#“oh let me just immediately spill my secret to this girl I hardly know risk getting expelled just so she doesn't get snitched on and keep

[ratstuckinamarble]

Don't hide these you're right and you should say it

You couldn’t pry gay Draculaura out of my cold dead hands I know what she is.

[bitchiswild]

Ride

GP Yoo Jimin x F! Reader

Warnings: smut, creampie, racing , and probs other things 🤷‍♀️

Word Count: 6.8k 😟

A/n: A LOT OF PLOT AND A LITTLE SMUT 😭

╭────── · · ୨୧ · · ──────╮

The night unveiled the mesmerizing beauty of the city as Karina and I zoomed through its streets. The motorcycle's roar echoed, seemingly announcing our presence to the entire city. Yet, in our youthful spirit, we disregarded it. Karina had injected adventure and excitement into my life, making every moment extraordinary. She's what makes my days and nights awesome, always bringing joy. I gotta thank Aeri for introducing me to Karina, even if we didn't hit it off right away.

•·················•·················•

“Wanna come along?” That’s all she said. Life always seems to dangle something new in front of me. Aeri pitched this idea, and I had no clue what was in store. Mysterious. But I trusted her completely; she’d been hustling and making some cash. It was our little secret. A game where the risk just added spice to the thrill. Kind of sketchy but exhilarating, you get me?

“You sure this is the right way?” I asked cautiously. We were heading down these shady, dimly lit stairs where the lights flickered oh-so-slowly."

"Yeah, I know the way. Been here a few times, no sweat!" she assured me, continuing down the steps.

As we got closer to the door, the music’s volume surged. Stepping inside, the booming bass hit us hard. The place was a riot of colorful lights, but there was this pervasive mix of gasoline and weed smell that wasn't too pleasant.

"Is this your usual weekend scene?" I quizzed Aeri.

"No doubt, I do. I'm here to help Karina gear up for her races," she said.

"Are you finally gonna introduce me to this Karina you're always on about?" I inquired.

"Absolutely! I'll take you to her now. Or would you prefer to check out the place first?" she asked.

"Let's take a look around first," I replied.

Aeri gave me the grand tour of this spot. I soaked it all in, kinda interested in this whole new vibe where everything's a bit of a gamble. It's all about the danger and excitement, you know? I find it pretty intriguing. This place, right before the race starts, it's got a vibe. But I did however, noticed how everyone's eyes are on us.

"Hey, what's with all the staring? Starting to weird me out a bit," I mentioned to Aeri, feeling a tad uncomfortable.

"They all know I'm friends with Karina. She's, well, let's just say she's a big deal around here. They call her the 'Queen' of racing," Aeri explained, and it all clicked for me.

"Can we bail, though? Feeling a bit too conspicuous," I suggested.

"Sure thing! Let's get you introduced to Karina; you two will hit it off, I'm sure!" Aeri exclaimed, ready to make the intro.

Aeri dragged me to this garage, all bright and half-open. She went and knocked on it like a maniac. ‘Karina! I'm here! Did you miss me?!’ Aeri shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Aeri! Keep it down! Get in here already,” the girl I figured was Karina snapped.

Aeri nudged me to step in first. I crouched a bit and walked into the garage. The garage was alive with various colored lights, yet one glaring light outshone the rest. Posters and tools adorned the walls, while a car occupied one side and a motorcycle sat on the other. The girl I presumed to be Karina was busy fixing something on the bike.

“Karina! Meet my bestie Y/n! Y/n, meet Karina!” Aeri introduced us, gesturing between us."

"Hey, Karina, nice to meet you. Aeri's told me loads about you, and don't worry, I won't spill anything that might get you thrown in jail," I said, immediately regretting my choice of words.

"Hi," was all she replied before returning to her work on the bike, leaving me feeling a bit like a fool.

Naturally, I felt offended. I wanted to confront her, but I held back. I hardly knew her and picking a fight with Aeri's friend wasn't the right move. It'd make me a lousy friend.

"Don't stress, Y/n. Karina's just... like that. She's very... monotone, but she's cool. Give her some time to warm up to you. Honestly, I didn't spill that I spilled everything about her illegal racing," Aeri explained with an awkward grin on her face.

“ It's fine it didn't bother me," I lied, though it bothered me more than I let on.

"So, Karina, when's your next race?" Aeri asked.

"In about 30 minutes. You heading out or sticking around here in the garage?" Karina inquired.

"Since this is Y/n's first illegal race, I'll probably stick around, cheering you on alongside her," Aeri nudged me while saying that.

"Alright, let's head out. I'm all set," she said, wrapping up the final touches on her bike.

We all made our way out of the garage, heading toward the main event. Karina revved her bike, riding off towards the street where the race would take place. The way people glanced at us left me feeling intimidated. Despite my smile, fear crept in. This was uncharted territory for me.

"Hey, Karina! What's up! Ready to race?! There's a hefty pot riding on you, lots of folks betting," a guy shouted as he approached us.

"Absolutely, BamBam. I'm always geared up to win some cash," Karina replied with a grin.

I never thought this girl smiled, but here she was, flashing a smile in front of me. It was kinda cute.

"Awesome! Just remember to stay safe, can't afford to lose our top racer, aka our 'Queen'," The guy I now know as BamBam added.

"Who's that guy? Her boyfriend?" I asked Aeri in a hushed tone.

Aeri stifled a laugh. "Nah, not her boyfriend. That's her childhood friend. They grew up together, got into street racing, and he's sort of her manager. He always bets on her because he knows she'll win. Also, Karina's gay and has a dick," Aeri explained frankly.

The last sentence caught me off guard and I took a double take at Aeri.

“She has a dick??,” I blurted out in surprise.

"Yeah, she was born with it. Why, wanna hop on it?" Aeri quipped, giving me a smirk.

I was flabbergasted! “What? No way!" I exclaimed.

"Sure, just saying, you're not the only one. Lots of other girls here do too," she casually replied.

"Alright, alright, let's stop talking about her dick," I said, eager to change the subject.

"Stop talking about my what?" Karina chimed in, joining our conversation.

I was horrified. If she overheard our discussion, I'd be mortified.

"Your bike," Aeri quickly interjected, coming to my rescue. "Y/n here was just saying how much she liked it but wanted to stop gushing over your bike."

"Thanks," Karina replied, giving me a stare that made me cough in awkwardness. Why did I suddenly feel so awkward? I needed a shot, maybe ten.

"Anyway, I came to tell you guys that the race is starting soon, so get to your spots. And remember, don't accept drinks from strangers. Have the bartender made you the drink, alright?" Karina instructed us.

Can we grab a drink, Aeri? I seriously need one after that almost-embarrassment," I admitted, fanning myself to emphasize the point.

"Sure thing," Aeri replied, leading me towards the bar.

Once we had our drinks, we headed towards the restricted area where only people acquainted with Karina were allowed. There was a large TV screen displaying Karina, geared up with her helmet on, ready for the race. Her eyes reflected unwavering determination, making me equally certain she'd emerge victorious.

The audio from the scene was clear, capturing a guy beside Karina yelling that she was going to lose. Karina, unfazed, remained focused, displaying even greater determination. A girl emerged onto the street, holding a red flag. Raising her arm, she brought it down swiftly, marking the start of the race.

The race unfolded rapidly. Kai, the guy I just learned the name of, initially took the lead, but as they reached a sharp turn, Karina surged past him. Watching her on the screen, it was evident—she had a natural talent for this. Her movements on the bike were graceful, navigating every turn effortlessly. I finally understood why people bet on her. Yet, watching her gave me a mix of sensations, tingling feelings that I couldn't quite decipher—was it anxiety or something else?

As they approached the finish line, it was a dead heat. Anxiety crept up on me, evident in my shaking leg. I desperately hoped for Karina's victory. Beside me, Aeri seemed absolutely chilled, not a speck of doubt in her eyes. I couldn't help but wonder why she was so composed. "She knows something," I muttered to myself, suspecting that Aeri had an inside track on this.

Right after that thought, Aeri did the exact thing I suspected she knew about. With a simple press of a button, Karina's speed surged, propelling her faster than before, and she breezed across the finish line.

When Karina hit that button, everyone was stunned by the speed she picked up. But as soon as she crossed that finish line, the crowd erupted in cheers. Aeri and I jumped to our feet, cheering, hugging, and bouncing around in joy. Karina had not only won the race but also scored a substantial amount of prize money. BamBam, having won all the bets he placed, was also celebrating his success.

After breaking on her bike and removing her helmet, Karina was engulfed by a swarm of well-wishers. Aeri and I maneuvered through the crowd to reach her. Aeri led the way, offering her congratulations with a pat on the back, while I stood there beaming at her. Our eyes met, and she returned a small grin. For me, that was enough. Her eyes spoke volumes, brimming with excitement and joy.

As things settled, Karina gathered her winnings, and we trailed back to the garage together.

"That was one of your finest races in a while!" Aeri praised.

"Thank you. I really appreciate you guys being there, cheering me on," Karina replied, a grateful expression on her face.

"So, when's the next race?" Aeri inquired.

"In two weeks. I need to get some more parts for my bike, upgrade it, and also visit my mom to give her some money," Karina informed us.

"Speaking of your mom, how's she doing?" Aeri inquired.

"She's still working, despite me telling her to retire. That woman is just too stubborn," Karina replied, shaking her head.

"Just like you," Aeri teased with a smirk.

"Hey! I have my reasons, alright?" Karina retorted with a slight glare.

Before Aeri could reply, her phone rang. 'I'll be right back,' she said before leaving Karina and me alone. 'And now there are two,' I murmured to myself.

"So, Karina, you did an awesome job out there! I was really impressed by how you clutch in the end. I was so anxious the whole time, rooting for you, and I just wanted you to win and I was so worried—" I started to ramble.

"Y/n!" Karina exclaimed, gripping my shoulders and staring at me. "Calm down, you're rambling," she urged, trying to rein in my chatter.

Her sudden touch caught me off guard, bringing an unexpected closeness that felt like we were almost within kissing distance. I shook my head, trying to dispel those thoughts. "Sorry... that happens when I feel awkward or anxious," I explained.

She withdrew her hands and kept staring at me. "It's fine, just take a moment. If you need to ease your anxiety, try dunking your head in ice-cold water. That might help," Karina suggested calmly.

"I'll keep that in mind for next time," I replied.

Karina returned to her bike, resuming work by taking parts off, fetching tools and components from her workbench, and moving back and forth between them. Lost in my thoughts, I scanned the garage, wondering where Aeri had vanished to.

"You know, you can sit, right?" Karina's voice startled me out of my reverie. I glanced at her, finding her staring at me and pointing to the chair nearby.

“Oh right, sorry,”I sheepishly grinned in response, taking the hint and finally sitting down. I couldn't help but keep glancing around the garage, occasionally stealing quick looks at Karina. The silence became unbearable, prompting me to break it.

"Do you need any help?" I offered, hoping to engage in conversation.

"Nope," she replied bluntly.

"Can I help you, though? I can't stand this silence, and I want to do something," I persisted.

"You can sit and be quiet," she repeated, smirking as she glanced up.

I remained silent, pursing my lips and continuing to observe her.

"Please, let me help!" I pleaded, growing desperate to do something.

"Fine, come here," she finally relented. I eagerly approached her, thrilled to lend a hand.

"I'm giving you a very big responsibility, okay? Now, hold the flashlight and don't move," Karina instructed, handing me the flashlight.

I felt disappointed; holding the flashlight was something my dad always made me do, and I often got yelled at for doing it wrong. Nevertheless, I was doing something, and for the next 20 minutes, I held onto it diligently. Finally, Aeri returned from her phone call.

"What the hell?! What took so long?" I exclaimed at her, still clutching the flashlight.

"Y/n, hold the flashlight correctly!" Karina interjected. "Oops, sorry," I apologized and adjusted my grip to hold it correctly.

"Sorry I took so long; it was an important call I can't go into details about right now, but I promise it's nothing bad," Aeri explained.

"Okay, I hope everything's alright," I replied.

"Everything's good. Are you ready to leave? Because I am," Aeri asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready," I confirmed, turning off the flashlight and handing it back to Karina.

"Alright, let's go. Bye, Karina! See you soon!" Aeri called out as she exited the garage.

"Bye, Karina, till then," I called out. As I began to duck my head under the garage door, I caught her saying goodbye.

"Bye, Y/n," I heard Karina's voice say as she continued tinkering with her bike.

"Alright, let's head back to our dorm. Don't worry, you'll be back; this is just the beginning," Aeri reassured me as we made our way back toward the stairs we came from.

•·················•·················•

It's the following day, and a strong urge pulls me to return to the garage. I'm not sure why I feel this way, but the desire is there. After getting ready, I head towards Aeri’s room to check if she's around, but her neatly made bed indicates she's probably left for class.

Deciding to go on my own, I recall the location and remember that Aeri had sent me the address. Gathering my belongings, I leave the room and start walking towards the destination.

I'm in the stairwell, making my way down toward the familiar door Aeri had led me through. As I approach, I notice the music still blaring, but today, the neon blue lights replace yesterday's vibrant colors. I glance around before heading toward Karina’s garage.

Suddenly, a random guy yells, "Hey, Beautiful! Come over here and sit on my lap!" I choose to ignore him and keep walking.

"Come on, I know you heard me! Come here!" he yells out again, this time patting his lap in an insistent and uncomfortable manner.

"No thanks, I'm good," I firmly replied, trying to maintain my course toward Karina’s garage.

But, as expected, the guy persists and ends up blocking my way. I look up at him, my expression blank, while he grins down at me. "Can I help you?" I retort, my arms crossed and an attitude evident in my tone.

"Yea, I asked you to do something but you didn't," the musty guy states.

"Yea, I know," I respond bluntly.

"You know... I don't take no for an answer," he declares, his tone suggesting an intent to push the issue.

"And? I do not care," I reiterated, my arms remaining crossed.

He made a move to reach for my arm, but thankfully, a familiar voice intervened. It was Karina. I felt a surge of relief; I was beginning to get anxious at the thought of him grabbing me.

"Nate, what are you doing?" Karina's voice addressed him directly.

"Karina! Hey! I was just trying to get this beautiful lady to sit on my lap and do other things if you know what I mean," Nate replied with a suggestive wink, trying to play it off.

Karina's expression turned serious. "Actually, she’s with me, and she is off-limits. I do not want you anywhere near her," Karina asserted firmly, setting a clear boundary.

"How come? I'm just having some fun," Nate retorted with a smirk, clearly not taking Karina's instructions seriously.

"I don't care. She’s off-limits. Now leave!" Karina's tone grew firmer, her frustration evident.

"Yea, sure, see you around, beautiful," Nate said, smirking as he began to walk away.

Karina gripped my hand firmly, concern evident in her eyes. "Are you okay? What are you doing here by yourself? Do you realize that if I wasn’t here, things could've gone bad? You can’t be here without me or Aeri, got it?" She guided me towards her garage, still holding my hand.

"I know. I'm sorry. I promise not to come here without you or Aeri," I assured her.

"You didn't answer my question. Why are you here?" She pressed for an explanation.

"I just wanted to continue helping you with your bike. Also, I had no class today, so I decided to come here," I answered honestly.

"You came all this way just to help me with my bike?" she asked incredulously.

"Yeah, why not?" I replied casually.

Karina chuckled in disbelief. "Okay, fine, you can help. Let's get started," she agreed.

And so, that's what we did. I began coming by every other day or whenever I had free time to assist her in preparing her bike for the upcoming race. Over time, we started enjoying each other's company, engaging in light conversation. However, we hadn't broached certain topics—things I wanted to know, like why she started street racing. I chose to keep those questions to myself, saving them for another day.

One such day, I had no class and was free. I had Karina’s number now, so I texted her beforehand that I was heading to the garage. She mentioned she'd meet me at the door, and true to her word, that's where she was. We walked together towards the garage, and she let me enter first before following. "So, what are we working on today?" I inquired.

"Nothing, because we are finished!" she announced with a grin, a familiar expression that I had come to adore over the past two weeks. That grin, when directed at me, felt unlike any other.

"Really? You finished it?" I asked in amazement.

"No, we finished it," she corrected, her grin turning into a warm smile.

I mirrored her smile. "Does that mean we get to go on a test drive?" I was thrilled at the prospect of riding the bike after investing so much effort into it.

"Of course! Here, let me get you a helmet," she offered, fetching one for me. She returned, placing the helmet on me. The visor was closed, but a simple click opened it, and suddenly, Karina was gazing into my eyes.

"There you are, hi!" she greeted with a grin.

"Hi back," I replied, returning her greeting. She continued to gaze at me for a moment before turning to retrieve her own helmet, securing it in place. Walking over to her bike, she mounted it first, signaling for me to climb on behind her.

Once I was on, I instinctively held onto the sides of the bike, but Karina guided my arms around her stomach, encouraging me to wrap them securely. I held on tightly, feeling the firmness of her toned stomach, grateful that she couldn't see my blushing face.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Of course," I replied, trying to mask any hint of nervousness in my voice.

She ignited the engine, and it roared thunderously, the sound reverberating throughout the garage. As she opened the garage door, the engine revved, and we surged out. The speed we gained made me hold onto Karina even tighter, a sudden fear gripping me.

In my helmet, I heard her voice. "You okay back there?" she inquired.

"Wait, how am I hearing you so clearly?" I asked, puzzled.

"There's Bluetooth connected to the helmets," she explained.

"Ah, that’s nice. And to answer your question, yes, I am okay, just a bit scared at the speed we're going," I confessed.

"Do you trust me?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied without hesitation.

"Then everything will be okay," she assured me, continuing to ride out of the tunnels and onto the main road.

As we navigated through the city, Karina's voice came through the helmets. "I want to take you somewhere, will you let me?" she asked.

Her proposal made my heart melt; it was a simple yet profound request. "Yes, take me wherever you want to go," I responded.

"Okay, thank you," she replied, steering toward her chosen destination.

We ascended a hill with a breathtaking view of the city, but Karina kept driving until we reached our final stop. She parked the bike, removing the key, and got off first. Extending her hand, she helped me dismount as well. "What is this place?" I inquired, following her closer to the view.

"It's a place where my dad brought my mom to confess his feelings to her. It was his spot, and even before that, it belonged to my grandma. After my dad passed away, my mom brought me here because I couldn't get over his death. She shared all their stories with me, and we laughed and cried together," Karina explained, her voice carrying the weight of memories.

I hung onto her every word. Karina paused for a moment before continuing.

"She also told me to come here whenever I feel stressed out or just need to connect with my dad in a way. So that's what I did. I was here last night, seeking guidance. I asked him if I should go forth with something, and I got the answer I wanted," she said, smiling warmly at me as she spoke.

Karina's revelation left me speechless. I sensed there was more she wanted to express.

"There’s another thing Mom told me about this spot. She said if I wanted to confess my feelings to someone, I should come here. It’s a place special to me, where my dad and grandma did the same in the past," she explained, her gaze fixed on me.

My heart raced at her words. She took hold of my hands. "Y/n, over the last two weeks, my feelings for you have grown. It started when I saw Nate getting too close to you. I realized then that I’d do anything to keep you safe. I've cherished every moment we've spent fixing my bike. I’ve come to realize that I have feelings for you. Please, tell me you feel the same?”

I was taken aback by her confession, my mind racing as I processed her words and the depth of my own feelings.

I was taken aback. Karina's confession of her feelings caught me by surprise, but it filled me with joy to know that the emotions were mutual. With heartfelt honesty, I replied, “Karina... from the moment your smile caught my eye, I felt something special. The time we've shared, every moment, it's made my feelings grow stronger. I do feel the same way. I'm grateful you feel it too.”

As Karina's hand cupped my cheek, her touch was gentle yet filled with longing. Our gazes locked, conveying emotions words couldn't express. I leaned into her touch, feeling the warmth of her hand against my skin. In that silent exchange, the air thickened with anticipation. We moved closer, our bodies drawn together by an invisible force. When our lips finally met, a surge of electricity ran through me, setting my nerves on fire. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness, mirroring the intensity I sensed in Karina. Every heartbeat seemed synchronized, creating an unspoken harmony between us. I withdrew my hand from hers, instinctively wrapping both around her neck, drawing her closer and intensifying the kiss. Simultaneously, her hand moved to the side of my stomach, tracing gentle, reassuring circles. The passionate exchange stirred a whirlwind of emotions between us, each moment pulsating with raw feelings. As the kiss deepened, the need for air became undeniable, forcing us to reluctantly break apart, breathless and exhilarated.

We were both breathing heavily, savoring the lingering sensation of the kiss. I opened my eyes first; Karina's remained closed, a charming smile gracing her face. When her eyes finally met mine, we shared a moment of laughter, both in disbelief and excitement. Karina reached out, taking my hand. "Come on, let's go do something fun," she said, smiling warmly.

I grabbed her hand, and we sprinted back to her bike. She swiftly handed me the helmet, planting one more kiss on my lips before securing the helmet over my head. With her helmet on, she mounted the bike, extending her hand to help me get on. I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding on tightly as she revved the engine and guided us to our next stop.

This time, cruising through the city felt different—carefree, even. I felt lighter, more alive, and undeniably happy, all thanks to the girl in front of me. As we reached Imperial, a nightclub, Karina dismounted first and helped me off the bike. She handed the keys to the valet, grasped my hand, and led me confidently toward the entrance. We bypassed any need for IDs as Karina was familiar with the bouncer.

After arriving, we beelined to the bar for drinks. Shots flowed freely, and we lost ourselves in the music, dancing together all night. Carefree and spirited, we moved to the beats, laughing and enjoying the moment. Eventually, we somehow made it back home, and waking up there, I was grateful that we'd safely returned.

I woke up in a room that didn’t seem familiar, but seeing Karina next to me put me at ease. Glancing around, I noticed a picture of her and BamBam on the nightstand. It was Karina's room. I felt a moment of panic, worrying we'd gone too far last night, but a quick check under the blanket revealed I was fully dressed. I sighed in relief and stole a glance at Karina, peacefully asleep beside me. She stirred, and I found myself captivated by her face. She slowly opened her eyes, catching me in the act.

“What a lovely sight to wake up to,” she said, her morning voice soft and gentle.

I grinned and leaned in for a kiss. She reciprocated, but before it could linger, she broke away. “As much as I'd love to, let me brush my teeth first.”

“Karina, it's fine. Come here,” I insisted, trying to pull her back for another kiss. With a laugh, she evaded my grasp and dashed into the bathroom, teasingly repeating, “No, let me brush my teeth!”

I stayed seated on her bed, chuckling at her playful antics, before eventually rising and making my way to the bathroom. While we brushed our teeth, our playful nudges and giggles made it feel like we were back in high school.

Once we finished brushing our teeth, we moved to her kitchen and decided to make some food. Karina prepared some eggs and toast, a simple yet satisfying breakfast.

“Y/n,” Karina said, breaking the calm ambiance of the morning.

“Yeah?” I responded, looking up to meet her gaze.

Her eyes held a mix of adoration and nervousness. “Will you be my girlfriend?” she asked, her voice slightly wavering.

My heart fluttered in excitement. "I would love to be your girlfriend," I replied, rising from my seat to give her a passionate kiss. She returned it with equal fervor.

Breaking the kiss, she took a deep breath. "There's a race tonight. I want you and Aeri to be there, please," she requested.

"Absolutely, count on us!" I assured her.

"Great! You guys are like my good luck charms in a way, so I need you there," she said, gently rubbing my sides.

The tension was palpable as the night settled in. Karina had her eyes set on a significant prize this time. Winter, her competitor, was no ordinary racer, having secured victories at a level matching Karina's own accomplishments. When I inquired if Karina felt nervous about this race, she assured me of her composure, having previously met Winter, who seemed amiable.

As we arrived at the garage, the atmosphere crackled with a blend of excitement and anticipation. Aeri and I joined forces to help Karina ready her bike, meticulously tuning every detail for optimum performance. Meanwhile, Karina engaged in a serious conversation with BamBam, strategizing about bets and fine-tuning her approach for the upcoming race.

"Think Karina's got this one in the bag?" I asked Aeri, passing her a wrench.

"I'm not entirely certain this time. Winter's no joke. She's a fantastic racer, saw her work before, and it's impressive," Aeri replied, adjusting a tool.

“She’s really that good?” I inquired, surprised by Aeri’s statement about Winter.

“She’s just as good as Karina,” Aeri confirmed.

Karina returned after her conversation with BamBam, drawing me in for a quick peck to express gratitude for cleaning her bike. Before I could respond, Aeri interjected playfully, demanding her own acknowledgment for the help she'd provided. Karina indulged her with a forehead kiss, a smirk playing on her lips.

Aeri teased about being the matchmaker, observing Karina and me embracing each other. As the moment of the race arrived, BamBam's booming voice signaled Karina to prepare, redirecting everyone's attention to the impending competition.

“Alright guys, let's go race,” Karina announced, setting the momentum for the upcoming event. As we made our way to the race track, Winter appeared, engrossed in conversation with some acquaintances. Aeri departed momentarily to fetch drinks while I stayed by Karina's side.

Karina sought to park her bike beside Winter’s. “Are you okay waiting here for a bit?” she inquired.

“Yes, I'm good,” I replied as she moved to position her bike. In the meantime, Winter approached me. “Hey, what's your name?” she asked with a smile.

“I'm Y/n, and you’re Winter,” I responded.

“That’s me! So… why is a beautiful girl standing alone by herself?” Winter questioned, her expression playful.

“Oh, just waiting on a friend,” I answered casually, trying to keep things light amidst the anticipation of the race.

“How about this? You and I go somewhere together after the race is done?” Winter proposed, her tone playful.

“Umm-” I hesitated, feeling a rush of panic. Where was Karina when I needed her?

“Oh, come on, I don't bite… unless you want me to?” Winter flirted, her demeanor teasing.

"Karina!" Relief washed over me as she arrived, once again coming to my rescue.

"Karina! This is your girlfriend?" Winter's curiosity was evident in her gaze toward both of us.

"Yes, she is." Karina confirmed, wrapping her arms around me protectively.

Winter eyed Karina's protective gesture and then smirked. "Okay then, your girl is a fine dime. I want to make a bet. If I win, you break up with Y/n, and she comes with me. If I don't, we can act like this conversation never happened," Winter proposed, extending her hand for a handshake.

“Deal,” Karina said, her tone firm, as she shook Winter’s hand.

“Great doing business with you,” Winter said with a smirk, winking at me before strolling toward her bike.

My heart raced with disbelief and hurt. “Karina, seriously? You’re just going to let that happen?” I felt betrayed, hurt that she would entertain such an idea without discussing it with me. I began to turn away, but Karina caught hold of my hand before I could leave.

“Y/n listen to me,” Karina pleaded as she held onto my hand.

I stopped but didn’t turn around. “No way. I can't believe this. You’re willing to throw away our relationship just like that,” I exclaimed, snapping my fingers in frustration. “We haven't even been together for two days, and now you’re betting on me? If you lose, I’m as good as gone,” I said, my anger palpable, trying to control the quiver in my voice.

“I did it to protect you.” Her voice cracked with an unexpected vulnerability.

“Protect me?” I turned to face her, frustration and confusion mixing within me.

“Winter... She’s a ruthless racer, and she’s been known for her tricks off the track. I couldn’t risk anything happening to you. I had to agree, but believe me, I never meant it. You mean more to me than anything else, Y/n. Please, you have to trust me on this.”

Her words struck a chord, but I was still shaken. “How could you make a deal like that without even discussing it with me?”

Karina's expression softened, remorse clear in her eyes. “I know, and I’m sorry. I panicked. Please, I’ll figure out a way. I won’t let anything happen to us.”

I hesitated, the hurt mingling with understanding. “You promise?”

“Absolutely. Trust me, okay?” Karina pleaded, her eyes pleading for forgiveness.

I sighed, torn between emotions but wanting to believe her. “Fine.”

She pulled me into a tight hug. “Thank you, Y/n. I promise, I’ll fix this, I’ll win the race for you.”

“I don't want to discuss it further. Let’s just focus on the race. I’ll be there with Aeri cheering you on,” I said, my hurt evident as I gave Karina a peck on the lips before walking over to Aeri, who had our drinks.

“What happened between you and Karina?” she asked, noticing Karina's sad expression.

“She and Winter made a bet about our relationship,” I explained.

“What kind of bet?” she inquired, eyebrows furrowed.

“If Winter wins, Karina and I have to split so I end up with Winter,” I revealed.

“What? Why would she agree to that?” Aeri exclaimed.

“I have no idea, but she’s asking me to trust her,” I replied.

“Okay, then let's try to trust her.”

The race commenced as Aeri and I fixated on the screen, watching Winter and Karina revving their engines atop their bikes. A girl emerged, brandishing a red flag. As she dropped it, signaling the start, the engines roared to life, and the race began.

Initially, it was a tight competition, neck and neck, but Winter skillfully claimed the lead. Her bike navigated every twist and turn effortlessly, gaining ground with ease. Karina trailed closely behind, mirroring Winter's prowess as they maneuvered through the course.

As the race unfolded, it became evident that Winter's racing skills were formidable, just as Aeri and Karina had indicated. The tension mounted within me as I fervently rooted for Karina to win. My feelings for her grew more pronounced with every twist and turn. I didn't want to end up with Winter; it was Karina I truly cared about.

Karina surged ahead at one point, fueling a flicker of hope, but it was short-lived as Winter swiftly overtook her. They were now neck and neck, closing in on the finish line. Karina managed to match Winter's pace, riding side by side. Both racers shared a momentary gaze, a blend of determination and grit in their eyes, each vying for victory.

My heart raced with anxiety as they neared the finish line. Winter had a slight edge, but Karina's resolve was unmistakable. The atmosphere was electric as they crossed the finish line simultaneously, leaving us all in suspense, waiting for the official outcome.

"Did Winter just win?" I asked myself in disbelief, falling to my knees, hurt by the outcome.

"Wait, wait!" The announcer's voice boomed. "Let's have a replay!"

As we watched the replay, it was clear: Karina's wheel crossed the finish line first. "Karina won!" I shouted in jubilation, Aeri joining in.

The crowd erupted into cheers. Karina removed her helmet, smiling. Winter approached her, extending her hand. "Good race, Jimin," she said.

Karina shook her hand, replying, "Good race, Minjeong."

Overwhelmed with emotion, I ran towards Karina, enveloping her in a tight hug. "You won," I said, still in disbelief.

"I told you to trust me," she said softly.

"I'll always trust you," I replied, pulling her into a passionate kiss.

The kiss was interrupted by Aeri's arrival. "AYYY, Karina!! YOU WON!!" she screamed, rushing to hug her. But then, Aeri punched Karina's arm hard.

"Ouch! What was that for?!" Karina exclaimed.

"That was for accepting the bet," Aeri retorted.

Karina sighed. "At least I won, and it's over now."

"Yeah, it's in the past. Let's focus on the present and work towards the future," I chimed in.

Karina went to collect her winnings, and we all headed back to Imperial to celebrate her victory. Imperial was alive with music, and we lost ourselves in the beats, dancing and reveling in the energy of the night. Karina and I moved together on the dance floor, the heat of the room adding to the charged atmosphere. The way she looked at me sent shivers down my spine, her desire unmistakable.

As our bodies moved in sync, the electricity between us intensified. Karina leaned in close, her voice a seductive murmur in my ear. “You look amazing tonight,” she whispered, her hand tracing a tantalizing path across my skin.

Unable to resist any longer, I pulled Karina closer to me, breathlessly murmuring in her ear, “Let's get out of here.” I could see the immediate spark of desire in her eyes as she eagerly took my hand, leading me out of the club. Outside, she hailed a cab, and within 10 minutes, we arrived at her house.

Pressing against her door, our passion intensified. Karina momentarily paused our embrace to unlock the door, and as soon as it swung open, she pushed me inside before closing it firmly behind us. We resumed our fervent kissing as we made our way upstairs to her room.

Karina shoved me onto the bed and removed her bra and shirt. She returned to kissing me, making tracks with her lips as she kissed down my neck. She broke the kiss and gripped the bottom of my dress,asking for permission to take it off. And I let her. I reached back to unhook my bra when she removed my dress. Allowing it to descend before me. After everything was off, she teased my nipples and kissed every part of my body, leaving as many traces as she could.

With my panties still in the way, she began to kiss her way down my body, reaching closer to my heart.

"Please," I whimpered.

Karina pulled down my panties and planted a kiss on top of them. began removing her boxers and pants. "Anything for you baby.” She muttered.

She gently brushed her cock's head on my pussy. “Fuck baby you’re so wet. Who makes you this wet” Karina Moaned.

"You!" I groaned, "Please, Karina, do something.

She began to break my pussy apart with her cock as she pushed it through my hole. She groaned, "Fuck you're so tight," and began to thrust in me. I felt amazing the way Karina was touching all the right places inside me. "Harder," I moaned.

Karina pounding me harder. We both moaned loudly. I was getting close. “Fuck Karina I’m close” I gasp out.

She groaned, continuing to thrust, "Me too."

I groaned, "Fuck Karina, you feel so good," as tears streamed down my cheeks from the pleasure she was giving me.

"Baby, where do you want it? Karina groaned, "Where do you want my cum?"

I moaned out, "Please cum inside."

Karina pushed herself closer to me. She reached down to my clit and gave it a few rapid circular rubs, and that was it for me.

I cried, "Fuck Karina, I'm cumming."

“Cum for me baby” She husked.

I squeezed Karina’s cock while I came hard. Sending her over the edge, she shoot ropes of cum into my pussy painting my walls white. I groaned at the warmth. Karina stood steady inside me for a second before releasing her grip and pulling out. She takes a deep breath and settles down next me, drawing me very close to her chest.

“Sleep now, beautiful. I’ll see you in the morning,” Karina whispered, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead.

•·················•·················•

“Hey, whatcha thinkin' about?” Karina asked, gazing at me with affection. We had just arrived at our spot. I hugged her tight. “Just thinking about when we first met, that's all,” I replied.

She leaned in for a peck. “Thanks to Aeri, I met the love of my life,” Karina said, smiling.

“Agreed,” I chuckled, drawing her into a kiss.

“I love you, Y/n,” she murmured against my lips.

“I love you too, Jimin.”

╰────── · · ୨୧ · · ──────╯

[strangershield]

The Mind Reader

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Read Part Two Here , Part Three , Part Four

Warnings: very mild language

A/N: I’m very proud of this one so I hope you enjoy. I might do a part two if you guys like it and I get enough feedback? Saying that, it is over 5k words so I apologise. I’m back working on requests now x

-

-

-

‘Dammit I have a Spanish test’

‘Her skirt is really cute’

‘Lunch better be good today’

The thoughts float around in your head in an organized chaos. Each thought is fleeting and almost disappears as soon as it comes. It’s always like this in crowded areas. Take the school hallway for example. You lose count of how many people you pass, and how many thoughts cross your mind. Mind reading is an ability you only acquired a few weeks ago but you think you could control it now, to a certain extent. You no longer thought you were going crazy, or wanted to rip your brain out of your head. It was hectic, yes, but it was almost calming. The thoughts could mute out your own, if you wanted, or add humour to your day. Seriously, teenagers think of the weirdest things. Adjusting the grip on your backpack you made your way to first period: chemistry. You passed Flash on the way and almost lost it when he started thinking about whether he should be a full time DJ. 

‘I’ve done two parties now and people love it. People love me. Hell yeah I could be a DJ.’

When you entered the classroom you made your way to the back row. It was easier to concentrate back here as people weren’t surrounding you. You could also discretely put a headphone in. Music helped drown out the thoughts because unfortunately you didn’t need to know everything 24/7. It got exhausting and unnerving. Besides, you almost failed the last chemistry test so you needed to concentrate. You were thankful that you didn’t have this class with MJ. You loved her but she thought of the weirdest and funniest crap. Mind reading was a weird ability to have. It was more annoying than helpful, and so far you couldn’t figure out how to turn it ‘off’. Yes it was harmless, but reading thoughts seemed like an invasion of privacy, especially around your friends. You always tried to not pay attention to their thoughts or drown them out, but it didn’t always work. Luckily you hadn’t heard anything you shouldn’t have yet. Well, technically everything is something you shouldn’t have heard, but nothing catastrophic anyway. The bell sounded just as the teacher entered. Immediately his thoughts entered yours and you were bombarded with his feelings about his most recent fight with his boyfriend. Well this should be an interesting class. 

-

-

By the time lunch arrives you are drained. Today seemed to be extra difficult as every thought was heavy with emotion. Usually it wasn’t this bad, but it got worse when you were tired or stressed. You couldn’t block thoughts as easily so every little idea crossed your own mind. If someone else complained about homework you might go insane. MJ was already at your table when you arrived and collapsed next to her, bringing your face to your hands. Yep, today you were going insane. Her thoughts began to leak to you like an oil spill, and there was nothing you could do but sit and listen to them. Thankfully she was tired today too and wasn’t thinking about much. Ned and Peter soon joined you. You greeted them without lifting your head, the weight of everyone’s thoughts too much. 

“You okay?” Ned asked, sitting opposite you. 

You nodded and almost laughed when he thought, ‘she doesn’t look okay but I’m hungry.’

With a sigh you sat up straight and started eating. Your mood slowly improved as conversation flowed. MJ was preoccupied with a book but you were happy to go along with Peter and Ned’s conversation. Mind reading made these interactions more fun as you knew exactly what the other person was thinking. It’s funny how often people lie to please their friends. 

“So what are you doing tonight?” Peter asked you. 

Shrugging, you replied, “homework I think. You?”

“Stark internship.” He replied quickly. 

Oh yes. The holy Stark internship. Half the time you wondered what he actually did there. You imagined him running around getting Starbucks for the Avengers and cleaning their weapons. It was unrealistic but humorous. You nodded and grabbed your water. When you took a sip Peter’s thoughts entered your mind. 

‘I really need to fix the web design. I can’t be Spiderman with no webs.’

You choked on the water and proceeded to have a coughing fit. Peter and Ned looked at you immediately and thoughts of concern entered your head. MJ simply glanced up then continued reading. You assured them that you were fine and recovered partly. Peter was Spiderman. Peter Parker. Shit. You knew you weren’t supposed to know that, and it only made you angry. Stupid powers. They kept talking but you were no longer focusing. You were friends with Spiderman, and your friend was Spiderman. Your food was forgotten about as you tried to process this new information. Did Ned know? Obviously he did. Peter isn’t that great at keeping secrets. You doubted that MJ knew since she hardly took an interest in your lives in general. A part of you was disappointed that Peter hadn’t told you, but you quickly pushed the feeling away. It’s not like he knew about your powers. Then again, you weren’t an Avenger or a superhero who risked their life daily. More and more thoughts crossed your brain, causing you to physically wince. With your own thoughts it was getting too much. 

“Are you sure you’re okay? You look pale.” Ned said as he took another bite of his sandwich. 

“You stopped eating, do you feel sick?” Peter asked, sincerely worried. You wanted to smile and reassure them that you were fine but your brain was on fire. It was a migraine times twenty. You could hardly speak as you abruptly stood up and staggered out of the cafeteria. You think you mentioned the bathroom but everything felt like a trance. After wandering aimlessly you stumbled into an empty hallway. You collapsed onto the nearest wall and slide down it until you were sitting on the floor, knees bent. Immediately the pressure was released in your brain as you were alone, the pain now similar to a normal migraine. No one was nearby so no thoughts could bother you. After a few deep breaths you managed to reduce the throbbing to a dull headache. Sitting alone in the cold hallway, you finally allowed yourself to think. So Peter was a superhero, which was unexpected but not surprising. After all, he was the bravest and smartest kid you knew. But a superhero? He had powers too. That part made you excited and you thought of all of the possible conversations you two could have. He might understand your pain and struggles. You could bond over that. But you couldn’t tell him your power. Well, you should since you knew about his secret, but you couldn’t. No one could know. You didn’t want or need to be a hero. You wanted to be an average teenage girl (who could read minds). He needed to know that you knew at least. But how? You groaned and put your head on your knees and hugged your legs to your chest. Life seemed impossible at various moments, and today was no exception. 

-

-

“(Y/N)!” 

You stopped and turned in the direction of the voice. Amidst the now crowded hallway you spotted one Peter Parker rushing towards you as fast as he could in the sea of bodies. You stayed next to the classroom door until he finally made it to you. 

‘That would’ve been a lot faster if I used my powers.’

His thought sent a joint through your spine, another reminder that he was Spiderman. The two of you joined the crowd as you walked to your locker. It was the end of the day and you couldn’t wait to get home and be alone. Your brain needed a rest. 

“How are you? And don’t say okay.” He said, raising his voice slightly so that he could be heard over everyone. It dawned on you that you hadn’t seen him since lunch and cursed. You didn’t know what to tell him. 

“Um yeah, just had a headache.” You said quickly. You let out a sigh of relief when you reached your locker. 

“A headache? (Y/N), I thought you were going to pass out.”

You froze, your lock combination half done. “It was a really bad headache?”

He looked down and you swore he let out a sigh. Was he annoyed at you? When he met your eyes again he looked defeated and immediately you felt bad. 

‘Doesn’t she know I care about her?’

You blushed but turned back to your lock when Peter raised an eyebrow. Awkwardly he cleared his throat and asked if you wanted to go over to his place to study. 

“Now? What about the Stark thing?” You asked, closing your locker. 

He shrugged. “It’s not like I do much there on a weekday anyway. Besides, we have that, um, maths quiz.”

‘Please say yes.’

You smiled and rolled your eyes. Maybe you could tell him you knew his secret. “Okay, lead the way Parker.”

-

-

After Peter opened the door to his apartment he let you in first, where you were presented with a woman rushing around madly. Peter closed the door with a soft thud and looked around the room in confusion. 

“May?” He asked. 

His aunt stopped to look at you both and smiled before she continued rushing around. The two of you remained standing where you were as she threw various items into her bag. Peter tried again. 

“What’s going on?”

This time she stopped and closed her bag. “As of five minutes ago I have a date.”

Peter raised an eyebrow. “A date? Like a date date?”

May rolled her eyes and laughed. “Yes, a date date.”

“But it’s 4pm.”

She shrugged. “It’ll take me an hour to get there. He lives outside of Queens.”

Peter readjusted the grip on his bag and didn’t say anything, but he drew his lips into a very thin line. 

‘It doesn’t sound right. She shouldn’t go. Maybe I should go too. No that’s just weird.’

You smiled to yourself at Peter’s protectiveness over his aunt. Though he didn’t talk about it much you knew his parents had both been killed and his aunt was the only family he had left. You didn’t know her very well but you always admired her. Deciding that she had everything May grabbed her keys and walked over to Peter and yourself. 

“Now I’ve left some meatloaf in the fridge that you can heat up if you’re hungry. I should be back by ten but keep your phone on you. Text me if you need anything, okay?”

Peter nodded and pulled a face when she kissed his head, but his thoughts revealed how much he loved the affection. 

“(Y/N) it’s lovely to see you sweetie. Stay as long as you want.”

“Thanks May.”

She smiled and headed out the door. “Have fun, but not too much fun!”

And with that she closed the door and left. Peter stood stunned in his own apartment before he came to his senses and moved to his room. You followed him as he hastily made apologies about his aunt and the messy apartment (it seemed perfectly neat to you). Sometimes you wished people could read your mind, like now for example, so Peter could really see how much you didn’t mind and how you actually loved his aunt and his apartment, mess and all. Once in his room you took off your backpack and sat on a chair as he sat on his bed. Both of you got the appropriate books out and organized your things. You really liked being with Peter. He calmed you and he didn’t think a lot or make his thoughts loud, which was now an extremely valuable trait to you. There in his room, there was a genuine silence that settled between you two which extended to your mind. It wasn’t awkward or forced, just comfortable. You could tell he was tired and you guessed that you looked the same. Hoping to get your mind working you turned to the stack of books that were now on Peter’s desk. 

“Okay so what did you want to go over? I’m okay with geometry but can’t do trig to save my life. Maybe if we start at chapter 2a...Pete?”

You looked up to find him slouched over his books, eyes drooping at a rapid pace. When he heard his name he jolted upright and looked at you, confused. 

“What? Sorry (Y/N).” He sighed. 

You frowned and moved the chair closer to him. Maths could wait. 

“What’s going on?” You asked softly. 

He shrugged. “I dunno. I guess I haven’t been sleeping much...and I’ve been busy with the Stark thing and school.”

You smiled out of sympathy as he stared at the floor. He genuinely looked tired and overworked. And now you knew that he was Spiderman, well his tiredness made more sense. He went to speak again when his phone buzzed. You saw it was a message from Ned before he leant over his books to pick up his phone, leaning closer to you as he did. Almost immediately his mood seemed to perk up, energy now radiating off him, as he read the message. 

‘Finally something good.’

He went to jump up but glanced up at you and stopped. 

‘Shit, I can’t leave (Y/N).’

“What?” You asked, acting like you couldn’t read his mind. He froze, trying to think of an excuse to leave. His eyes darted across the room nervously. With a sigh you allowed yourself to accept the truth. You had to tell him. 

“Peter, go.”

He looked at you with wide eyes. “What are you talking about? Everything’s fine, I just need to-“

“I know you’re Spiderman.”

He went silent and froze. He stared at you, unblinking, as he slowly turned pale. You internally groaned. That was a mistake. 

“(Y/N), I, erm, I mean what do you, um, I’m not-“

“Stop,” you sighed. “Go Peter. It’s fine. We’ll talk when you get back.”

He didn’t move, only stared at you with his big brown eyes. God they were dangerous. Slowly he stood and faced you, his face dangerously white with shock. 

“(Y/N), please...”

“Go Peter. I’ll be waiting.”

He quickly looked at his phone again, as if he was making sure there was actually an emergency, before turning back to you. His eyes had gone wide and were full of regret and sorrow. They made you giddy and sad all at once. Finally he sighed and moved to his closet where he revealed a decent sized case. Carefully he opened it to reveal his suit, packed precisely. It was perfect, and you realized just how much he loved being Spiderman and what he did. It made you feel a bit guilty since this could be you and your life. You could be happy and helping others, yet you were too scared to face to world. Besides, mind reading was useless, at least that’s what you told yourself. You left his room to let him change and when you returned he was already gone. 

-

-

It was sunset when he finally returned. After completing your homework you played on your phone and studied Peter’s room, fascinated by every little detail. It was clean and neat but had so many hidden secrets or objects. You laughed to yourself when you stumbled upon LEGO Star Wars figures. Even they were set up perfectly in their own place. When Peter did stumble back into his room you were sitting on his bed. Hastily you threw down your phone and stood up as he closed the window and took off his mask. You had to admit that you were speechless. He left before in such a rush that you didn’t see him in the suit. Now you were stunned by how much older and mature it made him look. You half expected him to look like an oversized kid without the mask but he looked like something else. A hero. He glanced at you and gave a weary smile, but you could tell that he was nervous. Peter sat next to you on his bed and stared at his mask which he held in his lap. You stared at your hands but let your eyes flicker over to him every so often. The silence still wasn’t awkward, but now it wasn’t exactly comfortable. It felt like there was an electric current between you, ready to strike at any moment. Peter cleared his throat, making you turn your head towards him. He didn’t lift his eyes. 

“So, I’m Spiderman.”

You smiled and nodded. “I know.”

He frowned. “Yeah, but how? Was it Ned?”

“No! No, it wasn’t Ned.” You quickly replied. Instantly you saw him sigh in relief and felt guilty again. You couldn’t let him think that his best friend betrayed him, and you hated that the thought even crossed his mind. Ned had nothing to do with it. It was you. All you. 

“It’s...well it’s complicated.” You finally said, not sure how to tell him. 

‘How did she find out? If she tells anyone I’m screwed. Oh god, what will Mr Stark say?’

His thoughts came across quick and scattered in your mind. It was then that you realized just how worried he was. Spiderman was a big deal to him. No, it meant the world to him. You’d never seen him so happy or so invested in anything. He had a right to know, even if it hurt you. 

“I won’t tell anyone.” You mumbled. He looked at you sideways as his eyebrows came together in slight confusion. You knew that was because the thought had crossed his mind, yet he dismissed it for coincidence. You sighed and glanced over at him. The light from the setting sun behind Peter was blinding, and it bathed him in a golden light. It blurred his edges and imperfections. His tousled hair became fairer, his skin tanner, his suit a pale red. It was a beautiful sight but you couldn’t let yourself get caught up in the moment. You had to carry on and get the job done. He had a right to know. 

“I found out...from you.” You started slowly, trying to explain it simply to Peter. However you were already failing miserably as his eyes grew wide. 

“Me?”

You stuttered and stumbled over words until you thought of a coherent sentence. “Let me start again. I found out through you, yes. But you didn’t say it. You...you thought it.”

Peter’s face grew more confused as you tried to tell him the truth without explicitly saying it. 

“Thought it?”

“Um, yeah. Because, well a couple of weeks ago, I was in an accident.”

“Yeah I remember, I had to FaceTime you to explain the chemistry formula while you lied in bed.”

You laughed softly at the memory. You couldn’t believe he remembered that. 

“Yes, that accident. But it did more than confine me to my bed.”

You turned to face him and, for a moment, you were tempted to take his hands into yours but decided against it. That was too intimate. 

“Pete, I’m going to sound crazy.” You laughed nervously. Your eyes couldn’t meet his. Sensing your anxiety Peter leant over and grabbed your hands. You smiled internally as his warm hands squeezed yours to comfort you. He didn’t let go. 

“(Y/N), I’m freaking Spiderman. I think I can handle anything.”

You gave him a weak smile as he looked at you with anticipation clear in in his eyes. You proceeded. 

“I...I can read minds.”

Silence followed your confession as it laid heavily between you both. Peter’s grip on your hands loosened but he didn’t let go. His face went slack, as did his thoughts. For once it was impossible to read him. There was no thoughts or expressions. Nothing. He was a blank canvas, and nothing terrified you more. 

“Peter, please say something.” You finally whispered as you waited for the verdict. When he didn’t respond you begrudgingly removed your hands from his, recoiling away from him. You needed to leave. 

“Wait,” He stammered. “You read minds?”

You were now frozen on the edge of his bed, his eyes staring intently at you. 

‘Please don’t leave’. 

You settled in your new position, legs over the side of the bed, but made no effort to face him again. The distance was almost unbearable to you after being so close. 

“I read minds.” You repeated. 

‘What am I thinking about?’. 

You giggled as Peter’s thought entered your head. He raised his eyebrows. 

“You actually-“

“Know you’re asking me what you’re thinking about? Yep.”

Slowly a smile spread across his face. 

“That’s freaking awesome! Mind reading!”

You blushed and bit your lip, shocked by his reaction. 

“Awesome?”

“Of course it is. Shit (Y/N), you read minds.”

This time you laughed. The bed shifted as Peter moved to sit next to you. He sat centimetres away from you, shoulders almost touching. It made your heart race. 

“You know that this means we can fight crime together right?”

You laughed and rolled your eyes. “Absolutely not.”

His face dropped. “What? Why?”

“I’m no hero. I don’t want to fight bad guys or save cats from trees. I want to be a teenager who works and complains about school and goes to parties-“

“You hate parties.”

“Not the point Peter.”

You stared at your hands, not wanting to see the disappointment in his eyes. He didn’t understand. He was fearless and brave, unlike you. You were so lost in your thoughts that you jumped when something touched your hand. It was Peter trying to pull your hands into his own. You let him but didn’t meet his eyes. 

“I wish I could read your mind.” He mumbled.  

You laughed. “Me too.”

Peter shook his head and gripped your hands. “No, you don’t understand. I want to know what you’re thinking and feeling. I want to know what you see in yourself. Why don’t you believe in yourself? What do I say? I’m lost, but I swear I’m trying to help. I’m just not good at it.”

Slowly you looked up to find him looking away. Gently you removed one hand from his grip to turn his face towards yours. His dark eyes looked down in defeat. 

“Hey, it’s not your fault. In fact, you’re amazing. You’re my best friend Peter. Trust me, I wish you could read my mind too so you could see that I’m freaking out but I trust you. I do...”

Your voice grew quieter as you spoke until it was barely a whisper. Peter raised his hand to lay it over yours, which was still cradling his cheek. You stayed like this for a while, but one irritating thought just wouldn’t leave your mind. No matter how hard you tried to push it away it remained. You had to ask. 

“Were you going to tell me?” You asked, pulling your hands back to yourself. Peter let go and looked at you. 

‘Spiderman?’ He thought. You nodded sheepishly. 

“Yes...no. I don’t know,” he confessed. “I wanted to, I really did. But it was a risk and I...” 

Peter trailed off as your heart sank. He wasn’t going to tell you? You knew it was unfair to be mad at him, after all you weren’t planning on telling him about your powers, but it felt personal.

“Who else?” You asked. When he started to shake his head you snapped. “Peter don’t freaking lie to me. I know Ned knows. Does MJ? Did you tell everyone but me?”

“(Y/N) calm down! No, they don’t...they didn’t know. Ned found out by accident, I wasn’t going to tell him. I haven’t told MJ so I think she doesn’t know, but she knows everything.”

“And me?”

“You were different.”

You laughed sarcastically. “How Peter, enlighten me.”

“I like you.” He almost screamed, competing with your increasing volume. You blinked at him, both your cheeks red from yelling. The two of you never fought, so this was all new. And then he had...feelings? For you? You felt dizzy and you failed to think of something to say. Your mind was blank and Peter was tense: you could feel it radiating off him. 

‘Say something.’ 

His thought was desperate and weak but there all the same. You didn’t look at him, you couldn’t, when you finally spoke. 

“Me?” You muttered. 

Peter nodded and refused to meet your eyes as well. The silence was crushing you as you stared at anything but Peter. If this was a movie, you would have confessed your own attraction and he would have proceeded to kiss you as the final credits rolled. Alas, this was reality where nothing was quite as perfect. Instead neither of you would speak or look each other in the eye. Each person was killing the other. You knew you had to speak, to say something, to save Peter from his misery. Yet no words would come to mind. Nothing. For the first time in a while, your mind was completely silent. No thoughts from you or Peter, only a void. 

“I...” you began but quickly stopped, realizing you didn’t know how that sentence was going to continue. 

“Don’t, (Y/N). Just don’t. I don’t need your pity.” His voice was emotionless and sent tears to your eyes. How could you do this, hurt your best friend? The boy who loved you? Time was slipping away and you had to act quickly, otherwise it would be too late. 

“I don’t know what to say...”

“(Y/N), I said don’t. Just go-“

“Peter shut the hell up!” You interrupted. “I don’t know what to say because I’m terrified, because I feel the same way. And I want this to be perfect but it’s not and I’m not good enough.”

Peter’s eyes went wide. 

‘Not good enough?’

He finally looked you in the eye, his own raw with emotion. “Are you kidding? You? You are perfect, and I mean it.”

You laughed in sorrow. “Says the boy who saves people’s lives and can swing building to building.”

“So what if I can jump from a building to another? That doesn’t matter. I will never be as smart or as kind or as beautiful as you, and that’s what matters.”

You looked at him, eyes wide with shock. He genuinely cared about you, your best friend. Your Spiderman. Clumsily Peter fumbled for your hand, not once breaking eye contact, and pulled them into his lap. You gripped onto his hands out of love and fear. This was everything you ever wanted, yet you never imagined feeling so scared. You shifted and moved your body to fully face him, Peter then following your lead. Finally here you were, face to face. No secrets. No judgement. No powers. Just two teenagers who were desperately in love, and nothing terrified them more. 

“Shit Peter, I don’t want to stuff this up.” You confessed, your eyes flickering down to your holding hands. 

“Me too,” Peter said, taking in a shaky breath. “I can’t lose you.”

And there it lay, the imminent truth, exposed and in the open. There was no returning now to what you were before. This was end game. Eventually you loosened the grip on his hands and you both sat in silence, tracing patterns on each other’s palms. There was something intimate about the small gesture that made you take a leap of faith. 

“Can I tell you something?” You whispered as talking seemed too loud. Peter nodded, staring at you intently as he bit his lip. God he was adorable. 

“I can’t control my powers, and they terrify me. And I don’t know who else to tell but you.”

Peter nodded understandably, his face full of concentration. 

‘Think Parker, it’s your time to shine. But oh my god she’s so beautiful...shit she can hear this can’t she?’

Peter sheepishly looked up and grimaced when he saw humour in your eyes. 

“You heard that didn’t you?”

“I’m sorry. See, THIS is why it’s a problem.” You explained. Internally you couldn’t believe that he thought you were pretty. “And you don’t have to prove yourself. You know that right?”

Peter nodded and gave your hand a squeeze. By this stage you had figured out that not only did he love physical affection, but he loved hand holding. And that was adorable. 

“I know, but it’s you and I like you and...that’s it!” He broke off mid-sentence and stared at you, eyes mimicking a child’s in a candy store. You raised an eyebrow, curious. 

“What? What’s it?”

“I know how to deal with your powers. The Avengers!”

You gave him a sympathetic smile. “Pete, thank you, but I already said-“

“You don’t want to be a hero, I get it. But I know the Avengers. They could help you understand and control your powers. Besides, I did travel to Berlin for Stark so he owes me one.”

Joy and excitement filled you. The Avengers? Helping you? It seemed surreal but it made sense; they were all heroes with powers or a better understanding of how they worked. 

“You would do that for me?” You asked with a small voice. 

“I’d do anything for you.”

It was easily the cheesiest thing for Peter to say, but in the moment it was perfect. Looking at his excited eyes you allowed yourself to smile wide. He smiled back, energy radiating off the two of you. In the moment you flung yourself at Peter and hugged him tight, arms clinging around his neck. After the initial surprise Peter relaxed and hugged you back, his hands holding your waist. His hands sent electricity through your body. You had never felt more alive or loved than in that moment. He laughed in your ear at your happiness, his warm breath fanning your neck. You buried your head into the crook of his collarbone and held him, your body melting into his. The closeness didn’t feel intimidating or awkward to either of you: it felt right. Tomorrow things would become complicated and difficult. Peter would contact the Avengers and your training would begin. Soon he would be out in the field again, being a friendly neighbourhood Spiderman. But in that moment, nothing mattered but the closeness of your bodies and the undeniable happiness that both of you felt. And it was in that moment that you truly, whole heartedly fell for Peter. As fate would have it, it was the exact moment that Peter fell for you too. You knew it before the thought even crossed your mind. 

‘God, I love you (Y/N). ‘

[iamsaha]

Beauty and The Beast

This story has been a long-time coming. I hope you enjoy it, my dear bookworm:

For Belle, the clearing that she read in was her biggest treasure and her biggest secret. The oak trees still grew closely together, forming a canopy above her that only let some light through. But it was enough for her to read by as she leaned against the oak tree that grew in the middle of her clearing. The clearing gave her a sense of safety and encouraged her to let her mind roam free as she traveled in her books. Her clearing was a protective carriage; one that could protect her from any dragons that threatened to come roaring from the pages in her hand, any storm that could magically splash through, anything at all. 

She often found that she could never tell that time was passing when she was reading in her clearing. It was as if she was in her own magical bubble. The only way she found out was when it grew difficult to read as the sun began setting. The light that shone through the clearing would dim, giving her a private sunset long before the world actually grew dark. It was because of this sense of timelessness and her ability to fall into any book, that Belle hardly ever noticed what was actually going on around her. 

Specifically, she did not notice the Beast that had recently taken to watching her read. That’s all he would do. He would stand by an oak on the edge of the clearing and peak at her from behind it, his form barely hidden by the ancient tree. Had Belle been more attentive, she would have seen the massive bear-like creature. The Beast was a monster just like in her books, right in her line of view. Yet she could not see him. 

The Beast was glad that she hadn’t noticed him because he knew that she would scream in terror. And from how often he had seen her return to this clearing, he knew that this was a special place for her. He didn’t dare ruin it. He knew he was already risking that by watching her like this. But he could not help it. She was beautiful. Her brunette hair framed her face and she often had to brush it out of her eyes as she read. She did it automatically, not even registering that she was moving her hand. 

It was the look that she had while reading that had captured the Beast’s attention. Her eyebrows furrowed just slightly in concentration, furrowing even more when the light began to grow dim. As if her body knew it was getting dark but she didn’t. Her mouth would occasionally widen or tighten, depending on what was happening in her book. And her brown eyes. They seemed to dance as they flew across the pages. In them he could see joy, sadness, anger, confusion, excitement and all the emotions one feels when falling in love with a story. They were the emotions he himself felt when he read and it overjoyed him to see them in another person. 

One day, while watching her read, he finally managed to get a glance at the book. “A Fool’s Adventure” by Margaret Song. His heart leaped. She was reading one of his favorites! At that moment he knew he had to talk to her. So after she had left for the day, the Beast called upon his crows. They came to him in a swarm of feathers and talons, swirling around and around him. He hardly heard the cacophony anymore, having grown used to them in the years he had called on them. Moments later, he was standing on the balcony outside his room. Belle’s clearing was miles away but he would be returning to it momentarily. He just had to write her a note. 

“Rina.” He called out softly. His crow-maid showed up immediately. She was short and thin, looking as light as the feathers that covered her. Her body was for the most part humanoid, but her face was that of a crow. The feathers around her eyes were just barely touched by gray. 

“Yes, my Lord?” She bowed slightly, her hands held in front of her with their talons interlaced. 

“Bring me paper and a pen.” He sat at his desk. He stared up at her surprised face. “Now.”

“Yes, my Lord.” She hurried from the room, her surprise giving her the energy to move so quickly. Well. Her surprise and her happiness. Her Lord hadn’t written anything in years. She returned moments later with a stack of papers, a pen, and a bottle of ink.

“This is more than I need.” The Beast growled softly, growing tense at the sight of the writing items.

“Forgive me, my Lord. I thought…” 

“It is fine.” The Beast waved his hand, dismissing her. “I shall not need your services for the rest of the day. Please go eat.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Rina bowed and left, carefully shutting the door behind her. 

The Beast stared at the paper in front of him, his paw trembling. Then with a deep breath he took hold of the pen as well as he could. He frowned with frustration when his paw didn’t move with the dexterity required to hold a pen. But he was determined to write a note to the girl in the forest.

It took him longer than he had expected to write such a simple note. The pen had frequently fallen out of his grasp. And he made mistakes in spelling from his frustration, forcing him to rewrite a few times. Finally, after thirty minutes, the Beast had scribbled out a note that was just barely legible. 

“Song is quite a talented author. I have long loved her work. If you enjoy her, I presume you have read the books of Baron Thomson? If you have not, please read this one. It is one of his best.” 

Trying to ignore his childish handwriting, the Beast walked over to his bookshelf. He quickly spied his copy of “Forgotten Tears”, its spine bent and worn from frequent rereads. He tucked the note between the first few pages, making sure it stuck out just a little. The Beast then called for his crows to take him back to the clearing. After making sure it was empty, he crept forward and and left it by the tree that Belle read under. His books were treasures to him, but he knew it would be in good hands. He made sure that the book would be fine under the tree, then returned home. The Beast went to sleep that night hopeful and nervous. And a third feeling he had forgotten he could have: Happy.

***

“Bye, Father.” Belle shouted over her shoulder as she made her way out of her house. She strode down the cobblestone pathway, smiling at her neighbors as she passed them. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly but it was not hot enough for it to be uncomfortable thanks to the light breeze that ruffled through. A perfect day for reading. She clutched her book to her chest and walked excitedly. Her Father had returned from his travels and had brought her some new books. This one was the first in the pile. In her excitement to get started, she did not notice that she was about to sit on a book when she got to her clearing. It was only when she felt the edge poke into her thigh that she adjusted herself. “Oh my.” She said, picking the book up. Who would leave a book here? No one knew about Belle’s clearing. Growing anxious she opened the book and took out the note she saw sticking out. Her frown turned into a smile when she finished. She took a proper look at the book’s cover. No. She had not read it. But it was on her list. 

Belle could see how worn the book was. Someone had just lent her a great treasure. She looked around curiously, wondering if that someone was nearby. “Hello? Anyone out there?”

The Beast was out there. And it took all he had to remain crouched behind a tree so that she would not see him.

Belle looked around some more and sighed. She wanted to start the book that her Father had gotten her. But the mystery surrounding this new book’s appearance was too intriguing. Who had left it for her? Perhaps she’d find out if she read it. So she did. She read it in the clearing, unknown that the Beast was watching her. She read it when she returned home for dinner, being careful to not accidentally spill onto the pages. She read it in bed, ignoring her sister’s cries for her to turn off the light. She read and read and read until she finished the book right as dawn began stretching across the sky. Then she took out a piece of paper and a pen. 

“I do not know who you are. But thank you very much for lending me this book. Baron Thomson is amazing. Please recommend me some more of his work.” 

Belle put the note into the book with a smile and then got started on her chores. She didn’t feel the slightest bit tired. 

***

The Beast watched as the girl returned the book to the same spot she had found it. She then looked around, as if she was hoping to find who had left it. She didn’t search for long. When she gave up, the girl just sat beneath the tree and started on the book that she had brought with her. 

He watched as the girl read. And to his dismay he saw that she was not reading with the same concentration that she always read with. She kept glancing up every now and then and looked around the clearing. She even opened her mouth a few times as if to call out. But she would always frown to herself and return to the book. 

The Beast resolved to leave her alone. He had already ruined her tranquil reading place by placing his book. How could he, a man who loved books so much, ruin the pleasure for someone else? He had committed a grave mistake. So after Belle had left and he had retrieved the book, he decided that he would never return here. To let her regain her Eden. 

The Beast watched with crestfallen eyes, dejected that he would never see her again. Never see the woman who could love books as much him. Had he not been careful, he would have wailed in frustration and anguish. The day passed as an eternity for him yet when she finally left, the Beast cursed that the day had passed so quickly. When he was sure that she was gone, he strode to his book. He picked it up and, to his surprise, saw the note she had left. 

Then he roared with happiness. Birds and animals scattered in fear but the Beast didn’t care. She wanted more! He could barely contain himself as he called for his crows. 

If she wanted more, she shall get it. 

***

The Beast and Belle began to trade notes. He would leave her a book with a note. She would read the book and tell him her thoughts. He would respond with his own thoughts and another recommendation. She didn’t always love what he left for her but she was always appreciative and always asked for more. And The Beast would always deliver. 

As he sat at his desk one night, he read and reread her latest note. The handwriting flowed like a small brook, gentle as the soul that had written it. 

“My Librarian, 

“Raven’s Run” was absolutely amazing. I love love love it! I know that I say that a lot about the books you lend me, but I really mean it with this one. I have asked my Father to get me a copy. 

Have you read the works of Sir Adam Villeneuve? He is my favorite author. I am eagerly awaiting his next book. Although it has been quite some time since he last published one. 

Thank you again. Give me more, please.

-Belle”

She had taken to calling him Librarian around the time she had begun signing the notes with her name. It was a nickname that greatly pleased the Beast. What pleased him even more was that she had just written “My Librarian”. Had she meant anything by it? Probably not. The Beast knew that. The Beast also did not care. He was her Librarian. 

The Beast growled happily as he started a new note. He had taken to holding the pen with both his paws to prevent it from slipping out of his grip. The letters took forever to write even with this. And his handwriting was still atrocious. But as Belle had never once mentioned his handwriting, the Beast understood that she didn’t care. If she didn’t care, neither would he.

“Belle, 

That is wonderful. I hope your Father gets you a copy soon. I have found that reading a book more than once is the best way to truly experience its essence. The words do not change. But our perception of them does. 

Yes. I have read his work. I do not know if he’ll ever write again, but I do hope for it as you do. 

I hope you enjoy this new book that I am leaving for you. I only recently read it and I’m eager to discuss it with someone. 

-Your Librarian”

***

“My Librarian,

We have been writing these notes for three months now. The summer is coming to an end and the days are growing shorter. Soon it will be too cold for me to read in this clearing. 

But I do not want to stop these letters. Can we perhaps meet? I would like to see your collection. 

-Belle”

Belle had written that with anxiety straining her fingers. Would her Librarian agree? What if he disappeared just from her asking to meet? What if he saw through her ruse and knew that she mostly wanted to meet him and didn’t care too much about his collection? 

And since when had her Librarian become a he? She had no idea what the Librarian’s gender was. Belle didn’t realize that she was actually just hoping that the Librarian was a man. 

Belle didn’t sleep at all the night after leaving the request. And she practically ran to the clearing the next day to see if her wish had been granted. In the clearing was a new book. And a note. Her fingers shook as she read it. 

“Belle, 

Yes. Only because I cannot say no to you. 

I hope I do not bring you regret instead of the happiness you are seeking. 

I shall send someone to get you as you read this note. I promise you will come to no harm. 

-Your Librarian”

Belle frowned. What did he mean by regret? And what did he mean by harm? Belle looked around, fearful at what she had just done. She had asked to meet someone who had never revealed themselves to her. And now they were coming to get her. Had she gone mad? She should never had done something like that. She had reacted too impulsively. Let her heart take control and do something utterly stupid. She was about to just listen to her new paranoia and leave when the crows arrived. 

“What in the world?” Belle gasped as she saw the swarm approach. Then she screamed as they began flying around her. She fell to the ground and covered her head, fearing for her life. She didn’t notice that she was being carried away from her clearing. It was only when she felt cold stone underneath her feet that she stopped screaming. Belle looked up and saw that she was at the front door of a huge mansion. And the door was open. Standing next to it was a woman…no. She had the head of a crow! She stumbled back and was about to scream again when the crow-woman cut her off. 

“Lady Belle.” The crow-woman said. “Your Librarian is waiting for you. He promised you that you will not come to harm, did he not?”

Belle stared. Did this thing really expect that to convince her? “T-Take me h-home. N-now.”

“I understand that my appearance is frightening.” The crow-woman said. “But please. I do not wish to hurt my Lord by saying you refused to come in. We mean no harm.” She cocked her head and Belle thought she saw the woman’s eyes look different. Like they were pleading. To her surprise, Belle found that she believed the woman. 

“I…I’m watching y-you.” Belle stammered, taking hesitant steps into the mansion. She told herself that she would run the second she felt she was in danger. That she had no other choice but to listen to this monster. 

“As you wish, my Lady.” The crow-woman bowed. “I am Rina. Please follow me.” She hastened her pace just a bit so that she was in front of Belle. 

Belle looked around in awe at the foyer she was standing in. It was easily bigger than her whole house. The floors were of polished marble accented with granite. Intricate pillars embedded in the walls rose up to the ceilings. Each pillar had different carvings and, if Belle looked closely, she would see that each pillar told a story. The foyer extended out into more rooms but Rina led her up the carpeted staircase that waited across the entrance. Even through her slippers Belle could feel that this carpet was like no other. 

“Who is your Lord?” Belle murmured as she stared at the paintings lining the stairwell. She wondered if any of the stern faces staring back down at her was her Librarian. She decided quickly that they weren’t. Their faces didn’t match the gentleness that her Librarian had. 

“Sir Adam Villeneuve.” Rina said when they reached the second floor landing. It was as open as the floor below them, various hallways leading to different rooms. 

Belle nearly tripped over herself. “What?” She said with baited breath. Had she been writing to the Adam Villeneuve this whole time? Why hadn’t he said anything? She had even mentioned Adam by name! Oh she had been such a fool in some of those letters! And to her most favorite author… 

“Sir Adam Villeneuve, my Lady.” Rina looked like she was smiling. “You may call him Lord Adam.” Rina paused. “Although he may wish that you don’t say Lord.”

“Sir Adam Villeneuve lives here? In a mansion so close to my village?” Belle still didn’t believe it. 

“Yes, my Lady. This is his ancestral home.” Rina seemed to be enjoying herself. She loved to talk about her Lord after all. “He returned here after some…unfortunate events.”

“Unfortunate events?” Belle asked. “Is that why he hasn’t written anything new?”

“Yes, my Lady.” Rina led her through a hallway until they were in front of a heavy looking door. “He is waiting on the other side.” She turned to face Belle. “Please, my Lady. Do not be afraid.” 

Belle found that she wasn’t nervous at all. She couldn’t understand how considering she had been ready to run screaming just a short while ago. She gave Rina a nod and the crow-woman opened the door. After Belle had stepped through, Rina shut it gently. Belle didn’t notice. She was too busy staring at a  Beast that stood 8 feet tall. His shoulders were so broad that he would have trouble stepping through doorways normally. His arms were impossibly muscular and his whole body was covered in black fur. The suit he was wearing had been tailored for him but it still stretched and fit snugly on his massive body. His head looked like a bear that had partially transformed into a man. She very nearly screamed in terror. But she saw his eyes. They looked scared. 

The two stood staring at each other for an eternity. Months of friendship stood hanging in the balance. Adam wanted it to continue. Did Belle? 

“Librarian…?” Belle said finally. Why did he look so scared when it should be her that was terrified?

“Yes.” Adam said quietly. “I am your Librarian. I am Adam Villeneuve.” Adam attempted to smile. When Belle flinched, he stopped. “It is good to meet you, Belle.” He hoped that she could hear his sincerity despite her fear of him. 

“Why….How….” Belle was confused. Crows that could carry her miles away? A crow-woman that was a simple maid? A beast-man that was actually a famous writer?  All of this was impossible. It belonged in books and plays. Yet it was right here in front of her. All of it. For her eyes to see and her mind to believe. 

“My appearance you mean?” Adam said. The fact that she wasn’t screaming and hadn’t run away was making him more confident. “Please, Belle. Sit and I will explain.” 

Belle noticed that he talked with a strange slur. Probably due to his mouth. It didn’t look like it was meant for speaking. “No. Just explain.”

Adam smiled on the inside. As they had exchanged letters over the months, Belle had grown comfortable with him. She no longer became afraid of being blunt. The fact that she was being so bold now… Perhaps he still had a chance. Perhaps he hadn’t lost her. “Alright.” He himself took a seat behind his desk. “It’s a curse.”

Belle didn’t say anything. 

Taking her silence as a sign for him to continue, Adam kept talking. “My Grandfather always spoke about a family curse. Every now and then it would strike a man in the Villeneuve bloodline and his servants. I never believed it…who would? I just assumed that my Grandfather was trying to entertain me.” Adam paused and glanced at a painting to his left. It depicted an old, kind looking man. “I even put it in one of my stories.” 

“Briar Heart.” Belle murmured. 

“Hmm?”

“Briar Heart.” She repeated, louder this time. “I’ve read it.” To Adam’s surprise, she was smiling. “First book of yours that I read actually.”

“What did you think?” Adam wished that he could smile without frightening her. 

“It’s my favorite one.” She finally sat down, taking a seat across from him. “Why were you cursed? Why is your maid a crow-woman?”

“I do not know exactly why I am cursed. My Grandfather never mentioned the reason beyond talking about a cruel ancestor. I think my ancestor hurt or offended a powerful witch. As for the crows… The Villeneuve crest is that of a crow.” Adam explained. “Our servants wear all black and the female ones sometimes wear a crow feather in their hair as an adornment.” Adam suddenly felt extremely embarrassed by his family’s tradition. He had never noticed how strange it was until just now. “It doesn’t explain why our servants are affected by the curse. But it seems to explain why they resemble crows once the curse strikes.”

Belle nodded thoughtfully. “So you’re a Lord of Crows.”

“That sounds embarrassing.”

“It isn’t.” Belle smiled. She wasn’t scared of the Beast in front of her. She was, however, surprised at how easily she had gotten over her initial terror. Was it because his demeanor - that of a gentle scholar - actually matched the one in the letters?

“I am glad that you think so.”

The two stared at each other again. This also lasted an eternity. But it didn’t feel nearly as painful. Adam was quite content to just stare into her eyes for as long as possible, but Belle stood up. 

“I have to go.” Belle said. She sounded sad. 

“Must you?”

“Yes. My family will worry.” She bit her lip. “Will you send your crows for me again tomorrow?” 

“Of course. If that is what you wish.” Adam’s heart felt like it was going to stop.

“It is.” Belle smiled. “Of course it is. You’re my Librarian and you haven’t shown me your library. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

***

Belle returned the next day. And the next. And she kept returning even when winter arrived. Her Father was away on business and her sister was at an age where she cared little for anyone but herself. So Belle kept returning to Lord Adam’s mansion. As she did that, more of his servants became comfortable with showing themselves to her. They were all of various sizes but they all resembled crows. 

“Where do you get this food?” Belle asked as she bit into a pastry. “Surely none of you can go shopping?”

“A family friend is aware of my…predicament.” Adam carefully pushed a book back onto the shelf. “He helps.”

“That’s lucky.”

“Yes. It is.” Adam smiled. It didn’t look any less terrifying than when he had first smiled at Belle. But now she knew it was a smile. “I am quite lucky, you know?” He stared pointedly at her.

“Despite being a cursed Lord of Crows?” Belle said, dryly.

“Despite that.”

“You’re a strange man, Sir Adam.”

“As are you if you so willingly keep my company, Lady Belle.”

“I am a strange man?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Perhaps I do not.” 

Adam smiled again. “You enjoy making me feel bad don’t you?”

“Just a little.” Belle smiled. Then they both returned to eating their food and browsing his collection. They often spent time like this. In silence, only occasionally breaking it to talk about a book or ask a question. They both found that the silent moments did not bother them one bit. 

It was during one of those quiet moments that Belle had a realization. In the “Briar Heart” there had been a rose… She put her book down abruptly, startling Adam. 

“What’s wrong?” Adam asked.

“A rose.” Belle said. “In the “Briar Heart” a rose is what lifts the curse.”

Adam paused. He didn’t like where this was going. “Yes. And?”

“The rose is real isn’t it?” Belle said, excitedly. “We can use it to lift your curse.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“What do you mean?” Belle asked. “It is simple. In the book, the character Alina plucks the rose and gives it to the cursed man. She was his true love. Despite all the magical elements, the book in the end is a love story. We can-”

“Belle.” Adam said firmly, interrupting her. “Do you understand what you are saying?”

“Yes!” Belle said, not actually understanding. She was too caught up in excitement. Adam had more or less confirmed that the rose could turn him back. All she had to do was give him the rose and… “Oh.” Belle turned a brilliant shade of red. 

“That’s right.” Adam said. “It wouldn’t work.”

When Adam said that Belle felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. It wouldn’t work? Was he saying that she wasn’t his true love? That’s what he was saying. That’s definitely what he was saying. “Why wouldn’t it work?”

“Belle…”

“Why wouldn’t it work, Adam?!” Belle yelled, tears falling freely from her eyes. When had this happened? When had she fallen in love with him?

“Because…” Adam desperately searched for the right words to say to make her stop crying. But he couldn’t find them. “Because you don’t love me.” 

“What?” Belle tossed her book at him. It bounced off his chest harmlessly. 

Adam picked the book up and set it back on the table. He then looked at her, tears in his own eyes. “Look at me, Belle.” He murmured. How could a woman like Belle love a monster like him? He was nothing. Just a stupid beast caught up in getting some attention from a wonderful woman. “Look at me.” 

Belle’s eyes continued to rain tears as she glared at him in anger. Her mouth curled and it looked like she was about to scream at him some more. Then she just turned and stormed out of the library. Adam shouted after her and began chasing her. She easily outran him, pushing past confused servants.

“Belle!” Adam yelled. “Belle, please wait!”

She ignored him and ran through the back of the mansion and into the garden. Adam had brought her here during one of her visits. After walking around it, they had sat at a bench and just talked. During that walk, Belle had noticed a particularly beautiful looking rose but hadn’t paid too much attention to it. She had assumed it was just a beautiful rose. But now she knew. It was even easier to find now that it was the only rose that was blooming despite the winter. 

Adam caught up to her right as she reached the rose. “Belle!”

“I love you, you idiot.” Belle said, her voice strained in anger. How stupid was he? Did he really think she cared about how he looked? “I love you.” With that, she plucked the rose. She pricked herself on its thorns but didn’t care.  She walked right up to Adam and shoved it into his hand. “And I know you love me.”

When she handed him the rose, a silence spread across the garden and into the mansion. It was as if the entire world had stopped moving. And then the rose burst into thousands of petals. They swirled around Adam and a few thousand flew into the mansion to surround the servants. Around and around they flew, pushing Belle back with a surprising amount of force. And then, just as suddenly as they had started, they stopped. The rose petals fell to the ground. Standing where a Beast had once stood, was a dazed author wearing a suit that was just barely hanging on him. 

“Adam?” Belle spoke hesitantly. 

“Hello, Belle.” Adam said. “It’s me.” 

“You said it wouldn’t work.” Belle said, tears once again brimming her eyes. 

“It appears that I’m an idiot.” Adam said, dryly. “As you said while confessing your love for me.” 

Belle burst out into tears and into a laugh as she hugged Adam. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Belle.” Adam hugged her back, squeezing tightly. 

“I love you more.” Belle said stubbornly, pulling away just a bit to glare at him. “Obviously.”

“Yes. Obviously.” Adam laughed. 

“Good that we agree.” Belle smiled. 

“Can we go back inside though?” Adam asked. “We’re both gonna freeze to death if we stand out in the snow dressed like this.”

“Yes. We can. After this.” She kissed him, pulling him close once again. Right when Adam began growing content with just standing there with her in his arms, she pulled away. “Alright. Let’s go.”

“Oh. Okay.” Adam said, disappointed. He had wanted to kiss her for so long.

“Don’t worry.” She smiled sweetly. “You’ll get more after you do something for me.”

“Anything for you.” 

“Write.” She said simply. “I want you to write again.” 

Adam looked at her face. The way she looked at him as if she adored him. He realized that she had been looking at him like every time they had been together. “Yes, Belle. I’ll write again.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

-Lux