#& ‘ ━ something / the world is changing . * v : iii .

[stylesispunk]

Blind faith | Series

priest!joel miller x nightclub dancer!reader

warnings: age gap, religious conflict, crisis of faith, temptation, forbidden attraction, forbidden romance, eventual smut, social expectations, night life themes, contrast between joel's and your world, protests, mentions of exile, mention of politics.

wc: 42,9k (so far)

status: in progress

chapters:

chapter i

chapter ii

chapter iii

chapter iv*

chapter v

chapter vi

chapter vii

chapter viii

chapter ix

chapter x

more coming soon

Summary: Joel found you on a quiet evening when the chapel was empty, save for the flickering candlelight and the faint scent of incense clinging to the air. You were curled up on one of the wooden pews, arms folded beneath your head, chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep.

He cleared his throat, but you didn’t stir. He hesitated before reaching out, tapping your shoulder. “Miss?” His voice came softer than he expected. “You can’t sleep here.”

"Father, do you always wake up strangers like this?"

Your voice was thick with sleep, eyes blinking against the dim glow of the chapel’s candlelight. The air smelled of old wood, wax, and something faintly metallic, like rain on stone. You looked young like this, your face soft, but Joel knew better. You shouldn't be older than thirty.

"You can’t sleep here," he repeated.

Joel stood over you, stiff-backed, his fingers still hovering near your shoulder from where he’d tapped you awake. He shouldn’t have noticed the way your legs stretched across the pew, the way your blouse—too sheer for a place like this, shifted as you moved, leaving no place to imagination.

"Didn’t know God locked His doors at night," you mused, rubbing at your eyes.

Joel exhaled sharply. Lord, give me patience.

"This isn’t a shelter," he said. "If you need a place—"

"I'm not homeless" Your tone was firm, final. But there was something else in your voice too, something he couldn’t quite place, but it hinted sadness.

The world outside was changing. Women weren’t quiet anymore. They weren’t soft in the way people in towns like this expected them to be. And yet, there was something about you that didn’t fit the mold of rebellion either. You weren’t a girl searching for trouble. You were a woman who had already met it.

"I just got into town," you admitted after a beat, glancing toward the stained-glass windows, dark now with the night. "Didn’t know where else to go."

Joel studied you, his chest tightening. "Are you in trouble?"

A small, humorless laugh left you. "Depends on what you call trouble."

Silence filled the chapel, thick and unmoving. The rain had stopped, leaving only the distant hum of the highway beyond the hills.

"You shouldn’t be here," he said finally. But his voice had lost its authority, had softened just enough that he felt the weight of it settle in his own bones.

Because the longer he stood there, the clearer it became.

You weren’t just a woman passing through.

You were trouble to his faith.

And trouble, he knew, never left quietly.

And worse, he couldn’t ignore the way, for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t sure if devotion could save him.

.....

[lunarxcity]

Why her? (Part V to Why me?)

azriel x rhys' sister! reader

angst/eventual comfort ( I mean did you guys really thing I would let them have a smooth reunion? cackles maniacally in the background**)

Summary: When you walk in on Azriel and Elain the mating bond snaps leading you to flee to Autumn with Eris so you can be free of Azriel. Your absence causes Azriel to come to some drastic realisations, but is it already too late and has your time in Autumn led to you moving on?

Parts I, II, III, and IV if you missed them!

-

You were a fool for thinking that Rhys would allow you to discretely come back to the Night Court after being away for so long and even more a fool for thinking that he wouldn't find any excuse to throw a party. The details of your mission had been classified so Rhys couldn't exactly disclose that it was a welcome home party for you, but no one in their right mind will question the reasoning behind a Night Court ball.

Rhys' extravagance extended to his parties and they were some of the most revered in Prythian. Even Beron, the grumpiest high lord who hates anything to do with fun or laugher, would look forward to attending, dragging his gaggle of deplorable children along.

You're going to attend the Ball with Lucien and Eris and then stay in the Night Court, marking the end of your time in Autumn. Autumn has always been a place of change. The leaves of trees are always flickering between shades of red, orange, and brown some falling and some staying without being enticed by the prospect of winter of winter.

You do have to say the eternal Autumn does live up to it's namesake. In just 3 short months you've been changed, well not physically, but the way you think about yourself and how you go about the world. You would have to find some way to thank Eris for that. You did the work, but he pushed you to start and showed you the way and in return you hope you had taught him how to not be so unbearably uptight all the time.

You would miss your friend, Rhysand would never forgive you for thinking this, but he reminds you of Rhys in a way. You smile at the thought of your brother's reaction to this accusation. He would huff and cross his arms, immediately disagreeing with you. You know Eris would do something similar. He will make a good high lord.

You continue to get ready for the ball, ditching your normal colour palette of blues and purples for a Night Court black dress with gold adornments along the bodice. You had to pay homage to your time in Autumn, but you are still Night Court. The way the gold snakes around reminded you of golden vines rather than the shadow-like designs you've been accustomed to.

You were related to Rhys and Mor, it was in your blood to go over the top with these kind of things. It was Eris' idea to add leafs to the golden vines to the dress and also Eris' idea to match his suit to your dress. Lucien thought that the gold and black designs were way too much for him, but you were able to convince him into wearing the matching cuff links. You knew what kind of message that you and Eris matching would sent to the courts and to a certain spymaster, but you couldn't bring yourself to care. If you wanted to match with Eris so be it who cares what they think?

Your thoughts begin to stray back to a certain spymaster, it had been 3 months since you'd last seen him and 3 months since you had found out that you guys were mates. The mating bond had become nothing more than a dull feeling in your chest and you don't even think you could tug on it if you wanted to. That is how far removed you had become from the bond, how far you have become removed from Azriel.

Azriel. You were still trying to decide how you would deal with him. Right now, you are leaning towards being polite to him when you see him and then dancing and talking with everyone else all evening in order to avoid his presence. You decided to not give him the amount of your attention that he has become accustomed to. You will set your sights on connecting with your family and friends; he, of course, will be included in that but only on a polite, friendly level and not on the all-consuming level of a mate.

Your thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door. Eris walks in with a hand behind his back. His face is nuetral, but his eyes are almost solemn. He begins to speak, "It has been a long time since I've had the pleasure of being around decent company." Eris is not a sentimental person, so you understand that even this much is a lot for him.

He approaches you and his hand comes out from behind his back to reveal a gold necklace. It was a simple necklace with a gold chain and a small pendant on the end with a fox sitting on a moon engraved in it. He delicately places the necklace in your hand.

You smile up at him, "Thank you, Eris, I love it." You walk up to him and look in his eyes, the enemy of the Night Court that was somehow your saviour in this dark tie. You don't know how you repay him. You wrap your arms around him in an embrace and he freezes. He must not have hugged someone in a while because he immediately stiffed and then put his arms around you. If anyone saw this they would assume that this is proof that Eris Vanserra had a heart and that he needed to learn how to hug because it looked like you were holding him hostage.

Nevertheless, you got excited, he had never let you hug him before. He sighs, "You know you could just stay here, who else is going to look after the foxes." You thought back to the first day, you arrived in Autumn a complete and utter mess and in your drunken stupor had dragged along Lucien and domesticated a whole family of foxes. You had come a long way since then, when the fate of yours and Azriel's mating bond had been the only thing on your mind and the world felt tilted on it's axis.

Eris' voice interrupts your thoughts, "Who else am I going to terrorise on the daily?" You chuckle, "You will always have Lucien."

He lets out an exasperated sigh, "He's been much too boring lately. He doesn't appreciate my schemes." You let out an immediate retort, "Your brother doesn't want you to make an enemy of every court? What a pity." In all his spitefulness and maliciousness, Eris had been your rock lately and you don't know what you are going to do without at least a little bit of his mischief in your life.

Your eye strays to the window, and you look outside and see the trees swaying in the wind. The scene almost reminds you of a painting with Autumn leaves swaying in the breeze against the backdrop of a golden sunset. You had always believed the Night Court to be the most captivating of all the courts, you believed that nothing could rival the beauty of the stars that danced across the Night Court sky, but the golden Autumn sunset had you rethinking your decision. There was something about the warm, enticing glow of the Autumn Court sunset that had made you forget about the beauty of the Night sky that you had loved for so many years, but sunsets were fleeting and as soon as you began to appreciate the moment the sun had disappeared below the horizon it was over.

Sun disappearing below the horizon? By the Cauldron you were running late to the ball. You jump away from Eris and run to put on your shoes, "Loving this bonding moment we're having here, but we are running late and my brother will literally come here and drag me to the ball if we don't leave immediately."

He laughs and lets out a sarcastic, "Your command is my wish, Your Royal Highness of the Court of Night. Or is that not regal enough? Your divine goddessness-"

Yo roll your eyes and laugh. "Oh my god shut up Eris lets go." He drops into a dramatic bow and holds his hand out. You know he's trying to distract you from thoughts of Azriel, and you appreciate the effort.

He looks at you with sincere eyes, "You ready?" You answer right away, scared that if you give yourself a minute to sit and contemplate you're going to change your mind and run away like you did to Autumn. You nod, softly you say, "Ready as I'll ever be."

With that you take his hand and the world falls away as you begin to travel to the Night Court.

-

Azriel's a nervous wreck. He may be dressed for a ball, his usual leathers traded for ball attire. Azriel has never been one for especially opulent attire, Rhys has always been the most fashionable out of the three brothers, but he really wanted to look good for your guys' reunion. He had actually asked Mor and Rhys for outfit advice, which had left both of them speechless due to how out of character it was.

They dressed him in an elevated Spymaster's uniform, which was more flair than practicality. His tunic was much too tailored to be for fighting, and the cobalt cufflinks and designs would not help with blending in to the shadows. A useless outfit for spying or attending to any spymaster business, but a perfect outfit for a Night Court ball.

Mor and Rhys made him shave, get a haircut, even made him use this enchanted eye cream to get minimise the dark circles that were permanently etched on his face from all the sleepless nights in your absence. Mother knows how excited he was to see you. He had barely thought of anything else since he was told of your arrival and has thought of a thousand different scenarios of how your reunion will go. The last one involved you running into his arms and him happily spinning you around.

The remnants of your scent still linger in your room. Azriel would know, considering he's basically moved into it, but it's not enough anymore. Azriel needs more.

He's been pacing for nearly an hour, Cassian had become dizzy from watching him go back and forth for so long. "Brother, you are worried for nothing. You will see her and all will be well again." Cassian tries to assure him.

Azriel responds by walking over the counter and pouring a glass of whiskey. He stopped when it was about three-quarters of the way full. "Brother, I implore you to think about your decision." Azriel walks the glass over to him and Cassian gives him a smile. "See I'm proud of you, you made the right decision."

Azriel gives a small smile back and walks over to the counter. He then grabs the bottle of whiskey off the counter and presses it to his lips, beginning to chug the remnants. Cassian jumps up and runs to him yelling, "NO-"

The bottle was already finished by the time Cassian got to him. Sulking, he sat down and began to drink his own glass, scared that Azriel might come over there and down it too.

The sun was beginning to set over the horizon, which means the ball was starting soon. Azriel felt as though he couldn't breathe. He was a mix of excitement, nerves, and fear. His chest felt heavy in a way that he has never felt before and he half-contemplated jumping out the window and flying away and never coming back.

It was rare that Azriel would be the one freaking out and Cassian would be the one calming him down but here he was. His brother came over slapped an arm over his shoulder and was grinning at him. "You ready for what could possibly be the greatest evening of your life brother?" The way that Cassian was looking at him and the knowledge that you were going to be there made him almost believe that it could be.

-

You arrive to the gardens of Velaris, the site of the ball, with Eris in tow. To absolutely zero surprise, Rhys had spared no expense for this party. Fae lights swirled around the trees and plans lighting up the gardens while mage lights floated throughout the grounds lighting up in a variety of colours. The garden was illuminated in a way that made all the flowers glow, which was only enhanced by the full moon lighting up the sky. All in all it was the perfect welcome to the Night Court.

-

Azriel has never believed in fate, the idea of an entity controlling his destiny never sat well with him, he believes that he is the one in control of everything he does. He wakes up at the time he chooses, goes to the places he wishes, and will do what he wants. Azriel believes that fate is an excuse for those who fear action. The idea that fate will one day bring to you what you need, so why bother working for it had always bothered him to such a high degree. Azriel believes that he is the master of his fate.

If he is the master of his fate, why are his shadows screaming at him to follow them? Why is he feeling a physical pain in his chest from resisting the pull of his shadows? His shadows had only ever informed, but now they are commanding. They are a part of him and he is meant to have control over them, it's not supposed to be the other way around.

Their whispers had turned into screams and now the shadows were roaring at him to go.

Go where?

GO

They say in unison. He takes a deep breath and tries to hone in on the where the shadows are trying to take him. The world becomes too loud, too bright, too overwhelming and he falls into the pocket of world that only he knows, the one where darkness is a comfort and shadow reigns supreme. The realm of shadow is both a veil and a comfort and under the light of the full moon, he closes his eyes and becomes one with the night.

He is led by pure instinct, letting the shadows carry him through the ever-surrounding darkness of the night. He doesn't know where he is going, but he knows that he needs to be there. Where there is he doesn't fully know yet, but he knows what there feels like. He feels like he's walking towards a comforting light.

He remembers a time in the Illyrian mountains when he was caught in a snowstorm. Devlon said the treacherous conditions didn't matter and made him continue to train his shadowsinger abilities. He took him up the mountain and when they were done with training, Devlon had an evil smile and had wished Azriel luck and winnowed back to camp without him. 12 year Azriel didn't know how to winnow yet, and he was left on the mountain by himself in the midst of a raging blizzard.

The conditions were some of the worst that Azriel had ever seen and he had no idea where he was. He was still learning how to fly, his late start due to his father, and he had no idea how to navigate back to your guys' home. He took a deep breath and imagined what he would come back to once he got home, and everything that he would lose if he didn't make it back alive.

He closed his eyes and began to fly as best he could. He thought of his your mother making everyone hot chocolate, like she always would on a stormy winter day. He thought of Cassian and Rhys fighting over the chair that was closest to the fire. He thought of you. You who would likely be sitting in your guys' spot, pretending to read your book while constantly looking at the door to see if he made it home safe. You with your warm smile and bright eyes, who would refuse to take your cup of hot chocolate Azriel was right in front of him.

He could see the scene as clear as day and feel the warmth and comfort of the cabin. Azriel didn't know how. He just felt it. He followed that feeling of comfort. He refused to die in this storm. He refused to leave you worrying about his whereabouts any longer. He flew and flew - the ice was freezing his wings, and the wind had increased the coldness tenfold. All he could see was white and all he could hear was the howling of the wind, but he kept going forward until he hit a wall.

Not a wall, but a door. He opened the door to see the exact scene he was seeing in his head. The scene that led him here. He had no idea how he got here with no visibility or sign of where he was going.

Rhys' mom had ran to him before anyone else could. His ears and wings had been covered in frostbite, and she immediately threw him into a warm bath. Once he got out, he went to the living room and saw 3 worried faces looking at him. Cassian and Rhys froze mid fight over the chair and you looked up from your upside-down book. He grabbed one of the four hot chocolates on the counter and sat next to you. He finally let out a sigh of relief. You had handed him a blanket and he finally felt at peace. Just the simple act of having you next to him had helped comfort him from all he endured that day.

That's how Azriel was feeling right now. Like he was flying through that storm again towards that feeling of comfort. Towards that feeling of home. He didn't know where his shadows were leading him at first, but now he has a good idea.

He gets out of the realm of the shadows and the first thing he sees is your back. You’re standing next to Eris at one of the entrances of the gardens of Velaris.

He’s hiding behind one of the hedges, contemplating if should go up to you right now or wait until you’re inside when you turn around.

He knows you had always been beautiful, but standing here in front of him with the backdrop of the fae lights and under the glow of the full moon you looked downright ethereal. His heart stopped and his breath caught. It felt like the ground beneath him gave out.

He took a deep breath and it was your scent that had permeated through the air and he felt it all. The feeling of comfort. The feeling of home.

He felt it snap and the world as he knew it came crumbling down.

Mother almighty you were his mate.

part vi

-

note: This chapter had gone very different than I originally planned, but it spoke to me and this is what demanded to be written besides who doesn't love a good cliffhanger. I do hope it doesn't feel rushed, but I feel like Azriel needs to suffer the way the reader did. Now he's dealing with a fresh mating bond and she's the one who's indifferent and he has to try to act normal and you know Eris won't make it easy for her. The next chapter is going to be complete chaos and I can't wait to see you all next time for it, until next time loves <3

note note: I may have lied about the whole editing thing, I'll go back and fix all the chapters...eventually...

taglist: @alimarie1105 @chaosabroad @bbontenswhhore @tele86 @ashblooddragons @circe143 @i-am-infinite @princesssunderworld @thestartitaness @tiffany-xx @cpfantasybooks @lucia-valentinaa @jennigsonl @ivy-34 @firefly-forest @k-homosapien @coeurdeveea @cherryjain17 @bckynatt @becstersworld @rcarbo1 @gojospearlycim @atluky @juliebluehufflepuff @willowpains @abadfantasybook @neverendingstay @hellohauntedturnstudent @highladyofhogwarts @littowl @iluvyewman-blog @lunaticpotatoe

[damneddamsy]

FALLING. RATING Explicit (18+ only) PAIRING Joel Miller x BIPOC OFC (Leela) FORMAT & SETTING Joel's POV & Post-TLOU Jackson AU WORD COUNT PER CHAPTER approx. 12,000+

SUMMARY It is said that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. Now, Joel Miller wasn’t looking to be a saint. Trust was a liability. Love, a memory too painful to keep. But if a sinner like him still had some future, and if that future starts with one night—a baby’s relentless cries cracking through his walls and breaking him open—then maybe, just maybe, he hadn’t lost everything yet. Against all instincts, he steps into that big, white house across his street. Nothing drives Joel to linger, but he does. For the baby at first—nascent Maya, with her bright eyes and fistfuls of Joel’s collar. Then, the strange new mother. What begins as an uneasy coexistence grows into something deeper, which neither of them dares name. Haunted by a narrative she never chose, brilliant but reclusive, Leela’s mind runs into the theoretical—proofs, patterns, chasing solutions to an unsolvable equation—while Joel’s hands are scarred by the practical: protecting, killing, enduring. When that peace becomes fleeting, when a fragile hope in the shape of a mathematical discovery begins to bloom, and the world, as always, threatens to take it away, Joel confronts what it means to fall—not just into the impossible, but into love, into hope, into the fragile rhythms of Leela and Maya’s life, and their quiet home that becomes a rare thing in this decaying tomorrow: a reason to stay. This is a story of healing, found family, and the abnormal, slow math of love—how we factor grief, multiply hope, balance the unknowns, it never adds up but somehow makes perfect sense.

INDEX (might be subject to change as the story progresses.)

part i -> EVENT HORIZON

part ii -> MICROFRACTURE

part iii -> FALSE EQUILIBRIUM

part iv -> MINIMUM VIABLE HOPE

part v -> RECONSTRUCTION ALGORITHM

part vi -> LIMIT APPROACHES GRACE

part vii -> FREEFALL FUNCTION

part viii -> SOFT INFINITY

part ix -> STITCH THEORY

interlude

part x -> DECOHERENCE

part xi -> ZERO CROSSING

part xii -> THEOREM OF BECOMING -> updated May 3rd!

part xiii -> HEURISTIC BLOOM

epilogue -> THE FINAL THEOREM

FALLING MOODBOARD (a huge bear hug, thank you and shoutout to the incredible @jolapeno !!)

AUTHOR'S NOTE Have loads of fun with this masterlist! took me a while to think up a different way to potray these chapters, I'm so glad it came through so great!

TAGS your (ultimate) fix-it fic, The Dad™️ Joel, softest Joel you've ever seen, he is also an old yearner cuntstruck hardass, Joel being down bad for a teeny baby girl, OFC is arabic, OFC being an academic nerd and STEM girlie, the cutest baby (Maya) ever, baby is an actual character, Miller family dynamics, Tommy-Joel-Ellie hooliganisms, life in Jackson town, Ellie being the generally awesome older sister, neighbours-to-lovers trope, found family, slowburn, a lot of math references, lotsa door metaphors, epistolary interlude.

CONTENT WARNINGS eventual smut (the whole kaboodle), big griefs, depression, unbearable angst, violence, gore, blood, alcoholism, substance abuse, post-natal depression, the pains of motherhood, mentions of rape and suicide, childbirth.

[hannieween]

heartbreaker series | choi seungcheol (M) ongoing

Three events made you wonder if you are the unluckiest person in the world. First, the constant hopping from job to job, only to land in a local bar. Second, the revelation that your new boss is none other than your ex. Third, the painful realisation that you're not completely over your him.

✧ pairing: choi seungcheol x female reader ✧ genre: angst, smut (18+) ✧ aus: boss seungcheol, gambler seungcheol, exes to lovers ✧ word count: 80.4k words

navigation post: part i | charmer The thing about Seungcheol is that when he loved, he loved with a fervent force that nothing could ever stop it. When he wanted something, he would stop at nothing to get it. He was passionate like that. And he loved you. Past tense. Loved.

part ii | wanderer You were far from the girl that Seungcheol use to love. Because, time has a funny way of changing things and it sure as hell changed you.

part iii | killer Choi Seungcheol is a strategist to his core. And he thought it would be simple to steal princess from her castle. Well, he thought wrong.

part iv | chaser Breakups are tough. For years, you had to push your feelings down to try and move on. But now, you were back again with Choi Seungcheol, rekindling the ardent flame of your love, and lost promises.

drabble | lover You and Seungcheol finally get a chance to get away from finals, homework and your parents.

part v | gambler Plans do not always come to fruition. That was one of the hardest truths that Seungcheol had to come to grips with.

last updated: 03.22.2025 (˶ˆ꒳ˆ˵) JOIN MY TAGLIST

[areislol]

A time to tell

► PAIRINGS. genshin men x gn! creator! reader

► GENRE. sagau, reverse isekai, domestic life/slice of lofe, explicit/sexual (18+ for the nsfw chapters) themes.

SYNOPSIS. albedo created a machine where it would bring back their creator, who was stuck in another world, back to where they belong. but instead of bringing you here to them, it brought them to you.

WARNINGS. eventual smut, harem, angst with comfort.

STATUS. on going//i will try to update as fast and best as i can but i do procrastinate a lot so.. i do have school and work to do so updates may be a bit slow.. i will try my best though!! i do not have a specific update time, i just update whenever I finish a chapter so please bear with me, i wish i had an allocated timetable or something but i just can't fit that into my schedule (posting on a specific time).

EXTRA. i started this series because i needdd to feed my love for reverse isekai fics and i saw that there werent a lot so i was like !!! why not create my own? also, the chapters that had NSFW content in them will have the 🔞 logo beside the chapter name.

- reader is in college (has a part time job)

TAGLIST. open

> RECOMMENDED SONGS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE CHAPTERS <

“y/n, we will be here for you for however you want us to be, we will leave even if you asked us to just please, please don’t leave us.”

chapter index

i. chapter one - the start of it all

◇─where you find yourself in a room with 24 handsome men, the thing is.. you know them from the popular game that you even played and spent hundreds of money on.. genshin impact!

ii. chapter two - the morning after

◇─the morning after everything had happened, you decided to do a little bonding session.. which was by watching your favourite movies with them of course!

iii. chapter three - a shopping spree

◇─you decide to go shopping to buy some things for you and the men, you bond by watching movies with them and playing UNO.

iv. chapter four - "you really took took care of us, huh?"

◇─a couple days goes by after meeting the men, all is going good, your daily routine has changed, and the fact that you start work tomorrow too doesn't help anything at all.

v. chapter five - Back to work

◇─you have to return back to work after having your days off, little did you know you would find out something that would absolutely make you feel at unease and that would make you paranoid forever.

MINI FIC - Merry christmas! (wait why are we supposed to say that again?)

◇─celebrate christmas with them!!

vi. chapter six - The stalker

◇─not in a million years did you expect to ever get yourself a stalker, how did you? no idea. but with the sudden help of a woman she manages to find a way to catch the stalker. will you and your friends or well, the men, see her ever again, and will they meet for the good or bad?

vi. chapter seven - A walk in the park

◇─deciding that it has been quite some time since the men went out, you take them out to a park and have a picnic, bonding time if you will.

viii. chapter eight - Credit where it's not due

◇─you finally have some time to understand elisa, and to be honest, you aren't sure if you and her get along.

MINI FIC - A New Year’s With You

◇─happy new years!!

[north-kieren]

It's been a long time, here's what I just posted on Tik Tok because I feel it's something that needs more reach. For my MHA shifters - or people who are shifting to be heroes.

Do you want to be a hero?

Could you?

Crossing the Line: A Reflection Guide for Shifters Exploring Morality, Identity, and Power.

The Mirror You've Been Avoiding - This guide is for the shifters who crave more than surface-level control. For the ones who want to know what they are, not just what they can do. You’ve stepped into a world where the lines are bloodstained, blurred, corrupt and always changing. Bending and morphing. It’s not about choosing "hero" or "villain" anymore—it’s about owning what your impact truly means.

This isn’t a quiz. It’s a confrontation.

---

Section I: Defining Your Compass Prompt 1: What does "hero" mean to you—and where did that definition come from?

Was it taught, witnessed, felt, or forced on you? Is it still true for you?

Prompt 2: What do you refuse to do? What lines can’t be crossed?

Now, imagine a scenario where that refusal could save someone you love. Do you cross it?

Prompt 3: Think of someone you see as a villain. What part of them reflects you—even just a little?

Breakdown: Morality is shaped, not born. It changes with environment, power, exposure, and pressure. Identifying your personal code—not the one you were given, but the one you’re building—is your foundation.

Section II: The Weight of Power Prompt 4: Who gave you your power? Or did you take it?

What does that origin mean about how you use it?

Prompt 5: What has your power protected? And what has it damaged?

Prompt 6: Are you using your power to change the system, or just survive within it?

Breakdown: Power is loud—but intention is louder. Where your power comes from, and where it leads you, shows whether you're shaping your reality or just keeping yourself from drowning in it.

Section III: The Reality of Choice Prompt 7: When have you hesitated? Why?

What happened because of that hesitation?

Prompt 8: What’s more dangerous: the wrong choice or no choice?

Prompt 9: Do you believe in redemption—for others? For yourself?

Breakdown: Every decision in this life costs something. Some people trade innocence. Others trade comfort. You need to know what you are willing to pay—and what you can never buy back.

Section IV: The Role You Play Prompt 10: Who do people think you are? Is that how you intended to be perceived? Was that the goal?

Who are you really?

Prompt 11: What do you let people misunderstand about you?

Why?

Prompt 12: What kind of world are you shaping through your role—intentionally or not?

Breakdown: Image is power. So is authenticity. Sometimes they match—often, they don't. If you're shifting realities, you must become conscious of your performance and its consequences.

Section V: Grey Territory Prompt 13: What if you’re not a hero—or a villain? Don't just say vigilante or in-between. Tell me what exactly you're willing to do, and why.

Can you live in that grey? Do you want to? If you said yes, and later on experienced it in real-time and it started eating you alive, would you have the strength to pull away and start over from scratch?

Prompt 14: What if someone else chose to be grey—and they hurt someone you care about? Do you still support their freedom to choose?

Prompt 15: Are you still shifting towards who you want to be—or away from who you were?

Breakdown: Grey isn’t indecision. It’s resistance. It’s carving your own way when every system wants to label you before you’ve even spoken.

Final Reflection: What Do You Want to Leave Behind?

What do you want to build?

What must be broken to get there? Can you learn how to rebuild from the beginning on your own, and get back up when you fall? Because there are no ifs or buts. You will fall.

And who will you become when you’ve done it? What are you willing to do to reach that goal state?

This is where you decide what power means in your hands. This is where you stop pretending it’s easy. Because none of this is. But you already knew that.

Use this space. Mark it up. Tear it apart. Let it haunt you. Let it ground you. Let it tell you something true.

This is a guide created for reflection by shifters walking a path of complexity, moral sharpness, and self-aware evolution.

[the-friendly-entity]

[ ~"Meeting the Heroes"~ ] - Cookie Run

You are a Human who found the Earthbread! Meeting cookies all around! how do the cookies react to seeing a human in their kingdom?

Part 1 | Part 3

What contains? Very long post, slightly mention of blood, Spoilers of Cookie Run Kingdom Story

Can be visualized as? None, Cookies meeting you!

Sinse you join to the cookie kingdom from Custard Cookie III, things as slowly to grow to the better! you help cookies with more complex thing thanks of you big size, you friendship with the cookies of that kingdom as been grow more and more, and that not all! thanks of your big size, the creatures of outside feel terrified to even try to attack the kingdom!

Thanks as slowly you earn a good reputation, this caught the interested of GingerBrave Cookie and Custard Cookie III, i mean, you are good human after all! that are a amazing news! GingerBrave thiks you deserve to know more about Earthbread! and Custard Cookie III is interested you meet the Cookie Herores!

Is Kill two bird at once, even if Wizard Cookie still dont trust you, he feel more calm knowing the Cookie Heroes will meet you, knowing how powerful they are and what they will be they opinions about you, with all decide it, no time for waste, soon you and the cookies start a adventure showing you they world!

[ Pure Vanilla Kingdom ]

Their first stop was the pure Vanilla Kingdom, it was way easier to arrive at the floating kingdom with just you! Being them in your hands and putting them in the kingdom, was easy for you as well as seeing the kingdom as it just floating, admiring and wondering how that was even possible! as the kingdom was slowly being fixed, it was not much time the cookie who live there noticed you

Strawberry Crepe

-Surprisingly Strawberry Crepe is not intimidated by your size, due is unculture about Cookie Story, does not know about what are humans, so they think you are a Cookie but a weird and huge one

-Will be asked a lot of questions, "Who are you" "Why are you so big?" "it some sorta magic that makes you that way?" "Why do you look so weird?" at least is not from the common cookies afraid of you, so is a good change

-Explaining Strawberry Crepe what you are is...hard, they dont believe in humans even though they have one from them right now, and think is just a make-up story or legend

-Eather way, Strawbery Crepe welcomes you to the Pure Vanilla Kingdom, or well, the rest of it, telling you to be careful because it costs them so much to fix things! worried your size can cause at lot of problems of you try to touch something

Black Raisin Cookie

-This is what you expected, Black Raisin Cookie is extremely shocked, confused, and having a hard time processing is there a human in the kingdom, as GingerBrave Cookie and his friends greetings Black Raisin Cookie, fastly she asks for an explanation about all this (and I can tell you, if you was not with GingerBrave and the rest, she could already send her birds to attack you/distract you)

-After the explanation she still has a hard to processing this, she dont believe you are that 'good human' as GingreBrave and the rest think (Wizard Cookie agreed) and you just play the long game until you get what you want and show you truly are

-While Black Raisin Cookie and the group discut, you want to pet the little Raisin Crows, is just...so cute! even the animals in this world are made out of food!, you try multiple times to pet them, gently approach your finger to one of them, trying to not scare them and show you are someone to trust, but sadly each time you are so close they just fly away getting distant from you :(

-Eventually, GingerBrave and his friends convince...a little Black Raisin Cookie about you, she makes sure to make you know she have her eyes on you if you dare to hurt GingeBrave- heck any cookie, you just take it, after all, you understand cookies will not be friendly with you, and you can see Black Raisin Cookie have a hard time so you dont want to overwhelmed her

Pure Vanilla Cookie

-The one himself is here, he was for a visit to check how going with everyone or in need of assistance, happy to hear GingerBrave and his friends come to visit too! what a coincident, sadly one he saw you, he just was absolutely terrified, was so off guard he dint have time to mentally prepare

-It takes sometime to calm him down, you just decide to try to look 'smaller' and not say a word, knowing how badly you affect him...you feel awful :(, finally explaining to Pure Vanilla Cookie you are a good human he take a good look at you, of course his mind was full of different thoughts about you, and still trying to process what is happening right now

-While Pure Vanilla Cookie talks with GingerBrave and his friends about you, you soon notice about the staff Pue Vanilla Cookie is holding...it was..creepy, a flower with an eye, and it was moving, and staring at you, changing 'expression', angry, judging, untrust, was hard to try to ignore, and the horrible feeling at having an eye on you

-Finally, after Pure Vanilla Cookie hears all the good things you did and the reason of the meeting, Pure Vanilla Cookie take a moment to think and get another look at you, finally talks to you: "I not gonna refuse this, is surprising to see a human in the Earthworld...nonetheless as show nothing but kindness, I shall allowed you to be here, but careful...you will be punished if you break our trust and no longer being welcome here", you take it and nod, thank him for this and apologies for scared him, something he accept

[ Hollyberry Kingdom ]

Was already hard for you to walk around to the Earthbread world, I mean you are just so big and everything so small....you try as possible to not destroy anything and avoid the amount of damage as possible, but this forest/jungle was so hard for you, thankfully GingerBrave and his friends was helping you to move around so you fall or hurt something

As you contiue to walk to the forest/jongle, the sounds you made and the shaking make the animals run away, this caught the attention of both cookies, Pitaya Dragon Cookie and Tiger lily Cookie, one of them was interested in you, was little cultured about humans, interested in what you are capable of but remained hid to observe why are you here, While Tiger Lily Cookie is scared once figure out who caused all the shaking and the animals run away, was going to do something but as see you with Gingerbrave and the rest was confused, at last, she remained hided observing, if anything happens, she has 2 or even more plans to use if you ever show being "Evil"

As Soon you finally arrive to the Hollyberry kingdom, no longer have to worry about you steps....yet, you take a deep breath, and admire the Hollyberry, this! this was a kingdom! so elegant, so many pretty flowers and so full of alive!, and for the first time your size help you at lot to have the full view of the kingdom, but sadly that will remind not much as caught you off guard the screams

Finally brings you back to reality as see the cookies from the Hollyberry Kingdom being so terrified of your arrival, running away and causing a lot of chaos to try to protect themself from you, hearing them saying "What is that thing!?" "We are doom! we gonna die!" "I dont wanna die!" this hurt you so much...you cant take anymore seeing so many cookies afreid of you, you tell GingerBrave this was a bad idea and should leave...

GingerBrave can notice this is affecting you a lot, and trying to cheer you up, they gonna fix this! Just dont give up yet! Strawberry Cookie and Custard Cookie III trying to comfort you, Wizard Cookie just observes you, he thinks you just acting, but seeing you expression....so real, just takes a few seconds to tears appear in your eyes, Wizad Cookie's vision of you is conflicted, you really good? or you are that good at acting?...

Princess Cookie

-but dont you worry! A cookie will approach to see what is going on! and that will be Princess Cookie! She will be not scared but rather surprised! already so interested about you, she approaches you and starts to talk to you "Woah! Hello! who are you?"

-Sadly you was so scared to respond back, afraid that just talking to her would scare her off, Princess Cookie noticed this and asked GingerBrave and his friends what was happening and why everyone was running away and scared

-After the explanation GingerBrave Cookie and his friends tell at Princess Cookie, she understands and soon she calms her people from her kingdom, telling them there is nothing to be scared about and no one is in danger! She could calm some of them but still, the scared expression remained, but at least the chaos was over -She gets close to you again, gently putting her hand on your leg, telling you is ok and it's not your fault cookies are afraid of you, you just special as no one has seen something like you before! and well Cookies can't process see something new, this calms you a little, and Princess Cookie tells you if you ever feel alone, dont you worry! As your friend she will be the cookie to fill that loneliness, she fastly makes you as her friend

Knight Cookie

-He was the second cookie to approach, to find Princess Cookie! as finally found her, he was absolutely scared of you! he already told Princess Cookie to stay away from you! but she fastly shushed him!

-Confused, he can't believe Princess Cookie was so chill with you, sometimes he thinks they parents forgot to add a sense of fear when she was bake, nonetheless, he asks for an explanation and mostly who are you and why you are here

-After GingerBrave, his friends and Princess Cookie explain to Knight Cookie, he take a moment to think about it, to process it and to look at you, he start to ask you some question as he have a judging look, "soo..you are a good human huh?" "why you even here to the first place?", you wish you can respond him, but still affected after the chaos, you blocked to talk, Knight Cookie can noticed this even this is something he find suspicious he can noticed you not in a good mood

-Princess Cookie tell him to be nice to you! even if he wants to obey Princess Cookie's orders/wishes, is part to be her Knight to be worried about her, and keep her safe, after all, even you earn some cookies trust, he will not keep his guard down...

Wildberry Cookie

-As bodyguard of Hollyberry Cookie, he was in the castle with her until he heard the chaos outside, going first to check what was happening, noticing who everyone was running away and so confused, wondering was going on and going to check

-when sees the people start to calm down, he still continues to walk to know the reason why everyone was scared in the first place, soon discovering you, and the Princess Cookie and Knigth Cookie calming the people while they are walking, you were walking the surroundings of the kingdom after all, you can walk in due how big you are....

-He soon asks for explanations about you, and as soon he gets it, he definitely not trust you, why do you want to see Hollyberry? what are your intencions?, he at first denied you going to visit Hollyberry, but as GingerBrave told him you got Pure Vanille Cookie approval, he thinks for a moment

-Finally, he decide to let you see Hollyberry but he will have his eye on you if you dare to try something, he will not hesitate to attack if that happens, soon guide you and the rest of the cookies to see Hollyberry

Hollyberry Cookie

-As much she wanted to check when the chaos is hear, she stay in the castle to calm down the queen and king and wait for Willberry Cookie to inform you the situation, luckily the chaos was stoped something that was a relief and soon Willberry Cookie come back

-As Willberry Cookie informed her the situacion was a false alarm and there someone wanted to see her, as a warning was told it was a human, Hollyberry Cookie could not believe much it was a human, when she went to the balcony to meet this 'human' want to see her, as soon she see you, she surprised, a little scare bu surprised nontheless

-It takes her a moment to process this, after all, not every day you meet a human, having nervous laughs because of this, GingerBrave and friends greetings her and with Princess Cookie and Knight Cookie explain her the situation

-She hears all the explanations, surprised at what you have done so far, and knowing you have Pure Vanilla Cookie approval, she give you a smile and say: "Well look at that! you can be the first human in cookie history to make a big change! I give you my approval as well! I belive you are as good as these cookies tell!" she even give you some juice! well uh..sadly is small as you can imagine, but still you very grateful take it and sip it, it was delicious! Hollyberry promise you next time will give you a big cup of you size!

[ Dark Cacao Kingdom ]

It was pretty cold here, and sadly your big size not help you, at least there was not much trouble on where you walked, the cookies remained hided on your clothes to keep themself warm, anteriorly sometimes they was on your shoulders, as it was easier to them as you can keep them without any problem and having the perfect view of everything! something you dont mind, as slowly you get close as you see the kingdom in the distance, soon as was ready to see the kingdom in a closer view, you start to be attacked

Caramel Arrow Cookie

-She is the one who did the order to attack, she dint recognize you due the fog but your figure/shadow from it was big egnoft to alarm anyone, thanks of Dark Cacao approval that why when you was egnoft close the attack start, to protect the Dark Cacao Kingdom!

-Soon as she hear GingerBrave Cookie and his friend yelling to stop the attack she was confused, she dint stop and ask for a explanation! as the cookies go down from you and rush to the Dark Cacao Kingdom doors, fastly explain the situation, she cant belive what she hearing, the thing she attacking is a human!?, due the insistence and worried of GingerBrave and his friends she order to stop the attack -luckily due was not magic, it dint hurt you so much but still hurts, the most familiar thing you can describe the feeling, is like a needle in fast speed stab you, but now there are multiple of it, and is not a good feeling at all :(, as Caramel Arrow Cookie observe you from the distance but near egnoft to finally see you from the fog, processing you are a human, the cookies help you remove the arrows from you body, for luck much dint arrive to injure a important part of your body and your clothes keep you safe from it, still you bleed a little when was removed

-Caramel Arrow Cookie, now she has heard the explanation now the situation is calm, she has hard time believing you or you being trustworthy, but seeing you just sit on the snow, no longer motivated to get close to the kingdom, she decide to give you a chance, she will see if Dark Cacao Cookie can come to see you

Crunchy Chip Cookie

-While Camarel Arrow Cookie go to talk to Dark Cacao Cookie, Crunchy Chip Cookie as Dark Cacao Cookie bodyguard goes out to keep an eye on you, he just can't belive it, a human is here, in our kingdom, he even have the cream wolfs around you, ready if you made something suspicious (tho he worried about his cream wolfs too)

-As you want and hope the pain from the arrows slowly fades away, you notice the cream wolf, even if they try to give you the best of their scary looks, you cant you just..try to pet them! is just like an adorable small puppy, luckily due they dint see this to happen you caught them off guard, and some of them like the pets! and even want more pets from you! (Crunchy Chip Cookie does not like that but at least is a relief nothing bad happened to his cream wolves)

-He sometimes give you some questions, trying to see your intentions, almost like intergation but without being see as one, you sometimes answer his questions, sometimes GingerBrave and the rest help you answer it!

-Thanks of you petting and interacting with the cream wolfs you feel less overwhelmed and much better <:3, almost making you forgot why you was so scared and sad in the first place, Crunchy Chip Cookie noticed already you was tense, and seeing more relaxed thanks of his cream wolfs he get some ideas from you

Dark Cacao Cookie

-Finally, the big boss is here, when he gets updated about the big shadow from the fog approaching the kingdom, he can't believe he was hearing, a human? after he hears all Caramel Arrow Cookie's Explanation he goes to see you, eyes never leaving yours and his expression already showing untrust and authority, taking a moment to look at you, after all, even though he looks strong outside, is still hard to process he facing a human

-Finally, as see GingerBrave Cookie and his friends approach to him, already told them Caramel Arrow Cookie explains everything, he asks some questions to GingerBrave Cookie and his friends, to make sure about you, after all, you just have like a month with them, are you really that trustworthy?

-As GingerBrave Cookie and friends explain all the good things you did and how nice you are!, you sometimes pets the cream wolfs to try to calm you feeling, even if Dark Cacao Cookie it just a Cookie, he know for sure how to make himself look scary...and you really dont wanna make a bad impression

-After he hears GingerBrave Cookie and his friends, he takes a moment to think and gives you a last look at you, finally he sighs and talks: "It makes me hard to believe you are really that good, maybe you got Pure Vanilla Cookie and HollyBerry Cookie approval to be here, but that not change you could be dangerous or just straight up lying...you will have my approval as well, but take as a warning what happen here, as a show what happen if you ever dare to try to do something funny, understood?", you nod, Dark Cacao Cookie just give you one last look and finally he go back to his kingdom

[ Golden Cheese Kingdom ]

It was hot as you expected when you heard where you were going to go next, a desert made of cheese...tasty but also so hot, and your size did not help much in that factor, yet it also helps for keep the cookies safe from the monsters and it was more hard to you get stuck from somewhere

Yet, surprised you a lot when the monsters of the dessert, no matter the huge size difference, still tried to attack you, very different from other experiences of monsters and animals running away from you as soon as they saw you, you tried as much possible to make them go away and not climb at you or hurt you, even if you can just step on them the idea of that is wrong even if these monster try to hurt you, you dont want hurt them or kill them, the cookies help you to keep away the monster from you

Luckily finally you and the cookies arrive at the Golden Cheese Kingdom!....sadly one thing that the cookies didn't think about was..how can you get into the kingdom? your size in this case plays you a bad take, there is no way you can be in the kingdom because all was inside the pyramid

The cookies start to think, maybe they get in and get Golden Cheese Cookie out to talk to you? yet even so they will take time to go to Golden Cheese Cookie due to how big is inside and you being waiting outside will be dangerous

After long thinking, finally, GingerBrave has an idea, "You can't use your magic to make Y/N smaller like us?" Gingerbrave asks Wizard Cookie, "I can use magic to make things smaller, but I dont know if works with that big..." Wizard Cookie says with a concerned look, even if was a good idea, Wizard Cookie does not know if his magic is enough to make something this big smaller like them, it could not work or affect other factors, "Well, what options do we have, we have to try to see if can work!" Says GingerBrave back, he hopes Wizard Cookie Magic actually works for you

You were worried, you see magic in action but, used at you? you prefer just give up and not make trouble by your presence, yet the Cookies are very Determined and they want really the best for you, so you decide to give in, with Wizard Cookie magic and a lot of effort, closing your eyes, feeling strange at the feeling the magic on you, once you open....you were almost the same size as a Cookie! it works! but is unknown how much longer you can keep this smaller, so everyone has to hurry before the effects go away!

Burnt Cheese Cookie

It feels nice to be smaller once, no longer worried about your size or you accidentally broke something, always worried about your surroundings, The cookies guide you inside, they know the way and avoid any trap, arriving at the door where Burnt Cheese Cookie is protecting

-He already sniffs you, and already knows you are not a cookie, your smell is different, way different, and never smelled before, as GingerBrave and the group explain that you are a human, he is soon surprised about it, he does not show it, but he thought humans are just legends

-GingerBrave and the rest do not need to do the test because they showed they word it to pass, but you need to do it, you are not a fighter, but you dont know how to fight, and your size was the closest thing to help you in "fight" aspects but now was not the case, GingerBrave try to change the test for you, telling about what you have been doing!, even if GingerBrave and the rest say what amazing things as been doing, you have to answer the simple question of the test, you are greedy?

-You think about it and answer in the way, maybe you have been interested in stuff in the past but no longer, you do not seek items or material stuff, but rather people's attention, appreciation, and in resume being with people rather the greedy need of stuff, social interactions as something you see more interested, and as you have been shown of how you help the cookies expecting nothing as an exchange

-You can feel Burnt Cheese Cookie's eyes on you, even are not visible you can feel it, thinking about your answer, it is tense for everyone, eventually, Burn Cheese Cookie lets you pass, as been shown nothing but kindness and pure soul, even showed being disinterested in yourself and rather more interested in help others, you put others over yourself, even show as a kindness way, Burnt Cheese Cookie warns you to have to think about yourself too

Once inside of the kingdom you were amazed! when the cookies say is something you will not expect, they really mean it! it was like a city but almost futuristic and all made of gold! this is even real?? is almost too much to take it of how golden it is, it was overwhelming but you can hold it! the cookies in there are even....weird and sadly familiar, they just act like you do not exist, which is good, cookies will not freak out because "Oh look a human is here" but at the same time, their behavior reminds you of your old home...I guess cookies are not that different from humans only if they get too advanced

Your Cookies friends try to offer you if you like to buy something, something you refuse kindness, even all these things are so amazing and cool, you do not find interest others to just look a it, in the end, you enjoy more the time being with your Cookie friends and the relief and rest of Cookies not be afraid of you, tho you were worried, unknown how much longer Wizard Cookie magic could keep you this smaller, so was a little on a rush, but try to remain your composture as possible to not annoying or freak out the Cookies

As you in your way to meet the Queen, two cookies look at you, Smoked Cheese Cookie can't believe what he sees in his eyes.... do these cookies lose their mind? bring a human to such an important place? as for Mozzarella Cookie, she does not mind, rather she is curious about you! She wish she could talk to you, but is better when she wakes up to do so

Golden Cheese Cookie

As you meet Golden Cheese Cookie, you don't expect she was big, you are not fouled now you are small, just the other Ancient cookies was a little bigger from any normal cookie, but she was a giant different of other cookies!

-Golden Cheese Laugh at you surprised at her magnificent, it was a good sign to see her laugh at you, at least you do not give the wrong picture as you did with the others Acient Cookies

-As usual, your cookie friends tell her about you, but Golden Cheese Cookie is a step ahead and says she already knows, she has seen you all the way in the kingdom, the entrance, the city, you were nothing but a well-behaved human!

-You are surprised, dont know what to say about her words, you expected as the other to be confused and even cold at you for who you are but you just speechless of Golden Cheese Kindness

-As she smiles looking at you, she says: "oh please honey, it's like a cat eat you tongue! there nothing to be afreid of, you show you are work it to my approval, as the rest of the Acient expect big stuff from you, now, its time to wake up!"

Soon a very shiny light blind all your vision, and once you finally could see again you was...outside? and big again, almost like you just literally woke of a dream

the explanation is simple! you never actully go inside, it was all a virtual world! and was part of the Cookie's plans, they really wanted to surprise you! you almost can't believe what they saying, it is so vivid it almost dint feel like was an illusion, you were speechless and confused, trying to process it

the REAL Golden Cheese Cookie

-She enjoying see your reaction! the reason she made all this simulation was to keep herself protected and observe you, after all, like the rest of cookies, is not like you just approach a human so casually

-Her approval or what she says there in the virtual world is still and will remain as something true, so no worry about it! she is glad you enjoyed the simulation and her kingdom, or what was before

-You ask what happened to the real kingdom, you were saddened to hear about the war and what happened to the kingdom, you promise you could help her to build her kingdom back, after all, you helped Custard Cookie III Kingdom, so you dont mind help other cookies and kingdoms!

-Golden Cheese Cookie is flattered by your kindness, and she will take it in mind in the future, but for now, she has to do duties first before rebuilding the kingdom back

[ Silver Kingdom ]

Arriving on the island was the hardest task, after all was an island, and you had to move to the water, so you had to use a boat to arrive there, the cookies enjoy the way to the island! after all they had never seen a boat as human size so was just amazed for them!

Walk into the island feels the same as when you go to the Cheese Desert, apart of the a lot of nature you need to avoid to carefully not make much damage, The same as happened the monsters of the island dint care about your huge size and tried to attack you anyway

Caramelon Cookie

-HUGE NOPE, he already lived on a very hostile island, now he needs to face THAT!? he thinks Gingerbrave and the rest are crazy and out of they minds

-He will just observe in the distance, if ever Gingerbrave and the group try to get his attention to get close to you he will leave, he is scared to face you and be crushed!

-he will grow more curiosity as continues to observe you and see how you are, possibly eventually as more time passes will be more confident to approach you, but not today sadly

Silverbell Cookie

-Scared at firts but trying to act stronger due after all is part of the kingdom army, at least he relief seeing you are with Gingerbrave and the rest, so that a good sign

-Gingerbrave and the rest explain the situation to Silverbell Cookie, something still has to process to see a human in the Silver Kingdom, but at least hearing you have the approval of the 4 ancients it changes slowly Silverbell Cookie's mind about you

-Will let you see White Lily Cookie, but can't let you enter the kingdom for obvious reasons, you ok with that after all you dont want to scare the cookies or accidentally break something

-With all settled, Silverbell Cookie with Gingerbrave they go into the kingdom to look for White Lily Cookie!

Mercurial knight

-He already knew something was happening once he saw Silverbell Cookie and Gingerbrave Cookie going in direction to White Lily Cookie, so he put in the way to know what they doing

-After a small conversation with both cookies, he goes to check and defenely, dint expect to find humans after his cookie lives, so decides to keep guard until White Lily Cookie arrives

-He mostly....dont talk, but you know he watching you, observing every move of you, was...uncomfortable, and you understand why so you try to look as friendly as possible and not scare him

-What in his mind? a lot of things, wondering why you here, why after so long the witches were hidden one of the shows their faces, and a lot of more, but his thoughts stop when White Lily Cookie arrives

White Lily Cookie

-Before you two meet, Gingerbrave explains as he can about the situation before you two meet, he tries to tell White Lily Cookie not to freak out knowing the topic about humans will affect her a lot

-Sadly, still preparing her and such, dint work out, as soon she saw you, she was totally terrified, you saw many scared cookie faces before, but White Lily Cookie was the most you know you affected her a lot, and that hurt you

-She will try to "stop" you, using her power to make appear vines to try to make you unable to move, you try to remain as calm as possible even if you are scared inside, the Cookies act fast to calm down White lily before this go out of control

-Calm her was....very hard, is like she was out of herself just because you was there, you absolutely hurt you affected her so much...yet the Cookies could able to calm her down, even if they explained to her about you and the good thing you did and you approval of the other ancients....this was her answer

-"No, I will not give you approval, no matter how far you did to do such things, I can't just let you have approval, there is a lot we dont know about you and your kind, I can't trust you...I'm sorry"

The Cookies was sad about White Lily Cookie's answer, you too but you understand and accept it, after that last adventure you arrive to the Custard Cookie III Kingdom once more, it was nice to meet a lot of cookies, a lot of cultures and different experience, you was surprised this world was bigger and a lot of amazing thing

Even part of these adventures was meeting the Acients Cookies and getting along with them, you also appreciate these adventures you have, you feel not anyone else could experience something like this in real life, and you are very thankful for the cookies for the effort to this to you

[starsinthesky5]

⋆⋆⋆ you are in love series masterlist ⋆⋆⋆

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ description

she was a musician, and he was a football player—two people from seemingly different worlds, with more in common than anyone could have guessed. what began as a few stolen glances across a crowded party soon blossomed into deep, meaningful conversations. those conversations turned into shared moments, and before they knew it, they were inseparable, spending every possible second together. their love came fast and hard, an undeniable connection that neither had ever experienced before. it was the kind of love that felt like fate—rare, profound, and timeless, the sort that only comes around once in a lifetime, if at all. they found each other at exactly the right time, when they both needed something real, something grounding to keep themselves from falling.

falling in love was unexpected, but it became the most beautiful, life-changing thing to happen to them both. who would have thought that two people from such different worlds could find something so extraordinary in each other?

this series follows their beautiful relationship and moments in their lives and careers that are deeply special to them.

read this for insight into her past

── .✦ you are in love: a snapshot into the past

here you can find blurbs & asks about this universe

── .✦ asks tag

here are some songs that remind me of them

── .✦ playlist ideas

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ fics

you are in love I

you are in love II*

you are in love III*

you are in love IV*

you are in love: l’amour de ma vie

you are in love V part 1*

you are in love: big reputations part 1

you are in love V part 2*

you are in love: big reputations part 2

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ standalone (important moments/blurbs important to plot)

call it what you want

that’s my whole world

off days

diamond in my eye

ovulation week*

game days

first kiss

you are in love: fast times & high fashion

[nhaaauyen]

⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨ The Ghost of You ୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆

"This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong // To love that well which thou must leave ere long." -William Shakespeare (Sonnet 73)

PART III: WE THOUGHT LOVE WAS SOMETHING

zombie apocalypse sevika x reader au!: sevika was the super soldier; a killing machine driven solely by survival. you were nomadic, constantly searching for something in whatever was left of the world—till you met her.

series masterpost: part I // part II // part IV // part V

wc: 6.1k cw: brief mentions of alcoholism, violence author's note: ngl this just might be my favorite chapter so far, holy shit! thank you to all the lovely comments last chapter, you guys are srsly so sweet <3

Strings of twinkling lights crisscross overhead, swaying gently in the evening breeze. The air is filled with the mingling scents of grilled food and the earthy aroma of a crackling campfire.

It's a birthday party for Marcus's daughter, Ren, and the yard is alive with celebration. Sitting on mismatched chairs, adults chat animatedly with drinks in hand.  Children dart between the adults' legs, their excited shrieks filling the air as they run around. 

You can't help but notice Marcus's absence, and you wonder if he's working late or planning to surprise his daughter by showing up later. It's odd for him to miss such an important event, but you push the thought aside, focusing on the joyful atmosphere around you.

A group of kids approaches you, pulling you out of your reverie.

"Hey, lady! Wanna play Marco Polo with us?" one of them asks.

"Sure," You turn to Powder and Ekko, who are lounging nearby. "You two want to join?"

Powder rolls her eyes dramatically. "I'm too old for that," she declares, trying to sound mature.

You shrug and follow the kids to an open area of the yard. "Marco!" you call out, closing your eyes.

"Polo!" comes the chorus of giggly responses.

As you start to move, arms outstretched, you hear Powder’s voice again. "Wait, no! We want to join now!"

You chuckle to yourself as you hear Powder and Ekko scrambling to join the game. The yard fills with shouts of "Marco!" and "Polo!" as you navigate blindly through the space, guided only by sound and the occasional brush of a fleeing child against your fingertips.

Suddenly, your hands make contact with fabric. You grin triumphantly, sure you've caught one of the kids. But as laughter erupts around you, you open your eyes to find yourself face-to-face with Sevika. Ren, peeks out from behind her, giggling uncontrollably.

Sevika raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth. "Ready to join the adults yet?"

You feel a blush creeping up your neck. “I was in the middle of winning a game.” 

Sevika shakes her head in amusement and hands you a plate of food. "You know, you're not a babysitter. Let the kids have fun by themselves."

You take the plate, shrugging. "I know, but I don't mind."

"Ah, right. You like to hang out with people of the same maturity level as you." Sevika teases.

Before you can reply, a commotion erupts near the gate and both of you turn sharply to the source. 

Grayson and Marcus have appeared, clearly amid a heated argument. Marcus's face is flushed, his movements erratic – clear signs of intoxication. Grayson stands firm, her posture rigid, and seems to be seething with barely contained anger.

A small voice pipes up beside you. "What's happening?" Ren peeks out, her eyes wide with confusion.

Instinctively, you move to shield her, gently guiding her behind you. "It's nothing, sweetie," you say, trying to keep your voice calm and reassuring.

But it's too late. Marcus catches sight of Ren, and his demeanor changes instantly. He shoves past Grayson, nearly knocking her over in his haste to reach his daughter. "Daddy's here!" he calls out, his voice too loud, too desperate. "Daddy didn't forget!"

Sevika moves swiftly, positioning herself protectively in front of you and Ren. Marcus stumbles to a stop before Sevika, his bloodshot eyes darting between her and his daughter. "How dare you," he slurs, turning back to Grayson. "You've gone too far now. This is my family!"

Grayson's voice is steel as she responds, "You lost the privilege of being a father when you became too drunk to do anything. The only reason why I'm still employing you is for the sake of your own daughter.”

His face immediately contorts with rage. "How fucking dare you," he roars. "You think you know everything? You can't even hold this place together!”

“You people think you are safe? Cause what, we have showers?  Look at your pathetic captains, my wife has one fucking mission with you,” Marcus stabs a finger into Sevika’s chest and you expect her to retaliate but she stands still as a statue, “Because of you... she’s gone.” 

The accusation hangs in the air and Sevika goes very still beside you, her expression unreadable but her fists are clenched so tight you’re worried she’ll bleed.

But Marcus isn't finished. His voice drops to a venomous hiss. "Fuck you. Fuck this place." He pushes past Sevika, reaching for Ren. "Come on, sweetie. We're leaving."

You instinctively tighten your hold on Ren as she looks up at you, her face questioning and so innocent about the situation. You want to protect her, to keep her from this mess, but you can’t and he scoops her up from your grasp.

As Marcus stomps off and the backyard falls into an uncomfortable silence, the cheerful lights now seem garish.  You look at Sevika, there’s a tightness around her eyes and her jaw is clenched hard enough for a vein to be visible. Grayson approaches, her face a mask of controlled anger and regret, and she puts a reassuring hand on Sevika. The two share a silent look that is full of meaning.

"I'm sorry you all had to see that," Grayson says, addressing the stunned partygoers. "Please, try to enjoy the rest of the evening."

But the damage is done. The carefree atmosphere of earlier has evaporated, replaced by a heavy, oppressive tension.  That night you couldn’t sleep, your mind kept wondering about the true cost of keeping Zaun safe and the toll it takes on those sworn to protect it.

Months ago if you told pre-Zaun you that you would care this much for the woman who was practically going to leave you as walker bait in the drug store, you would’ve thought you had gone insane.  But somehow, Sevika had snuck into your thoughts and made residence there.  

The garage door creaks as you push it open, letting in a sliver of sunlight. The air inside is thick with the scent of motor oil and metal. Sevika’s hunched over her workbench, her back to you, the whir of her bionic arm the only sound breaking the heavy silence.

You hesitate in the doorway, remembering Marcus's cruel words from yesterday. The pain in Sevika's eyes, quickly masked, had been unmistakable. 

"Hey," you say softly. "Everything okay?"

Sevika doesn't turn around, her shoulders tensing slightly at your voice. It's clear she's not in a talking mood, but you can't bring yourself to leave her alone like this.

"Fine," she grunts, reaching for a wrench.

You lean against the wall, watching her work. The silence stretches between you. After a few minutes, you decide to try a different approach.

"So," you begin, injecting a note of cheerfulness into your voice, "got anything to do?"

Sevika pauses, then turns to look at you, an eyebrow raised. "You're that excited already, rookie? Haven't you been on five or six missions now?"

You grin, relieved to see a hint of her usual self. "Six, actually," you reply, then quickly add, "But who's counting?"

A ghost of a smile flickers across Sevika's face. She gestures to the motorcycle beside her. "Well, if you're so eager, you can help me with this. Make yourself useful."

You push off the wall, moving to her side. "What do you need me to do?"

You might not be able to relieve the damage from yesterday, but maybe you can help her focus on something else, even if just for a little while.

"Why are you so excited to get out there anyway?" Sevika asks as you work together. "There's nothing to see but walkers."

You shrug, searching for the right words. "I don't know... there isn't much left out there, but it makes me feel like I'm not in a snow globe, you know?"

Sevika pauses, looking at you with confusion.

"I feel safe but it’s just… not real?  I want to be on the other side sometimes too. It's selfish 'cause we've got things so good here, but that was our world too, even if we lost it."

Sevika stares at you for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, her face softens. "I'm having a scout sent out today. Perhaps we can do our own scouting too."

Your eyes widen. "Really?"

"Yes," she nods, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "We need to expand our territory anyway. But first, help me with this. We won't be going anywhere if I can't finish this within the next hour."

"Got it, boss!" you say eagerly, reaching for a nearby tool.

Sevika rolls her eyes.

"How about 'captain' instead?"

She tries to look unamused, but you can see she's fighting a smile. "Suck up."

You saluted. "Yes, ma’am!"

"Smartass," Sevika replies flatly, but there’s a playfulness in her tone. "Now, less talking, more wrenching."

⁺˚⋆｡°✩

"Hell no." 

Sevika, straddling her newly repaired motorcycle, looks at you like you've sprouted a second head.

"What?" she asks, confusion evident in her voice.

You stand outside your house, arms crossed, eyeing the bike with undisguised suspicion. "Are you crazy? I'm not getting on that death trap – when you said you'd pick me up after you changed, I thought you meant with a car!”

Sevika rolls her eyes. "Why do you think we spent so long fixing this bike?"

"Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening," you insist, shaking your head vigorously.

"What? You can go out there and face walkers, but not ride this thing?"

"Walkers don't get you into crashes!" you retort, your voice rising an octave.

Sevika sighs dramatically, holding out a helmet. "Just get on. I promise you won't fall off."

Grumbling, you take the helmet and reluctantly swing your leg over the bike. "What makes you so sure?" you mutter.

"Because of this," she says, grabbing your arms and wrapping them tightly around her abdomen. You can feel her muscles flexing beneath your fingers, and suddenly your mouth goes dry.

Before you can process what's happening, Sevika kicks the bike to life. The engine roars, and you let out a shriek as she peels out of the driveway.

"What the fu–" Your expletive is cut short as you zoom down the street, the wind whipping past you.

You spot Grayson on the wall, grinning widely as she signals for the gate to be opened. "Have fun, ladies!" she shouts as you approach.

"Grayson!" you yell, but your voice is lost in the wind.

Sevika glances back, noticing your tightly shut eyes. "Open them!" she shouts over the engine's roar.

Reluctantly, you peek one eye open, then the other. The world rushes by in a blur of color and motion. 

"I hate you!" you yell at Sevika, but you can't keep the laughter out of your voice.

She responds by revving the engine, speeding up as you clear the gate. "No, you don't!" she calls back, the wind carrying her words to you.

As much as you want to deny it, the scenery rushing past you is stunning. Lush greenery blurs into a vibrant tapestry, the sun's warm rays dancing across the landscape. The wind whips through your hair, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers. 

You catch Sevika's reflection in the side mirror. Her expression is one of pure contentment, as if riding this bike along the winding country road is where she truly belongs. 

"You like it?" Sevika calls over her shoulder, a knowing tone in her voice.

"Maybe," you admit reluctantly. "Not too bad."

You can hear the smirk in her voice as she replies, "Well, I've got something to show you that might change your mind."

Your curiosity piques. "We're doing something else besides scouting?"

Instead of answering, Sevika begins to ascend a steep hill. The bike's engine roars with effort, and you instinctively tighten your grip around her waist, afraid you might slip off. The muscles in her abdomen tense under your hands, steady and reassuring.

"Look over," Sevika instructs as you climb higher.

"What?! Are you crazy?" you yelp, clinging tighter.

"Come on, rookie. Trust me," she insists.

For reasons you can't quite explain, you do trust her. Swallowing your fear, you turn your head to look over the edge of the road.

The view takes your breath away. A vast expanse of forest stretches out below you, a sea of green dotted with splashes of colorful wildflowers. In the distance, you can make out a winding river, its waters glittering in the sunlight like a ribbon of diamonds.

"Whoa..." you breathe, unable to form a more coherent response.

As you reach the top of the hill, Sevika brings the bike to a stop in a clear area that juts out like a natural balcony. From here, you can see for miles in every direction. Rolling hills give way to distant mountains, their peaks shrouded in a light mist. Birds soar on updrafts, their calls carried to you on the breeze.

You dismount the bike on shaky legs, your eyes never leaving the breathtaking panorama before you. The world feels impossibly vast and achingly beautiful from up here, a reminder of what still exists beyond the walls of Zaun.

"Worth the ride?" she asks.

You nod, unable to find words that could do justice to the moment. 

The silence between you is comfortable as you both lean against the motorcycle, its metal still warm from the ride. The vast expanse of the world stretches out before you, a breathtaking canvas of oranges, pinks, and purples as the sun dips below the horizon. Sevika's gaze is distant, lost in memories you can only imagine.

"This spot... it's special to me. I came here when Zaun was first established."

You turn to look at her, surprised by the admission. She continues, "I understand what you meant earlier. About feeling safe in Zaun, about missing this." She gestures to the expansive view. "The freedom to just... exist out here."

You nod, encouraging her to go on. 

"I also came here after..." she pauses, swallowing hard. "After Marcus's wife died. I was so close to saving her. I promised I'd bring her home." Her voice cracks slightly. "But I couldn't. Not alive."

The pain in her voice makes your heart ache. "It wasn't your fault," you say gently.

She turns to you, her eyes fierce. "I'm the captain. Every death is my responsibility. They trust me, they're my people."

You feel a surge of protectiveness. "But who takes responsibility for you? For your sacrifices?"

Sevika falls silent, considering your words. When she speaks again, her tone is delicate. "Every time you go out there, don't you think it could be your last?"

The question catches you off guard. "I do," you admit. "Every single time."

She moves then, positioning herself in front of you. Her hands rest on the bike beside you, her body close enough that you can feel the warmth radiating from her. Her eyes search yours, intense and questioning.

"Then why?" she asks. "Why keep risking everything?"

You swallow hard, acutely aware of her proximity. "Because it's worth it," you say, your voice barely above a whisper. "Because out there, I feel alive. Because someone has to, and if not me, then who?"

For a moment, the world seems to shrink down to just the two of you, the dying light of the sun shining a golden haze on her face.

This close, you can see every detail – the faint lines around her eyes, the determined set of her jaw. Your gaze lingers on the scar that runs across her cheek. You resist the urge to reach out and trace it, to ask about its story.

Sevika’s gaze locks with yours, her voice dropping to a whisper, rough around the edges but laced with something achingly tender. "You make me want things I’m not sure I deserve."

Sevika’s hands hover near your body, fingers trembling slightly as if they’re unsure whether to close the distance or retreat. You see the conflict in her eyes—Every inch she moves closer feels like a dance of tentative steps.

You swallow, the intensity of her words wrapping around your heart. The raw honesty in her voice leaves you breathless, but you manage to find your own, soft and steady. 

“Then let me show you.”

Without thinking, you take the first step for both of you. You gently cup her face in your hands, your thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. Your touch is tender, and your fingertips graze the rough texture of her scar. You can feel her breath hitch, a mix of surprise and anticipation.

For a split second, you feel her resist, a remnant of her walls trying to hold firm. But then she melts into you, her body softening as if surrendering to a battle she’s tired of fighting. 

Her right hand comes up to cradle the back of your neck, fingers tangling in your hair, while her bionic hand settles on your waist, pulling you closer. The kiss is soft, almost hesitant at first, an uncertain exploration of new territory. But as the seconds stretch, it deepens, a slow dance of lips and breath. 

When you finally part, both slightly breathless, you rest your forehead against hers. Sevika's eyes remain closed while her thumb strokes softly along your jawline as if she's trying to memorize the feel of you.

"I didn't think..." she starts, unsure of what she can, or even what to say.

You brush your lips against her cheek, feeling the raised line of her scar. "You deserve this, Sevika," you murmur against her skin. "You deserve everything."

⁺˚⋆｡°✩

The sun was blazing hot, its heat beating down on the training area Grayson set up in one of Zaun's less crowded areas.

"Remember," you say, adjusting Ren's grip gently, "It's not about strength. It's about precision and control."

Ren nods, and the other kids follow her steps with some additional adjustments from Grayson and Caitlyn.

You're about to move on to the next lesson when you notice one of Sevika's men approaching. Your heart does a little flip in your chest, but it comes to a stutter when you realize it's not Sevika herself.

"Got a mission for you tomorrow," he says gruffly. "Captain says to be ready at first light."

"Thanks," you reply, trying to keep your voice neutral. As he walks away, you can't help the twinge of hurt that settles in your chest. Sevika didn't come to tell you herself.

You shake your head, chiding yourself internally. She's busy. She's the captain. Why would you expect her to personally deliver every mission briefing?

Yet your mind still wandered to the kiss from a few days ago. The ride back to Zaun had been quiet, but not uncomfortably so. You had attributed it to both of you processing what had happened.

But then... nothing.

Since that evening, you haven't exchanged a single word with Sevika. A day turned into days and the silence began to feel deliberate.

You've caught glimpses of her – a flash of that distinctive silhouette disappearing around a corner, the echo of her voice giving orders from a distance. But every time you've tried to approach, she's been gone before you could reach her.

"Are you okay? You look sad." You're pulled from your thoughts by Ren's voice. 

Forcing a smile, you turn your attention back to the lesson. "I’m all good!  Just thinking, how about we work on our stances?"

Both Grayson and Caitlyn share a knowing look at your response.

“How about we take over? You have to be up early tomorrow.”  Caitlyn offers. 

You were reluctant, but you agreed, mostly because you knew you needed it and because you couldn’t handle the questioning looks the two women kept sending you.  

You're grateful for Caitlyn's insistence that you rest early the night before – the extra sleep has left you feeling sharper, and more alert. As you approach the gathered group, your breath catches in your throat. There's Sevika, leaning against one of the vehicles. She's dressed in military-style cargo, paired with a black tank top that exposes her toned arms, something she wears normally but you find that your body reacts even more so to her now. 

Your heart races as you draw nearer, but before you can even think about approaching her, Sevika climbs into the front seat of the lead vehicle. You swallow your disappointment and resign yourself to riding in the back of the truck with the rest of the team.

The journey is tense and quiet, everyone is lost in their own thoughts about the mission ahead. As the prison comes into view, you're struck by how eerily calm it appears. The high concrete walls are still intact, crowned with coils of razor wire that glint in the morning light. 

The decision to split into smaller groups is made quickly, you were paired with Sevika but your excitement was short-lived when you saw the tense look on her face. 

The massive iron gates groan as you push them open, the sound echoing ominously through the empty prison yard. The concrete beneath your feet is cracked with tufts of weeds pushing through.

Inside, the prison is a maze of long corridors and shadowy corners. The air is stale and heavy with the musty scent of abandonment.  As you move deeper into the facility, the lack of walkers becomes increasingly unsettling. You exchange a worried glance with Sevika, both of you on high alert.

Suddenly, a shuffling sound echoes from an adjoining hallway. Without a word, you and Sevika fall into formation. 

The first walker stumbles into view, followed closely by two more. Sevika moves with lightning speed, pinning one against the wall with her bionic arm. In a fluid motion, she drives her knife into its skull, the blade sinking in with a sickening crunch.

You dispatch the second walker with a swift kick to the knee, bringing it down before finishing it off with your own blade. The third lunges at you, but Sevika is there in an instant, her strong arms wrapping around its torso and slamming it against the wall. Your knife finds its mark, and the walker slumps to the ground.

You turn to Sevika, hoping to catch her eye, to maybe finally break the silence between you. But she's already moving forward, her eyes scanning the shadows for more threats.

With a silent sigh, you fall in step behind her. The tension between you becomes almost unbearable. 

And finally, you can't take it anymore.

"Sevika," you start. "We need to talk about what happened. About the kiss."

You see her shoulders stiffen, but she doesn't stop moving. "This isn't the time," she says, her voice clipped.

"Then when is?" you press, frustration seeping into your tone. "You've been avoiding me for days."

Sevika sighs, turning to face you. "Look, it was... it was a moment. We were caught up in–"

Her words are cut off as you both enter a large, open area – the prison's leisure room. Rows of cells line the upper levels, and old, battered furniture is scattered across the floor. Before you can respond to Sevika, there's a loud bang behind you.

You both whirl around to see the heavy metal door swing shut. Sevika rushes to it, pulling at the handle. "What the fuck? Who the fuck did that?!"

You join her, both of you straining against the door, but it won't budge. 

Then you hear it – a low, guttural groan that sends chills down your spine. You turn slowly, your blood running cold at the sight before you.

Descending the stairs is a massive figure, easily seven feet tall and built like a tank. He's decked out in makeshift armor cobbled together from prison riot gear. In his hands, he wields an enormous sledgehammer that looks like it could crush a skull with one swing.

"Shit," Sevika hisses, drawing her knife. You do the same, but your weapons suddenly feel woefully inadequate.

The behemoth charges with surprising speed. You and Sevika dive in opposite directions, barely avoiding the hammer as it crashes into the ground where you are standing. You roll to your feet, darting in to slash at the giant's legs, but your blade skitters off his armored shins. Sevika tries for a higher target, leaping onto a nearby table to gain height, but the monster swings his hammer in a wide arc, forcing her to jump back.

"We need to get that hammer away from him," you shout, ducking under another wild swing.

Sevika nods, her eyes scanning the room for anything you can use. "On three, throw your knife at his face. Aim for the eyes."

You count down together, then launch your knives simultaneously. The blades whistle through the air, but at the last second, the giant raises his arm, and your knives embed themselves harmlessly in his padded forearm.

"Fuck!" you curse, now completely unarmed. "What the hell is this guy? Is he a walker?"

Sevika shakes her head, narrowly avoiding another hammer swing. "I don't think so. I've heard about survivors getting all drugged up, ending up just like them. Mindless, but stronger."

As the behemoth charges again, you and Sevika split up, desperately searching for anything you can use as a weapon. Your eyes dart around the room, scanning the debris-strewn floor for something, anything that could give you an edge.

"There!" Sevika shouts, lunging for a mop propped against the wall. But before her fingers can close around it, the giant's massive form slams into her. The impact sends her flying, her back crashing hard against the concrete wall. You hear the air rush out of her lungs as she crumples to the floor.

"Sevika!" you cry out, your heart in your throat. She's trying to roll away, but her movements are sluggish, stunned by the brutal hit.

The monster looms over her, raising his sledgehammer for a killing blow. Time seems to slow down. You don't think, you just move.

With every ounce of strength you have, you launch yourself forward, shoving Sevika out of the way. For a split second, you lock eyes with her, seeing shock and something else – hurt, maybe? – in her gaze.

Then the world explodes in pain.

The sledgehammer connects with your leg, and you hear the sickening crunch of bone before you feel it. A scream tears from your throat, raw and agonizing. The pain is all-consuming, white-hot, and blinding. Your vision swims, dark spots dancing at the edges as your body tries to process the trauma.

You force your eyes open, fighting against the waves of pain. Sevika is on her feet, and the transformation is terrifying. Gone is any trace of the woman you kissed on that clifftop. In her place is a cold, merciless killing machine.

Her eyes, usually so expressive, are now flat and dead. Her face is a mask of fury, lips pulled back in a snarl.  In one smooth motion, Sevika snatches up the broken mop. She doesn't hesitate, doesn't strategize. She attacks.

The two halves of the mop become dual weapons in her hands. She drives one splintered end deep into the giant's thigh, using her bionic arm to force it through the armor padding. Before he can react, she's already spinning, jamming the other half into the gap between his helmet and chest plate.

The behemoth staggers, caught off guard by the ferocity of her assault. But Sevika doesn't let up. She's a whirlwind of violence, striking again and again.

You try to move, to help somehow, but even the slightest shift sends fresh waves of agony through your broken leg. You can feel the bone grinding, sickeningly out of place. 

The giant finally falters under her onslaught, his steps are laggard and his grip on the weapon wavering.  With a snarl, she wrenches the hammer from his grasp.

The man’s eyes widened in realization, but it was too late. Sevika shoved him back, the force of the blow sending him crashing to the ground. He tried to rise, but Sevika was relentless. She raised the sledgehammer high above her head, her muscles straining as she brought it down with all her might. The sickening crunch that followed was final, the man’s head caving in under the weight of the blow.

For a moment, the world went silent, the only sound was the ragged breaths escaping Sevika’s lips. The hammer is still clenched in her fists and blood splattered across her face – his or hers, you can't tell.

Sevika stands over him, chest heaving. For a heartbeat, she's still that cold-eyed killer. Then she turns to you, and you watch the ice in her gaze melt into concern.

"Can you move?" she asks, her voice hoarse as she rushes to your side.

You grit your teeth, trying to shift, but the pain nearly blinds you. "No," you manage to gasp out. "I think... I think it's broken pretty badly."

Sevika's eyes scan your broken leg. "We need to stabilize it," you say through gritted teeth, reaching for a nearby stick. "I just tie this to keep it straight and–"

"No," Sevika cuts you off, her voice firm but gentle. "I've got you."  She immediately tears off a piece of her shirt like it was paper and ties the stick to your leg to keep it straight. You hiss in pain as she tightens it, and her eyes flit to you with worry.

“Thank you,” You try to stand, stubbornness overriding your pain. "I think I got it now, you can't carry our stuff and me-"

"Yes, I can," she interrupts, her tone brooking no argument. Before you can protest further, she's scooped you up in her arms, cradling you against her chest with surprising tenderness.

"This is embarrassing," you mutter, your cheeks flushing despite the pain.

"Yeah, that's what you get for being an idiot."

"Wow, way to cheer a girl up,”  you reply sarcastically.

As Sevika carries you through the prison corridors, you can't help but study her face. Her guarded expression softens as she looks down. There's something else in there too, a whirl of emotions you can't quite place. 

You tighten your hold on her, tucking your head against her chest. You can hear her heartbeat, strong and steady.  The smell of grimy blood and her shampoo somehow distracts you from the pulsing pain in your leg.

The sound of gunshots echoes through the building and you feel Sevika tense. "Fuck," you mutter, "what is happening out there?"

Sevika shifts you slightly, freeing one hand to grab her radio.

 "We've got two severely injured," crackles a voice through the static.

As you emerge into the harsh sunlight, you see members of your group carrying people out. Two of them have nasty stab wounds, blood seeping through hastily applied bandages.

Sevika gently sets you down next to the injured in the back of the truck. You watch as the rest of the group gathers around the other vehicle, their voices low and urgent as they discuss the situation. There are still people left inside.

Despite the throbbing pain in your leg, your instincts kick in. You reach for your bag, trying to pull out the first aid kit. Sevika notices and immediately moves to stop you.

"Stop, stop," she says, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "You're injured. Let us help, tell us what to do."

You look up at her, seeing the worry etched on her face.

"Okay," you nod, wincing as you shift to get a better view of the injured. "We need to apply pressure to those wounds. Get the gauze from the kit and press it firmly against the bleeding areas."

As Sevika relayed your instructions to the others, you had forgotten to close your bag properly.  In your bag was the red shawl you kept from the night of the campfire, and unbeknownst to you Sevika had seen it in there, her jaw visibly clenching at the sight.

More of her crew comes out the building, hauling out the fallen attackers, their faces set in a hard scowl. 

“Are the rest dead?” she demands.

A gruff voice answers, “Yeah, we got those fucking bastards. We wanted you to deal with these.” The crew shoves three people onto their knees, their faces unremorseful and stoic. 

One man in the center is screaming at the top of his lungs, his voice raw with fanaticism. “YOU WILL REPENT! THIS IS A RECKONING! THE WORLD WILL BE CLEANSED OF FILTH LIKE YOU!” His words are overlapped with another man reciting a desperate prayer, his hands trembling as he clutches at invisible salvation. 

Sevika’s face remains a mask of cold detachment, her eyes flickering with something darker as she assesses the situation. 

“They’re not worth our bullets,” she says, her tone flat and unfeeling. The others understand immediately, pulling out their knives.

You see Sevika stride toward the vehicle's trunk, and she retrieves a machete, its blade gleaming dangerously.

Sevika’s expression remains inscrutable as she approaches the only woman in the group, the machete held steady and unwavering. The final girl locks eyes with Sevika, but there’s an almost reverent look to them.

Her voice is trembling, but defiant. “No one is safe—you cannot escape His wrath.”

Without hesitation, Sevika swings the machete. In a brutal, swift move, her crew slits the throats of the remaining captives. The girl’s final scream is a gurgle of blood as Sevika’s blade comes down with a clean, merciless swipe, severing her head in a single, precise cut.

Blood splatters across the scene, painting their clothes and the ground. The force of the blow sends a spray of it onto Sevika and her crew, but she doesn’t flinch.

You’re left watching in shock, the brutal display leaving you breathless and shaken. 

Sevika’s gaze shifts back to you as the last of the blood settles. The fierceness in her eyes softens just slightly, the ruthlessness giving way to concern. She takes in your injured state and the rest of the crew.

“Head back,” she commands, her voice almost robotic.  “We need to get them to the infirmary immediately.” 

The truck lurches and bumps along the road, each jolt sending a fresh wave of pain through your broken leg.  You shut your eyes, focusing on the thought of arriving at Zaun.

When you arrive at the infirmary, Sevika is out of the vehicle before it even comes to a full stop. She scoops you up, carrying you inside with a determination that’s almost palpable. As she crosses the threshold, you catch sight of the crew still being helped out of the vehicle, their injuries more immediate and visible than yours.

"No," you mumble, your voice weak but insistent. "No doctors... attend to them first."

Sevika's eyes widen in disbelief. "What? Are you crazy?"

You shake your head, the pain and fatigue making it hard to focus. “It’s a broken leg. From what I can tell, no internal bleeding. They’re bleeding, Sevika. They need help now.”

She hesitates, clearly torn between her instinct to protect you and your insistence. After a moment, she lets out a heavy sigh, clearly exasperated by your stubbornness. The adrenaline from the fight is wearing off, and exhaustion settles over you like a heavy blanket. Sevika administers a painkiller, and soon the sharp pain dulls to a throbbing ache.

Silence falls between you, broken only by the sound of your labored breathing. Sevika sits beside your bed, her posture rigid, eyes fixed on the floor. 

"What's wrong?" you ask, your voice barely above a whisper.  The fatigue is dragging you down, making it hard to keep your eyes open.

Sevika’s gaze remains locked on the ground, her face an unreadable mask. She doesn’t respond right away, but you can see the tremor in her hands and the tightness in her shoulders. With what little strength you have left, you reach out, your hand finding hers. The contact seems to jolt her out of her thoughts, and she finally meets your gaze.

What you see in her eyes is fear. Raw, unguarded terror. It's an expression you never thought you'd see on someone so strong like her, and it sends a chill through you.

Your hand moves to her face, fingers tracing the scar that runs along her cheek. Instead of pulling away as you half-expected, she leans into your touch, her eyes closing for a brief moment.

"It’s okay," you reassure, fighting to keep your eyes open. "I'm okay... just... don't leave me."

As you drift into unconsciousness, the last thing you hear is Sevika’s voice, a hushed murmur barely audible. 

“I failed you.”

taglist:

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@lez-zuha @iamastar @jellyfishrnice @anemoxlys @l0vel3tterl0ver

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@sevikitty @sarahduke @raphaellearp @cewl-casper @crying-lighting443

@sodavrr @sweet-lover-girl @love-sevikalove

[tinytownn]

road rage – iii

joel miller x f!reader

word count: 6k

summary: on a drive home after a late night shift, a tailgating truck hits you, sending you off the road. the driver—his looks catching you by surprise—offers you a ride home.

content: age gap, lotsss of flirting/kissing, joel fighting temptation still???, soft joelllll, cutesy little chapter just developing their relationship tbh, sarah introduced!! (she's like 16/17??), some teenage angst form her if u rly wanna squint??, no use of y/n

a/n: [UNEDITED] y'all I saw a post that was like "no one's life if crazier than the author of a fanfic" cause like haha funny crazy author notes,,,BUT I LITERALLY CURSED MYSELF?? i got a last minute modelling gig that had me STRESSED (they dyed my hair purple??), my cat almost died??!, and now i'm hoping that the world just gives me a break for the rest of the week. anyways i hope you guys enjoy the chapter!! i think it's my favourite and really shows all the guilt/emotion joel has been feeling and how vulnerable he can be with you. also i want to write a darker joel fic next so would u guys be interested???

pt. i pt. ii pt. iv pt. v

—

As he walked into the shop, Joel’s entire body buzzed with an overwhelming warmth–his lips, fingers, and legs tingling. He wasn’t sure if it was nervousness or lingering electricity from your kiss.

Nancy, the front desk receptionist, noticed the change in his demeanor, her head perking up the moment she spotted him.

“Someone looks happy.” She faintly smiled, motioning for him to approach the desk. 

Joel blinked, caught off guard. He turned to the horizontal mirror that hung behind the front desk. He hadn’t even realized, but a smile pulled at the corners of his lips–a real one. His eyes crinkled at the sides and the wrinkles on his forehead were prominent–finally not from stress, but something happier. It was nothing like the faux smile he typically had simply for professionalism.

He scratched his bread, trying to wipe the grin from his face. 

“Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” he muttered, leaning on the desk and clearing his throat. Trying to clear his mind—of you, the kiss, the way you leaned in the doorway as he left, the wanting look in your eyes.

Nancy tilted her head, amusement in her voice. “Oh yeah, like you walk in here smilin’ everyday.”

Joel glanced at her, expression flat. “Tommy texted me. Anthony wants to see me?” He skipped her comment entirely. “I got here as fast as I could.”

Nancy wasn’t buying it, but let it go with a shrug. “It’s not a problem, you know we don’t mind. Family comes first.” She flashed him a quick smile, leaning back into her plush office chair. “How is she anyway? Sarah doin’ alright?”

A pang of guilt thudded in Joel’s chest.

“She’s good,” he said, nodding once. “Just a headache. I left her at home to take a nap until I can get back.”

In the almost thirty years Joel had worked here, he had never lied before. Never needed to. Anthony was fair—more than fair. He’d given both Joel and Tommy steady work when they were young, paid them well, and treated them like family. As the company grew, Anthony put his full trust in the brothers, handing them the reins to his largest branch in Austin and speaking highly of them to everyone who mattered. Anthony had always been honest, always kind—and here he was lying.

“I wish we could’ve let you stay the rest of the day with her, but…” Nancy hesitated, her gaze shifting toward the desk. “It’s actually corporate that wants to meet with you. We told them you were out, so they’re talking to Tommy right now. They’ll probably just get you—”

The door behind him opened, and through the reflection in the mirror, Joel saw three plain-looking men in stiff suits step into the room. Nancy’s sentence trailed off.

His heart dropped and any lingering warmth fled from his chest.

Joel followed them into his office. The three men had already claimed and set up chairs across from his desk. Joel warily took a seat in his own chair, his palms clammy and  jaw tight. Being late was already a bad impression and he had expected Anthony or at least Tommy to join the discussion, his nerves were shot.

“So, Mr.Miller.” The man in the middle spoke. “We’ve recently had some complaints from a very elite member of ours.”

Joel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He’d crossed paths with these suit-and-tie types a handful of times—mostly during his promotion to branch manager alongside his brother. Those meetings were always short, impersonal exchanges that left him with a bitter taste for the corporate crowd. To him, they were nothing more than soulless money-grabbers, tossing around flashy titles for clients like party favors. And judging by the fact they were here, talking to him, Joel already knew exactly which client they were here to discuss.

The room hung heavy with silence as he waited for them to speak. Jaw tight, brow furrowed, eyes shadowed with barely restrained irritation—Joel knew better than to open his mouth. Nothing good would come out if he did.

The man to the right continued. “He has claimed that you verbally harassed him. And since this incident was not over the phone it is going to take us some time to investigate.”

Joel clenched his jaw.

Another suited man, seated on the right, added flatly, “Due to the seriousness of the allegation and the client's stature, we’re placing you on temporary suspension while this is sorted.”

“Bullshit!” Joel slammed his hand on the desk. “As much as I wanted to, I didn’t verbally harass that man for shit! He just didn’t like hearin’ that his ideas were just so impossibly stupid!”

The men didn’t flinch, but Joel could see their eyes narrow slightly.

“Well,” the one on the left began, tone patronizing. “This is an anonymous report, Mr.Miller. I unfortunately cannot disclose any-”

Joel scoffed through gritted teeth. “I ain’t askin’ you to disclose shit. I know who called you and I’m sayin’ I didn’t do it! You got any proof otherwise?”

“Mr. Miller, I advise you to lower your voice.” The man in the middle spoke, voice stern and warning.

He sighed, the weight of it sitting heavy in his chest. Joel knew his outburst had been unprofessional—but that was just how he operated. After decades in the industry, he’d earned his place, yet somehow, people still questioned his judgment. What frustrated him most wasn’t the criticism—it was that the only thing these men seemed to care about was the money they might lose if a wealthy client didn’t like his tone.

And yet, Joel knew that how he handled himself now didn’t just reflect on him. It reflected on Anthony. On Tommy. On everything they’d built together.

With a reluctant nod, he leaned back in his chair, eyes dropping to the scuffed toes of his boots as he searched for the right words.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

He cringed at the submission.

“This project’s been stressful,” Joel continued, hands knotted together on the desk. “And the client hasn’t exactly been very…cooperative.”

Although the group in front of him nodded, he could tell they weren’t truly listening.

The men rose from their seated position–a clear signal the conversation was over.

“We’ll return on Wednesday with the results of the investigation. In the meantime, I trust Tommy can handle things?”

Glancing towards the curtain covered window, he could see his brother nervously pacing around a standing figure–likely Anthony. He had no doubt Tommy could run the shop for the few days he would be suspended, but he could feel his worry through the walls.

“Yes, sir.” Joel finally nodded. “I trust my brother more than anyone.”

The men nodded once and turned without offering a handshake. “Very well. See you Wednesday.”

The door clicked shut behind then and Joel finally let out a breath. He sunk deeper into his chair, creaking as he swung back and forth, worry heavy on his mind. Although the news wasn’t great, he still had a job–a better outcome than he predicted when he first sat down.

Still, his stomach churned. 

The client had been unbearable. The man had such big dreams for the hotel he was trying to open, but his free flowing mind was too much for the permanence of construction. One week it was a rooftop garden, then the next it was a pool. “Just tear it down,” he’d say like it was nothing. To him, the time and labor were just an afterthought–if one at all.

Joel really had tried.

A soft knock pulled Joel from his thoughts. 

“Yeah?” He called out, sitting up straight.

The door creaked open and Tommy stepped in, closing it gently behind him.

“How’d it go?” He hesitantly asked, taking a seat in the chair across him.

Looking into his eyes, Joel knew better–Tommy had already heard the news. The expectant look in his eyes and wary hesitance as he entered the room told it all. 

Joel scoffed, shaking his head as he looked at his brother. “These idiots don’t know what they’re talkin’ about. Suspended me ‘til Wednesday. Bet they’ll still give me hell after.”

Tommy sighed and he opened his mouth, lips slightly parted for a moment as if he was unsure of the words he was going to say. “Did you say anything to him, Joel?”

Normally Joel would be offended by his brother’s lack of trust in him, but this time he couldn’t blame him. Joel had a history of his harsh words causing discourse in the workplace, something that would not be in his favor during the investigation.

“No,” he said firmly. “Didn’t say anything that’d risk the company. Or Anthony.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face, weariness catching up to him all at once.

“Feels like I did anyway.”

Tommy leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his voice soft. “We’ll fix it. You’ve always had my back and I got yours, alright?”

Joel gave a tired smile, small but genuine.

–

Just as suddenly as Joel left your house, the realization of your spontaneous actions came creeping into your mind. His intoxicating smell of musk and sawdust had you in a trance that masked your uncertainty with confidence. 

You didn’t regret it one bit. Not one bit.

A small smile tugged at your lips as you returned to the scene. Bowls were still scattered on the counter, you put them in the sink, rinsing them off with water before leaving it for another time. 

You made your way to the island, picking up your phone. The screen lit up with a flood of missed texts and calls.

Your stomach dropped.

“Fuck,” you muttered, dropping into a chair as panic swirled your thoughts. “I forgot to call out today.”

The various missed messages and texts made your pulse quicken, breaths unsteady as you clicked to call back–unsure of what you’d even say.

Your fingers shakily grasped the phone as you nervously bit your lip to the humming in the speakers. It only took three rings for your boss to pick up.

“Hello?” Her voice was stern. “Where are you? We’ve been trying to contact you all morning. Are you still coming in?”

You swallowed hard, pressing the phone tighter to your ear. “I’m so sorry. I got into a car accident last night… and I guess it hit me harder than I thought. I just woke up—my head’s pounding.”

The lie slipped out almost too easily. It wasn’t completely false—you had been in an accident. And if she needed proof, you still had the photos.

You could hear your boss gasp over the receiver and her tone returned to normal. “Oh my God, are you alright? Did you go to the hospital? You can’t be doing your usual work with a possible concussion!”

Her voice made it seem like she was concerned, but you knew she was more worried about the company’s liability. You didn’t care. You were going to run with it. 

“No, not yet. I’m waiting on a ride. Might go in later today.”

“Mmm,” she hummed, thinking. “Honestly, I think it’s best you stay out the rest of the week. Let’s check back in Monday, okay? And if you need help getting anywhere, I can see if someone from the office can drive you.”

The thought of carpooling with one of your coworkers made you shudder. You had been at your company a while, but hadn’t really made the effort to make friends within the building. Most of your coworkers were awkward middle aged men that hid behind their computer screens in their obscenely tight khakis.

You shook your head instinctively, even though she couldn’t see you. “No thanks, Rebecca. I’ll figure something out, but I’ll let you know by Monday.”

“Alright,” she replied. “Feel better—and take care of yourself, please.”

The call was brief, but your boss’s concern and kindness got you to release the breath you didn't know you were holding. 

–

Joel left the office with a sour taste in his mouth.

He’d barely exchanged words with Anthony while collecting a few personal items from his office. To no avail, the man tried to diffuse Joel’s temper. He was slamming drawers shut and thudding stacks of papers onto his desk–a clear enough sign of how he felt about the decision. 

“I don’t like it either, Joel,” Anthony said, offering a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Just think of this like a long weekend. We’ll have you back in no time.”

Joel shot him a hard look, jaw clenched. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Without another word, he left the office. Heavy footsteps splashed mud on his boots as he made his way into the parking lot. He yanked open the door and as he climbed in, the faint scent of you hit him like a warm breeze. It lingered in the cab—soft and familiar. His muscles, tight from the storm in his chest, loosened just slightly.

He shut his eyes, leaning his head back against the headrest. For a moment, he let himself pretend you were still there beside him, wrapped in his jacket, smiling at him like you had that morning.

The anger began to fade, replaced with a dull ache, frustration lingering in the back of his mind.

Against his better judgment, Joel pulled out his phone. His thumb hovered over the screen, pulse quickening. No new messages.

“Course not,” he muttered under his breath, shoving the phone back into his lap with a sigh.

With Sarah at school for another three hours and no job to go back to, Joel was at a loss of what to do. Free time used to mean movie nights, board games, and pizza on the couch. Always with Sarah. Now, he didn’t know what to do with himself.

He sat in his truck, thumbs tapping a quiet melody against the wheel while the engine hummed in anticipation. Every idea he had—nap, errands, flipping channels on the TV—felt wrong unless you were there too. He smiled faintly at the thought.

Finally, unable to help himself, Joel picked up his phone and opened his messages to you.

In all honesty, this was new territory for Joel. Any lasting relationship he had formed was long before the age of texting and the practice just seemed foreign. Sarah had tried to explain the various, complicated rules: don’t double text, don’t text back too fast, don’t sound too eager. Joel had shaken his head through most of it.

“Why can’t people just say what they mean?” he’d grumbled at the time.

He needed to make a good impression though.

So his fingers danced over the keyboard, unsure what to type. He wrote and rewrote, then deleted, then rewrote, then deleted again until he was satisfied with his message.

Just wanted to see how you were doing. You need a ride to work tomorrow?

It was simple and non suggestive. It didn’t put any pressure on you while still upholding his end of the deal–it was perfect. He pressed send and immediately felt his stomach drop. 

“Shit,” he muttered, putting the truck in gear and pulling out of the lot. He tried to shake it off, tried not to look at his phone, but barely a minute later, it buzzed.

Your name lit up his screen. 

Feeling so much better thanks to you! 

I called my boss and she gave me off until Monday. I guess you can retire from your chauffeuring job…

He re-read your first message. Joel thought back to you waking so well rested in his backseat, beaming up at him with that sleepy grin, his jacket draped over your shoulders. The thought made him blush.

But your second message stung a little. Monday. That meant he probably wouldn’t see you again anytime soon.

Anxiously biting his lip, Joel didn’t know what to respond. Everything that came to mind seemed desperate–but that's all he felt. Desperation filled his entire being and then spilled over the edges, pooling into the very truck where this very mess started.

I’m sure you have other places to be than work.

If you need a ride anywhere, just text me.

He shot off the two messages without thinking. 

His heart pounded, stealing glances between the road and his phone, until the screen lit up again and his heart skipped a beat.

I do need help finding a new car…

If you’re free after work one day maybe we can go?

It was pathetic how much Joel yearned for you, his chest tightened each time you spoke, and the pitiful things that he tried so hard to keep himself from saying–and thinking.

He wished he could just call you up, tell you to dress pretty for him–not that it’d be very difficult–and he would pick you up in ten. He wished he could pick you up at your door, get to see whatever outfit you had put on thinking solely of him, and how his arm would wrap around your waist as he walked you to his truck.

Furiously typing at the screen, he formulated a response–not caring how desperate he sounded.

We can go now? I’m only ten minutes away.

You barely gave his heart time to recover, your message coming in seconds later.

Oh? Sounds great, I’ll see you then!

Joel sped his way downtown, making ten minutes into almost five as he rolled up your driveway for the third time today. He could hear his heart thumping in his chest and his throat grew tight at the thought of your presence. 

Would you still be wearing his jacket? 

What would you say to him? 

And most importantly–Would you kiss him again?

On his way around the truck, he caught a glimpse of himself in the side mirror–and froze. His appearance had completely slipped his mind at the prospect of getting to see you again, and he instantly worried what you would think. He didn’t look much different than when you had kissed him before–white t-shirt clung to his body with sweat, hair tousled from all his nervous tugging, and dirt stained skin from work that morning–the sight made him tense. 

Even just waking up, you were so put together with your clothes freshly ironed and hair neatly done–he didn’t stand a chance next to you in public. The thought of you side-by-side made him shiver with insecurity, he was already so much older than you and he was taking you around in his sweaty work clothes in his dirty work truck. It didn’t make sense.

He hesitated, swallowing down the nerves, and knocked on your door.

It opened with a soft click, and there you were—bright eyes, warm smile.

Joel’s heart leapt.

“What happened to work?” you asked, skipping the greeting entirely, eyebrows raised. “I thought Tommy called you?”

Joel snickered as he watched you lock your door, practically bouncing from excitement. “Well, hello to you too.”

“Seriously, Joel!” You laughed, nudging his shoulder.“They fire you for crashin’ the company truck or something?” He laughed, slipping an arm around your waist—lightly at first, testing your reaction. You leaned in immediately, and his grip tightened instinctively.

“I could blow this old thing up and they wouldn’t care. We’ve been expecting this thing to give out years ago–stubborn as hell.”

His hand slipped from your waist as you neared the truck, leaving goosebumps under his touch. He held open the door for you, carefully shutting it behind you as he rounded the truck–hoping you would drop the question amidst the silence.

The quiet only piqued your curiosity however, because as soon as Joel entered the truck you were quick to pick back up your questioning.

“So…you gonna tell me what happened?” Your head tilted to the side, expectantly awaiting his answer.

Joel huffed, the unpleasant reminder creeping back into his mind. “Let’s just say the higher ups aren’t too happy with me at the moment.” His hands gripped tighter around the wheel, a sigh escaping his lips. “Bullshit if you ask me.”

You put a comforting hand onto Joel’s leg, thumb tracing gentle circles on his thigh. He twitched under your touch.

“I agree. That is bullshit.” You stayed silent for a moment, biting the inside of your cheek raw. “One good side to it though.”

Brow furrowed, Joel turned to you. “Hmm?”

“Get to spend more time with you.”

His eyes softened, lips curving into a slow smile, the heat already rising to his cheeks. It never failed to surprise him—how easily your words got under his skin. Even when your voice trembled with the same nervousness he felt, your boldness always left him reeling. 

Despite your many advances,  Joel still worried about his place in your life. Worried that his touch may somehow taint the innocence that radiated off of you. But you kept coming back. 

And right now, you were here. 

Joel placed his hand on top of your own, lacing his fingers with yours like it was second nature. He gave your hand a slight squeeze, an unspoken response to your comment. You looked up at him the same as you had that morning–a soft warmth and tender curiosity.

Propping yourself up on the center console, you leaned in, your nose brushing his. Joel’s breath caught in his throat, and his hand instinctively rose to cradle the back of your head. His fingers threaded into your hair, curling ever so slightly as his grip tightened—not to restrain, but to pull you closer. His eyes fluttered shut, lips parting just in time to meet yours.

The kiss was light at first. Feather-soft.

Then your tongue traced teasingly along his bottom lip—and before he could even react—you tugged it between your teeth with a playful bite.

Joel groaned, low and surprised, the sound muffled against your lips. His hand tightened in your hair, and his other arm hooked around your waist, drawing you in. Your weight shifted, and before you knew it, you were half over the console—one hand clutching his thigh, the other gripping the back of his seat.

His arms held you steady: one anchoring your waist with a firm, possessive grip, the other still curled in your hair, guiding your movements like he was afraid to let go.

Then–a sharp, stuttering sound hit the windshield.

Joel froze, head tilting as he glanced towards the tapping. The gentle tapping turned into a steady thumping–rain. Heavy and relentless.

Your chest started to shake with laughter as you realized the position you were in. Tangled together, sprawled half over his lap and the gear shift.

“Well,” you said between laughs, easing back into your seat, “so much for car shopping.”

Joel rubbed a hand over his face, chuckling lowly. “Damn rain. Should’ve known my day couldn’t have gone that smoothly.”

The truck filled with silence–close and comforting–with only the soft pattering on the roof and the sounds of your breaths in sync. Your fingers reached for his again. He didn’t hesitate to link them.

Joel cleared his throat, trying to ease the nervousness in his mind.

 “D’you…want to come ‘round to my place?” He pinched his shirt, taking a look down at it. “I need a shower, bad, but after that—I've got a few cold beers in the fridge. We could put on a movie or… just hang out.”

“That sounds great.”You bit your lip, your heart skipping at his sudden advances. “Unless you drink old man beer, then you can count me out.”

Joel laughed. “The hell is an ‘old man beer?’”

“You know–PBR, Miller Lites, or something.” You leaned back in your seat. “Anything that takes like two to three years of drinking to actually taste good.”

He squinted at you, mock offended. “What’s wrong with Miller Lites? They got a good name…”

“Okay, okay! You get a pass because of the name.” You giggled. “Plus, that’s the least nasty out of all of them.”

Joel shook his head, trying to fight a smile. “You’re too young to know what good beer is.”

The drive to his house was short but warm, filled with laughter and easy conversation. When he finally pulled into his quiet little cul-de-sac, you found yourself admiring the house—a small, white two-story with a cozy porch and a closed blue garage door. Trinkets and plants dotted the lawn–a glimpse at the love and life that inhabited the house.

Joel opened your door, holding out his hand for you to take–which you graciously did. He returned your touch with a slight squeeze. 

The screen door opened with a creak, Joel’s keys clanging as he fumbled to unlock the door. The warmth of his home flooded out and pulled you inside as the front door clicked open. The air smelt like cookies. 

“M’sorry for the mess.” He mumbled, slipping his boots off at the door. “Sarah made cookies last night– they’re on the counter if you want some.”

“Holy shit, Joel. These are so fucking good.” You stuffed the rest in your mouth and reached for another. “I see why you can’t cook. I’d never wanna make anything with food this delicious.”

Joel laughed as he wandered over, arms stretching lazily behind his head. His muscles flexed under the thin white shirt, and for a second, you lost your train of thought. When they dropped you could see the relaxation in his shoulders–his body much less tense in the comfort of his own environment. 

“She’s my little genius,” he said, pride coating every word. “That girl’s good at anything she tries.”

He popped a cookie into his mouth and paused. “Damn,” he mumbled, still chewing. “She outdid herself.”

Then he stood up suddenly. “C’mere. Let me show you how the TV works before I hop in the shower.”

You snorted, taking a cookie with you as you plopped onto the couch. “You sure I don’t need to teach you how to use it?”

Joel sat down next to you, fumbling with the remote in his hands. “Shut up, I know what I’m doing.” 

With a soft smile on you leaned your head onto his shoulder, letting his warmth seep into you. Cuddling closer to him, you popped the last of your cookies into your mouth, wiping the crumbs from your lips. 

You watched as Joel scrolled through the guide. “Tell me if you see somethin’ you like.” 

“That one.”

Pointing to a random channel, Joel clicked on your selection and some random crime show came on. A random woman’s body appeared on the screen, three detectives hovering over her–talking and taking notes.

Brows furrowed, he turned to you. “You watch this shit?”

“You told me to pick what I liked.” You turned to him with a sly smile and leaned in, pressing a kiss to his lips—soft and quick, just enough to make him blink. “But the only thing that caught my eye is right here.”

Joel laughed and rolled his eyes. “You’re so damn corny.”

“And you like corny.” You shot back, shrugging playfully. “Unless that’s why you haven’t made a move.”

That caught him off guard. His smile faltered, tension creeping back into his shoulders.

Joel stiffened.

He hadn’t realized you felt that way–like you were putting in all the work. Now that he looked back at it though, you were right.  He’d been cautious, hesitant... too afraid of overstepping. Too caught up in his own guilt.

“I’ll make it up to you, sweetheart.” He promised, voice low and gravelly with certainty.

Joel had been out of the game for years, but he wasn’t going to let that dull his instincts anymore. Not with you—beautiful, bright, and right here, in his arms. He wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you flush against his chest, sinking back into the couch until he was reclined and you rested on top of him.

You hummed, snuggling closer to his chest. “I’ll be waiting.”

Eyes fluttering shut, the steady rhythm of Joel’s heartbeat lulled you to sleep. A yawn found its way to your lips, fingers softly grasping his shirt as you tried to pull him closer. Contagiously, Joel began to yawn as well, resting his head against the throw pillow and shutting his eyes. His hands found their way to your head, fingers loosely weaving their way through your hair as he massaged your scalp, his touch slow and soothing.

You two lay on the couch, you head on Joel’s chest, the comfort of each other having brought you to sleep. Your hearts beat steady in time, chest’s rising and falling in sync while the quiet hum of the television echoes throughout the room.

It was a moment of unmistakable relief, the remaining ache in your bones from the crash felt healed as you clung on to Joel and his worries from work that weighed so heavily on his shoulders seemed to dissipate. 

Sleep clung to you two so heavily that you didn’t notice the rumbling of gears as the garage door hauled itself open and closed or the tires of Sarah’s car creaking onto the concrete. It wasn’t until the side door opened and Sarah’s footsteps filled the room that Joel just barely woke up, his lashes fluttering open.

“Dad, are you home early?” 

Joel’s lashes fluttered as his eyes cracked open. His arms were still around you, your cheek resting against his chest. A thin string of drool trailed from your parted lips to the front of his shirt. He smiled despite himself.

Sarah’s footsteps rounded the corner.

“Dad, I–” Her voice caught mid-sentence

Her voice startled you awake, your hands on either side of Joel as you rapidly propped yourself up. Your gaze snapped towards her.

Sarah stood frozen just inside the living room, a backpack slung over one shoulder, keys dangling from her hand. Her expression tightened—shock, confusion, maybe even hurt. Her blue eyes flicked from Joel to you, then back again. Her jaw tensed.

Joel cleared his throat and gently grabbed your waist, guiding you off of him.

“Hey, honey! How was school?” he said quickly, voice a little too bright.

Joel got up from the couch, going to greet Sarah with a hug. She stepped away from his touch.

“Hey…” she said warily, eyes still fixed on you.

Extending a hand out to her, you introduced yourself, giving Sarah an awkward, trying smile. She took your hand, gave it a half-hearted shake, then let it go just as fast.

“Nice to meet you.” She said shortly. “I’m gonna go upstairs. Lotta homework.”

“Okay,” Joel said, voice soft. But she was already heading up the stairs.

Neither of you moved as her footsteps creaked up the steps.

You sat on the couch, hands sat uncomfortably in your lap and Joel stood where he had gone to hug Sarah, still frozen in shock at her reaction.

His face was unreadable and his eyes stayed locked on the carpet beneath his feet, shuffling in place. He stood with his arms crossed and he was mostly turned away from you. The feeling that you weren’t meant to be here began to brew in your chest.

“I think I should go…” you said barely above a whisper. “I can just call a cab.”

His head snapped toward you. His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. He just… looked at you.

It was that silence that made your chest tighten.

His eyes dropped briefly, then flicked toward the stairs. His jaw worked as if chewing on his thoughts, trying to find the right thing to say—but instead, he just walked toward you and pulled you into a hug.

You gasped at first, but melted into him. His arms wrapped tightly around you, clinging like he was afraid to let go. You felt him tremble.

Then, quietly, a sniffle.

He wasn’t sobbing. Just a few quiet tears. But the weight of them hit you like a truck.

He exhaled shakily, his breath brushing your ear. “I didn’t mean for it to go like this,” he mumbled. “I meant to get you home before she came back.”

You rubbed his back, slow and steady.

“She’s never seen me with anyone,” he added, voice cracked and vulnerable. “Not since her mom.”

You stayed quiet, letting him get it out.

He clutched onto you, guilt holding his heart captive as he cried onto your shoulder. He had too much respect for his daughter to let you spend the night like he so desperately wanted, chest tightening at the thought he had to take you home. His breath stilled as he pulled away, your fingertips lingering on his arms–ready to pull him close again. He raked slow, observant eyes over you as if it was the last time he would see you, the tension in the air too thick to gauge your reaction.

“I’ll take you home,” he said gently.

The car ride was silent, but not cold. Just… heavy. You watched the lights blur past the windows, the quiet hum of the engine the only sound between you. 

Sneaking glances your way, Joel couldn’t help but wonder how he got himself here. He didn’t mean to keep secrets from Sarah. He didn’t exactly have a plan to tell her, but he also didn’t really think about not telling her. You had been the only lingering thought in his mind for the past few days, he forgot he might have to introduce you to his daughter at some point. Things between you hadn’t gotten serious enough in his mind that he didn’t think he’d have to brave that point yet, but his carelessness proved otherwise. 

Your crashed car, the problems at work, the guilt of whatever your relationship was, and now being caught by Sarah–Joel’s week had taken him over the edge. All he wanted was to lay in his bed, you curled on top of his chest filling his senses with your scent–dainty and floral. But now you sat next to him, stone still and the quietest he’s ever seen you.

He cringed at the tension.

He slowed as he went up your driveway, his brakes settling into the familiar incline. He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as he fully turned to you.

“Sorry about tonight.” 

You looked over at him, finally meeting his eyes.

“I swear, she’s not always like that,” he tried to joke. “I just… I’ve never brought another woman over. Ever.”

The confession made him wince.

Your lips lifted in a faint smile. “I get it. Honestly? I wouldn’t be thrilled either if I were her.”

That seemed to ease something in him. You rested a hand on his thigh and felt his muscles relax beneath your touch.

“You guys talk it out,” you said. “Let me know how it goes. I’ll be here.”

Joel’s throat worked as he swallowed, nodding slowly. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

He leaned in for a kiss—soft, meant to be quick—but the moment your lips met, his fingers slid into your hair and he deepened it. One kiss became two. Then three. Each one lingering a little longer.

You giggled as his lips grazed your skin, occasionally straying away from your lips to the tip of your nose or the corners of your mouth. It was a soft, silent gesture, the tightness from Joel’s muscles relaxing each time he heard your laugh.

Reluctantly he pulled away, knowing he couldn’t stall forever.

His hands cupped your cheeks, thumbs brushing your skin. “A promise is a promise. I’ll see you tomorrow—for car shopping, yeah?”

You nodded, lips still tingling from his kiss. “You’ve got a deal.”

—

a special thanks to my taglist ♡ @anoverwhelmingdin @auteurdelabre @tweakersqueaker @icanbringyouinhot @forpunishers @doeeyestoji @legoemma @woodxtock @jaxmom66 (message me to be added or removed)

[multi-fandom-imagines8]

A Song of Ice & Shadow

A/N: Hello everyone! This is an Azriel x Archeron!half-sister reader series, featuring a slow-burn romance, angst, and possibly a sad ending. Don’t worry, they’ll eventually get together even if it doesn’t have a happy ending. I don’t know how many parts it’s going to have. It begins in ACOMAF chapter 24.

Chapters: 35/?

Summary: Y/n Archeron is a cold and sometimes cruel human who was turned fae against her will. As she navigates her life as a fae, she begins developing feelings for Azriel. Having never been in love makes her weary of these new found feelings. Whenever he gets closer than she anticipates, she pushes him away*.

*at least for first 30 chapters, the rest would be spoilers.

Chapter I: Summary: The eldest Archeron half-sister Y/n hates Fae kind, due to tragic past events. When she unexpectedly visits her sisters, she is met with the very race she hates.

II: Summary: To Y/n's dismay, the Illyrians keep coming to their home, and despite her initial reluctance to engage in war talks, she becomes entangled in the political world of the fae. This ends with her worst nightmare becoming a reality.

III: Summary: Y/n is adjusting to her new life in the Night Court, where she finds herself interacting with the Illyrians much longer than before, whether by chance or by force. An unexpected encounter with Azriel ignites something between them.

IV: Summary: Y/n is intrigued by a certain illyrian. They open up to one another one night, but she stops it from getting out of control. With Feyre’s return, things get more tense.

V: Summary: Tension rises as Y/n only makes things harder for everyone around her. After moving into the Town House, she is attacked by the King’s soldiers.

VI: Summary: Y/n decides to attend the meeting with the High Lords, where she is more open and relaxed than usual.

VII: Summary: Y/n chooses to remain at the Dawn Court, but Rhys allows her to stay for only three days, entrusting Azriel with her safety.

VIII: Summary: The Inner Circle prepares for war. Y/n and Azriel grow closer, and a shocking revelation unfolds on the battlefield.

IX: Summary: Y/n learns the truth about her powers. When Azriel is injured rescuing Elain, Y/n tends to his wounds.

X: Summary: Y/n struggles to hide her concern for Azriel while Cassian and Rhys tease her. As the final battle against Hybern approaches, Y/n and Azriel spend their last night together sharing a quiet moment before the fight.

XI: Summary: The day everyone dreaded has finally arrived. Facing impossible odds against Hybern, defeat seems inevitable- but nothing could have prepared Y/n for what's about to unfold.

XII: Summary: After the deaths of her fathers, Y/n past traumas resurface, leading her to do what she does best- push everyone away, including her sisters.

XIII: Summary: As Y/n spirals out of control, Feyre steps in, forcing a change that leaves the sisters at odds.

XIV: Summary: Cassian attempts to convince Y/n to train with him, but her stubbornness proves unshakable. However, when he leaves her with unexpected words, she finds herself grappling with an internal struggle over what to do next.

XV: Summary: Y/n slowly begins to recover, gradually warming up to Azriel and Cassian again. She agrees to train with Cassian but only under a few conditions.

XVI: Summary: An unexpected visit from Elain triggers Y/n, leading her to push everyone away again, but Azriel sees through her defenses. She begins to gain partial control over her powers after an emotional outburst and testing a new theory.

XVII: Summary: Y/n and Nesta’s presence is required at the River House, where two important announcements are made. This time, Y/n decides to not interfere with the dangerous choices her sisters are making. Later, a sparring session between Azriel and Cassian sparks an idea in Y/n.

XVIII: Summary: Azriel and Y/n engage in an intense sparring session. Later, she experiences her first period since turning, with Azriel and Cassian stepping in to help.

XIX: Summary: Azriel continues to care for Y/n as she recovers from her first cycle. Later, her second power manifests, revealing an ability she never knew she had. 

XX: Summary: After a dangerous incident, Y/n and Nesta finally reconcile. Y/n is upset with Azriel for something he did.

Taglist: @st4r-girl-official @judig92 @5onedirection5 @nayaniasworld @blackgirlmagicforever @stained-glass-eyes0708 @slytherintaco @aehllitas-blog @nebarious @t0uch-starved-h0e

[scarluna]

Y/N, a gifted but self-conscious graphic designer, lands a job at Jeon Enterprises, a powerhouse ruled by the sharp and controlling Jeon Jungkook, whose ruthless perfectionism hides behind an enigmatic façade. Though admired and feared, Jungkook targets Y/N’s insecurities, using them as weapons against her.

Beside him stands his best friend, Min Yoongi, a sly and unpredictable force whose hot-and-cold behavior leaves Y/N questioning his motives.

Tangled in a web of cold authority, teasing games, and unspoken desire, Y/N must navigate a dangerous love triangle where ambition and emotion collide, threatening to unravel everything.

Pairing: Jungkook x Fem!Reader x Min Yoongi

Genre/Tags: plus sized reader, enemies to lovers, ceo!jungkook, graphic designer!reader, mafia!yoongi

Link to the other chapters: ACT I / ACT II / ACT III / ACT IV / ACT V / ACT VI / ACT VIII

Chapters: 7 / ?

Chapter Warnings: mature language, bullying, slow burn, enemies to lovers

A/N: Enjoy! Happy holidays! x | Cover PSD by queend3lrey on deviantart.

ACT VII.

I sat on the couch, legs tucked beneath me, a warm cup of chamomile tea cradled in my hands. The steam swirled lazily upward, its warmth brushing against my face, but it did little to deafen the icy unease settled deep in my chest. The living room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the fridge in the kitchen, and the dim light of the lamp cast long shadows on the walls.

I tried to focus on the comfort of the moment—the familiar scent of tea, the way the soft blanket draped over my shoulders—but my thoughts were too loud. They dragged me back to earlier in the day, to the moment everything shifted.

I had come home tired, the weight of the day pressing heavily on my shoulders. Everything that had happened in the last two days has mentally drained me. First it was Tina's death, then Jungkook's captiveness by the police. My mind was a mess and I could barely function, let alone focus on my work daily tasks. All I wanted was to sink into my comfy bed with Hades by my side, maybe order takeout, and forget the world existed for a while.

But the moment I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat.

My apartment was wrecked.

Drawers had been yanked out and emptied onto the floor. Books and papers were strewn everywhere, cushions slashed open, their stuffing spilling out like entrails. Even my little plant by the window lay tipped over, its soil scattered across the hardwood floor.

My heart raced as I stepped inside, each careful footfall crunching against the debris of my once-safe haven. The smell of something sharp and chemical lingered in the air, making me feel nauseous.

And then it hit me. This wasn’t random. This wasn’t a burglary.

I had barely processed the thought when a new fear gripped me. “Hades?” My voice trembled as I called out. “Hades, where are you?”

The silence was deafening.

Frantically, I searched the apartment, stepping over shattered glass and overturned furniture. “Hades!” I shouted, my voice rising in panic. My chest tightened as I realized he wasn’t there. The mess suddenly felt suffocating, the walls closing in on me. I had watched enough scary movies to know that even the innocent animals were taken or worse, killed. I felt my blood bumping in my ears as my breath hitched. I squeezed my bag, looking around as if the world around me was squeezing. Tears pricked at my eyes, and I was on the verge of collapse when a knock at the door startled me.

I swung it open to find my neighbor, Mrs.Cordelia, the kind woman who lived two doors down, holding Hades in her arms. Relief washed over me like a wave as I saw his familiar face, his tail wagging furiously.

“I found him wandering in the hallway,” she said gently, handing him over. “He looked scared, poor thing. Are you alright? Your place…" her green eyes shifted over the mess behind me, her face immediately changed into one of concern, "Oh my, dear! It looks like someone broke in!” She exclaimed, then glanced at me. "Do you want to call the police?"

Clutching Hades to my chest, I began sobbing quietly. His small wet nose brushed over my cheek and warm licks licked off the tears that streamed down my face. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Thank you so much.”  My voice was shaking as I held him. He was the most important to me and I'd be lost if something happened to Hades. I swallowed shakily, finally processing Mrs.Cordelia's question.  "N-no need, ma'am. Uh, I will deal with the mess here." Partly, I was afraid of calling the police, they wouldn't do much and from what I could see, the bulglar did not left any tracks behind them. It'd be a lost cause.

She hesitated, her concern evident. “If you need help, or if you want me to stay for a bit, just let me know. You shouldn’t be alone after something like this.”

I managed a small, grateful smile. “I’ll be okay. Really, thank you again.”

As the door clicked shut behind her, I sank to the floor, holding Hades tightly. The familiar weight of him on my lap grounded me, but my mind was racing. Whoever had broken in was searching for something, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what.

Tina’s journal.

My eyes flicked to my bag whom I had just dropped on the ground seconds ago, this was where I had hidden it and it was still untouched thankfully. They hadn’t found it—yet. But I knew this was far from over. I realized the danger I was in, yet my pride refused to give up and seek help from the police.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. My apartment wasn’t safe anymore, and Hades wasn’t safe either. This wasn’t just a robbery—it was a message.

And I needed to figure out what came next.

The faint scent of lavender from the fabric softened the tension thrumming through my body, but my mind was still racing. Hades lay at my feet, his head resting on his paws as if he could sense I needed his calming presence.

The muffled sound of running water stopped, and a few moments later, Rya emerged from the bathroom, her damp hair tied up in a towel and an oversized hoodie falling just above her knees. She carried a casual ease, but I could see the worry etched in her features as she walked over and plopped down onto the couch beside me.

“You okay?” she asked, folding her legs underneath her and leaning her head against the couch’s backrest. “I mean, as okay as you can be after… everything?”

I exhaled slowly, trying to piece together an answer that didn’t feel like a lie. “I don’t know. It’s still sinking in, I guess.”

She nodded, her expression softening. “I can’t believe someone actually broke in. You must have been terrified.”

“Terrified doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I admitted, my voice shaky. “The apartment was a complete mess. And Hades—when I couldn’t find him, I thought…” I swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence.

Rya reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my knee. “But he’s safe now, and so are you. That’s what matters.”

I gave her a small nod, though the tightness in my chest remained. “Thank you, Rya. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t picked up my call.”

Her lips quirked into a small, empathetic smile. “Of course, Y/N. What are friends for? You can stay here as long as you need.”

For the first time that night, I let out a small laugh, though it came out more like a sigh. “You sure you’re not going to regret having me and a very anxious dog invade your space?”

She grinned. “Are you kidding? Hades is the least of my worries. He’s adorable. You, on the other hand, might be a little high-maintenance.”

I rolled my eyes, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “I promise not to hog the couch or eat all your snacks.”

“Good, because I don’t share my ice cream,” she teased, then her tone grew serious. “But really, Y/N, do you have any idea who could’ve done this? Why someone would target you?”

I hesitated, my hands tightening around the edge of the blanket. “I… I think it’s because of the journal.”

Rya’s eyebrows shot up. “Tina’s journal? You think this has something to do with that?”

I nodded, my stomach twisting as I thought about it. “It has to be. Whoever broke in was looking for something specific. They didn’t even take my laptop or jewelry. They tore through the place like they were searching for something hidden.”

Her expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Y/N, if someone’s after that journal, it’s not safe for you to keep it. You need to tell someone—maybe the police or…”

��Or who, Rya?” I interjected, my voice rising. “It’s not like I can waltz into the station and hand it over without explaining where I got it. And that’ll lead to questions I don’t have answers to.”

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “Okay, fair point. But you can’t just sit on this thing like it’s some kind of secret treasure. Whoever broke in isn’t going to stop because they didn’t find it the first time.”

“I know,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I know.”

Silence stretched between us, the weight of the situation pressing down like a heavy fog. Hades let out a small whine, breaking the tension as he nudged my leg with his nose.

Rya watched him for a moment, her expression softening. “We’ll figure this out, okay? You’re not alone in this.”

Her words carried a warmth that made my throat tighten. “Thanks, Rya. I don’t think I’ve said it enough, but… I really appreciate you.”

She waved me off with a smile. “Don’t get all mushy on me now. I’d do the same thing for Hades.”

I laughed, the sound lighter this time, and for a moment, the weight of the world didn’t feel so suffocating.

But as the night deepened and Rya retreated to her bedroom, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Whoever had broken into my apartment wasn’t going to give up easily. And I needed to figure out what Tina’s journal was hiding—before it was too late.

-

The next morning came far too soon. My eyes felt gritty from lack of sleep, and my body ached from tossing and turning all night. Every time I closed my eyes, the memory of my ransacked apartment replayed in vivid detail. The thought of someone invading my space left a lingering sense of unease that refused to dissipate.

Rya, ever the early riser, had already made us coffee by the time I emerged from the spare bedroom. She offered me a tired smile, her damp hair falling in waves around her shoulders.

“You look like you didn’t sleep a wink,” she said, handing me a mug.

“Because I didn’t,” I muttered, taking a sip and savoring the bitter warmth. “I kept thinking about what happened. And then I started worrying about it happening to you.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Please. I’m not the one carrying a target on my back right now. If they want to mess with me, they’ll regret it.” Her words were light, but I caught the edge of concern in her tone.

We left her apartment together, stepping into the chilly morning air. The ride to work was quiet, but my mind wasn’t. Every shadow, every person walking by, felt like a threat. By the time we arrived at the office, my nerves were stretched thin.

Hoseok greeted us with his usual sunny smile, but his expression quickly shifted to concern as he noticed my face.

“Whoa, what happened?” he asked, standing from his desk.

Rya stepped in, her voice quiet. “Someone broke into Y/N’s apartment last night. She stayed with me.”

Hoseok’s brows furrowed, and he glanced at me. “Are you okay? Did they take anything?”

I shook my head, sighing. “They weren’t there to steal. It was more like they were searching for something. They trashed the place, but nothing’s missing.”

His frown deepened. “You think it’s connected to Tina’s journal?” I frowned and turned around toward Rya. "You told him?!" Her face changed into one of shock and then regret, "Sorry, Y/N, I accidentally blurted it out to him last night on the phone." "You know that the more people know about this, the more in danger you all become." I snapped but regretted it, Rya was a good person with a kind heart, but I definitely was scared for Hoseok and her now.

Before we could say more, a voice chimed in from behind us.

“Someone broke in your apartment last night?”

I turned to see Yoongi leaning casually against the edge of his desk, his dark eyes sharp with something I couldn't recognize. Was it concern?Annoyance? I hadn’t even noticed him nearby.

“None of your business." I muttered, turning around to look at Hoseok who had his eyebrows raised. I heard footsteps behind me until I felt warmth all over my entire back. He was standing there, wasn't he? "This was the same night where I drove you back to your place, wasn't it?" he muttered in a flat tone. My heart raced, I could catch a scent off his cologne.  "Stop asking me questions, this does not concern you." "The hell it fucking does." his voice became raspy and deep. Rya kept glancing at me and Yoongi who stood behind me. I didn't really want to turn around. Deep annoyed sigh escaped my lips as I turned around to face him finally. "No, it does not. Just. . . just be focused on getting our Boss out of jail, please?" He kept staring at me and didn't even reply to my plead. Yoongi's face remained blank, hands crossed against his chest. I could see his jaw locking tightly.  "How about you do not tell me what to fucking do? I told you to be careful, didn't I? You will be staying at my place from now on. I can keep an eye on you and on that damn journal you got yourself involved with." "Yoongi," I spoke lowly, "I am NOT staying with you." He took a step forward, towered over me, his face was close to mine and I felt my cheeks heaten.  "Oh yes you are. Staying with Rya puts her in danger too. I, on the other hand, know how to protect myself and protect you from this bullshit you got into. So don't even dare to fight with me right now." I exhaled sharply through my nose but then I remembered I was at the office, Hoseok and Rya were watching us with wide eyes, some people passing by also kept staring at us. My eyes closed for a moment as I tried to calm the rage bubbling deep inside of me, before I replied. "Fine." I spoke lowly, only to get him off my back. "I will stay with you. Happy?" I gritted my teeth and turned to glance at Hoseok and Rya. "Come on, let's grab coffee at the cafeteria." "S-sure," both of them grabbed my hands and dragged me down the hall as Yoongi stood there, staring at us until we disappeared around the corner. "Y/N, what the hell was that?" Rya asked hushedly. "What do you mean?" "There is a LOT sexual tension between you two." Hoseok added in with a smug smirk on his face. I scowled at him. "The fuck you are on about. He is an ass and he thinks that after he is a rich son of a conglomerate he gets to treat people like properties. I despise him." "Yet you agreed to stay with him?" Rya muttered, teasing me. "I only did that to get him off my back. He would be forgetting about it by the end of the day." I could hear them both giggle as we walked into the cafeteria. Did they not believe me? Gosh, those two annoyed the hell out of me sometimes.

-

The meeting room was filled with tension, the air thick with unspoken words. I sat at the long conference table, my hands resting on the surface, fingers drumming nervously against the polished wood. To my right was Rya, who seemed deep in thought, her eyes flickering between the others in the room. Across from me sat Hoseok, his usual carefree demeanor nowhere to be found, replaced by a cool, determined expression.

And then there was Gina—her eyes hard, and posture stiff. She was the one who had invited Hoseok to that masquerade ball, only to be turned down cold. I could almost feel her resentment lingering in the air, even though the others were too polite to address it directly.

The room fell silent as Yoongi walked into the conference room, his usual calm but imposing presence commanding attention. He cleared his throat before speaking.

“As you all know, Jungkook’s departure leaves us with a gap in leadership,” Yoongi began, his voice steady but with an edge of authority. “Until he returns, I will be taking over the company on a temporary basis. But more importantly, we need to address the immediate future of the team."

My heart skipped a beat. The room was tense, everyone waiting for what would come next.

Yoongi’s gaze shifted to Hoseok. “Hoseok," he said, his tone not giving anything away, "you will be stepping up as the new direct manager for the team.”

A gasp escaped Gina's lips, her eyes wide in shock. Rya shifted slightly, her gaze darting between Yoongi and Hoseok. I held my breath. Hoseok didn’t flinch, though. He nodded, his usual warmth replaced by a seriousness I wasn’t used to seeing from him.

“I understand,” Hoseok replied, his voice steady, though there was a flicker of something deeper behind his eyes. “I’ll do my best.”

I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind—this wasn’t just about Tina’s death, it was about filling a role that many had doubted he could handle. The weight of responsibility suddenly seemed to settle over him, but there was no doubt he would rise to the challenge. Still, I knew he didn’t expect it to be this soon.

Gina crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "So, Hoseok, you’ll just… step into Tina’s shoes?" she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

Yoongi’s eyes flickered to her, his expression unreadable. "It's not a choice, Gina," he said quietly, "it's what's needed. And no need for worry, I have discussed this with Jungkook already."

There was a long pause. The room seemed to hold its breath, the silence almost unbearable. I wanted to speak, to say something, but the words just wouldn’t come. I knew what this meant for all of us—for Hoseok especially—but the uncertainty of the future weighed heavy on my chest.

“I’ll take it on,” Hoseok said after a moment, standing from his chair. His voice was firm now, as if the decision had been made in his heart, and he was ready to carry the burden.

I looked at him, trying to read his expression, but he was already focused on the task at hand. I couldn’t help but admire his resolve, even though I knew this would be a difficult road ahead. As the room buzzed with quiet murmurs and Yoongi began laying out the next steps, my thoughts drifted.

I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen next. The meeting continued with a few new clients joining in, Yoongi was oddly prepared and I couldn't help but wonder if Jungkook had given him all the information. My mind drifted to my Boss again. I could imagine him sitting in his cell, awaiting for a miracle to happen. My heart raced. There has to be something that proves his innocence. Anything. . .

Yoongi's voice brought me back to reality.

"You gonna keep sitting there, Y/N?" he muttered, his eyes boring into mine. I blinked a few times only to realize that the room was now empty. Yoongi and I were the only ones left. Fuck. Soft sigh escaped my lips as I rose up and collected my papers without paying much mind to him. 

"Hey, talk to me." I heard his footsteps approaching and I froze. Slowly turning around, our eyes met. "You good?"

"Peachy. Move." I muttered, trying to pass by him, yet a grip on my arm stopped me. I swallowed thickly as I felt his fingers curl around my elbow. 

"Can you tell me what the fuck is going on? Is it because I asked you to stay with me?" .  "Why does everything have to be about you, Yoongi? The situation itself is disasterous," I shot at him, pulling my hand away. "I don't trust you, and I won't be staying with you. I don't feel comfortable being around you, every second I look at your face I want to look away and disappear," I blurted out, stepping toward him. In my rage, I didn't care that we were close. 

"You are too dumb to even realize the situation," he spoke out.

"Fuck off." I spoke out, pushing him and walking out of the office. I was blushing and fuming at the same time. That idiot. He thought he was the Boss now and everyone would bow at his fucking feet. I reached my desk and slammed the papers I held on it before I sat down and buried my face in my hands, clearly frustrated.

-

The workday finally came to a close, the tension still lingering in the air. I didn’t realize how much I’d been holding my breath until I stepped out of the meeting room, the weight of the new responsibilities hanging over Hoseok, and over all of us, like a storm cloud that refused to dissipate. I was exhausted, but the day wasn’t over yet.

Rya and I walked back to her place in silence, the streets unusually quiet as we made our way through the city. The only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional hum of passing cars. I could feel the heaviness of what was to come—Tina’s funeral was tomorrow and the cruel reality of her death still hard to grasp.

Rya had been distant, her mind clearly elsewhere, but when we reached her apartment, she greeted me with the same quiet, welcoming smile she always had. I let myself in, and immediately, Hades came bounding toward me, his large, fluffy form jumping up to greet me. I couldn’t help but smile as I leaned down to scratch behind his ears, the simple act of petting him somehow grounding me in the chaos.

“We’ll get through tomorrow,” Rya said, her voice soft as she shut the door behind us. "It’s hard, I know. But it’s over now."

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was agreeing with her or just trying to convince myself. Tina had been a complicated figure in my life, a bully and a tormentor, but now—now she was gone. And that meant something. What exactly? I wasn’t sure.

The conversation died as Rya and I settled into the couch. Rya made tea, and I pulled out Tina's worn journal I kept hidden in my bag. Tina's death was still too fresh, and I wasn’t sure how to process it yet.

Before I could open the journal, there was a knock at the door. It was gentle, but I could tell it was someone who had a reason to be there. I stood up slowly, my gaze flicking to Rya. She raised an eyebrow and shrugged. I slowly opened the door and my eyes met with Hoseok's.

“Thought you two could use some company,” he said, standing in the doorway with a hesitant smile. He was in his usual casual wear—jeans and a hoodie—though there was a solemnity in his eyes that wasn’t usually there. Hades barked, running over to him, and Hoseok knelt down to pet him, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

“Come on in,” Rya said, stepping aside. “You’re always welcome here.”

Hoseok nodded and stepped inside, taking a seat next to me on the couch. He seemed out of place, as if his mind was miles away, but his presence was comforting. The weight of the day seemed to lift a little with him there, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else.

We didn’t talk about the company or the changes Hoseok would face. Instead, we hung out like we always did. Rya made more tea, and we spent the next hour just talking—about life, about the things that made us laugh, about whatever came to mind. I caught myself smiling more than I had all day, my body relaxing as the warmth of the room filled me.

But then something caught Rya’s attention. She had been glancing out the window, her expression suddenly hardening as she stared into the night. I followed her gaze, and my heart skipped a beat.

Three men in black suits were standing just outside the building, pacing slowly around the entrance. They looked like they were waiting for something—or someone. I felt a chill run down my spine. There was something unnerving about their presence, their movements almost deliberate.

“What is it?” I asked quietly, already feeling the tension rising in my chest.

Rya didn’t answer immediately. She just kept watching them. Then, in a quiet voice, she muttered, “They don’t look good.”

I stood up, moving toward the window with her. The men weren’t doing anything threatening, but their presence felt off—like they were watching, waiting for something. The hair on the back of my neck stood on. I kept staring until one of the men glanced up and our eyes met. I took a few steps back. They looked like the damn mafia because I noticed that each one of them had tattoo on the back of their necks. "Should we call the police?" Hoseok asked. "I believe they are here to guard more than harm us." I muttered but I was unsure.  "I am gonna go and ask them who sent them." Hoseok stood up and before me and Rya could protest, he was out of the room. We turned around and waited until we saw Hoseok approach the three men. They stood taller than him which was quite intimidating from up here. Hoseok's face changed into pure surprise as they conversed back with him. Five minutes passed and Hoseok finally headed back into the building. Me and Rya looked at each other, then at Hoseok who just walked in. "What happened. Who were those people?" I asked, approaching him slowly.  "Yoongi sent them. They are here to guard."  "What?" I muttered and turned around to stare back at their figures. Yoongi sent them? So he was indeed involved in the mafia. Now that I think about it, after our little bicker at the meeting room I didn't hear much from him nor he approached me after that. So this was his plan? To send his gorillas to watch over us? Rya and Hoseok stared at me as I was clearly deep lost in thoughts. "I guess Yoongi does have a heart after all," Hoseok commented before flopping back on the couch as Hades jumped in his lap. I turned around to give him a glance, then back at Rya who shrugged her shoulders and joined Hoseok.  -

The rain was unrelenting, a steady rhythm against my umbrella that matched the dull ache in my chest. Everything felt muted, from the gray sky to the whispers of the wind through the trees. The priest’s voice carried over the gathering, solemn and heavy with meaning, but I couldn’t focus on the words. My mind wandered, my gaze fixed on the dark casket lowered into the ground. Tina’s family stood closest, their grief raw and exposed, a mirror to the ache none of us dared to show so openly.

I felt numb. Standing there, surrounded by my colleagues, I couldn't shake the surreal feeling that none of this was real. Tina was gone. She was really gone. The thought made my stomach churn, and my grip on the umbrella tightened. My mind drifted to the last time I’d seen her, how she tried to humiliate me in front of all those people, feeling so prideful of herself... Now, those moments were nothing but memories, fading with each passing second. I did not hold a grudge against her however, I had forgiven her already and was ready to move on with my next step in life. But the mere thought that death could take anyone, anytime made me question if I was actually living my life to the fullest.

The rain picked up, and a gust of wind threatened to flip my umbrella. I didn’t care. My thoughts were a storm of their own, louder than the priest’s speech, louder than the sobs around me. Why did it have to be her? Why did life have to be so cruel?

A presence nearby pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. I felt it before I saw it—warm, steady, and familiar in a way that startled me. Turning my head slightly, my eyes fell on him. Yoongi.

He stood a step behind me, an umbrella of his own shielding him from the rain, his dark suit blending into the dreary backdrop. His expression was unreadable, but when our eyes met, he spared me the briefest glance. It wasn’t much—just a flicker of acknowledgment—but it felt like an anchor, grounding me when I was moments away from being swept away by my thoughts.

For a moment, I wanted to say something, but the words tangled in my throat. Instead, I turned back toward the priest, the weight of Yoongi’s presence beside me somehow comforting. I didn’t feel so alone anymore.

The funeral ended with the soft murmurs of condolences and the muffled shuffle of footsteps on wet ground. People began to disperse, their umbrellas bobbing away in the gray mist. I stood still for a moment, watching Tina’s family linger by the grave, their grief a tangible weight that pressed on everyone who passed. I felt a pang of guilt as I turned away—I couldn’t bear to stay any longer.

Hoseok and Rya were waiting for me by the cemetery gates, their faces pale and drawn.

“Are you coming with us now?” Rya asked softly, her voice hoarse from crying. She gave me a weak, hopeful smile, her hand resting lightly on my arm.

I hesitated. “I think I should stop by my apartment first,” I said, trying to sound steadier than I felt. “Grab some things before I come over. I won’t be long.”

Hoseok looked concerned, his brows knitting together. “Are you sure you want to go alone? We can come with you.”

“No, it’s okay,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “I’ll be fine. Really.”

They exchanged a glance but didn’t push further. “Alright,” Rya said gently. “Just... don’t take too long. We’ll wait for you.”

I nodded, thanking them before turning toward the parking lot. The rain had eased slightly, but the cold still clung to the air, making every step feel heavier. As I neared one of the parked cabs, I heard footsteps behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Yoongi approaching, his hands tucked into his coat pockets, his expression calm but unreadable.

“Yoongi?” I asked, stopping in my tracks. “What are you doing?”

He stopped a few steps away, tilting his head slightly as if the answer was obvious. “You’re heading to your apartment, right?” he said. “I’ll drive you.”

I blinked at him. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine.”

“I know,” he replied simply. “But I want to. And I’ll go in with you. It’s late, and you shouldn’t be there alone.”

There was something about his tone—firm yet unassuming—that made it hard to argue. A part of me wanted to refuse, to insist that I didn’t need anyone’s help, but the exhaustion weighing me down won out.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “Thanks.”

He gave a small nod, motioning toward his car parked nearby. The drive to my apartment was quiet, the silence between us broken only by the soft hum of the engine and the occasional sound of tires splashing through puddles. I stared out the window, my mind swirling with a mix of emotions I couldn’t untangle. Yoongi didn’t press for conversation, and for that, I was grateful.

When we arrived, he parked by the curb and followed me up to my apartment. The air inside felt cold and stale, a sharp contrast to the warmth it used to hold. Everything was exactly as I’d left it, but it felt different now—lonelier.

“I’ll just be a minute,” I said, stepping inside and flicking on the lights. Yoongi lingered near the door, his sharp eyes scanning the space.

“Take your time,” he said, leaning against the wall, his presence calm and steady.

I moved through the apartment, grabbing the essentials—a change of clothes, my toothbrush, my charger. But as I packed, the weight of everything began to creep back in. 

I stopped in the middle of the room, gripping the edge of the counter as my chest tightened. Yoongi must have noticed because, before I could process it, he was standing beside me, his voice soft but firm.

“You don’t have to hold it together all the time,” he said.

His words broke something in me, and I let out a shaky breath, the tears I’d been holding back spilling over. I expected him to say more or simply let me be by leaving the room, but he didn’t. Instead, he stayed quiet, a solid presence beside me as I let the grief wash over me in waves.

The tears came fast, hot, and relentless, pouring out in a way I hadn’t let myself feel since it all happened. I tried to stifle the sobs, to keep it together, but the weight of everything—Tina’s empty desk, the funeral—broke through whatever fragile composure I had left. My shoulders shook as I leaned heavily on the counter, my hands gripping the edge like it was the only thing keeping me upright.

For a moment, Yoongi didn’t say anything. The silence between us stretched, filled only by the sound of my uneven breathing and the rain still drizzling outside. I wondered if he was regretting coming with me, if he was silently willing this moment to end. But then, I felt him move closer.

“I’m... not good at this,” he admitted, his voice low and hesitant, almost like he was speaking to himself. “But... you don’t have to do this alone.”

The words were simple, awkward even, but they struck something deep within me. I turned my head slightly, just enough to see him standing there, his hands stuffed in his coat pockets, his brows drawn together in concern. His usual calm demeanor was replaced with something softer, something almost unsure.

He hesitated for a moment before reaching out, his hand hovering near my shoulder as if he wasn’t sure whether to touch me or not. Eventually, he settled on a light, tentative pat, like he was testing the waters. It was almost laughable in its awkwardness, but somehow, it made me cry harder.

“Hey,” he said quickly, his voice rising just a little. “It’s okay. I mean, not okay—none of this is—but... you’re allowed to cry.” His hand stayed there, a steady, grounding weight on my shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere.”

There was something so painfully honest about the way he spoke, like he was trying so hard to say the right thing even if he didn’t know what it was. It wasn’t polished or rehearsed, but it was real, and that was enough.

“I just—” My voice cracked as I tried to speak. “She was a shitty person, but she didn’t deserve this.”

“I know,” he said softly, his tone steady now. “None of this makes sense. And it’s not fair. But...” He paused, searching for the right words. “It already happened and we must move on. You have to take care of yourself and what you do. Of your own future....”

I nodded, my tears slowing but still spilling over. His hand left my shoulder briefly, and I thought maybe he was stepping back, giving me space. Instead, he grabbed a tissue from a box on the counter and handed it to me, holding it out like it was some kind of peace offering.

“Here,” he said, his voice gruff. “You’re, uh... kind of a mess.”

Despite everything, I let out a choked laugh, taking the tissue and wiping at my face. “Thanks,” I muttered, my voice still shaky. “For stating the obvious.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. It was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

The heaviness in my chest hadn’t disappeared, but it didn’t feel quite as suffocating anymore. Yoongi didn’t fill the silence with empty platitudes or promises he couldn’t keep. He just stood there, awkward and quiet and real, and somehow, that was exactly what I needed.

-

As we stepped out of my apartment, the rain had lightened to a soft drizzle. Yoongi walked beside me, his pace measured, as if he wasn’t in a rush to leave. I wasn’t either, but I didn’t say anything. The lingering weight of my tears had left me feeling raw, but lighter somehow, as if letting it all out had taken a small part of the burden with it.

We got into his car, and I buckled my seatbelt, glancing at him as he started the engine. The drive to Rya’s place was quiet at first, the steady hum of the heater filling the space. My thoughts swirled, still caught in the strange, bittersweet moment we’d just shared, but something else tugged at the back of my mind.

I turned to look at him, the streetlights casting fleeting shadows across his face. “Yoongi,” I started, my voice breaking the silence.

“Hm?” he responded, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

“The bodyguards.” My tone was even, but there was a pointed edge to it. “Why?”

For a second, his hands tightened on the wheel, a flicker of something crossing his face—surprise? Annoyance? It was hard to tell.

He shrugged, the motion nonchalant. “You figured that out, huh?”

“You’re not exactly subtle,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “They’ve been following me everywhere.”

“Good,” he replied without missing a beat, his voice calm but resolute. “That’s the point.”

I stared at him, waiting for an explanation, but he didn’t offer one. “Why?” I pressed. “Why did you send them? And don’t say it’s because you’re just being ‘nice.’”

His lips twitched, the barest hint of a smirk, but it faded quickly. “You didn’t agree to stay with me,” he said simply, glancing at me briefly before focusing back on the road. “I couldn’t just leave you to deal with everything alone. You’re... you’re too stubborn for your own good.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms. “So your solution was to have me followed?”

“It’s not following,” he corrected, his tone almost teasing. “It’s protecting. There’s a difference.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need bodyguards, Yoongi. I’m fine.”

He didn’t respond immediately, and the air grew heavier with the weight of the conversation. Finally, he sighed, his voice quieter this time. “You might think you’re fine, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need someone looking out for you. Especially now.”

There was something in his tone—something softer, almost vulnerable—that caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to argue, but the words got stuck. Instead, I turned to look out the window, the city lights blurring as we passed them.

“I don’t know whether to be mad at you or grateful,” I muttered.

He let out a low chuckle, the sound warm and surprisingly comforting. “Why not both? Seems fair.”

Despite myself, I smiled a little, shaking my head. Typical Yoongi. Always doing things his way, even if it meant annoying me in the process.

The rest of the drive passed quietly, and when we pulled up to Rya’s apartment, he turned off the engine but didn’t make any move to get out immediately.

“Thanks,” I said softly, my hand resting on the door handle. “For the ride. And for... everything else.”

He gave me a small nod, his expression unreadable. “Take care of yourself, Y/N.”

I lingered for a moment before stepping out of the car, the rain now just a faint mist against my skin. As I walked toward the building, I glanced back briefly to see him watching me from the car, his face shadowed but his presence as steady as ever.

Rya’s apartment was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the dreary night outside. The smell of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air as I stepped inside, and the sight of Hoseok and Rya’s familiar faces brought a strange mix of comfort and unease. They greeted me with soft smiles, though their eyes still held traces of the sorrow that lingered from the funeral.

“Hey,” Rya said gently, pulling me into a hug. “I’m glad you’re back, but it took you a while.”

She was referring to me being late. The images of me crying and Yoongi trying to comfort be flooded my mind and a fait blush crept across my cheeks but I decided to not say anything else.  "I had to figure out what to bring." I muttered a lame excuse.

Hoseok appeared behind her, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie. “You doing okay?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

“As okay as I can be,” I admitted, forcing a faint smile.

“Well, you’re not alone,” he said, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat. “We’re here.”

The apartment felt cozy, with blankets draped over the couch and soft lighting from a few lamps scattered around the room. It was exactly the kind of space I needed—a temporary refuge from the chaos of my own life.

Rya ushered me into the kitchen, insisting I have some tea before settling in. I obliged, the warmth of the mug grounding me as we sat and talked about nothing in particular. Hoseok tried to lighten the mood with his usual humor, and while it didn’t completely lift the heaviness, it was enough to make me feel a little more human.

As the night wore on, the apartment grew quieter. Hoseok eventually left, giving me and Rya some space, and Rya retired to her room shortly after, leaving me alone with Hades in the living room. The small, neatly arranged space was calming, but my mind refused to quiet. I sat on the couch, staring at my bag where the journal was tucked away.

I told myself I wasn’t going to look at it tonight. I needed rest. But the pull of it was too strong, the questions it raised too loud to ignore. With a sigh, I reached into my bag and pulled it out, the leather cover worn and familiar under my fingers.

Flipping through the pages felt almost intrusive, even though I’d done it before. My eyes skimmed over the familiar handwriting, notes scrawled in a hurried script that hinted at Tina’s urgency. Names, places, fragments of thoughts—it was all there, a chaotic puzzle waiting to be solved.

And then, my breath hitched.

My eyes landed on a sentence, circled twice in a way that made it stand out among the cluttered text.

K told me everything will be okay. The deal would be closed and I don't need to worry, but why do I feel so uneasy as I roam at my apartment during the night? Almost as if someone's watching me.

I stared at it, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't figure out who that man with the letter K was. Soft sigh escaped my lips as I shook my head and closed the journal with a soft thud before putting it back in my bag and closing it securely.  -

I was sitting at my desk, the office buzzing around me with the usual chatter and the clinking of keyboards, trying to focus on the emails piling up. The weight of Tina’s journal still hung heavily on my mind, especially after the discovery last night. The letter 'K” was like a puzzle piece lodged somewhere deep in my brain, but it didn’t fit. Not yet.

My phone buzzed on my desk, breaking my thoughts. I glanced down at the screen and saw my parents’ name flash across it.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. It had been a while since I’d heard from them, and though it was never a bad thing, it felt like I had too many loose ends of my own to deal with. Still, I swiped to answer.

“Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad.”

“Y/N!” my mother’s voice came through. “We heard about your colleague's passing. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, Mom,” I said, trying to keep the exhaustion out of my voice. “Just... busy with work." There was a silence to the other side of the line, I could feel that my answer wasn't satisfactory for them nor did they believe me. "Sweetheart, are you sure you are okay?" I wasn't. Not really. My apartment was trashed, I am staying at a friend's place for the time being and I hold a journal that has a target on my back. No, I am not okay. But I wasn't going to tell them all of this. They'd flip and arrive with the first flight here and I did not want their appearance to complicate things and potentially put a target on their backs too.

“Yes, Mom. Just... work has it's toll on me." "Have you been taking care of yourself? Eating enough and sleeping enough?" I rolled my eyes, leaning back on my chair as I rubbed my temple. "Yes, Mom." "Good, good. So, how's Taehyung?"

"He is fine, we went out during the weekend and spent some quality time together” "Oh, that's lovely. You and him should visit us for the holidays!"  "I am unsure, work here is a killer and I need to finish some project before New Year's Eve." I lied. "I am hoping you'd visit us, you know. It's been a year since we've seen you." I swallowed thickly. "Well, when I get the chance, I will visit." I heard rustling from the other side of the line, "Remember when you were a kid and Taehyung used to steal your dolly toy? It was hilarious, you'd throw whatever you find at him." I heard my dad chuckle and my mom did the same too. "Yeah, I remember." "You were such a feisty child back then, I swear. You also used to have trouble saying Taehyung’s name,” my dad continued. “So you’d always call him ‘Kim.’ You couldn’t quite say his full name, and I think you just got used to calling him that.”

I froze, the cup of coffee in my hand going still. "Wait, what?" "Silly girl, you don't remember it? Taehyung liked it so much that everyone started calling him Kim."

The memory hit me like a rush of cold water. Was he possibly the one Tina referred as K in her journal. I felt my breath hitch. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What if it was?!

I nodded absently, my mind racing. “Yeah. Mom, Dad, something came up, I’ll talk to you later, okay? Love you.”

Before they could say anything more, I hung up, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. Kim. The letter "K." That name had been haunting me for days. The man behind the cryptic letter, the one who had been tied to Tina’s journal—the “K” who had promised everything would be okay...

My hands were shaking slightly as I grabbed Tina’s journal from my bag, flipping through the pages until I landed on the sentence I had found last night. My heart pounded as I read the words again, my eyes scanning the haunting sentence:

K told me everything will be okay. The deal would be closed and I don't need to worry, but why do I feel so uneasy as I roam at my apartment during the night? Almost as if someone's watching me.

Taehyung.

The unease that had crawled through Tina’s words—the feeling of being watched—was too similar to what I had experienced, too unsettling to ignore. Had Tina been trying to warn me? Was she afraid of him?

No, this couldn't be true. There was no way Taehyung would be involved with Tina's murder. He was a kind gracing soul, his eyes sparkled when he smiles and he has the brightest energy. I refused to believe this. Fuck. I was so frustrated that I wanted to cry. Jungkook was rotting at the police station and I felt my hands were tied. -

A week had passed since the call with my parents, and the chaos surrounding Tina's death had only escalated. The media was in full frenzy, throwing every possible theory into the spotlight. They were relentless, accusing Jungkook, linking his name to the case, and bombarding every source with questions. The headlines screamed: Jungkook: The Man Behind Tina's Murder? Did Jungkook Have a Motive? Tina’s Death: The Dark Truth Behind the Hidden Relationship. It felt like the world was spinning out of control, the noise growing louder, and my head throbbed from the constant barrage of speculation.

I couldn’t bring myself to buy into the media's narrative, though. I knew Jungkook, and something about it didn’t sit right. The accusations seemed premature, reckless even. Still, I couldn’t ignore the mounting pressure to find some kind of answer. I was still in heavy denial that Taehyung was the man with the letter K which Tina referred to in her journal. Speaking of Tae, he tried to contact me a few times in the past week but I either ignored his calls or picked up to tell him I was busy. I didn't wish to talk to him right now.

After days of sifting through Tina’s journal and chasing after dead ends, I felt more lost than ever. There was no concrete evidence, no undeniable proof to tie anyone to Tina’s death. I’d met with the police a few times but nothing was helping. They’d brushed off my theories—rightfully so, in hindsight—leaving me to wonder if I was grasping at straws. I was on the edge of giving up, frustrated, exhausted, and feeling hopeless.

It was late in the afternoon when a small white envelope appeared at my office. No return address. No name. Just a plain piece of paper that seemed ordinary, yet I couldn't shake the unease that washed over me. I hesitated for a moment before opening it, wondering who would send me something anonymously.

Inside was a single photograph. My breath caught in my throat when I saw it.

The picture was grainy, clearly taken from a distance. It showed Tina standing in front of her apartment building, the night she was murdered. The time stamped at the bottom of the image was just moments before her estimated time of death. She was talking to someone. The man was standing close to her, but his face was obscured by a black umbrella, as if to shield himself from the rain.

I squinted at the image, my heart beating faster. But then, my eyes narrowed at something else. A dark scar on the man’s wrist. His hand was gripping the umbrella, and the scar was visible just below his sleeve—large, jagged, and unmistakable. It stood out in stark contrast to the rest of his arm. Everything else was shrouded in shadow. His face, his body—everything but that scar and the way his hand gripped the umbrella.

I felt my hands tremble as I turned the photograph over, hoping for any sort of clue written on the back. But there was nothing. No note. No further explanation.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

This wasn’t just any man. This was someone Tina had been with right before her death, someone she clearly knew. But who? And why was his face hidden? Why was there only a scar on his wrist to identify him?

The dark scar—it was familiar, somehow. I racked my brain, my thoughts racing. Where had I seen something like that before?

The answer hit me suddenly, like a flicker of a memory I’d buried. The scar on his wrist... it was so similar to the one I had seen on someone else. 

I stumbled back from my desk, gripping the edge as my head spun. 

I couldn’t waste time second-guessing. I needed to find out who this man was, and fast. I needed to know if the scar was really the key to unlocking everything. Could it be a coincidence? Or was it part of something far more dangerous?

I shoved the picture into my bag, heart pounding in my chest, a new sense of urgency coursing through me. Time was running out. The mystery was growing darker, and I was one step closer to something much bigger than I could have imagined.

I had to keep going. There was no turning back now.

My heart raced as I clutched the photo tightly in my bag, the urgency driving me forward. I had to get to Taehyung’s law firm—he had to know something. The scar on the man’s wrist... I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was the missing link, the connection that would tie everything together. I had no time to waste, not when the pieces were finally starting to fall into place.

I moved quickly through the city streets, the damp air clinging to my skin, the sounds of traffic and people filling the space around me. My mind was consumed with the photo, with the potential answers it held, but as I crossed the busy intersection, something felt off. My senses were heightened, like a tightrope walker balancing between instinct and logic.

I barely noticed the car speeding toward me until it was too late.

A sudden screech of tires, the blinding flash of headlights. My body tensed as I tried to step back, but it was too fast—too close. Everything happened in a blur. My heart skipped a beat. I felt the impact, the jolt of the car against my side, sending me crashing into the pavement.

Pain exploded through my body, sharp and overwhelming, but it was the darkness that came next that consumed me. A deep, suffocating blackness, pulling me in from all sides.

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see, couldn’t think. The world around me disappeared, replaced by the weight of nothingness. My mind felt as though it had been ripped away from my body, trapped in a void that seemed endless.

I wanted to scream, wanted to fight, but there was nothing—just silence.

Everything faded away.

[starfilmz]

THOROUGHFARE. | 01 - MEET THE FAMILY

⤷ A JJ MAYBANK SOCMED AU .ᐟ

──── you never expected that swapping socials with your call of duty duo would change your life — whether for better or worse, you're still not sure. friendships are made and something much more begins.

masterlist ──── 01 | 02 | 03

a/n: ackk its the first chapterrrr lots of world building here, some relationships and dynamics are established. chap 2 will def have more action! enjoy reading :>

i. CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE

ii. READER’S POV

iii. JJ’S POV

iv. READER’S POV

v. JJ’S POV

vi. READER’S POV

────

akieper followed you!

sarahswife followed you!

cleoptra followed you!

epop1 followed you!

jbshusband followed you!

thoroughfare taglist: @beeskisses @callieyanderechan @udpoota

[anamina0]

Echoes

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V , Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII

Final part

Themes/warnings : mentions of death, mentions of blood, kissing , a lot of anger, a lot of unsolved emotions, fluff

Word count: 10.3 k

You stood up, wiping away the tear tracks on your face. They burned. You had rehearsed this conversation for so long, countless times in your head. You had pictured it, imagined what it would feel like, but now that the moment was here, all your plans felt like they were useless. Words just wouldn’t come out, no matter how hard you tried to find them. This conversation… you’d dreaded it, wished for it to never come. But deep down, you knew it couldn’t be avoided. You couldn’t lie to Vi. Not anymore. Not about something this important, even though doing this meant hurting the one person you had promised you’d never betray. But in the end, you had no choice. Vi deserved to know the truth, even if it felt like you were tearing apart everything that you held so close. This wasn’t your decision anymore. But telling her the truth meant tearing down everything you’d built between you—betraying your best friend, the person who meant so much to you. But this truth wasn’t yours to keep, and Faye had made sure of that.

“Shit,” you whispered under your breath, glancing at Vi. She was standing across from you, her confusion only deepening. She had no idea her world was about to change in a heartbeat, just like yours had. You were pacing now, hands shaking, voice unsteady. You couldn’t seem to calm down.

“I have no idea how to say this,” you mumbled. The words felt foreign in your mouth, as if they didn’t belong to you at all. No amount of thinking, no hours of preparation, could make them feel right. Your heart thundered in your chest.

“You’re freaking me out,” Vi said, her voice small, something almost fragile in it. She sank down onto the couch, trying to settle herself, though it was clear she was more anxious with every passing second. “Just tell me, okay? Whatever you’re scared of… it’s easier to just rip the Band-Aid off.”

You winced at her words. It felt as though she was already anticipating bad news. You looked down, blinking rapidly to push back the sting of more tears, trying to steady yourself before you spoke again. Taking a deep breath, you sat down next to her, slowly reaching for her hand.

“Before I say anything, just… know that you are the last person I ever want to hurt. Last person I’d want to betray,” you said quietly. Your hands were trembling as you held hers, desperate to make her understand, even though you knew it wouldn’t make things any easier. “You mean a lot to me. More than I’ve ever told you. I swear.”

Vi’s eyes softened, her gaze tender as she looked at you. There was a brief pause, a hint of something in the way she breathed. It seemed she knew, without you having to say it, that something had gone terribly wrong. She didn’t smile back, but she squeezed your hand, as if to remind you that she was with you, even through whatever this was.

“I know,” she murmured, her voice thick with something unsaid. There was sadness creeping into her voice now. “Just… say it. Please.”

You couldn’t bring yourself to look at her for too long, your heart growing heavy as you tried to find the right words—words that might hurt her but were true, no matter how painful they were.

“Is it about Ellie?” she asked, her voice quieter now, as though she was already guessing where this was headed. “She came back, and I… I know there’s something between you two, still.” Her voice almost cracked as she spoke Ellie’s name. You could feel her worry growing.

The panic in your chest rose. You shook your head quickly, frantic. “No, no,” you blurted out, desperate to stop that train of thought. “It’s not about Ellie. It will never be about her. Me and Ellie—” You paused. “We’re done, Vi.”

You could see the uncertainty shift in her face, like a weight lifted a little, but her concern still hovered between you, as she waited for whatever would come next.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’m listening.”

“Here it comes,” you whispered, taking in a shaky breath. You still couldn’t bring yourself to look her in the eyes. You had no idea how much more of this you could handle. “Do you remember that name Ellie mentioned? The girl who found my brother?” Your voice cracked just at the thought of it, but you pushed forward.

Vi’s brow furrowed for a moment, her lips pressing tight as she tried to recall the name.

“Kinda,” she said slowly. “There was… something about an F, right? But I can’t really remember it. ”

“Faye,” you replied. You almost didn’t want to say it. Saying her name felt like it would break everything all over again. “Faye… does that name mean anything to you?” You almost couldn’t look at her, but you forced yourself to, to catch the faintest flicker of realization—or maybe something worse—in Vi’s eyes.

She hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly as she thought.

“No,” she said after a moment, the disappointment obvious. “Maybe there was someone with that name in my past? Someone from prison, I don’t know… I don’t think they were important, though. I’d remember.”

“She is my best friend, Vi,” you whispered so softly you were almost afraid she wouldn’t hear you. “Or… she was. I met her few years ago. She was new in town—didn’t know anyone. I was the first person she got close to there.” You paused, holding back another wave of tears.

Vi was still confused, still searching your face for the meaning behind your words. You could see her trying to piece things together, her mind whirring with uncertainty.

“She would tell me all these crazy stories,” you continued, your voice growing more ragged. “Stories about her past, her family… She’d talk about her sister, the things they used to do, their life, everything. At first, I didn’t believe her. She never gave names, or clear details, just crazy stories… But over time, I got used to it .”

“Okay…” Vi said, barely above a whisper, her eyes narrowing, not quite understanding but getting closer.

“She told me to move here, when Ellie left..” you pressed on, your voice growing weaker with every word. “Told me to come to Zaun under one condition.”

Vi’s eyes flickered toward yours. “What condition?”

“That I would never, ever tell anyone about her,” you said, voice barely audible now, the truth crashing down harder than ever before. “I promised her that I would never tell anyone, that no one could know about Faye.” You felt your stomach turn, disgust at yourself filling you as you confessed the truth.

Vi was quiet for a moment, clearly taken aback.

“But you’re telling me. Why?”

You could barely even breathe. Your hands were shaking as you clenched them into fists. It was now or never, and there was no way you could run from it anymore.

“fuck,” you whispered, barely able to find the strength to speak, “I think Faye is your sister, Vi. I think… I think it’s Jinx. Powder. I think she’s still alive. And I think it’s her.”

“What?” she breathed, the word barely a whisper. “My sister is dead. Is that some kind of sick joke?” Her voice cracked. The anger came crashing over her, and you could feel it swirling in the air, suffocating you both.

"No Vi,” you began, your own voice a mere rasp now, thick with emotion. “I had no clue when I met you. But when you started telling me stories about your sister, about your past… It sounded so much like the things Faye had told me. It was identical, Vi. The same, same way she used to talk about her sister. That’s when I started thinking… Maybe. Maybe it’s her. So I had to find out. I went to Savika.”

Vi stared at you, and that rage started to rise—her hands trembling at her sides, chest heaving.

“And you went to Savika… you went behind my back?” she snapped, her voice rising, disbelief and fury pouring from her. “Why didn’t you come to me, huh? Why not me?”

“I couldn’t,” you gasped, trying to explain the confusion inside of you.

“I couldn’t! I promised Faye I wouldn’t say anything! I didn’t want to doubt her… but I had to make sure. I had to know the truth, Vi. I never meant for any of this to happen, but she’s alive—alive, Vi—out there, somewhere, living a completely different life!”

“You went behind my back to do your little investigation,to Savika?!” The words slipped like a dagger between you, shattering whatever tenuous hold you had over the situation. “I thought you trusted me,. Why couldn’t you trust me with the truth?”

You couldn’t speak. The sting of her words hit you harder than anything. She was breaking apart before you, and there was nothing you could do to stop it. Vi stood now, hands clenched into fists at her sides, her breath shallow, furious, betrayed.

“Just go.” Her voice was a broken whisper of fury. “Please… just go.”

Every step you took toward the door felt like it would be the last. You had no words. No way to fix this. The silence between you was heavier than any words ever could be. All you heard as you walked away was the faint sound of your own heart breaking. You didn’t want to leave. But Vi’s words hit you like a wave, cold and sharp, crashing through everything you’d known between the two of you. She didn’t want you here. Not now. Not anymore.Every step you took toward the door felt like it tore a little bit more from you, from what you’d shared. The silence between you wasn’t just heavy—it was suffocating. It was the kind of silence that pushed you to the edge, forced you to confront the reality that everything you’d thought would bring you closer had pulled you apart. Vi didn’t look at you anymore. She just stared at the floor, arms folded across herself, trying to shield the pain you knew was there but couldn’t reach. You hesitated for a moment, one foot out the door, but you couldn’t bring yourself to leave completely. Not yet. Not when everything in you wanted to fix this. But the words—the anger, the disbelief in her eyes—they weighed on you, tied you down like a rope around your chest.

“Vi…” Your voice was small, trembling. You took one step back. “Vi, please… Talk to me. I didn’t—”

“Don’t,” she snapped, her voice harsh, cutting you off before you could finish. She wasn’t looking at you now; her gaze was focused somewhere past you, her jaw tight as if to keep herself from breaking. But you knew she was already shattered. Her whole world had crumbled, and you were standing at the edge of it, useless, helpless. She was so far from you now, farther than you’d ever been before, and it was all your fault.

“I can’t do this, ” she whispered, the rawness in her voice clawing at your heart. The hurt was palpable, burning. “I can’t… I can’t look at you right now. I can’t be here with you after what you’ve done. After what you’ve kept from me.”

You nodded numbly, still unable to look away from her.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, but the words felt hollow, barely enough to express everything you needed to say. But even now, standing on the threshold of what used to be your shared space, you knew it wouldn’t change anything. “I never meant for any of this, Vi. I just—I had to know the truth.”

“And now you’ve destroyed everything.” Her words, though quiet, stung worse than any sharp retort. “Everything I thought I could trust. Everything we had… it’s gone now. And I can’t—” She shook her head, cutting herself off again, her hands trembling in fists by her sides.

Tears welled up in your eyes, a bitter, salty wave threatening to break, but you refused to let them spill. You were the one who had broken everything, who had chosen to stay silent when you should’ve spoken the truth from the start. And now you had nothing left. No words. No promises. Only the reality that Vi’s anger, her betrayal—was something you had earned. You had to leave. You could feel it in your bones. But how could you? How could you leave like this?

“Vi…” Your voice was breaking now, a sob threatening to tear free.

She was silent for a long time, and for a brief, fleeting moment, you thought maybe—maybe she would look at you again, listen, understand that you never wanted this. That you never wanted to hurt her. But she didn’t. Her eyes stayed fixed forward, her breath coming shallowly, the emptiness between you expanding with every second.

“I can’t do this,” she said again, voice small, and yet somehow it was final. As if saying your name, one more time, would be all it took to leave the pieces of you both scattered, beyond repair. “Just go. Please. Go.”

A thousand things rushed through you then, but none of them mattered anymore. With her words, she had sealed it—this was the end. You couldn’t fix it, couldn’t undo it. She was shutting you out. You turned, your hand on the doorknob heavy as it grasped it, shaking just like the rest of you. There was a tightness in your chest, something aching, something worse than regret, as you looked over your shoulder once more. There she was—Vi, the woman you loved, and yet she felt so distant now. So unreachable. So far.

And then, quietly, softly—hopelessly—you left. With no one to look back to, no chance at redemption, only the bitter taste of your own mistakes lingering in the air behind you.

What were you supposed to do now? You couldn’t even bring yourself to think clearly. The silence of Vi’s apartment still haunted you, the echo of your conversation echoing in the space. It felt like your soul had been torn open, leaving nothing but raw, aching void inside you. You knew it wouldn’t end well, you always knew. The heavy realization sat like a stone in your chest. What could you do when the weight of it all was too much to bear? You headed up the stairs, your heart racing, mind buzzing with confusion.Stopping in front of your apartment, your stomach twisted as you remembered Ellie. It just felt like one more mess to clean up. You didn’t have the strength to face her either, not after what just happened. You didn’t want to face anyone, but you had nowhere else to go.

“I’ll just go in, go to my room, lock the door,” you murmured to yourself, grasping for anything that would give you some control over this chaos. But deep down, you knew there was no escaping from what was left of you after Vi.

You opened the door to find Ellie on your couch, her head slightly tilted as she sat up to face you. Her voice was soft, almost cautious.

“I didn’t expect you so soon,” she remarked, as if she already knew the weight in the air.

You didn’t reply, instead heading straight for your bedroom. With a quiet click, you closed the door, shutting the world out. And when you lay down, it felt like the weight of the universe pressed down on you. You weren’t okay—far from it. You were furious. At everything. At Ellie. At Vi. At Faye. At your brother. But mostly, at yourself. How had you let it go this far? You had known all along, hadn’t you? You let yourself fall for her, and no matter what you did, you’d be left alone, heartsick again, picking up the pieces of another broken story. Everyone you ever loved disappeared. They died - like your mother and sister, they left- like Ellie and your brother, or—like with Vi—you were the one who destroyed it. You had no idea how long you laid there before the gentle knocking brought you back to the world around you.

“Hey…” Ellie’s voice called quietly through the door. She paused, unsure of how to proceed. “I know I’m the last person you want to talk to, but… I’m here, you know.”

You didn’t move at first. You were too deep in your own misery to acknowledge her words. But you couldn’t let her see you like this, not with the fragile walls you had left. Not when the feelings swelled and pushed against every broken part of you.

“I’m fine, Ellie. Just go away,” you called back, but you knew she could hear the lie in your voice.

A few seconds of silence passed before the door creaked open, and there she was, standing just inside, the vulnerability radiating from her, soft and unsure.

“I said I’m fine,” you repeated more forcefully. You turned away from her, angry with yourself for even allowing her in. " I don't need your pity"

Ellie didn’t leave. Instead, you felt her sit next to you, her hand lightly resting against your back. You almost recoiled from the touch, but some broken, fragile part of you clung to it.

“I have no clue what happened there,” she started softly, “With her…” Her voice faltered before continuing. “But I know you. I know you wouldn’t come back here if something bad didn’t happen. And I…”

“And you think you’re the one who will fix this?” you snapped, finally turning to face her. You wiped at your tear-streaked face and let anger fill the space instead of grief. “Of all people… you.”

She didn’t flinch, just met your eyes with understanding.

“No,” she said, almost too quietly. “I don’t deserve to be here. But you… should work things out with her.” Ellie managed a soft, almost cynical laugh. “God, I can’t believe I’m saying this…” She sighed. “I’m so sorry. You should know, no matter what happened between you two, you’re not the one who should be let go of. There’s no one on Earth more deserving of love than you.”

You froze. Those words hit differently than anything you expected from her. This wasn’t the same Ellie who abandoned you. But what difference did it make now?

“Why are you telling me this?” you whispered, voice trembling like a secret you didn’t want to admit.

Her gaze softened, the truth pouring out of her in hesitant whispers. “Because I wouldn’t forgive myself otherwise. I’ve spent all this time trying to forget you, trying to justify everything, but all I learned was that I should never have let you go.” She swallowed hard before continuing. “You were the best thing in my life. I should’ve never left… but I did, and now… now, I see the same thing happening with her.”

“You know,” you whispered, your voice barely a breath, “just a few months ago, I would’ve given anything to hear those words from you.” You couldn’t meet her eyes as you spoke—your gaze drifting to the floor, to the empty space between you both that felt impossible to close. “Despite all the anger, all the hatred, all the sadness I’ve felt because of you, I would’ve given anything, Ellie…anything to have you back in my life. But I thought you’d never come. I thought I ruined it, I thought I did something wrong, that you stopped loving me.” The words spilled from you, rough and jagged, like secrets whispered in the dark that shouldn’t see the light of day.

Ellie’s breath caught. Her hands were trembling just enough for you to feel the electric pull between you. She leaned in, close enough that you could feel presence so dangerously close, like she might kiss you right then and there, as if the words weren’t enough. She wanted you, craved it—the warmth of your skin, the softness of your touch, the kiss that she once gave with ease, now something so desperate in her eyes.

“But…” she breathed softly, barely able to pull back, searching your face like she didn’t understand the barrier between you. She needed you to finish it, to say something that would bring her closer, something that might bridge the gap of time and hurt.

“But what?” She sounded wrecked, breathless from whatever she could still feel between you.

“But it’s too late now,” you breathed back, pulling away. To give in, to fall into the familiar ache that was both torture and pleasure in her touch. But you couldn’t—not anymore. Not when Vi haunted you and your heart felt torn to shreds by what used to be.

Ellie laughed bitterly, trying to mask the sting, but you could feel her pain as sharp as your own.

“Because of that punk, huh?” She smirked, trying to joke, but it hurt her, just like it hurt you. You could tell.

You swallowed. Her attempt at humor didn’t hide what she was really feeling: jealousy, regret, loss.

“Yes. Because of Vi,” you said slowly, the words cutting like glass in your throat. Saying her name hurt more than you imagined it would, more than you allowed yourself to admit. “But I think we’re quite alike, Ellie,” you added, your voice thick with a truth you could no longer deny.

Ellie raised an eyebrow, confused, wanting to know what was coming. “In what?” she asked quietly, as if this conversation were opening old wounds that she hadn’t wanted to open.

“I just ruined everything,” you whispered, and the confession tore through your chest like a storm you couldn’t stop. “Just like you ruined everything with us. We both destroyed what we had, and now it’s…gone.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to reply. But there it was: the truth of it all. Your fractured past bleeding into this moment, and she was watching you unravel before her. It wasn’t what she expected, but somehow, it was real.

“What happened?” Ellie asked after a long, painful pause. Her voice was shaky, not like the confident, cocky girl you knew, but like someone grasping for understanding.

You took a long, trembling breath and dropped your head into your hands, pushing against the painful weight in your chest. Every inch of you ached. Your legs longed for something solid, something to keep you from falling apart completely. You invited her to sit beside you without thinking, your walls finally crumbling just enough to let her back in. Despite everything, despite how badly she’d broken you, you needed someone tonight. And the only person left in the ruins was Ellie. She sat beside you, quiet, her warmth almost suffocating in the still air. But it wasn’t the warmth that mattered now, it was the fact that she was there, and somehow, you needed it. The night stretched on as the words flowed between you, uncaring of the time. You told her everything—about Vi, about Faye. You talked about your brother still being alive, how he was caught up in this mess. You didn’t spare any detail, letting the painful truths tumble out of your mouth like they were the only thing left. It felt good. Good to tell someone, even if it was the wrong someone, even if it didn’t change anything. Somewhere in the middle of all that, the hate that had lived inside you for so long started to dissolve. It wasn’t gone—nothing like that—but the weight had been lifted, even just a little. The hours passed, her soft footsteps occasionally disturbing the quiet, waking you from the momentary respite you’d found in conversation. And then it hit you, a feeling so sharp you nearly choked on it. She wasn’t staying. Ellie was leaving. Again.

“I think I’m having déjà vu,” you said, the sarcastic chuckle falling from your lips with an edge of bitterness. You walked out of the room, letting the reality sink in, leaning against the wall. And for the first time tonight, you finally looked at her like she was a stranger, not someone who mattered to you at all.

“I’m sorry,” Ellie said softly, her voice flat, no trace of her usual strength. She was packing her things, her hands shaking slightly as she folded the straps of her bag together, organizing it like she was setting her life down for the last time. “I was going to say goodbye, but you had a rough night. I didn’t want to wake you yet.”

You leaned against the doorframe, numb, trying to laugh through it.

“Well, at least this time I knew you were leaving.” You wished you could feel something, anything, other than the painful ache of this goodbye you were forced to live with.

But Ellie didn’t laugh. She didn’t even look at you. She was busy throwing her backpack over her shoulder, coming closer with each small step. The space between you felt like an eternity, like it had always been too much. Too many walls.

“Just before I go…” she started quietly, and her hands were nervously twisting together like she was grasping for the right words. But this wasn’t the same confident girl that once was so sure. She faltered now. “I want you to know… I meant every word I said yesterday.”

You didn’t react, didn’t move, barely blinked. She stared at you, her gaze holding more than you could handle in that moment. You stayed still, terrified to respond, not knowing if it was your heart breaking again or just exhaustion pulling at the edges of your resolve.

“I love you,” Ellie whispered, and those words burned into your skin. There was regret in her voice, sorrow in the way she lingered there, unsure of what she could fix, of what was even worth trying anymore. “And I’m sorry for what I did.”

She moved toward you then, slow and hesitant, but the air between you crackled, pulsing, as if neither of you could quite control it anymore. And before you could even realize , her lips met yours, everything fell away. Her kiss hit like a memory you hadn’t asked for, an ache you hadn’t wanted to feel. Her hands gripped your waist, but you pushed her away. You couldn’t, you didn't want to do that.

“Don’t do that, Ellie,” you whispered, breath shallow. The kiss tasted like regret, like fire, like the love that would have destroyed you all over again.

“Fuck,” she whispered, stepping back but not letting you go. “Come with me. We can start fresh. Just you and me, we’ll start over.” She pulled you close again, her voice thick with emotion, wanting to change everything. But it was too late for that.

“Ellie…” you whispered, pain thickening your voice, too raw to speak through. One tear slid down your cheek, though it wasn’t your crying this time. It was hers. “It’s too late now,” you murmured, feeling your forehead rest gently against hers. There was something so sweetly tragic about this final moment. The tears you were both holding back spilled over, falling from your face as they mixed together.

“I’m afraid this is goodbye,” you said softly, the words breaking your heart.

Ellie just stared at you, her gaze clouded with emotion. It was like she was waiting for a future that no longer belonged to either of you. She moved back slightly, but her lips still brushed against your wet cheek.

“I’ll be waiting,” she whispered softly, like a promise she couldn’t make but still couldn’t take back.

As if you’d turn around and walk out with her.

“I’m not saying goodbye this time,” she added. She wiped another tear from your cheek, her eyes desperate.

But before you could respond, she was gone.

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •

It had been months, yet there was no sign of Vi. Every day since your last conversation with her, you had made your way to her apartment door. You knocked until your knuckles were sore, called her name until your voice broke, but the silence on the other side never changed. The truth didn’t hit you all at once. It came in waves, slow and cruel, when one day, a stranger opened that door instead. You stood frozen, staring at this new neighbor as they cheerfully introduced themselves, completely unaware of the storm inside you. Vi was gone. She’d moved out without a word. The world seemed to shift beneath your feet as you left, muttering something polite to the stranger while the realization pressed heavily on your chest. She wasn’t coming back. But that didn’t stop you—not entirely. Desperation kept you chasing shadows. Anytime you saw someone who looked like they might have known her, you found yourself asking, clinging to the faintest chance that someone had seen her.

“Vi?” you’d ask, voice breaking more with each time.

The answers were always the same. No. No one had seen her. It was as though she’d vanished completely, leaving nothing but the ghost of her behind. And even as months stretched on, she lingered in everything—her scent, her voice, her touch, all burned into your soul. There wasn’t a moment of any day when she didn’t consume you. When you weren’t aching for her. The longing was unbearable, gnawing at the edges of your sanity. You couldn’t escape her, no matter how much it hurt to think about what you’d lost. How you had ruined everything. You were still angry—angry at the world, at her, but mostly at yourself. How could you have let her in only to destroy what you had? It replayed in your mind like a cruel film reel—the look on her face, the way she broke apart. You hurt her so deeply, so fully, that she had to disappear to get away from it. The weight of it crushed you more with each passing day. You had done the exact same thing Ellie did to you. You left her no choice but to run. You couldn’t stop the spiraling questions that followed you everywhere. What if she went to find Jinx? What if something happened to her along the way? What if she was hurt, lost, somewhere she couldn’t make her way back from? And then, more hauntingly—what if she went to Piltover? What if she’s with Caitlyn now? What if she’s found peace, and you’re just a memory she’s glad to forget? Those thoughts made your chest tighten like a vice, but none of the answers—no scenarios you dreamed up—could ever fill the void she’d left. That emptiness was too vast, too overwhelming. It swallowed you whole, threatening to consume every part of you that wasn’t already drowning in guilt and longing. She has become your safety, your chaos. You tried to lose yourself in work, in sleepless nights, in meaningless tasks, but none of it mattered. Every thought came back to Vi. Every single one. And in her absence, the world felt quieter and crueler than ever before. Not even the memory of Ellie could distract you now. She was nothing more than a flicker in the background of your mind. Your brother, once the source of so much confusion and hope, faded into insignificance. Everything else paled when compared to her.

It all came back to Vi.

Always her.

And without her, you didn’t know how to keep going.

“You can’t interrogate every customer that walks in here, you know that, right?” Revek’s worried voice snapped you back to reality. His tone wasn’t scolding, just heavy with concern, like a parent watching their child teeter on a ledge.

“Huh?” you mumbled, forcing yourself out of your daze as you caught him leaning against the bar, arms crossed, his gaze sharp.

“I’m serious, kid,” he repeated. “You can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” you asked, trying to sound indifferent as you busied yourself pouring a drink for the latest customer.

Revek wasn’t buying it. “You know exactly what I mean,” he pressed, his voice softer now. “You keep asking about her. Every damn day.” He paused, watching your face carefully, as if waiting for you to argue. When you didn’t, he leaned closer. “I know you want to find her. But it’s starting to feel like she doesn’t want to be found. Not by you, anyway.” His words cut deeper than you’d expected, like salt in an open wound. You froze, the glass you’d been holding forgotten in your hand.

“You have to accept that, kid,” he continued, his voice gentle but firm. “It’s not good for you to keep doing this. You’re tearing yourself apart.”

You set the glass down a little harder than you meant to, avoiding his gaze.

“Easier said than done, Rev,” you muttered under your breath.

“You managed to move on last time,” he added carefully, though the words felt like a slap to your face.

Your head snapped up, glaring at him with a flash of anger. His face didn’t flinch. He wasn’t trying to hurt you; he was just being honest. You sighed, your expression softening. Revek didn’t deserve your frustration—he was one of the few people who actually cared.

“I won’t ask anyone about Vi,” you mumbled finally, though the bitterness in your voice was obvious. “At least not anyone here.”

Revek gave a quiet chuckle, patting your shoulder as he straightened up.

“You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met, kid. Stubborn and reckless.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you grumbled, waving him off as he walked toward the back door.

Your shift ended quicker than you expected. For weeks you’d begged to take on extra hours—to open and close the bar—just to keep yourself busy, keep your mind too occupied to spiral. As the last of the patrons left, you cleaned up in silence, stacking glasses, wiping down counters, anything to avoid being alone with your thoughts. When everything was spotless, you slipped on your jacket, keys jingling in your hand as you locked the doors behind you. The cold hit you immediately, biting at your face and seeping through your clothes. Wrapping your arms around yourself, you tucked the keys into your pocket and started walking toward your apartment. Zaun was eerily quiet tonight. Too quiet. Usually, the air hummed with distant shouts, the rumble of machines, or drunken laughter in the distance. But not now. The stillness prickled at your nerves. The farther you walked, the heavier the silence became, your boots echoing softly against the damp pavement. You glanced over your shoulder, certain for the third time that you weren’t alone. The streets were nearly empty, but unease wrapped itself around you, squeezing your chest.

“Get a grip,” you muttered, shaking your head.

But as you reached a darker stretch of road, the feeling grew worse. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a shadow move. Your stomach clenched. The shadow wasn’t yours. You quickened your pace, ears straining for the sound of footsteps behind you. Your breathing was faster now, your heart hammering. Something wasn’t right.

Then it happened.

A dark figure darted out from a nearby alley, and before you could react, a heavy force slammed into you from behind. You stumbled forward, gasping, your vision spinning. Something hard struck the back of your head, and the world lurched violently before slipping into darkness.The last thing you remembered was the cold pavement against your cheek and the faint, muffled sound of footsteps retreating into the night.

A sharp, pulsing headache pulled you out of unconsciousness. Your entire body felt heavy, and your head throbbed like a drum. Everything seemed hazy, like the moments before waking from a nightmare. For a split second, you didn’t remember how you got here. But then the taste of blood in your mouth brought clarity crashing down—cold pavement, a shadow, the sharp blow to your head.Panic surged as you opened your eyes, only to see nothing but suffocating darkness. Something was covering your head. You tried moving, but your wrists were bound tight behind your back, the coarse ropes digging into your skin. Wiggling, twisting—you struggled with everything in you, but it was no use. Your breathing grew rapid, panic clawing at your chest, when a voice cut through the silence like a blade.

“Look who decided to finally wake up,” a familiar, raspy voice teased from somewhere near you. Her tone was laced with mockery and amusement. “My dearest best friend,” she added with a dark chuckle, like it was all some joke.

Your blood ran cold. You didn’t need to see her to know. The venom in her voice was enough to tell you exactly who it was. Faye. No. Jinx. Powder. The fabric covering your head was ripped off, and light stung your eyes. You blinked rapidly, adjusting as her figure came into focus. She stood before you, cocky as ever, her pink eyes shimmering with mischief and something darker beneath. Danger radiated from her every move.

“YOU.” Your voice was dripping with anger. You glared up at her, your head pounding harder with every heartbeat. “Are you insane?”

Jinx tilted her head, unbothered by your outrage, and shrugged casually. “I’m not insane,” she said, her voice light and matter-of-fact, as though kidnapping you was the most rational thing in the world. “I’m just a bit… frustrated.” Her grin spread wide as she stepped closer, towering over you, every movement of hers a deliberate provocation.

“And this is how you deal with frustration?” you spat, wriggling in your restraints again. “By kidnapping me? Seriously?”

“Sheesh, calm down,” she giggled, rolling her eyes like you were the one being unreasonable. “Nobody’s kidnapping you, look around, you're in your apartment .”

“Oh, really?” You scoffed. “So tying me up and dragging me to… what are you doing Faye?”

Her grin faded into something colder. Her expression shifted, her anger bubbling to the surface as she leaned in closer.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she snapped. Her pink eyes burned into yours. Her jaw tensed, and she leaned closer

“ don’t play stupid with me. You knew she was my sister, and yet—” She stopped herself, the words strangled in her throat, then straightened up.

“No, you know what? Call me by my real name. The one you pretended not to know until it suited you.” She knew. Of course, she knew. Vi must’ve found her—and now Jinx was here, to confront you, to rip you apart for betraying her.

“Listen, Faye—” you began.

“Jinx!” she snarled, her voice sharper now, her pink eyes flashing.

You hesitated, swallowing the bitter taste in your mouth. “…Powder.”

The name hit her like a slap. You saw the flash of vulnerability in her eyes before rage swept it away again. She scowled.

“It’s Jinx!” she barked, stepping even closer, her hands clenched into fists.

“I’m sorry for what happened. Truly, I am,” you said quickly, your voice trembling, but genuine. You didn’t look away from her burning gaze. “I never wanted to hurt you—never even imagined I’d be in this position. But I didn’t know she was your sister. I didn’t know what to do. I had to tell her.”

Her steps faltered for a moment. She wasn’t saying anything, but you could feel her weighing your words. You kept going, even though your voice was shaking.

“I couldn’t keep that from her. How could I? Knowing how much she cared about you… knowing how long she believed you were dead. I couldn’t just sit there and lie to her.” A tear rolled down your cheek, unbidden.

“It wasn’t fair to her. It wasn’t fair to anyone.”

She stared at you with an unreadable expression as she paced slowly, her eyes darting back and forth like she was reliving old memories. She was a storm barely held together—a mixture of pain, rage, and something else. The silence felt like it stretched on forever.

“You promised me,” she said finally, breaking the quiet, her voice cracking under the weight of her anger and hurt.

“I know,” you said softly. “I did, and I broke that promise. I’m sorry. But I hope you can understand. Just like I understood when you tracked down my brother and told me the truth…”

“That’s different!” she yelled suddenly, spinning on you, her movements quick and frantic. She was all fire now, heat pouring off her in waves.

“Is it?” you challenged quietly. “Untie me. We should talk about this. No more yelling. No more games.”

She crouched down in front of you, her pink eyes meeting yours as if searching for something—truth, maybe, or some kind of betrayal hidden in the depths of your expression. Her gaze lingered on the wet trail your tears had left down your cheek.

“You love her,” she murmured, the statement cutting through the tension like a dagger. Her voice was quiet, almost bitter, and her fingers flexed at her sides.

“You’re… in love with my sister.”

The tension in the air was thick as you took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. You needed to calm Jinx down somehow, but the way her eyes were narrowing and her jaw was set told you this wasn’t going to be easy. And honestly? You didn’t blame her for being angry—she had every right to be.

“Listen,” you started cautiously, voice soft yet firm, “Jinx… I know it wasn’t my place to tell Vi about you. You don’t know how many sleepless nights I spent trying to talk myself out of it, trying to just stay away from all of this… from her. But I couldn’t. I didn’t have a choice.”

“You had no right to tell her!” Jinx snapped, her voice a mix of fury and something else—hurt.

“I know, and I’m sorry!” you murmured, your shoulders sagging as guilt wrapped around you like chains. “I swear, I didn’t want it to happen like that. But I had no other option.”

Jinx glared at you before she started pacing the small apartment, her movements quick and jerky. Her eyes flitted across the room, taking in everything with that restless energy she always carried.

“This apartment screams you, you know that?” she grumbled, her tone dripping with judgment as her gaze landed on your record player and the knickknacks scattered on the shelves. “All those stupid decorations. These records—do people even listen to records anymore?”

“Thanks?” you muttered dryly.

She waved you off like she hadn’t even heard you, though the corner of her lip twitched.

“So, what’s the deal now? You’ve clearly lost your mind over my sister. You two together or something? Is it all dramatic stares and tragic poetry?”

You blinked, her sudden shift catching you off guard. But something wasn’t adding up. If Vi had told Jinx where you lived, surely, she would’ve also mentioned that the two of you hadn’t seen each other in months. Unless…

“What are you talking about?” you asked, narrowing your eyes. “Vi and I haven’t seen each other in months. Wait… she didn’t tell you that?”

Jinx stopped pacing, spinning on her heel to face you, her lips curling into a sharp, mocking laugh. “Tell me what? I haven’t seen Vi in years, genius. Remember? She thought I was dead the entire time.”

Your stomach dropped as the realization hit you. “Wait. If you haven’t seen her, then who told you about me and Vi?” Your voice came out quieter than you expected, almost like you didn’t want the answer.

Jinx grinned, her eyes lighting up with a chaotic glee that made you instantly suspicious.

“Your grumpy ex told me, duh,” she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Ellie’s kind of my favorite now. Oh, and you clearly have a type.”

You stayed silent, not because you didn’t have anything to say, but because the weight of what Ellie had done for you was settling in your chest, heavy and unshakable. You understood now why she’d told Jinx about you and Vi, why she’d stirred a pot that wasn’t hers to touch. Ellie had always had this knack for doing what she thought was best for you, even if it meant tearing herself apart in the process. This wasn’t any different. Ellie loved you—she always had. It wasn’t the loud kind of love, the kind that demanded attention or screamed to be heard. It was quieter, deeper, a part of her she kept tucked away like an old scar. You knew it must’ve hurt her, the kind of pain that lingered and clawed at her, but she still ripped the bandage off for you. She didn’t want you stuck in limbo, hanging on to unresolved feelings or an unfinished story. No, Ellie had always been the one who pushed you toward the truth, no matter how ugly or painful it might be.She didn’t tell Jinx out of spite or jealousy. That wasn’t Ellie’s style. She’d done it for you. She wanted Jinx to understand who you were to Vi, to push Jinx into making peace with her sister so that you—both of you—could finally move forward. Ellie knew she couldn’t be the one to make you happy anymore, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want you to be happy. Maybe that was her way of letting go, or maybe it was her way of saying she still cared, even if you couldn’t love her back the same way. Either way, it was one last act of love—a selfless, bittersweet gesture that left her holding onto nothing but her own heartbreak. Jinx, oblivious to the growing storm of thoughts in your head, raised an eyebrow at your silence.

“What? Nothing to say? Bet you’re wondering if Ellie’s still into you.”

You didn’t respond, knowing she was trying to bait you.

Jinx grinned wider. “Honestly, if my sister doesn’t get her act together and show up, maybe you should go back to plan A. Ellie’s clearly still head over heels, right? Wait… did something happen between you two when she came back?”

“What? No!” you exclaimed, louder than intended. “Nothing happened!”

Jinx squinted, clearly unconvinced. “You’re sure? Because your face is saying otherwise.”

“Look, she appeared out of nowhere, okay? She dropped some bombshells about my brother—who you apparently found, by the way—and then kissed me. That’s it.”

“Ohhhh, I knew something would’ve happened!” Jinx shouted gleefully. “Was it dramatic? Did she sweep you off your feet or—”

“Nothing happened,” you cut in firmly. “I pushed her away, for the record. But yeah, the damage was already done.”

Jinx folded her arms and gave you a slow once-over, a smirk tugging at her lips. “What’s up with you falling for every emotionally unavailable—”

“Shut up.” You shot her a glare. “And untie me, seriously. This isn’t funny anymore. We have a lot to talk about… starting with my brother.” Your tone shifted, growing heavier, the humor replaced with determination. You weren’t going to let her dodge this conversation. Not this time.

" we will talk " she stood up , heading towards you "but not yet " before you could gather what was going on, she hit your head . Once again. And before you knew , you were unconscious.

Your head throbbed as the loud banging on your apartment door dragged you out of the black void. You opened your eyes, struggling to focus on your surroundings. The room was dark, faint streaks of light from outside barely illuminating the scattered chaos of the apartment. You blinked, trying to gather your thoughts, but the pounding in your head was overwhelming. You shifted slightly, groaning as a sharp pain shot through your skull. At least you weren’t tied up anymore. The banging on the door didn’t stop. Each hit felt like a hammer to your already throbbing head. You tried to speak, to call out, but your voice didn’t come. Instead, you groaned again, rolling onto your back and clutching at the pain radiating from your temple. The noise stopped abruptly, and silence settled, except for your shallow breathing. Relief washed over you, but it was short-lived. A deafening crash suddenly shattered the silence.

The door. Someone broke in.

"Shit,” a voice cursed, panicked and familiar. You tried to turn your head toward the sound, but you couldn’t make out much beyond a tall silhouette moving quickly in your direction.

“Fuck,” they muttered again, and then they were kneeling beside you, their hands hesitating before reaching for you. “Hey, hey… are you okay? Talk to me.”

At first, you thought the voice was in your head, some cruel trick your brain was playing after everything Jinx had put you through. But then you felt her touch—warm, real, grounding. Your heart stuttered as recognition dawned. It wasn’t a hallucination. She was here.

“Vi?” you whispered, your voice barely audible, more breath than sound.

“Oh, thank god,” she exhaled, her relief palpable as she pulled you into her arms. “You’re alive. I thought…” Her voice cracked, and the raw emotion in her words made your throat tighten. Her touch, her voice, even the faint scent of her—it was all just as you remembered, painfully familiar and impossible to ignore. You sank into her embrace, your tears spilling before you could stop them.

“Vi.” Her name was shaky on your lips as you held her tighter, burying your face against her neck. Her warmth radiated through you, chasing away the fear that had settled in your chest.

“I’m here,” she whispered, her grip on you firm, as if she thought you might disappear if she let go. “I’m here.”

You pulled back slightly, just enough to see her face in the dim light.

“You’re really here,” you whispered, your tears blurring your vision as you brushed your fingers over her arm, just to reassure yourself she wasn’t a dream.

“I am.” Her eyes searched yours, full of something you couldn’t quite place—relief, fear, anger, all jumbled together.

“What happened?” she asked urgently. “Are you okay? I thought… I thought something happened to you. Someone told me you were in danger, and I just… I ran. I didn’t think, I—”

“Jinx,” you murmured, cutting her off. “She paid me a visit.” You managed a weak chuckle despite yourself.

Vi’s jaw tightened, her hands trembling slightly against you.

“I knew this was one of her games,” she spat. “She sent someone to tell me you were in danger. God, I thought… I thought you were…” She trailed off, her words caught in her throat.

“I’m okay,” you reassured her softly, brushing your fingers over her hand. “I’m okay. Just… help me sit up.”

Before you could finish, she scooped you into her arms like you weighed nothing, carrying you to the couch. Her strength was effortless, her touch so gentle it nearly broke you. She switched on the lamp, and for the first time, you saw her fully. Her mesmerizing blue eyes, glowing with an intensity that felt like it could pull you under. Her tattoos, stark against her skin. Her pink hair, vibrant and wild. She looked… perfect. Breathtaking. Just as you remembered, if not better.

“You’re bleeding,” she said softly, her fingers

grazing the wound on your temple. You winced but tried to wave it off when you saw the panic flare in her eyes.

“Seriously, I’m fine, Vi,” you assured her, offering a small smile. “Your sister, though? Completely insane.”

Vi exhaled sharply, nodding. “Yeah, tell me about it. This isn’t even the first time she’s kidnapped someone I…” Her words faltered, her face suddenly pale as she realized what she was about to say.

Someone I love. The words hung between you like a spark, threatening to ignite everything. You stared at her, your heart pounding in your chest as the realization hit. It was always there, always simmering beneath the surface, but hearing it—almost hearing it—made everything click into place. Every sleepless night, every time you’d thought about her, craved her, longed for her, it all made sense.

“Where is she now?” Vi asked quickly, clearly trying to recover, but you weren’t letting this moment slip away.

“I have no idea,” you mumbled, but you weren’t even thinking about Jinx anymore. Your entire focus was on Vi—her eyes locked on yours, the vulnerability written across her face. She was intimidating, raw, beautiful, and you couldn’t stand it anymore. You didn’t even realize you’d moved until your lips met hers. The kiss was sudden, rough and desperate, like both of you were trying to fill the void the other had left. It was messy, teeth clashing, lips bruising. But as the seconds stretched into eternity, the kiss softened, your desperation bleeding into something tender, something raw. Her hands trembled slightly as they cradled your face, pulling you closer as if she were terrified you’d slip away. The taste of her lips, the feel of her warmth, sent waves of longing surging through you, but what lingered most was the overwhelming relief. Vi was here. She was real. You pulled back just slightly, your breaths mingling, foreheads pressed together.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered between kisses, your voice breaking as you rested your forehead against hers. Tears rolled down your cheeks again, but this time they were tears of release, of relief. “For everything. For hiding the truth about Jinx, for hurting you.”

Her breath mingled with yours as she smiled softly, her own tears catching the faint light. “I know,” she whispered, her voice full of emotion. She brushed her nose against yours, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips again. “I’m sorry too. For leaving. For being gone.”

Her honesty made your chest ache. “I didn’t think I deserved you,” you admitted quietly.

Vi brushed her fingers over your cheek, her eyes soft but filled with determination.

“At first, I was so angry,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Angry at Jinx for making me think she was dead, and angry at you for keeping it from me. I didn’t know how to deal with it, so I did the only thing I’m good at—I ran. But the longer I was gone, the more I realized…” She paused, her thumb brushing away a stray tear on your cheek.

“I thought I was going to lose you. And I realized I couldn’t survive that. Not again. Not when… not when I love you.”

Her voice cracked on those last words, raw and vulnerable, as though saying them aloud made her break. She buried her face in your neck, pulling you close like she needed to fuse herself to you, like you were the only thing keeping her together.

“Vi…” Your voice trembled as you pulled her closer, your hands gripping onto her desperately, like letting go of her would mean losing the ground beneath you.

“I love you too,” you whispered, your lips grazing her ear as you spoke. You choked on your next words, your chest heavy with the weight of every emotion you’d held back for so long. “I tried to push it away, to pretend I didn’t need you, but I do. I need you, more than anything, more than anyone.”

She pulled back just enough to look at you, her blue eyes glistening with tears but filled with something fierce—relief, adoration, devotion. She exhaled shakily, her lips tugging into a small, fragile smile. “Say it again,” she whispered.

You cupped her face with both hands, brushing the tears from her cheeks as more fell from your own.

“I love you, Vi.” The words came out stronger this time, filled with every ounce of your heart.

Her breath hitched as she surged forward, kissing you with everything she had. Her lips were salty from tears, but they were soft and full of promise, of every unspoken word between you. Her hands tangled in your hair, holding you like you were her lifeline, like she couldn’t bear to let you go.

" get a room you two " sharp, familiar voice suddenly cut through the charged atmosphere between you and Vi. Both of you froze, the moment shattered like glass. Vi’s brow furrowed as she snapped her head toward the voice, her body instinctively shielding you.

" My plan has worked, once again" Vi’s jaw clenched as realization dawned, and you could feel the ripple of tension through her frame. Slowly, she turned to face the figure behind her—someone she had believed, for so long, was lost to her forever.

" Hey sis " Jinx mumbled, her voice unexpectedly soft, though her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions.

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Yet another chaotic, lively night filled the bar. The room buzzed with energy—laughter spilling over from clusters of friends, glasses clinking together, and the thrum of low music weaving warmth through the air. Tables were packed, couples leaned close over shared secrets, and the familiar smell of cheap liquor and Zaun’s ever-present grit grounded you in this moment. It was chaos, but it was your chaos. You thrived in it, finding bits of yourself among the people who called this part of Zaun home.

“Can you believe this guy just lost ten packs of cigarettes to me in one sitting?” Revek’s voice rumbled as he sauntered up to the bar, slapping a satisfied hand against the counter.

You rolled your eyes with a laugh, brushing a stray strand of hair away from your face. “Amazing. Your lungs are gonna thank you for that one,” you teased, smirking as you leaned forward to fix a wobbly glass.

“Don’t act all high and mighty,” he retorted with a deep laugh. “I’ve seen you steal a cigarette or two when you thought I wasn’t paying attention, you little liar.”

���Shut up, old man,” you hissed back, though a smile cracked your feigned irritation. Revek always had a way of making you laugh, no matter how exhausting the day had been.

He smirked and winked. “Speaking of cigarettes, I’m overdue for one now.” He pointed toward the back door, already reaching for his pocket. “Hold the fort, will ya?”

“I always do,” you replied, shooing him away playfully.

Tonight was busy—louder than most nights—but instead of draining you, it energized you. The hum of life in this place reminded you why you stayed, why you found comfort within Zaun’s controlled chaos. Even when things went wrong, this bar had become a haven, a tether to stability in a world that often didn’t make sense. The doors swung open suddenly, the motion catching your eye. Instantly, the corners of your mouth tugged into a smile. A familiar figure strode through the threshold, confidence in every step, her electric pink hair unmistakable. Vi.

She saw you almost immediately and grinned, shaking her head slightly as she approached. Her stride quickened as she crossed the room, her intense gaze locking onto yours with that unmistakable spark of mischief.

“Hey there, stranger,” she said smoothly, a teasing lilt in her voice as she leaned against the counter, her elbows resting casually on the worn wood. Her smirk was downright dangerous as she bit her lip, her eyes sparkling. “Care to make me a drink?”

You chuckled softly, pretending to be unimpressed.

“We were supposed to meet at home later, you know.” You tilted your head knowingly as you reached for a glass, already preparing her favorite drink.

She shrugged, her grin widening as she leaned closer. “What can I say? I couldn’t wait to see you,” she murmured, her voice low and dripping with honesty.

Heat bloomed in your chest, your heart fluttering as her presence overwhelmed your senses. Without thinking, you leaned forward, her face so close to yours that your noses nearly touched. Your lips met in a kiss—soft and slow at first, but as her smile curled into it, she tried to deepen it. But the sound of a sharp, exaggerated cough from the doorway cut through the intimate moment.

“Thirty minutes!” Revek called out loudly, his rough voice breaking the spell. He stood by the doorway with a cigarette dangling between his fingers, smoke curling lazily into the air. “Shift ends in thirty minutes, lovebirds. Surely you two can wait till then.”

You pulled back reluctantly, laughing under your breath as Vi groaned dramatically.

“Sorry, Rev,” she replied with an unapologetic smirk. Her tone was playful, but her hand still lingered on the counter near yours.

Revek chuckled, shaking his head as he blew out another puff of smoke. “Vi, you’re gonna be the reason I have to fire my best employee,” he joked, but his tone betrayed the affection he felt for you both.

Turning back to Vi, you couldn’t help the way your chest swelled at the sight of her. The teasing curve of her lips, the confident edge in her stance, and those intense blue eyes—they held your heart hostage every time. You couldn’t look at her without falling deeper.

“I’ll be waiting outside, stranger,” she murmured, her voice just loud enough to reach your ears. The warmth in her tone felt like an echo that would linger long after she left. She leaned in once more, brushing her fingers lightly against your hand—a touch so fleeting but electric—and then disappeared back into the night. Her words left you breathless, stirring something deep within your chest as you finished the shift with your mind elsewhere. Vi always had a way of making you forget the rest of the world—of anchoring you to her, no matter what storms tried to pull you apart. She’d wait for you, and you’d always follow her.

Author's note: I truly cannot believe that this story is done . It was my first time ever writing something and Echoes became even more important to me since creating this story made me fall in love with writing . I want to thank everyone who even once liked, shared, commented on my story, you guys were the ones who motivated me into finishing it .

As for the last chapter, it took a long time to write it. I wanted to make everything perfect, give each character a deserved (or not so) ending. Please let me know thoughts about it, don't hesitate to message me, to comment, chatting with you guys truly makes my day!

P.S. I will most definitely continue writing more stories, I can't wait to share more with you.

Thank you!

[seokmn]

INVISIBLE STRING

in a world where when you turn 18 you share an invisible string with your soulmate that only you and your respective soulmate can see it, seokmin, also known as dokyeom, is an actor in the musical theatre world that doesnt have a soulmate and keep it as a secret. meanwhile, yn works in a bookstore and doesnt seem bothered at all by the fact of not sharing a string with someone. is it possible to change the destiny and find your soulmate even tho you dont share the invisible string with anyone?

warnings: mention of drinking, food and kissing (sfw), kys/kms jokes, curse words, sexual jokes (implicit)

pairing: dokyeom x fem!reader

status: complete

author’s note: please, be aware that english is not my first language and interact with the smau if you’re liking it!

seokmin’s friend group — yn’s friend group

chapter I : never want a bitch, be what a bitch wants

chapter II : bookstore guy

chapter III : “i dont have a soulmate”

chapter IV : lets be friendly with men!!!

chapter V : you were drinking without me?

chapter VI : is it my fault that youre bitchless

chapter VII : theyre besties??

chapter VIII : beers and late night talks

chapter IX : that’s suspicious

chapter X : love is a lie

chapter XI : i dont want you sitting on my lap either

chapter XII : this girl might be the death of me

chapter XIII : im telling the truth

chapter XIV : F-R-I-E-N-D

chapter XV : tell us something we dont know

chapter XVI : a date between friends

chapter XVII : life coach moment

chapter XVIII : this hoe eats like a bear

chapter XIX : she matches my freak

chapter XX : #Princess

chapter XXI : sleep tight

chapter XXII : god bless photobooths

chapter XXIII : luckiest man ever

chapter XXIV : #LoveDokyeom

chapter XXV : what are we?

chapter XXVI : lovebirds

chapter XXVII : dates

chapter XXVIII : i ❤️ amor

chapter XXIX : too much love

chapter XXX : same dream, same mind, same night

chapter XXXI : always and forever

[the-most-humble-blog]

🧬👻 “You Think You’re You? That’s Adorable.”

You’re not even fully human. You’re a haunted meat golem with Wi-Fi and anxiety.

ACT I — The Lie You’re Living

Ah, yes. You wake up. Brush your teeth. Sip your coffee. Scroll your phone. You feel like a real person with thoughts, memories, preferences.

Cute.

Because here’s the punchline, sweet summer child:

You’re not even 100% human.

ACT II — What You Really Are

You’re a walking, talking orgy of multiple species. Part human. Part bacteria. Part fungus. Part virus. Part ancient ape. And 100% confused spaghetti code pretending to have a soul.

The human body? A biological group project between evolution, gut microbes, parasitic DNA hitchhikers, and ancient mitochondria that used to be their own species.

Your body contains:

More non-human cells than human ones.

Bacteria that outnumber your own cells 10 to 1.

DNA from viruses, ancient fungi, and unclassifiable “dark genome” segments that we literally do not understand.

You are not a person. You’re a biofilm with opinions.

ACT III — You’re a Colony. Not an Individual.

Think about this:

Your thoughts can be influenced by the bacteria in your gut.

Your moods are affected by your microbiome.

Your decisions can shift depending on what fungus you inhaled that day.

Your attraction to people? Might be chemical signals from your skin flora.

You ever get a “gut feeling”?

That might literally be your intestinal bacteria whispering strategy into your brain.

And you thought you were “making a choice.”

ACT IV — Are You Even There?

Let’s go deeper:

You don’t control your heartbeat. You don’t control your dreams. You don’t control what you forget, or when you cry, or what triggers your trauma. You don’t control the timing of your thoughts.

So the question is:

Who the f*ck is actually driving this meat suit?

Because neuroscience doesn’t know. Religion argues. Philosophy hyperventilates. And physics just stares blankly into the void.

ACT V — You Might Be a Ghost. Or Just a Glitch.

You’re either:

A consciousness that’s somehow haunting a nervous system

A chemical puppet with enough complexity to simulate free will

A hallucination of self generated by accidental electro-meat fireworks

Or, worst of all:

A network of sub-selves constantly arguing while pretending they’re one “I.”

Shocking Truth?

Science has no consensus on what consciousness actually is.

Nobody knows if it’s:

An emergent property

A soul

A quantum algorithm

A shared delusion

Or a horrifying accident we’ve decided to romanticize

ACT VI — Logic Tests That Will Wreck You

Ready to lose sleep? Try these reality-breaking diagnostics:

🧠 Logic Trap 1: “When Are You?”

Your brain processes input with a delay. What you’re experiencing right now actually happened a few milliseconds ago. So… if you’re always behind the present… Where is “now”? And who’s watching it?

🧠 Logic Trap 2: “The Ship of Self”

Every 7 years, your cells have completely regenerated. You are literally not made of the same matter you were as a child. If your body changed… and your thoughts changed… What stayed the same? Who’s left?

🧠 Logic Trap 3: “The False First Person”

What if every time you go to sleep, the “you” that wakes up is a copy? You remember yesterday… but so does the copy. Are you just a rebooted save file that thinks it’s original?

🧠 Logic Trap 4: “The Brain In The Room”

The only proof you have that anyone else exists is sensory input. You could be a brain in a jar, hallucinating all this. Can you prove you’re not?

FINAL VERDICT — You’re Not “You.” You’re Just a Temporary Pattern.

A mind is not a soul. It’s a self-updating hallucination stabilized by hormones, trauma, diet, genetics, and luck.

And when you die?

That pattern ends. And everything you called “you” dissolves into meat, memory, and microbial decay.

The ghost leaves. The flesh rots. The world keeps spinning. No refunds. No backups. No explanations.

🔁 Reblog if you’ve ever felt like something else is steering. 👁 Comment if you’ve questioned your reality since age 9. 🧬 Follow if you’re ready to peel back your face and find the universe staring back.

⚖️ LEGAL DISCLAIMER:

This post is intended as philosophical commentary, not psychiatric advice. If you’re spiraling, eat something, touch grass, and don’t take your thoughts too literally. If you feel like nothing is real… congrats. You’re officially more qualified than most philosophers.