then noticed with a chuckle.

"Cute," he teases lightly. "Just give me a sec and we'll continue." He leans down and pulls something from his pants pocket. A couple seconds and the condom is rolled on. His cock was bigger than you were expecting and the idea of fitting that length and thickness had your hands grabbing onto his shoulders the instant he’s close.

"Eager, aren't you?" he whispers seductively as he nestles the head of his shaft right within your drenched core. He doesn't waste his chance and moves. It starts off slow and smooth and deep and has you seeing stars behind your eyelids. It's even better than you dreamed because you're being touched, fucked, held and filled in the best way and it is all coming together until a new burst of fire and lust rushes straight to your abdomen.

"Feeling good, huh?" He asks, nipping the bare skin of your neck before bringing a hand up to cup the swell of your breasts. "How cute. Look at you taking all of me." Seonghwa's palms move to brush down your hips, before giving your rear a few light smacks that make you squeal loudly, thighs pressing further. His thumbs settle on your waist, brushing across the curve with feather-light strokes, taking care not to add to the faint bruising that has already started to appear. His arms flex, as he brings your body in deeper and rocks into your sweetest spot. "Shit," he groans, "this feels nice, huh?"

Your head jerks in a half nod, not trusting the words. It was just...so much.

He's bigger than most guys you had slept with and it was such a contrast. To fill and stretch so completely. You dug your fingers into his shoulder blades, moaning wantonly against the sharp tendons of his neck. "Fuck, Seonghwa. Feels so fucking good. So big. Fuck! Just like that."

A hum rumbles in his chest, feeling the way you squirm atop him. You look down to where the two of your bodies met and almost choke on a whimper at the sight of his length sliding out of your sex, glistening, soaked completely from your cum. Then he presses in and ground up and your eyes squeeze tightly to keep them from rolling to the back of your head.

"Mmmm," a throaty moan vibrates within Seonghwa's vocal cords. "You fit me so well. So warm, and so damn tight," he moans. His lips drags along the shell of your ear and you whimper in turn, his thrusts still going deep but steadily growing harder and faster. Each rock is heavy and every pull is so gentle, it borders on teasing. But all the while it has your lower belly burning hotter than ever. And even when you're reduced to an incoherent and shameless mess, he continues to speak, praises and curses intermixing. "Shit, that's right Y/N. Lean your body on me. Just stay nice and relaxed and let me work."

It was too much to even think, let alone respond to any kind of thought.

Seonghwa felt and heard your incoherence, pausing briefly to mutter a pleased, "that's it, sweetheart." He adjusts the position slightly, forcing you to rest a few inches more on the plush couch beneath the two of you, your breasts brushing against his hard chest with each exhale and inhale. This changes the angle enough to hit your sweet spot each time and there's an additional vibration added to it, when you find the energy to meet his movements with shaky, stuttering grinds, chasing that heat with him.

"Oh, my g-god," you mumble. "'hwa- Seonghwa...please."

"Shh, I know," his hand rests gently at the nape of your neck, as he captures your lips within his own. "I'll take you there sweetheart. Trust me," he moans breathily.

You did. With a short sigh and nod. Seonghwa did not lie when he said he wanted to take you there, slowly and sweetly, giving you an exquisite pleasure to top it off. His pace never picks up, maintaining a slower rhythm, a roll, and a sway of his pelvis as his cock steadily rubs against your soft, damp walls. Every thrust and grind pushes that heated pressure just a tad higher, having the pleasure swelling deep and clenching your insides.

He's a much better lover compared to your stupid ex, and you're surprised by how easily you melt within his touch and embrace. Seonghwa is not rushed and selfish, and he never gets impatient. He praises your body with his hands and voice, running his warm palms up and down your sides and telling you just how gorgeous you are, curves and all. He doesn't complain about the size, or the number of rolls and lumps your belly sports. Instead he moves faster and groans in absolute delight at the view.

"You're so fucking beautiful Y/N. Never have been so turned on like this with anyone else," Seonghwa breathes between your frantic kisses. "You've got a beautiful face and perfect fucking body. Could stare at you forever."

You were feeling too good, so good to form a reply. You respond instead by hooking a leg around his lower back, allowing him a deeper penetration as the pace picks up, his cock pushing and rubbing at that sweet spot inside.

"Seonghwa please," your lips ran across the jugular of his neck, leaving traces of spit as you moaned incoherently. "Ah fuck- please."

"Please what, pretty girl," his tone drops, letting his hand cup one of your breasts, rolling a stiff nipple between his fingers. You were so sensitive to his touches, feeling the muscles of his thighs tense with the urge to increase his speed.

"Close, really, really close," your forehead came to rest upon his collarbone, "close-"

"That's good, honey." His other hand caressed down your inner thigh, which had been propped around his hips, encouraging the hold. The rhythm stays slow and sweet, never speeding or stopping. "Just give in. I wanna hear and watch how you come undone for me. Love how you clamp down on my cock when you do. Feels so fucking good," he lets the words be pressed within his chest. "I can feel it, c'mon. Come."

And you do. And he catches your moan with his mouth as he chases his own, whispering words of encouragement and praise, until his hips buck a few more times and you're given another generous release, feeling his shaft thicken and his cum spill warmly into the condom. He catches a good amount of your moan with his kiss, biting your lower lip as you come down from your high, head spinning.

Seonghwa took a minute to adjust, sliding out from the tight grip you had around him, before disposing of the condom and moving to settle into the space next to you.

"Not the best of places, but it'll do," Seonghwa yawns as his arms pull and cuddle you against his firm chest.

Your arms loop and circle his shoulders in kind. "The couch is comfy at least."

"So that's what you noticed," he chuckles. His thumb traces circles into the skin of your forearm. He presses a lingering kiss to your temple, murmuring sweet nothings to you.

"I've never had an orgasm like this before," you admit shyly, burying your face within the side of Seonghwa's neck. There's the strong scent of sex, musk and cologne surrounding his body, with just a hint of spice. It was attractive. He was attractive.

"Never? What? All of the previous lovers were terrible or something?"

"Pretty much. They never satisfied me," You can feel the heat warming up the back of your neck. "You're different, Seonghwa. It makes me wonder what is in store when we try an actual bed."

"So you're saying that there will be a second and a third, and so on?" He inquires lightly.

"I would definitely hope so," You lean closer, tangling your legs with his. "We work well together. Sexual compatibility and all that, am I right? That means we would also make good partners. And maybe a couple of future plans together? I don't know if-"

Seonghwa sighs wistfully and lets a finger trace the outline of your features, brushing against the bridge of your nose, the bow of your lips, and the curve of your jaw, following the outline of each and every shape and curve. "I would love that," he answers softly. "Really, really, really love to get the chance and take care of you and be someone that you can count on and call for any sort of comfort. I hate seeing you so down. You deserve to be happy."

You hide away your face within his shoulders to keep from showing any weakness, your arms clutching around him, pulling the warmest, firmer body as close as possible. "I really, really like you Park Seonghwa. Thank you for existing," you whisper.

"I like you too, Y/N," Seonghwa replies softly, squeezing you to his form.

"I bet everyone at the party is wondering what happened to us," you mutter, glancing at the window to see how dark it is. 

"Do you want to go back?" He asks, a brow raised curiously. "Or we can go to my place," he smirks, "for round two?" He kisses a sensitive spot at the side of your neck, licking his tongue a bit across your pulse. "And three, and four, and so on and so forth?"

"So it's true that history buffs are freaky in the bedroom, huh?" You laugh quietly.

"Sex has been around since the beginning of human creation," Seonghwa grins. "I see absolutely no shame in enjoying it to the fullest and most pleasurable way possible. And who knows? It might be an effective teaching tactic."

"As long as this teaching tactic is for me and me alone, Seonghwa, then I don't see any issue," you respond cheekily.

"Definitely," he promises you before leading you out. The rest of the party is forgotten. It's nothing but him and you, until early dawn.

[cromernet]

→ NEW RELEASE: claimed | khj by @kpopflowerfield

Feedback: “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to” Bold of you to assume i'm not idiotic enough to want exactly that... Not him goin you weren't suppossed to see me like that WELL TO DAMN BAD MY MAN CAUSE IT HAPPENED we love a man who slays left and right for their girl

claimed | khj

ღ pairing: mafia boss! hongjoong x afab! reader ღ word count: 8.9k ღ genre: smut, angst ღ rating: MDNI ღ warnings: grinding, making out, mentions of alcohol, unprotected sex (wrap it up irl), creampie, hookup, choking, VERYYYY possessive joong, pet names (babe, good girl) reader definitely has 0 survival skills, mentions of blood and guns, a lot of violence from hongjoong, reader gets kidnapped ღ networks: @cromernet @illusionnet @k-vanity ღ summary: Getting drunk and looking for a hookup was just supposed to be the plan. Falling into the hot, tense looking Kim Hongjoong wormhole was not supposed to happen in anyway, but now you follow every demand he had for you.

“You alright boss?” Wooyoung’s eyebrow raised as he looked over at Hongjoong.

“Hmm?” He hummed looking over at Wooyoung behind the bar. “Oh, yeah. Just looking around.” He cleared his throat. “It’s busy tonight,” 

Wooyoung chuckled at him. “Busy? It’s a Friday night. Of course it is,” Wooyoung shook his head, placing down the glass he was towel drying moments before.  Hongjoong rolled his eyes and stood up.

The bass of the music made the floors thump as he made his way through the crowd. He had his eyes set on something and wasn’t going to let anything hold him back. 

You felt a pair of hands hold your hips for a moment. A faint apology followed as his hands removed themselves from your body. Your eyes followed as you watched him walk away. 

He was hard to miss. The ginger hair, black silk dress shirt. And the ghost of his hands that were on your hips carefully. You looked around the crowd, a blur of faces in front of you as you realized you had lost him. 

“Excuse me,” your voice was soft compared to the music going. You shifted through the crowd, desperate to try and find him again. You exhaled as you finally moved out of the epicenter of the crowd and saw him.

He sat there in a booth, fingers pressed to his temples. He looked tense, an anger in his eyes as he looked at whoever was across from him. His eyes shifted in your direction. He gave the person in the booth a look and stood up. 

His entire demeanor softened as he looked at you. “You alright?” He questioned, looking you up and down. His hand pushed into his pocket. 

You bit the inside of your cheek, taking a moment to decide before finally speaking up. “Dance with me?” You looked at him, eyes wide with hope. 

He scoffed, taken aback by the question. “I think I’m supposed to ask you.” He teased. You swallowed, worried that he was turning you down. 

He put his hand out for you and quickly took you to the middle of the floor again. “What’s your name?” You asked playfully. “Hongjoong. You plan on screaming it later?” He responded, teasing you. 

A bright red color spread on your cheeks as his hands held your hips as you danced together. Your back towards his chest. The closeness made you grind against him. 

Hongjoong bit his lip, held tilting back a bit as he felt you. You pushed back flush against him for a moment, letting people by. Before you could process anything he turned you around quickly. 

His lips pressed against yours, hand cupping your cheek. You kissed him back, messy from the liquor in your bloodstream. He pulled you closer to him as you held onto his biceps. Your mouths intertwined, messy and raw.

He pulled away to whisper in your ear. “Want to go somewhere more private?” His voice low in your ear made shivers go down your spine. You nodded quickly. 

He let go of his grip on your body and held your hand, pulling you into the back of the club. Opening his office door. “Is it okay here?” His voice still low as you nodded, walking into the dim room.

The only light provided by the small lamp on the desk and moonlight creeping in through the curtains. You sat on the corner of his desk. Hongjoong’s eyes couldn’t be removed from you as he took in the sight of you. The tight black material wrapped around your curves and the low v-cut that allowed him to see your cleavage. 

His voice was deep and sultry. “You’re so hot,” he moved closer to you. Your eyes follow his steps. His words are burning hot inside of you. Without thinking your legs started to part slowly, as if it was instinct to seeing him in front of you. 

“You look like mine,” he muttered, leaning into you. His fingers holding your thighs tightly. “I’ve had a long fucking week…” He growled out. 

He didn’t wait, no chance your body could react to him. His hands moved quickly, one pushing the hem of your dress up roughly, letting it bunch around your hips. The other wrapped itself around your throat, his fingers firm but not choking. It was a reminder of who was in control.

“Can you handle me?” He tilted his head as he looked at you, as if you were a play toy at this moment. His question was more of a taunt than out of actual concern, something dangerous laced in his words and it was making your stomach do backflips. 

“Try me,” you exhaled. The words leaving your lips before you could process what you were saying to him. That was all it took.

He kissed you again. Hungrier this time, his teeth dragging your bottom lip, tongue forcing its way inside your mouth without care. His fingers wrapped around your panties before yanking them down in one swift motion, letting them hit the floor. 

“Keep your legs open like that.” He commanded. You nodded, afraid to go against his words. He pulled his belt off with a harshness you hadn’t seen before. Your breath caught as he pulled his pants down. His cock springing free. The thick head already an angry red and leaking precum. He stroked himself a few times. 

Your jaw dropped as you watched his hand wrapped around his length. His tongue dragging on the bottom of his front teeth as his eyes glued to you, obsessing over your reaction. “Look at you,” he chuckled darkly. His gaze shifted to your thighs, focusing on the way you squirmed, trying to feel something.

A whimper left your lips as he stepped closer. His thick head rubbing in between your slit. “So fucking wet and I’ve barely touched you,” he teased. He smirked as you jerked your hips forward, desperate to feel him inside of you. 

“Beg,” he said lowly. Your eyes widened as you looked at him, as if you didn’t hear him the first time. “Beg for me to fuck you senseless,” his voice deep and clear. 

Your pride was burning in your throat. You only knew this man's name and he was telling you to beg for him. You inhaled, the ache between your legs yelling louder than the voice in your head. “Please,” you whispered. “I need you Hongjoong. I need you to fuck me until I lose it,” 

Those were the words he needed to hear. He slammed into you in one thrust. Your back arched as you moaned out. Finally getting some relief. Your hands gripped the edge of the desk tightly. He quickly set a punishing pace. His hands found your waist, dragging you closer to the edge with every thrust deep inside of you. 

The room filled with sounds of skin against skin and the cries of his name that left your mouth. You whimpered as he continued in and out of you, making you feel every part of his dick. “You feel that?” He growled. “No one’s ever fucked you like this before. I can tell.”

You could barely breathe, let alone think. All you could do was take each pound into you like he owned you. His hand found your throat again, pressing just enough to make your head spin. Letting you only focus on the dizzying pleasure he was giving you. “Tell me who you belong to,” he groaned. 

“Y-you,” you stuttered. “Fuck, joong!” You whimpered as your walls fluttered around him. “That’s right,” He grunted, pounding harder and angling his hips to hit that spot that was making you sob. “You’re mine. Say it again.” He demanded. 

“I’m yours! Fuck, I’m yours,” You cried out as the wave suddenly crashed white hot and devastating. He didn’t slow down as he continued to chase his own orgasm. He grunted deep into his final thrust. His seed spilling into you with a growled curse. He panted softly, looking down as you withered below him. 

“Good girl,” His tone was much softer but still laced with that intoxicating possessiveness. He pushed your hair back gently. His lips brushed against your temple as he let out a heartless laugh. “I think I might keep you,” 

You stayed like that for a moment. His face on top of your head, yours leaning on his chest. The smell of sweat and cologne strong on his skin. 

Your legs were still trembling from how hard you took him, from how he completely unraveled you.  His fingers slipped up your back, slow and dominant, holding you in place like he wasn’t ready to let go. You weren’t either.

Neither of you spoke for a moment. The room filled with the smell of sex and the sounds of you breathing. Yours shallow and uneven, his low and steady but ragged. You removed yourself from his chest and looked at him. Your eyes wide and dazed. “That was…” You tried but the words got caught in your throat. You didn’t know what it was. What to call it. You didn’t even know him. 

But the way he was watching you made it seem like he did. Like he’s known for a long time. “I meant what I said,” Hongjoong muttered, voice thick as he brushed a strand of hair behind your ear. “You’re mine now.”

Your lips parted. Your heart hammering against your chest as you try to get the words out of your mouth. “You don’t even know my name.”

His jaw flexed but his touch stayed gentle as his knuckles softly dragged against your cheek. “I don’t need to know your name to know what I want,” 

You swallowed. “I was figuring this would be a one time thing.”

“It’s not.” His eyes pinned to your face, watching as you couldn’t form an expression. “It never was going to be.” 

Your breath hitched hearing him. The heat returning to your stomach. It wasn’t the lust or hunger from before. It was something heavier. It was fear. 

“Why?” You barely whispered, forcing the words to leave your mouth. He leaned into you, his nose brushing against yours. Voice a murmur against your lips. “Because I don’t let go of what’s mine… and baby,” He kissed you once, slowly and deliberately. “You walked into my club like you already belonged here with me.”

You stared at him, pulse pounding in your throat. He ran a hand through his hair, his cocky smirk from earlier in the night returning but that glint in his eye changed into something more serious. “I’ll learn your name, I’ll learn everything. But I’m not letting you go,” 

You didn’t respond. Not because you didn’t want to, but because part of you believed him but didn’t want to acknowledge it. A dangerous pull beneath your bones as you stared at him. 

You couldn’t figure out if you should be terrified or thrilled. But you were already certain of one thing. That you were his. 

You rubbed your eyes the next morning. The warm linen that smelled expensive and like him. Your skin was still warm from the weight of his body that was on you from the night before. You stirred and the ache between your thighs was the first thing that you noticed. 

You blinked slowly, letting yourself wake up a bit more. The sunlight was pouring in through the sheer curtains. Your eyes moved around the room, looking at the floor to ceiling windows in front of you that revealed the skyline. This wasn’t just a normal room. This was the penthouse. 

You sat up slowly, the sheets falling off of your body. You looked around, looking for something to slip on over your bare chest. That’s when you saw it. His silk black shirt from last night on the corner of the bed. You reached over and slipped it on. The fabric smelled like cologne and luxury. 

The sound of something clattering made you get out of bed. Buttoning the shirt as you walked to the noise. You walked into the open living space, the cold floor against your bare feet. You looked over to the kitchen and there he was. 

Hongjoong. Still shirtless, hair slightly messy, a pair of grey sweats riding low on his hips. A silver chain rested around his neck as he stood in front of the stove. “Morning.” He said, not turning to look in your direction. His voice was calm. As if last night hadn’t happened. As if he didn’t rearrange your insides in a random office in the back of a nightclub. 

You sat quietly on one of the stools at the kitchen island, crossing your legs under his dress shirt. “You cook?” 

He finally looked over his shoulder at you. That cocky, unreadable smirk on his face. “Not usually,” he responded, placing a plate in front of you carefully. “But I figured if I ruined your ability to walk, the least I could do was make you some breakfast.” 

Your face flushed. You tried to hide your grin as you reached over the counter for a fork. “You’re ridiculous,” you shook your head at him. He leaned on the counter opposite of you, watching you with that sharp gaze, like he was cataloging every inch of you. Like he was committing you to memory. 

Something shifted in his eyes. The heat in his gaze cooled, just slightly. It was the look you would catch on someone’s face when they’re thinking of something they shouldn’t be. 

“What is it?” You asked, placing your fork on the counter. He hesitated then stood up straight. “I have to go.” 

“Go?” Your voice was small. “Where?” 

He stepped away from the counter, walking towards a nearby armoire and pulling out another shirt. “Business,” his voice was suddenly cold. 

You watched as he pulled the shirt around. His shoulders straightened as he smoothed the fabric around him. Suddenly he wasn’t the man that kissed you in the dark last night or the one that made you breakfast. He was someone else. Someone composed, cold and untouchable. 

“Can I ask what kind of business?” you tried, voice barely above a whisper. 

His hand paused on the top button of his shirt, then dropped. He walked back over to you and cupped your cheek with a softness that didn’t match the tension in his jaw. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to,” 

You stared at him as your stomach tightened. He leaned in to press a kiss on your forehead, lingering for a second longer than necessary. Then he straightened up. 

“There’s security on the floor. You’re safe here. Eat. Rest. Do as you’d like,” A faint smile on his lips. “I’ll be back later.”

Before you could say anything the door was locking behind him. The air felt thick with questions that were left behind and unanswered. So suddenly the penthouse didn’t feel high up. It felt like standing on the edge of something much deeper. 

The food had gone cold. The mess of dishes in the sink. You sat in silence. Your legs pulled up as you sat on the couch as the hours passed. The sounds of the city moving on outside faintly reaching the room you were in. But it felt like nothing was moving in the penthouse. It felt still, unsettling in a way. 

Your phone was dead. You hadn’t even realized until an hour ago. It wasn’t like you’d have received any messages. No one knew where you were. 

You sat in silence, replaying what he said in your head over and over.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to,” 

What kind of man says that? What kind of man looks at you like you’re precious and then vanishes in silence, leaving only his scent behind the locked door of his place. You kept telling yourself to not snoop around but by hour four you caved. 

The drawer beside his bed didn’t hold much. Cufflinks, a watch and a phone charger that you quickly snatched up to plug in your phone. You left your phone to charge as you wandered off to the closet. 

It was neat, everything neatly tucked in the closet, the suits and dress shirts looking like they’ve been freshly ironed. You tried to not look around too much but then your eyes caught on the black safe that was bolted into the floor. You didn’t try to open it. You didn’t need to. Slowly everything was piecing together in your mind. Before you could properly react you heard him. 

A heavy slam of the door opening violently. You jolted upright. Heart reaching your throat as you heard the footsteps, angry and erratic. Then you saw him. 

Blood on his knuckles, splattering up his forearms. His jacket he took before leaving was missing, his shirt was ripped at the collar and missing a few buttons. A small cut on his brow, bleeding steadily down the side of his face. You froze as you stared at him and so did he. 

His chest heaved as he looked at you. Eyes wild, hair damp with sweat. He was trying to calm himself but barely keeping it together. His fists were clenched like he was holding back on swinging. 

“Joong,” your voice cracked. He looked down at his hands. Seeing the way you looked at him and something broke inside of him. He stormed past the kitchen and straight to the bathroom. You heard the water start from the sink. Then the desperate sound of him scrubbing his skin. You carefully made your way to the bathroom. 

Hovering near the doorway of the bathroom. Your heart pounding out of your chest. “Joong,” you said again, much softer. The water kept running. “Hongjoong, what happened?”

Silence. Then finally his voice, raw and low. “You weren’t supposed to see me like this.”

You stepped in the doorway. He stood still at the sink, hands bracing on the countertop. Water dripping from his face and hands. His knuckles were raw as blood was circling down the drain. He stared at himself in the mirror like he didn’t recognize himself. You approached him slowly, careful and worried that he may shatter. 

“I’ve waited all day.” You spoke. 

He blinked, throat bobbing as he exhaled hard. “I didn’t want you to be here when I came back.” His voice was rough.

“But I am.” You whispered. He turned and looked at you, it wasn’t something anger. It was something deeper. Something that looked an awful like guilt…or maybe even fear. 

“Did you hurt someone?” You asked, stepping closer to him, fingers ghosting over the dried blood on his forearm. He didn’t answer. “Did you hurt someone?” 

This time there was a pause. “Yes.” The word hung in the air like smoke. Heavy and choking. You could’ve stepped back, you probably should’ve but instead your hand found his wrist and held it tight. “Don’t lie to me,” you whispered. 

He looked down at you, searching your eyes like they were his last lifeline. “I don’t know how to do this,” he murmured, voice cracking. “But I’d kill again if it meant keeping you safe.” 

Your breath caught, standing in front of him. The bathroom still full of silence. His bloodied hands faintly dripping into the porcelain. You didn’t let go of his wrist. If anything you tightened your grip around him. “I waited,” you said again, voice tight. “And I didn’t want to leave,” 

His jaw clenched, he tried to look away but your hand moved to his cheek. Your hand caressing him, forcing him to look at you. “I wanted to,” you confessed, eyes sharp. “I should have. But I didn’t,”

He blinked, chest rising faster after your sudden confession. You could see the tension building behind his eyes, in the way his lips opened but no words came out. 

“I didn’t leave because…” you swallowed, heart hammering into you. “Because I was afraid,”

His gaze sharpened instantly. “Of me?” 

You didn’t flinch, not letting your words falter. “Of what you made me feel. Of how fast you decided I was yours. Of how I couldn’t think straight around you,” You looked up at him, voice quieter now.  “That kind of pull? That kind of possession? It’s not normal. I met you last night, Hongjoong.” 

He exhaled harshly, eyes dropping to the floor. 

“You looked at me like I was yours before I even told you my name.”  Silence met you again. “Why?” You pressed again. He didn’t answer you as you stepped closer. “What are you hiding from me?” Still nothing. “Who are you really, Hongjoong?” Your voice started to break.

That broke him. His hands came up suddenly, dragging down his face. It was like he was attempting to scrub off the expression on his face. His voice cracked as he spoke. “I didn’t mean to pull you into this. I just- fuck- I saw you and I just knew.”

Your brows furrowed as you stared at him. “Knew what?” 

“That you were mine.” The words made you stop breathing for a moment as you looked at him. 

“I saw you and I knew,” he repeated. “And it terrified me. Because I’ve spent years in a world where I’ve built everything. Every deal, every name, every risk. But you?” He stepped back from the sink, chest heaving now. 

“You’re the one thing I can’t control and still I know I need you.” 

You stared at him, pulse in your ears. “So what is this world you built?” You finally asked.

He paused. Then his voice came through, heavy with unspoken words. 

“I run a gang. The kind that doesn’t show up in the news. The kind that moves money, power, arms. Always silently. Ruthlessly and when someone crosses me I make sure they don’t do it again.”

You felt your lungs tighten as he spoke. His bloody hands, the cut on his temple. The rage in his eyes when he entered earlier. “You killed someone today,” you exclaimed. 

“Yes.” The confession dropped like a boulder between you. He ran a hand through his hair. “You were never supposed to actually know about this. But I couldn’t stay away. Couldn’t keep lying to you. Not after you looked at me in that way that told me you already knew more than what I’ve said.” 

You didn’t speak right away. The quiet was louder than anything. “Would you hurt me like that?” You finally asked. 

His eyes shot to yours. “Never,” he almost sounded offended that you would even ask a question like that. 

“You’re sure?”

“I swear it.” His voice dropped to a rasp. “If I ever hurt you I would never forgive myself for it.” 

You stepped into his space again, your fingers brushing over the wounds on his knuckles. “Then stop lying. If I’m yours then I’m in this. I want all of it, not just the seduction. Not just the mystery, I want to know.” 

His hand trembled slightly as he held your wrist. “You don’t know what you’re asking for,” he whispered. 

“I do.” You said. “And I’m still here.”

He looked at you like he didn’t believe the words leaving your mouth. As if your words were the first gentle thing he had heard in years. He kept looking at you like he wanted to pull you close and push you far away at the same time. He took a moment before speaking again. “You want me to open up?” He said almost bitterly. “To this?”

He raised his bloody hands slightly, the dried crimson cracking on his knuckles. “You don’t  even know what you’re asking.”

“I do.” You reassured, voice firm even though you were terrified inside. “I want to know everything.”

That never ending silence came over, thick with hesitation. It was like he was debating walking away for your safety, or his own. But he couldn’t. He moved to the cabinet under the sink, pulling first aid kit out. 

He sat on the edge of his tub, he still didn’t speak as he put his arms out to you. Silently asking you for help with his wounds. You knelt in front of him, carefully brushing the raw skin. The intimacy in the moment made his jaw tighten. 

“I never wanted this life,” he finally spoke. “But it was given me when I was too young to say no.” You don’t interrupt him, carefully cleaning the blood on his hands in gentle silence. Waiting for him to continue.

“My father ran a small crew. Gambling, debt collection, nothing huge. But when he died and I took over his role everything snapped. I stepped into something bigger than what I was actually ready for.” He watched as you taped the bandage on the last wound. “I was nineteen when I made my first deal with a different gang. Drugs. Arms. My own men.” 

You looked up at him, fingers pausing on flattening out the bandage across his knuckle. “I’ve never laid hands on innocent people.” He quickly added. “But I’ve stood by men that have. And I’ve buried men who crossed us.” 

Your stomach twisted, but you didn’t flinch. You reached up and cupped his face. He leaned into your palm like he hadn’t felt this soft touch in years. “We control half of the port in Busan.” He continued. “We run our money through other businesses. Clubs, import companies, crypto shells. I deal with diplomats and criminals in the same night. I know all their secrets. I own them.” 

His eyes finally found yours. “But I don’t want to lie to you,” 

You could see it. The exhaustion in his body, the darkness in his gaze. The part of him that wanted out even though there was no way. Yet, in all of it the way he looked at you was still tender. “You’re the first thing I’ve wanted that’s didn’t come with a price tag of death sentence.” 

You swallowed, eyes widening as you heard him. 

“I don’t want to scare you off,” he murmured. “But if you stay with me, there’s no halfway point. No going back. My enemies are going to use you against me. My people are definitely going to test you and your loyalty.” His eyes were still soft as he spoke. 

You leaned into closer to him, resting your forehead against his. “Then teach me. Show me what your world is like. My eyes are open and I’m ready to learn, Hongjoong.” He stayed still after hearing you. His breath shallow, your skin barely touching. Then slowly, carefully he nodded against you. 

“Alright,” he exhaled. “But if you stay, you’re mine. In every sense of the word,” 

You met his gaze head on. “I already was.”

The next morning he brought you out to his balcony. The breeze from the height making you shiver slightly. His hoodie wrapped around you, like a false sense of security. Hongjoong stood beside you. A small carved box in his hands. 

“This is yours now,” he said softly as he handed it to you.

You opened it carefully. Inside, nestled in the dark velvet was a think silver chain. A small pendant hanging off of it. You studied it for a moment, the small emblem of a tiger engraved in the obsidian. 

“It’s protection,” he said. “My mark. All of my men know it. So do my enemies. You wear this, and no one will ever touch you.” 

Your fingers brushed over it. The metal cool but warm with meaning. “You’re serious about this?” Your voice was quiet as you looked at him. He stepped close to you, carefully taking the chain out of your hands. He gently clasped it around your neck. “I don’t make claims lightly,” he said. Gently brushing your hair away from the chain. “They all need to see it,”

You looked down at it, taking in the crest that now rested on your skin. “Come on.” His voice was light and airy as he put his hand out for you to take.

“Where are we going?” You couldn’t help but question as you took his hand.

“I have people I want you to meet,” the corners of his mouth twitched into a smile as you nodded. 

The drive was quiet. Your mind running a million miles a minute as you thought about what you could possibly be walking into. You studied him, his eyes looked as if there were stories he couldn’t share. The tension that was always in his body. You were walking into a world many don’t survive on your own accord.

When you arrived the atmosphere shifted. Walking up to the warehouse dressed in graffiti. The steel doors and armed guards that stood by the door. You held your breath as you walked in, your eyes going straight to them.

Seven men were around the long table that was centered in the room. Each of them seemed powerful in their own way. Eyes sharped and stiff posture as they looked at Hongjoong. Weapons were scattered on the table or clipped to their side. 

You watched as their eyes shifted to you. You wanted to hide behind Hongjoong. The room feeling more tense as they studied you. Hongjoong didn’t flinch at the way they were looking. Instead, he put his hand on your lower back as you stood next to him. 

“I want you all to meet someone,” his voice was steady. “This is Y/N,” 

Wooyoung leaned back in his chair, lifting a brow as he stared over at you. “That’s the girl you took into your office. From the club,” 

“She is.” Hongjoong answered plainly. 

Suddenly you felt the presence of Mingi towering over you. Eyes sharp with a lazy smirk on his face. “Didn’t think you’d bring her here.” He said impressed by Hongjoong’s actions. 

San sat forward, eyes scanning the sight in front of him as if he was calculating you. “She’s wearing it,” he nodded in your direction, acknowledging the pendant you now were adorning. 

“Yeah,” Jongho muttered, arms crossed. That means she’s under protection now?”

“She’s more than that.” Hongjoong answered coldly. “She’s with me. So that means you treat her like you treat me. No exceptions.” He hissed.

Yeosang still quiet nodded slightly. There was something in his gaze, not mean or cold but as if he was assessing you. Caution seemed to be his main priority.

Yunho looked down at the table for a long while before speaking up. “Is she built for this?” 

You could feel all of their eyes burning into you, except for Hongjoong’s. His were still looking at all of them, as if he was calculating who was the danger. “She’s here isn’t she?” He finally spoke up. 

Silence built again as you stood there unable to speak. 

Seonghwa leaned in calmly. Slowly stepping up and walking towards you. He extended his hand out to you. Your eyes widened, not expecting one of them to approach you. You carefully took his hands gently shaking it. 

“You’ve got guts,” his voice was smooth like butter. “I respect that.” 

After Seonghwa’s brave approach the others stepped up one by one. Some with warmth, some with indifference and a few with caution. None defied welcoming you. Hongjoong already made it clear that you were now untouchable. 

The meeting picked back up. Hongjoong guiding you to the seat beside his. You barely listened as you played with the cool piece of obsidian. It was like a shield and a warning all in one. As Hongjoong spoke you realized you weren’t just in the world now. You’ve been claimed by its king. 

The meeting unfolded in front of you like a historical war meetings. Maps, names, shipment routes and port names being tossed around. Other words like clean up, leverage and eliminate were in the mix being said with a chilling ease. 

You did your best to listen, to absorb, to keep your face calm even though your heart was pounding against your ribs. Then Yunho’s voice cut through the topic they were discussing. 

“Tell me something,” he said, eyes pinned on you. “What do you even bring to the table?” 

The room went still. You looked at his surprised, not scared of his words. His face was unreadable, cold and elegant. 

“I mean,” he continued, crossing his arms over his body. “Besides being a distraction. Besides being something he can now lose,” 

Hongjoong stiffened beside you. Yunho still didn’t stop. “Does she know how to hold a weapon? Clean up a scene? Get someone to spill the info we need?” 

You opened your mouth to respond but Hongjoong’s voice slammed down like a knife. “Enough.”

Yunho’s gaze flicked to him, jaw tightening. “I’m the only asking what everyone is thinking. We all take risks for each other. Put our lives on the line for each other. She doesn’t get to be an exception because you like the way she looked sprawled out in your sheets.” 

The sound of Hongjoong’s chair scraping on the floor was sharp and final. He stood slowly. The authority in his posture was enough for everyone to sit straight up. 

“She’s under my protection.” His voice was dangerously low. “Make no mistake,Yunho. She earned her place here the second she walked in her and didn’t run away. When she heard my stories and didn’t flinch. The second she decided to stay.” 

The air was charged with tension. No one was daring to challenge Hongjoong after his words. Yunho finally shutting his mouth.

The meeting ending, the others filtered out with nods towards the boss and cautious looks at you. Hongjoong pulled you aside, a hand gently wrapping around your waist as he led you down the hall and into his private office. 

He shut the door softly behind you then leaned against it. A lingering silence as he looked at you. Your eyes met his as you wrapped your arms around yourself protectively. “You don’t need to defend me,” your voice small. “I can handle someone like him.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if your words were the sun he was soaking in. “I know.” His jaw clenched. 

“Then why-“

“Because it broke something in me to watch you sit there and be interrogated like you don’t belong here,” 

You blinked, not expecting his words to hit you so strongly. Hongjoong stepped forward, slowly and deliberately. Until you were almost nose to nose. 

“I brought you into this because I trust you.” He said. “Because I saw something in you that made me think, maybe just this once, I wouldn’t have to do this alone,” 

His hand hovered at your waist, as if he was afraid to touch you. “But I should’ve prepared you better. I should’ve told you about who you would be meeting and sitting next to.”

“You don’t have to be sorry,” you whispered. 

“I do,” he exhaled. “Because the second he started to question you, this fear came over me. Not that you’d run away, but that I’d lose you.” 

You stared at him, lips parting as you tried to think of the words you wanted to say. 

“I’ve never apologized to anyone before,” he laughed weakly. “But I’ll say it a million times if you’ll stay with me.” 

Your heart cracked open at his vulnerability as he was in front of you. You leaned forward, letting your forehead touch his. 

“I’m not going anywhere, Joong.” You reassured him. “But if I’m walking beside you, I don’t just want to be something you protect. I want to be able to stand for you.” 

His hands finally held your waist. Like he was holding onto you to ground himself. “And I want to give you the world. Even if that means burning everything around us,” 

Later that night, the city was a blur of lights beyond the windows. Rain lightly tapping against the glass. The tension of the meeting, the stand off with Yunho, the weight of the words from earlier. It all was settled into a silence between you. 

You curled up on the couch. Wrapped in one of his many hoodies that swallowed your frame, the sleeves covering your hands. Hongjoong stood by the window, a glass of amber liquid in hand. His pants loose around his hips and hair still damp from the shower. 

He looked quieter. Still powerful, yet unguarded. You watched him before speaking. “You always look like you’re somewhere else.” He didn’t turn right away.

“That’s because I am,” He looked over at you. 

“Where?” You couldn’t help but question. 

“Places I’ve left people behind. Places I still need to go,” 

You rose walking over to him carefully. Bare feet soft against the cold hardwood. You stood beside him, just close enough to feel his warmth. You didn’t speak.

“You’re not scared of me anymore?” He looked tired, yet open to be next to you. 

“I still am,” you admitted. You thought you were able to hide your expression but he saw right through you. “But I think I’m more afraid of how you look at me,” 

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. He set the glass down on the windowsill and turned to face you fully. His hands reached out like second nature, setting themselves at your waist then sliding around your back to pull you flush against his body. 

You buried your face in his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. For a long while neither of you spoke, just held onto each other in the quiet moment.

Then softly, so soft you almost didn’t hear his whisper. “I’ve never had something I didn’t have to fight for. I haven’t had anyone just stay,”

You tilted your head up to look at him. “You don’t have to fight for me. I’m staying,” 

His brows furrowed like he didn’t believe the words leaving your mouth. You picked up your head, giving him a kiss. It was slow, lingering no urgency or heat. When you pulled back you placed your forehead on his. 

“Not everything worth having comes with pain, Joong,”

He closed his eyes as he listened to you. In that moment that mafia boss disappeared. All that remained was man aching, tired and unsure of how to give the love he felt. “I don’t know how to be soft,” he confessed. 

You traced the side of his face, carefully on the bruises. “That’s okay,” you whispered. “I’ll be soft for both of us,” 

And for the first time, he held you not like you were something he wanted to protect but something he wanted to keep. 

It was quiet for hours after that soft, quiet moment in his arms. You laid on the couch next to him. Hongjoong slept peacefully, one arm around your waist, his breathing was steady for the first time in days. You stayed there for a while, wrapped in his warmth as you listened to the rain hitting the windows and the soft hum of the city below. 

Even in the peaceful setting you couldn’t sleep. Your mouth was dry and thoughts that wouldn’t stop racing. Carefully you got up, making sure to not disrupt Hongjoong. You walked over to the door, looking at the security guards who stood strong by his door before waving you forward. You walked over to the elevator and made your way down.

You snuck behind the bar, careful to not distract a working Yunho. You poured yourself a drink, soaking in the moment of solitude you had. The sharp smell of liquor clearing your mind. The club was empty compared to the night you came here. Music still loud, room dark. You exhaled, turning to walk back. The light flickering overhead.

You stared at it for a second. 

Then suddenly a hand clamped around your mouth. Another arm wrapped around your waist with force, pulling you back with terrifying speed.

You trashed and kicked, attempting to free yourself. The glass falling from your hand with a shatter you could barely hear over your heartbeat. 

The man whispered in your ear. “So this is Hongjoong’s secret prize.” His breath venomous. 

You were shoved through a side exit door that slammed shut behind you. Rain poured down in sheets as you were dragged into a van idling at the end of the alley. 

“Fucking pathetic,” the man hissed. “Thought he would at least know how to hide things better.” 

You couldn’t see his face, only the sharp snake tattoo coiled around his wrist. His hand still wrapped on your hand. You bit down-hard. He let out a shout as he yanked his hand away from you. 

“You stupid bitch,” he snarled, drawing a gun from his waistband. The metal barrel being pushed into your ribs. “One more move or sound from you and he’ll be scraping you off the pavement,” 

Your breath was shaky as you wanted to scream but couldn’t. “He’ll find me. And when he does, he’s going to fucking kill you,” you spat. 

The man only chuckled as he hit the back of your head, knocking you out as he threw you in the van. 

Upstairs, Hongjoong woke with a start. The cold side of his bed, the unlocked door. The broken connection of your bodies together. He sat up fast, scanning the room as he called out for you. No response. 

He was halfway out the door when his phone buzzed. A message.

“Come collect your little trophy. Joong.” 

His blood ran cold. The phone cracked in his grip as he shoved it into his pocket, storming into the elevator. Fury burning in his chest.

“Seal the building,” he barked into the comms. His finger hurting from how hard he was holding down the button. “Check every fucking exit, lock every single door. Find her,”

You slowly came to it in the back of the van. Hongjoong’s voice replaying in your head louder than the ringing pain. 

“You’re under my protection.”

“You’re mine now.”

You held your breath, believing that he would come and save you. It felt like the time was ticking on the dizzying drive. Whoever this man was that took you didn’t seem to care about the hell Hongjoong was about to rain down on him. 

He dragged you out of the van, pulling you into the dark warehouse. Your hands bound behind your back as he pushed you down onto the cold concrete. The only light coming from a lightbulb on the other side of the room.

You looked up at him as he was grinning evilly. Snake tattoo still visible, eyes full of malice. “You should feel honored.” He sneered. “Not many get to witness Hongjoong break down,”

Your mouth was dry. “And you won’t live to see it,” You let out weakly. 

He laughed loud, yet joyless. He crouched in front of you, knife in hand as he rested it under your chin. “We’ll see about that,” 

HONGJOONG POV

The elevator didn’t move fast enough. Hongjoong’s fist still shaking as he reached the club floor. He looked around, seeing the shattered glass in front of him. The now empty room. 

He quickly pushed open the door to his office, checking security cameras. Only a few seconds of footage of a black hooded man, dragging you out of the building before everything went black. “Fuck!” He yelled out, slamming his fist on the table.

“Someone tampered with the cameras,” Wooyoung spoke up, leaning against the doorframe of his office. “They’re professionals.” 

Hongjoong’s jaw tightened as he stared at the black screen. He took a moment before turning around to look back at the thin man. 

“No. They’re fucking dead.” He ripped the jacket off of the chair in front of him and ran out of the bar. “Get a few of the others.” He barked his orders before the door slammed behind him.

He knew who this was. Knew the gang by the end of the tattoo that was peeking out of the sleeves of that man holding you. They were ruthless, petty and starving for power they didn’t deserve. 

And they just made the biggest mistake of their lives. 

Y/N POV

The silence burned through the warehouse. You kept shifting your wrists, trying to loosen the bindings but the material only burned your skin. 

The man paced in front of you. You could see he was waiting for a text from Hongjoong. Or at least something that showed that he knew what was going on.

But you could feel it in your gut. There was no text. Something must’ve gone wrong on their end. Before you could dwell on it there was a loud slam of the metal door. Then followed by yelling until it was silenced by loud pops. 

“What the fu-“

Another bang. Gunfire. Loud. Precise. 

The door to the room slammed open. The man who took you raises his weapon, his hand trembling as sweat beaded on his forehead.

You looked to see who opened the door, who caused this much fright in the man who was nothing but confident an hour ago. 

Hongjoong stood there. Face carved in fury, shirt soaked in the rain as if he ran over here. He didn’t say a word, just raised his gun and fired. The man crumpled instantly, a bloom of red spreading on the floor underneath him. 

You sat frozen as the dust settled, the room still ringing from the shot. You blinked and then Hongjoong was right in front of you. Crouched so he was at your level, eyes scanning every inch of you like you weren’t real.

“Y/N,” he breathed.

You were shaking now, suddenly more terrified by the relief than the danger you were just in. “I- I don’t know-“ You rambled.

Hongjoong shushed you, carefully undoing the restraints. “I’m here,” he whispered. He cupped your face gently, looking over it again to make sure you didn’t have any injuries. “I’m here now. You’re okay,” 

You fell into him without thinking. Your face buried into his neck, tears finally breaking free as he held you. 

“I shouldn’t have let you leave alone,” her murmured against your hair, his voice raw and heavy. “Never again,” 

“I knew you’d come,” you whispered back. 

He pulled away, just enough to look at you. 

“No one touches what’s mine.” He spoke, jaw tight. “From now on, you never go anywhere without me.” 

You nodded, silent because you understood now. This wasn’t just regular protection, this was a war. And you were the reason for every bullet he fired. 

Everything moved in slow motion, his arms wrapped around you but a sharp and sudden click. Too fast and loud. Hongjoong heard it and quickly reached for his gun. Empty.

You couldn’t even scream before he quickly turned, pushing you behind him. A third man emerging from the shadows, blood on his shirt and pistol raised. 

You watched as his jaw clenched, the attacker smirking at him. His gun aimed directly at Hongjoong’s chest. “You’re not so untouchable now, are you?” He taunted. 

Hongjoong lunged, grabbing the barrel and twisting it upwards as the shot fired into the ceiling. He threw the gun to the other side of the room. Suddenly Hongjoong’s fist slammed into the man’s jaw with a gut clenching crunch, then into his ribs. They crashed into the ground, locked in a brutal fight. No words, just survival.

You stumbled back, heart in your throat as you watched him. His body moving with something primal. This wasn’t the same man whispering to you at night. This was someone else. 

Hongjoong pinned the man down, climbing on top of him. His fists slamming into his face over and over. Blood smeared across his knuckles again. You could hear the wet, horrible sound of the man’s bones breaking. Yet, Hongjoong didn’t stop. Not even when the man stopped moving.

“Joong-“ you choked, unable to look away. 

He didn’t hear you as he grabbed the man’s collar. Slamming his head down into the concrete with one fast, brutal move. A vicious grunt leaving Hongjoong’s mouth. 

He stood up, wiping the blood on his face with the back of his hand. His chest heaved as the blood dripped off of his hands. His eyes blazing.

You stood frozen. Back against the wall as you stared at him. He looked over at you, seeing the fear on his face and everything shifted. His expression cracked. The fury melting into guilt. He stepped forward, reaching out to you as you flinched. He stopped immediately, arm halfway raised. 

“I-“ his voice broke. “I didn’t want you to see that,”

You shook your head slowly. “You- You just killed him,” you stuttered, jaw dropped as you stared at the lifeless man. 

“He would’ve killed you. Or me.” 

You knew that but your heart was still racing. You could still hear his fists and the awful noise after each blow. 

“Is that who you are?” You asked, unsure if you wanted the answer. 

Hongjoong looked down at his hands painted in blood. He exhaled and looked back at you. “No. It’s who I have to be.”

That answer terrified you more than if he had just said yes. You turned away from him, struggling to breathe. You were trying to make sense of everything. You could still hear him behind you, not moving a muscle. 

“I’ll understand it if you walk away. But I meant it when I said I would kill for you,” his voice was soft.

You closed your eyes. “You already did,” you let out under your breath. You bit the inside of your cheek. The worst part about all of this?

Somewhere deep down, it made you feel safe. That’s what was scaring you most.

The car ride back was silent. Hongjoong didn’t reach for your hand and you didn’t offer it. His shirt was stained with blood that wasn’t his, knuckles swollen and split. Your heart felt like it was still stuck in your throat. Back at the penthouse he let you walk in first. 

Didn’t touch you. Didn’t speak. You walked over to the window, staring out at the city below. Your arms wrapped around yourself like it was the only thing keeping you from falling apart. 

When you finally turned to face him, he was already looking at you. He still hadn’t moved from the entryway. His shoulders hunched, face hard and unreadable. 

“I can clean up.” He spoke softly. “If you want to leave you can,” he tried to hide the crack in his voice. 

You stared at him for a long moment. “Why didn’t you stop?” You whispered.

He swallowed hard, eyes flickering to his hands. “Because stopping would’ve gotten both of us killed,” 

Your lips parted but he spoke up before you could. “I didn’t want to do that in front of you. I didn’t want to show you that part of me. Not yet,” 

“Not yet?” You croaked. “How many parts of you have I not seen?”

He looked at you like a mask had fallen off. None of the cold control, just raw, splintered emotion. “All of them,” he whispered. “But I want you to. I want you to see all of the ugly, fucked up parts of me and for you to still stay.” 

You walked slowly to him, unsure of what your body was doing. Until you stood in front of him. He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t taken a full breath since you flinched. 

“I was scared of you tonight.” You admitted. “Really scared.” 

He nodded, eyes glossed over. “I was scared of myself too.” 

Your hand reached up slowly, softer this time as it rested on his chest. His breath hitched. “But I’m still here,” you said. “And I think that’s what’s scaring me the most.” 

He let out a shaky breath. Something between a sob and a laugh breaking in his throat. “You don’t know what that means to me.”

You leaned your forehead on his. “Then tell me.” 

His hands came up, placing them on your hips. Not possessive, not controlling - just holding. 

“I’ve killed men for less than what he did.” He exhaled. “But I’ve never had to fight with something I love inside the room.” 

Your eyes widened as your chest tightened. “You love me?”

He pulled back, just enough to look at you. His voice rough and sure. “I think I did the second you stayed with me. I just didn’t know what to call it.” 

You didn’t say anything. Just pulled him into a kiss, slow and full of everything you hadn’t been able to say. He kissed you back with the desperation of a man that wasn’t sure if he deserved you, but would die trying to. 

When you pulled back, you pressed your hand softly on his bruised jaw. “Next time. Let me hold you too,” you whispered. 

And this time, when you took his hand. He didn’t let go. 

[cromernet]

→ NEW RELEASE: When I Fall | The Finale by @xomakara

Feedback: The rollercoaster this took me on can not be described in any way, shape or form. Whst do you mean Jonghos mother comes in just like that like uhm, excuse me! ? I'm pretty sure its illegal to cause heart palpatations. Taeho so had it coming for him. I just didn't expect the son/brother plot twist. Threw me for a real spin here

When I Fall - The Finale

SUMMARY | Jongho's true birthright is revealed when his mother visits. What's in store for you and Jongho in the finale?

PAIRINGS |  Jongho x Reader

RATING |  Mature, NSFW, EXPLICIT, MDNI, 18+, Any Minors and Ageless Blogs will be blocked

GENRE |  smut, angst, drama 

CONTENT/WARNINGS | age-gap, step-cest, mentions of cheating, control and emotional abuse, slight physical abuse (arm-grabbing, hair grabbing, slapping), mentions of character death (Taeho finally gets what's coming to him), mentions of illegal business dealings, profanity/strong language, secrets are finally revealed, kissing, unprotected sex (wrap it up ya’ll!), caressing, dirty talk, vaginal penetration

LENGTH |  9,275 words

TAGLIST |  @desirehorizon @sweetinsaniiity @yoonguurt @lovetaroandtaemin @ikeukiss @pars-ley

NETWORKS |  @illusionnet @cromernet @k-vanity @othersideoutlawsnetwork @ksmutsociety @dove-net @keopihaus @cosyhomenet @winerys-collection

AUTHOR’S NOTE |  Please read Part 1 and part 2 if you haven’t already. Andddddd the finale is here! I hope you all enjoy and thank you for sticking with this one. Much love 💚

ATEEZ Main Masterlist

A month had passed since you had birthed your twin children. Each passing day is more challenging than the last, but the heartache feels worse by the hour, as you begin to mourn your missing child, your daughter you gave birth to.

Soojin promised to do everything to protect and hide her, keep her from Taeho. She and her husband are loving people who would treat her like their own child.

And even if the pain hurts, Jongho's support gives you the strength to see each new day come to pass. You and Jongho have agreed to keep your daughter a secret to prevent him from having more leverage than he already has. The thought of your children being kept apart sickens and angered you both, but if Taeho finds out that he had a daughter too, you would be signing away any rights you could have possibly had and guarantee the loss of both children.

And if losing one baby is bad enough, you can't imagine how the loss of both of them would crush your entire soul, decimating everything it once was into a fractured husk.

Taeho was out for a business trip as usual and Jongho was at Soojin's, spending time with his daughter when you hear an incessant banging sound coming from downstairs. Your baby boy was tucked into bed for a nap when you had been cleaning up the room and a deep frown etches onto your forehead when he wakes up and lets out a small whine.

"Shit," you hiss when the banging gets louder. Pulling Jongseok into your arms, you make your way downstairs in the dim lights of the mansion. "It's okay, sweetheart. Don't cry, mommy's here," you assure him softly. The boy latches his fist against your chest, settling against you and the banging rings throughout the house. "What the hell?"

When you open the door, you're met with a face of an older woman that looks like Jongho. His mom, perhaps? She sees you cradle Jongseok in your arms and her lips are tugged into a strained frown, mixed emotions written on her features.

"Ma'am?" you hesitantly greet her, glancing at the men behind her, looking more like guards than just visitors. 

"The little one looks like you both," she straightens and lets her mouth lift in a gentle smile. "I'm Jongho's mother."

"Um...please," you sigh and stand away from the entrance, letting her and her team inside the house, leading her and the others towards the living room. "Forgive the state of our house, but-"

"Oh please, darling," she smiles, reaching a hand to touch Jongseok's head. You feel his breath calm and a soft sound escapes the baby's throat. "Don't worry, I understand you've got other priorities rather than taking care of the house," she soothes, her motherly smile blooming at the sight of her grandson and the affection he returns with a giggle.

You settle onto the sofa, pulling a light blanket around the baby. Mrs. Choi sits in the opposite chair, observing you silently, eyes examining Jongseok. Her silence lingers too long and you finally breathe out, gazing into the other woman's eyes.

"Mrs Choi," you begin softly, "not to be rude, but...why are you here?" you ask quietly. The air between is tense, stagnant. You want so badly to cry, scream, rant. Why couldn't anyone see how trapped, miserable, and dehumanized you had become over the years of being married to your own jailer?

"Please, just call me Mina. I’m no longer Mrs Choi," she announces firmly, causing you to pull back a bit in surprise, the newborn squirming. “I'm here to help you.”

"Help me?" You shake your head. "But-"

"I know very well what you're going through," she presses, leaning forward to grasp your hand and squeeze gently, then reach out a hand and runs her fingers along Jongseok's cheek. "You've been trapped under his control. I know all too well what he's capable of."

"I envy your freedom," you exhale a choked sob, a hand covering your mouth. Jongseok wiggles and mewls against your chest, his little hand tugging the collar of your sweater. "You were able to escape from his clutches and gain freedom from Taeho, yet I-"

"Listen, my dear," Mina interrupts, squeezing your hand again. Her eyes turn to steel as the emotions build up in the depths of her chest, a burning flame igniting and spurring her on. "I came here because you're not alone anymore." Her words echo in the darkness. "Let me help you, Y/N. My son, Jongho...he's...my boy," she stutters as a lone tear streaks across her cheek. "He's filled with so much joy, happiness and love every time he visits me. When he talks about you, or his children, his whole world seems to brighten and illuminate like nothing I have ever seen before. Y/N, you and the children are Jongho's light."

"I feel the same way about him," you admit, closing your eyes and allowing a small smile form.

"That's good. But I hate to be the bearer of bad, or maybe it's good news, but there's something more," Mina pauses, letting your eyes flicker up to her face, curious. "Jongho isn't Taeho's son, in the most literal of senses."

"What are you-?" you ask slowly. Your brows furrowed in confusion and curiosity. "What do you mean? Of course Jongho is Taeho's son."

The elderly woman sighs deeply and shakes her head, rubbing your hand between hers. Her eyes were sympathetic and when her attention moves from you, they glistened, a soft hue reflecting from unshed tears.

"I'm going to tell you a tale. A story, so to say, about my past," she utters. "One I had tried to keep buried. I was foolish to think that this could ever truly fade or be kept from the past. Especially with someone as conniving, power hungry, and deceptive as Taeho."

There's a lump growing steadily, heavier and thicker in the back of your throat and you swallow, listening in fear of what horrors she would unveil.

"The thing with Taeho is that he never stopped to question if Jongho was truly his son," Mina muttered. "Jongho is Taeho's brother. Half-brother. I slept with Youngho, Taeho's father, weeks before I got married to Taeho," she tells you, staring at your son as his eyes flutter close. "I know it was stupid of me but Youngho gave me love, understanding and kindness, so different from the man I was supposed to marry."

"You loved him." The truth is already there and your voice doesn't need to say it for it to be a fact. "You and Youngho," you said softly.

"I still do," she confesses, "as much as I hate to admit it. I fell in love with a man I couldn't ever have. Youngho is gone now. Dead and gone," she clears her throat. The baby sighs, small huffs of breath fanning against your collarbone and a faint smile traces the corners of Mina’s mouth. "Taeho never suspected me to be unfaithful. The day Jongho was born he looked just like a copy of Taeho, and no one questioned. Not even I could tell the difference between him and his brother.

"I raised Jongho to think that Taeho was his father. How can I tell him that a man that he calls father is his brother? That the man he calls grandpa is actually his father? I kept a lot of secrets from my son to keep him safe, but now I can see that it's done him no good," Mrs. Choi concluded, "or you."

"Did Youngho ever find out that Jongho was his?"

"Youngho didn't even know that Jongho was his until after I divorced Taeho. And the time for telling Jongho about the truth was too late since Taeho shipped him off to a boarding school."

"This is..." your eyes search hers, brows knit. "This is insane. How─"

"Mother?" a shocked gasp cuts through the air, silencing any other question you might have had, and your body tenses. Jongho rushes over to you, hurried, urgent. A streak of pure panic seeping through the façade when his eyes find hers.

"Jongho, it's okay," you soothe. Reaching out, you take hold of his hand. It's like an instant jolt of electricity races through your bodies, hot and sizzling, electrifying your nerves in mere moments and warming your frozen heart. "Your mother was telling me a story. She has some rather important news."

He turns from you to her, swallowing the lump. Mina takes his hand, wrapping both hers around his trembling one.

"Jongho, darling. You are a strong, and kindhearted young man. And I could not be prouder," her soft words ease his anxiety. "Your father would be proud to see the man you've grown up to be."

"Him, proud?" Jongho scoffs. "All he ever does is give me criticism and demand so much from me and when I do meet expectations...it's never enough," Jongho laments, a scoff falling out with a sigh. "He looks at me with disdain and now he wants to take my children from me? What kind of father does that?"

"Not him, Jongho, not him," his mother denies. "I never meant to keep things a secret but after marrying Taeho... I wanted to keep you safe, protect you. You weren't old enough to understand," she tells him, resting a hand over his chest and patting his arm. "Taeho isn't your father, Jongho."

"What are you talking about?" He frowns deeply, shaking his head. "Of course Taeho is my father."

Mina pulls out an envelope from her pocket. "Here. Your biological father left this for you. It may be painful to read," she cautions him with a sympathetic gaze, "but it will shed a little more light."

Confused, he opens the paper, unfolding the crinkled sheets. "A paternity test? What the..." Jongho falters as the information settles in, a jagged breath choking him. His eyes move between the papers and his mother's face as he whispers. "So grandpa was actually...he was my-"

"Yes," she interjects, "You're Youngho's son and you have just as much right to take over the company and claim everything." Mina squeezes his hand and rises to her feet, clasping his neck and pulling him down for a loving kiss to his forehead, sighing with relief and pressing her forehead against his, peering into his glistening eyes and whispers, "You can finally be free, Jongho. You, Y/N, and your children can finally have your peace."

For once you felt like the weight had lifted from your shoulder, seeing a glimpse of light and hope, of freedom. But the ever-growing problem was what you and Jongho have been dreading the most, his return in two days' time.

Even with the evidence, Jongho wasn't going to take chances on presenting everything in a proper order. Soojin and her husband, Yeongtae, an attorney by profession, assured the two of you that they'd do anything in their power to help and when the time comes, to act swiftly.

Now you're laying awake at three in the morning, the clock ticking loudly against the walls. Jongseok is asleep in his nursery and Jongho is just slipping into bed beside you. A soothing hand presses against your spine, drawing delicate circles against your skin, pressing a kiss to your hair.

"You're home," you whisper, turning to face him.

He hums softly, caressing your cheek, looking into the depths of your tired eyes, peppering you with affection as his lips wander all over. "Yes. I came straight after I talked with the others," Jongho breathes, cradling you with a firm yet gentle hold, feeling you trembling ever so slightly in the cool room, goosebumps forming across your naked skin.

Your eyes wander over his handsome features, a rush of calm warmth overtaking you. His gentle stare meeting yours makes you feel safe, warm, and the fear that had been bubbling starts to subside. He presses his forehead to yours, taking in a slow inhale and murmurs quietly, "You'll get to see Jieun again. I'll keep you three safe, just like I promised."

It doesn't come off as a surprise when you start to weep silently, melting against him in overwhelming happiness, heart surging, hands reaching out and latching into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him against your frame. His lips descend against the apple of your cheek, pressing to kiss away the tears, smiling faintly against your damp cheek.

"Thank you, Jongho," you cried in utter relief, gratitude swelling as the last of your defenses collapses. The waterfalls begin flowing nonstop as all of your pent-up emotions and fears and struggles break forth and your heart was aching painfully in your chest, heavy with your guilt, remorse, and everything in between. "I'm so glad that you're not Taeho's son," the words blurted out quickly as you gasped. "I'm glad that I'm not your stepmom, and─"

He cuts your rambling short with a bruising kiss and the motion, the sudden shift has your heart throbbing loudly, pounding hard and fast in your chest, dizzying. You grasp his nape and pull him closer, opening your mouth wider, greedily accepting every touch, desperate for more of the flames burning between.

"So am I," he groans low and heavy against your parted lips. Jongho eases on top, balancing his weight on his elbows. He nudges one of his strong legs between yours, hiking your thigh up against his own. The scorching touch has you panting heavily. "If anything, I'm just a tiny bit relieved that I can call you my lover, instead of my stepmother," Jongho chuckles hoarsely, nuzzling against your neck, languidly dragging his wet muscle against the column of your throat. The burn from his kisses has your stomach tying into knots, skin erupting in waves of butterflies and you moan, hitching the sound around a hiccup. "I don't want anyone else. Just you."

His firm, insistent hands explore your exposed curves, caressing every inch he can reach, wandering along your skin. He's achingly slow in the way he runs his palm underneath the soft curves of your breast, your soft stomach marred with stretch marks and lingering flabbiness. "I can't believe my children had the chance to grow within you. Right here," Jongho rasps in amazement. His palm presses against the gentle curve of your womb and something inside your soul twists and grows warm with love, making you shudder with intensity and awe.

"How can a beautiful, charming young man like you like someone as old as me, Jongho," you inquire, heat creeping into your cheeks.

"You know very well, how and why, my sweet," Jongho's deep voice was low and velvety, burning against your neck. "And you're not old, Y/N. Not old at all," his hot lips press a flurry of feather light kisses in the crook of your neck, a jittery feeling rushing up and down, your body pulsing, hot and alive, his other hand wandering across your arms, and slowly venturing up, rubbing gentle and soft against the sensitive undersides, "not for me, you aren't. You're just the right amount of everything," Jongho whispers. 

Your bones quiver with emotion and desire as his smooth, honeyed voice vibrates throughout, piercing and pinching like tiny needles of arousal, sharp and sparking in the core of your center. The feeling surges intensely when the flat of his thumbs brush against your nipples and roll them in light touches. 

"Never forget that, you hear me?" He leans close, hovering above you and you see how he swallows, Adam's apple bobbing and when you nod he dives for your parted mouth, invading. Jongho licks between the seam, suckling your lower lip between his own.

You can only breathe out a little yes and tug him back to you, pushing against his broad frame, holding him as tightly as you can muster, your breath shallow. Jongho groans, hands eagerly trailing down until he's clutching your rear and the tops of your thighs.

"Baby, tell me that I can make love to you, Y/N," he whispers, thumb teasing your hip, watching your breath stuttering. You close your eyes and allow his sinful, passionate touch to burn against your sensitive skin and exhale a ragged puff. "You're my forever and always."

"Please," you manage to beg, before his mouth is back on you, tasting, nibbling, licking. One of his palms trail further down, smoothing his fingers along the bare expanse of your stomach, the supple swell of your thighs, touching wherever and however he desired, wherever you let him. Your blood roared through your ears, thumping wildly in the wake of his searing lips, moving up and down along the curve of your shoulder and nape, igniting little flares of sparks underneath the flesh. His thick, warm fingers made slow work, rubbing between your quivering thighs, teasing you until your slick coated him.

When he pushes himself into you, it feels right. More than that. He's a perfect fit, filling every inch and spreading heat through you with every slow movement. 

"Fuck, I miss being inside you, Y/N," Jongho muffles, buries his head into the curve of your shoulder, "so damn much."

"You say that as if you weren't inside me when I was pregnant," you retort.

"Yeah but I was being gentle back then," he growls, rutting his cock even deeper and angling, hitting all the perfect points, leaving you a whimpering mess underneath his devious, quick mouth.

"I love you," you breathe out shakily.

"I love you too," he mouths. "With all my life, my soul."

He moves in earnest, pulling out and thrusting in so deep, kissing all the right spots. In the midst of passion, he whispers sweet nothings and promises, vowing his heart and soul, giving everything away for your safety.

For the first time in months, you drift off with peace of mind, falling into a blissfully, serene rest, without worries or fears, knowing that you would get your daughter back as soon as possible. And that when this is all over, you, Jieun, Jongseok and Jongho, would finally have a chance to live the life you've always deserved, without restraints.

"How is Jongseok?" You bit the inside of your bottom lip as Taeho takes a seat, glass in hand and eyes flickering at the squirming baby in your arms. He leans back and swirls his drink around. "And Jongho? I'm surprised that he's not by your side," Taeho muses, flashing an ugly grin, sipping on his tumbler of amber alcohol.

"Jongseok is very well, thank you," you force a polite smile, smoothing the light, embroidered blanket against the baby's small body and bringing him closer, nestling his tiny form against your body protectively. "As for Jongho, well...there is an issue at the company."

Which was a lie since he was with Yeongtae and a handful of his trustworthy attorneys at his mother's office, strategizing for the lawsuit he was about to present Taeho.

Taeho just lets out a low chuckle, setting the empty glass aside and nods slowly. "Good. He knows how to behave after all," the elder man spits, sitting up. He rises slowly, ambling towards you. With careful steps, Taeho is just a mere couple feet away. He's still staring at the baby as he crosses his arms behind his back.

Now that you know that Jongho is Taeho's brother instead of his son, your viewpoints have completely switched. The man that stands in front of you now, intimidating and vicious, is just another person who wanted to crush and control everyone under him. A pathetic bully, hungry for power and greedy to the core.

"We'll have to go see your parents soon with the little one," Taeho comments. "Your parents would be overjoyed to welcome their grandson."

You tilt your chin a tad bit higher, a forced smile plasters itself across your face, tone strained. "We'd love that," you choke. "Especially since it has been so long since we last saw my parents."

"Glad you agree." Taeho smiles. His eyes darken. It's just a subtle shift of expression and the older man pivots to face you, stalking forward and stopping just as he's a few inches away. "But the moment you misbehave or even tell your parents that Jongho is his father," he hisses under his breath, reaching a hand and grasping your chin roughly between his forefinger and thumb, "I will make both of your lives a living nightmare. Both you and my idiot son," he threatens in a low, chilling hiss.

"Yes, Taeho," you answer. The tip of your nails press against the cushiony armrest. Your spine tingles in alert. Fear swells in your heart.

Taeho lets your jaw go. But he continues to loom, a dominating glare and a self-satisfied smirk gracing his features. "Good girl."

The baby lets out a small cry, curling against you.

The small action has Taeho moving away. "Is he hungry?" he inquires. You nod mutely. He reaches over and strokes the top of your baby's head with the back of his fingers, before you turn Jongseok away from the harsh touch.

"Of course," the older man states, standing at the edge, glancing down. "Well, go ahead. Feed our child, dear," he says, waving his hand nonchalantly as he begins striding across the room.

Our. Child.

The venomous words have you grimacing, tightening your arms around Jongseok.

With a reluctant heart, you slip out the clasp to your dress, allowing the fabric to slide away, freeing your breast. His little head comes into you as you nestle the baby's body comfortably. His mouth opens against your nipple, taking in your offering eagerly, suckling with soft sounds of content. Your body releases the tension when Jongseok nuzzles even closer.

It's at that moment when Jongho enters the parlor, stopping to gaze at you in adoration as you feed your son. When his eyes notice Taeho's presence in the room, you see him stiffening, the corded muscles in his shoulders tense.

"Welcome home, father," Jongho greets stiffly. Calling Taeho 'father' after finding out the truth over the last few days, almost made him gag. "How was your visit in Japan?"

Taeho hums nonchalantly. "Business as usual," the older male answers and slings the wine tumbler by his side, standing at the rim of the sofa. "Your stepmother was telling me that you were dealing with an issue at the company?"

Jongho shoots you a quick glace and catches your swift nod. He exhales a tense breath. "That's correct. But everything is now taken care of so that's no longer a problem."

"Well done," Taeho congratulates. Jongho swallows, fidgeting in his shoes. Taeho stands motionless at the rim of the couch. He nods toward the empty seat beside you and beckons him, "Join us, son."

With a curt, yet respectful nod, he moves to settle next to you, allowing him to watch Jongseok's peaceful, silent sucking. You allow Jongho to take Jongseok's hand in his, gently running his thumb over his pinky.

"What a sight," the older male comments with a small smirk, "watching my son with his own child." Taeho lets out a small snort and swirls his beverage around before taking a hefty swig. "For once I'm proud of what you've done even if you did sleep with your own stepmother," he remarks.

A sour expression settles over Jongho's face for a fleeting second and when you touch his leg, his chest floods with warmth and affection.

"Well, well..." Taeho muses after another drawn silence. You feel your blood run cold and you exchange a nervous look with Jongho who smiles encouragingly.

"Here's to a great future, for all of us," Taeho exclaims happily and tips his head back, gulping the last few sips of his drink, swishing it in his mouth. A dry, crisp sound of amusement slips past his lips. He sets the empty glass onto a silver tray and gets up to leave.

You watch him walking out the double-winged doors, stepping towards his office. As soon as the door closes, you turn to Jongho, caressing the baby's hair, "Did you give the lawyers everything?"

He nods with a small, but reassuring grin. "Yes, everything should be going into court as soon as we finalize all the papers, get your statement," Jongho confirms. His gaze falls to Jongseok, peacefully nuzzled against you. He smiles briefly as the baby holds his finger. "We should tell your parents soon."

"About?" Your brow quirks in question.

"Us. The twins. Taeho," he says, turning his face toward you. "Everything, so that they know about all the shit that went down, in case if... anything happens."

He didn't even want to entertain the thought of losing you, and especially the twins, because of Taeho and his wicked games. It was the one thing that kept him up at night, his biggest fear. Losing you forever.

"I want to but Taeho's threats─"

"I'll tell them. I want to," Jongho replies firmly.

"They might not listen," you begin but he places a finger over your lips, hushing your rebuttal.

"They will," he assures you, "whether or not, I'll make sure they understand the entire situation. I'll bring my mother and Yeongtae too, just to add credence." His thumb strokes your cheek and his eyes become intense, burning with purpose. "No more lying. No more secrets. Let's just tell your parents and get this over with," he pauses, exhaling, his voice smooth. "Do you trust me?"

"With all my heart," your voice is steady, even with your nerves tingling all over.

Jongho presses a kiss onto Jongseok's cheek. "Daddy is going to keep you safe, my little treasure."

Your heart wobbles from the depth of the sincerity in his voice and when he pulls you into a tender kiss, you cling onto him, soaking in the strength his arms give, hoping and praying that Taeho could just get the hell out of the picture so that you can finally live the peaceful life with your little family.

Taeho was called back to Japan due to an urgent matter. According to his assistant, there were some matters with the shareholders that he had to address and his departure could not wait any longer.

Bidding you goodbye in the wee hours of morning, you stand at the foyer with Jongseok cradled in your arm. Jongho is right behind you as you watch him rolling his luggage out the door, followed by his assistants.

You wave at his retreating form, watching the limo disappear down the paved lane before Jongho closes the doors. His hand circles the top of your arm and leads you towards the staircase.

"Let's meet with your parents today," Jongho breathes, pressing a kiss onto the top of Jongseok's head before cupping your cheek and running his thumb across your skin. "We'll go visit your parents and I'll have a team sweep the mansion for any bugs or cameras so nothing will reach his hands."

You swallow, nodding in apprehension, and his chest aches. "Hey," Jongho breathes, touching your waist, drawing lazy patterns, massaging the flesh, trying to relax you. "It's going to be okay, you hear?"

"I hope so," you whimper softly. Your lip trembles ever so slightly, fear crawling into your nerves, twisting the strings taut. His hand comes around, slipping into yours, lacing.

"Y/N," he tilts his chin down, bringing his forehead to yours, a gentle smile dances across his mouth and his eyes hold your worried ones, staring intensely, "you are my light, my everything, my one and only. As long as I am here with you and the twins, everything is going to be okay, trust me."

And for once, you believe those words of comfort and feel relief from the tension in your soul, believing whole-heartedly that he'll keep those promises of peace and safety and of happiness.

A little while later, you're at your parents house and after an entire hour of explaining everything that has happened for the past year, there's utter silence that descends within. The twins are cooing softly, Jongseok making gurgling sounds, eyes opening and looking up to watch, studying intently. Your father and mother glance at each other.

"Why didn't you come to us immediately?" Eunhee, your mothe, asks with a sad look appearing in her eyes. Your heart breaks a little more when you see your mother weeping, tearful, and in her saddened gaze lies disappointment and betrayal. "Oh my sweet girl...is this why you never came by often? Because of that monster?"

You can only manage a weak nod, because of the growing lump in your throat, causing your own tears to brim. Your eyes downcast, your lip quivers. "After fifteen years of being married to him...he threatened...he threatened to ruin everything, if I ever went to you," the dam breaks. Uncontrollable, hot streams leak and stream down your cheeks, drips into a puddle, an endless flow. "Your mayoral campaign, the firm, and I just...I couldn't... I couldn't, mom," you hiccup, sniffling as you cry your heart out. The lump grows and grows until it's hard to breathe, letting out ragged, shallow breaths.

Jongho is just beside you, comforting, hand gently rubbing your lower back. His mother and Yeongtae whisper soft words to the two toddlers as they clap and kick excitedly.

"Fifteen years of trying to have a child with him," you continue to spill the contents of your bleeding heart and sob, "fifteen years of watching him with other women. Fifteen years of being constantly berated for things he didn't like, of being kicked down," you're falling, falling and falling, the memories and emotions weighing heavy. "All I wanted was someone who loved me, unconditionally. And then Jongho came along, and I just..." you inhale shakily, feeling your lungs shudder, "I couldn't stop. I kept falling and falling, so hard, I couldn't even bear to stop and by then I had fallen so in love with him."

"He's Taeho's son," Minghyun, your father, says. He sounds drained and distraught, wiping at his face. The air shifts, gloom and despair looming dark and suffocating. His shoulders sink, a bitter grimace, pulling down the lines of his cheeks. "What did we do to deserve this pain? All these secrets..." Minhyun sighs heavily, heart throbbing when a sharp pang pierces at the muscle, painfully, almost crippling.

"Minhyun," Mina intervenes, interrupting and pointing to her son. "Jongho isn't Taeho's son. He's the product of a love affair I had with Choi Youngho, Taeho's father."

"What...?" Minhyun breathes, dumbfounded. His wife has an equally surprised look on her face, eyes blinking in shock. "Are you... Are you certain, Mina? It was Youngho?"

She smiles weakly, eyes welling with sadness. "The love of my life. My greatest love. My only," she whispers wistfully and draws the sleeping little boy closer, as if she were in a trance. "Jongho is Taeho's brother," she admits softly.

"Is that true?" Eunhee cuts in, brows furrowed.

"Yes Eunhee, it's true," Mina confirms gently. "My only mistake, the biggest, is the fact I should've told Jongho the truth as soon as I could," she sounds broken. Crushed. Tired, with no more strength left to continue fighting. "I just wanted to protect him, his future," she turns, taking the small fingers from Jieun's hand. The little girl's sleepy eyes blink a few times and Mina pats the little girl's curly locks, softly brushing aside stray strands. "But instead, I lost my only son to Taeho, just as I had lost his father many years ago. For that, I will never, ever forgive myself."

"No." Eunhee shakes her head fervently, rising. "You did everything for him and protected him when you could," your mother's voice is thick, raw, coming from the bottom of her aching heart. "That's all we want to do for our children and their wellbeing. Mina," she steps forward and pulls her in an embrace. "No parent should have to feel like they've failed their child in such a manner. Do not blame yourself any further."

When Mina reciprocates the gesture, you glance to the side, eyes softening at the way Jongho holds Jieun and Jongseok carefully, rocking from side to side, humming under his breath. 

"Daddy, I love Jongho," you look at your babies before meeting your parent's gaze again. You wipe your tears away. "You're probably disgusted and mad and disappointed...but I love Jongho. I can never be with anyone but him."

"I love Y/N sir," Jongho confesses and hands both the sleeping babies to your mother before bowing, facing your father, head lowered, hands fisting his pants. "I love her and the twins to pieces. I love her so much, it hurts to think about living without her. The thought of being apart from her or losing her..." Jongho rises from his bow, eyes locked with your father's, a burning sense of determination burns deep within them. "...scares the hell out of me. And it makes me sick, the idea of her being married to my half-brother."

Minhyun's features settle in resignation and he sighs wearily. "Well...this is quite the turn of events." His hands fall flat against his thighs, sighing once more. He studies you, quiet, mulling and pondering on the words you have spoken to him. You're stiff in your spot, fidgeting at the edge of the cushions, eyes flicking between him, Jongho, and your mother. She simply looks resigned, pursing her lips in thought as your mother runs a hand over Jieun and Jongseok's foreheads. "The circumstances surrounding the three of you have been twisted beyond redemption..." He drags a hand over the swell of his forehead, ruffling through his thinning hair.

"But all I want is the best for my daughter and my grandchildren. I suppose I'll have to adjust and adapt as time goes on," he stands, a frail smile twitching into existence. "Despite all of this...family, after all, is the most important thing and," your father looks to the side, catching his wife's melancholic gaze, "I believe you did all you could, in protecting our baby girl," your mother laughs quietly, snuggling the bundles into her arms. Your father glances at the babies and reaches, taking their little feet into his hands, bouncing them happily, smiling wide.

"Do you have a plan to take Taeho down?" Minhyun turns to face Jongho, his smile melting into a hard grimace. "Whatever plan you have in store, I'll gladly assist to bring him into his knees, and never, ever mess with my little girl and our grandchildren ever again."

Jongho nods slowly. His own hardened face fills with hope. "Thank you," he bows his head once more. "And yes, we're putting together an incredible legal plan, we will not lose against him. We can't. Not when so much is on the line." Jongho straightens, flashing a quick, warm, reassuring look towards you. "Please, give us a little bit of time to see this lawsuit through."

A weak smirk cracks across your father's face. "Well, I hope that you don't mind a little help, now do you?"

"Help?" Jongho frowns.

"Yes!" Minhyun lets out a guffaw, voice ringing out. "It'll be much more fun this way, wouldn't it?"

"Darling, please, don't cause a scene." Eunhee chastises him, although a faint smile can be seen pulling at the corners of her lips, reaching a hand and patting his forearm.

"Oh Eunhee, please! For once, let's just help our poor daughter in her hour of need, eh?" he asks her, beaming excitedly, like a child on Christmas Eve. "For her, for Jongho, and our beautiful grandchildren, we need to stop Taeho as quickly as possible. Every second is another moment for him to manipulate the evidence, we can't let that happen. So," Minhyun huffs, clearing his throat. "In the meanwhile, it seems that I should dig a little deeper and go under the surface to pull some strings, hm?"

Eunhee sighs and pinches her brows. A smile dances at the edge of her lips. "Alright, fine."

"Perfect! I'll meet with my team in no time," Your father's grin grows even wider and he turns to look at Jongho and then back at you, pride dancing in his gaze. "Leave the rest to daddy, and his political friends! Jongho, Yeongtae, we have much to plan so let's not dilly dally!"

As Yeongtae and Jongho follow your father down the hall, his joyous laughter echoing off the walls, a heavy burden that's weighing on your chest alleviates and in its place, warmth sweeps over, relieving you of all those pent up emotions.

"Silly, silly man," your mother says in an exasperated, yet affectionate tone and hands you your babies before pressing a loving kiss on the top of your head.

"How did you end up finding such a great, albeit a bit weird and eccentric guy?" Mina chuckles, still smiling from hearing the man laugh boisterously.

"Hah," Eunhee lets out an airy snicker, "if you only knew Mina," the older woman pats the smaller woman on the back. "If only you knew how incredibly hilarious that man is," and with that, both women giggle away, heading toward the kitchen to fetch a couple glasses of fresh lemonade.

But now, everything has finally taken shape and come together in its complete form and you pray, wishing from the bottom of your heart that, at the very least, Taeho gets what he deserves.

"What the fuck is this?!"

The summons thrown carelessly onto the table lays, unfettered. Your eyes stare at the paper, words written clear, words of summons, words of court and words of attorneys and the names of lawyers. You're bouncing Jongseok, facing Taeho who is red and vibrating in fury and disbelief.

"That's a summons," you state matter-of-factly. You sound too calm, too steady.

"I fucking know what a goddamn summons is! But, why?!" His face contorts, baring his teeth, turning feral, looking completely wild, disturbed, a vile rage simmering low.

He moves and takes a menacing step closer toward you. You move away, bringing your baby further away from Taeho's immediate reach and behind you.

"For divorce, of course, and...as it happens," you sigh nonchalantly, "custody for Jongseok and the financial restitutions."

"Divorce? You think the courts would let you divorce me? What will they say when they find out that you've been sleeping with your own stepson for over a year now?" he sneers, seething and clenching his fists.

"Oh that, about that..." you trail off, as if you were simply discussing the weather, and wave a noncommittal hand, "that's nothing. You see," your lips crack a humorless smirk. "Jongho isn't your son."

His eyes flit with confusion. His mouth drops. "What...? Did you say─"

"As it happens," you raise a brow, repeating your previous words, "Jongho is the result of the affair your ex-wife had with another man, Choi Youngho. Your father, Taeho."

Taeho snickers incredulously, huffing. He grits his teeth and presses his tongue, nostrils flaring. He inhales and his voice comes out husked with hatred. "Stop playing, Y/N. It's not funny," he warns dangerously. "How the hell would you have found this out?"

"Because," a different voice, familiar, pleasant, interrupts from behind. Taeho turns around, a hardened look on his face. Mina enters with a few folders in hand. Your father is in tow, and so is Jongho. All of their expressions are the same: serious, dark, grim, angry. "I told them everything and I have the documents to back it up. It's nice to see you again, Taeho."

His gaze falls upon his ex-wife's and for the first time, something in him falters. Uncertainty washes over, slowly, then all at once. He scrunches up his nose, a feeling of confusion rising into his gut. "I don't understand. This doesn't make any sense..."

"I had an affair with your father, Taeho." Mina's voice remains level. "Weeks before our marriage. By the time we had tied the knot, I just found out that I was pregnant. Jongho isn't your son; he's the son of Youngho and mine, not yours."

There is something lurking in the depth of her eyes, something sinister, and something he can't quite pin down. "Stop this nonsense, Mina." He flails a hand, turning toward his ex-wife, cold, a thread of hate and jealousy tightening his vocal cords. "You're saying that he's my brother, not my son? Have you lost your goddamn mind?! It doesn't make a shit ton of sense!"

"Doesn't it now?" she breathes, shoulders held taut, angled, stiff. "Like I said, you've got the documents right there if you want to take a peek. All the dates, medical records, and letters exchanged by the two of us, especially his."

Taeho flicks his tongue along the seam of his teeth, glancing between the file and her. Something in her expression never falters, as if the calmness, the sheer level of it is irritating.

"All the tests we ran and the reports and notes in Jongho's medical history has been fully confirmed and thoroughly verified, right down to a T," she continues and brings her shoulders further back. "And even if you try to get rid of it, I have the originals and backups saved and stored everywhere, with trusted sources who can also provide and confirm that fact." Her eyes are like slits. Hard, pointed, looking directly at her ex-husband.

"Not to mention," your father says, arms crossed against his broad chest, "I also looked into your company and all the financial activities surrounding you, and sure enough," his tongue flicks his lips, eyes rolling, sighing, "the hundreds and thousands, almost millions in dirty cash transactions were nothing but illegal business deals," and that seems to turn Taeho's gaze. He appears to be taken aback, blinking slowly, gaping and peering as if he were a dumb fish. "Is this how you funded my campaign, Taeho? Bribes, rigged biddings, and money launderings?"

"Minhyun, that is all slander, you have nothing to prove─"

"Oh I certainly do," he scoffs and reaches behind, plucking a thick folder out. He fans the content open with a slight thwack, displaying photos, paperwork, and affidavits. "And by god, it makes me absolutely ill. How long do you plan on trying to save your neck? You made my daughter's life a living hell and for what? Pride? Greed? It's beyond despicable and low, even for a cold blooded piece of shit like yourself."

Taeho splutters, inching toward the taller, but more powerful man. "You─!"

"Furthermore," he ignores his angered shout, "considering I found evidence to warrant and sue you, with enough evidence to put you away in jail for good," he continues, now sporting a smug grin, "for tax fraud, embezzlement, bribery, sexual harassment and the list goes on...I would very strongly urge you to be cautious of what you will say from now on, before I put you six feet under."

And his facade crumples and withers, falling, falling and shattering at the ground below him. His eyes are widened, disbelieving and breathless, barely being able to utter another word. His pupils have blown, face draining and blanching, stunned and shaken to the core. He lets out a shaky inhale and his grip tightens, reddening his knuckles, squeezing harshly. "No...This is not... this isn't possible..." He whispers, furious, angry and disordered.

Jongho is now holding onto your shoulder, careful to let his arm around your waist and to be quick and quiet in taking your baby from your arm. You can feel Jongseok moving, head turning and snuggling deeper into Jongho's broad shoulder.

"It's over now, brother," and Jongho's eyes are set on Taeho, watching him flinch violently at the moniker. His eyes flash with anger, pain, and he gazes right back at Taeho, "The things you put Y/N through? For fifteen years? All the bullying and harassment? For your own sick pleasure and delusional need to hurt her and tear us apart?" Taeho's expression falls to a mix between repulsion and anxiety.

"She didn't deserve a single drop of cruelty you subjected her to," Jongho narrows his eyes, drawing himself to full height and, now, he is towering over his half brother. Jongho looms over the older, more intimidating, a steely edge to his words. "You think it's okay for you to hurt her in this manner, treat her as your own plaything just because she was married to you? Because she couldn't give you children?" He snorts, shaking his head, lip curled, disgusted.

"Have you ever thought about why you couldn't father your own children, Taeho?" you speak, glancing up at Jongho before facing him, "You always blamed me for being barren and not being able to get you what you wanted. You put me on constant fertility pills, IVF, all kinds of medications. You isolated me from everyone until I was vulnerable enough for you to just strut around, fucking other women left, right, and center."

"Despite all your whoring, none of them conceived either, now did they? Did you ever wonder why I ended up pregnant when we haven't slept in the same bed for years? How I had two healthy babies with Jongho?" You click your tongue, shaking your head once again and biting the inside of your cheek.

"Two? Pft," Taeho waves his hands dismissively, snarling.

"Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you about my daughter," you muse airily and an almost crazy-like grin begins pulling at the corner of your lips. "Oops! Must've slipped my mind for a bit." Your smirk is wide. Sharp. Twisting your expression. "I hid my own daughter for weeks, fearing that you'd somehow be able to rip her from my arms too. I hate you. I fucking hate you, Taeho! I always hated you."

Jongho flicks a glance at your side, brushing his fingers against the small of your back, causing you to relax, calm and settled. "Darling, enough... Just calm yourself down, please." And you take in deep breath after deep breath, easing and steadying your nerves.

Taeho watches the brief exchange. Something about that sparks a greater wrath, greater ire and resentment. Taeho has half the mind to grab hold of his fist and hurl it into his half brother's face. His gaze drifts downwards, body rigid, jaw locking.

"Now the problem remains," your father remarks, scanning Taeho and raising a brow. "Should I have you thrown into jail or should you come quietly? Save yourself the pain and humiliation of having to drag all of this to the media."

There is the briefest, a millisecond pause. Nothing registers, yet everything happens at once. One second Taeho is standing still, as though petrified in space and the next, in one swift move, he is reaching behind, hand clasped around something thin and metal. In the distance, someone, you can't tell who, is shouting for him to stop and all of a sudden, there is the harsh sound of the gun going off, a blast ringing and deafening your ears.

Weeks go by and slowly, you are settling back into routine.

After Taeho had attempted to injure or even worse, kill anyone there and managed to flee the scene, he ended up jumping off a cliffside. A suicide, the officials had claimed. The search teams managed to retrieve the body in several weeks and an autopsy report showed the cause of death as severe head trauma from his fall off.

The police and the media had gotten wind of the ordeal, swarming your front yard, bombarding you with questions and wanting you to say something, anything, about the situation. Your parents stepped forward, a hand laid flat against the lower part of the microphone and assured that you will have a press conference at a later date.

Once it was confirmed that your husband has been legally declared as deceased, his estate, business and remaining finances were willed over to Jongho as the last living relative of Taeho, making him the new president of his company. A heavy, massive responsibility, to which Jongho, without any reluctance, had gladly accepted.

You and your family finally release a statement, answering every question they ask and shedding light to a lot of truths, clearing any doubt that may still be left. The press was having a field day when they found about Jongho's birthright, how the two of you fell in love despite the complications and kept your babies safe and out of reach, hidden from your abusive husband, Taeho. It was not an ideal way to start, and even now, it hasn't completely settled down, but, it is a step forward nonetheless, and one that has already shown some improvement.

Now, your company has been relocated and expanded and everyone is settled back in. Jongho had opted for a new apartment, one that had bigger spaces, to which you readily agreed and have been getting things arranged, making room for each and everyone, decorating and arranging, throwing out and purchasing new furniture. You were finally able to reunite with your baby girl Jieun as well and life is progressively growing more and more fruitful with every passing day, all with the twins and Jongho by your side.

When your parents asked when you and Jongho would have a wedding, both of you confessed that you hadn't had the time nor did you wish for such an extravagant affair. But, if your parents wanted a small ceremony, you had told them, just for immediate family, you were fine with that. So, in due time, Jongho asked you to marry him, you said yes and before you knew it, a nice, casual, low-key wedding was prepared in your family home's backyard, inviting the most intimate circle of people; only family and a handful of friends.

And now you are walking down the hall to see the father of your two kids and your husband at his brand new desk and working tirelessly, like a proper boss would. The thought draws an affectionate grin out of you, footsteps light and quickening in speed the nearer you get. Jongho has been immersed in his work, arranging projects, reassigning duties, meetings, all sorts of things and when the knock comes at his office door, he barely pays any mind to it.

"I take it you haven't found a replacement yet, President Choi."

He lets out a small smile when he looks up upon hearing your voice. "I can't seem to find anyone competent enough," he laughs at your pointed stare and rubs the back of his neck, embarrassed.

"And it's only been a week," you chuckle and place Jieun and Jongseok's carrier against his mahogany desk before coming around to the other side and embracing him from behind, planting a tender kiss at the small of his back.

"Did I not choose the right people?" his eyes squint shut and a blissful expression passes over him, cheeks a flushed rosy hue, dimples dipping.

You release him with a warm smile, draping your arms around him and bringing your palms across his chest and leaning on him. "You did...don't worry," and he hums in agreement.

"And as a bonus," your eyes linger on his and then your mouth follows his to touch lightly, gently, so sweet and soft that Jongho's smile crumbles at the feeling, "the new president of this company also gets free babysitting services!" and he laughs wholeheartedly, pressing a fluttering kiss at the apple of your cheek.

"I might be a little bit bias since I'm married to her, but," he steals another chaste smooch and his lips finally connect with yours and your breath hitches, pulling away with a deep sigh, "my wife is, honestly and truly, the best. A damn good babysitter."

You look up, smiling, sighing softly and cupping his face. "Just a babysitter?" you mutter coyly, thumb running circles against his flushed cheek. "Is there nothing more than just a plain babysitter, to the amazing, talented, smart, and handsome company president?"

His eyelashes lower and he nudges his nose at yours, his breaths puffing out and warming you completely. "Hmm... she is a good mother too. Although..." Jongho taps his chin, grinning and leaning into you even more, wrapping an arm around you and nuzzling you, kissing along your brow, your cheeks, everywhere he could reach. You laugh quietly, flustered and taken aback at his boldness. "She should keep her hands to herself in the middle of the night."

"Mm," you lean into him, dragging your fingertips across his abdomen, and smirk up at him, a look filled with longing, lust, desire and admiration. "But you like it."

"But I like it," he admits, wrapping a strong arm around you, pulling you up and peppering kisses on your nose, your cheeks, your jaw. He moves close to whisper against your mouth. His lips press slow, firm to yours, the caress languorous, a silent promise. "How's moving into the new place going, anyway? Any problems?"

"Not at all," you lean back into the curve of his broad chest, exhaling long and slowly and listening to the soft rustles of Jongho's touches, lulling you further and further away. "Your assistant is a gem and is incredibly efficient."

"Yes, he is," Jongho agrees. The corner of his mouth tugs downwards, humming slightly, holding you close and caressing the small of your back in soothing motions. "It's a pity Yeongtae declined his position, though. It would have made a lot of things so much easier."

"Yeongtae is at a firm that is putting his skills to good use. After having a glimpse of it, he wasn't sure he'd fit well within those corporate walls, he says," you elaborate and tap a finger to his shoulder.

"He could have been in charge of the legal team here," Jongho heaves a dejected sigh.

"It's not so bad," you smile and lift his downtrodden spirits, a finger trailing a line from the ridge of his cheek, then the corner of his plump lips. He looks like an adorable, grumpy cat, brows puckering at your lighthearted laughter. "At least I won't have to hear Soojin complain about you being his boss."

Jongho returns a toothy grin and his dimples show, kissing the top of your head. "This, at the very least is true. Small blessings," and the two of you join into a breathless giggle.

You stay, embraced in the comforting warmth of your lover, watching Jieun and Jongseok both continue napping peacefully, deeply in their slumber. Jongho places a chaste, loving smooch upon your forehead and you crane your head toward his, leaning and pushing up with your tiptoes to touch his lips with yours once more, two times. Three times.

"I love you, Jongho. Very, very much."

"I love you even more."

And the two of you exchange a string of chaste pecks, coy smiles and giddiness bursting, bubbling deep in your throats.

For better or for worse, you, him and your children are happy now. Together. That's the way it should have been from the start, you think, heart and soul soaring, fulfilled, satisfied, content, knowing that, no matter what the future has in store, you will be okay. More than just fine. And the man you've fallen in love with, the person who captured your heart is right here, loving you in return and will catch you when you fall.

© xomakara - All works on this blog are protected under copyright. Please do no copy, repost, or translate my works. I do NOT allow any of my works to be entered into any form of AI.

[cromernet]

→ NEW RELEASE: mine. | smg by @kpopflowerfield

Feedback: uhm hello? Let me breath? The way i need mingi in my face like that is unbelievable. It's not a want, it's a need and you captured that perfectly

mine. | smg

ღ pairing: afab! reader x idol mingi

ღ word count: 1.7k

ღ genre: smut

ღ rating: MDNI

ღ warnings: rough sex, creampie, cursing, exhibitionism, choking, dom! mingi, marking, unprotected sex, oral (f receiving)

ღ networks: @k-vanity @illusionnet @cromernet

ღ summary: seeing your boyfriend pull that move on stage was overwhelming to say the least.

You stared at the stage, astonished by the sight in front of you. “Did he really just do that?” was the only thought crossing your mind as you stared at your boyfriend. His hand grabbing his bulge, letting the whole crowd see his massive cock under those jeans.

You tried to remain calm but felt your heart racing at every glance he was subtly giving you throughout the rest of the show. You needed him, you didn’t care how but you needed to feel him, to let him devour you. As soon as those lights turned off you snuck off to the backstage.

You could hear everyone laughing and panting, discussing how everything went. You knocked on the door carefully. The door opened and you exhaled. “Oh, Y/N!” Wooyoung was cheerful as he saw you. You barely looked at him before brushing by him and finding your way to your boyfriend.

Mingi sat there, lounging on the couch. “Hey baby,” his voice was a bit raspy after all the yelling and barking he was doing on stage. “Come with me,” you spoke quickly, putting your hand out for him. “Where?” He raised an eyebrow, hesitant to take your hand.

“Just follow,” you pulled him off the couch and made your escape from the members. You looked around, finding an empty hallway. “Did you really do that on stage?!” You quickly blurted out. Mingi’s lips twitched into a smirk. “You liked that?” He was exuding nothing but pure confidence.

“Of course I did. But now everyone has an idea of what’s mine,” you huffed. “Yours?” He teased. Your eyes met his as he cocked his head. “You know what I mean,” you flustered. You never claimed him in that way before. “I know.” He nodded, looking you up and down. “People saw what’s mine in that outfit baby,” He leaned down to your height.

Your cheeks blushed a deep red. Mingi’s eyes couldn’t be removed from the tight top you were wearing, your breasts were hugged tightly with the material and exposed some cleavage. “Want to know something else?” He spoke up, looking back into your eyes. “What?” You were quick with your response. Mingi leaned into your ear. “I want to fuck your brains out,” he whispered. Your eyes widened as you looked at him. He was biting his lip, leaning back.

He put his hand out for you. “Come on,” he rasped as you quickly took his hand. A thrill rushing through you as he pulled you through the venue, desperately looking for somewhere to hide. He took a quick glance around before pushing the door open to the sound equipment room.

He shut the door and locked it quickly. Before you could process what was fully going on he leaned down, grabbed your thighs and picked you up effortlessly. His lips met yours in pure hunger as you wrapped your legs around him. “Fuck Mingi,” you exhaled as he pulled at your lip.

“I’ll have you saying that a lot more and a lot louder in a few,” he chuckled darkly. His lips working on your neck, nipping and sucking on the exposed skin. “Do you know what you do to me? The way I saw you looking at me… fuck y/n,” he exhaled against your skin.

You pressed your lips together, holding back the moans from his kisses. “Any idea what grabbing yourself on stage like that does to me?” You spoke against his lips.

“I can feel it,” he smirked. Your core against his body as you were wrapped around him. His hands shifted. One placed firmly on your hip, his fingers digging into your skin. The other reached under your skirt. His finger pressing on your clothed slit. “It’s so wet,” he smirked.

“Please…Mingi…” you whimpered as his fingers teased you, ghosting back and forth on your panties. A soft moan escaped your lips as he bit down on your neck, leaving a dark hickey. “Fuck me,” you whined.

“Begging already?” He moved to the other side of the closet, finding a cart that was perfect height. “You know I love it when you beg for me,” He put you down, unzipping his jeans. His cock was rock hard, waiting for the relief of your dripping cunt. “Lean back on that cart,” he commanded and you followed quickly.

“Good girl,” he smirked. He dropped down, squatting in front of you and roughly pulled your skirt down. The sound of the fabric ripping made your core throb. “I’ll buy you a new pair.” He tossed your now ripped panties in the corner of the room.

You huffed seeing them be thrown like that. You couldn’t be made for long as you felt Mingi’s tongue flat on your pussy. You whimpered at his tongue working on you. His tongue swirling around your clit, sucking at it as you felt your juices mixed with his saliva covering the inside of your thighs. “God I love this pussy,” he mumbled. His fingers spread your lips as he pushed his tongue inside of your folds. “F-fuck,” you threw your head back as you moaned loudly.

The tip of his nose rubbing on your clit as his tongue was moving quickly inside of you. He couldn’t get enough of your taste as he moaned against you, the satisfaction of your taste was making him sound like he was receiving the pleasure.

“Fuck me,” you whined as he stood up. The faint light making his chin glisten with his drool and your juices. “Turn over,” he growled as you quickly did as he said. You felt his tip against you and then the pressure inside of you as he shoved his cock in.

Pushing as deep in as he could, stretching your walls out so you could take him. His head tilted back, eyes rolling slightly as you cursed. “Fuck Mingi… ‘s so big,” you whimpered as he pounded into you.

The sound of skin slapping against skin echoing in the small space. “You feel how tight you’re gripping me?” He grunted. “It’s like you’re made to take my fuck cock,” he held your hips tightly. His fingers deep in your skin was certain to leave a few bruises but it was worth every slight tinge of pain.

Your legs shaking as you took every strong thrust he was pounding into your cunt. “You take all of me so fucking well,” he growled as you cried out. Unable to control the sounds that needed to leave your lips. “Mingiii~” You screamed out his name. One hand releasing your hip only to shift his grip to your throat. “Don’t want to be caught do we?” He taunted as you shook your head.

Breathless moans leaving you. Every push of his cock against your tight walls was surging a new wave of pleasure over you. His cock was hitting deep inside of you. His hips snapping against yours as his cock twitched. Everything was becoming a dizzying pleasure.

His hand on your throat releasing for a moment only for the pressure to return seconds later. “You like when I fuck you like this? When I make you melt into a fucking puddle?” He cursed. His hungry moans leave his mouth.

You whimpered in response, unable to speak. His cock was relentless with each thrust making pathetic noises leave you. “You’re all fucking mine,” he growled as you whined out. Your orgasm coming over like a wave as your legs shook, walls clenching him tightly as he slammed into you.

His cock twitching in you, every drop of his seed being pumped into you. Mingi’s chest pressed against your back as you panted. He kissed your neck softly then pulled out. You shuddered at his absence inside of you. “You took it so well baby. You’re so fucking perfect,” he praised.

He pulled up his pants then helped you pull your skirt back up. You still laid against the cart, legs feeling unable to move. “You okay?” He raised an eyebrow as you nodded.

“Let me help you.” His hand laid on your lower back as he helped you stand back up. He took your hand and smiled at you. It was soft and tender as he moved your hand to his cheek. “You’re so perfect,” he murmured before placing a kiss on your palm.

You smiled at his actions. “Right back at you,” you spoke with a soft smile. You wanted to stay in this moment. His tender kiss against your skin but you knew you needed to leave. “Do I look okay to go out there?” You questioned, looking up at him with doe eyes.

“You look hot,” he smirked. Rubbing his thumb on your bottom lip to clean up the smudged lipstick. He placed his lips on yours, soft and gentle instead of the raw hunger from earlier. “Alright,” he sighed. He walked over to the door, running his fingers through his hair before unlocking the door.

He opened it, peeking out. “We’re in the clear,” he put his hand out for yours as he walked out. His fingers interlaced with yours, acting casual and not like he just fucked your brains out. Just like he said he would.

“There you are!” That voice called out making you freeze. San stood there staring in between you. His eyes shifted in between the two of you. Taking in the messy hair and undone belt on Mingi. The faint pink hand print on your neck and the dark purple spot on your shoulder.

“We were just… Uh…” Mingi was lost for an explanation as San kept studying the two of you.

“Talking!” You smiled at San. Too much innocence in your voice. You watched as a soft smirk spread on San’s face.

“You really could wait until the hotel?” San chuckled as your cheeks turned a deep red. Mingi forced laughter, acting like he had no clue what he meant.

San shook his head. “Just be careful. You don’t want anyone walking in on you,” he shook his finger at you.

Mingi nodded. “We’ll be careful,” he reassured as San nodded in response. San stepped off of the side and watched as the two of you walked away.

“I don’t even think our show was half as loud as that encore,” San spoke under his breath. Mingi didn’t even turn to look at him. He just playfully flipped him off as he walked out with you.

Despite the embarrassment, you didn’t regret a damn thing.

[cromernet]

→ NEW RELEASE: Wanting Three | smg, jyh, kys by @kpopflowerfield

Feedback: Fantastic. A masterpiece. 10/10 would recommend again. The different vibes all 3 of them give? My goodness i think i need to take a seat. Straight out of my fantasy if you get what i mean. Also love that you incoroprated 3 endings for each of them cause i would not be able to pick whatsoever

Wanting Three| smg, jyh, kys

ღ pairing: mingi x afab!reader, yunho x afab!reader, yeosang x afab!reader ღ word count: 13.8k ღ genre: smut, angst & fluff ღ rating: MDNIღ warnings: making out, mentions of alcohol, unprotected sex, creampie, cussing ღ networks: @cromernet @k-vanity @illusionnet

ღ authors note: this is more of a self divulging fic of my ateez bias line! also big thank you to @frenchkisstheabyss for beta reading!!

ღ summary: It was hard to make choices. Three completely different men, with three different romance ideals throwing themselves at you didn’t make it any easier either.

“I don’t fucking get it,” you groaned, staring at the mess of papers and open textbooks. “Where are you lost?” Yeosang’s smooth, deep voice made you look up, releasing the tight grip you had on your own temples. Your eyes met his soft gaze. “Just everything I’ve ever written for this assignment isn’t making sense anymore.” A sigh escaped your lips.

“I mean… you have been staring at it for hours. I’m sure it’s just jumbled itself. Let me take a look,” He leaned in front of you, stretching his arm out to examine your work. His face hardened as he read, making a sudden anxiety build up inside of you. You bit the inside of your cheek as you watched him push his hair back. “Honestly, this makes perfect sense. Why can’t you turn this in for your assignment?” He questioned, turning to look at you.

“I’m not sure. Some stupid feedback and the fact my professor loves to compare works to past ones,” You pouted. A soft giggle escaped his lips as he moved his chair closer to yours. “So we’ll work this together then, okay?” His soft smile made your heart flutter. “Okay,” You nodded.

Listening to his gentle, deep voice made you feel like you were in a dream. “See, we’re doing it together,” He playfully bumped your shoulder. “Mm,” You nodded quickly in agreement as he smiled, flipping through the works in front of the two of you. Your eyes lingered on him as he moved a paper in front of you. “Yah, stop looking at me like that,” he laughed as a soft blush covered his cheeks.

Your eyes widened as you covered your face. “I didn’t mean to,” You quickly looked at the paper in front of you. “I’m just teasing, I like your eyes on me,” He nudged you, trying to make your eyes go back to him. “Really?” You looked back up at him, eyebrows furrowed as you weren’t expecting that response. “Why wouldn’t I want a pretty girls eyes glued to me?” He had a smirk on his face as your cheeks burned.

“Well, you’re practically sculpted by greek gods so it’s a bit hard to look away,” you flirted back as he smiled at you. “I’ve always liked you, by the way,” He studied your features as you looked back at your papers, afraid to say anything back. He noticed then looked back around the room, the awkward tension filling the large space of the library. “Sorry to just blurt that out,” His voice was dry, trying to hide his hurt. He looked at the wall in front of him, studying the clock. “It’s getting late, we should probably head back to the dorms,” He stood up, looking back at you as you seemed frozen, not responding to anything he had said to you.

“Y/N? Are you okay…?” He seemed worried as he saw your blank expression. “Oh, uh yes.” You nodded, clearing your throat. He smiled softly as he got your things together for you. “Thank you, Yeo,” You stood up, putting your belongings in your bag as he nodded. “Anything for you,” He put his hands in his pockets as you stood in front of him. The look in his eyes seemed like he was still waiting to hear your thoughts on his confession. “I’ll walk you to your dorm,” He walked over to the library exit as you followed behind him like a lost puppy.

“Listen,” You cleared your throat. “I like you too, Yeosang. I’m just not ready to date right now,” You stopped walking as you looked at him. He nodded, turning around as he looked at you. “That’s okay, don’t worry about it,” his voice was still gentle. “I’m sorry, Yeo,” You apologized quickly as he shook his head. “No apologies needed silly, just know that if you ever decide you’re ready, I’ll be here for you,” His hands were still in his pockets as you nodded, walking to catch up to where he was waiting for you.

“I’m still going to study with you if that’s okay?” You looked up at him with those doe eyes you always gave him as he nodded. “Of course,” he stopped at the doors of your building. “Good night, Y/N.” He waved, finally taking his hands out of his pockets before turning to walk away. You exhaled as you entered your building, quickly finding your way to your dorm as you tossed your bag down. You looked around, surprised to not see your roommate.

You shrugged it off and walked over to your desk, emptying your bag to lay everything out where you kept it. You stopped as you saw a note lying flat where you were getting ready to lie down your laptop.

“I’m at a party!! Come join me if you’re ready!! Mingi will be there ;)” You laughed at the note and sighed, checking the time. Your phone buzzed as you looked at it.

Yeo: Sleep well! Thank you for letting me help you, pretty girl

Your cheeks flushed as you read the message. It felt wrong to deny his feelings. He’s always been there for you. He’s been a safe person in your life since high school, even your parents loved him and the idea of the two of you being together. His sudden confession seemed like a long time coming. It still shocked you to hear those words from him but you couldn’t accept it. Not while your mind was on another man. Well… two different men.

Jeong Yunho and Song Mingi. The frat boys you’d see on a weekly basis. Maybe it was just the alcohol when you saw them that made you feel that way but your core would heat up from either of their touches making you feel like you need them in your life in some way. Keeping them separated was hard though. You didn’t need both of them knowing you were going between two of the hottest men you’ve ever seen in your life.

You picked up your phone, brushing Yeosang’s message off to send your roommates a text, needing the confirmation that at least Mingi was still at that party. You walked to the closet, getting your outfit ready and starting your makeup. Your phone was buzzing violently, almost falling off the counter until you picked it up seeing Rujin calling, you answered the call and put it on speaker phone as you sat it back down on the counter. “Yeeees?” You answered, working on the eyeliner for your waterline.

“Both are here!” She yelled over the loud music, you froze as you felt like your heart was going to explode. “What?!” You answered after a moment. “You heard me, come quick.” She hung up before you could say much more. You took a deep breath, centering yourself before changing and running out for the night.

You found yourself at the doors of Nu Phi Epsilon. The bass of the music making the staircase feel like it was shaking as you walked to the door, opening it carefully in case somebody decided to stand behind the door. You looked around on high alert. There was at least three people for you to look out for. “There you are!” Your mouth felt dry as you heard the smooth, low-pitched voice call out to you. You turned to have your eyes meet with Mingi. “You were looking for me?” You teased. “Well, I’ve been lonely without those sweet lips,” He bit his lip as he looked down at you.

“Well what are you going to do about it?” You kept the flirt going as he grabbed your hand and lead you deeper into the house. “Oh Mingi!” A familiar upbeat voice called out, making Mingi stop where he was. Your cheeks burned as you looked at Yunho. The only thought crossing your mind was “fuck”. You were screwed and you just arrived to this party. Yunho studied you for a second, biting his tongue to hold back his words. His eyes shifted back to Mingi as he smiled at him. “Are you busy?” He smiled brightly. “Yup, I’ll meet with you later,” He put his hand out as they dapped each other up and walked away, his large hand still holding yours tightly.

You looked up at him as he stopped in an empty hallway, backing up against a wall as he let go of your hand. “Come here,” He rasped as he flicked two of his fingers, gesturing you to come closer. You moved closer to him, your bodies centimeters apart as you warmed to the soft touch of his hand on your cheek. His soft, plump lips met yours as you melted into his body. He smiled into the kiss as he started to lap at your soft, supple lips. His hand snaked around your waist as he pulled you into his toned body. “I’ve missed you,” he mumbled into the kiss as you hummed in agreement. The light taste of tequila in his mouth as his tongue brushed your bottom lip. He gently squeezed your ass as you moaned quietly; letting him have access to explore your mouth further.

You could feel the way his body was tensing against yours, yearning for more of you. Mingi’s lips moving against yours like time has stopped. Every brush of his lips slow, savoring and greedy as he held your hips tightly against his body, your chest flush against his as he pulled away. “I really have missed you,” He murmured, his voice was more serious this time as if it hurt to admit. “Not just your body, I hope you know that,” He quickly followed as his lips ghosted against yours. His words making your heart flutter. The way he was speaking made you realize he wasn’t just drunk and horny. He was speaking from his heart. His nose brushed against yours as he was readying for your lips to meet again. “I know,” You finally spoke.

His grip on you didn’t loosen as his hand slipped up underneath your shirt, wanting to feel your soft curves with nothing separating his touch from your skin. His lips met yours again as he felt your body, wanting to memorize every part of you. The kiss was softer now, no tongue, no hunger. Just a kiss that made you feel weak in the knees and like you were ready to give yourself up to him. “Y’know I catch myself thinking about you when I’m alone in my room,” He whispered his gentle confession. “When you laugh, when we’re playing those drinking games and you brush your body against me like it means nothing. I want it to mean something so desperately, Y/N.” His eyes stared into you.

The way he was looking at you made you breathless for a moment. You looked at him, lips parting as you were getting ready to speak. The sound of the floorboards creaking made you stop what was trying to leave your mouth as you looked over. His presence stood strong over you as Mingi stood up straight.

Yunho.

He leaned against the wall opposite of you, arms crossed and head tilted ever so slightly. He looked in between the two of you, his eyes staying on you for a moment before he let a scoff leave his mouth. Mingi stiffened as he heard him, getting ready to defend you against whatever could possibly leave Yunho’s mouth. “Mingi,” Yunho started, stepping closer to the two of you. “What? I told you I’m busy,” Mingi muttered, jaw tightening at whatever approach Yunho was trying.

“Yeah, I noticed.” His upbeat tone changed, turning into something darker. He took another step forward, a shift in the energy between him and Mingi. You swallowed, unsure of what was going on. Mingi ran his fingers through his hair, moving off to the side as he looked at you. “I’m going to let the two of you have a moment, it looks like he wants to say something.” Mingi spoke softly, nodding in Yunho’s direction. Before you could respond Mingi was already walking away, leaving you to turn, looking up at Yunho.

The dim light was catching his jaw line, making you realize how close he was to you. You swallowed, feeling as if maybe you were too close. Yunho stepped closer before leaning against the wall, caging you in as his arm was firmly pressed against the wall. The scent of his cologne was strong as his eyes were piercing into you.

“Didn’t think I would find out?”

You blinked at the darkness in his voice, it was almost possessive as he looked down at you. “It’s not like that-“ You started as his free hand began to ghost your waist, hesitating on actually touching you. “No? So what is it then?” He raised an eyebrow. Your throat felt dry as there was nothing for you to swallow. “I-I don’t know…” Your voice cracked as you stared at him, realizing how fast everything you have kept hidden for months was unraveling. Yunho’s gaze dropped from your eyes to your lips. “I’ve seen the way you look at me, the way we’ll bump shoulders in the kitchen. When I handed you that drink last weekend and you touched my hand, giving me a certain look as you did it.”

His hand finally touched you firmly, gripping onto your hip tightly as he stared through you. He was grounding you into your want and guilt as he leaned down, whispering in your ear.

“I don’t like sharing,” His voice was rich and sharp, making goosebumps spread like a wildfire.

You pulled on the hem of your shirt like a lifeline as you swallowed hard. “Yunho-“ You spoke up. He read your expression, face inches from yours. “Say you don’t want me and I’ll walk away right now and let you go back to Mingi,”

Silence fell between you.

Saying you didn’t want him was impossible with the heat rising in between you. Your heart slamming against your ribcage. “That’s what I thought,” A smirk appeared on his face as his lips crashed into yours.

His kiss was the polar opposite of Mingi’s, it was like he was claiming you as his. Rougher, hungrier. Possessive. His body pressing you against the wall like he was unable to get enough of you. His hand slid up your back, holding onto the nape of your neck as his other hand moved to your hip. His thumb brushing against your skin under your shirt. Still, behind the desire between you, a tremor was there as he held you. It wasn’t just possessiveness. He was hurt. Hurt to see you making out with another man. Hurt to see it wasn’t just another man but one he considered to be his best friend.

When he pulled away the ache became more apparent as he stared down at you.

“You drive me crazy.” He was breathless as he spoke. Your breath shook as you looked at him, your lips swollen from the intense kissing from both men. You felt like you weren’t yourself as you looked at him. Three men suddenly confessing in one night felt unreal. You couldn’t focus on it too much before Yunho’s lips met yours again. He pulled away hesitantly as he led you to a room further down the hallway. The music was muffled as he shut the door. The sound of the lock clicking made you stare at him. He looked at you, studying every inch of you in front of him. His chest was rising and falling as he breathed heavily.

“You confuse the hell out of me,” He spoke, voice low and hoarse. “But that only makes me want you more.”

You finally caught your breath as he stepped forward, his hand gently holding your face like you were delicate and like something he could easily break. Yet there was no intention of him wanting to let go of you. His lips met yours again, slower than before. Less anger, more need as he held you close to him. It felt like he didn’t want to hurt you or let go of you. Afraid he’d lose you to Mingi or someone completely different.

His fingers gently brushed your jaw as he pulled away, looking at you with care. “Tell me to stop,” He was breathless as he looked at you. “I won’t.” you whispered. “Good.” He quickly responded before his mouth met your neck, his lips gently grazing against your delicate skin before he gave into his wants. He began kissing and sucking at the skin exposed to him. His fingers felt around your body as he pulled you close to him. Unspoken words but undeniable lust between you. His eyes met yours, asking for permission as you nodded, eyes fluttering as your fingers played with the hem of his shirt, moving it upwards and off of his body as he helped you peel it off of him. His body was soft and toned. Sharp lines and warm skin.

His hands moved under your shirt slowly, you could tell this wasn’t just sex to him. It was something much more, much deeper than before. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” He admitted, pulling your shirt over your head and tossing it on the floor. His words were making you stare at him. He pressed his forehead to yours as he removed your bra. “Wanted you,” Your heart felt like it was being squeezed in your chest as you looked at him. “Why haven’t you said anything?”

“I didn’t want to scare you off, anytime we look at each other you look away. As if I’m dangerous or off limits,” He murmured. “Maybe I wanted dangerous,” you breathed. That’s all he needed to hear before letting his lips meet yours again. He was more urgent, his hands sliding down to your thighs, lifting you with ease as he led you to the plush mattress behind you like it was second nature. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, legs around his waist as the ache between your thighs grew. He set you down on the mattress. Climbing over you with a hungry groan as his mouth trailed around your skin. Peppering kisses on every piece of you that he could. His hands worshipping every single part of you.

You whispered his name as he stripped himself of his clothing. You looked up at him, desperate for some relief. His thick head pressed against your entrance as your back arched, hungry to have him inside of you. His movements were fluid as he kissed you, slowly inching himself inside of you. You let out a groan as he stretched you to his size. “Fuck, Yunho,” You grunted as he bit his lip, holding the arch you had for him. He watched each expression you made, the way your lips parted to let out a breathy moan as he moved gently, not wanting to hurt you. His size left your jaw dropped, noises coming out uncontrollably. “You feel so good,” He moaned in your ear as he kept his body close to yours, as if he was trying to melt into you.

His thrusts were hard and slow, wanting to savor each one as you moaned quietly. Your arms wrapped around him, not wanting him to move too far from you. Your nails digging into his soft skin. His pace slowly picked up as he heard your soft moans of his name. “I love hearing you like that,” His cheeks were flushed as he held your body tightly. His cock massaging your walls as he thrusted in and out of you. His hips stuttered as he felt the way you were fluttering around him. He was giving you a new sense of pleasure, something more affectionate and longing. Something more than just horniness. His lips met yours as he gently kissed you.

His soft moans hummed against your lips as you moaned his name quietly, only wanting him to hear. He took your hand in his, intertwining his fingers as he moved a bit faster, wanting to increase the pleasure for both of you. “J-just like that,” You stuttered against his lips as he continued. His hips bucking into yours as you whimpered, the knot in your stomach growing closer to being undone. “Y-yunho,” You whispered, wanting him to never stop. He grunted as his cock twitched, his eyes rolling back as he felt himself growing closer. “I’m close,” You stammered as he nodded, unable to respond as he continued. His hips stuttered against yours as if he was holding off on his orgasm until you finished. “D-don’t stop,” You stuttered as you felt the wave come crashing over you.

Your back arched more as you moaned out, your cum on his cock as he pushed deep inside of you. Emptying himself inside of you. His lips pressed against yours as he pulled out. “F-fuck,” You exhaled as he laid down next to you. You moved closer to him, your limbs tangling together as you put your head on his chest. He gently kissed the top of your head. Silence filled the room but it wasn’t awkward or bad. It was comforting and perfect for you to fall asleep in his arms.

You groaned as you woke up, looking around the quiet room. Sunlight began pouring into the room through the cracked curtains, golden and soft. You shifted under the sheets, body aching in the best way. Yunho’s arm was draped over your waist, his chest pressed against your back, making a soft smile creep onto your face. His breath was steady and slow as he was still asleep.

You looked over to the nightstand and reached for your phone.

Yeo: I hope you slept well. I was wondering if you wanted to meet today so we can go over your paper again. I’ll be around if you want to, coffee is on me :)

Your stomach turned just seeing his name on your screen. He didn’t know. Of course he wouldn’t know. A mere hour went by between you rejecting him and ending up in bed with Yunho. You stared at the message, a feeling of guilt crawling up your throat. You could still hear Yeosang’s gentle voice in your head.

“Just know that if you ever decide that you’re ready, I’ll be here for you,”

You haven’t been ready. You barely replied to him and now you were sleeping in another man’s bed with his arms wrapped around you like it was where you belonged.

You turned your phone off quickly, swallowing as you eased yourself back into the warmth of Yunho’s chest. You felt the sour taste of your decisions settling into your tongue as you exhaled. You looked over your shoulder to see Yunho still fast asleep. You peeled his arm off of you, careful to not wake him. He didn’t move, just exhaled as his eyes were still tightly shut. You sat up, body still tender from last night's activities. Mind fogged with emotions, heat and the lingering echo of Yeosang’s text.

Slipping your clothes back on made you feel like someone else. The party had ended hours ago, the loud bass of the music was replaced with faint snores of the others in the house and the occasional creaking of the floorboards settling. You grabbed your phone, your bag and carefully tiptoed to the door. Trying to keep the click of the lock quiet. You took one last glance at Yunho before walking out and shutting the door gently.

You stepped into the hallway and froze. Mingi stood there, hoodie on, disheveled hair that was covering his eyes and a glass of water in hand. He stared at you for a moment, a soft smile was wiped from his face as he took in your messy hair, the flush on your cheeks and the shirt that wasn’t yours. His gaze dropped as he took in your shirt. Yunho’s shirt. The exact one he was wearing when he stole you away from Mingi.

He let out a low chuckle, not mocking, more surprised, with a hint of sadness. “Damn,” He finally broke the silence, rubbing the back of his neck as your cheeks deepened in color. “Guess I was too late, huh?” Your mouth opened but shut within seconds. You had nothing to say. He took a slow sip of his water as his eyes were still on you. “You look good in his clothes, though,” he added. His voice was quiet, no tinge of jealousy or anger. He just sounded tired. “Mingi-“

“No,” he shook his head. “It’s fine. I don’t need an explanation. Just do me one thing,” His head tilted to the side like he didn’t want to say the words that were about to leave his lips. “Don’t look at me like you did last night anymore, okay?” Your stomach twisted at his words. He gave you a soft smile, trying to still hold on to his dignity. “I’ll see you around,” he walked back to his room before you could say anything. You stood there for a moment, your throat tight and your heart not in your chest. Before you could think twice you bolted.

Back at your dorm, guilt started to linger over you. You scrubbed your face from last night's makeup and changed into your own clothing. Trying to change yourself back into who you were.

Yeo: Hey! I’m here :) Outside of the cafe we like. Got you the usual if you want to come by

You stared at the screen as your heart pounded. He was already there and waiting for you with your usual order- iced americano with one splenda. You grabbed your things quickly and ran out of your dorm to meet with Yeosang. You needed to be with someone, anyone. Just not on your own to get tangled inside of your thoughts.

You stepped into the cafe. It was warm, the sunlight beaming down on the table Yeosang had saved for the two of you. Usually you loved the sun hitting your skin through the window but the idea of it today made it feel like a spotlight. Yeosang smiled at you, a soft steady curve of his lips as you sat down across from him. “You made it,” he said, offering you your drink as you slumped into the seat. “Of course,” You sounded casual. “Thank you for getting me my coffee,” You smiled at him, matching his. He studied you as you took a sip, sensing something was off. His eyes stayed on you, even as you put down the cup.

You felt the way he was looking at you, nervously tucking your hair behind your ears. It felt different than it usually did. “You okay?” Yeosang tilted his head, nothing but worry on his face. You nodded quickly. “Just tired,” Your eyes met his. “Mhmm,” His eyes squinted as he didn’t sound convinced then looked at the papers in front of you. He picked one up and read over it. “I think there’s more heart in here than you realize. It’s really good and you should look into turning this one in,” He handed you your paper back as you nodded, not processing his words as your mind was still spiraling. Your throat felt dry as you took another sip of your coffee. You weren’t sure what Yeosang was looking at and why he was looking at you with those saddened eyes.

You weren’t sure if you even wanted to know but your eyes followed the line of where he was looking, only to remember too late. The faint red mark on your collarbone that was peaking out from the hem of your shirt. One of Yunho’s kisses, his claim to you. Your breath hitched as you looked at Yeosang. His expression didn’t change immediately , but the air around him did. He put his hands on the table. His jaw flexed for a moment, his eyes wide and dark, lingering for a second too long before meeting yours again. He didn’t say anything which made it worse. “I-“ You started then swallowed. “It’s not what you think,” your voice was lower than before.

“Isn’t it?” He gave a quiet laugh, not mean or cold. Just hollow. You looked down at the table, taking in the consequences. “I didn’t mean for this to be complicated.” You couldn’t even look at him. “I know,” He said gently, those two words hurt more than you realized they would. He meant it. “You’re not the kind of person who plays games,” His voice still seemed hollow and not like him. “Yeosang-“ You started. “I’m not mad,” He interrupted. His voice was still and soft. Almost too soft. “I guess I just hoped you’d choose me and that you were honest with me,” He shrugged, trying to play it off. Your mouth went dry as your chest tightened with guilt. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” You said, finally looking up at him.

“I know,” he repeated. He paused for a moment. “But it still hurts.” He took a slow, long sip of his drink like he needed something to do. Then looked back at you with a small, tired smile. “I’ll always care about you Y/N…but if you’re in something messy don’t come to me to feel better about it,” His voice was unwavering. It felt like a slap in the face as you stared at him. You blinked fast, not expecting those words from him. He wasn’t angry. Maybe it was more disappointment? Whatever it was, it was quiet. Heavy. Unshakable. He stood up, gently collecting his belongings. “I’m gonna head out,” He said simply. You stood too, a panic coming over you. “Yeosang, wait-“ He looked back over his shoulder as he was walking out. “I meant what I said, I’m here for you when you’re ready. But not like this,”

You couldn’t even begin to collect yourself before he was gone. That uncomfortable sunlight was gone, leaving you feeling heartbroken in a cafe all alone. You sat frozen in your seat, long after Yeosang had already left. The coffee was watered down as his words echoed in your head, playing over and over like a broken record.

“But if you’re in something messy…please don’t come to me to feel better about it,”

Your throat tightened, as did your grip on the paper cup in your hands. You held onto it like it was something that could keep you grounded but it couldn’t. Nothing could, not the sunlight, not the hum of other people's conversations. Not even the idea of Yunho’s warm skin against yours. You didn’t want to hurt anyone, you only thought about the fun for yourself and that was the worst part. Yeosang has always been your soft place, someone honest with you but also warm. The one who never asked for more than what you could give. Until last night when he confessed to you. And now the reality of what you have chosen is in front of you. Painted across your collarbone like a bruise. You took a deep breath and quickly collected your belongings and left.

The walk back to your dorm was slow, the last moments of the sun on your skin but it wasn’t enough to shake the chill from your chest. You climbed the stairs to your dorm and opened the door. No Rujin… it was a blessing. You dropped your bag on the floor then sank into your bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. A faint buzz from your phone took you out of your spaced out state.

Mingi ;): hope he was worth it for you

Your stomach sank at the message. It was childish of him to send that message but it hit you in the core. He didn’t need to say the name for you to know who he was talking about. You opened the message. Thumbs hovering the keyboard, unsure of what you could even say. Then another buzz.

Yunho: You disappeared this morning. Are you okay?

Yunho: Did I do something wrong?

You blinked, heart thudding louder than before. The polar opposite in messages sending a chill down your back. Mingi’s was sharp and distant. But Yunho’s? It was soft. Worried. Neither of you knew how much a simple hickey would burn a bridge until you were walking across late. You curled your knees to your chest, gripping your phone in both hands like it may slip away from you-like everything will slip away from you. One night. One simple choice you made. Now you’re caught between three very different men. Yeosang’s disappointment and deep feelings. Mingi’s harsh words from his wounded ego and the sudden affection from Yunho.

You stared at Yunho’s message a little too long. He sounded so gentle. So different from last night when he had you backed against a wall, his lips claiming yours as if you were all for him and no one else. The confidence from last night wasn’t as apparent. He seemed uncertain, as if it was one-sided in his mind. You quickly typed out your response.

Y/N: No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I just needed to clear my head. I’m okay.

You sent it before you could overthink it for too long. You locked your phone, dropping it beside you. The guilt and tightness in your chest wasn’t going away. You got up quickly, walking to the closet and grabbing a hoodie. Ironically- it was Yeosang’s, one he gave you last fall when you went to the fair. You slipped your sneakers on and walked outside, needing to take in the fresh air of the night. It was much colder than you thought it would be, your feet led you to the trail behind the soccer field, knowing it would be empty at this time. You just needed the quiet of being outside. Just something, anything that would take your mind off of the situation you put yourself in.

You rounded the corner to make it over to the benches and stopped in your tracks. There was Mingi, leaning against the chain link fence as he stared up at the night sky. His hoodie was covering most of his face but the way his hands were shoved in his pockets made it clear it was him. You bit the inside of your cheek, looking to escape but it was too late. He already saw you. You both were frozen; just looking at each other for a moment. You started to turn away, “Running away from me now?” His voice was still low but loud enough for you to hear him. “No, I just needed some air,” you responded quickly, defending yourself. “Yeah. You and me both,” he laughed shortly.

“Mingi…” You stepped forward, gravel crunching underneath your sneakers. “Save it,” he sighed, rubbing his jaw, not even looking in your direction. “You don’t need to explain anything. I get the picture of what’s happening right in front of me.” His head leaned back, making the fence jingle. “It’s not that simple,” You pleaded. His eyes shifted to look at you, the moon hitting his face so you could see his expression. There was no anger in his face. He just looked hurt. It was deep and raw seeing him this way. He stood there completely unguarded. “I thought you wanted me. The way we’ve kissed and are drawn to each other constantly. That look in your eyes last night…” He trailed off, looking away from you.

“I did.” You answered quickly, his face turning to stare at you. “I do. But Yunho-“ You started, a grimace appearing on his face at the mention of his name. “I didn’t plan for that to happen. That was the last thing I expected. Especially with him. It just…happened,” You kept talking, desperately pleading. You moved closer to him. “I’m so sorry, Mingi,” you bit the inside of your cheek as you looked at him. His silence making your blood pressure rise. He stared at you, debating what he wanted to say to you. “If I had gotten to you first, would you have stayed?” It was hard to hear him, his voice low as if he was making sure only you could hear him.

The question hung over both of you. There wasn’t a way for you to answer it, not even one for Mingi to give you if you were to ask that instead of him. He stood up, holding his hands deep in his pockets. “Don’t follow me this time,” He muttered as his back turned towards you. You watched as his figure walked away. You stood frozen in your place, his question echoing in your head. His words hit you right in the heart. You could’ve let him go right then and there but that would be too easy. You needed real, to have a talk with him and explain yourself that you felt like you so desperately needed to. Before you could fully process it you were running after him.

“Mingi- wait!” You called out, running after him. His pace slowed but didn’t stop hearing you. You caught up to be beside him. “Please, don’t walk away…just let me talk.”You panted softly. He stared at you with guarded eyes. “So talk.” His voice was dry as you stood in front of him, not giving him the option of walking away. “I really didn’t mean to hurt you,” your voice wavered. “I didn’t seek out Yunho last night. He came to me and I’ve always been unsure of what you and I have. If it was you I would have done the same. It wasn’t about choosing one over the other-“ You rambled.

“Right,” his lips twitched with bitterness. He didn’t move away from you, even though annoyance was clearly running through him. “I like you, Mingi. You. Not just in the way you look at me or kiss me, or flirt with me like it’s a fun game for us. You’ve always made me feel…wanted,” You confessed. His hardened face cracked for a moment, the bitterness disappearing for a brief moment. “But I like Yunho too,” you admitted, the words slipping out of your mouth with no control. “It’s not something I expected. You both are just so different, but the same at the exact time. I just don’t know how to turn my brain off from one of you, or untangle this twisted mess we’re in now.” Your voice softened to a whisper as you finished speaking.

He looked at you, a sudden rush in his breath. You stared at him as he looked away. You caught a glimpse of the way his eyes were glossing over. An emotion he didn’t want to show you. “So what now? You’re in the middle for me and Yunho to fight for you?” He scoffed. “No,” your voice was soft, filled with uncertainty in the way you were speaking. “There’s no winning or seeing me as a prize. I don’t want to lead anyone on. I’m just trying to see where my head is at,” your voice was quiet. Mingi’s eyes were glued to you as his jaw clenched.

He’s never looked at you like that before. His eyes sharp until he swallowed, unclenching his jaw. “You don’t have to pick today. But when you’re ready I just hope it’s with honesty of who you were thinking about whenever you were alone.” His voice was soft. He didn’t give you a chance to respond before walking by you, slowly, letting his hand gently brush against yours. You looked over at him, watching as he walked around the bend in the path and out of sight. You stood there, feeling incomplete from the words that weren’t said to each other. You stared up at the sky then pulled your phone out after feeling that faint buzz again.

Yeo: I’m sorry if I was harsh earlier. I just care so much about you. More than I can put into words. Please just let me know you’re okay.

You read his message and exhaled. It felt never ending now, like there was no escape from any of them. You stared at his message, guilt still inside of you. You knew he wasn’t angry, it was soft. A text out of concern and care for you. You know he only said what he felt was right because he was scared. Terrified of getting his heart shattered by you. You carefully typed.

Y/N: I’m okay. I’m sorry for everything earlier. Is it okay if we meet up tomorrow? I rather talk about everything in person

Yeo: of course. take tonight for yourself. Sleep well pretty girl.

You locked your phone, shoving it in your pocket before walking back to your dorm. Your heart was pounding as you laid down. It felt impossible to sleep as you thought of the circumstances you’ve put yourself in, you kept tossing and turning. The sharp feeling in your chest makes you sigh before turning over and picking up your phone.

Y/N: Are you still awake?

You sent the message, expecting to wait a while for the response but it came instantly.

Yeo: My place?

You stood up, slipping on your shoes before making your way over.

Y/N: I’m already on my way.

You stood outside his door, gently knocking before he opened it halfway. He moved off to the side once he saw it was you and held his door open. “Can’t sleep?” He looked at you as you walked in, gently closing the door behind him. “No,” you exhaled as you looked around his room. It wasn’t messy but more lived in, the smell of vanilla and some sort of wood filled the room. A silence filled the room as you stood beside his bed. He walked over with a bottle of water as he handed it to you. “Did you see them today?” He spoke up, not even giving you the chance to thank him. You nodded, watching as his jaw twitched. “Okay,” He nodded back.

“Yeosang…” your voice cracked. “You’re the person I’ve always felt safest with. I still do to this day. I’m sorry about earlier,” You sat down on his bed as he took a seat next to you. He held his hands in his lap as you looked at him. “I know,” he murmured. You reached your hand out for his. “I didn’t come here to make excuses or anything like that,” your voice was reassuring as you brushed your fingers on his. “You don’t have to,” his voice was strained as he left his hands where they were. He wanted you to hold onto him but didn’t want to be too greedy. His eyes met yours, studying every single one of your features before they shifted away. His jaw tightened for a moment. “Do I need to change?” He looked at you worriedly.

“What?” You blinked, the question leaving you shocked. He lifted his eyes again until they met yours. “Am I too soft? Too boring? Too…safe…? Is that why you went to them? They’re loud and flashy and they must know what to say to you and I…” He stopped, losing his train of thought. “And I’m just the guy that brings you coffee and helps you study,” he laughed bitterly as he looked up at his ceiling. Your chest felt an ache, deep in your heart. “Yeosang, no. Don’t say that,” You took his curled up hand in yours. “That’s not why-“ you started. “Then what is it?” He cut you off gently, not raising his voice. “Help me understand, Y/N. Because I’ve been sitting here since leaving that cafe wondering what you see in those other guys that I don’t have. Wondering why I’m not enough for you,” his voice was shaky.

You felt the shattering of your heart in slow motion. You gripped his hand tightly, shaking it a little. “You are enough, Yeo. You always have been. I’ve never once in my life looked at you and wished you were different,” you reassured him as your hand stayed on his. He didn’t pull his hand away but he also seemed to be ignoring your touch. “You chose them,” he let out softly. “Whether you meant to or not, you chose them.” A bitterness in his tone as he spoke. You swallowed hard. “I didn’t choose, Yeosang. I was just…in the moment. You’re different from them though, someone with a connection. I don’t want to lose you. I feel like me with you, someone true to who I’ve always been. The others were…mistakes,” You trailed off.

His eyes met yours again, his gaze shifting from hurt to understanding but the pain in his look was still there. “Let me be yours,” he spoke up. “You can always be yourself around me, you know that.” He whispered. You nodded, listening to his words as your throat felt too tight to speak. He leaned closer to you, letting his forehead rest on yours. He unclenched his hand as it shook slightly, intertwining his fingers with yours. “But don’t come to me if it’s a patch to fill the holes they’ve created in you,” his voice was shaky as tears were forming in his eyes. “I wouldn’t,” Your eyes shut as you kept your forehead on his.

The space between you was small. It felt like one breath could collapse the moment entirely. You could feel a slight shake in his hands that held yours but neither of you wanted to pull away from that moment. It felt like the world paused for you, like this time can go towards your chance to decide what you were going to do. If you were ready to cross the line with him. Not recklessly, not in passion but in vulnerability. Your eyes fluttered open, meeting his that were looking at you, not with lust. It was full of ache. Full of want. He sat there with something in his chest for too long, waiting for you to notice it.

His hand moved first, gently taking your face in his palms. You leaned into his touch instinctively, closing the space between you. Your lips meeting, a soft gentle touch. No urgency. No pressure. No heat. Just a quiet, delicate touch of your lips, both of you unwilling to pull away. His hand still gently cradled your face. His thumb brushing on your cheek. It didn’t feel real to you, even to Yeosang. You pulled away, exhaling quietly as you looked at Yeosang. His eyes still shut. “I don’t want to be another mistake to you,” he whispered. “You’re not,” your voice was quiet and steady. “Right now, you’re all that feels right,” you confessed.

His eyes widened slightly hearing those words escape your lips. The vulnerability in the moment made your heart twist. He looked at you again, eyes shifting around your face. He didn’t kiss you again. Not yet. Even though he so desperately wanted to have his lips back on yours. His hand carefully held yours, intertwining his fingers with yours and he held onto you tightly. You sat with him for a moment, knees bumping into each other, hands woven tightly together. The silence ran thick with emotion over both of you but it didn’t need to be addressed. There were no more questions, no more sudden confessions to make. It was the quiet you were yearning for the past twenty-four hours. It took a while for you to pull away from him. You gave his hand one last squeeze as you stood up. “I should go, it’s getting late,”

He nodded, standing up with you. “Alright, want me to walk you?” He offered and you shook your head. Yeosang not asking you to stay felt like a surprise, one that was a pang in your chest. He wanted you to stay, but a fear of making you feel pressured was inside of him. As you stepped out of his dorm you looked up at the sun starting to rise. You exhaled, rubbing your eyes as you buried your hands in your pockets. “Where were you?” The low, stern question made you look up.

Yunho.

There he was leaning against the entrance of your building. His arms crossed, close to his body, his tall frame stiff in his place. You studied him, trying to read his expression. Hurt? Confusion? Maybe it was restraint? It was hard to place what that look in his eyes was. “Yunho…” You started, voice soft and meek. Your thoughts going a million miles a minute, unsure if you should ask him the same question or let him speak to you first. His eyes scanned you, taking in every part of you until he saw the hoodie. That soft peach colored hoodie made his jaw tense. He wasn’t close with his classmate but he’s only seen one other person with that color on before.

Your cheeks flushed as you remembered you were wearing Yeosang’s hoodie. “So is it him now?” He questioned, it wasn’t cruel or even angry. Just disappointment in his question, the tone that made everything feel like a slap in the face. You opened your mouth, ready to speak but nothing could come out. He took a slow step forward, straightening his posture as he looked at you. “You ran out on me for him, didn’t you?” He stared at you. Your eyes couldn’t meet his as you felt that guilt crawling back up. “I-it’s not what it looks like,” you stuttered as he hummed, not in agreement but in a way that it seemed like he didn’t believe you.

You wrapped your arms around yourself as he stepped closer again. “So what is it then?” He taunted with his question, his voice tight as he waited for your response. The lack of sleep and his questioning was getting under your skin. “I don’t know!” You snapped. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I was only trying to have fun and something much more came out of it. I don’t know what you want me to say, Yunho! I just don’t want to hurt anyone.” You spat. His jaw clenched hearing your tone, the subtle clearing of his throat made you look at him as he softened his expression. “But you are.”

Those three words burned more than anything, it burned your skin with shame and guilt as he stared at you. A heavy, suffocating silence fell on top of you. He stepped back and sighed. “I meant everything the other night. You know that right?” He exhaled, running his fingers through his hair. “I know,” you whispered. The silence fell again. “Did it mean anything to you?” His voice was small, uncertain if he wanted an answer. You hesitated. “Of course it did,” your voice cracked as you spoke. “Just not enough,” he scoffed. His words landed like a punch in the gut. He let out a sharp exhale, walking away without even turning to look back at you once.

You took a deep breath as you unlocked your door. Yunho’s voice played in your head as you walked in. “Did it mean anything to you?” Your breath was shaky and thin as you walked to your bed like a ghost. Someone beside yourself. The quiet of your room felt upsetting, you didn’t want to be alone but maybe you needed it. You peeled off the hoodie like it was burning you and tossed it on the floor. You pulled your knees to your chest as you sat on your bed. It took moments before you comprehended the warm stream of tears that were flowing out of your eyes uncontrollably. You tried to stop it but couldn’t. The ugly sobbing taking over fast. You covered your face with your hands, attempting anything to stop the tears. Your body was trembling as you sat there in your room alone.

You were overridden with guilt, shame, confusion and worst of all- the ache of wanting all three of them for different reasons. It felt like you were losing everything, not just Mingi, Yunho and Yeosang but yourself. The realization that they must have all changed their opinion on you was hitting you like a truck. Worst of all you felt you didn’t deserve any of them anymore. “Y/N?” Rujin’s soft voice called out to you, making you jump a bit. You didn’t hear the door creak open in between sobs. You looked up at her, eyes full of tears. She tossed her bag on the ground quickly before taking a seat beside you. “Are you okay? What happened?” She quickly asked as she took you into her arms. You opened your mouth to speak but all that came out was a choked sob. You collapsed against her shoulder as your body shook. She rubbed your back as you continued crying.

It took a few moments before you were able to speak again. “I fucked everything up,” you sobbed into her shoulder. “With who? Mingi? Yunho?” She questioned gently, still rubbing your back. You couldn’t respond. “…Yeosang?” She pulled away to look at your face, brushing small pieces of hair away from your eyes. You hiccuped, unable to respond as she looked at your heartbroken eyes. “Jesus,” she muttered. “What happened?” Her voice was still soft as she realized your issue was with all of them. “I hurt all of them,” you whispered. “I didn’t mean to but I did it. All of them.” You repeated as you tried to recenter yourself.

Rujin exhaled, gently squeezing your shoulder. “So let’s fix it. One piece at a time, okay?” Her lips twitched into a soft smile. “You think I could fix it?” You looked at her, eyes wide and puffy, cheeks red and blotchy. She nodded. “If anyone could fix something like this it would be you.” She said, “But I need you to stay open with me, deal?” She raised an eyebrow as you nodded at her. “Deal.”

You sat on your bed for a moment, blanket wrapped around you. Your nose stuffed and your chest sore from your sobs. Rujin sat across from you, legs crossed as she looked at you with nothing but patience. “Do you want to talk about them?” She asked gently. “Yeah. I think I need to,” you sniffled. “Start whenever, don’t rush yourself.” She rubbed your shoulder once more. You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath. It took you a moment to figure out who you wanted to talk about first. “Yeosang…” you began slowly. “He’s the one that knows me. Like- really knows me. He knows everything about me. He’s quiet but always honest and sees through my bullshit. I feel safe when I’m with him and in a way, he feels like home to me,” You smiled softly as you spoke about him.

Rujin nodded. Not wanting to interrupt you. “But Yunho…” you continued, eyes falling to stare at your lap. “He makes me feel wanted, it’s intense and in an overwhelming way. It’s physical but way more than that at the same time. I feel like I’m all he sees. Like he would do anything to have a chance with me again. A part of me wants to let him have it,” You exhaled. Rujin blinked as she listened. “It sounds more lustful than anything,” She raised a brow at you. “Exactly,” you laughed sadly. A brief silence fell between you. “And Mingi?” She prompted you to continue.

You bit your lip as you thought of him. “Where do I even start? He was my first experience in college. With him it feels dangerous, not in a bad way but more of in a way I see myself losing control around him. He makes me laugh, makes me feel like myself and like I don’t need to hide. He’s honest, sometimes too honest. He challenges me. But if I were to fall for him, I would fall hard.” You sighed. Rujin leaned back for a moment, arms crossed as she took in everything you’ve said. “So you’re torn between the one that makes you feel safe, one that makes you feel desired and the other that makes you feel really alive?” She looked at you.

You blinked, realizing that she had nailed it. “Yeah… exactly that.” You nodded. “Now which one do you want? Not just who you feel pulls you towards them more. The one you find yourself thinking of late at night,”She finally asked that difficult question that landed like a weight being dropped on your chest. You didn’t answer, there wasn’t anything you could say at that moment. You wanted all of them but that’s too greedy. Your phone buzzed on the blanket beside you and you looked at it.

Yunho: I can’t stop thinking about you

Yunho: I know I shouldn’t but I can’t stop it

Yunho: Talk to me please

You stared at the messages as you felt Rujin’s eyes on you. “You don’t have to answer now. But you should start considering it. The longer you wait, the more hurt everyone involved will be. Especially you,” she spoke softly. You stared at the screen, realizing Rujin was giving you the hard truth like you needed it. “Rest up for now, I know you were out all night,” her hand rested on your leg for a moment before she got up and moved to her own space.

Getting rest was something you needed. It was especially easy after crying your eyes out. The next morning you looked at your phone, still seeing Yunho’s message and took a moment before responding.

Y/N: Can we talk? Just us. In person

You left your phone off to the side, waiting for a message. You exhaled and walked to the bathroom to wash up. You stared at yourself in the mirror for a long time. Too long as you studied each part of your face, almost not believing you were staring at your own reflection. “Your phone is going off!” Rujin yelled out as you walked out and picked it up.

Yunho: Yeah. I’ll meet you behind the arts building.

Yunho: I’ll be there in ten

Your heart was racing as you quickly changed your clothes and shoved your feet into your sneakers. “Are you okay?” Rujin asked, seeing the panic on your face. “I don’t know. But I need to see him,” You answered honestly as you opened the door. “Text me after,” she called out as you shut the door behind you. Your walk was quiet, the sun on your skin as you walked through the campus. Each step leading you closer to the answer or maybe more confusion. You still were unsure. You felt your phone buzz in your hand and looked down at the message.

Yeo: I’m not trying to mess with your head. I know you’re still sorting everything out but I have no regrets kissing you.

Yeo: Even if it means losing you

You stood frozen in your steps as you read his words. The soft breeze blowing your hair in the wind as you stared at your phone, not sure what you could even say to Yeosang. The noise around you silenced as you remembered the way his lips felt against yours. The romantic tension as you held hands in the quiet comfort of his room. The way he held you delicately, like you were made out of glass. It took you a moment to remember that you had Yunho now waiting for you behind the arts building so you would be alone, together again. You stood there, clutching onto your phone before you started walking again.

You rounded the slope of the path to the arts building, feet crunching against the soft gravel. You looked up at the sky, seeing the sun settling high in the distance. You looked back over to the building your heart was leading you to and saw him. His tall, slender figure leaning against the brick building. His head down, staring at the ground, arms crossed and foot tapping on the concrete as he waited for you, unsure if you would actually show.

He looked up and saw you. The tension in his shoulders shifted as he straightened himself. “Hey,” His voice was soft. “Hey,” you echoed, your throat still dry from this early morning breakdown. You came to a slow stop in front of him, leaving plenty of room between the two of you. He looked at you like he wasn’t sure if he should be jealous, upset or relieved to see you in front of him. “I wasn’t sure if you would come,” He said after a pause. “I wasn’t either. But I wanted to see you for real. No sneaking around you or running away,” you admitted. He let out a quiet breath that sounded like he had been holding it in for hours.

“I keep replaying the other night in my head. Not just the sex, but the way you looked at me. The way you said my name and the way you felt falling asleep next to me… then waking up to nothing beside me. No text, no note. Just an empty bed beside me,” He ran his fingers through his hair as he spoke. Your heart squeezed. “I know. I panicked not because of you but-“ you started. “Then what was it? Was it Yeosang that made you quickly get out of bed with me?” He cut you off, his voice still gentle with you. “Part of it,” You admitted, not wanting to lie to him. His jaw tensed but he didn’t say anything, just nodded and looked at you in front of him.

“So what is this then? Are you figuring out who you want the most?” He finally cut to the chase. You stepped closer to him. “No. I’m trying to figure out how to do it without hurting anyone else.” Your voice was quiet. Yunho’s eyes glued to you, as if he was trying to peel back layers that you had put on. “I don’t want to be something you regret. Even if it was one night.” His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke. “It wasn’t just one night, Yunho. That’s the problem,”

His breath hitched as he was picking up on your words. You saw his hand twitch underneath his arm like he wanted to reach for you and pull you in close to him, but he didn’t. You moved closer to him, giving him eyes full of want. Slowly and carefully you closed the gap until you laid your body flush against his, leaving him no choice but to finally wrap his arms around you. You brought your hand to his cheek, gently brushing your thumb on his cheekbone. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you,” you admitted. “Why haven’t you said anything then?” His breath fanned against your lips. You couldn’t answer with words.

Instead you pulled his face closer to yours. Slow and hesitant, afraid he may pull away but he didn’t. Your lips met in a kiss that was different than the other night. This one was slower, more gentle and raw. It wasn’t about lust this time, it was about need. It was about every single unspoken feeling in the last couple of days that was wrapped up in your lips on his. His hand held your waist, holding you steady as his other held your cheek gently. Afraid he would break what was happening between the two of you.

When you finally pulled away, he placed his forehead on yours. “That’s why, there haven’t been the words to say how I feel,” you whispered. Yunho’s eyes were still shut as he kept his head on yours. “Then you don’t have to say it, you can always show me just like that,” he whispered back. His hand shifted from your waist to your spine as he opened his eyes to look at you. “I’m not going to rush you, but I need to tell you something,” his voice was low and steady, even after that heated moment.

You looked up at him, eyes wide to hear whatever it was he needed to say. “If you choose me, I’m going to want every part of you.” His words were burning into your skin as he held you close to him. The moment felt fragile, like one more move and your hearts would unravel and tangle into one another’s. Neither of you spoke. It felt like the truth was finally settling in between the two of you. There was no distraction this time, just the realization you both have the same feelings of being seen and wanted. You shut your eyes as you held onto him.

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz

The sound of the phone vibrating made you step away from each other as he pulled his phone out from his pocket. You watched as his expression changed, his jaw clenching as he read the called id. “It’s Mingi,” he said flatly. It felt like a breath was caught in your throat. He stared at the screen, debating if he wanted to answer until he finally did.

“What?” Yunho’s voice was rough and guarded unlike his soft and vulnerable one moments before.

You took a small step backwards, unsure if you should be overhearing whatever the conversation would be. Yunho didn’t put the phone on speaker but Mingi’s voice was loud enough for you hear.

“So it’s true.”

Yunho closed his eyes, running his hand down his face before responding. “Mingi…”

“I thought I saw you with her behind the arts building. Hiding back there like no one would see you,” Mingi was growling.

“This isn’t the time.” Yunho’s jaw tensed.

“You promised me you would leave her alone, let her figure it out for herself yet you’re all over her.”

“I was waiting.” Yunho snapped back. “You would do the exact same.” He spat.

Yunho’s words were met with silence from Mingi. Yunho seemed ready to end the call until Mingi’s low rasp came through.

“I’m not calling you to fight. I’m calling because I feel like I’m going to lose it and I need to talk to my best friend about it, but I also needed to see if it was really happening.”

Yunho listened to Mingi yet his eyes were glued to you. The weight of Mingi’s words settling into the space between your bodies.

“Yeah. It’s happening,” Yunho’s voice was soft and gentle. Before Mingi could say anything else he hung up, sliding his phone in his pocket and putting his hand out for you. His words were hitting you harder than the kiss moments before as you took his hand, guilt bubbling under your skin. “He saw us…?” You finally asked, voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah,” Yunho nodded slowly, holding your hand in his. He led you around the building to stop at the stone ledge. “I didn’t mean for this to happen like how it’s going,” Your voice was small. “I know,” he said. “But we’re past the point of meaning to,” his voice was softer now.

“Let’s sit here,” he smiled at you as he released your hand from his. You sat down on the edge of the wall, legs dangling on the rough surface as he sat next to you. “I’m sorry,” his voice was smooth. “You didn’t need to hear that,” he sounded more than apologetic. “No,” you shook your head. “I did need to hear it,” you smiled softly. The tension of the phone call breaking between you. You could feel it in the way he exhaled, taking in the moment between the two of you. He smiled softly, leaning back putting his weight on his hands behind him. You copied, gently brushing your hand on his. You glanced over at him, not wanting to break his peace too much. “I feel calmer with you,” you whispered, as if you were afraid someone else would hear you.

He turned his head to look at you, his lips tugging into a soft smile. “Good, because I’ve been losing my mind for the past few days,” he laughed softly. “You don’t show it,” you looked at him. “I only lose my shit in private. Can’t let the other guys in the frat see how I melt into a puddle for you, yet.” He studied your face as he spoke. You smiled to yourself, brushing your pinky on his hand, almost asking for more closeness between you. He moved quickly, taking your hand in his and intertwining your fingers, subtly leaning close to you like he was asking for permission that he already had. “I don’t know where this is going,” he whispered. “We can’t pretend like everything hasn’t happened,” you spoke quietly as he nodded in agreement.

You leaned your head on his shoulder. Shutting your eyes as you took in the quiet around you. It felt vulnerable being next to Yunho, but not in a bad way. “Of course,” the soft, deep voice made your eyes widened as you looked up. Yeosang. He stood a few feet away, coffee in hand, frozen in his place as he saw your soft moment with Yunho. His jaw was tight as his eyes were stuck on your fingers interlaced together. You stiffened, pulling away from Yunho. “Yeosang-“ You started. He only shook his head. “Don’t,” his voice was soft. Your heart squeezed with guilt.

Yunho stood up carefully, protective of you but cautious. “We didn’t mean for you to see-“ he started to defend you as Yeosang just put his hand up. “It’s funny how nobody ‘means’ to do anything, but here we are,” he smiled bitterly. Yeosang didn’t raise his voice, didn’t yell. Didn’t say much but his few words hurt as he walked away. You sat frozen in your place, guilt washing over you in waves. Yunho stood in front of you, examining every inch of you as if Yeosang’s words had left physical marks on you. “Do you want me to go after him?” He offered as you shook your head. “No. I need to say something, not you,” you whispered.

click here for Yeosang ending!

Yunho nodded, taking back his seat next to you. You still stared at the space that Yeosang held moments ago. Every part of you was yelling “run after him” but you couldn’t. Seeing the hurt on Yeosang’s face was enough for the moment. You needed to handle it on your own, later. You finally let your eyes shift back to Yunho at your side. He didn’t say anything, didn’t tell you to go after Yeosang, didn’t tell you to stay. He sat beside you calm, and still, letting you make your move on your own. Knowing it was a lot for you to make in a split second. Your head leaned again, resting on Yunho’s shoulder. His arm wrapped around you without hesitation. It was warm and suddenly felt so safe.

You let yourself breathe as you sat there. “He didn’t deserve to find out that way,” you whispered. “I know,” Yunho kissed the top of your head, his voice low. “But it isn’t your fault, it was going to hurt both of you no matter how he found out. It’s better it went as fast as it just did,” he comforted you. You nodded against him, the guilt clawing at your dry throat. “I want to chase after him but I feel like I can’t move away from you,” you whispered against his shoulder. “You don’t have to, but you should say something.” He rubbed your back.

You pulled away, hesitant to remove yourself from his hold. It was a cowardly move as you pulled out your phone and sent Yeosang a text.

Y/N: I’m sorry you saw that. It wasn’t how you wanted to find out. I also need to be honest that I’m still figuring everything out, slowly and messily but I’m not pretending anymore. I hope you can forgive me for this, no matter how long it takes.

You send your message and exhale, staring out at the empty field in front of you. “Want to stay here for a bit?” Yunho’s gentle voice shook you out of your self loathing as you nodded. “I still have to talk to Mingi myself,” You sounded shaky as you leaned against Yunho. “I know, take it at your pace. Don’t rush yourself,” He comforted as you nodded. “I still do have to tell him soon, I can’t let it drag out,” You exhaled as Yunho nodded, rubbing your shoulder comfortingly. You sat with Yunho for a while, working up the courage to start talking with Mingi. “Hey, Y/N?” Yunho’s voice was soft as you hummed in response. “Just send a text, you don’t have to do much,” he whispered, carefully giving you his peace of mind.

You nodded and followed his words, pulling out your phone.

Y/N: Can we talk? Just us. I want to explain things the right way.

You watched as he read the message instantly yet left you on read. You bit the inside of your cheek impatiently as you waited for him to respond. Yunho’s presence comforting your anxiety.

Mingi ;) : fine. come to the house.

Mingi ;) : back porch.

You exhaled a breath you were holding and moved away from Yunho. “You going to see him?” Yunho questioned as you nodded. Carefully standing up as Yunho’s eyes watched you carefully. It took forever for your feet to finally start moving. Not wanting to leave Yunho’s presence. By the time you arrived at the house where everything started the blue sky had shifted into more golden hues. You walked to the back of the house, pushing open the creaking oak gate.

Click here for Mingi ending!

Mingi was sitting there on the steps, legs wide open as he sat comfortably, exuding confidence in the effortless way he always had. “Hey,” he spoke, not even lifting his head to look at you. “Hey,” you greeted back, slowly making your way to stand in front of him. “You came,” his voice was low as he stared at the steps he was sitting on. “I said I would.” Your voice was firm, almost as if you felt like he was accusing you. “I’ve learned that hasn’t meant much lately,” he hissed, lifting his head to look at you. “I deserve that,” you winced as you took a seat next to him, leaving more than enough room. There was a long pause as you sat next to each other. The soft hum of cicadas and car doors closing.

“So. You and Yunho?” He spoke up, clearing his throat. “We’ve always had chemistry, it wasn’t just that one night. I wasn’t trying to use him or you,” you sighed. Mingi let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah. Well, didn’t feel like a big win for me that night,” he scoffed. “I didn’t think I could like more than one person at the same time.” You exhaled. “And now I’ve ruined it all,” your voice was tight, holding yourself together so you couldn’t break down again. “You didn’t ruin all of it,” Mingi’s eyes shifted from the grass to you. “No?” You sounded surprised as you studied him. “You ruined parts, but not everything.” He said plainly. “But I wouldn’t be sitting here, listening to you if I felt differently about you.” He shrugged.

You blinked. “You don’t?” You questioned, brows furrowed. “I can’t just change my opinion of you. It’s like…impossible.” His eyes studied yours as you spoke. You felt your heart thump a few extra beats. “I still want you. That’s never changed,” he added as your eyes widened hearing his words. You felt ready to respond until you heard your phone vibrate in your pocket. “Sorry,” you quickly apologized and pulled it out of your back pocket. You felt your heart strings being pulled as you read the messages.

Yeo: I don’t hate you.

Yeo: But I am hurting and I need space. I hope you know that the kiss we shared meant everything to me.

Yeo: Even if this mess doesn’t end with me, I hope you find someone that sees you the way I do. Someone that sees you for your heart

You stared at the message, not sure where you could even begin. Your fingers hovered the screen trembling. Mingi’s eyes looked at the screen. He saw the name and looked at you. No hatred or judgement. But relief that he wasn’t the only one that had a bleeding heart. “What’d he say?” Mingi’s voice was low as he asked, his tone was comforting as you began to read off the message word for word to him. Once you finished nothing was spoken for a moment, just silence in the foot of distance between you and him.

“He was always too good for everyone,” He muttered, one side of his lips tugging into a small smile. You blinked at him, not expecting his words or to remember his brief interaction with Yeosang- a boy with a heart of gold. “But I’m not going to back down just because he plays the martyr better than me,” he laughed weakly. You laughed back, quiet and tired. “I don’t know what to say to him,” your voice was quiet. “You don’t have to say anything yet,” he playfully bumped your shoulder. “But, maybe now we’ll all have a chance to stop pretending.” He stood up as he finished speaking.

You nodded slightly, staring at your dark phone screen that was displaying Yeosang’s message moments ago. “I’m going to get going,” you said weakly, standing up from the steps. You didn’t wait for Mingi to say goodbye before making your way back to the dorm. Your steps were slow as your mind was filled with the hums of everything you had said and what everyone said to you. It was looping through your mind like one of those roller coasters that made you nauseous. As you walked into your building you were remembering each little thing. Yeosang’s text. Mingi’s gaze. Yunho’s touch.

It felt like your thoughts were a bunch of puzzles that were thrown on the ground. All the pieces were visible but nothing matching the way you needed it to. You unlocked your door, expecting solitude at this hour. Instead, you looked up and saw Rujin sitting on her bed, legs crossed and a text book flipped open in front of her. “You looked like someone that just survived Love Island chats,” she teased. You collapsed on her bed beside her. “Honestly? Yeah. That’s the best way to describe it,” you laughed dryly. She gave you a moment, letting you catch your breath as she stared at you.

“So where’s your mind at?” She cut to the chase. You closed your eyes for a second, figuring out the wording in your mind. You turned your head, opening your eyes to look at her expectant face. “I talked with Mingi. He was honest, said he wanted me but he seemed to realize it wouldn’t work between us. I don’t blame him either,” you sighed as you thought of the way he looked at you. “And Yeosang?” She didn’t let you get fixated on Mingi before asking. “He texted me. Reassured me that he doesn’t hate me and let me know the kiss we shared meant a lot to him the other night-“ you were rambling. “Wait what?! You kissed him?” Her jaw was dropped.

“Yeah, but still. It seems like he doesn’t want to pursue me anymore, and oddly I’m grateful.” You exhaled. “He let you down with grace,” She complimented him as you nodded. “Yeah. That’s who he’s always been,” you swallowed. “Okay…now Yunho?” She was always quick to follow up. You looked down at your hands. “I don’t know how to put it. It felt like he was the only one not begging me to choose. He let me stay with him and just express how I felt about him. He stayed by me even when I couldn’t give him the reassurance I’m sure he was searching for.” You let out a breath you were holding, a soft blush spreading to your cheeks as you thought about your moment with Yunho. “And that matters?” Rujin raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, more than I realized,” You nodded.

Silence stretched over you for a moment. She reached for your hand, taking it in both of hers. “I know everything has been crazy for you. But to me it seems like you know who you want,” She squeezed your hand lightly as you nodded. “Yeah, I think so too.” You exhaled. “Then say it out loud, with pride,” She grinned at you as you shook your head, not taking her seriously. “Come onnn,” she whined as you sighed, rolling your eyes playfully. “Fine. It’s Yunho,” Finally admitting it felt freeing, like weights lifting off of your shoulders. It was unexpected. “He makes me feel like me. Makes me feel everything,” you spoke again. “Good. Now go to bed, and go get him as soon as you wake up,” she messed up your hair as you got off her bed and it to yours.

THE NEXT MORNING

You texted Yunho as soon as you woke up. He responded in seconds and even faster than that you were on your way to him. The nerves were building as you walked up to the steps. You didn’t even ask if you could come over. All you could think of sending was a simple “good morning”. You felt your heart in your throat and curled your fist up, readying yourself to knock on the door. Before your hand could land, the door opened. Yunho stood there, hair messy and shirt wrinkly as he just woke up. He looked at you, not surprised, more like he was expecting to see you standing there in front of him. “I came to say something.” You blurted out, feeling awkward as you stared at him for too long.

“Okay,” he nodded, leaning against the open door. You moved closer to him, taking a deep breath before meeting his eyes. “I want you,” your voice was a whisper. “Not just for the way you touch me or the fire that ignites between us. I want all of you from the way you make me feel. When you look at me it’s like there’s nothing else around you, I just want to melt in your arms when I’m alone with you. I want you, Yunho,” You confessed. He stood there, not saying anything. He felt like he couldn’t. Like he didn’t need to. He stepped forward, closing the gap between you. His hand gently cupped your cheek as he kissed you. It was slow, deep and full of everything you needed to stay to each other.

He pulled away carefully. “Then I’m yours,”

[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Chapter Fourteen: How to Kill a Hydra

by @sungbeam

Feedback: Everything is falling into place, the story is so good and the dramatics are still high quality and so so so worth it. Sometimes I'm screaming at Hongjoong to get it together and sometimes the slow burn burns so good! Love it!

BIRDS OF PREY — fourteen

nonidol!kim hongjoong x f!reader

living in gray areas of your city, out of the way of gangs and mafia territories, could only keep you safe for so long. it was only a matter of time before you began running into problems, or rather, problems began running into you.

▷ genre, warnings. nc-17, strangers 2 lovers, slow burn, mafia au, angst, swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of money laundering, workplace power dynamics and uncomfortable propositions, mentions of tracking devices, mentions of weed (reader does not smoke it, only inhales it secondhand bc of someone else in the room), one allusion to violent methods of extracting information (nothing is explicitly stated), barely proofread like idek if i can be considered conscious rn laskdfjndsk

▷ word count. 6.6k

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a/n: i finished this last night at abt the same time yn was crashing out at work in this chapter 🤡 also the way this chapter ended up this long... it was literally supposed to be so short.....

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: HOW TO KILL A HYDRA

“I FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T seen you in forever,” groaned Ryujin as the two of you boisterously shouldered your way into the apartment, arms full of grocery bags for the week. Her face was flush from the sting of winter morning air, but a smile stretched across her mouth nonetheless. 

You couldn't disagree with her. Your face was just as nipped by the winter cold, but you were undoubtedly aglow from the much needed girl time from this morning. “And apparently we live together,” you joked. 

After all the tension and chaos your working at Dionysus brought you, a moment of normalcy was all you wanted. Lately, both you and Ryujin were mutually swamped with work and college, meaning it was nearly impossible to speak to one another besides the passing-by wave or a post-it note left on the door. But this morning had been yours and Ryujin's temporary strike in order to finally spend time together. 

Ryujin wiped an invisible bead of sweat from her forehead after wrestling the bags in her hands onto the kitchen counter. “Phew. I… am so out of shape. How about you?”

You grunted in response, nearly flopping onto the counter with your own bags. “I'm doing great,” you replied in exaggerated panting, though some of it wasn't exaggerated. “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

She snorted, turning to the fridge. “It was a good thing we got breakfast before we left,” she said, “but I can't believe it was so crowded this morning. On a weekday, too.”

“You’re not the only one who got today off, I guess,” you said with a shrug. You dug out items from the bags to pass along to Ryujin. The only reason why this morning was even possible was because it was one of those random national holidays that came up too quick for anyone to remember. It celebrated some distant figure from the country's past; you undoubtedly learned about him in school, but his only legacy today was giving some folks a day off from their 9-to-5. 

She accepted a jug of dairy creamer from you with a hum. “Hm, you're right. I still think it's so foul that you have to go to work tonight. I mean—club workers should get national holidays off, too!”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I wish. It's too bad there isn't a bartender or waiter union in this city.”

“You should start one.”

“If only I had the time,” you lamented. Even as you threw out jokes, your stomach twisted. There wasn’t much time left before the meeting at the end of this week, and if you didn’t leave work tonight with the news that you were hoping for, you feared there might be Hell to pay. 

Your friend let out a noncommittal hum. “Well, at the very least, I could drop you off at work. I have lots of time today, anyways, so—”

The jar of maraschino cherries slipped from your grasp, and your hands fumbled to claw it back into the safety of your possession. The glass clunked noisily against the countertop as you used your front as an extra hand. “You don’t have to,” you said quickly.

Ryujin sent you a look, carefully taking the jar of cherries from you. “Oh. Are you sure? I never get to drop you off.”

“Really, you don’t have to,” you replied with feigned nonchalance. You glanced over at her briefly but pulled your eyes away just as fast. Your mind raced with the memory of Chan—he already knew who Ryujin was and interacted with her plenty. You needed to keep her out of this. “It’s getting a little more dangerous around here lately, especially with how dark it gets. And you know Jungwon comes to pick me up, so it’s all good.”

You wondered if she could hear your pulse, if she could see the guilt scrawled across your face like some glaring neon sign. 

In times like these, a moment sometimes felt like five years. 

“Right, I forgot.” Ryujin was turned away toward the fridge when your eyes darted back to her. 

“I appreciate it though,” you were quick to add. It’s just better this way. 

She shot you a smile; if you didn’t know her like you did, you might have been relieved to see it. “Maybe another time then. Just stay safe yourself, Yn.”

“I always am,” you hummed, a little too easily. Speaking of safety… “So, uhm, y'know Chan.”

In your periphery, Ryujin straightened like an arrow, perked up like a puppy. You realized your mistake far too late. “What about Chan?” she asked you with that teasing lilt at the end. She flounced over on the balls of her feet, plucking up the bundle of lettuce from your hands and wagging her brows. 

You inwardly facepalmed. Oh, could you be more subtle today? You forced a laugh. “It's not like that,” you insisted, though to no avail. “I was just wondering if you'd seen him around the office lately.”

Yeah, like saying that wasn't any more suspicious. 

Ryujin's expression practically screamed a similar sentiment, but she only cocked a brow at you and replied, “Now that I think about it, not really. He's swung by maybe once since the party, but he must be busy or something.”

Unfortunately, that only made it seem more plausible in your mind that Chan only sought Ryujin out to get to you, and ultimately, to Hongjoong. How did he know? And when? “Oh,” you said. “Must be, I guess. He mentioned something about the acquisitions industry.”

“Yeah,” your friend snorted. “Acquisitions is just a friendlier term for a less savory business.”

You paused. “Really.”

“Yeah.” Ryujin had her back to you as she shoved a box of ice cream sandwiches into the freezer. “One of my coworkers said it must be some kind of black market thing. Of course, it's not something that can be proven, but that's what people usually mean when they say 'acquisitions.’”

Great, so you had the answer glaring at you the entire time. There was still much you had left to learn. Your pulse still pounded against your throat though, unable to rid your mind of the dread seeping into your bones as you uncovered more information. 

“And that doesn't change your mind about him?” you asked next, slowly, while gauging her reaction. 

She shrugged. “Not particularly,” she said flippantly. Ryujin bumped the freezer closed with her hand as she turned to face you. “He's nice enough, but y'know, I like his friend Yeji a lot more.”

A sly smile curled onto your lips, and you felt a laugh bubble out of your chest as you noted Ryujin's own bashfulness began to peer through her nonchalance. “Yeah, forget about Chan. It's time for you to catch me up on her.”

When night casted its wide net over the city once more, you found yourself packing your bag for the work shift ahead of you. You quietly stuffed your small purse with the essentials: clothes tape, body tape, perfume, breath mints, pads, Band-Aids, and of course— 

Before you let her join the rest, you swiped a bit of Aurora over your lips. As you massaged the color into an even spread, you stared at the slim, gold tube in your hand. Your reflection appeared on its surface, albeit distorted and gold-tinted. 

Never in your wildest dreams had you ever thought you would end up doing this—playing spy for organized crime, as a bottle girl in a territory outside the gray areas. Perhaps the gravity of your situation had yet to catch up to you. 

You pushed out an exhale through your mouth, mindlessly fidgeting with the tube while you waited for Jungwon's text… Then, there was him. After the other night, with his strange behavior, you admittedly felt your pulse rush in anticipation of the tension. 

Maybe this Jjong hyung person was a sore spot, but regardless, you hoped this wouldn't put a damper on yours and Jungwon's working relationship. It was just—you’d never seen him act that way before. He didn't seem capable of reacting like that.

“You don't really know him that well though,” you muttered to yourself, now holding the sealed lipstick tube like a ballpoint pen. “You can't claim to know anything about anyone—”

Ca-schink!

You jolted. 

Your thumb had pressed down upon the end of the tube and activated a mechanism. A soft red light now emitted from its apex. 

You squinted at it, curious. When you pressed down on it again, the light disappeared, along with any trace of what you just saw, as if it had retracted back into the end of the tube. 

The light itself was not nearly bright enough to act as a flashlight, nor was it some blacklight that could reveal invisible ink (you guessed). Could it be…

Your phone buzzed on the table. 

jwon 😸: i'm here

This would have to wait until later. 

You clicked the lipstick into the off position, shoved it into your bag, and headed out. With forecasts of snow on the horizon, the air had developed a sharper edge to it lately. You tugged the sides of your thick coat tighter around you, instinctively checking both ways before scurrying across the road to where Jungwon was parked. At least you could still count on him for this. 

He was seated in the driver’s seat, as usual, his phone screen casting a white glow across his face and creating a glare over the lenses of his glasses. 

Don’t make this awkward, you thought to yourself as you rounded to the passenger’s side of the car and let yourself in. 

“Hey,” you chirped, huffing out a breath at the stark contrast between the warm air in here and the cold air outside. 

“Hey.” He nodded back, clearing his throat as he placed his hands on the ten and two positions of the steering wheel, waiting for you to get settled. 

You could feel the palpable stiffness. You hit an invisible wall every time you wanted to say something casual. Another apology sat locked and loaded on your tongue, but you stopped yourself. You’d already expressed that it was an accident and that you were sorry. Maybe you could try to pretend like the entire thing didn’t happen; maybe that would put you and him back to where you’d been before. 

As Jungwon peeled his car away from the curb, he cleared his throat again. “Listen,” he started, “I’m sorry I snapped at you the other night. I guess I’m just… a little protective over my personal life.” 

You swallowed, giving a small nod. “It’s okay, but really, I get it.” Bang Chan’s face from when you met in Dionysus for the second time—the first time you met his true self—flashed in the forefront of your mind. Something sour settled on your tastebuds. You understood Jungwon completely. “I wouldn’t want people from our line of work knowing about my private life either.”

He bobbed his head and sent you a thin smile. “Right.”

You both fell into silence after that with nothing left to say. There would eventually come a brief discussion over tonight’s goals and what to listen for, but other than that, the car was filled with nothing but the low hum of the radio. Your stomach continued to twist in a painful bind, that the conversation seemed to only widen the gap than resolve anything. 

Hongjoong knew the feeling of disappointment all too well. It was less a sharp stab to the gut like betrayal, and more of a heavy shroud over his shoulders. Paired with an acute sense of failure, one would have one Hell of a frustration cocktail in their hands. He would do anything to get the looming shadow over him to back the fuck up. 

The sound of the office door opening didn't break his attention away from the window. Up in the Crow's Nest, he could see everything and everyone, including their expressions. It was something that helped occupy his mind from simply imploding. 

“Don't tell me—”

Seonghwa's voice, already soft, cut off abruptly at the end. In the reflection of the window, Hongjoong could see Yunho's head shake, his mouth pressed into a grave line. 

When the door closed again, the second in command let out a sigh. “This isn't looking good.”

“How many addresses are left?” Hongjoong gripped the head of his cane as he watched Jongho's group come in through the warehouse doors. He made eye contact with his commander, who had a gleam in his eye and nodded his head. Finally. 

A beat passed. “We still have a couple left. Jongho and San haven't reported back yet.”

“We're about to get good news, I hope,” Hongjoong replied, inclining his chin out the window and turning toward Seonghwa. 

This day had been geared toward the list of addresses the DDC's Yoon Jeonghan had sent over. The addresses were possible locations where the Non-Captain and Mr. Young could be hiding out or making their base of operations. The list had been determined based upon intelligence collected from the men he had scattered all over the city, ranging from first person sightings to suspicious billings for said buildings. 

While Hongjoong didn't exactly trust Jeonghan, he was eager to squash the virus before it got worse. And so far, Jeonghan had yet to let him down. 

Well, until now. But hopefully, with whatever Jongho was returning with, it would all be worth it.  

By the time Jongho arrived at the Crow's Nest, Hongjoong could feel the pent-up anxiety and anticipation buzz through him like the low hum of caffeine at the back of his head. The commander didn't look any worse for wear, fortunately, but he didn't exactly seem to be bringing great tidings either. 

“What'd you find?” Hongjoong asked. 

Jongho shut the door behind him before tucking his hands in front of him. “We have a lead.”

Music to his fucking ears. Hongjoong could feel his heart rate subside briefly, before the adrenaline rushed through in anticipation of what the lead was.

Seonghwa lowered his glasses onto his nose and began flipping through his property documents. “You had the basement off of 23rd street in Sector 2, correct?”

“Aye,” he nodded. “The building used to be an old Laundromat, but had never been sold or remodeled. It was rotting away, basically. We found empty take out containers, filled trash cans, and other signs that people had been there but left in a hurry. There weren't any forms of identification left behind, but we did find remnants of documents in the basket of their paper shredder.”

Hongjoong sucked the inside of his cheek in thought. It was something. He hoped it was something big. He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaling. “Good work, Jongho. Have the pieces sent over to be reassembled,” he said. 

“Already done, Captain.”

“And we need to cross-reference the last known owner of that Laundromat with any known associations to Strictland or even one of Mr. Young's aliases. Wooyoung is still working on compiling any other sightings of him throughout the city over the past three years, but cross it with his results once he's finished.”

Jongho gave a sharp nod. “Aye, Captain. Should I have a group keep watch over the location?”

“Yes. That's all—thanks, Jongho.”

The commander ducked out of the room and left the two to themselves once again. 

Hongjoong dragged a hand through his hair and leaned his weight onto his cane. It was something but not much. It would do no one good to be too optimistic at this point. They couldn't even be sure that the reincarnated Strictland had been in that basement, let alone if that had been their hideout all this time. How many members of Strictland were left? Did they have soldiers? 

In the worst case scenario, if none of this led anywhere, then what would be the next step? And what would that mean for his partnership with the DDC? Jeonghan had exchanged their assistance in smoking out this invisible threat for first pass at cromer powder when it hit the streets. He wouldn't send Ateez on a wild goose chase if he knew he couldn't get access to cromer powder otherwise, right?

Mindlessly, he leaned back against the wall by Seonghwa's desk. What to do, what to do…

“What do you think?” Seonghwa voiced aloud suddenly. He peered up from the papers in front of him, turning in the office chair to face Hongjoong with his arms crossed over his chest. “Do you think we're being played?”

In his gut? No. But with the results?... Maybe. “I can't quite tell but it wouldn't make sense,” he admitted. “Yoon's too smart to do that.”

“He is smart,” Seonghwa agreed. “And that's exactly why we should reconsider everything that's happened up until now. They seemed so sure of themselves.”

Hongjoong snorted. “The Diamond District is always sure of themselves.” He knew it first-hand and at every interaction with them. Though, he couldn't shake the feeling prickling in the back of his mind. Of course, he knew that Seonghwa's suspicions had merit; Hongjoong harbored the very same ones, though he didn't say them aloud. There were always contingency plans in place, but that didn't mean he wanted to use them. 

Really, if these were safe houses that members of Strictland were using, then tonight's work did have a productive purpose. After all, how did one go about killing a Hydra?

“We're sure that the product is under lock and key?”

“It's with Ruby, and Ruby is under Yeosang's watch,” he said in reply. It was almost guaranteed that nothing would happen to the product or its maker. If Yeosang lost her, there would be Hell to pay. 

Hongjoong knew the feeling. Or at least, an inkling of it. There was a strange ache in his chest and he rubbed at it absentmindedly with his palm. Perhaps he should be cutting back on the bourbon. 

“San still hasn't come back yet, and once Jongho's paper samples get reassembled and analyzed, there could be something,” Seonghwa stated, as if to console himself. “Maybe… maybe it's time to resort to different measures, Captain.”

He passed his right-hand a glance. He thumbed at his lip, already tasting the heady iron of blood on his tongue. He was itching to get this over with, and sometimes, civilized maneuvers weren't as fast as the alternative. “We’re gonna need to find someone to get information out of first. Any ideas?”

Something twitched over Seonghwa's lips. “I've got some.”

It was the first sign of excitement he'd seen from Seonghwa in a while. This would at least give him something physical to do with his hands. 

“Anything on our other operation?”

Hongjoong raised a brow. “It hasn't been that long since our last update.” At Seonghwa's silence, he prodded, “What's on your mind? I said I was sorry, and I'm not planning on inserting myself there anytime soon.”

Seonghwa leveled a stare at him that would have made any grown man piss his pants, but Hongjoong had practically grown up with that stare by his side. “You better not. It's bad enough that we've got crazy ghosts hell-bent on revenge. I don't need you losing your mind either.”

He grinned at him, suppressing a laugh. “Aw, you think I'm crazy? I'm touched.”

“Oy vey,” he grunted, shaking his head. “What’s our backup plan if Yn doesn't get into the meeting?”

“Now who doesn't have faith?”

“So you admit to not having faith in her?” Seonghwa parried. 

Hongjoong was not deterred. “I never said that,” he shrugged. “She'll get in. I have a feeling.”

“Is that what you're calling it now?”

Always with this, Hongjoong thought to himself. What else could that feeling be? It was normal to feel concerned over an asset or a liability. Sure, he cared a little more than what people might expect, but didn't he always? It was simply that he showed it a little more when it came to you. 

(What did that say about how he felt? Well… he wasn't about to answer that question. There were more important things to worry about at the moment.)

Hongjoong pretended he didn't hear him. “In a couple nights, we'll have the answers we need.”

“And if we don't?”

Another shrug. “I have ideas.” There would always be cards Hongjoong could play. No one was going to get away with forcing him to play mouse, not without him having his turn as the cat. 

Seonghwa held his face in one hand. “I hate that look.”

It was about that time of the night when your thoughts shook at the knees and wobbled down the path of no return. 

Tonight's air coincided with the stress of one event on the near horizon. You could feel it among the floor managers, amongst your coworkers. You could feel the weight of their stares burn into you even if you knew they were looking, boring their judgment into your skull and branding you as an outsider, or a contender, or maybe neither. 

You embedded the corners of your mouth deep into the apples of your cheek until you were unsure if you would ever smile again after tonight. 

“Your pockets are full, hon, go take a break.” Sabine's presence was your desert oasis as you leaned against the bar counter for just a moment of weakness. You'd taken a dive off the deep end tonight, working so many tables, so many clients, you thought you could fill a ledger book with them. 

“I've got about a dozen shots that need to go to table four—”

“Uh-huh, not until you sit down for like, two seconds. Y'know, long enough to breathe?”

There was a conveniently-placed stool at your three o'clock, and you slid right onto it, exhaling when you felt the pressure leave your soles. “Thanks,” you said just loud enough over the house music. 

Sabine nodded. “Yeah… you need a pick-me-up? A shot of whiskey?”

You passed her a look, and she raised her hands in surrender. “It helps; I speak from experience.”

“No, no. I don't doubt you. I used to sip on one tall glass of apple martini the whole night.”

She gave a loud chortle that made you grin. “A martini lasted you the entire shift? What, were you drinking one dew drop at a time?”

“It was a tall glass,” you insisted. “Like a Sex on the Beach glass. Lean, sexy. And I was savoring it.”

“Uh-huh,” she drawled. “Well, superstar, I'll ask Ronni to whip you up one of those tall apple martinis or whatever. Go deposit your tips and shake some tail.” 

You pressed a kiss to her cheek as you slid off the stool. “I appreciate you.”

“I know you do.”

You hurried off after you took a generous gulp of Ronni's apple martini, refueled and reenergized. As the alcohol zipped through you, it was almost as if getting injected with a shot of caffeine. You'd probably feel the crash a little later on, but it would at least make smiling easier. 

If there was one thing you were going to miss about this gig at the Dionysus, it would be Sabine. More than once did you entertain the idea of referring her to work at the Shipwreck. You didn't know how open she would be to a slight change of scenery, but… y'know, maybe the journey home from the Shipwreck to her apartment wouldn't be as bad. 

And maybe, then, you could still see her and be friends. 

Was that against the mafia spy code or something? Did it make you soft? (Maybe that was a good thing.)

By the end of the night, the lights had become haloes and you were slightly buzzed. You'd ingested the drink slow enough that you were only tipsy, and nothing that a cold drink of water wouldn't fix. 

All that mattered was that you had smashed your quota. 

“Dove,” you heard Ha-yi say as she appeared around the corridor by the staff monitor. Your coworkers had largely disappeared into the break room, waiting for tips to be split. “I need to speak with you for a moment.”

You nodded, logging out of the monitor. “Sure.”

“In the managers’ office.”

The organ in your ribcage shot out of a cannon. You just barely nodded in time for it to look natural. “Uhm, sure. Yeah. Lead the way.”

Ha-yi beckoned you toward the back hallway with the flick of two of her fingers, turning and walking on. You went after her, rolling your shoulders back and counting to ten in your head, wringing your sweaty hands in front of you, and trying to keep your heels from folding beneath you. 

You wondered if this was what a perp walk was like—like in those crime shows, where the cops walked the perpetrator out through the crowd like some backwards runway show. 

You caught Jungwon's eyes as you went through the kitchen, his dark eyes widening only slightly at the sight of you trailing after your floor manager. Silently, you made a gesture, something simple to signal where you were going. 

He sent you back a small nod, apprehensively turning back to the sink, but still watching you from his periphery. 

As you and Ha-yi neared the back room, the buzz of chatter hit your ears. A wave of quiet washed over the room, but you kept your gaze straight in an effort to steel your nerves. 

Nervous about speaking to the managers, you said in your head. Nervous about if I got promoted for promotion's sake, not because of anything else. Promotion, promotion, promotion, promotion—

If that was all you thought, then they couldn't possibly read anything else from you, right?

By the time you reached the managers’ office, you swore you could fill buckets with the sweat from your palms. You wiped them down on the sides of your dress, eying the gold sliver of light slicing into the hallway from beneath the door. 

The door itself was a large slab of dark, polished wood. Two silver plates were drilled into its surface, reading Cheung Leon and Ly Caden, respectively. 

Ha-yi gave a firm knock against its surface. 

A muffled voice emerged from within, and Ha-yi replied by stating who she was and who she had with her. 

When there came a second round of muffled voices, she nodded to you and opened the door. 

Immediately, you held back from flinching at the smell of weed. There was a light, smoky film settled over the dimly lit room. It was rather spacious, with casual lounge seating and two large desks in different areas of the room. Something groovy, like jazz, filtered into the hazy air. Upon the two, L-shaped sofas at the center of the room sat only one man, of which you recognized as Cheung Leon of Cheung and Ly. 

He was a sturdy man with broad shoulders and a pair of hands adorned in large, bejeweled rings. Even in the dim lighting, he had a pair of dark shades perched on his nose. He reminded you staunchly of the classic mobsters from several decades ago; all he needed was the over-the-top hat and leopard print suit. 

He grinned from around his joint. “Ah! Well if it isn't my new star! Dolly, is it?”

“Dove,” Ha-yi coughed as she nudged the door closed with her foot. 

“Dove!” He stood and opened his arms out wide in welcome. His eyes peered over the rim of his glasses, and you swore, you could feel them roll up the length of your body from the tips of your kitten heels to the hairs on your head. 

You reined in a violent shiver, but plastered a smile on your face. The weed in the air was kind of helping, though you remained unnervingly alert. 

“My,” he murmured with a smile that made you wish you owned a gun, “she is beautiful. Nice legs… very nice face. You've made quite a few men happy, little lady, including me. You know—with all the money you've raised, of course.”

When the urge to gag threatened to bubble out, you pretended to laugh. “All in a night's work, sir.”

Manager Cheung glanced over at Ha-yi. “I do like her. Why didn't we decide to make her a VIP girl sooner?”

“We weren't sure if Lilac would recover in time.”

“Bah! Cut her loose already! That dimwit has taken too many days off.” He turned on his heel and made his way back toward the couch. “You hear me, Ha-yi?”

Ha-yi nodded. “Right away, sir.”

Manager Cheung's smile returned to his face as he turned his attention back to you. You could feel your feet angling toward the door, ready to bolt, but you glued your heels to the floor. “Dove, come. Let's have a drink to celebrate!”

“I,” you coughed, “really shouldn't, sir. I don't think that would be very professional.”

Your heart dropped as his smile grew an edge. The shark had just flashed you his great whites, and they looked like they hurt. “It wouldn't be very professional for you to reject an innocent request from me, would it now?”

“Sir,” Ha-yi cut in, and suddenly, you could breathe again. “You haven't even told her what you are celebrating.”

The man blinked. “Oh! How silly of me. Well, if it wasn't obvious already, we would like you to join our VIP waitressing line.”

You smiled, inwardly pumping your fist at the ceiling and through this guy's teeth. “I would be honored, sir. When do I start?”

“Right to business,” he marveled. “We are hosting a very important meeting in two nights, with a handful of very important guests. You'll have to come in during daylight hours to train before then. Ha-yi will provide you with all the necessary details.”

“Understood.” You bit back a smile. Finally, a success that you could report back to Hongjoong—

“So,” Manager Cheung said, “how about that drink, hm? You know, this couch is incredibly comfortable, my dear. Do you like jazz?”

A bucket of cold water washed over you. “I, uhm, I do appreciate the invitation, sir, but—”

“Do you have a family you're providing for?” he asked airily before bringing the joint to his lips and inhaling deeply. A trail of smoke seeped from his mouth as he continued, “Or perhaps you enjoy luxury items? A string of pearls would look… divine around your neck.”

You stole a glance at Ha-yi, who looked about ready to say something herself. What did one do in this situation? Would he ruin any chance you had if you rejected his advances? 

“I wouldn't be able to wake up in time for training if I spent more time here with you, sir,” you said sweetly. “I'm very eager to impress you even more with my performance on the VIP wait staff.”

You smiled, as pretty as you could manage, batting your eyelashes and folding your hands in front of you. All the while, every fiber of your being screamed to run. 

The smoke was on the verge of suffocating you by the time he replied. A slow, appreciative smile curled onto his face. “I suppose I see your point. I'll look forward to your performance in two nights.”

Taking her chance, Ha-yi blurted a good-bye to her boss, then grabbed you by the arm to whisk you out of that hellhole.  

The night was three drinks deep by the time you arrived on Hongjoong's doorstep. 

Jungwon dropped you off as normal, and you waved good-bye to him briefly over your shoulder when the Captain hauled the warehouse door open. His silhouette against the lights inside made him into a lighthouse to the storm brewing in the horizon. 

Or maybe that was from secondhand smoking. It wasn't your fault your only choice earlier had been to stop breathing or breathe exhaled weed air. 

The sea breeze out here had been enough to clear your mind and lungs, at least. You couldn't be too sure about inhibitions, but you made it here, didn't you?

“Don't you ever bring pants?” were his greeting words to you as he fussed over the way your coat barely covered enough of your bare legs. “Aren't you ever cold?”

“I'm usually in the car the whole time anyway,” you said, dismissing his concerns. “I have good news though.”

He rested his hands on his hips. “It couldn't have been said in an email?”

“So you don't wanna see me?”

You had meant it as a joke, but the question seemed to stop him in his tracks. Heat crept up the back of your neck, spreading rapidly over your skin like a forest ablaze. “You don't have to answer that,” you chuckled, rubbing your arm. 

He peered at you through his lashes. “Come on upstairs,” he said, nodding upward. He offered you his elbow, and you could have burst into a ball of flames then and there. 

“I got it, by the way.” You held onto him as the pair of you made your way up the stairs. “I was promoted to the VIP line tonight.”

“If you think I ever doubted you—”

“You put a lot of faith in me,” you noted. “Not that I mind, it's just that, you're on someone's shit list, Joong.”

Hongjoong cocked an amused brow at you. “Am I on your shit list?”

“Not yet.”

You beamed at the sight of his smirk, the one he had to duck his head to hide, but couldn't suppress completely. Some mafia boss he made. For a second, it was way too easy to forget who he was. 

He was just Hongjoong tonight, right now. 

You cleared your throat. “I'm starting training right away—tomorrow morning, actually. Well, I guess it's this morning now. And the meeting is taking place in two nights,” you told him as he helped you onto the sofa. 

“Drink?” he offered with a tip of bourbon decanter. 

You shook your head. “I'm good, thanks.”

He set the glass down and settled on the edge of the table right in front of you, as always. Maybe it was the residual intoxication—was that how it worked?—but you swore his eyes grew even darker as he leaned over his knees just then. 

“The DDC gave us a list of possible locations for Strictland's current base of operations,” he said. “Most of them didn't give us much, but we might have gotten something.”

You frowned. “Might have?”

He tilted his head to the side in a half shrug. “It's… something. Maybe. But you don't need to worry about that, dove; let's talk about you.”

I don't really wanna talk about me. The exhaustion was quickly seeping into your bones, water swimming up paper. He sounded like the rich, deep caramel notes of a bottle of bourbon. Didn't they say 'you are what you drink’ or something like that? “I guess whatever keeps you talking,” you blurted. “I like your voice.”

A low chuckle fell from his mouth and he closed the gap even further, but still not enough, to reach over and tap the space between your eyes. “I know you're tired, doll, so I'll make this quick.

“I know that we didn't get to talk about Chan fully, but he will be there at the meeting. He's on our side, so if something goes wrong with Jungwon—”

Your eyes shuddered. Should you tell him about Jungwon?

“—he’ll be there as a backup. Just focus on listening, but do what is expected of you for your job. But if”— he suddenly stopped himself, his mouth still open from the words he didn't push out through breath and sound. 

It woke you up a little. “What?”

Hongjoong shook his head, and when you blinked, it was like nothing crossed his face. “Nothing.”

You narrowed your eyes. “You're not telling me something.”

“I just don't think it's something that is right to say now,” he replied, picking and stringing his words together carefully. “Aren't you supposed to be tired?”

“I'm tired, not blind,” you quipped and wrinkled your nose at him. “Does Seonghwa approve?”

“Does he ever?”

That made a giggle bubble out of your chest before you could stop it. You slapped a palm of your mouth, even if your eyes still narrowed into upturned crescents filled with mirth. 

There was something in the way he looked at you then, chin resting in the palm of his hand. 

Your pulse thrummed against your throat and you couldn't breathe again, but it wasn't because you were suffocating on secondhand smoke or nerves. This was something far more dangerous. 

“Do you trust me?”

The question brought you back to the present. You sent him a strange look. “What do you mean?”

Hongjoong repeated the question. 

You nodded. “I do.” Once upon a time, you would've said that it was against your better judgment. 

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

Right. Your mind wandered to two nights from now, in the very near future. What role was Bang Chan going to play at this meeting? How would you know how to proceed with him if something went wrong with Jungwon?

And the latter—that was a can of worms on its own. Everytime you returned to this hesitation, you had to do backflips to convince yourself that Jungwon still had your back, one hundred percent. It was difficult to put your finger on it. 

You felt a hand gently take your chin and bring your attention to the man in front of you. Hongjoong had a crease between his brows now, eyes roving over your facial expression. “Hey, what's wrong? What do I need to know?”

It's nothing. You shook your head, waving him off. “No, it's nothing,” you promised. “I'm just—it’s residual nerves.” You had become too good of a liar recently, but somehow, he could always see right through you. 

He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Residual nerves still come from somewhere. Yn, what aren't you telling me?”

Perhaps you were making a mountain out of a molehill. Jungwon apologized, he seemed to be worried when you were being led by Ha-yi to the manager's office, and he hadn't abandoned you tonight. “Do you trust me?” you found yourself asking, fully aware that you were taking his exact road out. 

“You're a sly one,” he grunted. 

“I learn from the best.”

That made him break. “Agree to trust each other?” he said at last. He seemed resolved to leave it at that for the night, but part of you wished to believe he would have trusted you in any other context, too. 

You didn't want to know what that meant, for him or for you. 

You nodded. “Agree to trust each other.” 

Before you left for the evening (truly, an ungodly hour of the morning, rather), you remembered the slim tube of lipstick stashed in your purse. You stood upon the threshold of the warehouse with Hongjoong, fishing the cosmetic out. 

“I found this earlier today.” You demonstrated the pushing mechanism that turned on the red light.

Hongjoong's face flickered with light surprise. “Sakura didn't show you? Polaris is an investment for most people, so having a way to track down their lost or stolen item was built into the design,” he explained. He tapped the red light with the tip of his pointer finger, eyes still on you. “There's an app and code it comes with somewhere on the box, but I have it if you threw it out.”

You chuckled. “You have it, too?”

He smiled slightly, shrugging as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, I did buy it for you, dove. Just promise you won't lose it.”

“I'll chain it to my wrist if I have to,” you said in partial jest. 

“Atta girl.”

a/n: pls reblog if u enjoyed !

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Generosity by @desirehorizon

Feedback: Damn this a little freaky, I'm kinda here for it though ngl. unexpected pairing...or I guess more so not a traditional pairing and I really liked that about it. Not enough Jongho and another member things period.

✯ — GENEROSITY

SUMMARY — jongho liked to share more than the average guy, and yunho was eager to take full advantage of his generosity

✯ c.jh x fem!reader x j.yh

✯ smut MDNI

✯ 1682 words

✯ threesome (?), voyeurism, cowgirl, filming, cuckholding, slight objectification, degradation, ass play, spit play, masturbating, praise, dacryphilia, strength kink

NETWORKS: @cromernet @pirateeznet @dove-net

DEE SAYS — 2ho request by @yourfatherlucifer … sorry for the wait, happy late Christmas? 😭🙏🏾

You could feel Jongho’s eyes on your skin, practically burning into your flesh as you panted and mewled. Consumed in the fuzzy depths of pleasure, almost every sense of yours was heightened. Sweat coated your tired body, aching muscles screaming for a break, yet it was of no use. Your brain was fucked out, broken even, as you continued riding like your life was on the line. It felt too good to stop, too good to pause, too good to think.

“Fuck baby, I think Yunho broke you.”

Grunting beneath you was Jongho’s friend, Jung Yunho. A friend you had admired since your boyfriend introduced you to his group. A friend that made your mouth water with every ripple of muscle, every small sliver of skin he exposed for you. You had often thought of this exact moment, just how good he’d feel fucking you dumb, stuffing you full again and again until you were overflowing with his cum.

Luckily, Jongho was on the same wavelength.

Jongho didn’t mind sharing, encouraged it even, and Yunho had been glad to take advantage of you two’s liberal approach to your relationship. He honestly had his eye on you the second Jongho had walked through the door with you - as many of the others had too. But he had been the lucky man picked to satisfy your lewd fantasies, and Yunho couldn’t have been happier.

“Kiss him.”

You looked towards Jongho, eyes raking over him, taking in the way he pumped his cock hurriedly. A camcorder was set up on a stand next to him, and he made sure to zoom in as Yunho grabbed your chin and shoved his tongue in your mouth. His fingers pressed into your spine, making you keen into his touch. Yunho’s kiss was wet and messy, and it was clear he himself was hazy from desire. You were needy and pliant, easy for him to meld and manhandle however he pleased. 

“Fuck her harder, Yun. She doesn’t look cockdrunk yet.”

Mewling pathetically, your nails dug into Yunho’s shoulders, drawing a hiss out of the giant. You could feel his grip tighten on your lips, leaving you no wiggle room as he bounced you on his cock. His hips were meeting yours halfway, and you genuinely couldn’t fathom how he moved you like you were nothing. Your broken pants and whines had Yunho on edge himself, especially with the way your cunt squeezed his pulsing cock. Satisfied grunts were also heard from Jongho’s direction, though you couldn’t focus much on him.

Close and unsteady, you let yourself fall into Yunho’s chest, eyes hazy as you looked towards your boyfriend. He looked so hot right now, his usual stoic demeanour replaced with raw desire. Sweat congealed his fringe into spiky tips, and he let a long dribble of spit fall to his cock before fucking his hand harder. He was outpacing Yunho’s thrusts, the elder having already orgasmed twice, and showed his fist no mercy.

“Fuck, so hot baby. Such a good slut, letting my friends share your sweet little cunt. Ain’t she sweet, Yunho?”

Yunho’s breath was ragged, coming out in short pants as you felt him tense underneath.

“Ngh- So sweet, J-Jongho. Think I’m gonna- I-I’m gonna-”

Jongho’s response was apathetic and curt - “Hold it.”

Yunho let out a small protest, almost akin to a whimper, yet nodded regardless. The combination of your pussy practically milking him and your wanton moans was driving him crazy, and it was taking everything in him to hold it in. Looking down at you, a pang of jealousy hit him when he saw your entire attention was on Jongho, watching intently as he worked himself to his high. 

He was the one fucking you, the one you were dripping all over, yet he had a niggling feeling that you weren’t dripping because of him. It only encouraged him to fuck you harder, to fuck you until all you could think about was him.

“C’mere.”

Yunho snaked his fingers into your hair and gently tugged you to his level, smushing his lips against yours. He was more forceful in this kiss, too consumed with his own thoughts. His tongue was rough against your skin, and he smirked when you clenched and whimpered softly. Dribble escaped the corner of your swollen lips as he sucked on your tongue, devouring you heartily. 

“So sweet,” he murmured, snaking his way from your lips to your nape, licking his way back up lewdly to lock lips again. Brain swirling with desire, you began to drown in everything Yunho, noting the way his hips had picked up the pace, shallow and hasty.

“Oh fuck, that’s it. Just like that, Yunho.” Jongho took the camera off its stand and approached with it, slowing his other hand so he could limit the shakiness. He settled down onto the bed, just shy from where Yunho was practically abusing your pussy, watching in awe as he pistoned into you. 

“Shit…” he cursed quietly, letting go of his weeping cock to spread your cheeks, practically salivating at the ring of white forming where you and Yunho met. Collecting his spit in his mouth, Jongho leant in and spat on your arsehole, zeroing in as it slowly trailed down to meet the aforementioned white. You squirmed at the sensation, turning around to find your boyfriend inches from your ass, camera trained dutifully. You were so overwhelmed that you didn’t even notice the way Yunho groaned in protest, nails digging harder into your sides.

“Jjong- ba-baby, what are you- hngh!- doing?!”

“Just shut up and take it.”

You did as you were told, lips pursed together as Jongho made his camera debut, inching closer until he was just shy of your jolting asscheeks. Still spreading them, he flattened his tongue below, and dragged it up past your puckering hole with agonising slowness. 

This unexpected stimulation was too much to bear, and soon enough you were digging your nails into Yunho’s shoulders and throwing your head back in ecstasy, crying out to a god ashamed of such gluttonous lust. 

“Oh, god! I’m gonna fuckin’ come!”

Yunho wasn’t prepared for you practically clamping on him like a vice, hissing a strangled moan before tugging himself out and promptly ejaculating. Jongho wasn’t quick enough to get himself out of the splash zone, leading to both him and the lens being coated with cum, as well as your ass also being spittled with the substance. 

Your boyfriend sat there, dazed beyond comprehension as you and Yunho tried to catch your breath, slumped against each other. Bringing a hand to his brow, he mopped his face before sitting upright, biting his lip softly. 

“That was… something.”

Yunho grunted as you slid yourself off of him, shakily crawling across the mattress to Jongho and straddling him. Jongho gave a lazy side glance to Yunho, almost as if he was gloating, before softly grabbing you by the neck and swallowing your gasp with a greedy kiss. 

All Yunho could do is watch, his jealousy festering with the added sensuality of you sloppily kissing and licking his cum off of your boyfriend’s face. He watched everything happen with morbid curiosity, his hand itching to palm at his twitching semi-hard cock. 

Jongho muttered sweet nothings to you, praising you as his hands roamed freely over your body. Inevitably, Jongho’s touch returned to your cheeks, palming them roughly and squeezing them like stress toys, mouth falling open in a little ‘oh’ as you softly ground against him.

When you had finished cleaning him off, Jongho pushed you off his lap and let you fall to the mattress, tossing the still-recording camera at Yunho, who barely caught it.

“Get my good side, yeah?” Jongho said, smirking as he pushed your back into an arch before letting his hand slide down to your neck, touch soft yet firm.

“Be a good girl and keep your eyes on Yunho, baby. Can you do that for me?”

Nodding helplessly, you tried to focus on the words coming out of his mouth rather than the way he traced his fat tip around your pulsating hole. Pushing your hips back would only prolong the torture, so you obediently maintained your position, ass in the air for him, staring at Yunho. 

A twisted pleasure overcame you at the sight of Yunho completely flushed, his tip as red and shiny as his sweating face. Jongho smacked your ass - once, twice - and then finally gave you what you wanted. 

He slid slowly into you, empowered by the way your body instantly tensed, tiny whimpers falling from your parted lips as he continued to press deeper, stretching you out. He wasn’t as long as Yunho, not by a long shot, but my god he was girthy. 

Yunho watched intently as your face contorted with the pleasure-pain wracking your already-spent body, all your might being channelled into maintaining eye contact. The fire engulfing his body only worsened, and Yunho quickly changed hands so he could start pleasuring himself. 

Jongho was on top of you, weighing you down, pinning you in place with his muscle. You couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t talk - all you could do was whine and cry out helplessly, pussy weeping as he bullied inside your cunt, unforgiving. You could barely see Yunho through the tears cascading, yet you still dutifully kept your eyes on him, watching through your blurry vision as he huffed and grunted at the sight before him. Unamused, Jongho tsked before glaring at Yunho, tilting his head to the side slightly.

“Don’t corrupt the audio, Yunho.”

Yunho nodded and pursed his lips, eyes trained on your fucked-out expression, babbling nonsensically under your boyfriend. 

Fuck, he wished it was him. He wished he could bury deep inside you and flood you with his cum, fill you to the brim and watch it overflow back onto his cock.

But for now? For now he’d have to be content with jerking himself off, relishing in the way his semen still stained your skin as Jongho pinned you and fucked you like a rabid animal.

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@vampzity @jjoongstar @yuyubeans @yundeob @jycas @everyonewooeverywhere @h4untedgrl @wwooyology @atzlordz @certifiedmoa @jwnghyuns @whyismingi @chaotic-floral @aerangi

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Between Loads by @xomakara

Feedback: I'm barking at my screen reading this truly. Lord I am going to take my third shower of the day awooooga. Hello Yunho and Laundry...as someone who just had to replace a washing machine tho this is ironically topical for my present life. 10/10 would read again.

Between Loads | J.YH

SUMMARY | You hate doing laundry but maybe your next door neighbor, Yunho, can make it worth your time.

PAIRINGS |  Yunho x Reader 

RATING |  Mature, NSFW, EXPLICIT, MDNI, 18+, Any Minors and Ageless Blogs will be blocked

GENRE |  smut, pwp, romance, neighbors to lovers, fluff

CONTENT/WARNINGS | the 6th floor has creepy crawlies (but nothing really happens), profanity, flirting, teasing, unprotective sex (wrap it up ya'll), oral sex (both m/f receiving/giving), dirty talk, laundry jokes, just jokes all around, kissing, skin marking, skin biting, hair pulling, fingering, multiple positions, creampies, breeding/impregnation kink 

LENGTH |  7,004 words 

TAGLIST |  @aerangi   

NETWORKS |  @illusionnet  @cromernet  @othersideoutlawsnetwork  @winerys-collection  @cosyhomenet  @keopihaus  @ksmutsociety  @k-vanity 

AUTHOR’S NOTE | Thank you @pars-ley for the banner! I love it so much 💛💚 and thank you @lovetaroandtaemin and @heartikeu for beta-reading the beginning of the fic. And now she is completed! On another note, Yunho. Goddamn Yunho.

ATEEZ Main Masterlist

You hate doing laundry in this ever busy apartment building. Since it's late Saturday morning, all of the washers on the first floor have been preempted by people doing laundry to start their day. It'll take ages before a washing machine opens up, and you know that if you stick around, you're likely to have a load ruined from the little kids running about.

You wish management would provide folks with their own laundry hookups like they had with the dishwashers and stoves. Having one in your apartment would be heavenly. Instead, you have to head down several floors to the laundry room and then wait for God-only-knows how long for the damn machines to free up. The faster you could get in and out, the better off you would be.

"Maybe I'll go up to the sixth floor and use the laundry there?" you muse aloud as you pack away the rest of your clothes into your hamper. "But... Ugh, if it's not one thing, it's another!"

You normally avoid the sixth floor laundry room unless there are no machines available on the first, simply because you don't want the hassle of going into the hornets' nest. With the halls of the sixth floor filled with majority men for some odd reason, you want to avoid any harassment in the communal laundry room. You doubt very much whether they could keep their hands to themselves if you had no protection.

"Why must I face this annoyance?!" you yell as you storm down to the elevator with your basket. "It's a hassle, but, fine! Just this once! But, if they try to grab my butt or something, I'm punching someone! They better believe it!"

Armed with enough detergent and soap, you find the communal laundry room a touch more empty than your norm. With less folks around, maybe it will mean a quick load and not much trouble? The thought crosses your mind, but in reality, you know otherwise. 

"You're here too, Y/N?" Your next door neighbor, Yunho, pokes his head out of the open washer as you set the hamper down. "You're not usually here on the sixth floor."

"It's crowded and annoying downstairs," you state. "I don't usually come up here because of the jerks that are on this floor, but desperate times and all of that nonsense."

"Yeah, this floor is crawling with creeps," he agrees.

"I'd love having a washer and dryer set-up in my place. Then I could avoid places like this."

Yunho continues working on loading up his washer, though, you catch his sly glances as you begin sorting things into the next available washers. "Until then, let me know when you do laundry and I'll come up and wash. I promise to help deter the creepy-crawlies."

You can't help but laugh at his offer. "All right, fine. Thanks, I guess." You pushed the last of the clothes into your washer and slammed the lid down. "We'll see how it goes."

How many years have you known Yunho? How long did he live next door to you on the fourth floor? It's been a few years already... Maybe three? Maybe four? Enough that you feel you're used to seeing him, even with his incredibly handsome features, every now and again.

He is very easy on the eyes. Almost a bit too perfect. Tall, with a bright smile, nice arms, and toned thighs... what you would give to climb him like a tree and—

Nope!

No, stop, don't start thinking dirty. Bad Y/N. Bad, dirty brain. Stop perving on Yunho, now.

You glanced up at his bright smile, and turned back to the washing machines. Oh no. It was a sinfully sinful thing to imagine the many ways Yunho might kiss your neck, those hands pushing up your shirt and—

You have to shake your head before things get out of hand. This isn't the time or place to have these kinds of thoughts. The sooner your laundry is done, the sooner you can get back down to your own floor and hide your face behind the closed doors and take care of certain... urges that are beginning to surface.

But as you glance back up at Yunho, seeing him leaning over his own washer as he puts the last of his loads in, a heat pools in the pit of your belly. What you wouldn't do to have him fuck you over one of the washers or against the folding table in the middle of the room. Oh no, there was no mistaking how good and strong those arms would feel wrapped around you, thrusting inside you and whispering in your ear.

Bad... bad thoughts... You don't need this right now. No, you do not need the added strain of Yunho's visuals causing such fantasies. Nope, nope. Don't start, you're getting too worked up thinking about it, stop. You bite down on your lower lip, eyes staring a hole into the washer before you.

"Y/N? Everything all right?" Yunho leans over his washer and peers at you. "You seem distracted."

Oh, how sweet a distraction... If Yunho would shut his mouth, that might make things go easier, right? Shut the door, lock us both in here for hours, and let loose? "I'm fine," you blurt out, flinging a hand towards him. "Just hate waiting for laundry to do its job."

"Sounds like you need something else to take your mind off it. Porn always helps me get through chores faster."

A strange noise escapes your throat, something between a retch and a wheeze. Your entire face flushes darkly, and you rub your palms against your cheeks. "What?!"

"That was a joke," he chuckled.

"Don't say shit like that," you groan. "Especially in a public space. Like seriously, who knows when some other crazy neighbor will walk through those doors?"

"Yeah, no, good point." Yunho nods, and you can’t help but laugh along with him. "How long did you put in to wash those?"

"Just a medium load. So... Half an hour. Probably 35 minutes," you answer. "Then, another half an hour to dry. Can't get out too fast, else I might forget stuff."

Yunho hits a button on his washer and leans his hip against the top of it, making an audible clicking sound from his tongue. "Wanna go for a walk around while we wait? Might help take our minds off chores for a while. And it'll keep those jerkfaces down here from bugging you."

"Sure, why the hell not."

As you two wander the halls, you're somewhat surprised how not creepy everything is. Yunho is, like always, a pleasure to speak with as the two of you trade gossip, funny stories, and daily happenings. This time, however, you focus a bit too much on his lips moving, the curve of his smile, and the soft laugh that breaks the quiet air. Your mind flitters and keeps drifting back to thoughts of that moment, imagining how it would feel.

Fuck, his lips look soft.

That's it.

Yunho's lips are full and plush looking. Very soft. Probably the best kissing lips that a man could possess, even in such a harsh looking face. They practically beg to be devoured. The kind of lips you could easily imagine sliding against your body with ease, tasting each and every inch, and then engulfing you whole.

Fuck.

Even with Yunho talking animatedly, you can't pull your focus away. The urge to steal his lips in a kiss overcame you.

It can't hurt.

"Shit, I want to kiss you."

Or, it might hurt. A lot, in fact, considering Yunho's steps falter, and he almost face plants into the wall. He looks at you with wild, confused eyes. "What?!"

"Shit," you close your eyes and slap your mouth a few times, "shit shit shit, sorry. My stupid mouth. Ignore that." You swallow hard and turn to walk down the stairs, a shameful blush staining your face. "Yeah, just forget all about that. Me saying that. Yeah, good plan."

Yunho watches your hasty retreat, following after with a renewed lightness in his steps. "W-Wait. That's it?"

You reach the sixth floor landing, Yunho still trailing behind you as you head towards the communal laundry. "I am a dumb idiot that blurts things like that out without thinking. Forget I even said anything, please."

"Hey," he laughs as he takes hold of your wrist, stopping your stride to his laundry room, "you can't just say something like that and expect a man to completely forget it!"

"Yes. Yes I can," you assure him. "So, you will."

He laughs again as he follows after. "Absolutely not."

"Yunho, please." You pull out of his grasp and make your way back into the laundry room where only one person sits waiting at the folding table for their dryer to finish its cycle. "I just want to die in a hole. Or the void. Yeah, the void sounds great. I want nothing more than to leave this stupid galaxy and just fade into the vacuum of space."

"Why, though?" he asks.

You open up your washer and quickly begin taking items to toss them into the dryers. "Because... I just... Ugh. I mean." You groan and hide your face against the metal lid of a dryer. "Please, it's embarrassing enough that you had to witness and hear that, you really don't want to know why."

Yunho, not backing down from this new information, leans against his own washer, studying your flushed face. "Why, though?"

"Because..."

He seems to notice your hesitance. "Come on. I won't make fun of you."

You hang your head a moment, taking a breath and holding it as you wait to feel calm again. But, when you exhale, there’s no changing the facts. He isn’t letting it go. "Ugh, you're gonna laugh."

"Maybe. Maybe not." His gentle smile makes your heart skip a beat. "Try me."

You let out another long suffering sigh. "You've just... Always looked like you'd be really good at it. Kissing. And," you continue when he starts to chuckle, "you've always been so friendly and helpful. That, uh, it gets a girl's thoughts going... A-And... S-Sorry."

He bites back his laughter as best he can, cheeks pinkened with delight. "Don't apologize, not for something like this."

"Please," you turn around, your face burning in complete embarrassment.

Yunho notices that the two of you are the only ones remaining in the laundry room, save the lone lady reading. A risky play, but perhaps there isn't any better of an option. As the woman's dryer buzzes, she gathers her things, leaving the room without hardly noticing either of you. The risk is certainly real.

"You still wanna kiss me?" Yunho's grin turns down right mischievous. "Because I gotta say... Now you've got me kinda curious, too."

You stare at him blankly. "Seriously?"

"C'mon." His voice is low and raspy, turning your legs to jelly as he approaches and takes hold of your elbows. "Nobody's around. Give it a shot. Just once."

Fuck he smells amazing. Is that aftershave? You don't know. You can't tell what scent it is, but you don't want to leave the safe cocoon his arms provide.

"J-Just once," you mumble, feeling yourself sinking into his body.

"Just once," he murmurs.

Yunho's thumb glides along your cheek before his fingers run over the shell of your ear and his palm rests gently on your jawline. He shifts and ducks slightly, his eyes drifting closed as the world fades to just you and him.

Warm, gentle lips meet, yours and your heart begins to thunder violently. Slowly, tenderly, his fingers curl around your jaw, encouraging you to follow his lead, coaxing a pleased noise to slip free. The rush of warm desire floods you, and the desire to melt against his solid frame nearly consumes you whole.

Just a simple press of lips, a taste, and just a hint of tongue that nearly drives you mad, and it leaves you wanting nothing more than more. All the build up and heat culminates into a blazing fire that courses through you.

The heavy breathing, the ragged needy moans that spilled free—did they come from your mouth or his? Did they matter, really? This wasn't enough. You wanted more, even as his teeth scraped across your lower lip, his touch and kiss sending you further into oblivion.

Until the buzz of the dryer brings you crashing back to the real world.

Both of you draw back, lips barely touching as the loud buzz of the machine interrupts your world. A sluggish, sheepish laugh is shared as you part, moving to the machines. Yunho drops down onto a chair with a smirk still tinged with a deep crimson across his cheeks as you fold clothes, still working out the embarrassment and slight afterglow you experienced.

"So?" He asks softly as he hands off folded items to you. "Thoughts?"

"Need a few more tries to confirm," you answer just as softly. "You know, so I can give an accurate review."

He laughs, taking his own clothes out of the dryer to fold. "Wouldn't want a biased opinion now."

"Mmhm, exactly."

After finishing folding up the clothing, the two of you make your way back upstairs to your shared floor, teasing and poking, giving and stealing lingering, awkward glances along the way.

It isn't until you parted ways with an airy promise for another "chore" session together that a revelation dawned upon you.

It would be so very easy to fall completely in love with Jeong Yunho.

Yunho stayed true to his words to accompany you in the laundry room on the sixth floor, sneaking in kisses each time, leaving you wanting so much more each time. It was a fun, little secret shared just between you two. And then, eventually, it bled into other things. Like going on dates, a shared couch cuddle and a good movie, maybe an evening of food delivery, stolen glances, and hand holding. You met his friends, he met your friends, more dates came afterward, and then he became your boyfriend.

Yunho managed to convince the building's management to let him get a washer and dryer combination inside the apartment instead of having to trudge a bunch of floors down or up to the laundromat. What a plus. Now, not only could you easily wash a load or two, but you and Yunho could easily watch movies while you waited for everything to wash, dry, and fold.

You were sitting in your apartment one night after putting your clean clothes away, when a knock sounded on your door. You padded over and cracked it open, Yunho looking back at you from the doorway with an impish smirk.

"I think some of your clothes got mixed in with mine," he says, raising one of your lacy panties up as if to display it. "Looks like a pretty important thing for you to get back."

"My, my, Yunho. You sure you didn't just stuff it into your own hamper to bring over under the pretense of 'oopsies' and 'drats, how did these get mixed in?'"

He laughs and shoulders his way into your apartment, the front door shutting behind him with a kick of a foot. "Geez, you got me figured out! Don't expose me!"

Your shared laughter fills your tiny apartment as he picks you up and tosses you on your own bed, a huge goofy grin on his face.

"By all means, please steal away my panties if you wish."

"Oh? Should I get the matching bra too? Make it a matching set?"

"A truly insidious master plot!" You laugh. "What else do you plan to get while you're in my place?"

Yunho steals a sweet kiss and shrugs. "Figured a few kisses would make me feel better, and maybe borrow a girl in lacy undergarments?" He nibbles a bit on your throat. "Only if she doesn't mind."

"Hmm, fine, I guess you can steal away the goods," you murmur, tracing over his lips. "But, you know, the price of a kiss like that is really high. Might even need a couple."

"Are we bartering kisses for your lovely underwear?"

"Yes."

"Then, let's see."

The two of you hold one another, laughing in between long, drawn out kisses. Each kiss grows longer, deeper, and sweeter than the last, and soon, a hot need for something more than innocent kisses begins to consume you. Yunho's touches are soft, tender, and all-consuming, a strange mix of heady lust and gentle caresses that send a rush of adrenaline into your heart. You slip your hands under the bottom hem of his shirt, pushing it up to feel his heated flesh under the tips of your fingers. His back, his broad chest, the muscles under his skin, you want nothing more than to explore every single inch of him.

"Your kisses have gotten very... demanding... lately." Yunho's chest vibrates with his laugh.

"Oh?"

He nips your shoulder, dragging his lips along your flesh. "You keep kissing and kissing and then you bite and suck on my lips, like you don't plan to give me a chance to breathe again."

"Hmm. You don't seem to dislike it, do you?" Your fingers begin unbuttoning his shirt, fingertips scraping against his skin with a delightful friction.

"Absolutely not," his laugh is soft and husky, sending your heart into overdrive and leaving the world behind as his mouth begins mapping every single inch of your exposed skin. "But," he stops long enough to tear his shirt free from his shoulders and fling it aside, "it's awfully greedy of you."

You snort a giggle. "M-Maybe. But," you suck in a shaky breath as he licks up the side of your throat, "I'm not hearing complaints!"

"Not complaining at all." His hand fans out on your thigh, stroking upward, leaving an excited trail of heat wherever he touches, causing you to let out a heady gasp. He laughs breathily against your skin, "Only that," he hooks his thumb around the waistband of your shorts and tugs lightly, "I'm very happy that my girlfriend," the buttons were freed, zipper and all, "enjoys," he presses kisses against your thighs, "a man who puts a little bite into her kisses."

Yunho slips your shorts from your legs, tossing them onto the floor with a growing pile of clothes. When you both laugh at the realization that you were nearly naked, leaving only a lace bralette and matching panties, he can't help but bite your thigh. His tongue laps at the faint red spot, and he grins up at you. "Looks really pretty on you."

"Pretty, hmm?"

"It's definitely something a beautiful girl like you wears and a man like me wants to take off her." Yunho runs a finger up and along the underside of your bare leg, tracing along your shape, the pressure causing your entire body to twitch. "Unless the gorgeous lady says I can't take it off..."

"It means more laundry for me," you giggle.

He hums and gently kisses your knees. "True... But then... I wouldn't mind doing your laundry with mine next time, would that be acceptable?"

"Hmm, I dunno..." you pull his head down towards yours and nuzzle his nose, "what would my hot neighbor slash boyfriend want as payment for doing my laundry?"

"Mmmm," he nibbles at the plumpness of your lips and chases your breathless laughter, "you." He bends lower and kisses the swell of your breasts as he whispers, "All of you."

The sound that rips from your lungs is deep, and wanting, and more than pleased with his words. "Keep talking like that," you laugh against the crook of his neck. "Because I might actually fucking marry you."

His full body laugh causes the mattress to sink and move. "I didn't realize marriage was on your mind. Is that the way to your heart?"

"Oh fuck yeah. Completely. Marry me, we'll have four dogs, and three kids."

"Just like that?"

"Sure, fuck why not."

There's another bright peal of laughter from him as he sinks down on top of your naked flesh. "Shall we call the preacher before or after you give me my next kiss?"

"Dirty, filthy proposal. You're despicable." You groan and thread your fingers through his hair.

"Can't believe you'd consider marrying a guy who has only kissed you in laundry rooms," he murmurs in between long, dizzying kisses. "What is the world coming to?"

You let out a small laugh. "Yeah, it's awful, isn't it?"

"Jokes aside..." Yunho kisses his way down your throat, your chest, across your ribcage, and against the skin under your breasts, his words sending shivers up your spine, "Would you want to have dinner, spend more time together outside of the laundry rooms? Maybe go on dates?"

Your arms wind tighter around him, and your laugh is sharp. "Mmm, y'know what?" Your palm gently runs across his forehead, brushing away his messy bangs as you catch a hold of his full attention. "I'd like that. A lot, actually."

"Yeah?" The smile on Yunho's face grows wide and radiant.

"Yeah," you laugh, "and now I want you to show me how talented you really are with those lips."

He hums happily, the sound rumbling against you. "And what exactly shall my gorgeous neighbor ask of me in that area? Keep it civil."

"How about..." you muse quietly, tugging your bra down a bit to expose a hard nub of a nipple to the air of the room, "how about a kiss here."

"This isn't very civil." Yunho's nose runs over the upper portion of the breast. "But if the lady asks..."

"Mmmm, and one right here..." You drag the hem of your panties a bit lower on your hip. "A kiss."

Yunho, understanding where your game is headed, playfully takes the lacy hem in his teeth, dragging it down to expose a tuft of trimmed pubic hair before releasing it and resting his cheek on your bare thigh. "Where does my demanding little neighbor slash girlfriend want kisses now?"

"Hm..." you tap your chin and point downwards at a spot that he finds to be utterly delectable and beautiful. "I can think of one other spot for a kiss."

"Yeah?" His breath whispers across sensitive skin, tickling and sending you spiraling into heady excitement.

"Y-yeah..." your words are barely a whisper. "Gotta say... Kinda looking forward to it."

"Happy to indulge you."

And as Yunho drags the rest of your panties free from your legs, his mouth begins a thorough worship and appreciation of the most intimate area of your body. The squeals and gasps he could wring out of you, your hands clenching his hair and the sound of his name falls from your lips with abandon spurs him on until there is nothing left in his head but pure desire to hear you cum and cry out for him.

Out of all the men that ate you out in the past, none comes close to the skills of Jeong Yunho. The others were rough, amateur, quick and wanting. Yunho took his time, savored every reaction and gasp that came. There is no need or urgency or even demand in his motions. Every touch, flick, lick, kiss, and stroke of his tongue are in total control.

Your thighs clamps against Yunho's head, holding him there, begging him to never stop with soft pleads of 'don't you dare fucking stop.' He chuckles as he gently grasps your wrists, encouraging your hands to hold on tight to his head. And when his long fingers joins in, pressing into every spot that sends an electric pulse running up and down your nerves, there was little doubt that the world stopped spinning and nothing existed but him.

Lips, tongue, and two fingers dance across your center, plunging and withdrawing until everything begins to blur into one continuous pleasure. Before long, there is nothing to stop the moans and keening wails from escaping into the quiet evening as the rush of climax exploded into ecstasy and absolute joy.

Through it all, Yunho remains between your legs, happily drinking everything you gave.

"You," you manage after the rush and joy, your voice hoarse and raw, "have one hell of a tongue on you. I mean, I already knew it was talented," his shoulders move with soft laughter, "but fuck, I could've used you a long ass time ago."

Yunho emerged between your legs, a silly smirk dancing on his lips. "Good to know I can be of some service to my demanding girlfriend. Need a breather? Or more?"

You laugh, pulling his face up so that you can reach his lips, relishing in the taste of his tongue and your pleasure mixed on them, "Oh, definitely more but I can wait after dinner."

Yunho chuckles at this. "I'm kind of regretting the order this happened, because now I'm too curious to take a raincheck for dinner and just jump straight to dessert."

"You say this as though you weren't just finishing devouring me whole, just a minute ago?" You run a fingertip along his lips. "I wouldn't have any complaints whatsoever. Besides," you move and kiss his throat, licking and nibbling a line up along the soft skin and under his jaw, "I'm looking forward to returning the favor."

He sighs softly at this and hums in thought. "You," he laughs and kisses your sweaty brow, "you know what? Dinner can wait. After."

"Yes, after," you giggle softly as you crawl down his body, eagerly unfastening his belt and pants, and helping him tug the rest of his remaining clothes free. Your lips trail up his knee, along his inner thigh, and then across the other to do the same. "Dinner can wait. Dessert, on the other hand..." You glance up at him and catch a glimpse of his fully erect cock. "Can not."

Fuck, he's big. And you will savor every damn inch of him.

Yunho settles back, propped up slightly by pillows, his fingers combing your hair idly out of your face. "Have at it, my lovely, greedy little neighbor." There was another sharp, surprised gasp from you, accompanied by a laugh, and a groan of 'you did not just call me that'. To which he responds with a soft laugh, "Okay, my little girlfriend."

Your jaw tingles and you shiver at the way his title rolled off of his tongue. "That one works a lot better," you giggle, your teeth scraping along his length, the muscles on his legs jumping.

A rush of heady lustful pride floods your system and you shiver, eager and greedy and hungry for what Yunho would have to offer you. As your mouth wraps around him, his head falls back and his mouth opens with a soft sigh. His fingers didn't stray from your hair and he helps push it back off your face to watch in rapt wonder. You felt your body flush hotter and hotter, a thrill coursing through your core as your gaze met his.

God he's fucking perfect.

Your hand cup his balls gently, rolling them tenderly and watching the way he sucks his bottom lip inwards, the softest whine in the back of his throat. You lick along the length, tasting and testing and relishing in the feeling. The hard length and gentle flesh in your hands, the warmth of his body, it was everything.

When his hips begin jerking and bucking a little, you allow your throat to relax. Yunho watch in quiet fascination and pleasure. "You'll tell me if it's too much, yeah?"

"I got this," you smile and hold his erection still while taking him completely into the recesses of your mouth. Your tongue laps along his girth, tracing the thick vein on his underside, tracing it, flicking, and pressing with each inch. Yunho's breathing hitches sharply, a low rasping groan leaving his throat as his eyes nearly roll into the back of his head.

"Enjoying yourself?" you ask, not entirely expecting an answer.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Yunho laughs, voice husky and spent and rough.

"Oh, I'm fucking living my dreams," you hum, bending over once again. "I could go all night."

Yunho laughs at your enthusiasm, and you continue lavishing him, wet and warm and insatiable in your hunger. Long fingers in your hair, the heavy weight of his length, the scent, and taste of his own sweat, your desire and want for him never burned so brightly in your veins. It didn't matter that your jaw began aching, that your thighs and core ache for his touch. You couldn't stop, you wouldn't.

A breathless "close" warns you and you take him deeper into the warm cavern of your mouth. Your body responds hotly, growing so moist with longing and heady excitement, and an eager ache. The next series of soft, sloppy noises you pull out of him only brought you closer and closer to orgasm. He tense, his length grew harder, thicker in your mouth. You held fast, welcoming the sticky cum splashing over your tongue and coating the back of your throat.

Slowly, you lift your head up and meet his gaze. Carefully, you swallow, knowing how he tasted and how your body was absolutely aching for his. With a smile you slowly crawl upwards. "So?" you ask breathlessly. "Good review?"

"Four. Fucking. Stars."

"Ooh, nice. Would you recommend?"

"Hell fucking yes I'd recommend that mouth. Sign me the fuck up, yes," he let out another breathy laugh and kiss your chest, "fuck yes. Over, and over, and over again. It's fucking gold, baby."

"Excellent," you giggle and cup his face in your palms. "Wanna recommend other things now? I got an appointment that's open and willing and totally empty if you wanna recommend."

Yunho's arms wound around your waist and flip you onto your back with another sweet kiss. "Wish granted, babe."

The months that followed, and the time spent, left nothing to chance. By the end of it all, the laundry was more than folded, there were a lot of meals cooked between both apartments, movies had been seen and many, many dates were had. You wouldn't have had it any other way.

Your hands reach around Yunho, wrapping your arms across his torso and clinging to him tightly. "So... I was thinking."

"Yeah?" He stops folding his clothes long enough to pay full attention to you. "You thinkin' a lot lately."

"Yunho,” you pout.

"Y/N," he places his shirt aside and fully turns his full attention to you. "Go ahead and tell me."

"Is moving in with you... is it something we could consider doing, together? Like... officially?"

"Officially? As in..."

You make a sweeping gesture around the two of your places. "As in the apartment."

His laughter rings in your ears and soon his body is holding yours in a tight embrace. "Ah, we should totally move in together."

"It doesn't have to be your place, but—"

Yunho silences your rambling by kissing you. When his lips part from yours, a brilliant and beautiful smile graces his features. "Baby, we can get a bigger place. Or better yet, our own house." He kisses your forehead. "With our own laundry room, and kitchen, and, yes, three kids, four dogs, and..." Yunho squeezes you tighter in his arms, "a husband. How does that sound?"

A laugh, shaky and bursting at the seams and filled with absolute joy broke the quiet hum of the laundry machines. "Are we back to joking about the marriage thing?"

"If this isn't the woman I'm gonna marry one day, then I don't know who else could top her," his hands cup your face, fingers tickling through your hair. "Let's keep folding our laundry together. One load at a time."

"Stoooop, you are just too cute, I can't," you reply.

His thumb brushes along your cheek and then across your mouth. "For real though, let's look for a bigger place and really settle down. Maybe start with a pet first."

You sigh softly in agreement and stand on tiptoes to kiss the tall man. "Definitely. Totally." Your heart thud and sings at his promise for the future. "And, not that the sex isn't super, mind blowing, incredible. But…if you actually end up being my husband, then... We. Will. So. Break. This. Thing." You lightly slap the washing machine.

"We can start breaking it now, you know," he lifts you onto the counter and nestles between your thighs, "After all, if we are moving out together, might as well christen the appliances that helped us meet and fall in love."

"Seriously?" you question.

"Very, seriously,"he answers with a laugh.

Your hands snake through his hair and you draw his lips close to yours, sighing softly against his lips before speaking. "Are we done with laundry? I feel like we should be done."

"Oh baby, we haven't even gotten started," his words tickles your mouth with every syllable and leaves the hairs of your skin standing on end. "We're in between loads for now."

"Then I propose," your thighs wrap tighter against him, "we start another load now."

"Oh really?" His hand teases up the inside of your knee, lingering close to the hem of your skirt and then climbing upwards, exposing your skin a little further with each soft touch.

"F-for real," you groan softly, your fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt.

He huffs and cups your cheek as his mouth assaults your sensitive neck. "Like last time?"

"Y-yes. Exactly. Just like last time. But this time you don't need to pull out," your thighs twitchs and press together, trapping Yunho's teasing fingers in their hold. "Give me your whole load, Jeong Yunho."

The loud, amused laughter that shakes through him was enough to send shivers up and down your spine and pool hotly between your legs. "If the lady says she's ready for my load, then the man will do his damndest to fulfill his responsibility to provide said load. Again, and again, and again." His fingers slip down the front of your panties, playing in the soft curls and gliding along your wet center. "Gonna give your hole the biggest load, baby."

"Right here on the counter?" you gasp out with a laugh.

"As much as I love fucking you on the counter," Yunho chuckles softly, removing his hands and picking you up off and from the counter and carrying you off towards his room, "it'll be more comfortable in the bedroom. No spills that way."

"How responsible," you manage as the cold air hits your thighs when he sits you on the edge of his bed.

"Just doing my civic duty," he wiggles his eyebrows.

Your chest rumbles with giggles as you lay back against the plush blankets, watching as he comes crawling after you. His lips and warm, tingling kisses return in full force to cover the expanse of bare skin revealed by his gentle tugging. When all was bare, your thighs wound around him and drew him closer to you.

Yunho chuckles and peppers soft, butterfly kisses across your abdomen, hands smoothing along your sides. "Don't worry, babe," he whispers huskily into your belly, sending a pulse of need running straight up through your body and nestling in your core, "I'll make sure that the next time, and the next time... And the time after, and the next..." His head trails lower, his lips following a slow, arduous path. "And every time after that... Our load is properly taken care of and completed."

You hum a small laugh and quip playfully, "Damn, is there a fine for unfinished loads?"

"You bet there is, and it'll come with a series of hickeys, and bruises," he answers.

"I'll take my chances then," you sigh, the tone teasing, but also bracing and ready. "Charge me up, baby."

His answering laughter was equal parts adorably sexy and oh so arousing.

Fuck, did you want this, right here and right now. To be filled and consumed and dominated by the very man who own you already, body and soul.

A soft, breathy cry escapes your lips when the full weight of him presses down. Your mouths meet, open and hungry and utterly wanting, teeth scraping gently on sensitive lips. Your back arches up when his fingers dance and toys with you, dipping between folds and sinking deeper and deeper still, and when he replaces the fingers with himself, there is a short moment where all sensation halts before a loud, gasping whine passes your lips.

His words, dirty, sweet, hot, loving, all reverberate through you, intoxicating you to the core. "Fuck..." You let out a long, ragged groan. "Fuck, Yunho."

A sweet, beautiful smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, eyes half-close and fully lost in ecstasy and passion as his pace gradually begins increasing in urgency and need and desire. "There's my sweetheart. That's my girl. Fuck... just like that..." The breathless moans spill, pushing you faster and faster toward climax. "That's my girl."

Arms wrap around his broad shoulders, your nails score down his back, his hips surging faster, burying him deeper, until all thoughts left your brain and all that remains was his touch, his body. You were alive, the world was alive, everything exists, breaths, pulsates in rhythm with him and your blood sings with the feeling. You are his and he is yours.

Forever.

He meets your lips again, swallowing the breathless whines and whimpers, before kissing your throat and along your clavicle. He pauses his thrusts momentarily, pulling out of you only to flip you onto your belly and urging your ass up into the air.

When his heat covers you once more, his fingers clawing at your hip to pull you even closer, and you bury your face into his sheets to cry out against them. "Fuck," you sob quietly, "ohhh, Yunho. Harder." You need him, everything, the unrelenting passion and unyielding love and comfort that surrounds you. "Oh my god."

He breaths another shaky breath into your neck. "Almost there." His tone is hot, sharp, ragged against the skin. "Got some of this load for ya. Not even halfway through the night. Hold on tight, baby." His voice comes as a rough command that sets your body on fire. "Gonna fuck this hole the rest of the night, just wait."

"Shit," was the only breathy, shaking sigh that you could form. "Oh my god."

Laughter bounced out of him, vibrating through you, bringing another bout of squeals. "Good fucking girl," he praises softly. "Fuck, baby. Such a good girl." He peppers soft, gentle kisses along the crook of your neck, inhaling your scent and letting out a long, deep moan. "You want every drop, sweetheart? Want every single load? Is that right?"

"Mm," your reply was short, sharp, and needy. "Every single drop, fuck."

Yunho drags your hips upwards, angling and pressing the blunt tip of him against the silken recess of your womb, urging himself forward to the hilt as his words fill your brain. "Fill you. Give you the biggest load you've ever dreamed about. Everything you want."

"Everything?"

"All the loads you need," Yunho continue, "hmm? Yes?"

"Everything, fuck,” your shoulders tremble, the sheer ecstasy that passes with his words bringing you to the edge of climax. "Please, everything."

"Good fucking girl," Yunho's grin and hoarse laugh leave you desperate, needy and wanton.

With one final push he has you seeing stars and exploding into orgasm. In the dizzying and wondrous pleasure-filled moment, he buries his face in your neck, shuddering against you, holding you impossibly closer still. His name echoes over and over, barely registering and it was all you could do but sink against the pillows, heaving for breath, unable and unwilling to move.

Eventually, he shifts off and rolls, a heavy, sweaty arm drapes over you and pulls you close. Neither of you said anything, simply staring at one another, breathing slowly and calming the pounding in each others' chests and heads. His gaze rakes slowly over your exposed form, watching the steady rise and fall of your chest, and finally resting against your eyes, so bright with contentment.

"I still got more in the tank," his thumb and forefinger pinches your chin gently between them. "So just to be safe, we shouldn't miss out on this opportunity."

You snort with laughter and hide your flushed face behind the pillows. "I hope we're moving in soon so there can be room for more clothes. Or better yet, storage space for our 'dirty loads'." You give another hoarse, rattling laugh. "Give me five minutes before you bring out another load."

"Tsk tsk tsk," Yunho playfully chides you, holding your hips gently and guiding your face towards his. He bends over to steal a kiss. "We are nowhere near finishing."

"Your tank doesn't ever run dry, does it?" you laugh softly.

"You are going to break this machine one day," came his mumbled retort but the sparkle of his smile said everything you needed to know.

"This machine better not break," you poke at his dick for emphasis before pushing him unto his back, "or there will be hell to pay, Jeong Yunho." You couldn't quite help the laugh in your throat, and the need that still flared inside.

"Remember, this is a delicate and rare machine. Handling is important,” he retorts with an eyeroll, a smile on his lips.

"How delicate and how rare?" Your laughter erupts, causing him to smile even brighter.

"Rare and delicate. And belongs to one specific and important person in my life," Yunho shrugs nonchalantly. "Sooo, handle me with extra care, babe."

"Dually noted and observed," you promise and reach to slide yourself home.

Fuck, you’re a wreck for him.

And, honestly... You were okay with that.

If his promises came with a load or two more, then all the fucking better for it.

[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Chapter Thirteen: Honor among the Dishonorable by @sungbeam

Feedback: That is a hell of a way to kick off a chapter my friend... the banter between joong and seonghwa too tho...like lord. Hongjoong also has quite the plan! Excellent. Can't wait for more!

BIRDS OF PREY — thirteen

nonidol!kim hongjoong x f!reader

living in gray areas of your city, out of the way of gangs and mafia territories, could only keep you safe for so long. it was only a matter of time before you began running into problems, or rather, problems began running into you.

▷ genre, warnings. nc-17, strangers 2 lovers, slow burn, mafia au, angst, swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of money laundering, skfnskjdkdjd one intimate moment., mentions/thoughts of murder

▷ word count. 5.3k

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a/n: yk i didn't even plan for this to be released on fri the 13th, but here we are 💀

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: HONOR AMONG THE DISHONORABLE

KIM HONGJOONG HAD KILLED BEFORE, and he was not afraid to do it again, not even in front of a room full of people. But strangling Bang Chan in front of you wasn't on his bucket list, especially when your eyes were already as wide as a deer's, and he could see that you were reeling from all the new information thrown at you in the last fifteen minutes. 

(But he was right about Aurora. It was definitely your shade, and he was going to be as smug about it as possible… once the man across from him was dealt with.)

Wooyoung had tracked Bang Chan's license plate to this location last night. It was almost too easy, he reported, but Hongjoong didn't have much choice but to insert himself anyway. He needed to pull some strings, and sometimes, the only way to do things right was to do them yourself. 

What a fine coincidence to bump into Chan here, seated in your section, waiting—whether it was for you or for Hongjoong or both of you, he couldn't quite figure it out. But now, Hongjoong was certain what this all was; Chan wanted Hongjoong to pick up and follow his trail of breadcrumbs to lead him here. Chan knew who you were, knew who you were to him, and that in itself was dangerous. 

There were several things on Hongjoong's mind, one of which was eliminating the glaring DANGER sign across from him. If Chan put you in jeopardy, he would have Hell to pay. 

“I want to propose a partnership,” Chan said. 

Hongjoong narrowed his eyes. “We have one.”

“You have one with Jinyoung, not me.” The heir idly swirled around the liquid and ice in his glass. “What I mean is I want to know how you… took over your predecessors, and to ask for your assistance in doing the same.”

The words were being absorbed, but not fast enough. Did Chan just say he wanted to forcibly take over the GV mafia family? Hongjoong's expression contorted into one of pure confusion. “Come again?”

“Aren't you literally inheriting the family business?” you piped up, equally incredulous as Hongjoong. He was glad you were both at least still on the same page. 

Chan took a generous gulp of his whiskey and set the glass back down. The relaxed persona he had on earlier had given way to a tension in his posture. That was what conspiring toward mutiny did to a person. “I am,” he confirmed, his lips pressing into a grave line, “but Jinyoung doesn't plan to give me sole ownership. I'm sure you've been actively working on your own problems, but our problems are more linked than I'd like them to be.”

This was certainly not going in the direction Hongjoong was expecting. Then again, none of what happened thus far had. “You've gotta be shitting me.”

“Dove!”

Heads whipped upward. You turned, nearly jumping out of your skin, and Hongjoong warmed a hand on your lower back. A co-worker of yours was waving you over, gesturing to a large pile of dirty glasses on a table. 

“Go,” Hongjoong murmured to you, “I'll catch up with you later, dove.”

You casted a weary glance over at Chan, then to Hongjoong beside you. With a small nod, you left to do your job; Hongjoong's fingers lingered on the fabric of your dress for as long as possible. 

Hongjoong picked up the Calliope Sonata drink you'd gotten for him and took a ginger sip of it. He pulled the glass away with a pleasantly surprised lift of his brow. It was exactly as you described it, sultry rich with the right amount of burn. And gorgeous to look at. (It reminded him of someone he knew.)

As he placed the glass back down on the table, he grappled with the heavy conversation at hand. He bit his lip, carding a hand through his hair. He didn't want to confront the actual possibility of the pieces that clicked together in his head. 

“So you're saying what I think you're saying?” Hongjoong asked Chan. 

Chan nodded stiffly. “Your skeletons have risen, and my boss has made a deal with the devil.”

“Shit,” Hongjoong huffed. He and Chan both took another swig of their drinks. “So why do you want my help? What exactly did you mean when you said you weren't going to have sole ownership?”

“My boss has been getting nervous, especially with his looming desire to step down and escape,” he said. “This importing thing—the one through your ports—this was going to be his last hurrah, and his last bid for funds. He wasn't planning to split anything with you.”

The realization dawned over Hongjoong with a shadow over his face. “He struck a deal with my enemies that would lead to my downfall, and thus, relinquish any control I had over his importing and the ports.”

Chan nodded, and swallowed the rest of his whiskey. He shook his head. “In return,” he continued, “you-know-who would own part of the family. My family. I don't want his bullshit poisoning my ranks. You understand, don't you?”

Hongjoong rubbed his lips together, drumming his fingers against the side of his glass. “I do, unfortunately.”

“Good.” Chan knocked his knuckles against the table absentmindedly. “Then we have an agreement.”

“Not” —Hongjoong cut in, placing a palm on the table— “yet. We have much to discuss before we can come to a full arrangement, Bang. And I'll continue to hear you out—just not here.”

His counterpart bobbed his head. “Fair enough.”

“I'll have an address sent and we'll meet there.” Hongjoong began to stand up from the booth, chugging the remainder of Calliope Sonata to usher in the burn he needed to fuel him through the next hour or so. “Don’t try to double cross me, Bang.”

Chan lifted his palms in surrender. “Wasn't on my mind.”

“And don't fucking mess with her like that ever again.” 

Hongjoong left a hefty tip on the table and disappeared into the crowd. Chan could fill in the blanks; he knew exactly who Hongjoong was talking about. 

But with one problem temporarily dealt with, there was yet another giant looming in the mist. Hongjoong made his way toward the bar on the far side of the club in search of the hallway that would lead him toward the managers’ offices. The managers of a Lioncrest Society establishment wouldn't recognize Hongjoong as himself or as his alter ego; they were too low on the totem pole. If he could establish himself in the right light, he would be able to push things into motion. 

The heavy bass in the room reverberated through his body, pulsing hard enough to affect the rhythm of his heart. He kept his gaze forward, stride confident. The thing about walking behind enemy lines was to act like you belonged. 

As he stepped into the back hallway that led to the kitchen, he heard his name—no, the fake name he gave himself tonight—called from behind him. He threw a glance over his shoulder, steps slowing to a halt to allow you to catch up to him. 

His eyes drew to a wad of bills rolled between your fingertips, and he glued his gaze to that instead of the lace around your leg, the smear of red painting your lips, the glazed-over glint in your eyes. Hongjoong tucked one hand into the pocket of his pants. “Dove, wasn't it?”

You stopped before him and held out the bills to him. “Yours.”

He bit his lip, only looking at the money—his money that he'd left on the table. “Yours,” he parroted. “You're not about to get caught returning money to a customer, are ya?”

You hesitated and your fingers curled around it slightly. With a glance behind you to check for witnesses, you stepped closer once. 

Hongjoong swore he could count your eyelashes now, smell the tantalizing scent of orange blossom and vanilla bourbon. He didn't know where to look with the money out of direct sight. 

“Play along?”

Gladly. He ran his tongue along his teeth, playing up a feigned interest. “Do you want me to talk loud or let people fill in the blanks?”

Your hand found his chest, lingering a painful breath away from the opening of his dress shirt. The money pressed between your palm and the fabric. “Are there people watching?” you asked with a smile. There was a flirty curl to the expression, one he hadn't seen on you before, and if he had been drunk, he wouldn't have been standing anymore. 

Hongjoong's eyes flitted lazily past your head to the outer room. There were definitely people passing by the hallway opening to peek inside. Some curious clubgoers, others he guessed were your peers. “I'll make it interesting for them,” he said, and moved his hand to brace beside your head against the hallway wall. “Something wrong?”

“What're you doing here?”

He blinked. Well, that wasn't what he'd been expecting. He kept his face at careful ease and used his free hand to cover yours. Slowly, he turned your hand around and enclosed your fingers around the roll of bills. “I'm gonna make sure you get into that meeting,” he said. 

Yours and his hands remained between your bodies, fingers entwined, palm over palm. 

A microscopic crease formed between your brows. “By what? Walking straight into a danger zone? Somebody wants you dead, Joong.”

“I can take care of myself,” Hongjoong replied with a slight tightness in his mouth. “I told you I had an idea; don't worry about it.”

“No one's gonna recognize you?”

He shook his head. “They shouldn't. Not here, anyway.”

Your mouth quirked into a slight frown, and he brought his thumb to your bottom lip. He almost wanted to muse that it sounded like you cared about him, words you once said to him. 

He leaned over to put his lips in line with your ear, his words only for you to hear. “This looks good on you,” he murmured. “And as for everything Chan said and did—I’ll take care of it.”

“I swear to god I had no idea that that was who he was,” you said lowly as he pulled back. There was a flash in your eyes, twin glints of steel. “Truly was, at least.”

Hongjoong pressed his lips together. “You act like I don't believe you. I trust my people, doll.” He took your hand again and pushed the money toward you; he took a step back, adjusting his lenses and flashing you an easy, flirty grin. “Take that as reimbursement for the new accessory.”

With nothing more than a slight wave goodbye, he turned on his heel and returned to his goal. When he had a hand against the back door, he glanced back. You were gone from the hallway, out of sight. 

He pushed out a breath. Good. 

He couldn't tell if the erraticness of his heartbeat was from that encounter or what lied ahead of him. Being the Captain didn't mean he didn't get nervous, because you were right—he shouldn't be here. But there were necessary evils, risks he had to take to ensure he could keep taking them.  

By the end of your shift, your jitters from earlier had yet to settle. You spotted Hongjoong leaving a few hours ago, not long after he disappeared to “make sure you got into that meeting.” You assumed he would act a part—trust fund kid with too much money taking an interest in some bottle girl. That was the story you managed to concoct anyway. You hadn't been able to say anything to him before he left, but he had left in one piece, and that was all you could hope for, you supposed. 

You stood by the staff desktop to clock out and lock in the remainder of the profit you racked in tonight. There were undoubtedly even more whispers after the stunt you and Hongjoong pulled in the hallway. They were as unavoidable as your colleagues avoided you, their shoulders just slightly more cold than usual. 

You could imagine some of the things running past their mouths. 

A presence arrived in your peripheral vision, their hip leaning against the wall beside you. “So about that guy earlier,” Sabine trailed off with a teasing twinkle in her eyes. She brushed a strand of wine colored hair out of her face so you could really see her impish grin. 

You rolled your eyes, locking in your inputs. “I already told you,” you teased back. The two of you began making your way toward the kitchen and backrooms. “There is nothing about him; he didn't even give me his number.”

“But that tip—that tip money was probably the highest of the night. And that's saying something.”

The kitchen doors swung violently behind you as you both entered. Jungwon was by the large, industrial sink as usual, dish rag over his shoulder while he put washed glasses on a drying rack. 

He raised a hand to you, finger flicking in the direction of the employee entrance out at the back.

You nodded with a thumb's up. “I guess you're right,” you replied to Sabine, feigning nonchalance. It was bad for business if you seemed to catch feelings for a customer. You'd been in this business long enough to at least have seen it happen. 

Your counterpart lifted her brows at you. “He was kind of into you.”

“Nah,” you laughed, shaking your head. The back of your ears were inflamed, but you knew something she didn't. The image of him up close flashed in your mind, and the phantom sensation of his lips at your ear nearly made your knees buckle again. “They always talk big game but can never play it.”

“And isn't that the truth,” she snorted. 

You turned into the break room with Sabine and your eyes snagged on Ha-yi lingering by the other hallway, her head buried in her phone as she typed something. When you and Sabine entered, however, she lifted her head up and beckoned you over with a pair of curled fingers. 

Sabine clapped a hand on your shoulder. “Remember me when you're serving the VIP lounge.”

You sent her a playful shrug before bounding over to Ha-yi. Even if you could pretend to be Dove, this persona you had come up with—this caricature of yourself—the person beneath it all was the complete opposite at this moment. You needed this promotion for motives greater than this persona. 

“You served Mr. Bang and his friend tonight, correct?” she asked, even though you were certain she knew the answer. 

You nodded. “I did. His friend was… Jun, if I'm not mistaken.”

She gave a little inclination of her head. “Right, Mr. Kim Myungjun. He seemed to take a shine to you, Dove.”

Ah, well, maybe Hongjoong should have considered becoming an actor. You folded your arms over one another, tilting your head as if recalling him. “I'm guessing you saw me and him in the hallway, huh?” you asked with a little wince. “He left me a tip at the table already, but when I was cleaning up—y’know, I found an extra roll of bills on the seat and thought he might have left them by accident.”

“And then he let you keep them?”

You hummed. “Yeah, but I logged it into the computer, I swear—”

“I know,” she said. “I just wanted to let you know that I've been given permission to let you keep all of it.”

Your eyes nearly bulged out of your head. “Pardon?” You hadn't counted all the bills Hongjoong left you, but it was more than enough to cover the cost of your garter. You could have probably bought an entire season's worth of them. 

Ha-yi's mouth lifted the slightest bit, and this was probably the closest to a smile that you would ever receive from her. “You heard me,” she confirmed. “Management says that you convinced Mr. Kim to become a VIP member of the club. Nice work, Dove.”

Huh. So that was Hongjoong's game. 

You managed a smile. “Thanks.” It wasn't your efforts, though, that got him to do it. And you weren't walking out tonight with a promotion, just a bonus. How much longer would you have to wait for a decision to be made?

About half an hour later, you and Jungwon sat in the front seats of his sedan, the engine running and the radio playing at a low hum. The two of you waved to Sabine as she disappeared through the front door of her apartment complex, somewhere near Sakura's neighborhood. 

The back of your head hit the headrest and a sigh loosened from your lips. 

Jungwon chuckled as he grabbed his phone from the cupholder, tapping the screen awake to check for notifications. “Some night, right? I saw the Captain strolling through the kitchen and almost squirted soap in someone's eye.”

That at least got a laugh out of you. “Me too, except I'm glad I wasn't carrying drinks when I saw him,” you said. 

“So he didn't tell you he was coming?”

You shook your head, pursing your lips. “No. He's the boss, dude—he’s not supposed to owe me an explanation, is he?”

Jungwon lifted his shoulder in a half-hearted shrug as he pulled the car away from the curb. “Guess you're right,” he said. “I just assumed since you two are pretty close—”

“Don't tell me the gossip mill got to you,” you groaned, covering your face with your hands. 

“I can't help it—I hear what I hear!” he exclaimed helplessly, but guffawed at your embarrassment nonetheless. “Oh, by the way, I have to stop by Kkura's; she has a hard drive that needs to be passed along to Seonghwa.”

You lifted your palms. “I got you. Do what you gotta do, Won.”

The road to Sakura's apartment was a familiar one and you spent most of it with your dazed eyes out the window. Hongjoong's run at the Dionysus management was to use money and influence to get you on the VIP staff line; however, that was also what Chan did, and no progress was made. You wondered if your little, gallant act with the money would convince them—somehow. 

But if you were being honest with yourself, it was likely just a matter of time. You didn't know why they were taking so long to make a decision with the meeting barrelling full speed head, but you were sure that you had made yourself the best possible candidate that you could. 

Jungwon pulled up in the alleyway by Sakura's house and promised to be quick. 

He left you in the silence and darkness of the car. You turned your head back to the front as the exhaustion from the night's shift weighed over you. You hoped Hongjoong got back okay; you hoped everything would be alright with Ryujin. Why had Chan even gone to those lengths to weasel his way in front of you? To make a statement? 

He claimed it was reconnaissance, but he couldn't have been less invasive? Maybe it was his paranoia. After all, you thought as you rolled your head to the side to rest against your own shoulder, he was planning a mutiny—

The car lit up with the arrival of a text message on Jungwon's phone screen. Then came another, and another. 

Your eyes blinked at the brightness, squinting. Just before the screen turned dark, you caught a glimpse of the contact name: “Jjong hyungie.” 

Oh. You could have sworn Jungwon said he was an only child, but maybe it was just a close friend of his who was older than him. 

The alley door opened, and Jungwon emerged from within. He threw himself into the front seat, tossing a plastic USB into the cupholder next to his phone. “Everything good out here?” he asked absentmindedly as he clicked his seatbelt into place. 

“Yeah, 'm fine,” you said as the car's engine hummed beneath you. “I didn't know you had an older brother, by the way.”

Jungwon's body stiffened beside you. “You were looking at my phone.” It was less of a question and more of an accusation. His hand snatched the device up, his eyes flickering over the screen, before shoving it into the pocket on the other side of him. 

You straightened in your seat, nerves on alert at his tone. “It wasn't on purpose,” you swore. “I just saw the name, that was all—”

“Just” —he pressed his lips together, eyes narrowed in a way that made him look like a stranger to you— “don't do that.”

“Sure,” you stammered. “For what it's worth, I'm sorry, Jungwon.” 

He didn't say anything, and you sank in your seat and returned your gaze to the window. 

If Park Seonghwa didn't have morals or respect for him, Hongjoong was certain his second in command would have had him swimming with the fish by now. 

“Your infinite patience humbles me.”

“Oh, shut the fuck up.” 

Hongjoong pursed his lips, settling his hands over the head of his cane. His friend's tone was message enough—Hongjoong had crossed a great many lines recently. It didn't matter that Hongjoong was technically his superior; Seonghwa had every right to worry. 

From beside where Hongjoong sat, Seonghwa stood as stiff as a statue, his hands pressed behind his back and his face settled into something stony. The two of them were in Jung Joonseo's old office in the abandoned Strictland stronghold. Hongjoong thought it would be an apt meeting place to discuss a possible arrangement with Chan. He would be here any minute. 

“I can't believe you.”

There it was. 

Hongjoong massaged his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. “I don't know what I can say to convince you that I'm sorry,” he said. “It was important.”

“Do you not have faith in your own agent? Is that why it was so important?”

“That's not it,” Hongjoong insisted. He paused though. There wasn't a way he could articulate the feeling needling at the back of his mind about you. At least, not in a way that Seonghwa would understand. “Of course I trust her.”

Seonghwa's nostrils flared. “Then let her do what you assigned her to do.”

Hongjoong jammed his tongue in his cheek, hand fitting over his jaw. There simply wasn't enough time for you to establish trust with the Dionysus management the natural way. Plus, he never liked this idea of you being there in the first place. His active involvement was what kept him sane. 

A sigh from above his head: “What exactly is the nature of your relationship with her, Joong?”

“What a funny question.”

“Answer it.”

Hongjoong's eyes skirted up to Seonghwa, then returned to face forward. “There's nothing.”

“You really can do far better than that.” A beat of silence passed, and the sound of the clock in the room ticked loudly. “Is it because you still owe her a life debt?”

The thought had him shaking his head furiously. “No,” he said. “We are far past that right now.” But if you did call upon that last debt… He pressed his lips together. Was it so terrible for him to admit that he hoped you had forgotten about that offer?

“Then admit that you like her. You've grown attached.”

Hongjoong scoffed. “That's ridiculous.”

“The part where you like her or that you've grown attached?” 

He remained silent, and it was enough of an answer for Seonghwa. To him, if there was any reason for Hongjoong's hyper-involvement, it would have to be a damn good one. It wasn't as if Hongjoong had never been in danger before—but he was just asking for it, at this point. He might as well have slapped a big, red target on his back and frolicked out in the east corner. 

Furthermore, what would happen once all of this was said and done? You boarded this ship with the intention to help Ateez smoke out their enemies, but once Strictland was gone for good, did that include you, too? If Hongjoong was becoming attached to you—no, that was something that needed to be addressed later. Thought about later—Hongjoong would decide how to shift his masts once the wind blew.  

There came a knock at the office door, and Yunho appeared in the opening. “Cap'n,” he greeted with a nod, stepping aside to reveal Chan on the other side, as well as Jongho and Mingi taking up the back of the escort. 

Chan's eyes swiveled about the new space. He was still in the suit from earlier, as Hongjoong was, the alcohol smell permeating the room. Hongjoong could imagine that Seonghwa wasn't too pleased, but they couldn't just prop a window open. 

“Cozy,” Chan said as he took a seat across from him. 

Yunho closed the door behind him, standing at Chan's back, his arms crossed in front of his body. 

Hongjoong made a vague motion with his hand. “It's not mine,” he said, “but it'll do. My commanders have been brought up to speed on your proposal.”

Chan nodded, leaning forward to lock his fingers over the table top. “Alright then, what do you want to know?”

Helping Chan in this case would mean a combined effort against mutual enemies. Chan would be useful in passing along intel in regards to Jinyoung's moves and motivations, as well as anything they know about Strictland's possible next actions. 

“How much do you know about Strictland and their revival?” 

The heir made a small movement with his head. “I’m not allowed in the room where they have their meetings, but Jinyoung tells me about them afterward. But I recognized that man from the Kidult Company break-in; he's met with Jinyoung before.”

Hongjoong's brows creased. He must have meant Mr. Young. “They've met face to face?”

A nod. “Only once, but it was to discuss finances, because apparently the guy was well-versed in money in his past life,” Chan replied airily. 

Mr. Young made sense then, in this case, especially if he recognized his face. And if Jinyoung wanted a smooth retirement with plenty of income, that meant he needed this deal with Strictland to go well—in the sense that Ateez didn't have a hold over them. How could Jinyoung want this so badly that he was willing to hand over partial control of his empire to a complete stranger over Chan? What an idiot. 

“I believe Jinyoung was approached a few weeks ago about a partnership from Strictland,” he continued on. “The timing was… interesting. Jinyoung was getting nervous about you, Captain, I'll give you that. So much so that he fucked his family over.” Chan gave a disgruntled shake of his head, an indignant huff falling from his lips. 

Hongjoong supposed he could spare an ounce of sympathy for Chan. If someone took him in and practically treated him like a son, only to pull a stunt like this, it would be a knife in the back. The only difference was Hongjoong was the one doing the stabbing, and he was about to teach someone else how to pull the knife out to use himself. 

“So then what are their next moves? Do you know?” Hongjoong asked, his cheek still resting against his knuckles. 

Chan pressed his lips together. “No, we don't know their exact, next moves. But I can tell you that it'll be discussed at their next meeting.”

Hongjoong heard the pianissimo-level scoff from his second above him. He lifted two of his fingers off his cane, a signal—wait. “And when is this next meeting?”

“I thought you already knew, seeing as you've got an agent there,” Chan replied, his brows arching. “It's at the Dionysus club only a few days from now.”

So you were right, not that he doubted your instincts or information. If the leaders of this ridiculous revival act were going to be at Dionysus to meet with the heads of the Lioncrest Society, it would be an opportunity too fruitful to miss. 

Hongjoong made a small nod with his head. “Yes, we did know. The thing we need to confirm is who's coming to dinner.”

“I need to know you'll back me first,” Chan countered. He straightened in his chair, a move that made Yunho's hand slowly shift to the shadow beneath his coat. The heir had moxy—that much Hongjoong would give him—his chin was held up, shoulders confident. There was an air of authority that Hongjoong recognized. It was a shame that Jinyoung was a coward. “We make a pact of alliance, and when my people move on the head of the family, you'll support my bid.”

He had it all figured out, huh, Hongjoong thought. It was, unfortunately, a rather good move. Respectable, even. 

Hongjoong flexed the fingers over the head of his cane. “Deal,” he said. He lifted his head off his fist and extended his hand across the table. “You'll pass us information and we'll back you.”

Chan's mouth lifted into a slight smile, relieved and satisfied, as he clasped his hand with Hongjoong's. “A fine-sounding deal to me.” When he withdrew his hand, he sighed. “Jinyoung and I will be at the meeting,” Chan said, his lips pressing against one another into a line, making a dimple press into the side of his cheek. “Allegedly, the top brass from Lioncrest will be there, as well as representatives from Strictland.”

Hongjoong furrowed his brows, leaning forward in his seat. “Representatives?”

“Right,” Chan confirmed, “that Mr. Young fellow and the imposter Captain find this kind of group meeting beneath them.” He rolled his eyes, adding, “At least that's what Jinyoung mutters about. They won't be there, but there will be people there with direct access to them.”

It wasn't exactly what Hongjoong was looking for—or hoping for—but it was something. If Jinyoung had interactions with the imposter before, then he must have deemed this meeting in particular a risk he didn't want to take. How frustrating. 

“That's—fine,” Hongjoong said finally. “Nothing much we can do, but we'll work with it.”

Chan nodded in agreement. “Though, I should add that the GV and Strictland planned to move on you lot before our overseas shipment got to port.”

“Before? Then…” Hongjoong's voice trailed off. The last update he'd received from his soldiers planted in the GV's section of the dock was that the boat was about a week away. He suppressed any outward signs of concern; if Chan hadn't warned him, then the GV would have acted sometime soon with Ateez being none the wiser. 

An uncomfortable bubble filled Hongjoong's chest for the moment. How had he not seen any of it coming? Where was his head? It was impossible to be fully prepared for anything, but his peace of mind almost always came from being over prepared. 

There was much to do. 

Chan retained his solemn expression. “I trust that you'll know how to prepare? We haven't been given marching orders yet.”

Hongjoong massaged his jawline. “There are only so many ways to prepare for the unknown,” he replied. 

“True.” Chan seemed to mull something over, then inhale and ask, “You're planning to get Yn into the VIP staff to wait on the meeting, aren't you?”

“Yes, I thought you already knew that,” Hongjoong drawled. 

“Well, yes, but… no one else knows who she is, right?”

Something in the room pulled taut. Hongjoong's gloved hand enclosed around the beak of his crow-headed cane, eyes narrowing even as a lump formed in his throat. 

Seonghwa was the one to speak, though. “I suggest you tread carefully, Bang,” he said in a low voice. His hands remained behind his back, not a single falter in his stance. 

“I just needed to make sure there weren't loose ends.”

“How thoughtful of you,” the Captain replied wryly. Hongjoong fixed his opposite with a stony stare that spoke volumes on its own. “But you need not concern yourself with Yn anymore.”

It was a clear message to the Gold Village heir—Ateez protected their own like blood, and he was not kin.

a/n: pls reblog if u enjoyed !

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: his girl by @sungbeam

Feedback: I'm kicking my feet and rolling on the floor this is so cute. Babysitter Wooyoung is the best headcanon honestly. I do love a planetarium so I hope Yunho keeps to his promise and actually does it! I'm sure he will...he's a good boy (dog joke intended).

his girls

jeong yunho x f!reader

in which yunho's the happiest he's ever been.

1.5k words, nc-17, fluff, light swearing, est relationship au, ur married and have a baby, kissing, skinship/intimacy, One very lightly implied suggestive line, mentions of wine, wooyoung w baby TT, like not proofread

a/n: if u look closely, those ARE two diff photos okay 😭 also, this au was born from a dream i had abt seonghwa 😌 (seonghwa, close ur eyes. hongjoong, also close ur eyes—)

It feels almost like eight years ago all over again when Yunho pulls into the driveway. It's late, the crickets have long since begun to chirp their songs, and the lights in the front of the house glow like warm halos.

The only differences are that the house is no longer the one you shared with six other girls in college, but the house you and he bought four years ago; and he's not dropping you off and being forced to part with you—he’s got your hand wrapped in his, forevermore.

Yunho opens his mouth in a big yawn as he kills the engine to the SUV. The headlights that gleam against the garage door flicker to darkness, leaving only the orangey light from the street lamps painting the walkway. The soft song on the radio fades into silence, and he turns his head to look at you in the passenger's seat, head rolled to the side, eyes closed.

A smile, achingly fond, pulls at his lips. He wonders how deeply you're asleep, if he'll carry you inside, over the threshold all over again, his bride.

But he would be remiss to deprive you of being able to walk in and see your baby girl before you turn in for the night.

The hand that is wrapped in his is brought up to his lips, mouth brushing against knuckles, his free hand smoothing up your wrist to feel the metal warming your ring finger. “Sweetheart,” he murmurs lowly.

You hum, facial muscles twitching, as your consciousness slowly begins to wake up.

His lips pull into a grin now. “What were you saying about not being tired?” he teased.

You inhale sharply and sit up; the memories of yours and Yunho's first night out after the baby rushing back. “Fuck,” you rasp, clearing the hoarseness in your throat away. When you turn your sleep-softened eyes to him, he feels his entire body melt. “I'm sorry, Yun. No planetarium tonight, huh?”

“No, but that's okay,” he says with sincerity. Earlier, he had asked a question and glanced over to find you fast asleep. The past year and a half have been the hardest on you and your body, so he's been wanting to take you out for a nice night for a long time. Only, he should have expected that you would be too exhausted to be out later than nine—the wine at dinner likely didn't help much. “We can go some other time.”

He reaches over to brush the hair out of your eyes as you blink away the remnants of sleep.

“I liked tonight,” you muse aloud and reach to unbuckle your seatbelt. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he chuckles, kissing your knuckles again. His mouth slowly makes its way around the curve of your wrist, lips pressing against your pulse. “I just… wanted you to have a night to relax.”

You twist around in your seat and lean over to cup his face and bring him even closer to you. “I did—have a relaxing night, I mean.”

When you kiss him, he exhales against you. He can feel his brows furrow as he presses into you deeper, his hand burying in your hair to pull you closer, hold you to him. He knows you'll pull away first; you both have a human being to care for now, for goodness sake—he only wishes he could freeze time for a moment longer.

He loves his daughter, the beautiful little girl waiting inside the house for you both, but he loves his time with you, too.

“Doesn't this feel like college again?” you giggle while pulling away.

Yunho's mouth chases you across the center console and steals another kiss. “Mhm,” he murmurs, “we can make it an even more authentic experience by—”

“You're a dog, Jeong Yunho,” you reprimand jokingly.

He grins, licking the taste of your lip gloss off his lips. “Too bad you can't return me without the receipt!” he snickers, the sound only getting louder when you smack your hand against his chest. He catches you by the wrist, sliding his fingers through yours.

You sigh as he leans over and kisses your cheek. “Okay, c'mon, big guy. Let's relieve Wooyoung of his babysitting duties.”

“He'd steal our baby if he could,” Yunho scoffs, shaking his head. Wooyoung had been all too eager to watch over baby June, practically shoving you and Yunho out the door earlier this evening. Who needs to hire a babysitter when you have friends?

The sound of the car doors opening and shutting echo through the quiet neighborhood. The houses on your row are filled with other families, ranging in experience from decades of marriage to newly weds. Yunho can recall the exact moment the two of you decided on this place as your forever home, and staring up at it now with the keys to the front door swinging around his finger, puts a skip in his step.

He rounds the car with a slight jog to catch up to you, snatching your hand and twirling you out of nowhere.

Your squeal lights up the night, and he guides you into an impromptu dip, before pulling you back upright. “You're crazy,” you say to him, breathless.

He smiles as he leans down and slots his nose against yours. “Good thing you love crazy, right?” he replies, voice going low.

He gets butterflies every time he kisses you, and this time—the thousandth time today—is no different.

“You must love me or something,” you jest as you loop your arms around his neck.

“Or something,” he laughs. “Have I ever told you that you're my everything?”

There's a sweet darkness that blooms over your cheeks and he has to use every ounce of willpower not to steal your breath away again. He only smiles, a gesture bursting with love and adoration, and feels the warmth of your cheekbone beneath his knuckle. “Ditto,” you say quietly, returning his smile. “You're awfully lovey dovey tonight, Yun.”

“Maybe it's just 'cause you make me feel like a teenager in love,” he sighs melodramatically. His hands drop down to your waist, and then the two of you are walking up the steps to the front door.

The porch light above your heads hums with soft light, and Yunho turns the key into the lock. Briefly, he thinks of the number of times he will be doing this: coming home from work every day to his girls, shouldering through the door with groceries, opening it for baby June to run through after school, seeing you off in the mornings before work.

His girls. Right.

It rushes through his head like a tidal wave cresting over him, but the smile on his face never leaves and he can't wait to feel the water engulf him.

It's not fear of what's to come, but absolute giddiness.

When the front door opens, warmth pours out onto the porch steps and he can already hear Wooyoung's groan of disappointment. From Yunho's vantage point, he can make out the shape of one large, adult-sized male lying on the floor of the living room beside a much smaller bean of a human being.

“Already?” Wooyoung bemoans as he peers up at the two of you, bottom lip jutting out.

A delighted giggle gurgles out of the little one next to him. All eyes turn to baby June, who's limbs flail in the air as she lights up at the sight of her parents.

“Sorry Woo,” Yunho chuckles, not really sincere, as you scurry over to pick up your daughter. His entire body floods with something fuzzy and soft. He becomes mush at the sight of you cooing at June, his heart tender. “This one fell asleep in the car.”

Wooyoung clambers to his feet and Yunho glances down at the pink apron that is tied around his waist.

“Don't judge me,” his friend squawks.

Yunho raises his hands in surrender. “I didn't say anything!” Now that he thinks about it, there's definitely something warm and sweet in the air… like cookies… Wait, June can't even eat cookies yet— “Wooyoung, what did you make, dude?”

Wooyoung purses his lips, tucking his hands behind his back. “I got hungry. And y'know, your other half likes my cookies, so…”

“You can do anything in my kitchen as long as you clean up and you don't let Yunho in,” you pipe up, gently cradling June as the baby clings to your shoulder with sleep in her eyes.

Like mama, like daughter—Yunho could die of cuteness. His mouth curls into a deep frown-like smile. These are his girls. His girls.

“Oh my god, he's so down bad that he didn't even hear your insult.”

Yunho waddles over to wrap his arms around his girls. Down bad? This isn't news. “Wooyoung, get out before you never get to babysit again.”

Wooyoung shoots him a grin and salutes. “You got it, Boss!”

When he's made a swift exit from the room, Yunho leans his cheek against the top of your head with a happy little sigh. Maybe yours and his evening out is cut short, but being here? This is pretty damn perfect, too.

a/n: pls reblog if u enjoyed !

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Happy Birthday? by @solaris-amethyst

Feedback: you added so many cool details I haven't seen before like the letter at the beginning and the text message format. I really enjoyed it. Also I just thought this was fluffy and cute! Jongho is so thoughtful when getting presents, I love it! So Good!!!!

🪻Happy birthday?🪻

✨Pairing: Human!Jongho x Vampire!Gn!Reader ✨Prompt: Jongho gets an unexpected invitation to a birthday party along with an address so he decides very spontaneously to go to this mysterious persons birthday party. After all, what could go wrong? ✨Genre: fluff, vampire au, some humor (I tried my very best😭), fantasy au, strangers to friends au, ✨Rating: pg-13, one mention of going to pubs and clubs but no details, one mention of the reader being in the hospital and dying but no real details, ✨Word count: 6.8k ☀️Authors note: I just love Jongho, that's it😌💕 plus we always get vampire!ateez x reader so I thought why not try and switch it up a little bit🥰 this took way longer write than anticipate for me… may has kept me super busy so I haven’t had much time to work on any of my stories🥲

Jongho stared at the letter he had found in his letterbox after coming home from work in confusion. There was no name from the sender so he had no idea who this person might be that had invited him, he had checked the envelope it came in as well and not a single name on who it might be from.

"What the hell is a fledgling?" He mumbles, brows pinched as he tries to figure out what that means. He's never heard it before and honestly thinks it sounds weird, is this person celebrating their baby bird or something like that?

Jongho walks into the kitchen and puts the invitation down on the kitchen table as he opens the fridge to find something to eat after coming home from a long day at both school and work. It had been grating, first a bunch of tests and quizzes at uni combined with hour long lectures where the teachers only spent hours going through a powerpoint and not really adding much more than that to then clock in at work where he was met with chaos, orders gone wrong and the need to take inventory of everything before the day was over or else they'd get in trouble from the higher ups. He had spent his whole shift running around trying to complete orders with San while simultaneously trying to take inventory with Yunho before the day was over.

He was downright exhausted to his very core.

A part of him couldn't help but think that perhaps he should go to this birthday party, he was after all invited. Jongho knows that if he told his coworkers, who happens to be the only people he could really say he was close to, they'd throw a fuss and say it wasn't safe. San probably claim that he could get hurt whilst Yunho would suggest just not going.

But they wouldn't really understand, he feels lonely, at university no one really speaks to him. The people in his class hangs out with each other without really inviting him, he once asked if he could join some of them but was shut down due to him not drinking or partying.

He had tried to tell them that he does drink, perhaps not the same quantity that they do, it's just that he doesn't like partying. Going to loud clubs and dancing in such a tight space isn't something he is overtly fond of, he tried it once and never wanted to do it again. But he had never said he wouldn't be up for going for a drink and hanging out at a pub from time to time with others and get to know them.

"Ah! There you are!" He beams triumphantly when he finds the lunch box filled with leftover japchae. Now he was certainly glad he had made way to much food the other day when he had only meant to do two servings instead of six.

Jongho carefully places the lunch box in the microwave and reheats his food to a nice temperature, checking if it was hot enough the first time by putting his finger in the middle of the food once the microwave went off only to find out his food was stone cold in the middle.

"Ugh seriously?" He mutters as he closes the door once more to reheat it again knowing that his food will become piping hot instead, he will have to be careful so he won't burn his tongue this time.

As he waits for the timer to go off again his eyes trails back to the invitation.

For some reason his chest grows a bit warm at the idea that someone really wanted him at their birthday party enough to personally send an invitation, especially one this pretty, it even had a faint smell of roses. He thinks back to the address on the invitation, Oxford Street, he wonders who might be living there, he has gone there a few times to browse though some of the shops there or to just take in the scenery. It's one of the many perks of going to a University in the middle of London in his opinion.

Ding!

"Finally." He mutters as he takes out the food from the microwave, walking over to the living room where he can sit down in his sofa and enjoy his food whilst watching another episode of The Great British Bakeoff.

Jongho hadn't meant to become a fan of the show but it was strangely addicting to watch people compete in baking goodies. He was no expert in baking himself but he acted like he was a master at it when he was watching the show. Commenting when someone added too much flour or whisked the batter too much, it made it even more enjoyable for some reason. Today they are baking two things apparently, one is called an apple dumpling and a flapjack, two very different things that required certain skill sets Jongho most certainly did not have.

Jongho leaned back on the sofa as the episode is going on but he can only focus half of the time on what is going on. His thoughts drifts back to the mysterious invitation. What would he even get someone he doesn't know nor know who sent it? He wondered as he gazed down at his own food.

"What do you get someone who is a complete mystery to you?" He sighs leaning his head back as he wrecks his brain and he comes up with nothing.

Perhaps he will try and ask Yunho and San tomorrow at work.

For now he will enjoy his food, the reality tv and his very soft and comfy sofa.

--------

"Can I ask the two of you a question?" Jonghos voice cuts through the silence as the flow of customers had finally slowed down enough for him, Yunho and San to take a break, drink some drinks and eat some snacks. His coworkers looked at him with curious eyes, it was rare that Jongho asked questions and right now he looked a bit nervous and unsure which peaked their interests.

"Sure."

"You can ask us anything."

The two of them gave him gentle smiles and their full attention and for a moment he struggled with finding the correct words, so that they would understand him and not freak out immediately for wanting to go to this strangers birthday party.

"Okay... ummm... I'm not really sure how to phrase this so I'm just gonna go for it. What would be a good present for someone that you have never met or know? Like for their birthday? Is there anything that would be good as a general present?" He asks while fiddling with his hands as he tries to look as unsuspicious as he possibly could.

His two coworkers observes him for a while, it isn't like the Jongho they know to act like this and well, the two of them can't help but be curious and slightly worried as Jongho more often than not was someone confident who never fiddled with his hands or couldn't look them properly in the eyes when talking.

"Are you going to a birthday party?" San asks curiously, wondering who might have invited him.

"Yeah?"

"You sound a bit unsure though... Do you even know this person? Kinda sounded like to me as if you got no clue who it is?" Yunho says as he leans back on the counter and Jongho shrugs lightly.

"I don't know the person that's why I'm asking."

"Are you going with someone you know? Perhaps they know who it is and can help you?" San offers and Jongho sighs knowing he can't avoid telling them the truth.

"That's the thing... I'm going alone?" He mumbles and both his coworkers straighten up at that.

"Alone? As in going alone to someone you've never met before?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I mean why not? I never get invited to things... I thought it could be nice, they specifically asked for me. Perhaps it is someone I know but they just forgot to put their name on the invitation. I don't know, I just-" He sighs and his shoulders slump. "I just thought that finally someone actually invites me somewhere and specifically put in the invitation that they want me there and that doesn't usually happen to me."

"A book."

"W-what?" Jongho looks up at Yunho in surprise.

"I think a book is a good thing to get someone if you don't know them. And keep the receipt so they can change it if they aren't interested in that particular genre." He finishes with a small smile as he walks closer to Jongho before giving him a side hug.

"I can tell this is important to you, I may not understand it fully but, if you go can you promise me to text us often, when you arrive, if they're nice or weird, if you need a cover to get out of there, if something where to happen so we can go over there and get you or just anything else. Think you can promise me that?" Yunhos warm and kind voice travel throughs the room and Jongho feels his chest warm up at what his coworker and friend is telling him.

Jongho takes his time to look at Yunho, behind those brown eyes is such kindness and understanding he rarely gets directed towards himself when he opens up about feeling lonely or left out at uni and now he's getting it and so much more. Yunho is willing to help him with this as long as he keep in touch so he will know that he's safe and he might be getting a bit teary but he hides it well by blinking and muttering he got something in his eyes as he gently moves his finger to wipe a tear trying to escape.

"I'm with Yunho, if it means a lot to you then you should do it and a book is a good idea. And please keep contact with us or else I might combust from worrying." San says, his eyes crinkling as a gentle smile appears on his face.

Jongho lets out a breath he did not realize he was holding. He had been so nervous that they both would judge him or force him to not go.

"Thank you... both of you." He mumbles and the two of them embrace him with San gently patting his head.

"Do you have the invitation with you?" He asks curiously and Jongho goes to pick it up from his bag, showing them both the invitation.

"It's really pretty." Yunho says as his eyes scan the invitation with San leaning close to also get a look.

"Yeah! It even smells like roses!" San says and Jongho nods.

The three of them continue to talk about the invitation, what book he should possibly get based on the invitation and somehow it also shifted into what he should wear. Both Yunho and San agreed that he should not wear something super formal like a suit, they argued that he should go for something soft, perhaps a cozy sweater and some nice jeans. Jongho couldn't help but smile as the two of them talked passionately about this and he enjoyed the feeling of knowing that they saw and understood him and even now they made sure he knew he was important to them.

It was decided that he would text them every twenty to thirty minutes on Saturday when he was going to the birthday party so they would know he was okay.

--------

To say Jongho was nervous was an understatement, he felt like he was sweating buckets as he sat on the train. What if this was all a mistake were going through his head constantly but then he'd remind himself how happy he had been when he had read the invitation for the first time and how much thought he had put into the present he had gotten this person.

He had decided to buy one of the classic tales, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and a bracelet. The bracelet wasn't anything big or flashy, just a simple chain with small sunflowers decorating it. Both presents were wrapped neatly in a dark brown paper with some green and pink ribbons to tie it all together along with a little congratulations and thank you card. The receipts were in his pockets just in case the person wouldn't like the gifts he got them or if they already had something like this so they could exchange it. His foot keeps bouncing on the floor as he sat in his seat, staring up at the placard where every station was announced, just two more stations and then he'd be at Oxford Street.

He fished up his phone and sent a text to the group chat with Yunho and San letting them know he was soon there.

I'm almost at Oxford Street now!

Yunho: That's great! Are you nervous?

A little bit actually😕

San: Don't be nervous! I'm sure it will go great🥰

Yunho: Remember to text us once you're at the door so we know when your answers might take a little longer!

San: but make sure you send us an update every 15-20 minutes or I will personally come and rescue you!😤

Thank you, both of you really... I gotta get off the train now but I will send you a message before I knock on the door!☺️

Jongho put the phone in his pocket again before getting up from his seat and off the train. Walking up to above the ground from the London Underground took him a while but once out of there he took off with what looked like confident steps towards the direction he had to go.

Nothing could stop him now. After all, he was invited and the excitement was slowly but surely building itself up within him the closer he got to his destination.

Yeah, this day would be a good one he could tell.

--------

"Do you think Mister Davis will be arriving soon??" You asked your sire for the fiftieth time causing him to groan from the kitchen.

"For the last time Y/n, I do not know when Mister Davis will arrive, he's an elderly man it could take him some time to get here on time. You know that." Seonghwa, your sire, told you.

You groaned at what the elderly vampire had told you, you really had no patience in regards to this. You hadn't seen Mister Davis for about four years now and finally, finally, Seonghwa had deemed you experienced enough around human blood to not loose it like other fledgelings sometimes did. He often called you a prodigy and very proudly boasted about you to his friends much to your giddiness.

He was like a proud parent and to some extent he was, he was your parental figure in the vampire way. If there was one thing you did then it was adoring him, he showed clear signs of how old he was, being over nine hundred years old yet he did not look a day over twenty-eight. His hair was currently a beautiful pink, which hadn't been planned at all on his part but you had decided to play a prank on him and switch his shampoo with some hair dye instead.

You may or may not have been laughing hysterically when he came out of the bathroom with his hair a hot pink while he looked unamused at you.

You bounced over to the kitchen to check what he was doing, taking in all the food, drinks, snacks and desserts he had prepared while you were banished from the kitchen.

"Watcha doing?" You ask curiously glancing over his shoulder to see what he could possibly be doing when he had already made so much for this party.

Which would only really fit three people, you, him and Mister Davis.

"I'm making an appetizer, just something small, some nice garlic bread since I know how much you like them and a cheese board with crackers, grapes, berries and some sauces." Seonghwa tells you as he finishes the last things.

"Wow, you've really done so much for this party!" You say in amazement failing to notice the fond look he gives you as he takes in your awed expression.

"It is not every day your fledgling has a birthday nor every day they can celebrate this early on that they can be out with humans again with no problems!" He says and you notice the slight bragging tone in his voice as he says that.

"Have you been bragging about me?" You ask genuinely curious to see if he has been and you hug him tightly when he gives you a little nod.

Seonghwa almost never brags and now he's told you that he does in fact brag and it's about you. It causes you to hug him tighter and he can't help but laugh.

"Don't let it get to your head okay?"

"I promise it won't Seongh-"

Ding dong

"That must be Mister Davis!" You gasp as you hear the bell ring, immediately throwing yourself out of the kitchen and rushing to the door eagerly to see the elderly man you had befriended a few years ago.

"Welcome Mister... Davis?" Your eager welcoming trails down into something akin closer to confusion. At the door is not Mister Davis but a young man, his hair is brown and looks soft and he look's a bit nervous as he darts from you form down to a present he's holding in his hands and then back to you.

"H-hello?" He asks unsurely and it causes you to snap out of the confusion you had entered earlier.

"You're not Mister Davis." You state and the boy in front of you looks like he wants to melt into the floor.

"No... ummm My name is Jongho? I-i got an invitation?" He says or more like asks as he holds up an invitation, which oh so happens to be the very same invitation Seonghwa had sent out earlier this week.

"Oh..."

"I could leave if I'm not invited or if there just was a mistake." He starts blabbering on nervously and you're quick to shake your head as you check the invitation he has in his hand.

"You live on the same place as Mister Davis?" You ask curiously wondering if the old man had sent this man in his stead and Jongho shakes his head.

"No Mister Davis moved about two and a half years ago back to Ireland." He tells you and when he sees your shoulder sagging in sadness he's quick to continue. "He had to move back because of a relative who had gotten hurt. He truly didn't want to move but he had to." He lets you know and you look at him again.

"Do you... do you wanna come inside?" You ask when you realize that this man actually came to your party even though the invitation was meant for someone else he still came with a present and everything.

"You don't want me to leave?" He looks surprised causing you to shake your head.

"Might sound dumb but I only really invited Mister Davis to my birthday party... so it would be incredibly lonely if I turned you away, plus you seem like a really nice person. Coming here despite not knowing me or who I am." You say and the mans shoulder slowly relaxes.

If anyone were to ask Jongho what he was thinking right now it would be something close to relief that the person who had invited him was nice, looked to be about his age and weren't weird. You were even good friends with old people like Mister Davis and that had to count for something right?

"If you don't think it's super weird then yeah I'd like to come in and celebrate you if that isn't too weird?" He says with a chuckle and you smile and step aside to let him inside.

"The name is Y/n by the way!” You tell him as he steps inside. He’s polite and take off his shoes immediatly after stepping inside and you’re quick to ask if he want some indoor slippers to which he nods gratefully.

”Thank you for the slippers! Oh! Before I forget!” He bends down and picks up the package he had put down as he took off his shoes and holds it out to you with a shy smile.

”This is for you! Happy birthday!” He tells you and you can’t stop the gasp from leaving your mouth.

”This is beautiful Jongho!” You say taking in the beautiful present. ”Have you wrapped this yourself?”

”Yeah I have, or well I got some help from a friend of mine at work.” He tells you and you note he’s starting to relax more now that he’s inside and the conversation keeps going.

”That’s nice of them to help you wrap it. It will be a shame to have to open it later and tear up your beautiful creation.” You hum and Jongho can feel the tips of his ears grow red at your comment.

”It’s not that good.” He tries to deny it but the glare you send him tells him he’s not allowed to say such things in your presence.

”Don’t say such nonsens!” You almost hiss at him before catching yourself, people like Seonghwa are well aware that you don’t enjoy when people minimize the effort and skills they might have put down to create something but Jongho here doesn’t. And you don’t want to scare him away in any shape or form.

”Sorry! I didn’t mean to hiss at you.”

Jongho just shakes his head telling you it’s alright, he understands he tells you as you lead him into the living room. ”Do you live here alone?” Jongho asks curiously as he looks around the living room, it’s not like anything he’s ever seen before. It’s dark, perhaps a bit gritty and a bit gothic in interior design but he find himself not minding the darker colors or the black and red.

Had this been a movie he’d surely think perhaps a vampire lived here but alas it is not a movie and vampires aren’t real as far as Jongho is concerned.

He's never met one after all.

”Oh no! I live here with Seonghwa! He’s in the kitchen right now.” You clear your throat and turn towards the kitchen. ”Seonghwa! Come say hello to my guest!”

”I’m coming, I’m coming darling!” He calls back and Jongho almost drops his jaw when the man named Seonghwa enters the living room. He’s absolutely gorgeous, pink hair falling down in luscious locks, pale skin and a perfect complexion. Seonghwa however stops in his tracks when he saw your guest, alarm bells going off in his head as to why a random man is sitting on his couch next to his fledgling.

Before you can get another word out Seonghwas eyes are turning slightly red not in anger but perhaps suspicion and a little bit of fear. This time Jongho really does drop his jaw to the floor because there is no way he just saw the man’s eyes shift from a dark brown into vivid red.

He could have sworn he saw fangs as well when the man snarled but that must be his mind conjuring tricks… right?

”Seonghwa! Stop it! This is Jongho, he lives in the apartment Mister Davis used to live at but Mister Davis has apparently moved back to Ireland! Jongho is nice and my guest so stop trying to scare him off!! You’ll make me look stupid in front of him!” You chastise your sire in front of your guest, and Seonghwa is visibly taken aback by your words and Jongho marvels at the fact that the man is quick to regain his composure again.

”Oh… so that is why a random stranger is in my living room. Why didn’t you say anything when you opened the door Y/n?” He looks at you with dissaproving eyes and Jongho notes that his eyes are back to a dark brown now.

”Because I knew you’d react this way! Please let him stay, he got me a present and everything! Plus it would be rude to throw him out after I let him inside.” You pout and look at him with sweet eyes and Seonghwa cannot find it in himself to deny you.

Especially not on your birthday.

"Fine, he can stay. But one step out of line and you'll be thrown out the door head first." He threatens Jongho and you grumble and glare at him to stop.

"I won't do anything bad I promise sir." Jongho says quickly, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't sweating a bit because of the man in front of him. He looked delicate the way he was holding himself but something told Jongho that he was stronger than he looked.

Perhaps it was the red eyes.

"Good." Seonghwa nods and straightens up. "I will go get the food, you two continue to chat." He swiftly turns around again and briskly walks out of the living room.

"I am so sorry Jongho... I understand if you'd wanna leave after that." You sigh, the heavy feeling of dissapointment settling into your bones thinking that Seonghwa has scared away your potential new friend after just inviting him inside.

"It's okay... I think..." Jongho mutters and you look at him with a raised eyebrow causing him to chuckle. "I won't lie and say I wasn't scared there for a second... I genuinely thought he'd throw me out before I even could get a word in." He admits and your eyes widen.

"Oh no! He'd never do that! I wouldn't allow it! Plus he cannot say no to me. Trust me he has tried and he always give in within the span of two seconds." You explain, feeling relief that he doesn't seem to wanna leave just yet.

"I have to ask, was I only seeing things or did his eyes just turn red when he saw me?" He asks and you respond without missing a beat not really thinking if this is something you should share or not.

"Yeah duh he's a vampire."

"He's a what now?"

"A vampire."

"Vampires aren't real... are they?"

Jonghos confused and slightly worried tone makes you realize what you just did, the one thing Seonghwa said not to do aka confess that either him or you were vampires since people aren't supposed to know vampires exists any more.

"Oh shit." You just stare at Jongho before awkwardly laughing, glancing towards the kitchen wondering if Seonghwa has been listening to the conversation or if he's in his own world.

Jongho is staring at you not really sure what to think. On one hand it would make sense that the older man is a vampire. He fits the vampire standard to a tea and well, he did see his eyes glow red and that he had fangs. But at the same time they weren't real but then again he thinks if vampires were real they'd probably make sure everyone thought they weren't just to be able to live in peace and quiet.

"Y/n." He looks at you, really taking you in and that's when he notices the small things about you as well, you look pale as if your skin is not getting enough blood in the system to keep your skin looking healthy and more alive. He notes that as you've been awkwardly chuckling looking slightly panicked after the older man that you do in fact have fangs, not as big as the ones Seonghwa had but you have them nonetheless.

"Are you a vampire?" He asks, genuinely curious. Jongho finds himself curious, the fear he thought for a second he'd have is not there. Perhaps it's because you've been so kind to him so far and genuinely want to have him there that he can't really see you as a threat or perhaps he's just incredibly stupid. He hasn't decided yet which one it is.

You look at Jongho when he asks the question you'd hoped he wouldn't ask and let out a trembling sigh.

"Yes?" You don't really sound convincing with your answer, to be honest the fear and anxiety of Jongho potentially storming out in fear or even worse disgust is taking over, you may not have known him for very long but he and his gentle soul had already etched itself into your heart.

"That's pretty cool!" He says and you stare at him with wide eyes, taking a moment to fully process what he just said to you.

"Wait what?"

"Yeah it's pretty cool you're a vampire! I didn't know they existed until now." He admits and he giggles at the shocked expression you got going on.

"You think I'm cool?" Your voice goes a bit higher up as you try to keep up with the fact that he's not scared. He thinks you're cool instead.

"Yeah I do! I mean it's not every day you get to meet two vampires who are both honestly super nice if you overlook the tiny moment in which he threatened me but you know, my friends would probably have done the same." He chuckles and before you can stop yourself you're chuckling, feeling your shoulders relax and your posture slouching slightly in relief.

"Thanks. It means a lot, I genuinely thought you'd run."

"Nah it takes more than that to scare me." He says confidently.

"That sounds like a challenge to me." You say with a smirk and Jongho shoots one back with confidence.

"I'd like to see you try."

"Oh I'll scare you eventually Jongho just you wait."

The two of you continue to chat as Seonghwa comes out with food and drinks, he gives your head a lil' kiss before he goes back to the kitchen, giving you space to be with your new friend without him hovering around like a mama bear.

"So I have to ask... what is a fledgeling?" Jongho asks curiously "I saw it mentioned in the invitation and I honestly have no clue what that is."

"Oh! I'm a fledgeling! It's a term for like baby vampires."

"But you're not a baby?" He tilts his head as he tries to understand and you quickly explain:

"That is true but I am a "baby" in vampire terms, I've not been alive... no that's not the correct way to put it... to try and make it simple I haven't been a vampire for long to be considered an adult and to Seonghwa who is my sire I will always be his fledgeling."

Jongho nods as he mulls over your words, your explanation makes sense to him. It's like with babies and children, even when you eventually become an adult you will always be someone's child.

"That makes a lot of sense." He says before he looks at you.

"Anything else you want to ask?" You wonder as Jongho looks conflicted.

"I hope I'm not insensitive with this question but how did you get turned into a vampire?"

You note that he looks a bit uncomfortable as he asks the question, fingers fiddling with his shirt, eyes glancing at you and then back at the table and you find yourself smiling at him as you move a bit closer to him so you can put your hand on his and give it a little squeeze.

"It's not insensitive to ask, at least not in my opinion. I was sick, very sick actually to the point where I was hospitalized for months and well I was eventually told I wouldn't make it through to the end of the year. Seonghwa was a doctor at the time and he had been the one to take care of me, we grew really close during that time and he eventually asked me the question if I wanted to be turned into a vampire like him after he had told me his secret so I could continue to live." You say thinking back to those days in the hospital bed before continuing. "Honestly I didn't want to die, there was so much I wanted to do and see and experience before it was my time to go."

"Did it hurt? When he turned you I mean?"

"Not really, I barely felt a thing but Seonghwa has said it was because I was already dying so him turning me into a vampire freed me from it all. I'm very happy where I am now." You say with a bright smile glancing towards the kitchen where you know Seonghwa is knowing he is listening in on the conversation.

"Okay then I got another question... and I have no clue if this is rude to ask vampires but I have to know." He starts and you snort finding it funny how he just seems to come up with question after question for you.

"Go ahead." You urge him to continue and he takes a breath before looking at you seriously and asking.

"How old are you?"

The laughter escapes you before you even have time to fully process the question, of course he'd wonder if it would be rude asking a vampire their age.

"I'm 26."

"Okay, how," He clears his throat. "How long have you been 26?"

"For three years."

"W-what?" To say Jongho was surprised would be an understatement, he was shocked. He had expected a number like 200 years or something close to that.

"S-seriously?"

"Yeah! I know it sounds so dumb when I say it! Like I really gotta wait a few hundred years before it sounds cool." You whine falling back onto the couch dramatically.

"That's what you meant by baby in vampire years!" Jongho exclaims as he points a finger at you.

"Ughhhhh yes shhhh don't remind me! I gotta wait until I'm 150 years old before I can count myself an adult according to mister ancient in the kitchen."

"I heard that!!" Seonghwa calls from the kitchen with a sigh.

"You were meant to old man!!" You call back before turning to Jongho.

"No but seriously it would be way cooler if I could say I've been 26 for 400 years but no... only 3 years." You fake sob and Jongho has the audacity to laugh at you and your misery.

"Are you laughing at my misery?!" You gasp looking at him with wide eyes acting offended.

"Sorry, sorry it just looks like you're throwing a temper tantrum, perhaps your age is showing." He smirks before he breaks into giggles again.

"SEONGHWAA! Jongho is calling me a child!!!" You scream and all you hear is him chuckling from the kitchen.

"Perhaps he is right about that sweetheart."

"Oh great now you both have bounded together to be against me. Ugh I can never win can I?"

"Stop being so dramatic dear, come on sit up, we're about to eat cake and perhaps you want to open the presents Jongho has brought you?" Seonghwa asks as he enters the room with a beautiful cake which has been decorated with care and passion.

"I could go for a slice of cake and a present right now actually." You mumble sitting up and Jongho goes to get his present before handing it to you.

"Happy birthday Y/n." He says happily as he hands you the presents and you smile as you start opening them.

"Does it matter which one I start with?"

"It doesn't, open whichever you want first."

You decide to open the bigger present first, gently taking off the ribbons before opening the paper. What you see inside is a stunning edition of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, it's dark with golden decoration and is absolutely beautiful. The pages are that beautiful creamy white color and everything looks so neat and put together.

"Thank you Jongho, genuinely thank you! Oh I will be enjoying reading this one during the nights." You feel so much gratitude towards your new friend in this moment. This present isn't just a random pick, it feels like he's genuinely put so much thought and effort into which book to pick until he landed on this special edition.

"I'm glad you like it, I still have the receipt if you've read it?" Jongho feels that familiar sense of happiness settling in his bones, he'd been so nervous before that you wouldn't like the book even when San and Yunho had told him everything would be fine and it wouldn't be the ends of the earth if you had read it.

"I haven't and I've been wanting to read it for a while now so this is perfect!" You beam at him, holding the book closer to you. The two of you are just emitting joy which is so infectious Seonghwa cannot help himself but to smile widely as well.

You put the book away gently, it's now very precious to you and you'd hate for it to get damaged just when you got it before you pick up the smaller present. Opening it just as gently as the first one you find a little box and when you open it to see a beautiful but simple bracelet with sunflowers decorating it.

"Oh Jongho this is beautiful." You marvel at it as you hold it up so you and Seonghwa can see it better, before you urge him to help you put it on and once it's on your wrist you take a moment to truly appreciate the gift before you fling yourself at Jongho engulfing him in a hug.

"Thank you, truly thank you. And thank you for turning up it has meant more to me than I can explain." You thank him, voice getting thick with emotions as Jonghos arms envelop you as he returns the hug.

"You're welcome and I should say thank you to you as well. Thank you for inviting me even when I wasn't the one you had been expecting. It has meant more to me than you probably know as well." He says quietly.

As the two of you eventually let go of each other a buzzing noise can be heard somewhere in the room. Now that you think of it, it has been in the background for some time now but you just thought it was a random fly buzzing around being annoying.

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"The buzzing noise?"

"Oh shit! That's my phone!" Jongho quickly searches for his phone and when he finds it he unlocks the phone allowing you to see all the 200+ messages he's gotten in the span of 40 minutes.

"I forgot I was supposed to text my friends every like 15 minutes so they'd know I'm okay." He sounds horrified as if he knows his friends might do something unhinged if he doesn't respond soon enough.

"You might want to respond to them then." Seonghwa says with a chuckle and you giggle as you read their messages over Jonghos shoulder.

San: If you don't respond in 5 minutes I'm calling the cops

Yunho: Jongho send one dot if you need help and rescuing two dots if you're okay.

San: How can he be okay he hasn't responded in 40 minutes?!

Yunho: Shush! Maybe they're having fun... and he just forgot?

San: Jongho doesn't forget... does he?

Sorry I forgot to text you two... I'm fine, they're super nice and I've made a new friend so please stop spamming me and do NOT call the cops. I am not missing or kidnapped. I am having fun with my new friend. But thank you for being concerned☺️💗

"They seem to love you a lot huh?" You say snickering as Jongho scrolls through the hundreds of dramatic texts they've sent him in panic.

"They do, they're my only friends and they mean well even if they can be a bit too much." He admits with a smile and you nudge your shoulder to his.

"Nah they're not your only friends, you got me now as well." You say causing Jongho to smile shyly at you.

After that the two of you continued to celebrate and get to know each other. You found out Jongho loves The Great British Bakeoff and that he finds joy in small simple things while you tell him your interests and what you enjoy doing for the rest of the evening as Seonghwa continues to come in periodically to the living room with more snacks and drinks. The two of you end up exchanging phone numbers and social media accounts and by the end of the evening you both have decided on multiple dates you'd meet up to hang out.

"Thank you for coming and becoming my friend Jongho."

"Thank you for becoming mine."

[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Brotherhood by @xomakara

BROTHERHOOD : An Ateez Series

The Brotherhood is an elite, fearsome mafia syndicate ruled by ruthless hierarchy and dangerous loyalty. At its core are eight key men, each with a distinct role, identity, and story. As power struggles and emotional entanglements collide, we follow the women who cross their paths—some as enemies, others as lovers, and some caught in between.

Main genres: smut, angst, drama, Mafia AU

General Warnings: includes mentions of violence/death (as goes all mafia au fics), drinking, mentions of smoking, mafia hits, betrayal, profanity/strong language, dark themes, morally grey areas. Each story will have more tags and will be 18+ ONLY, so MDNI.

Sign up here if you would like to be tagged in each story :)

The stories will be posted in this exact order ☺️

all story banners and dividers done by @hobeemin (thank you like always 🩵)

The Price of Loyalty

Jeong Yunho x Choi Jongho x Reader You lead a double life as an executive at the Lee Group and a Butterfly Syndicate member who must infiltrate the Brotherhood of Ateez as a stripper. As feelings for Yunho and Jongho developes, and your father’s truth emerges, will you remain loyal to the Butterfly Syndicate or choose a different path? read it here

Between Duty and Desire

Jung Wooyoung x Reader Wooyoung, one of the high-ranking rookies of the Brotherhood, falls for one of his fellow rookies, not knowing that you’re actually an undercover cop. read it here

The Unbreakable Bond

Choi San x Reader When San is injured during a collection job, a kind stranger takes him in and nurses him back to health. Unaware of his ties to the Brotherhood, you soon find yourself pulled into a world of crime, loyalty, and unexpected connection. coming soon

A Rose in the Underworld

Kang Yeosang x Reader Yeosang, a master manipulator in the Brotherhood, seduces a strong-willed prosecutor to uncover the evidence she’s building against them. But as their power struggle intensifies, so does their mutual obsession. coming soon

Between Two Worlds

Song Mingi x Reader When your child is kidnapped by a rival gang, Mingi—fixer for the Brotherhood—steps in to help. His unexpected compassion bridges the gap between two very different worlds. coming soon

Beyond the Bloodline

Park Seonghwa x Reader You long for a peaceful life away from crime, but after falling for Seonghwa—unaware that he’s the underboss of your sister’s enemy gang—you’re caught between love and the blood feud between the Brotherhood and the Butterfly Syndicate. coming soon

Under the Crimson Moon

Kim Hongjoong x Reader At a fragile gang summit, old flames reignite between you and Hongjoong, now rival mafia bosses with a bloody past. But when you learn your sister is secretly dating his underboss, the tentative truce shatters, threatening war. coming soon

© xomakara - All works on this blog are protected under copyright. I do NOT allow any of my works to be entered into any form of AI

[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Chapter Twelve: The Enemy of My Enemy by @sungbeam

Feedback: the panicked "play along" is so real, don't blow my cover Chan. I also love the inclusion of other groups and names and how well you manage them in the story, don't think I didn't notice Jun and Kidult a few chapters ago, I see you. No but seriously I love every chapter I read of this so much

BIRDS OF PREY — twelve

nonidol!kim hongjoong x f!reader

living in gray areas of your city, out of the way of gangs and mafia territories, could only keep you safe for so long. it was only a matter of time before you began running into problems, or rather, problems began running into you.

▷ genre, warnings. nc-17, strangers 2 lovers, slow burn, mafia au, angst, swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of money laundering, implications of an uncomfortable workplace situation, just sus feelings in general

▷ word count. 6.9k

« prev · m.list · next »

a/n: i literally just finished formatting this lol almost didn't make it to uploading in time, this week has been... woof. anyways, a much longer chapter this week as promised

CHAPTER TWELVE: THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY

LACE AGAINST BARE SKIN would never not be a thrilling sensation: the slight friction, the silken loops and designs, the delicate weight of material wrapped around a place it had never been before. 

The thigh garter was your newest addition to your uniform at Dionysus. The day after your conversation with Hongjoong, you'd gone out to hunt for the most subtle and chic version of an unsubtle and sensual accessory. It rode around mid thigh, just slightly above your knee and slightly below the hemline of your dress. You let yourself into Sakura's apartment about an hour before your shift, a giddy skip in your heart rate. 

Sakura twirled around in her chair, her legs criss-crossed beneath her, with a twinkle in her eye. “Well?” she asked expectantly. 

You unbuttoned part of your coat and let your right leg slip through to give her a peek. 

She squeaked, hands going to her mouth and eyes widened in doe-like wonder. “It's perfect.”

“Glad you think so,” you laughed, tucking your leg back beneath the coat fabric. “I had no idea what I was looking for, if I'm being honest.”

“Well, your subconscious must have known,” she offered. As you made your way over to her station, Sakura rotated herself around to grab a small box from her desk. She fiddled with it between her fingers—it was wrapped in dark wrapping paper and no bigger than the size of a phone. “I was entrusted to make sure this ended up in your hands, by the way.”

Your brows twisted into a cocktail of curiosity and confusion. It was clearly not something Sakura herself got you by how she presented it, but you also couldn't imagine what would be inside. 

“Who's it from?” you asked as you took the box from her and inspected it. The wrapped paper hugged the edges of the box so tightly, it was as if the shiny paper was the box itself. It must have been professionally wrapped, like the complimentary wrapping that luxury brands did for their thousand-dollar perfumes. (You had an old coworker who used to work at a high-end perfume counter with stories galore.) There wasn't any real heft to the box, meaning it wasn't an actual phone inside, nor was it likely a perfume. 

You began searching for a way to unwrap it without completely obliterating the expensive paper. 

“The Captain.”

Riiip. Your hand slipped. “From him? What is it?” Your movements were slightly less careful now, more eager to find out what was inside rather than preserving the paper. 

She shrugged. “Dunno. Wooyoung had it sent over and said it was important that you got it. He said it was for the assignment or something, but that's all I know.”

“He didn't bring it himself?” you joked. What a silly thing to ask, you thought. Of course, Hongjoong wouldn't bring it himself. What did you think you were, special?

With the paper discarded, you were met with a sleek paper box. You carefully began to lift the lid off the bottom half. 

“They've got the GV mafia in town tonight,” Sakura said. “He must be busy.”

Right, you totally knew that. ('I could probably kiss you’ was only a spur of the moment phrase, of course.)

You and Sakura leaned over to both see what was inside the box. Upon a bed of black tissue paper sat a slim, golden tube. It glistened in the LED lights, winking up at you. The thought slid into your head then; there was only one thing this could be. 

“Wow,” Sakura was the first to say. “That's expensive.”

Your eyes widened as you took the tube out and placed the empty box on the table. “How do you know?” you asked, running your thumb over the small engraving on the top side of the cap—an eight pointed star. 

“It's from Polaris—y’know, that real subtle luxury brand that slides under everyone's radar,” she said while gesturing with her hand and nodding. “Their stuff is super nice, but it's really hard to get unless you've got pull in the Lunar Crossing.” 

The Lunar Crossing was another section of the city you had yet to venture into. It was a smaller sector ruled by House Mun, but was by no means any less wealthy. From your own knowledge, most of the city’s wealthy made the Crossing their permanent residence. If Hongjoong was giving you something from Polaris, then it meant he did have connections spanning that far. Not to mention the fact that you only just spoke to him last night. 

With great care, you slid the gold cap off its vessel. It was a slim tube of lipstick, the color a rich and dark red, bordering on a berry-like hue. You hadn’t gone out to find a new lip color to try yet; it was as if he read your mind. 

You rubbed a bit of the product onto the back of your hand, and the two of you marveled at the glowy and smooth swatch of color. “Great formula,” you muttered, smudging the color around with your finger. You tipped the lipstick tube upside down to note the shade name, Aurora. Part of you didn’t want to know how much this little thing cost.  

“And he knows your color,” Sakura pointed out while raising her index finger. She twisted around to grab a small pocket mirror, handing it to you. “He has excellent taste.”

It was hard to rein in your smile so you could properly apply the lip product to your lips, and in order to hide the flutter that was bubbling up in your chest. As you blurred out the product on the outer lines of your mouth, you wondered what he saw when he picked out this color for you, or if he already had this color in mind. Either way, this was yours now. 

Aurora turned out to be a million-dollar investment. You were convinced that, no matter the price tag, this shade of Polaris lip product would be worth it for the amount of attention and tips you were receiving tonight. Or maybe it was the thigh garter and the way you batted your eyelashes, but either way, something was working. 

Adrenaline bullied its way through your veins as your cheeks and calves ached. Though your pockets and tip pouch were heavy from the amount of rolled bills nearly spilling out of them, your skin was sticky and crawling from the sheer weight of eyes on you. The short hemline of your dress was one thing, but the added lace to that region meant that there would definitely be customers looking far below your eyes. 

It was worth it, you reminded yourself as you unloaded your pockets briefly at the cash register and went to order another round of liquor for one of your tables. This had to be worth it, right? It wasn’t as if you had never been made uncomfortable by looks given to you in these work settings, but encouraging it was another thing. It was no longer just for the money, but for a promotion, for access. 

As you made your way over to the nearest bartender, you felt a pair of eyes searing into the side of your head. You lifted your attention in that direction, eyes adjusting in the dim club lights—then recognition jerked through you and made your heart palpitate. 

There was a man leaning against the far end of the bar. The first and last time you saw him, he was clad in a three-piece suit, but tonight, he only wore a dress shirt undone at the collar over a pair of slacks. But the piercings in his left eyebrow hadn’t changed, and neither had the dimples in his cheeks. 

You felt blood rush up to your neck and face. Goddamn it, out of all the people to have stumbled into this place… You made your way over to him, slapping on a friendly smile. “Hi, handsome. New here?” Play along, play along, play along…

Chan’s expression flickered for a moment, and that confusion was still evident as he returned your greeting. “Hey. I didn’t know you worked here,” he said. You saw his eyes go to the name tag clipped to the left side of your dress. “Dove,” he read aloud. He slipped into an easy smile as the pieces clicked into place, whatever those pieces might have been. “Sorry, must have mistaken you for someone else.”

Relief washed over your shoulders. As long as he didn't address you by your actual name, you could deal with everything else. “I get that a lot,” you laughed. “Welcome to Dionysus—feel free to make yourself comfortable and let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” he said brightly. 

You continued on your way to collect your next round. Armed with a bucket of ice and prosecco, fingers grasping four glasses with acrobatic precision and precariousness, you weaved your way through patrons and coworkers and lounges. As you went, you fought to not turn your head to search for Chan somewhere in the club. There wasn't much reason for you to be worried about him, only that he knew your real name, but that in itself could raise red flags with the managers. 

Bumping into someone you knew at work was awkward enough. It was like seeing your grade school teacher at the grocery store. Ryujin would find this hilarious—

Ryujin. You nearly stopped cold. What if he told Ryujin, or mentioned it to her?

After taking a lap around your section to check on your customers, you began to trek back toward the bar. The flashing dark violet and white lights were something to get used to, but you could no longer see Chan. He must have been seated somewhere then, or maybe on the dance floor. 

An arm brushed yours, and you snapped back to attention. 

Sabine's service smile flickered. “You okay? You look frazzled.”

Déjà vu, much? You shook your head. “I'm fine,” you assured her. “Thought I saw someone I knew.”

“If anyone's giving you trouble—”

“It's nothing like that, don't worry,” you said. “If I'm worried, I'll call a bouncer.”

She nodded, pressing her lips together. “Good. By the way, Ha-yi wants to talk to you over by the front counter.”

Your brows creased together. “Oh, did she say what for?”

“Nothing bad, I'm sure,” she replied. Before she continued on her way, she nudged you with the side of a glass she was carrying. “You look good tonight, girl.”

“So do you!” you chirped back with a grin, the two of you departing. 

As you made your way towards the front, dodging drunk clubgoers and trays of liquor, you caught the eyes of Lee Ha-yi, one of the floor managers. The floor managers didn’t do any bussing or waiting; their presence was usually to handle any rowdy customers, VIPs, or any other minor disasters. One might also call them your handlers, and the gatekeepers who held the key to the one thing you were after. 

She flicked her hand at you to beckon you over to her, the other hand lifting to silence the voice in her earpiece. 

“Dove,” she called out, meeting you in the middle. Over the pulse-pounding house music, you could only really understand her because you read her lips. When you were closer, she put her mouth to your ear. “We have a VIP who wanted to sit in your section and declined having us call down someone from the upstairs lounge.”

You pulled away from her for a moment, heart pounding in your chest. “They insisted?”

She nodded, her nose twitching and eyes darting between you and someplace behind you. It wasn't often you saw her anxious like this. “Yes. But he's on the list, so I don't really have a say in this situation.”

“Wait, if he's a VIP, then will I be keeping his tips?” From what you heard about the VIP lounge's protocol, tips given to individual waitresses were to be kept by the individual. Down here on the ground floor, tips were pooled and split amongst yourselves at the end of the night. 

She touched her hand between your shoulder blades to guide you back to the floor. “The others will get cranky about it, so no. But I'll figure out a bonus for you if you get a stellar review.”

Damn, really? You weren't here for money, but you were aware of how much a VIP could tip. What a scam. You kept your mouth shut, though, because Ha-yi had brought you to the edge of the floor to subtly point out your new customer. 

“Table fifteen.” Your eyes went to the circular lounge in the corner, at the outskirt of your section. 

All thoughts of how you were getting scammed flew out the window. “You have got to be kidding me,” you muttered under your breath. 

There was Chan, posture relaxed as he rested an arm over the back of the booth seat, eyes lazily drinking in the dancers on the floor. 

You should have known. 

“I trust you can handle this, Dove?”

Right. Your nod was convincing enough for Ha-yi to abandon you where you stood to return to her post. With a deep breath for sanity, you adjusted your posture and headed for table fifteen. 

You clocked his eyes moving as you approached; though his shoulders and face were turned away from you, he knew you were coming over. 

“Well, I see you took my advice and made yourself comfortable.”

It was then he chose to turn his full attention to you with an innocent grin on his face. “I hope you don't mind,” he replied, the corner of his lip twitching as he considered you. “VIP lounges can get so stuffy.”

“I understand. And I meant what I said about letting me know if I can help you with anything.” Not really. Maybe in another universe when you weren't working for a criminal organization and this really was just for the money. 

He let out a small chuckle, lacing his fingers over the tabletop. “I can see my being here is stressing you out,” he said. There was a glint in his eye as you heard him even above all the music. 

You could feel your heart jammed into your throat, your expression faltering. The smile on your face steeled its resolve a little. Ha-yi might have been watching. 

“And that wasn't my intention,” he continued when you didn't say anything. “I only popped in to check this place out, but I didn't plan on spending a lot of time here tonight.”

The tension in your shoulders loosened slightly, but your eyes narrowed. Why was he telling you this? “So now you've decided to stay longer then?”

He shook his head with a helpless gesture. “Unfortunately, no. I'm on a time crunch” —he supplemented this with a glance at his gold watch— “but I know how these places work and that your handler's gonna want to know how my experience was here.”

A tingling sensation crept up your spine. It spider-crawled up each vertebrae and made your back go rigid. Why was this beginning to sound like you were walking into the lion's den? You weren't even the one talking. 

But it was unfortunate that he knew exactly what to hit on. You needed that stellar review, not just for a bonus, but for the possibility of promotion. 

You feigned casual ease, leaning your hip against the side of the table. “What's in it for you? You can't be so inclined to help me simply because I'm Ryujin's friend or out of the goodness of your heart.”

Chan made a scoffing sound, pressing his palm against his chest with mock offense. “So little faith!” he mused. “But… I suppose I expected this; you're a smart girl… Dove.” He looked pointedly at your name tag with a small, conspiratorial smile on his face. “When the time comes, all I need is for you to vouch for me.”

“Vouch for you?” You were beginning to sound like Hongjoong. 

He hummed, nodding. “Vouch for me as I will vouch for you,” he said with a flourish of his wrist. “The opportunity will present itself to you in due time, don't worry.”

You could feel the sleeping lion's tail curl around your ankle as you meditated over his offer. It was incredibly vague—vouch for him? When, where, why, and to whom? You barely knew this man, but he held your success in the palm of his hand. A word from him could either mean sink or swim. 

He was patient in waiting for your answer, but you didn't take much longer to decide. 

You knocked once on the table, breathing out for sanity, then slipping on another smile. “How about I get you a drink in thanks?”

The wharf air was frigid tonight. It was the type of cold that permeated the threads of one's clothes and pierced the bones like a needle; the type of cold that froze the joints and forced even time to slow to a crawl. The dark ocean beyond the dock jostled in monstrous delight, the waves thrashing around each other beneath the drape of an equally dark night sky. 

It still smelled like salt and seafoam. That much Hongjoong could count on. Unlike human beings. 

“How degrading,” Seonghwa grumbled under his breath as he and Hongjoong watched from afar. The delegation from the Gold Village had arrived at the Ateez docks with the sad replacement for an official at its helm. According to the spineless leaf quivering in the salty wind, their true representative was “running late.” The man in question was to be Kang Jinyoung's protégé rather than the family head himself. 

So not only were the leadership of Ateez forced to stand around babysitting the GV soldiers organizing their assigned station on the wharf; but the actual man in charge of them was so gracious as to be late. 

Hongjoong didn't hide the nasty scowl beneath the brim of his hat. Kang had assured him that he would be present to oversee this matter, and yet, he decided at the last minute to send a replacement instead. Who did Kang Jinyoung think he was to Kim fucking Hongjoong?

No, Hongjoong knew exactly how Kang thought of him, and how he thought of himself in relation to Hongjoong. 

Down on the wooden planks of the dock proper, Mingi leaned against one of the posts, an equally disgruntled glare settled into the grooves of his face. He crossed his arms over the other, and blew a bubble with the piece of gum in his mouth. He was an imposing force amongst the GV rats present—a reminder of who they were dealing with. 

Three years, and still no goddamn respect. 

Seonghwa let out a loud sigh above the crashing waves as he pulled up the sleeve of his coat to take a glimpse at the time. “It's been twenty minutes. We should go.”

Hongjoong drummed his fingers against the side of his cane. “Give it ten minutes.”

“We cannot be taking this kind of disrespect with a spoonful of sugar,” his second muttered under his breath, below the sound of the water. 

“We're not,” Hongjoong replied firmly, “but I would much rather ensure that there's no funny business than to leave so soon.”

Seonghwa stuck his hands in his coat and measured a glare at one of the soldiers who dared a glance his way. “That's why Mingi is here, and why Yeosang's around.”

Hongjoong could feel the phantom eyes of his primary lookout somewhere in the shadows nearby. While Mingi was a more obvious sentinel, Yeosang could make sure they were aware of everything unseen. Of course Hongjoong trusted Mingi and Yeosang; he simply didn't trust the GV. There was a feeling pricking at the back of his mind… 

Above the sounds of wind, wave, and work, Hongjoong's breath caught at the faint sound of a bird call, high and soft. He and Seonghwa quietly marked the trills—even down on the docks, Mingi's head turned slightly to hear better. 

Their missing party had arrived. 

It took a couple more minutes for anything else to change. The docks this time of night were usually rather quiet; all of the day-workers had gone home as they always did, and all of the noise came from their business here. But Hongjoong would be damned if he couldn't taste the shift in the briny ocean breeze when a rival was present. 

In the distance, there came the quiet sound of tires approaching. Hongjoong lifted his head only subtly, acknowledging to his counterparts that he was well aware of who had finally come. Then it was the crunching of a car rolling over gravel just a ways behind them, a rupture like radio static. 

Hongjoong and Seonghwa turned to greet the newcomer. He stepped out of a slick dark blue vehicle, his hands tucked into the pockets of his bomber jacket, and a piece of fabric pulled up over the lower half of his face. 

In his periphery, the men on the dock gradually realized their real boss had arrived, and began to shout their greetings his way. 

Bang Chan, Kang Jinyoung's protégé and the one present at the council meeting weeks ago, lifted a hand in silent dismissal. He stalked his way over to Hongjoong and Seonghwa, the latter of which did hardly anything to hide the unimpressed kink in his brow. 

“Evening, gentlemen,” Chan said as if he wasn't nearly half an hour late.  

Hongjoong kept his expression neutral. “Nice of you to finally join us. You've left your men in our care.”

He shrugged. “Mr. Gwang was here,” he replied, nodding his chin toward the official who had come in his place. Chan stopped when he was a few feet away from the leaders of Ateez, far enough to suggest lack of friendship, but close enough to be in the conversation. With the slight breeze tonight, it was also an apt distance to pick up the distinct scent of something Hongjoong was far too familiar with. 

The Captain inwardly furrowed his brows. Why did Bang Chan smell like booze?

Seonghwa's nose crinkled from beneath his mask, his eyes narrowing. “You smell like a bar,” he drawled. 

Hongjoong took a good look at the GV heir. He was standing with excellent posture, albeit relaxed in the shoulders and lower body; there were no nervous ticks that he could see, and neither were his eyes dilated. If he was drunk or tipsy, Hongjoong couldn't tell. But Chan had driven here on his own—what on Earth was he doing, and where?

“Errand I had to run,” Chan chuckled. “You know how it is. Apologies for running late though; it seems like everything's gone on smoothly.”

“You seem to assume that everything did,” Hongjoong replied. 

“Well” —Hongjoong swore a muscle in his brow twitched when he saw the way Chan's eyes squinted slightly and his mask shifted, as if the bastard was smiling— “I hold much esteem for you lot, and that's not being sarcastic, Captain.” 

Seonghwa's scowl seemed to intensify. “Take your condescension elsewhere, Bang.”

“Interpret it how you want,” he replied while raising his palms in surrender. “We've already made the deal for the use of your ports.”

“Speaking of which,” Hongjoong cut in, “you understand—and by that, I mean, Jinyoung understands—that permission to be here warrants our assessment of your imports.”

Bang Chan nodded. “Of course, it would only be fair. We have nothing to hide.” He considered his wording for a moment, then amended, “From certain eyes.”

“Of course.” The criminal activity conducted here was sealed beneath the bounds of a mutual vow of silence. One could use certain information against a rival group if they wished, but in this case, it would be mutually beneficial for both parties to keep their mouths shut. While the GV could ferry in their imported goods without the city's authorities stepping in, Ateez could keep tabs on a rival and tax them, too. It was just business. 

Seonghwa glanced out toward the docks, muttering about checking on Mingi, before walking away. Hongjoong knew Seonghwa was itching to do something, if not go home already—Hongjoong was of the same mindset, but things with Chan were simply not adding up tonight. To think that he could have been in Hongjoong's territory, waltzing around doing whatever he was doing… That was something to stick around for. 

“Y'know,” piped up the heir. He had his hands tucked behind his back as the two of them stood side by side staring onward at the sea. “Since Jinyoung is handing the mantle over to me, Captain, this will be good practice for working with one another.”

Hongjoong couldn't help the huff of air out of his nose. “Is it not premature for you to be speaking about your boss in such a way?”

“Not at all,” he replied with an air of ease. “Jinyoung can't wait to disappear to some seaside cottage across the country.” 

If he wasn't mistaken, Hongjoong thought he heard a wryness to the latter half of the protégé's answer. Since he'd known Chan, and that wasn't very long, he came off as the perfect, dutiful heir-apparent to the GV family. This was something new, something intriguing—a development in the web of relationships Hongjoong kept stored in his head. 

Finally, something interesting. 

What grudge did Chan harbor against his head of the family? Hongjoong recalled briefly hearing about how Jinyoung treated Chan like a son, that after the death of his second-in-command, Jinyoung tapped Chan to be the up and coming head. Chan was essentially being handed a kingdom. There was much Hongjoong didn't know and only so much information that could be extracted by an outsider. 

There was a beat of silence, before Chan was musing, “We'll get along, I'm sure. We have plenty in common.”

Hongjoong cocked a brow. “Is that right?”

“Well, we both like a good bar,” Chan said. He tipped his head to the side as if in thought. “Are you a fan of bourbon?”

What a strange question to ask. “I am. You?”

“Same here. A friend of a friend works at a club somewhere on your turf. She says their bourbon is alright, but there are better places.” Chan glanced at Hongjoong then, and the latter felt a slight jolt in his spine. A friend of a friend who worked on his soil? 

Hongjoong was very aware that this could simply be a mind game, some wild goose chase. Or even worse, he was about to walk straight into the mouth of a lion, but he didn't get to where he was by letting bygones be bygones. 

“I’m sure she has good taste,” Hongjoong replied airily. “Not every bar's gonna be a hit.”

Chan chuckled. “Yeah, well…” his voice trailed off to the point where even the wind might have carried away his last words. “You would know, wouldn't ya?”

Whatever the fuck was that supposed to mean?

By the time everyone called it a night, it was quickly approaching the ungodly hours of the morning. Hongjoong, Seonghwa, and Mingi arrived at the doors of their home with muscles aching and limbs begging for sleep. 

Unfortunately, their world never truly slept. 

Yeosang waited for them at the foot of the staircase leading up to the living room. He had his arms crossed over his chest, a small envelope tucked between his fingers. 

“Captain.” He pushed off the banister, nodding to Seonghwa and Mingi as they passed. 

The door rattled shut behind Hongjoong, followed by the heavy locks clunking into place. “What do you have?” he asked, inclining his chin toward his commander. 

Yeosang handed the envelope over. It was a standard cream-colored folder made of a paper with the texture of velvet. The flap was sealed shut via an aquamarine wax seal, embossed with a geometric design Hongjoong recognized instantly. “This was passed along from one of the DDC's people,” Yeosang said, affirming Hongjoong's suspicions. 

After Ateez and the Diamond District's backdoor deal, the latter had been forwarding information any of their spies picked up about relevant activities on the streets. The last piece of correspondence confirmed the DDC's past deal with Lee Yunseok to buy the Kidult Company's building. 

Hongjoong peeled the envelope open and tugged out the obnoxiously thick card inside. Jeonghan's loopy script greeted his eyes, and Hongjoong inhaled the words hastily. There were addresses listed after Jeonghan's brief message—addresses that could be corroborated with paper trails, and paired with dates of sightings. 

After a moment, he returned the card back into its vessel and sealed the envelope. 

“Good news?” Yeosang asked. 

Hongjoong hooked his fingers over the hem of his mask to drag it down. He let out a sigh. “A possibility,” he said in response. “It won't be your responsibility though, Yeo. Good work tonight.”

His counterpart nodded. “Aye, Captain. I'm happy to do my job and do it well.”

The Captain smiled slightly, gesturing to the stairs for the two of them to begin making their way up. “Did you happen to see which way Bang drove in from?”

“Hm,” Yeosang hummed under his breath. “He came in from the south, as expected. He could've gone the long route to cover his tracks, though. He was late.”

“He was,” Hongjoong agreed. 

They stopped on the landing of the stairs and Hongjoong leaned his weight onto his cane. Bang Chan's demeanor and words tonight still rang in Hongjoong's ears like a dissonant bell. He had come late, smelling like booze but wasn't tipsy in the slightest. He mentioned a friend of a friend who worked in Hala Town, and knew Hongjoong's drink of choice. It could have just been a guess, but it couldn't have just been a coincidence. These were breadcrumbs, and Chan was trying to get Hongjoong to do something. 

He never liked playing mouse. (But some things were necessary evils. There was a storm beginning to brew in his gut.)

“Something on your mind, hyung?” 

Hongjoong glanced over at Yeosang with a grave expression. “I have a feeling that there's even more going on that I don't know about.”

From his pocket, his phone went off with a high-pitched chirp. Hongjoong and Yeosang exchanged 'good nights’, and Hongjoong turned his attention to his phone. 

you: i think i have a chance of making it onto the vip line

Hongjoong's chest jerked as he remembered. The lipstick did that much?, he texted back. He bit his lip; Polaris was not an easy brand to finagle in such a short amount of time, and he definitely owed his contact for it. He only wished he could affirm his choice by seeing you wear it. 

you: there were other factors  you: but thank u for the new color :) sakura tells me it was expensive

He made his way over to the couches, tossing his hat onto a cushion. You're telling me you've never heard of Polaris? We really have to change that.

you: if i was in a different tax bracket, i'd def be down to browse some more you: aurora's a beautiful shade

Words sat at the edge of Hongjoong's tongue—or rather, the edge of his finger tips. He bit his tongue instead of his lip this time, thumbing out an answer that wasn't his original thought. 

hongjoong: glad we're on the same page. i thought it matched ur skin tone hongjoong: but u mentioned other factors?

you: right… i think i got a really good review today—one good enough to boost me up the list of candidates you: i won't know for a couple days, but the meeting will take place at the end of the week

That would mean the Dionysus management had to pick a person in a couple days time, at the latest. It simply wouldn't be enough. 

He pressed his mouth against the palm of his hand, leaning over his knee. What to do, what to do… You needed more than just one good review, especially since you were new. What you needed was a track record for stellar service and raking in a shit ton of profit. Aurora wasn't enough, and as much as he put his money on your charm and your smile, there wasn't enough time. 

An idea appeared in the forefront of his brain, and it smelled like a scheme that Seonghwa wouldn't like. 

hongjoong: i have an idea, but don't worry too much abt it. just keep doing what u do best you: haha sure capt good night  hongjoong: night

Hongjoong swiped out of your messages and dialed another number. His eyes flickered over to the decanter of bourbon on the side table, and an image of Chan flashed into his mind. What are you up to, Bang? He was going to get to the bottom of this. 

Wooyoung picked up on the third ring, voice chipper as if he'd just drank his fifth cup of coffee today (which he probably had), “Aye Cap'n!”

“I need two favors.”

“What's the magic word?”

Hongjoong pulled his phone away to shoot an incredulous look at Wooyoung's caller ID. “Jung Wooyoung.”

“Fine, okay! But that was two words.”

He loosened a sigh from his mouth, pressing the phone back to his ear. “I need you to run a plate for me,” he paused, then added with the great reluctance of an exhausted parent, “please. And do you still have leftover black hair dye under your sink?”

On their second night out, Aurora and your new accessory continued to bring you success. You were beginning to think there was something about them that boosted your determination and confidence; your mind was geared toward your goal with blinders on. It was as if you had forgotten all of the nuance that led you here in the first place. 

Dionysus's house music blasted from the speakers, pulsing through your body to the point you couldn't tell the difference between the bass and your own heartbeat. You strolled out from the kitchen doors after your break, a fresh layer of setting powder and lipstick over your face. 

As you passed by the bar counter to grab a tray, Ha-yi flagged you down from where she stood at the desktop. 

“Yes?” you asked, leaning over to give her your ear. 

“Same guy from last night; he has company this time, though.”

You stilled for a microsecond. Chan was back? With a friend? Or rather 'company’, but that could have encompassed a great range of people, especially with the deal you made last night. 

You straightened yourself out, nodding to Ha-yi in vague understanding, before setting off. The butterflies in your stomach were swarming in a panic. No one expected the consequences of their actions to come back to bite so quickly. Vouch for him, you thought to yourself as you weaved through the crowd—who did you possibly need to vouch for him to—

All movement in your head skidded to a halt. 

What in the fresh fucking Hell.

There was Chan seated at table fifteen, as he had been just twenty-four hours ago. He had a casual arm draped along the back of the booth, but he sat on the far side of it to be positioned across from his counterpart. 

Who else other than Kim Hongjoong in civilian clothes would be seated opposite? His hair was different, you realized—darker than before, a strand arched over his forehead in an artful swoop; a pair of yellow-tinted shades seated low on the slope of his nose; and his body clad in a classic suit, the white dress shirt collar undone and opened to display that beautiful collar bone beneath. 

He was here, in a Lioncrest Society establishment, without a mask or hat, and without company. 

Wait—your head swiveled—did he bring company?

You approached the table with apprehension, trying to keep the rhythm of your kitten heels steady and constant: tip, tap, tip, tap, tip, tap. The closer you got, the more you realized that Hongjoong didn't have a pleased look on his face. It was the complete opposite of Chan's relaxed posture. It unnerved you. 

Both of their attentions flew to you when you came into view, and Hongjoong's eyes made a slow ascent from your ankles to your face. His expression eased only slightly.

You plastered on a service smile to cover the nervous pitter-patter of your heartbeat. “Pleasure to have you back with us, Chan—and I see you brought a friend tonight!” You slid a couple of square napkins onto the table, one for each. “Welcome to Dionysus—”

“You can just call me Jun,” Hongjoong replied with an easy smile. 

“Jun,” you said with a nod. Your eyes flickered between the both of them, silently asking questions with fervor. What was going on? Why was Hongjoong here, and with Chan of all people? “Can I start you off with something to drink, boys?”

Chan lifted two of his fingers, eyes alight. “I'll get a whiskey on the rocks, please, Dove.”

“How good's your bourbon here, doll?” Hongjoong asked, leaning forward to press his chin against his fist. 

This was something you were comfortable talking about—you took in a breath. “Ah, if you like bourbon, you should definitely try one of our house special cocktails with rye whiskey. Our bourbon is good,” you said with a light gesticulation, “but if you're up for trying something spectacular, you'll love the Calliope Sonata. Has just the right burn, a little bit of sweetness from the honey, that grit from the barley, and it's a gorgeous thing to look at.”

Hongjoong's brows lifted slightly, tongue darting out between his teeth. “Sounds incredible, sweetheart; you've convinced me.”

“Great, then I'll be right back with those drinks.”

During the time between ordering and picking up their beverages, you made your rounds about your assigned section. All the while, your heart had yet to sink down from its perch in your throat, your eyes always finding its way over to table fifteen. From your vantage point, you could only really make out Chan's expression—and he remained ever amused and at ease. 

There had to be a connection between Hongjoong and Chan. How did they know one another, and why would Hongjoong walk straight into the lion's den when he knew they could be working with the enemy? 

Given, they likely didn't know he was the Captain, but it was still something Seonghwa definitely would have vetoed. 

When you returned to table fifteen with their drinks of choice, the tension between the two had yet to slacken. 

“Alright, she's back,” Hongjoong said after both of them sent their thanks your way. He settled a narrowed gaze over the rim of his glasses at his counterpart. “State your business, Bang.”

Your smile faltered ever so slightly. “How do you both know each other?”

“He's the heir to the GV mafia,” your captain replied. This time, his eyes lifted up to meet your gaze, a steel glinting in those dark irises. 

What the fuck? You swallowed, looking at Chan. The man in question crossed one leg over the other and spread his arms out. “Nice to properly meet you, Dove.”

That meant Chan, the heir to a mafia family, had interacted with your best friend and roommate, infiltrated a gray area event, and found you. The things he had said, his peculiar behavior, the awful feeling in your gut about him—everything clicked into place. 

“He knows,” Hongjoong muttered under his breath as you unconsciously leaned toward his side of the curved booth, your hip resting against that backing. “So there's no pretense to this conversation.”

He knew about the criminal underworld, he knew who Hongjoong was, he knew who you and Hongjoong were to each other, and he knew that your success here had a lot more at stake than just paying rent. 

You could feel the color drain from your face even after the realization hit you. “Why didn't you just say something?” you stammered to Chan. Ryujin… Oh god, he knew who Ryujin was. 

Chan shrugged. “I had to do my own recon. Apologies if it came off unsavory; I have my own bases to cover. You understand, don't you?”

No, truly you did not. Wasn't there a treaty or something? Why did he involve Ryujin—

Hongjoong laced his fingers over the table with a glare to cut concrete. “What are you doing in my territory?”

“Since Dove's here now, I will ask first that you hear me out.” 

“Absolutely not,” he snarled back. “You're lucky I don't feel like getting blood on this suit.”

Chan sent you a pointed look. I vouch for you, you vouch for me. Oh, this was that ‘opportunity,’ huh?

You coughed. “H—Jun, maybe just… hear him out.”

Hongjoong's head whipped over to you. “Excuse me?”

“You're not curious as to what he has to say?” you answered with a wince. It wasn't like you hadn't stood up to Hongjoong before; this context was different. You were still rattled from the new revelation, and all of the goddamn curve balls flying at you. “It must be important if he's willing to trespass here. You could sever the port agreement with the GV for this.”

You could see the gears turning in his head as he held eye contact with you. Whatever he saw in your eyes or heard from your mouth, it made him turn his attention to Bang Chan with an icy expression. “You have two minutes.”

a/n: ngl, this and the next chapter have been two of my favorites to write so far haha pls remember to reblog if you enjoyed !

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Neverland's Treasure by @bvidzsoo

Feedback: First, I wasn't expecting it to be an MC Pirate so that was a great surprise, I love your Wooyoung everytime you write him, he's a cocky bastard and I love him to pieces, always makes me smile from the sass coming out of his mouth. You write him so well!

OH MY GOODNESS 3.5k THATS SO AWESOME YOU SHOULD BE PROUD 🫶🫶 can i ask for prompts 3 and 9 with pirate au wooyo 😁 but also possibly mix it with royal au …. maybe ….

Neverland's treasure

Pairing: pirate!Jung Wooyoung x princess!female reader

५ TW: mentions of: violence, murder, human trafficking, slavery, death, and weapons (not graphic) ५ Word count: 6k ५ Genre: fluffy, slightly angsty; pirate and royal au; rivals alluding to more; inspired by 'Pirated of the Caribbean' if you squint hehe; @cromernet ५ Rating: pg-13 ५ Prompt(s): 3: Aw, you're blushing like a rose. / 9: You're staring again.

A/N: Aaack, anonie!! I literally kicked my feet so hard when I saw your request! This was so much fun to write, I really loved your request lol. The premise with those prompts was just too good...I hope you'll like this, I certainly did write both worlds into this (royal x pirate? hell yeah, anonie!) I hope you'll like this ^^ You can find the prompts here, request are open until the 8th! This drabble also made me reminiscent of my pirate/prince!woo oneshot called Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Let me know what you think of this drabble, enjoy! ^^ divider

Some believed that if you wanted to be a pirate, you just had to be born as one. Your Captain, however, believed that if one was determined enough, one could become a pirate without issues. Sure, you’d have to let go of previous inhibitions and beliefs, but when you grew up in a corrupted kingdom, it wasn’t hard to turn a blind eye to crime. You knew that sounded awful, but when life gave you no choice, you had to adapt whether you liked it or not. And somehow you realised you liked it like this. Being a pirate was a lot more fun than being a princess, forced to rot away in your castle while your evil stepmother plotted to conquer your kingdom, forcing you to marry a man you had never met, who could be twice your age or barely born. The thought made you shudder even now, it made you grateful that you ran away when you had. It wasn’t easy to navigate the big world on your own for the first three months. You couldn’t stay in your kingdom where everyone recognised your face, and you also couldn’t sail to one that was affiliated with yours. And that left you with few options, too few ones.

But Aurora was a faraway land, the land of no man, the land of the wicked, the land of those who never sleep. And whoever has said that was right. Every sound made you jump at first when you had just freshly arrived, and the lock on the room you were renting at the Inn didn’t make you feel safe even in the least. It was terrible, you thought about giving up and going back to your kingdom, but then you remembered your harpy of a stepmother and your deceased father who’s been an angel his whole life, who has raised a warrior and not a princess. So, gulping down your fear, you braved through the streets of Aurora and tried to make yourself less visible when it wasn’t necessary, tried to act like you hadn’t been brought up between silk sheets and maidens that catered to your every wish. You were afraid that the outlaws could smell your royal blood, but when you ran into them at the seamstress you were working along with, they didn’t bat an eyelash in your direction, too busy barking out orders to the poor woman who seemed to quiver under their gazes.

And in that boutique is how you found yourself running into the nefarious Barbarossa, a rip off of the one and only fearsome pirate that has long since perished. You laughed when the man introduced himself, then snorted when he glared at you with his sharp eyes. It was hilarious. He looked too young to be the Captain of a ship, and he certainly did not look like he’d been born to be a pirate. He reminded you of yourself back then—when you hadn’t yet known his princess-like character—sharp gaze trying to mask his fear, his rigid back nothing but a façade of a boy trying to navigate the big scary world.

“Well, will you sow the costume for me?” The pirate with his raspy voice asked, sighing like he was already tired of you. You grinned before you looked around, making sure the madam wasn’t there as you leaned over the counter, motioning for the Captain to come closer. He quirked an eyebrow and smirked, handsome, but you weren’t here to flirt.

“Let’s make a deal, Barbarossa.” You said low, your expression turning serious, “I saw the costume for you, and in exchange, you make me part of your crew.”

The pirate frowned, tilting his head, “Now why would I do that? A woman is of no use on my ship to me—unless you want to be my whore?”

Your jaw clenched as you glared at the Captain, but you weren’t giving up just yet. You wanted out of Aurora, and most importantly, you wanted revenge on your stepmother. The kingdom was rightfully yours, and if this pirate helped you conquer it, you’d pay him back heftily.

“A woman is of much use, but it seems like men haven’t realised that yet,” You chuckled, reaching out to grab his necklace, twirling the black pearl between your fingers, “Let me tell you a secret, Captain Barbarossa. If you help me out, half of Wonderland’s treasure will be yours. We can shake on it right now; I hate people who don’t keep their promises.”

The man’s eyebrows furrowed, his expression shifting from disinterest and amusement to curiosity, “And how could you give me Wonderland’s treasure, you pure maiden who works in a seamstress boutique?”

“Did you hear that Wonderland’s one and only princess disappeared?” Your lips slowly pulled into a smirk as you stared the pirate down, his expression now morphing into that of confusion.

“I have, but what does it have to—” The Captain gasped as his eyes rounded, watching you more attentively now. You chuckled as you placed your chin in your palms, humming.

“Say, handsome, want to help me take down my evil stepmother?” You bated your eyelashes at the bewildered Captain, whose eyes now sparked with excitement as if he had gotten his hands on a forbidden and long-lost treasure. You chuckled when he leaned in so close that your noses almost touched, his wicked smirk matching yours.

“Oh my, Princess Song, did you know we are last-name relatives?” You tilted your head as the man giggled to himself, his demeanour had completely shifted from the wannabe intimidating pirate into someone…younger and boyish, “Wonderland hasn’t wronged just you, princess, it has ruined my life, too. I say we have a deal.”

“Good.” You grinned, extending your hand to shake on it with the Captain, but he stepped back and spit in his palm, extending it towards you. You grimaced, but realising it was a pirate way to seal a promise, with a sigh, you spit in your hand too.

“Ah!” The man pulled his hand slightly back as your fingers touched, “I get half of Wonderland’s treasure and a handsome young lad…or maiden, I suppose.”

You chuckled, giving the man an amused look, “You can take whomever you’d like as long as you respect them.”

“A pirate respects only one person,” Your spit-laden palms finally touched as you shook on your deal, “The Captain.”

You snorted, walking around the counter and wiping your hand in your dress, “A bit self-centred, aren’t you?”

You didn’t flinch when the much taller pirate slung his arm around your shoulders, leaning his heavy body into your side, “A self-accomplished man always loves himself first and foremost, you should try loving me, too. Perhaps I won’t have to find someone in Wonderland—”

“Not happening,” You scoffed, walking towards the exit with the pirate you knew nothing about. This could’ve been your biggest mistake or your biggest accomplishment. And you’d find out very soon.

“Fine,” The pirate scoffed and glared at you for a second, then he opened the door for you as he called out loudly, “Sorry Madam Füller, I’ll be stealing your lovely princess for now.”

“Shut up!” You hissed, elbowing the Captain in the ribs, “Nobody here knows I’m a princess.”

“No?” The man frowned, his plush lips pouty, “But everyone knows I am a prince, though.”

You froze mid-step, your eyebrows furrowing as the pirate was halted to a stop, his expression questioning. You stared up at him as the clogs started turning in your head, and your mouth dropped open when you realised who this man was, “You’re Song Mingi?!”

The pirate just giggled without giving you an answer, pulling you along, down the dirty cobbled paths of Aurora as his arm tightened around your shoulders whenever a man looked at you too long. You couldn’t believe you landed yourself on a fake pirate’s ship, a self-proclaimed Captain, done on a whim out of boredom by the richest prince in the Seven Seas and Kingdoms. Oh, you had either signed up for doom or the biggest journey of your life.

Dear reader, don’t be misled by prejudice, as the princess was. Song Mingi, despite his posh accent and naïve attitude, was anything but that. He was cunning and strategic, he knew how to charm the pants off anyone, and he wasn’t afraid to dirty his hands with blood. He was a fearsome pirate out on the seas, respected by other crews. It hadn’t taken you long to realise that he was not only respected but feared by his own crew, too. They didn’t cross the captain and they did everything they were told without questioning him much. It was only you who wasn’t afraid of the prince, and his Quartermaster, who looked bored as Mingi paced up and down in his quarters. You had docked down two days ago, preparing for a hit never heard or seen before. It was risky, but Mingi was ballsy, and greedier for gold than his own Quartermaster who grew up having nothing.

“We have to set someone up for a lookout.” Mingi repeated as his eyebrows furrowed, his lips downturned, “We are compromising ourselves if all three of us are going in tonight.”

“Nothing will happen,” You groaned, adding some pearls to your dress as a finishing touch-up. Your eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as you were hunched over Mingi’s desk, your dress’ fabric had been an expensive import from Madam Füller, “You are being a bloody pussy again. Our last hit was a success, wasn’t it?”

Mingi halted at your words, whirling around with a slightly hysterical expression on his face, “A hit?!”

The Quartermaster sighed as he came to sit down across from you, giving you an annoyed expression now that you’ve set Mingi off again. The Captain stormed up to you and slammed his hand down on the table, but nobody even so much as flinched. He was throwing a tantrum, three years on this ship had desensitised you to his tantrums.

“Our ship was on fire for almost two hours, princess!” Mingi snapped, making you roll your eyes at him. He always called you a princess when he tried to remind you that you were inferior to him on this ship, acting as if he wasn’t of the same blue blood as you, “The carpenters needed a month to rebuild what we lost! We couldn’t sail for two months, princess! That bloody rat-infested pirate crew stole our treasure—”

“No, Mingi, they just got to it before us.” You huffed, looking up at him with a bored expression, “It’s not stolen if it wasn’t owned by anyone.”

“And Hongjoong’s ship isn’t rat-infested.” The Quartermaster added with a mutter, setting Mingi off again as he gripped his long hair, screeching like a girl. You bit your bottom lip to stop yourself from laughing, but when you made eye contact with the Quartermaster, he was already looking at you and grinning in amusement.

“Of course, you’d say that!” Mingi snapped, “You’re only here because you argued with the man! You don’t even like me!”

“I never said that,” The Quartermaster sighed, his expression slightly falling, “I left Hongjoong because what he was doing did not align with my morals anymore.”

“But pampering Mingi all day does, huh, Seonghwa?” The man was glaring at you when you looked at him again, and you giggled as you got back to sewing the last three pearls on the collar of your dress.

“Enough!” Mingi screamed, rounding his table to shake Seonghwa out of his chair, “I cannot think if you two keep on making fun of me! We must be smart tonight. There will be too many important people at the ball—including royal blood who know me and probably the princess too, and—Hongjoong’s bloody crew will be there, too. If they get to the treasure before us—”

“How are we sure that the Neverland’s treasure will be there, though?” You pipped up as the cabin went silent. Seonghwa gulped as he looked at Mingi, who closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. The crew were shouting something above deck, their loud thumps echoing through the wooden structure as you glanced up. They were probably drunk already and it wasn’t even the afternoon yet.

“I spoke to…someone,” Mingi mumbled, not meeting your eyes. Seonghwa narrowed his at Mingi and placed his hands on the table as he leaned forward.

“Was it that seer again?” Mingi avoided Seonghwa’s eyes, so you both knew Seonghwa was right, “Kang Yeosang?”

“I trust him, alright!” Mingi exclaimed, looking at you with round eyes, “He’s always helped me…”

“And you still trust him after he joined Hongjoong’s crew?” Seonghwa was asking the important and logical questions here, you, however, were here just for the fun of it.

“Exactly, I’m surprised you like him still.” You chuckled, shrugging when Seonghwa gave you a look. Mingi didn’t say anything as his jaw clenched.

“Listen, I don’t care what you two think about me, but Yeosang has led me closer to finding…him.” Right, him, the man whose name no crew member dared speak—yourself included, “As for tonight, I think the princess should stay on the ship—”

“No!” You exclaimed, your eyes widening. Your grip on the dress tightened as both men looked at you, “The chances of my stepmother being there are high, I cannot miss it. Please.”

“And what will you do if you see her?” Seonghwa asked, eyebrows rising.

“You’ll know once I’m done with her.” You muttered lowly, making Mingi shudder before he sighed loudly, going lax in his chair. Seonghwa glanced at him before he walked to the closet and opened it, their fancy costumes stored away for safety issues.

“Alright, we better start getting ready if we want to get to our carriage in time.”

“How did you even get us a carriage, Seonghwa?”

“A jester never tells his tricks.”

“You’re not a jester, you’re just an idiot.”

“Prince Song, mighty of you to call your right-hand man an idiot.”

“Don’t call me Prince Song.”

“Then stop calling me a princess, you idiot.”

“Silence, both of you!”

You had forgotten how these royal balls could get. Your skin crawled as you watched another old nobleman trying to flirt with maidens, and if it wasn’t for Seonghwa dragging you away, they would’ve certainly noticed you. You got here a little past the time when the ball started, on purpose, as you hoped to be less noticeable. This was hard to achieve as Mingi was as handsome as any other prince in the room—which was to be expected, honestly—and Seonghwa could’ve been mistaken anytime for a young master in his expensive clothing, designed and sewn by you. The three of you were candy to the sore eyes, and despite never having enjoyed the attention, you revelled in it now as you realised some people did recognise you. You had even spotted the royal guard from your court, steering clear from their paths as it would compromise your mission way too early into the night.

For starters, you were supposed to scoop out the place, to socialise and consume whatever fancy champagne they handed you with gilded flakes in the bottom. Expensive and fancy drinks for the wealthiest people from all kingdoms. Seonghwa stared at it like it was poisonous before he drank it, eyeing Mingi for a reaction which never came. For someone who had run away at eighteen only, Mingi sure still carried himself like a prince, oftentimes still acting like one too. You, on the other hand, struggled to hold your spine straight and tense, thankful for Seonghwa who had tightened your corset so much you wondered how much time you had before you’d pass out. Hopefully, it only happened by the time you got back on the ship. And as for the plan…you weren’t doing too well, your attentive eyes searched the crowd, scowling at anything you didn’t like. The two men had left you on your own, meddling with the crowd and laughing as Mingi accepted a dance from a princess you hadn’t met before. You saw the shadow first before someone managed to sneak up on you, and you whirled around ready for a fight, only for you to drop the empty bottle of champagne you’d been nursing. It never hit the floor as the man caught it, smiling at you almost hesitantly.

“Yunho?” You whispered in shock, the wind knocked from your lungs, “Yunho!”

If there was one person you missed and regretted not taking with you from your kingdom, it was Jeong Yunho. You felt the tears in your eyes as you threw yourself into the arms of the much taller man, uncaring what the onlookers thought. You had to fight the sobs that tried to rip through your body as Yunho held you back just as tightly, burying his nose in the top of your head.

“I cannot believe I found you, my princess.” Your chuckle felt hollow as you squeezed your eyes shut, forcing the tears out which had been brimming your eyes. Yunho and you had known each other for most of your lives. Nobody dared say it, but he had been kidnapped by smugglers from a different kingdom and enslaved in yours. His one chance at having a relatively better life than all the other slaves lay in his beauty, in his gentle and soft-spoken nature. That’s how he eventually ended up in your court as a palace keeper, keeping your chamber dust-free and always aired. He was barely a few years older than you, and because your father felt bad for him, he had allowed the two of you to bond, to play, to spend time together once Yunho had taken care of his duties. But once your father died, the evil queen wanted to separate you from everyone in order to make you disappear from the court, Yunho included. You had no idea where he was or what he was up to until this moment, and you gripped his dress shirt tighter when he tried to pull away.

“I’m so sorry,” You whispered into your closest friend’s chest, heartbroken all over again, “I never meant to leave you behind, but I had no—”

“It’s alright, my princess.” Of course, Yunho was smiling when you pulled apart. He didn’t have one mean bone in his giant body; he couldn’t even hurt a fly. You sniffed and allowed Yunho to wheel you around so your body was shielded by the crowd by his larger build, “I knew you had to go, if you hadn’t…you might not be alive anymore. That queen is so wicked, she started killing our people. Everyone is terrified in Wonderland of her.”

You gulped, frowning when you heard that. You had to step up, you couldn’t let your people suffer anymore, they needed their true ruler, the one who cherished and loved them. Yunho recognised the anger in your eyes, the determination on your features, and he smiled as he petted your head, leaning down to be at eye level with you, “I always knew you’d be an amazing queen, my princess. Your people are waiting for you.”

“When I get rid of her,” You gulped, grabbing Yunho’s hand as your jaw clenched, “I will set you free, you’ll be allowed to go home, Yunho.”

An ashen look crossed Yunho’s features, something sad falling upon it, “My home now is wherever you are, my princess. You must be here with a purpose; how may I help?”

And that’s how you found out that Neverland’s treasure was a gilded necklace filled with the most expensive jewellery from all kingdoms, crafted with care by the best jewellers from Aurora—because despite its reputation, Aurora housed the best craftsmen from the Seven Seas and Kingdoms. And the treasure that Mingi and Hongjoong wanted was in no other’s possession but in your stepmother, glinting blindly around her neck. You jaw tensed as you watched her from the shadows play the coy and grieving queen, laughing with men who were way too young for her. But it was working, because as you watched her shoot Yunho an annoyed look, everyone around her was blinded by her charming and manipulative personality, completely missing the wicked glint in her eyes. Mingi tsked next to you, leaning closer.

“You’re one hundred percent sure it’s Neverland’s treasure, right?” He muttered, watching the queen’s every move as she accepted a glass of wine from her consultant. You nodded as you glared at her, noticing a man slowly approach her. His gait was familiar, and so was his blonde hair.

“Yes, Mingi, I know for sure it’s the necklace.” You muttered, your eyes widening when you realised who the man creeping up to the queen was, “Bloody hell, Jung Wooyoung!”

Mingi groaned, closing his eyes, “Hongjoong sent the most annoying person ever, great. Princess, whatever you do, don’t—”

But you were already walking closer, your glare set on the back of Wooyoung’s head. The two of you had a history. Even before you had left your kingdom to become a pirate and avenge your father and his legacy, you and Wooyoung had met, understandably under inconvenient circumstances. He was young and dumb—even though he got older, he was still the dumbest pirate you had met—so he tried to kidnap you straight from your chambers. He would’ve succeeded if Yunho and you wouldn’t have planned to have a secret sleepover that night, so the boy was able to fight Wooyoung off. That didn’t mean that you ever forgot the pirate’s face, forever engraved in your mind. Meeting him once would’ve been enough for a lifetime, but the seas’ gods had other plans for the two of you. Being part of Mingi’s crew meant coming across enemies, and since Wooyoung was part of Hongjoong’s crew, he posed a big threat.

When he whisked the queen away for a dance, you knew the treasure would be in his possession in no time, and you couldn’t allow that. So, you stepped into the crowd and grabbed a random man, leading the two of you closer to where Wooyoung and the queen danced. You made sure to keep your back to your stepmother as well as ignore the grinning man in front of you, sharp eyes set on Wooyoung’s every move. He was giggling as he spoke to the queen, but not for long.

The violins screeched as you were twirled around, and knowing that this was your only chance to catch Wooyoung, you tumbled forward into him. The man gasped as he grabbed you frantically, making sure you didn’t fall. You grinned to yourself and grabbed his arms, head hanging low, and then you pushed him away from the queen and the dense part of the crowd before he could realise it was you.

“My, my,” He chuckled, helping you stand up straight, “What a klutzy girl.”

“I know, right,” You chuckled, circling your arms around Wooyoung’s neck as he stiffened, “How convenient I stumbled into a gentleman like yourself.”

Wooyoung’s eyes widened as you started swaying your bodies to the melody, making sure you kept away from people who could recognise the two of you.

“What are you doing here?” Wooyoung snapped, his eyebrows furrowing.

“The same thing as you,” You chuckled, eyes running down his body, appreciating his tight suit, “Searching for a companion to lay tonight with.”

Wooyoung spluttered, clearly taken off guard and you laughed, entertained when his cheeks flushed red. It wasn’t often you managed to take the man off guard, but it was always satisfying when you did, “Aw, you're blushing like a rose.”

Wooyoung scoffed and averted his eyes, scowling at you before he recovered from the embarrassment, “And have you found anyone suitable?”

You chuckled, shrugging as you looked around the room. You weren’t leaving without Yunho tonight, even if you had to frame it as a savage kidnapping. Seonghwa already knew about it and he was working on it. You didn’t want to update Mingi on the slight change of plans, you knew he’d have a mental breakdown neither one of you could afford right now. Mingi hated collecting strays and people who were of no use to him on his ship, but Yunho was worth more to you than Mingi’s rules.

“He’s holding me right now,” This time Wooyoung didn’t blush, he just smirked, pulling you closer until your bodies were flushed together.

“I always knew you liked me,” Wooyoung giggled, smoothing back your hair from your face, “All that fighting was just to create tension, huh?”

You let the knife slip into your palm from the sleeve of your dress, “If that’s what you’d like to believe, then certainly. Now, tell me, Wooyoung. How much longer until the queen notices that her necklace is missing?”

Wooyoung didn’t answer you as you smirked, pressing the sharp edge of your knife into his stomach, “We’ll walk outside without causing a scene, alright?”

The defiance on Wooyoung’s face was clear as day, but he didn’t say anything as he slowly nodded, twisting around in your hold as you leaned in and pressed a teasing kiss to his cheek. His skin was soft for a pirate, and he smelled of pine and salt, “I love it when you are a good boy, Wooyoung.”

The man hissed as his cheeks flamed again, and you chuckled as the two of you slowly slipped out of the room, looking around for Seonghwa. He was just behind Yunho, his eyes narrowed as you spotted the handgun in his hand. You knew Yunho was in safe hands as long as he didn’t try to be the bigger man, so you left the room without worrying about the Quartermaster or your closest friend any further. Mingi was still cruising the room, seemingly lost, and you almost laughed. For a Captain, he sure was lost more often than not when treasure hunting. You couldn’t wait to brag to him about capturing both Wooyoung and the necklace.

The hallways were empty despite the many people in the building, and you were glad they were desperate enough to socialise as this left you and Wooyoung alone. It didn’t take long for him to try and fight back, though, and you tsked when he tried elbowing you in the ribs, “Honey, you’ll have to be more creative than that.”

“Why am I being dragged away from the ball in the first place, honey?!” Wooyoung exclaimed like the prince he wasn’t, whiney and confused, and you chuckled in amusement.

“Don’t act coy with me now, pirate boy,” You leaned closer, your lips brushing against Wooyoung’s ear as he shuddered, “The queen’s necklace was gone after she danced with you.”

Wooyoung didn’t say anything for a second before he groaned, “Maybe it slipped off! Maybe someone found it on the floor! I don’t know why you’d think I have it!”

You laughed and pushed Wooyoung against the wall, his cheek mushed against the cold tile, “Now, Wooyoung…don’t tell me you haven’t heard of Neverland’s treasure. I know your Captain wants it, so he sent you, a little rat—”

“I prefer calling myself a fox, but whatever,” Wooyoung grumbled as he pushed you off, turning around so he was face to face with you. You raised an eyebrow, pressing the knife into his neck unthreateningly. For now.

“Empty your pockets for me, pirate boy.”

“If you stop calling me a boy.” Wooyoung shrugged, looking at you with mischief in his eyes, “But you won’t find anything on me—not the treasure or whatever. Why don’t we go to a room, and you’ll find out what I’m hiding—”

A crash came from a room close to the two of you, and you both stiffened as you looked to the side. You waited for a few moments with bated breaths, but nothing happened, so you looked back at Wooyoung with a glare. Your patience was running thin rather quickly, “Fine, little pirate, I won’t call you a boy anymore. Where is the treasure?”

You heard footsteps running down the hallway and you hissed, convinced that the queen realised by now that her necklace was stolen. The royal guard was coming after Wooyoung—and you, now that you were roped up with him. Whatever happened, though, you would not let them get their hands on Wooyoung…but he didn’t have to know that.

“Why don’t you feel me up, Princess Song?” You froze as you opened your mouth, taken off guard by his words, “Did you think we didn’t know? It’s only right someone like you associates themselves with Captain Barbarossa—what a joke.”

You huffed. You’d been nice so far, but you didn’t accept any disrespect to Mingi’s name, “You should watch your tongue, rat, one more comment about my Captain and I’ll cut your tongue off.”

“That would be a loss,” Wooyoung smirked as your jaw clenched, “I know quite the tricks with my tongue—”

“Hey! Those two there!” A deep voice shouted from the end of the hallway. Great, you had allowed yourself to be distracted by Wooyoung’s blabbering mouth again. Mingi will have your head if you let yourself be captured, “Catch those pirates!”

“At least they got that right,” Wooyoung remarked with a chuckle as you grabbed his arm and took off running instead of fighting the guards. You were outnumbered; it was of no use. What you had to do next was leave the palace in one piece and get Wooyoung on your ship. He was your prisoner; no royal guard could take him from you. But to get to the exit, you’d have to descend many flights of stairs, avoid the influx of other guards that were running towards you, and also come up with an escape plan which looked harder to come up with by the moment. You weren’t the best under pressure, and you yelped when Wooyoung suddenly pulled you inside a dark room, pressing you against the wall and muffling your mouth. Your breathing was ragged from running around, your chest heaving as Wooyoung’s sturdy body pressed into yours, keeping you from moving. The both of you stayed put as the guards ran past the room, their footsteps thundering. You grabbed Wooyoung’s wrist and pulled his hand off your mouth, searching his face.

“What?” He shrugged, his face so close to yours that you could feel his warm breath. He might’ve had one too many glasses of champagne, “A pirate looks out for a pirate, even if it’s the enemy.”

“Right.” You chuckled, then grabbed his arm and switched positions with him, “Now, where were we? Ah, right. Where did you put the necklace?”

“I’m starting to think you love pinning me against a wall. Does a submissive man turn you on?” Your eyes widened as Wooyoung cackled, the sound too loud in the dark room, “I’m sorry to disappoint, but I’m not that guy.”

“Stop changing the subject, you rat.” You hissed, no malice in your tone whatsoever. Before Wooyoung could retort back, light flooded the room, making you jump. The room you had stumbled inside was someone’s room, an elderly lady’s who looked quite confused. Before you could say anything, Wooyoung pushed you off and walked towards her, smiling charmingly.

“My lady, we had no idea this was your chamber,” Wooyoung bowed, and you watched with narrowed eyes as he grabbed the woman’s hand, leading her back to bed, “How rude of us not to check first. Will you forgive us?”

The lady chuckled as she let herself be tucked back into bed by Wooyoung, her eyes droopy, “The room next to mine is unoccupied. I won’t say anything if you slip out quickly, pirates.”

You gulped as Wooyoung chuckled, pressing a kiss to the woman’s forehead, “Thank you, my lady. We’ll be letting you sleep now.”

When Wooyoung faced you again, you couldn’t help but stare at him. He wasn’t a violent man, but you’d never seen this gentle side of his. It made your heart race as Wooyoung grinned, walking up to you to open the door, “You're staring again.”

“I’m not.” You scoffed and left the room once you made sure the hallway was empty, “There’s nothing to stare at.”

But there was. Wooyoung was a stupidly handsome man, his nose curving prettily, his uneven eyes sharp, and his moles endearing. You gulped as he carefully pulled the door shut behind himself, then braced yourself for what you were about to do.

“Sorry, but you gave me no choice.” And before he could turn around, you whacked him hard in the back of his head, catching his limp body before it could fall to the floor. He was heavy and you groaned as you laid him down, wondering how you’d drag a man down the stairs whose weight you couldn’t even uphold yourself. By a miracle, none other than Mingi seemed to show up, and you quickly waved at him, “Mingi! Get over here right now!”

You made sure you were whisper shouting as Mingi hurried over to you, his eyebrows furrowed, “What the hell are you doing with Wooyoung?!”

“I have the necklace,” You grinned, then looked at Mingi, “And Wooyoung.”

“I don’t want that monkey,” Mingi scoffed as he crouched down, “But I do want the necklace.”

You both grinned at each other as you crouched down next to him, “If we take him hostage now, not only will we piss off Hongjoong and Wooyoung, but you’ll be able to bargain gold and gems in exchange for his life.”

Mingi’s eyes instantly lit up at your words, and he pressed a wet kiss against your cheek as you groaned, flinching away, “You’re brilliant, princess!”

“And you said a woman was of no asset to you,” You scoffed as you both stood, growing stiff when footsteps echoed down the hallway. You looked past Mingi to prepare to fight whoever was coming, but you relaxed when you saw it was just Seonghwa with Yunho.

“Let me—my princess?” Yunho asked confused as he looked between you and Mingi, his eyes growing wide. Mingi froze, his jaw going lax as his body started trembling. He looked like he had seen a ghost. He muttered something as Yunho’s expression mirrored Mingi’s, and Seonghwa and you shared a confused look.

“Yun—Jeong Yunho?” Mingi whispered, his voice shaky.

“Song Mingi, it’s you,” Yunho whispered as his eyes grew teary, and he fought against Seonghwa’s grip, which released him easily. You watched shocked as Yunho ran until he reached Mingi, throwing himself into the Captain’s embrace. They held onto each other tightly as Seonghwa slowly walked closer, looking at you as if you had the answer to what this was.

“I found you, my love,” Mingi whispered, gripping Yunho tightly.

“It took you too long.” Yunho tried to smile, but he looked sad, “I missed you so much.”

“I’m sorry,” Mingi gulped, looking down, “You disappeared without a trace.”

“I know, I don’t resent you.” Yunho then smiled, closing his eyes, “I love you, still.”

Someone groaned on the floor, making you hiss.

“Uh, guys…I’m sorry to ruin this emotional moment, but Wooyoung is kind of waking up,” More shouts down the hallway, heavy boots hitting the floor, “We have to go, now.”

“Mingi, grab his arm!” Seonghwa barked out as the two men went to hold Wooyoung up, his head lolling to the side as his eyebrows furrowed. You grabbed Yunho’s hand and looked at him, offering him a small smile.

“Let’s go, Yunho, things will be alright. You’ll see.” So, Yunho followed you as you escaped from the castle, not only with Neverland’s treasure in your possession but Wooyoung as well.

Oh, you were going to have so much fun with him before you’d hand him back to Hongjoong.

3.5k follower event ५ Masterlist

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: embrace me before you go by @bvidzsoo

Feedback: You already know I will devour a Yunho oneshot, I started sobbing in the middle, like full blown ugly crying when he showed up again. It's so good I love it so much.

hiii congrats on hitting 3.5k!! i love your writings 🥹 for the event, can i get 6 & 27 with yunho? thank you!!

embrace me before you go

Pairing: Spiderman!Jeong Yunho x gender neutral reader

∞ TW: mentions of crime, murder and weapons, allusion to depression ∞ Word count: 3.7k ∞ Genre: angst; Marvel Superhero AU; Spiderman AU; high school sweethearts; lovers to exes to lovers; post university setting, @cromernet ∞ Rating: pg-13 ∞ Prompt(s): 6: Wait, don't pull away...not yet. / 27: Do you normally go this long without sleep?

A/N: Hello, anonie! When I saw your request my mind instantly said: 'what if I make it a Spiderman!au since we all love Yuyu like that'. I hope you enjoy it anonie, and I promise it's not a bad ending, their love shall prosper ehehe! Thank you for requesting, I hope you'll love this story too! ^^ Requests are open until the 8th, you can check out the prompts here! divider

The big city was quiet for once. The rainfall had subsided not long ago, allowing you to leave the alcove underneath which you had found refuge from the downpour. The past few days have been gloomy, the grey rain clouds looming in the sky over the city, forcing people to stay inside if they had the luxury to do so. You didn’t have that luxury, but it was fine, you were already used to it. Just like you were used to the high crime it was so well-known for in the rest of your country. You should’ve been more scared to walk alone at night, the shadows crawling on the walls frightening enough to force you to walk faster. But you didn’t. Not because you were fearless, no, you were perhaps too aware of just how dangerous your city was. You just couldn’t care, not tonight when you were so tired. Your feet ached, your calves quivering at every step, and you sighed when you finally reached the bus station. Nobody was around as you settled on the bench, leaning forward to cradle your head in your hands. A few cars passed by, driving into the puddles on the road and your skin was covered by goosebumps as a cold gust of wind blew through the boulevard.

It hadn’t always been like this. Your life, you mean…there were brighter and happier times when your life was filled with laughter and the only worry was missing your term paper or homework due dates. It wasn’t even that long ago, but it felt like it. You sighed as your stomach churned, and you realized your fridge was completely empty at home. That wouldn’t be new either, just another night when you’d go to bed hungry, just to wake up nauseous the next morning. You gulped, hearing something shift behind you. You didn’t react, you knew it was better if you didn’t. But the rustling continued and when your skin was covered in goosebumps again, you knew something was wrong. You licked your lips and stood up straight, rigid as you were met with a masked man standing in the middle of the road. It didn’t look like he carried a weapon on him, but you knew he did. Every criminal—and not just—in this city did. The pepper spray felt heavy in your bag, and you moved slowly, reaching for it without making it obvious. But the masked man just knew, and he took off running towards you before you could even scream.

But he was charging towards you one second, and then the next he was gone. Whisked away by nothing but a blur of red and blue, a swish of the air so quick that the eyes weren’t able to register what happened. But yours did. You knew who that was. Your heart hammered in your chest as you stood up abruptly, your body working on autopilot. God, you felt pathetic for wanting to call out his name when it was you who decided to end things. And it only became more pathetic when you realized almost a whole year and a half had passed since you two had split up, and yet here you were…fighting the urge to call out your ex’s name. The superhero had better things to do than sit around and wait for you to say something.

Yunho had better things to do than being held back by someone like you. Broke and pathetic, indebted at twenty-four already, with no promising future ahead of yourself. You wanted to be an artist, but who were you kidding…you were no nepo-baby, you were never going to make it. But Yunho…Jeong Yunho was bright and smart, talented and a genius working at Kang Corporations since he was seventeen. And you…you were nothing and nowhere. You huffed to yourself as the bus pulled up finally, taking you away from the bus station.

You didn’t want to think about why he had shown up, it was only normal after all, he was the city’s superhero. It was Spiderman’s duty to look out for the citizens, and you were a regular citizen like everyone else. He was pretty much obliged to save you, to look out for you, and yet…your heart flickered with hope, with faith, that maybe Yunho was missing you, too. By the time you made it home your whole stomach was aching from hunger, and your feet almost buckled when you saw the white bag hung on the door handle, the little note inside making your jaw clench.

Eat, please. ~ Y.

You wondered why he had shown up in your life again, right now out of all times. You were thinking of moving again…but not just to a different neighbourhood, but to a completely different city. You wanted a fresh start, away from everyone who you knew, who judged you and laughed at you, far away from the crime and…Spiderman. You realized it was time you rediscovered yourself, and became the person you always dreamed of being. And you couldn’t do that here, where each step of yours reminded you of a past you never got over, the memories that still haunted your dreams, the wanton touches that made you yearn, made you miss the man’s gentle eyes and smile, his joyous laughter and his honest words, his gentle but loud love that made you crave and crave some more, wanting to take and consume, to never perish. But that wasn’t doable anymore, and you knew it…Yunho knew it, too.

You had never wanted to make him choose, never. You loved him with your whole heart, but the days and nights started bleeding into each other and he barely came home. You knew he was dedicating his life to his research as well as saving the city, but it felt like that took you out of the equation. You had been a constant in his life, always there, something stable he could return to when things got scary, and you wanted more now. You wanted to become his priority, you wanted Yunho to drop everything if you needed him, you wanted your dates not to be interrupted by some damsel in distress, and you wished he stopped taking all-nighters so that he could find new solutions for his research progression. All you ever did was wish for more and more, yearn and want, but you never asked for anything. You tried to be grateful for what you had, but it became unbearable one day. It had been a rainy day, the trains were late and people were rushing home after a long day at work. You had just been kicked out from the art club for missing the last few deadlines. You were crying as you were headed to the metro, until you weren’t, until a knife was pressing into your neck, making you freeze up.

You were so in your head that you didn’t realise you had walked into an active hostage situation, police cars surrounding the building. And now it was too late as you gasped, standing motionless against your attacker. Your eyes searched the skies and the sides of the buildings, but there was no sight of Yunho. And then you realized he had a conference today, an important one which might help him take his research to the next step if he got funding from the Parks. So you knew Spiderman wasn’t going to come, Jeong Yunho wouldn’t come. You didn’t dare scream or cry, you didn’t even breathe as the police officers negotiated your and the other’s hostages' release. Yunho didn’t show up until later when you were still shaking and your eyes were red, your body not completely dry from the shower you took. Yunho’s t-shirt was doing nothing to comfort you in his absence, his cologne not enough anymore.

“Baby! I did it! I got the—” When Yunho rounded the corner, his grin faltered and his eyes widened. He was by your side in an instant, kissing your cheeks and checking if you were injured. But you weren’t, not even a nick from the knife. You looked into his eyes hollowly before he cradled you to his chest, and your body shook more as you sniffed, kissing his chest where his heart was.

“I was kicked out from the art club today.” Yunho froze for a second as you started crying, letting him rock you in his arms as you came undone, your body aching and your soul yearning for something you couldn’t have.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” Yunho whispered, his eyes watery as you pulled back to look at him. He looked genuinely so sad for you, it broke your heart that you took away his happiness, that instead of celebrating his success he had to comfort you for something that wasn’t even nearly as significant as his achievement. Your lips couldn’t even form the words to tell him you were taken hostage today, you knew Yunho would never forgive himself.

“It’s okay,” You muttered as your heart broke even further. You leaned closer and closed your eyes as your foreheads pressed together. Yunho held you tighter, squeezing you to his chest as he exhaled slowly, kissing you on the lips gently, “I’m happy for you, Yunho.”

Your voice wavered as you pulled back, your heart racing as you stared into Yunho’s unsure eyes. He must’ve felt you were about to say something he didn’t want to hear—no, feared he’d ever hear coming from you. But it had to be said and done, you couldn’t pull down Yunho anymore. He deserved better, so much better.

“Let’s break up.”

“I love you.”

He tried to ignore your words, he tried to speak over you as desperation bled into his tone, holding onto you so tightly that it hurt. Your skin would bruise, but you wanted that to happen. You wanted Yunho’s mark to be burned into your skin for it was the last thing that would be of his. You untangled yourself from his arms and stood as Yunho followed your every move with his eyes, frozen in his spot. He didn’t say anything as you packed a duffle bag full of your stuff—that was all you had to your name. He didn’t say anything when you pressed a wet kiss against his lips, his inhale deep as his fingers gripped your cheeks tightly, trying to hold you back. He had probably known this moment would come, so he didn’t try to stop you. He didn’t try to hold you down like so many other people would’ve. Yunho loved you so much that he was willing to let you go because deep down, he knew you wouldn’t have lasted. What he did as Spiderman was too dangerous, what if he was out while you needed him? What if he didn’t show up in time? He couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, he couldn’t do that to you. So, he stayed put as you walked out on him, crying silent tears as he clutched the sheets where you had been tangled up before his arrival, still smelling so much like you. God, he loved you so much he wondered if he’d survive on his own now.

      That was the last time you saw Yunho since you had broken up. The city was large enough to ensure you two would never again run into each other, and you knew Yunho had all your favourite spots and places memorized, so he stayed away. You also made an effort to avoid any place you knew he liked—or might’ve liked—and acted like you were fine, like you could breathe without your heart aching at every step that took you further away from Yunho. The feel of his touch still lingered in the back of your mind, his warm and loving embrace too, but you ignored it to your best capacity, finding something to distract yourself with. It didn’t always work, especially right after you left him, but you were doing relatively fine now. Except that ever since Spiderman showed up at the bus station to stop the masked man from hurting you, you couldn’t stop thinking about Yunho.

Your apartment was being emptied little by little, just a few more boxes and you were ready to go. You heard a nagging voice in the back of your head trying to tell you that what you were doing was wrong, but you ignored it as you cooked yourself a simple dinner, your one day off having passed by in a blink. It was late at night as the police sirens billowed in the distance, and you looked out the window, eyes cast towards the sky and the sides of the buildings, looking for one person only. Maybe catching a glimpse of him would bring some closure and help settle your restlessness, but who were you kidding…you knew that if you saw Yunho right now, you wouldn’t have the power to leave anymore. You gulped, turning off the stove as you leaned against the counter, eyes lost as you stared towards your TV. A movie was on, but you couldn’t tell which one it was as you hadn’t been paying attention to it. You just wanted some noise in the background while you cooked, your mind lost in never-ending memories. You were feeling nostalgic, so you wondered if it was a good idea to drink some beer tonight. You never deleted Yunho’s number—and even if you did, you knew it by heart—so you couldn’t trust yourself with what you’d do if you got tipsy.

As you turned to grab a plate for your dinner, you heard a thud coming from the small balcony your apartment had. Your eyebrows furrowed as you paused, your head slowly turning towards the balcony. Something dark shifted outside and your heart started racing, making you gulp as you grabbed a knife in case you had to defend yourself. You lived on the twelfth floor, but in a city like yours, you never knew from which way the danger came. You gulped as you took a deep breath, then slowly walked towards the balcony, hands slightly shaking. You pulled the curtain aside just as your door clicked unlocked, and both you and the person on the outside froze as you noticed each other. Your heart raced even faster as you stared at the familiar red mask, Yunho’s tall body hunched over as you took a step back, letting him open the balcony door. You placed the knife on the counter to your left and gaped at Spiderman as he stumbled inside your tiny and shitty apartment, a huge gash having split open his costume on his left leg. Your eyes widened as you looked at it for a second longer, making Yunho look down. He hummed before he grabbed his mask, and pulled it off his head.

You gulped as your eyes widened, taken aback by Yunho’s sullen cheeks, his round and lively eyes now void of emotion and the light they always carried. There were dark bags under his eyes, and his lips were chapped and paler than usual. Something was wrong, and just as you thought that Yunho crumbled, falling forward. You gasped as you jumped to catch him, his body heavy and sturdy as it fell into yours, his weight crushing you, but you remained standing and holding him up. Yunho shuddered against your body and pressed his face into your neck. He was cold against you and trembling, his breath hot on your flushed skin. It felt surreal that you were holding Yunho in your arms, and you felt bad for tightening your arms around him when he groaned.

“I’m sorry.” You whispered, smoothing out his matted hair.

“I shouldn’t have come,” Yunho whispered back as guilt laced his voice, and you grimaced as you tried to make him stand up.

“You should sit down, you’re injured.” You said as Yunho nodded, following your lead as you walked him to your couch, “What happened? I heard the sirens not far from here.”

“Armed robbery,” Yunho muttered, carefully sitting down on your couch, groaning when he shifted the weight off his left hip, “But it got bad pretty fast, I didn’t mean to come here, I just…I couldn’t see which way I was swinging, I’m sorry—”

“It’s alright, Yunho.” You tried to give him a soft smile as you found yourself reaching out to cradle his cheek. Yunho’s eyes closed as he hummed, melting into your touch as he grabbed your wrist. It was at that moment you realized Yunho looked terrible. He looked like he wasn’t eating nor sleeping enough, his skin greyish and his muscles less strong than they had been the last time you had seen him from so close. Your heart broke all over again as you stared into his tired-looking eyes, his gulp loud. It made you realise that he was injured, that you should be doing something instead of sitting here and staring at him, “We should go to the hospital, you look rough.”

“I’m fine, just give me a second,” Yunho muttered, his voice hoarse as he closed his eyes, head falling back against the back of the couch. You stood up and quickly walked to the sink to grab a glass of water. Yunho’s eyes snapped open when he heard you move away, and he twisted his torso around to look at you. His gaze felt intense, insistent almost as if he was afraid you’d disappear if he wasn’t watching you. You walked back with the glass of water and Yunho took it almost greedily, gulping it down in no second. You remained standing by the couch, not knowing what to do next as you two stared at each other. It’s been too long, and yet now that he was in front of you, it felt like it had happened yesterday. It was jarring, so much time had passed yet not enough to forget him. You doubted there’d be enough time to forget Yunho, though.

“You look…tired.” You broke the silence, your eyebrows furrowing as Yunho chuckled, his eyes half-closed as he hummed. You realised he was bleeding out onto your couch, but you couldn’t care less.

“I haven’t slept in almost three days,” Yunho explained, trying to run a hand through his hair. He gulped as he looked at you, his eyes shaking with an emotion you couldn’t read.

“Do you normally go this long without sleep?” You asked unsurely. It’s been a year and a half, you had no idea if Yunho was still the same old Yunho you had known, or if he had changed. People were bound to change, though, so you really had no idea if this Yunho in front of you was the same Yunho you loved so much.

“No,” Yunho chuckled, opening his round eyes to look at you with a sad smile, “I haven’t been able to sleep since you left.”

Your stomach coiled as you felt guilty, casting your eyes down as you couldn’t reciprocate Yunho's intense gaze anymore. You scratched at your arm as you chewed on your bottom lip, “You knew where I live.”

“Yeah,” Yunho nodded, something unspoken in his expression, “Are you moving again?”

Again, he said. So, he knew. Yunho had kept tabs on you, he knew where you were and what you were doing this past year and a half. You couldn’t even feel angry or disappointed. You just felt resigned as you stepped up to him again, bending down as you grabbed his waist.

“Let me take care of your wound, please.” You said instead of answering his question because wherever you were going this time, he would not follow you. Your heart lurched at that thought, uncomfortable and frightening. Yunho stood with struggle, his arms flying around your shoulders when his legs almost gave out underneath him. You gasped as you held him tighter, realising a beat later that you were embracing. You felt tears spring into your eyes as your fingers dug into his suit and skin, arms tightening around his torso as you buried your face into the crook of his neck. Yunho shuddered and held you tighter too, pressing kisses into the crown of your head and making you cry quietly.

“I’ve missed you.” You whispered even if you shouldn’t have. You were a hypocrite for saying that after you had left him, after you decided to break up a lovely relationship without discussing it first with Yunho. Yunho nodded as you closed your eyes, revelling in the warmth of his familiar body. He was thinner, but his embrace still felt the same old. You were safe here, loved, cherished, protected. Yunho’s skin wasn’t as cold anymore as it had been, and he stopped trembling too. He smelt of blood and musk, but you didn’t care, you were glad he was in one piece and still breathing. But his wound had been neglected for too long, so you tried to pull back when Yunho whined, pressing your head back into his skin as he whispered in your ear.

“Wait, don't pull away...” Your heart lurched again, and you nodded without realizing what you were doing, “Not yet.”

“Okay.” You said, melting into his warm and loving arms. Yunho’s head hung low as his cheek brushed against yours, and you weren’t surprised to find your hearts beating a steady rhythm, at peace now that you had finally found each other again.

“You’re leaving, right?” Yunho whispered and your lips quivered as you pulled back, finding Yunho’s gaze.

“I have to.” Yunho sniffed as he leaned down, lips hovering over yours as you tipped your head back.

“I love you.”

This time, you said it back, “I love you too, Yunho.”

Your lips sealed in a promise that this wasn’t the last time you’d meet, that it wasn’t the last time Yunho would hold you in his arms, that it wasn’t the last time you’d kiss, that it wasn’t the last time he should come to you if Spiderman was exhausted, that it wasn’t the last time you’d patch him up and welcome him with open arms.

Spiderman was the city’s superhero, but Jeong Yunho was your one and only love.

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Coffee-stained love by @bvidzsoo

Feedback: Soccer captain Jongho after my own heart. I loved him! baby bear!! are you drunk? Wasted. This made me kick my feet and squeal I loved it.

Hii! First of all congratulations on 3.5k! Secondly, for your prompt ask, can I request a fluff one-shot with jongho and number 46? Maybe the plot can be that jingo isn't big on physical touch but he comes home quite drunk and is feeling cuddly?

coffee-stained love

Pairing: athlete!Choi Jongho x gender neutral reader

❀ TW: none, just tooth-rotting fluff ❀ Word count: 2.6k ❀ Genre: fluff; established relationship; meet cute; coffee shop au; soccer captain!Jongho; university setting, and post-uni setting @cromernet ❀ Rating: pg-13 ❀ Prompt(s): 46: You come to my room and wake me up at 4 am, to cuddle?

A/N: Ahh, hello my lovelies! It's been long since I posted on here, huh...well, surprise, I'm back with a short event that you can still participate in until the 8th of June! Here are the prompts from which you can request, please read the criteria carefully! Thank you for all the requests so far, I was really happy to see so many of you interested! I hope that this story is to your liking, anonie, thank you for requesting and for the love! Feedback is always much appreciated, happy reading! ^^ divider

Meeting the love of your life happened quickly and in a very mundane way, which completely skewed your perception of love. Now, don’t you get it wrong…you’ve always been a romantic at heart, it’s just that you have watched one too many rom-coms and read perhaps an excessive amount of romance books to know that a love like that only happened in fictional stories. There was no way you’d meet the love of your life on the subway on your way home, exhausted out of your mind listening to the same song as you—and bam, you are suddenly bonding over it, and then the next second you find yourselves taking the next big step. You also knew there was no way you’d find the love of your life at a library, reaching for the same book at the same time. All it would’ve taken was just the brush of your fingertips—and there you have it; you are giving birth to your second child four years later. And yes, you also knew there was no way on Earth you’d find the love of your life at a coffee shop because he spilt his drink on you—of course not, what kind of fairy-tale would you be living in if it happened like that?

Except that…well, yes…the day you met the love of your life you had been running late, half of your lecture already over, but you knew without a strong coffee you wouldn’t make it through the day, so…priorities first. It just so happened that a guy you knew in passing from campus was running late, too, rushing and completely missing the person approaching from behind, eyes glued to their phone. And you guessed it again…that person was you, freaking out over the fact that your friend texted you about a term paper you had completely forgotten about. Before you could type back, though, something hard crashed against your chest, followed by a hot sensation. You gasped and jumped back; eyes wide as you stared down at your now coffee-stained shirt. The deep brown looked ugly against your once pristine clear ironed shirt, and for a second you were dumbfounded. The guy who had spilt his whole cup of coffee on you was spluttering in front of you, his eyes wide and his cheeks a deep red.

“I am so sorry!” He said rushed, not knowing what do to with his hands next. You tried to reign in your annoyance as you sighed, finally looking up at the guy. And even though you’d never admit it—not even all these years later—it was love at first sight. His chubby red cheeks, his pretty brown eyes all round and frightened, the downturn of his pink plush lips and his cute nostrils flaring…you were endeared despite the hot liquid slightly burning your skin, “Oh, I’m such a mess this morning. I’m so-so sorry…”

You gulped and looked down at your shirt again, realising that you’d seen this guy on campus before. So, to mask your annoyance, you said the first thing that came to your mind, “Hey, you’re on the soccer team, right?”

The guy in front of you looked taken aback and confused as he tilted his head, “Uhm, yes…I’m the captain of the team.”

“Huh, thought so,” You muttered to yourself, his expression adorable as he looked at you in confusion, “We go to the same Uni.”

His eyes widened in realisation as he nodded, glancing down at the coffee stain again, “So, uhm, about your shirt—”

“Right, don’t worry about it—”

“No, no!” The guy was quick to cut you off, shaking his empty hand to physically stop you from brushing this matter off so quickly, “Let me dry clean it for you, it’s the least I can do after I ruined it.”

“It’s not ruined,” You muttered as you pulled at the material, realising you’d have to head home and change. That meant you wouldn’t show up to your first lesson at all today…great, just what you needed, “A little bleach and it’s all new.”

“Don’t bleach it,” The guy frowned, leaning in to take a closer look at the shirt, “I think it’ll ruin the fabric.”

The guy didn’t seem to realise that he was staring straight at your breasts as the stain covered the left side of your chest, and when he glanced up with innocent eyes, you burst into laughter, making him confused once again. He took a second to realise where his eyes were, and he gasped as he stood up straight, blushing even more furiously, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to do that! I’m so…God, this morning is just terrible.”

“Aw, I’ve run into people under silly circumstances but nobody has called it terrible before.” You pouted as you teased the guy, watching his expression morph into terror and embarrassment, “I’m just joking, hey!”

“Right…” The guy muttered, fishing his phone out of his pocket, “So, uhm, here’s my number for when you want to reach out…”

He turned his phone around, his number on display, so you went into your contacts and typed it in, realising that you had no idea what his name was. You hummed and looked up at him, smiling at him almost shyly as you pursed your lips.

“So, uhm…I don’t know your name…” The guy then grinned and stepped back, straightening his back as he reached a hand out for you to shake. You were taken aback but reacted quickly.

“I’m Choi Jongho, nice to meet you!” And the grin on his lips made you forget what you were about to do or say, and you jumped when he finally shook your hand. You were blushing furiously, you felt your cheeks burning as you chuckled, nodding to yourself. You typed in his name as Jongho—soccer captain, and cleared your throat before telling him your name. Jongho looked abashed as he typed in your number too, saving it so that he could reach out to you when the shirt was all clean and dry.

“So, uh,” Jongho stared at the ground as he rubbed his nape, almost reminding you of that one meme of Kevin James standing abashedly with a grin on his face, and you had to fight all demons inside you to not laugh at him, “Do you often come to my games?”

“Oh, no,” You shook your head, frowning a bit, “I hate soccer but my friend always drags me with her—no offence! It’s just…I find it boring, I guess.”

Jongho’s expression fell a little and you felt bad for being so honest, so you quickly tried to do a bit of damage control, “But! You are a great player, last time your team won because you scored in the last minute, right?”

“Yes, exactly!” Jongho answered quickly with an excited smile, “Well, tell me next time if you plan on coming to the game and maybe I can make it less boring for you.”

“Yeah?” You raised your eyebrows at Jongho, who nodded with an excited glint in his eyes. Your heart was racing and you hadn’t even noticed it until now, but as the silence stretched on, you couldn’t help but focus on your thundering heart. Jongho was really cute as he stood in front of you, dressed in shorts that reached below his knees, white socks covering his calves and a light rain jacket over his clothes as the sky promised a downpour anytime now. His duffle bag was slung over one shoulder and his empty cup of coffee was still gripped in his hand. He wore one ring on the forefinger of his right hand, the infinity symbol engraved into the silver, and pretty, small, white gemstones glinted in it under the ceiling lights, “So, it was nice talking to you, but I should get to the library since I missed my first lecture.”

“Oh my God,” Jongho’s eyes widened, his expression panic-stricken, “Am I the reason you are late?!”

“No!” You laughed, finding Jongho cuter by the minute as you reached out absentmindedly, patting his forearm, “I was already late before coming here.”

But you forgot to retract your hold on his arm right away and Jongho noticed, and so did you when you both looked down at your hand gripping his arm, “Ah, sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Both of you noticed the shy smiles on each other’s faces as you blushed, chuckling to yourselves and looking to the side. And even though you’ve told the story of how you two met numerous times to the world, you could never grow tired of it as it always made you smile. It was a fond memory which you liked to recall from time to time.

Even though the two of you met ages ago under rather unusual—almost fairytale-like circumstances—your relationship was still standing, more than stable. I mean, with a ring on your finger, it would’ve been jarring to be any other way. Jongho has been a sweetheart to you from the very beginning of your meeting, but don’t be fooled…underneath all that cuteness and softness hides a dorky and silly man, with tricks up his sleeve or dumb pranks that either have you laughing for hours, or chasing him around the house until you’ve tackled him to the ground, his punishment being getting tickled.

It’s always been like that with Jongho, though: easy and loving. He’s always been straightforward with you and playful, not scared to be vocal about his love for you…maybe because he wasn’t too fond of physical touch, he found alternatives to express it. It wasn’t a great issue for you since you preferred quality time spent together rather than sharing kisses and hugs randomly or cuddling up on the couch while watching a movie. You both liked your space, so even the smallest of touches shared between the safety of your walls were cherished greatly. You had gone to sleep early after Jongho’s game as you were tired from the road trip, declining the invitation to hang out with Jongho and his team, the other wives tagging along, too.

You loved the celebratory dinners, but you could barely keep your eyes open by the time you were driven back to the hotel, so with a swift kiss from Jongho, you retreated to your room. When Jongho was on tour with his team and you could take days off from your work to follow him, you’d always book two rooms adjacent so that Jongho wouldn’t wake you as he had to get up early in the mornings. It’s what worked best for you as you valued your sleep, and Jongho wasn’t an exactly quiet person as he bumped into things half-awake, groaning and muttering curses under his breath as he woke you on accident too, making you chuckle before you’d go back to sleep.

On the mornings he’d have to leave early, Jongho would brew you coffee and put together a quick breakfast. It was sweet and it always made you smile as you read the note he’d leave plastered on the fridge. You’d write one back as sometimes he would return before you did from work, baking him his favourite cookies even if he wasn’t allowed to eat them during the tournament season. It was a small habit you had developed once you moved in together after university.

He had proposed half a year ago and the wedding was in two years, and Jongho was way more ecstatic than you, taking care of things attentively. Just today, you had gotten an email about the venues Jongho had chosen—something simple by the sea since you both loved the beach. You planned to check all the links and descriptions about the venues tonight, but you had been so sleepy after the game that the second your head hit the pillow, you were out cold.

The sheets were soft and silky, cold when you had gotten wrapped up in them, pulling your body into it as your muscles relaxed. You had no idea for how long you had been asleep, but as you groaned and tried to blink your heavy eyes open, it was still dark in the room. There was a creak in the doorway and then a groan, and you hummed as you flipped onto your back, rubbing your eyes before you sat up. Your fiancé, clad in nothing but his t-shirt and boxers, was hopping on one leg as he tried to pull the pantleg of his jeans off. You chuckled as your eyes adjusted to the dark and the figure in your doorway, hair all mussed up.

“Jongho,” You said when he was finally free from the clutches of his jeans, “What are you doing?”

Jongho pouted as he looked up, trudging towards your bed sluggishly, “You’re awake.”

“Yeah, you weren’t exactly quiet.” You raised an eyebrow as Jongho huffed, then got on your bed, slowly crawling towards you. His cheeks were red and you realised he had changed his t-shirt before coming to your bed, “Are you drunk, babe?”

“Wasted.” Jongho giggled as his face came close to yours, his breath fresh and his cheeks still damp from having just washed up, “Hi.”

“Hi.” You chuckled as you kissed Jongho’s puckered lips, his eyes closed, “Tired?”

“Yes, now,” Jongho giggled before he tackled you down into the sheets, making you gasp as he landed on top of you. Jongho’s body was sturdy and well-built due to him being an athlete, and you struggled to hold his weight as he was crushing your lungs, but you couldn’t say anything as he started peppering your face with kisses, giggling to himself and making you snicker too, “Let’s cuddle.”

You raised your eyebrows in surprise, cupping his cheeks to stop him from giving you more ticklish kisses, “The Choi Jongho…”

You glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand, eyes widening, “Came to my room and woke me up at 4 am, to cuddle?!”

Jongho giggled again then got off you, kissing your lips tenderly before he settled down next to your side, “So, what are you waiting for? I want to be the little spoon.”

You laughed and shook your head, settling behind Jongho as he turned on his side, humming in contentment once your arm was around him, a leg thrown over his hip and your chest pressed into his back firmly. Jongho then sighed and you felt his body relaxing, his breathing quiet as you raised your head to kiss his nape softly. You cherished moments like this one dearly, your whole being so fond of the man in your arms that sometimes you didn’t know what to do with such an overwhelming feeling. It was consuming in the best way possible, intense as it made you feel lively. You had no idea what you’d do without Jongho in your life, and you hoped you’d never find out now. He was yours, and you two were meant to be…that’s one thing you were completely sure about.

“I love you, sweetheart,” Jongho whispered and you felt your heart swell, your grip tightening around your fiancé.

“And I love you, my Joongie.” You whispered back into his skin as you felt your body grow heavy once again, sleep coming even faster than earlier in the evening now that the love of your life was in your arms, his warmth the most comforting feeling ever, his cologne and soft breaths familiar. And maybe you weren’t in a fairytale or rom-com, but you were sure you had gotten your happy ending with Jongho by your side.

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[cromernet]

-> NEW RELEASE: Chapter Eleven: Deeper by @sungbeam

Feedback: The Plot is Plotting! I couldn't put this down once I started reading it, I seriously like read through it so fast I was so enthralled. Also the garter belt had me laughing, just the way he repeated it I loved it. there's so much characterization to them.

BIRDS OF PREY — eleven

nonidol!kim hongjoong x f!reader

living in gray areas of your city, out of the way of gangs and mafia territories, could only keep you safe for so long. it was only a matter of time before you began running into problems, or rather, problems began running into you.

▷ genre, warnings. nc-17, strangers 2 lovers, slow burn, mafia au, angst, swearing, mentions of alcohol, mentions of money laundering, implications of an uncomfortable workplace situation, mentions of a garter belts lmao, mentions of hired hitmen and murder

▷ word count. 4.8k

« prev · m.list · next »

a/n: next chapter will be much longer, i promise lolol

CHAPTER ELEVEN: DEEPER

THERE WAS TALK. And when there was talk, there was always someone who was anxious. 

You had been working at Dionysus for a little less than a week now. Most of the work you did was standard for what you had been doing as a waitress at bars thus far; the only major difference was that this club catered specifically to higher-end clientele. It meant that your uniform consisted less of a T-shirt and dress pants, and more like a short dress and low neckline. The only reprieve from the full-glam and head of hairspray was that your managers let you get away with wearing kitten heels instead of six-inch death traps. 

It was a small mercy. But in this line of work, you would take what you could get, and your calves would thank you for it nonetheless. 

Night was fermenting into the bitterness of early morning as you made your way across the room to finally clock out of your shift. Your muscles were aching and your cheeks were close to bursting from the strained customer service smile you had plastered on all night. High performance ratings meant the owners could learn to trust you—you were just another cog in the machine, after all. And cogs didn't make choices, they only listened and obeyed and made their masters money. 

Several of your coworkers loitered around the end of the bar by the staff desktop. You imagined it wasn't because there was something wrong with it, only that there was something in the air that needed to be discussed. A week of working here and it was unsurprising that you were still amongst the outsiders on staff. Obviously, you couldn't simply state your name and earn immediate street cred or anything; respect and loyalty were earned by different means around here. 

“'Scuse me,” you murmured as you neared, weaving your way toward the monitor. 

Their chatter fell into sharp whispers, their bodies parting around you like oil meeting water. You paid their behavior no mind, used to it. 

As you punched in your employee ID and counted up your tips from tonight, you could at least strain your ears to pick something up. Hongjoong said your job here was to listen. 

“Lilac clocked out sick for the third day in a row, so I think she's on the chopping block.”

“Well, that means that there's a spot open on the VIP waiting team, isn't there?” VIP waiting team? You'd heard it mentioned vaguely, and usually in the context of a position you were far from achieving. 

A small scoffing sound erupted. “Duh. It'll be hard to get. I heard that this next meeting's gonna have people from further up the ladder.”

There was a pause, and tension pulled taut in the musty, smokey air. “Higher up the ladder? You mean…” Another pause, and you assumed the answer was in whatever silent look or gesture was given. 

You quietly finished up at the monitor and removed yourself from the immediate area. You needed to find out when this VIP meeting was, how high these higher-ups were, and how to get onto that wait staff team. If at all possible, of course. 

That nervous bundle in your stomach began to twist as you shouldered your way through the kitchen doors toward the staff break room at the back. You needed to breathe some fresh, salty sea air to clear your head, and you would also love to get your feet out of these pinching kitten heels. Maybe then you could think straight and come up with a half decent plan. 

“Dove,” a voice called out to you before you reached the break room.

You twisted your head over your shoulder, stopping short. The voice originated from the one familiar person in this place, Jungwon. As your partner in the field, he came onto the Dionysus team as a busboy and usually kept an ear out for drama in the kitchen. “What's up?” 

The name Dove was what you went by around here. They couldn't know your real name, so you assumed either Wooyoung, Seonghwa, or Hongjoong dubbed you with the faux nomenclature for your background check. It was catchy, albeit… unique. You wondered if there was some symbolism to it. Birds talked a lot. 

Jungwon slung a dish rag over his shoulder, his dark bangs damp with sweat hanging in his tired eyes. “Need a ride home?”

You nodded. “Yeah, thanks. Meet you out back?”

He shot you a thumb's up, and you continued on your way. 

The low lights in the break room were grainy and dim, but they illuminated the state of the place well. There was much to be desired, especially compared to how flashy and luxurious the main room looked. There was a dusty couch shoved up against one side of the wall, adjacent to a small table in the corner for staff members to eat at or play cards. The offices were down a hall to the right, and up a set of stairs. You imagined they were in far better shape than this environment. 

You turned left toward the rows of lockers. The exhaustion was creeping into the muscles of your face, and you opened your mouth in a yawn as you turned into your row. 

There was one other person in the aisle. She had her locker propped open and an orange pill bottle uncapped in one hand. A white capsule disappeared into her mouth, a pill you found out a couple days ago was a caffeine supplement to keep her alert on her walks home. She already had on a pair of pants over her dress. 

Sabine was one of the few employees who could relate to your outsider status amongst the others. Apparently, she had been considered somewhat of a lone wolf for awhile, but she didn't seem too upset over not being on the bandwagon with everyone else. The young woman was probably only a couple years older than yourself, with dark cherry colored hair that fell to her shoulders, and a body that looked great in the color black. She was built with sharper features and an alluring, feline-like grace. While she could rock the customer service aspect of the job when she wanted to, her real self was far more socially distanced. 

She glanced up over at you as you began thumbing your lock open. “Hey.”

You nodded back at her, yanking your locker open with a metallic screech. “Hi. How was your night?”

A deep sigh. “Same old, same old. Just wanna get my cut of the tips and hit the hay,” she muttered. She grabbed a dark colored puffer jacket and shouldered it over her uniform. 

“No, for sure,” you agreed. You pursed your lips and considered her again for a moment. “Do you need a ride again, by chance? Jungwon's driving me back to my apartment and your place is on the way.” 

You and Jungwon gave Sabine a ride home last night as well, especially after she mentioned her scares going home. While making the commute at very dark and unsafe hours wasn't new to you, Sabine didn't exactly live in a grey area or exist under the protection of a mafia family. The more you thought about it, the more you were forced to acknowledge your position of power and privilege. 

Her eyes raised again. “I… would appreciate that,” she said. She nodded, almost to herself, and began zipping up her jacket. “Thanks.”

“Sure.” 

You dug around in your locker to toss on your own winter jacket, wrapping your scarf around your neck, and applying a layer of chapstick over your dehydrated lips. 

Should you ask her about the VIP position?

The heartbeat that was supposed to be in your sternum catapulted into your throat. 

You coughed. “By the way,” you began, and her attention returned to you, “I overheard some of the others talking out there about some meeting the club's hosting between a few higher-ups.”

Sabine raised her brows. “Right,” she drawled. “Are you asking me who the higher-ups are?”

“Well, I just assumed they aren't our managers.”

“You're a smart girl, Dove,” she told you with a deadpan. “Don't play the innocent card; you know what organization owns this club.”

Ah, she wasn't exactly wrong. It seemed like she didn't know who the heads of Lioncrest might be meeting with, if it wasn't just amongst themselves, though. It wouldn't make sense that any of the employees working the regular crowd would know. The VIP wait staff didn't exactly mingle with your like; even wait staff had cliques, and you weren't a VIP bottle girl. 

You shrugged, slinging your purse over your shoulder. “Just confirming,” you said. “You're not interested?”

“Not particularly.” Sabine's words were clipped despite her continuing to answer your questions. She shoved her locker door shut and clicked the lock into place. “Bad experience with that crowd. You know, you think our customers are bad? Wait until they actually have the money to shove behind their ego and entitlement.”

You held your breath, but couldn't suppress a deeply apologetic wince. It was funny how distinct of a feeling fear was; it was a curdling in your belly, something deeply upsetting. It lingered. “I'm sorry I brought it up,” you said quietly. Should you have asked someone else? Perhaps your inquiries were doing more harm than good. 

She pressed her lips together, brushing a strand of wine red hair out of her face. “It's—it’s fine. You didn't know. And I get the allure of VIP wait staff, I do.” She nodded to herself again, gaze hard as she stared at the floor. “Just… if you do find yourself near that crowd, be careful.”

“Thank you for the advice—and for still talking to me about it,” you replied. Your hand tightened around the strap of your purse. With the crowds you waited on, you'd learned plenty of de-escalation tactics and smooth maneuvers to avoid unwanted attention. But Sabine's warning meant this venture could come with an additional level of sacrifice. Would it be worth the risk or was it beyond the scope of what Hongjoong asked of you? 

“Yeah,” she murmured. “I know Lilac's out sick, so they're looking for a replacement or whatever.”

“I just… didn't really have any opportunities to advance or be promoted at my last place of work,” you reasoned. It wasn't a complete lie; Rina Iwazaki's place didn't have a structural hierarchy as rigorous and stratified as this one. 

Sabine hummed in acknowledgment. “So you want that VIP position.”

“Hypothetically?”

A small snort flew from her mouth, and she lifted her eyes to meet yours with a pointed look. “Uh-huh. I get it though, I guess. They do tip well, at least.” She absentmindedly scratched her arm as she marinated on her thoughts. 

You leaned back against your locker to give a brief reprieve to your feet. “I dunno, any advice?”

She gave you a once-over. “My advice is to just… not. But if you're serious about this, then you need to be raking in the majority of the tips every night.” 

You nodded your head. That made sense. Upping your customer service would be a top quality for being chosen to serve a “higher” class. 

“And well… fuck, I don't know.” She shrugged, smiling to herself. “Buy a garter belt.”

Hongjoong wondered if he had gradually become an alcoholic. A glass of bourbon always managed to find its way into his hand, no matter what he was doing that evening. They also tended to magically refill themselves, but that was neither here nor there. He rubbed a hand down his face, glancing off to the side where the crystal decanter was half empty. 

Damn. Maybe he should swap out this drink with something like water. Water would be a smart choice, he thought. The inked numbers and letters on this ledger were beginning to blur. 

It was nearing three in the morning and he should have been fast asleep. His inner circle were accounted for in some capacity—most of them, anyway. He was certain he saw Jongho, San, and Wooyoung head to their rooms; Yeosang was undoubtedly with Ruby at the greenhouse, as he had been for a handful of days lately; Seonghwa was likely at the headquarters office; and Yunho and Mingi… were somewhere. 

Ugh. They could take care of themselves, but something needled at the back of his brain. 

He was missing someone from his roster. You were also unaccounted for, but that was… normal. In a way. 

He cocked his head to the side in consideration, eyes narrowing at the opposite wall. Yes, you were supposed to have limited contact with him during this period when you were trying to get settled into the Dionysus club. He guessed you were on your way home, or already home. And you were smart enough to catch a ride with Jungwon, but was Jungwon smart enough to offer a ride if you didn't ask—

That was a rabbit hole of inquiries his bourbon-soaked thoughts hadn't the bandwidth for. 

Hongjoong shook himself awake and set the glass aside, bourbon still sitting at the bottom. He needed to stay on task. After his, Yunho, and San's venture into the skeleton of the old Strictland base, they brought back with them a box full of ledgers and property documents to try and decode Jung Joonseo's secret ledger. Thus far, he and his commanders had only been able to pick out the entries where Joonseo was siphoning money to his own private account. The numbers that repeated matched the account number they had found on another document. 

It was a massive puzzle game, but one didn't know each piece even existed without purposefully looking. 

At least one thing was for certain: Yunseok knew his coffers were dwindling. The Kidult property was sold to the DDC around the time Joonseo had already scraped away nearly 200,000 dollars. If Hongjoong wasn't convinced all of these events were somehow linked to his current issues, then he would have laughed in Lee Yunseok's very dead face. 

A chime rang out from his phone. 

He sighed, reaching over to peer at the notification. His brows furrowed when he saw that the security feeds outside this home was alerted. He watched the feed, the automatic visual recognition system matching the faces in the car's front windshield. 

Surprise flickered across his face, then his heart beat hurtled into a gallop. You were here. Why were you here? What was wrong? 

He bounded for the stairs to open the warehouse door. 

You stood on the other side with the briny breeze blowing in your hair. You lifted a hand to wave at Jungwon once the door was open. 

Hongjoong tried not to focus on the fact that your legs were nearly completely bare, and more on the fact that you were quivering like a leaf in the wind. “Good god,” he muttered, “get in here. It's fucking freezing.”

“You're telling me,” you managed to say through chattering teeth as you scurried past him. 

The heavy smell of booze drifted into his nose, and it woke him right up, as if he wasn't already on high alert by a myriad of other concerns. Not including the part where you were dressed in less than he had ever seen you before. You were going to catch a cold; did you not bring pants to put on after work? Hongjoong hauled the door closed, locking it tight, his teeth clenching through the annoying pricks of pain in his side. 

Soon, that infuriating bullet graze would be just a scar and a memory. 

“Why are you here?” he asked as the two of you climbed the stairs up to the living room. What's wrong? 

You didn't say anything until you collapsed into the armchair you always occupied. With a grimace, you tugged your feet out of your kitten heels to massage your soles. “It's nothing bad, don't worry.”

Hongjoong dragged a hand down his face as he perched on the coffee table in front of you. “Are you serious?”

“It could be bad. But I have a solution.”

“I need more context than that.” And maybe he did need that last bit of bourbon. He physically turned his face away from you to avoid his eyes wandering. 

An eight hour shift and you still looked like a doll. 

You tucked your feet under your body, tugging the ends of your coat over your bare legs. “I just… need your opinion. And maybe a donation.”

“A donation?” he parroted, curiosity piqued. 

“I'll explain it once I'm done,” you assured him. Your eyes drifted over to the mess behind him, the table littered with paper, the box, the ledger books. “What happened here? Hurricane Red Tape?”

Hongjoong hated that he snorted. There would be no more drinking of bourbon for tonight. “No,” he said, glancing back at it all, “just a new lead we're pursuing.”

“Speaking of leads,” you continued, “I overheard some coworkers tonight talking about Dionysus hosting a meeting with some higher-ups. Supposedly, officers from Lioncrest are meeting with others.”

Your emphasis on “others” was pointed. Hongjoong absentmindedly massaged his jaw. If he was picking up what you were putting down, this could be the thing that he was waiting for—confirmation that Lioncrest was negotiating with Strictland to betray Ateez. He trusted what you overheard before tonight, as well, but he needed to know more, needed to be certain. “Others” could be anyone. 

“The catch is that they're only being served by the VIP wait staff.”

He glanced over at you and his train of thought halted. “Which you are not.”

You nodded. “So. Is it worth it?”

An interesting question. Was it worth it to send you in? He fully understood the potential stakes, risks, and outcomes; you had watched and listened, as instructed, but now there came the decision as to charge forward or pull back. If it was any other person under his employ, he would have urged you to do whatever you could to get into that meeting. 

This was important, yet half of him remained firmly in the court that disliked every detail of this. From planting you in Dionysus, to infiltrating a meeting between potential rivals—his stomach churned with the fervor of a storm at sea. But no matter how much his boat rocked, he couldn't simply dismiss this opportunity. You weren't just a liability, you were an asset. You took the vow, you were inducted, you agreed to this task. 

He needed this; the family needed this. 

(And he wondered where he'd last drawn his line in the sand. Why did he set you apart from the rest? He knew what you were capable of, just as he knew what his brothers were capable of. But this feeling needling at the back of his mind—it was different, and he could try to ignore it all he wanted. He had people to protect, a territory to rule, enemies to put down.)

He laced his fingers together as he leaned onto his forearms. “It’s worth it,” he said. “You haven't had much exposure to the higher rungs of the ladder, so this information could be crucial. How far out is the meeting?”

“I'm not too sure, but they're looking to replace someone currently on the wait staff lineup.”

He bit the inside of his cheek. That was only partially an ideal answer. “Alright, do whatever you can to get into that meeting.”

You scratched the back of your neck, teeth gleaming in a sheepish smile. “Which is why I mentioned a donation earlier.”

He paused, waiting for your answer. 

“I know you're not a typical 'business,’ but I wanted to know if you would reimburse me for business-related purchases—”

Hongjoong's face fell sharply into a deadpan. “You've got to be shitting me.”

You threw your head back in a laugh, and there was a strange warmth that filled the room. Even the glow of the lamp in the corner seemed to gleam a brighter gold. It took much restraint to pull his lip muscles into obedience. “I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.”

“So you're asking me for money?”

“It was an innocent question,” you insisted while raising your palms in surrender. “Someone, I dunno, suggested I buy a garter belt—”

If he was drinking something, he would have spit it out. “A garter belt.”

“You like to repeat things that are said a lot.” 

Hongjoong's eyes narrowed, a crease forming between those eyes. “Excuse me?”

You tucked your knees up to your chest and crossed your ankles in a demure, little seating position. “It was just an observation,” you said. There was an impish glint in your eye tonight, and he wondered if this was what Seonghwa saw whenever Hongjoong did not listen to him. “But someone did suggest offhandedly I add a garter belt to the uniform, and maybe a different colored lip tint. It was just a joke—”

He pressed his face into his palm and used the other hand to make a dismissive gesture. “I'll foot the bill; buy whatever you want.”

“Really, I was kidding.”

“And I won't take no for an answer.” He closed his eyes for a brief moment and it was a flash of skin wrapped in a slim band of lace that was nudging him toward the edge of a cliff. With his fingers over his face, he opened his eyes to peer at you through the gaps between. “You're not gonna say no to me, are you, doll?”

Bourbon tasted like rich notes of vanilla and caramel and earth; but it felt like your smile. And it was fucking him up. 

You cleared your throat, and he thought he saw your throat muscles contract in a swallow. “I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth,” you murmured. “Anyways, uhm, I'm sorry for interrupting your work tonight. That's all I had to say.”

Hongjoong lifted his head up and raked his hand through his hair. It was getting longer these days. “No, no. It was no interruption and I didn't mind. I don't think I was getting anywhere productive with this tonight anyhow.”

You stood up then, stepping up to the table and working your way around it to peer at the documents. “What did you say these were again?”

“We brought them over from the old Strictland stronghold,” he replied over his shoulder. He turned himself around, knees turned toward you and tucked against the side of the table. He rifled through the documents mindlessly. “We found a line of connection between the Strictland leadership and the Diamond District, but when we followed that line…”

“Nothing?” You cocked a brow in surprise, but the slight frown emoted something different. You brushed your hair out of your face as you picked up the ledger book he had left on his seat. “You don't mind, do you?”

He gestured to you. “Be my guest,” he said. “That's Jung Joonseo's secret ledger. He was Lee Yunseok's second in command. Apparently, he had been stealing money from Strictland's coffers nearing the end of their reign.”

“Wow,” you muttered as you flipped through the pages with your brows creased. “Is this the reason for all the other documents? You're trying to match up the money to all of these entries.”

“That would be correct.” 

Hongjoong leaned the side of his face against his palm to watch you. The dim light from the lamp was warm against your features, casting a shadow across half of your face that outlined the curve of your Cupid's bow and the length of your eyelashes. Some of your mascara had smudged under your bottom lashes, but that was only natural and they were only specks. Did you say you needed a new lip tint shade? A deep red would look damningly divine with your skin tone. 

“Did you ever figure it out?”

His eyelids shuttered, his brain snapping into attention as if someone had just called Captain on deck. His body straightened. “Figure what out?”

You glanced up from the ledger and a lock of hair was falling over your forehead in a graceful curl. “The afternoon we did the ritual and I came back from the east corner, we were talking about putting pieces together, and you mentioned something about assassin guilds.”

“Oh.” Right. He had nearly forgotten about that part of the conversation. You had said that Strictland was toying with him, and while it struck a nerve, it also fired a neuron. If Strictland wanted him dead, then why not hire a real assassin, a privately contracted one from a guild like the Wings Express? It didn't make sense—unless Strictland didn't want the man they hired to succeed. They were counting on him being caught. It was all a game, and Hongjoong despised playing mouse. 

He brushed a hand through his hair. “I'm pretty sure it's as you said: they're just toying with me. The guy they paid was a lucky shot, but they were counting on him being caught. Why?”

“What was the name of the guild you mentioned?”

“The Wings Express?”

You glanced back down at the ledger and pointed at something. “Do you think this could be it?”

Hongjoong's face contorted as he shot to his feet and rounded the table. He peered over your shoulder as you showed him the ledger. At the tip of your finger was an abbreviation: TWE, the date matching up to five days before Ateez's coup, and the amount deducted from his coffers a whopping $100,000. 

He took the book from you and collapsed onto the edge of his armchair, a permanent kink in his brow, as he stared hard at that entry line. “I… could probably kiss you,” he blurted, still gawking at it in disbelief. 

(He was going to kick himself for saying that in about an hour when he was stone-cold sober.)

You snorted, perching onto the arm of his chair. “Yeah alright, you're welcome,” you said. “Glad it might actually be something. The letter 'T’ was just a lot bolder than all the other letters on the page, so my eyes must've been drawn to it. Maybe he was hesitant about the transaction.”

“I would be,” Hongjoong said, thumbing his lip as he considered it. The Wings Express, huh? “100,000 is probably the down payment for a job.”

“Who do you think he was trying to have taken out? You?”

He shook his head. “If he wanted me gone, he likely would have gotten one of his own to kill me. I was an inconsequential subordinate to him at the time, even five days before the coup.”

You let out a hum. “You sure proved him wrong.”

He bit the edge of his nail, and couldn't help the slight curl of his lips into a smile. “Yeah.” He was paying for it now though, by whoever was under that fake hat and mask. “But 100,000 is pretty high for a down payment of any regular person. This would have to be a hit on a very prominent member of society, or someone heavily guarded. Someone like…”

“A mafia head?” you offered. 

Hongjoong raised his head to meet your eyes, pointing at you in a vague gesture. It was like you read his mind. “Exactly.”

Your brows creased. “Interesting… I'm guessing it never happened though, because that's the last TWE entry.”

“Huh,” he muttered, flipping through the last couple of pages. The entries after this one seemed to hold the majority of the transfers from Strictland's coffers to Joonseo's. He must have felt that his time was running out and began taking as much money as he could get away with. But you were right—that was the only TWE entry there was. “He either must have backed out or his target was eliminated before the assassination was planned.”

“Here's a crazy idea,” you piped up. “What if it was Lee Yunseok?”

A line in Hongjoong's spine pulled taut. His mind wandered in the direction you pointed. What if Jung Joonseo planned to murder Lee Yunseok before he could find out about his betrayal? What if Joonseo planned to take over Strictland before Hongjoong checked the king? It made an awful lot of sense—with Yunseok dead, Joonseo was next in command. 

If Joonseo underestimated Hongjoong, then Hongjoong certainly underestimated Joonseo, too. 

“No? Stupid idea?”

“No, no” —he waved his hand to stop you— “not a stupid idea. That's a good thread to follow, Yn.”

You nodded. “It makes sense, doesn't it?”

He shared a look with you. “It does.”

But it only begged the question: what did any of this have to do with his situation now? There was that sinking feeling in his gut again, one that swirled with the rip current of dread, and it could only be quelled by answering yet another question. And this one was arguably worse. 

Where was Jung Joonseo now?

a/n: pls reblog if you enjoyed!

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