#( sun is in such a good mood today lets hope its contagious
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sunnymused · 1 year ago
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i don't know how to be anything more than this.
"I DON'T KNOW..." PROMPTS // no longer accepting
"And what's so wrong about being EXACTLY who you are?" Positive encouragement, that's what his friend needs! A pick me up! A reminder that they CAN exist as is! And boy, did they come to the right robot!
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Endlessly enthusiastic and upbeat, no one will be feeling bad about themselves on his watch. He leans over, hands resting on his chin, smile ever present and oh so big.
"If you ask me, there's NO problem here!"
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softsebnbuckystan · 4 years ago
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Soul ties - Part 1 (Bucky Barnes au)
“Oh, my my my soul so glad He's popped by to say hello to me„
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Your wedding day was coming soon, which is why you were parading around the store in a puffy white dress. You had insisted this is the last thing you did, since you didn't trust yourself with a white dress and unsupervised. Your best friend was there, obviously, and he was a little too excited about this dress.
"I love it", he said. "You look like a princess."
"I'm not sure..." You sighed. "It's too much, I'd like something slimmer, like..."
"A mermaid cut would be stunning on you," the sales assistant chimed in. "I actually think of this dress...wait a second."
She came back as quickly as she'd left with a gorgeous long-sleeved white dress. It was simple, with some lace here and there, and you loved it at first sight. After putting it on, you were convinced Darren, your groom, would love it as much as you did.
"Considering the smile on your face, I don't think I need to ask if you like it."
"No need, indeed. Oh Steve, isn't it beautiful?"
"It is, y/n. This dress found its owner, I believe."
Steve Rogers hadn't been in your life for a long time, and yet you could not imagine your days without his precious advice. He'd done a great job at rescuing you in Sokovia and even though you might not have had the same powers as your little sister Wanda, he decided to protect you as well. That's what Steve did : he protected people he cared about and now, he was your best friend, a brother, a shoulder to cry on and a contagious smile to hear.
"I can't wait to walk you down the aisle."
"Are those tears in your eyes, big guy ?"
He shook his head, visibly moved. You flashed him a cheeky smile as you walked to the changing room and you heard him snort. In the car back home, Steve couldn't help but think about your dress choice. You'd been avoiding this kind question the whole day.
"I love the dress you picked, of course, but is there a peculiar reason you rejected the one that showed some skin?"
You anticipated his next question and decided it was best to answer it right away. Talking about soulmate tattoos never missed to make you feel like an imposter, a liar. You couldn't say you liked that.
"You know the skin isn't the problem, Steve. And no, I still haven't changed my mind about Darren."
Steve looked back at the road and nodded.
"I support you no matter what, you already know that. I just wonder how it's possible he hasn't seen the tattoo yet."
"I'm careful. And whenever he asks, I tell him I was born without one."
"He buys that ?"
"Yeah. It's happened to other people, sadly. He can never know the tattoo doesn't show his first words to me. I love him and that is all that matters." You desperately searched for a change of subject or a way to lighten the mood. "I'm still wondering what my supposed soulmate did – or will do – to me though... I mean, 'shit, i'm sorry' isn't common. I've never seen swear words on anyone's body except mine."
"Well, you are far from common yourself after all."
"I guess you're right."
---
"Ready ?"
You exhaled slowly and closed your eyes for a second. The smell of roses and grass was all around you and you could feel some rays of sunshine hitting your skin. Coming back to yourself, you looked at Steve and placed your hand on his arm.
"Ready," you answered, even though you did not mean that.
"Easy," he said as he felt your hand shake. "Darren is already crazy about you, he's not gonna run away. You on the other hand...well, it's still time to make it happen."
"I don't wanna run away, silly! I... I want to marry him. I am just, you know, slightly anxious."
"Yeah, slightly." He scoffed. "It's okay, you have the right to be anxious. Let's go, shall we?"
You almost couldn't hear the music playing as you started walking down the aisle. Every one was looking at you and it made you feel...weird ? Darren, at the other end of the path, was smiling at you. He strongly believed in you being his soulmate. After all, all his tattoo said was "hello", and he'd been confused his whole life at the amount of people speaking that word around him. You tried to smile back, of course, even though it felt slightly off. No one was looking at you weird, though, so it must've been just a feeling. Steve finally left you next to Darren.
"Dear guests, friends and family, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union in marriage of Darren Garrett Ward and y/n y/l/n."
Wanda, your sister and bridesmaid, gave you a reassuring look. She knew about the tattoo as well, even though she always thought of it as an old-dated superstition who tricked people into believing there was only one person right for them in the universe. That couldn't be true in her opinion, since she was blissfully in love with an android, who – technically speaking – had no skin to put a tattoo on. Her views on this had played a great role into making you feel better about lying to Darren.
"I, Darren Garrett Ward, take you, y/n y/l/n, to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
Okay, your turn now. You had this. With a smile on your face, you proceeded.
"I, y/n y/l/n, take you, Darren Garett Ward, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Sir, you may kiss the bride."
As Darren leaned in to kiss you, the whole crowd cheered and threw flower petals at you. That was the moment you finally felt filled with joy. The sun was shining above your head and everyone was perfectly happy for a moment. The kiss ended and Darren took your hand to take you a little farther in the beautiful garden, where all the tables had been installed for the party. Seated at the biggest table, you felt good, even with all those pair of eyes over you. You were married to the man you'd loved for three years, and nothing could ruin this perfect night. Steve finally joined you after speaking of the last details with the band he'd hired.
"Mrs y/l-Ward, I believe I haven't properly introduced you to my friend here..."
Unfortunately for the friend ini question, that was the moment a kid chose to hit him with a football, causing him to spill coffee all over your chest.
"F*ck, that's hot!" you exclaimed after getting up as a reflex.
"Shit, I'm sorry," he said instantly, with a somewhat grumpy voice because of the slight humiliation.
The two of you immediately shot looks at each other, at loss for words. Steve, who'd heard the exchange, couldn't believe his eyes. He'd always thought that his friend's "f*ck, that's hot" tattoo meant...well, something else. In an effort to seem unsuspicious, he finished introducing his friend.
"Bucky, meet y/n. I..."
"Steve, you'll finish the presentations later," Darren interrupted. "Y/n needs to change. Can you take care of that ?"
In an another scenario, you would've preferred Darren to offer his own help but there and then, you jumped on the occasion as Steve seized your hand and strode away from the scene. You were – undoubtedly – in total disbelief and when Steve handed you your evening dress, you had no idea what was going on anymore.
"What do I do now ?"
--- yes, i am back! I rarely post on this media, but I hope my story can make some people smile or just spend ten minutes away from their problems! Feel free to give me feedback
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violet-knox · 4 years ago
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A Day to Remember
Year 7 - Chapter 65
Summary: Despite the end of the holidays, you’re determined to make the most of Severus’ birthday and even offer him a chance to redo one of his childhood regrets.
Word count: 3881
Previous Chapter - Chapter 1 
~
The morning breeze bit at your skin as you opened your eyes. Stretching your arm, you searched for the warmth you knew the other side of the bed offered. A smile crept onto your face as you nudged yourself into Severus’ side. You gently placed a kiss over the little skin exposed at the crook of his neck, your leg slipping between his. You moved your lips up to his jaw, the faint smell of lavender enticing your urges, your hand over his waist, pulling him closer. The cold left your body rather quickly as you propped yourself on your elbow and attached your lips to the other side of his neck. Severus woke up to the familiar sensation of your lips desperately marking him, his hand immediately searching to place themselves all over your figure.
You detached from your position and slowly moved to ghost your lips over his, teasing him with the forbidden kiss of a needed lover. Pulling the covers over your body, you moved your leg to his other side, straddling him as you continued to deny him the pleasure of your lips moving against his. You felt the cold of his long slim fingers travelling up your thigh, resting over your hips, his thumbs threateningly pressed into your hip bone. Your grin grew as you placed your hands over his clothed chest, keeping your gaze on his dark orbs, your chest heaving with need as it left his. 
“Morning love,” you whispered so lightly with the hopes no one else had woken as early as you. Severus had been in such a bad mood yesterday when all the students had arrived back from holiday break and even though you’d agreed sneaking into the dorm after the holidays were over was too risky, you couldn’t let him spend the night alone after the mood he was in. You didn’t want him to wake up grumpy and ruin the remainder of such a special day. 
Leaning down, you finally connected your lips and kissed him passionately. He felt himself melt into you, his hands shifting to grip your waist. A breath caught in his throat as you parted, his eyes following your movement before you slowly began to trail your lips along his jaw and neck. He smiled as he felt you pour your love all over him, his sour mood from last night slipping his mind until he remembered what day it was. 
January 9th had never been a day worth waking up for. A day filled with nothing but disappointment and dread was never anything to be excited for. He’d only ever let himself fall for the expectations of a happy birthday a year after he’d met Lily, after she’d told him they’d celebrate together even if his parents had nothing planned. But of course, nothing had gone as she’d claimed that day, and instead, he’d found himself exactly where he’d always end up at the end of the day on his birthday; in his bed, under the covers, muffling his tears with his pillow. Despite the day’s history, he felt a small spark of optimism this year, if only because nothing had gone wrong since the official beginning of 1978. He still had you, Potter had elected to keep his distance whenever he was with you, knowing full well you’d break the news to Lily that her boyfriend wasn’t as reformed as she’d thought. His life seemed to have finally been settled, yet he was cautious to believe it would all last. After all these years, he was rather convinced the day was cursed, that he truly was destined to die alone and after what happened last year, he was sure this year would be no different.
“Sev?” You parted from him when you felt his grip on you loosen only to see his smile had faded away, a longing present in his eyes as he stared off into the distance. Gently, you placed a hand on his jaw, your thumb slowly running over his cheek like you knew he liked. His eyes closed as his attention was brought back to you, his smile slowly returning, old memories fading away to be replaced with nothing but thoughts of you. “Are you alright?”
Severus opened his eyes to see yours reflecting concern for him. He was beyond lucky to have you in his life, the sliver of happiness he felt today only present because of you. The longing in his eyes disappeared, but you could still see disappointment as you looked into them. You watched him nod his head before pushing himself up slithering out from under you.
“Let’s get dressed,” he said casually as he removed himself from the sheets and pulled back the curtains enough to fetch your clothing without giving you the chance to protest. You did as he requested however, and got dressed before turning into your animagus form and jumping off the bed, waiting for Severus to open the door and head out of the Slytherin common room. 
It saddened you to see him like this, wondering what had brought on this mood when you were sure that if you were the first thing he saw this morning, he would wake up happy and ready to celebrate. The day had only just begun and whatever it was bringing down his mood, there was plenty of time to bring up his spirit. Transforming back after leaving the common room, you happily took his hand in yours and began to lead him down the hall towards the basement. You made your way to the kitchens and just as you’d requested, there were two cupcakes on the table in the corner where the fireplace lay, surrounded by an array of assorted breakfast foods.
“I requested the house elves to set it up last night,” you explained as you walked over and picked up the cupcake with the singular candle stuck in the middle of the green and white frosting. You held it up to Severus as you took a seat across from him. “Make a wish.”
Severus’ smile grew as he settled into his seat, the day already better than any other year before it and perhaps this would be the year he finally celebrated his birthday. Perhaps you were going to help him break free of the curse and as he leaned in and blew out the candle, that was exactly what he wished for. His eyes followed the cupcake as you placed it in front of him, the widest smile he’d ever seen present on your face complimenting the joyful aura you brought to his day. You picked up your goblet and rose it, waiting for him to do the same before toasting to him and his special day. 
“Happy birthday my dear Prince,” you said softly, clinking your goblet with his and sipping your pumpkin juice before indulging in a happy birthday breakfast. Severus felt his cheeks flush pink, your smile so contagious, he couldn’t rid himself of his own. But it wasn’t embarrassment that he felt fill his chest, nor was it disappointment. He felt nothing but pride and gratitude. He felt special and worthy of happiness with every bite he took into his cupcake, every glance you gave him, every word you spoke to him. He cherished this moment and hoped the day would end now before the curse came after him and ruined it, but of course, as all things had an end, so did the beautiful breakfast you’d prepared for him. 
“Meet me at the Quidditch pitch after class?” You asked him, holding him tightly with your arms around his neck. This was going to be the worst part of the day, your anxiety rising with every second that passed in the classes you didn’t share with him, hating that Monday was your busiest day. 
“Are you sure?” Severus hesitantly asked, his brows furrowed as he wondered if spectating your first Quidditch practice of the year was really such a good idea. He loved you and he was proud of all your achievements, but with the history he had with your Quidditch team, he would have rather spent the afternoon in the astronomy tower alone, waiting to spend the evening with you then be thrown hateful looks and whispers of disgust. 
“Of course I’m sure,” you said so obviously like there was no need to ask such a question. Severus scoffed at your clear delight for whatever it was you had planned. He hadn’t seen you this excited since the day you’d arrived at Diagon Alley and shared a room together. It was odd to see someone act like his birthday was a day worth celebrating, that you were grateful for his existence. He’d grown so used to the contrary, he wasn’t sure how to react and could only hope you understood how honoured and thankful he was for everything you’d already done. 
The day couldn’t pass fast enough, the classes he had without you passing twice as long as the ones he’d spend exchanging glances with you. Every smile you gave him was a gift he couldn’t get enough of, his own reflected on his face for the entirety of the class until he was forced to part ways from you once again. Half the day had disappeared, and it hadn’t been a complete disaster. It had in fact gone rather well, professors less inclined to assign homework on the first day back, class demonstrations passing by smoothly for him and he’d managed to avoid Potter between classes until finally his last class ended. 
As he walked out of the Entrance Hall on his way to the Quidditch pitch, he looked up and saw the sun shining happily down on him, unable to remember the last time the sun was visible on his birthday. Clutching the potions book you’d given him last year, he smiled and began to wonder if this was yet another sign he was finally free to enjoy his birthday in its entirety for once. He could only hope that Merlin would gift him one final miracle and give Potter the flu today so he wouldn’t be joining your Quidditch practice and he’d enjoy reading his book in peace. 
The closer he got to the entrance of the Quidditch pitch, the more anxious he became. He stopped in front of the door leading to the stadium and began to wonder if he should even risk being within ten feet of Potter after the lovely day he’d had. He thought of you and how disappointed you’d be if he’d broken his promise to watch your practice and decided to try and catch you in the changing room instead of bolting away without a word. Making his way to the Gryffindor girls changing room, he knocked on the door three times and waited. No one answered which he thought was rather odd. Even if you weren’t in there, surly one of the other girls on your team would have answered. He walked back around to the entrance of the pitch and peaked his head around the corner to find you alone, standing in the middle of the field. 
“Sev! You’re late,” you exclaimed as you jogged over to him wearing what he assumed were a pair of Muggle joggers. He cautiously approached you as he rose a brow, his mouth gaped open as he was unsure of what to say. There was no one around, every door but the entrance way closed with no one in sight. 
“What-what are you wearing? And where is everyone?” he asked curiously. 
“Everyone? What do you mean?” You seemed just as confused as him and he was beginning to wonder which one of you was being pranked, if someone had somehow managed to brew a batch of polyjuice potion and trick you both into showing up here all for some sick joke.
“Don’t-don’t you have practice?” Severus asked hesitantly, praying to Merlin this situation would figure itself out, his heart raged with anticipation as his gut told him something horrible was about to happen. 
“Sev, it’s your birthday! I cancelled practice and told the team to enjoy the day before we got back into the session on Wednesday.”
“Then why did you want to meet here?” Despite your explanation, he felt even more confused than before. Surly you’d both enjoy the evening alone better inside in the astronomy tower, or anywhere else for that matter. Why have him meet you out in this chilly weather?
“I wanted to give you your present,” you said as you took his hand and walked him over to the middle of the field where Severus saw your current broom as well as your old broom, the one you’d used to fly them to Diagon Alley laying next to each other. Picking up both brooms, you offered him his old one. “I know it’s not much and I know it’s second hand, but this broom got me through so much and I just couldn’t let it go so I want you to have it. I thought we could fly together, and I could teach you a few things if you like.”
You’d pondered for so long over whether this was a good idea or not. You didn’t want to insult him by giving him something used when he’d worked so hard over the summer to replace all his second hand belongings, picking up extra shifts and even searching for sales on his free time. But you just felt as if it was only fitting for him to have a broom, and it would take him forever to buy a new one. The one you had was an old model yes, but it also wasn’t cheap and beyond that, it had sentimental value. It had helped you through so much and though Quidditch wasn’t something that interested Severus now, you thought at the very least it could help keep him inspired and connected to you no matter where either of you went after Hogwarts.
“(Y/N), I-I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” Severus took a step back and frowned, his eyes locked on the broom like it was the most horrendous thing he’d ever seen. Your heart dropped as you saw the disappointment in his eyes. You’d so badly wanted this to work out. You’d even prepared what you’d say to him, how you’d convince him to at least give it a try and enjoy the afternoon flying together for a bit. 
“Why not? Sev, if this is about your fear of flying, I can help-”
“I had a bit of an incident in first year.” Severus blurted out, his eyes shut. He’d never wanted to tell you this story, to admit to the embarrassment, but he didn’t want to lie to you. He was touched by your proposal and knew how much that broom meant to you, but he didn’t want to relive such a horrible memory and taint how you saw him. “Potter jinxed the broom I was assigned so that it would buck away every time I tried to mount it. I-I nearly failed that class.”
You paused and stared at him in awe, frowning as your eyes watered. Your face reflected nothing but horror at the story he told, your chest heavy with sorrow and despair. Dropping the broom, you rushed to hug him, taking him by surprise as you flung your arms over his shoulders and held him as tightly as you could. “That was you?! Oh Sev! I’m so sorry!”
“For what?” he asked in surprise, thrown off by your sudden leap, his free hand pressed to your back as you held onto him like your life depended on it.
“I-I should have done something, I-I should have stopped him or-”
“(Y/N), you didn’t know me back then, I wouldn’t expect you to do such a thing.” He tried to comfort you as your words turned into inaudible muffles, touched by your own dread for something he knew you couldn’t have stopped. Potter was to blame for his humiliation, not you.
“I should have anyway,” you whispered as you loosened your grip on him, your head hung low with shame. You could hardly believe the agony Severus had gone through all those years alone without you and to make matters worse, you’d just stood there behind the rest of the bystanders, doing absolutely nothing as James tormented your now boyfriend. “Sev, I’m so sorry,”
Tears trickled your eyes as Severus hooked his finger under your chin, bringing your line of sight up to meet his. You were met with such a soft smile, a look of compassion you didn’t deserve. A tear fell down your cheek as the thought of you failing him overtook you, Severus quickly wiping it away with his thumb. You felt like a complete failure, like a horrible girlfriend who wasn’t worthy of the title, and you had no idea how to make it right when the incident happened so long ago. 
Severus felt his heartbreak at the look you gave him now, one which he’d never seen before. He was bewildered by your reaction, confused as to why you felt obligated to blame yourself for something you had no part in, nor would he expect you to have stepped in in any way. He smiled and pressed his lips to yours, hoping the kiss would show you he truly did not blame you for what had happened. As he parted, he was happy to see the smile return to your lips, wondering if this was all the curse had in store for him today. 
“Let me make it up to you Sev,” you said to him as you stepped away and picked up the brooms you’d previously abandoned. “Let me teach you to fly properly.”
Severus hesitated, staring at your old broom before taking it in his hand. He’d always wanted to fly like you, to play the sport of the Wizarding World and enjoy the freedom the sky had to offer. Potter had taken that from him, something he thought he’d never regain until now. He smiled and took a step towards you in agreement, watching your face brighten with joy. He was so thankful for you, knowing he wouldn’t want anyone else teaching him to fly.
You happily mounted your broom and pushed off the ground, hovering as you waited for him to put down his belongings and do the same. There were no words to explain how you felt in this moment, the moment Severus trusted you so fully and completely. He was willing to push aside the trauma from first year just to appease your need to help him develop what you considered a crucial skill for Wizards. You couldn’t change the past, but you could ensure he had a much happier future.  
“Keep your legs shoulder width apart and don’t push off too hard,” you said as you watched him throw his legs over the broom. Severus took his time, checking his stance first and doing as he was told, wanting for this to go as he’d originally planned in first year. With a light kick, he found himself hovering off the ground just as you had done. He looked up at you with a smile, already overjoyed at how well things were going. 
You smiled back and slowly began to fly off, instructing him to follow your movements, always checking he was alright before you sped up or gained altitude. Once he’d conquered his nerves and let go of his past failures, you found that he was quite the natural flyer, sure he would have made a splendid addition to the Slytherin Quidditch team if only he’d been given the chance. But that didn’t matter now, you were only happy to see him smiling as he flew with the wind in his hair, a joyful look on his face you never thought you’d see as he soared through the air. 
Neither of you had a clue how long you’d been in the air for, enjoy your time as you chased one another. When you finally landed on the ground, your chest in pain from laughing as hard as you had, Severus immediately walked over to you and pulled you in for the most genuine hug you’d ever felt. You happily hugged him back, staying in his arms for as long as he liked.
“Thank you,” he mumbled into your shoulder as he held you tight, his face buried in the crock of your neck. The broom was a touching present, but the real gift you’d given him today, something he’d thought was impossible to achieve even with magic was what really solidified his belief that the curse of January 9th had finally been lifted. You’d given him back a small part of his childhood, something that had tormented him for seven years and you just gave it to him like it was nothing. For the first time, he’d flown a broom without feeling like he was about to be thrown off, without memories of Potter swarming his mind. He’d gotten the opportunity to enjoy something that was a common rite of passage for Wizards and finally he began to feel like he belonged somewhere. 
Your gift had gone so much better than you could have ever imagined, sure you’d made the wrong choice in presents when you first explained your plans, thinking he would have been happier with just another book. But right now, having him in your arms like this, you know you’d done right by him and made this a birthday a day he’d never forget. After several long moments of silence had passed, you were beginning to think he was happy to stand here like statues for the rest of the day, until he finally loosened his grip enough to find your lips and thank you with a long passionate kiss. You wore a smile on your face when you parted, both of you picking up your brooms and making your way out of the pitch.
“Did your wish come true?” You asked as you walked back towards the castle for dinner. Severus turned to you and rose a brow looking confused like he was unsure of what you meant. You rolled your eyes and smiled, not believing his expression for a second. “The wish you made this morning. Your birthday wish. Don’t tell me you didn’t make one because I saw you pausing before you blew out the candle.”
Severus scoffed as he looked down, smiling as he remembered the morning and how well the day had started off. He had you to thank for it all, for his wish coming true, for breaking the curse that lingered over his life, for giving him a birthday he didn’t resent. “Yes. Yes, it came true.”
“Good,” you whispered, taking his hand in yours and walking as close as you could to him, making a wish of your own. You wanted him to enjoy every single last one of his birthdays, for them to be as memorable as this one, for each year to be better than the last and so long as you were there beside him, you were sure you’d get your wish.
~
A/N: I’ve always loved the idea of Severus struggling to fly after being humiliated during flying class. I found it interesting how we are lead to believe that Severus wanted to be good at Quidditch and while this is very much influenced by character bias in the books, I think it makes for an interesting storyline. Either way, I’ve always wondered, if he really didn’t like flying after first year, then how did he become confident enough in flying that he’d referee a Quidditch match, fly after the seven Potters and even learn to fly without a broom. I’d love to hear other people’s opinion’s on this topic, I don’t think it’s one that is brought up too often.
Next Chapter
~
(As mentioned in a post a few days ago, I’ll be disbanding my taglist, so this will be the last time I tag anyone in this story. Fee free to check out my posting schedule, subscribe to the series on AO3 or turn on notification here on tumblr as an alternative. Thank you to everyone who’s ever asked to be tagged, it is really such a compliment and meant the world to me 💜)
@sleepysnapesnake @wanderingtrails @bush-viper-cutie @fluffymadamina @dracos-mudblood @ravenhopeflyte54 @cuddlebunny0330
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sweetwritertanya · 4 years ago
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Nothing To Be Jealous About (Namjoon)
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Summary: Namjoon is acting weird after you pick him up from work. In order to light up his mood, you take him out for a drive. The reason he had been bothered both surprises you and erupts a fit of laughter from you.
Warnings: none! Well, swearing, but that’s it! This is just a fluffy fic, as will the next one be. As all of them had been, it was a fun one-shot to write and I particularly like that the female is taking the male out while she drives! Even though I hate driving myself (I do it only if I really have to), I think it’s unfair how little representation there is of women driving in fanfiction. Since Namjoon is the only one without a driver’s license, it was the perfect opportunity! Hope you all like it!
Word Count: 2507
He really thought he was better than this. He honest to God thought he knew better by now. And yet, it was like he was in fucking high school again, the most disturbingly cringy emotions taking over his heart in a matter of seconds like he had done no maturing whatsoever in the last few years.
He had been watching for almost ten minutes now, just standing behind the pilar of the parking lot as you talked to your friend inside your car. In the car that you used often to pick your boyfriend up from work whenever your schedules permitted. Leaning with your back half on the driver’s seat, half on the driver’s door, you were facing your friend with a large smile that made your puffy cheeks ascend beneath your eyes in the cutest of ways. You were wearing a white off-the shoulder zip-up top that he always thought it looked great on you, but now he was wondering if it showed to much skin, to much of your neck and shoulders and cleavage.
All thoughts he would never have if the friend that was currently occupying his passenger seat next to yours wasn’t a male.
You never told him you gave rides to your male friends. In fact, he couldn’t recall you ever mentioning having male friends to begin with, maybe the occasional schoolmate or a friend’s boyfriend and that was it. And now, here you were, getting out of the parked car and coming around the vehicle to hug your friend goodbye. And Namjoon really hated how jealous he was of it all, your warm smiles and the guy’s large hands on your back.
As soon as the male was out of sight, you leaning against the hood of the car looking at your phone, he gathered the courage to step forward and walk towards you. A buzz from his pocket indicated the message he received from you, asking if you would get there soon. He wasn’t sure if he should admit how long he had already been watching.
“Hey, Y/N” he calls, trying to smile but coming just short of accomplishing that alluring dimply happy expression.
You look up from your phone and stand straight to your feet with a glowing beam.
“Jonnie! Missed you, baby!” you greet as you open your arms for a hug.
You don’t notice the hesitation, how his hands on your back and your arms around his middle reminded him of the man you were hugging just moments before. And Namjoon hates himself for feeling like this. It’s not like he caught you cheating, it was only a hug that would have meant nothing if it had been a girl instead of a guy. And it’s not like he couldn’t accept a man and a woman could be only friends. But, when it came to you, he had a hard time believing any man would want to be just friends.
Your plump figure had all the soft curves on all the right places and some extra fluff to squeeze and hold in his large hands. Beautiful skin, tameless hair and a cool sense of style, he was unable to comprehend who wouldn’t want you. Even now, with the white zip up top covering the top of your arms to your elbows, and some denim jeans that fit snuggly around your tick legs, some simple sneakers on your feet, he thought you looked ravishing.
“How was your day, baby?” you ask stepping back just a bit to look up at him, your hands holding the side fabric of his black t-shirt with some simple white lettering at the front, tugged in his striped dark trousers.
“It went fine. And yours?” Though he was trying to sound normal, there was a bit of dryness in his tone that even he himself noticed as he spoke.
“Mine went normal as always, but it sounds like yours wasn’t really fine? Want to talk about it?” you question, perceptive to his unusual mood.
“Not really” Namjoon sighs, avoiding eye contact. “Not right now, at least.”
Always understanding and accommodating, you think about it for a minute before having an idea and tugging at his hand, fallen from your hips when he last spoke. He glances at you and you smile reassuringly.
“Let’s go for a drive, then!” you propose.
Pulling him by the hand, you even open the door for him to go in, a spring in your step as you did your best to cheer your boyfriend up before the end of the day. No matter how crappy of a day he had, it was your main mission to have him fall asleep with a smile on his juicy lips. And today would be no exception.
Driving away from the building’s parking lot, Namjoon pulls his black cap further down his forehead to hide his face from possible recognition while you drive, getting more and more comfortable as you move away from the agglomerated areas and travel to the outskirts of town. Having the radio on was always a must, turning the music up whenever a particular liked song came up and, of course, singing your lungs out.
Namjoon found himself getting lighter and lighter as the heavy feeling of insecurity and jealousy was washed away by your cheery melodic voice, your over-the-top high notes and body gestures, your contagious energy and good disposition. Before he knew it, you were both in the highway shouting the BTS song that came up, Namjoon’s raspy squealing vocals and scrunch up face never failing to make you laugh loudly.
Road clear, you allowed yourself to glance at the man by your side and thank your lucky starts for having him right there, right next to you. He was smiling now, a real smile, one arm propped against the window, legs casually open in the tiny space the car allowed, cap now pulled back from the continuous head movements from before, hooded heavy eyes creasing at the corners with his raised cheeks, glowing with the last few rays of sunshine just before the sunset.
Hand moving of its own accord, like it often did in moments like this, your palm searched for his and soon you intertwined your fingers, letting the holding hands rest against his thigh as you focused back on the street. You missed the way he looked back at you, first glancing at your hands joined together with an almost wonder behind his almond eyes before landing on your round face. It was a mirror of your own glance.
Pulling up to a deserted spot with a beautiful view of the Han river and the Seoul city, just as the sun disappeared and the moon was all that was left in the sky, you shut the engine and laid back in your seat, exhaling deeply. Your hand left his since you needed it to park, but this time it was Namjoon who searched for yours as he joined your hands once more.
The silence lasted long minutes, a comfortable one. No anxiety to fill it, no need for conversation, nothing missing but the companionship of each other. After about ten or fifteen minutes, you are the first to speak, simply to say what was on your mind.
“Next time, I should bring some beers” you announce, envisioning the two of your sitting outside, toasting with two cans in your hands.
Another beat of silence goes by and you don’t think he is going to say anything back, something you don’t take personally, rather enjoying the way he just brushes the skin of your knuckles with his thumb in response. But when he does talk, it is about the overly though out conclusion he reached on the way over.
“I’m an idiot.”
You turn to him with furrowed eyebrows in confusion, completely unaware of where that came from.
“What?” you blurt out. “Hey, Joonie, what’s wrong? What’s bothering you?”
You lean in towards him a little and brush his arm with your available hand, up and down his covered bicep, hoping to get him to open up a little about it.
“It’s stupid and I know it” he starts with a sigh, head down as his eyes stay glued to his lap. “A relationship should always be based upon trust, and I do trust you. This is just a fucked-up way of thinking rooted in male chauvinism that subconsciously continues to instill in me these awful feelings I thought were overgrown by now and-”
“Baby, baby, breathe” you plea as he keeps speaking nervously fast. “I have no idea what you are talking about, Namjoon. Slow down, start from the beginning.”
He exhales deeply and extracts his hand from yours to join them in his lap, legs spread apart the most they could in the tight space and left foot restless as it taps on the car’s floor.
“I saw the guy you came with in the parking lot.” He finally admits it, eyes still focused on his hands.
“You mean Sam?” you inquire, still oblivious to what his point was.
He sort of freezes for a moment then, slowly moving his head up to glance at you with an equal confused expression.
“Sam?” That was a familiar name he was sure you used before.
You just nod and continue, still not getting it.
“Yeah, Sam. I told you about him before. What about it?”
“I… I though Sam was a girl friend” he confesses, tension in his jaw as he remembers all the times you spoke of him, all the times you said you were going out with him somewhere. “Anyway, I… I wasn’t expecting to see you with him and then I saw you two hugging and I really didn’t like it. Your arms around him and his hands on your back, it just-”
You were pretty sure that even if you tried to hold it in, you would have been unsuccessful. The roar of laughter that came out of your mouth was surely uncontainable and you found yourself holding your stomach as you bend in half in the driver’s seat, head resting against the wheel as you tried to catch your breath between the genuine, albeit embarrassing, chortles.
Only when you accidently bumped the horn of the car did you pulled yourself together, cleaned the tears threatening to fall from your eyes, and faced the very much confused and slightly offended Namjoon.
“S-sorry, baby, sorry. I couldn’t stop myself. Are you telling me you got jealous of Sam? That’s what’s been bothering you?”
“Yeah. And I was trying to apologize for it, before you burst out laughing” he states, crossing his arms at you but adopting his serious face once more. “Look, I don’t want be one of those assholes who get jealous for nothing. I really don’t. I know, logically speaking, that it was just a hug, but my mind keeps thinking of how tight he was hugging you and where his hands were and-”
“Joon” you call before he continues burying himself in a hole. You move your body completely to his side, take both his hands in between yours and lean in to look him directly in the eyes. “You have nothing to be jealous about. Especially about Sam.”
“I know. I do, but my brain-”
“He’s gay, Joonie” you inform with a chuckle, trying not to break into a fit of laughter again. “Sam is a gay male who happens to be very committed to his boyfriend. Rest assured, there is nothing you could even begin to be jealous about.”
A beat of silence as you watch realization hit him. He blinks a few times, eyebrows slowly relax and thick defined lips slowly part to make a cute ‘o’ shape.
“Oh… Oh, no. I’m such an imbecile!”
His head falls down again in shame and you throw your arms around him as you giggle about it all. He places his forehead against your shoulder and you feel his cheek and ear against your neck, both quite hot and probably flushed.
“It’s okay, Namjoon. I thought you knew. I was just giving him a ride; his boyfriend lives close to your workplace.” You explain, hands rubbing up and down his curved back.
“I can’t believe I got jealous. I honestly thought he was into you. You must think I’m a jerk.”
“Humm, actually, there is this very, very small grey area between being cutely jealous and overly jealous” you say, leaning back and taking his face in between his hands before he could hide it from view. Like you suspected, cheeks and ears were turning red as you spoke. “Lucky for you, this lands on the cute side of things.”
Pulling his face to you with your cupping hands, you guide his lips to smack into yours for a quick peck, just a reassuring gesture that he had nothing to worry about.
“And it was pretty funny, too” you add, chuckling again with glinting eyes set on Namjoon’s.
It is him who leans forward this time, swallowing your laughter with his mouth, moving his soft lips over yours gently at first and then feverously, longingly, with intermingling lips in a motion that became more and more rhythmical as the seconds passed. One hand holding you by the back of your neck and another squeezing at the flesh of your stouter thigh, his tongue brushed your bottom lip and you allowed it entrance, dipping in and caressing with yours as the inside of the car grew just a bit foggy and the cold night grew warmer.
When he pulled back you could still feel the taste of sweet peaches in your mouth. You open your eyes and you found him staring back, almost shyly, with dimpled blushed cheeks but a more confident stance visible in his eye.
“I can’t say I ever thought of myself as ‘cute’ and ‘pretty funny’ before” he admits.
“We should definitely change that” you determine. “Those are two qualities that should be at the top of the list, mister.”
“Of your list maybe. Not sure if others would think the same” he says with a chuckle, leaning back in his seat and pulling you in by the shoulders.
“Agree to disagree.”
You rest your head on his shoulder, one of his arms around yours and the other holding your hand. It is a bit uncomfortable, since you are half sitting in between the seats, highly aware of where the handbrake was poking at your backside. But you endure it for a moment of peace with the oblivious Namjoon.
“I will work on it” he promises suddenly. “This feeling of jealousy.”
“And sharing it with me” you add, moving your head to look up at him from his shoulder. “I want to know if something I’m doing is bothering you and why. If it’s valid, I’ll change it. If not, I’ll be sure to tell you when you’re overreacting. Deal?”
He looks down at you and pecks your lips in a sweet smooch.
“Deal.”
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stanchonkyman · 4 years ago
Text
☆At the Lake☆
☆Stanley Pines x Reader☆
♡Fluffy Wholesomeness♡
-•☆~~~~☆•-
Today was yet another hot summer day. So, what else would be better than going to the lake to cool off in the chilly water. The kids were up and getting ready for a day at the lake. While you and Stan were together in the kitchen, making up a bag of beach supplies along with snacks and water. You and Stan had been together for a couple of years now and you couldn't be happier. He was the perfect man for you. You hoped that he felt you were as perfect as you thought him to be.
You looked back down to finish up making sandwiches for later when two arms slithered their way around your waist. You squeaked and jumped, turning your head back to look at the culprit. Of course, it was none other than your lover, Stan. "Heyyyy... I was focused!" You fake pouted. Stan laughed and pressed a big kiss to your cheek, earning a giggle from you. "Sorry, sweetie. You know I can't resist you." He nuzzled his face against your neck.
The feel of his scruff on your neck made you squirm, but Stan kept a tight hold around your waist. He pressed kisses against your neck and jaw. You laughed happily and squirmed in his arms. Stan couldn't help but laugh, as your laugh was quite contagious. That was one of his favorite sounds in the world. So, he always tried to do something to get you to laugh. Whether it be attacking you with kisses all over your face or initiating a tickle war out of the blue. He was never afraid to show his affection, especially when it came to hearing you laugh.
"Grunkle Stan! (Y/N)!" Mabel called as she flew down the stairs. She skidded to a stop and looked at you both. "Are you guys ready? Do you even have your swimsuits?" Mabel questioned, puffing her cheeks and placing her hands on her hips. Stan released you from his grip and shook his head. "No, I'll get that now." Stan walked off to your and his room. You chuckled and got to finishing up the sandwiches. Mabel tilted her head and walked over beside you. "Hey (Y/N)?" She asked. You looked down at her. "Yes, honey bun?" You asked, making her eyes light up at her nickname. That look never gets old.
"I have a question for you." She nervously fiddled with her fingers. "Alright, I'm listening." You set down what you were doing and turned to face her. She smiled shyly. That was new for Mabel. At least she had never been shy toward you. She always had a love for you and she treated you like family, just as you would for her. "How do you keep such a good relationship with Grunkle Stan?" She asked. "I'm supposed to be the dating expert. Yet whenever I find a boy, they end up being insane or not being who they seem.." She whispered to you.
You chucked softly under your breath. "Trust me, Mabel. Love takes time. And what you have to do... Is be yourself.. And the right person will love you for who you are. Every little quirk. Every little thing about you." You explained. "Even when Stan and I first got together, things were a little rough. We were a little awkward at first. So, expect rough patches, as there always be some. And if they don't stay after the rough patches. Then they aren't the one. Take your time, Mabel. You're still young." You placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and she smiled. "Okay.. I'll keep that in mind." Mabel smiled brightly.
You smiled and ruffled her hair, then she ran off to make sure her brother was ready. Stan came out of the bedroom, with his swim shorts and his usual tank top on top of that. "I'll finish up packing the beach bag. You can go get your swimsuit on." Stan told you, heading over by you and placing his hands on your hips to press a kiss to your temple before you went to attend your business. You chuckled and returned the favor, kissing him on the cheek. "Okay, I'll be out in just a moment." He released you and you went to the bedroom. He watched you go and smiled to himself as the door shut behind you.
-•☆~~~~☆•-
Soon, you all arrived at the lake. There were a few other families there already, but of course, you guys didn't mind all that much. You and Stan walked hand in hand, it wasn't as if anyone didn't know you both were together. You ran the Mystery Shack together as a matter of fact. You were both always together. Like peas in a pod. You were snapped out of your thought when Mabel let out a squeal. "Oh my God! Look over there!" She pointed in the direction of a boy with tan skin and luscious brown hair that fell over his shoulders.
"I have to talk to him. Here! Hold this!" Mabel took off her cover-ups and three then to you. You caught them quickly as Mabel sprinted into the water to meet the beautiful stranger. Dipper blinked and sighed. "Every time. I wonder when she'll get tired of swooning over boys." Dipper mumbled. "Don't act like you don't swoon over Wendy, Dip." You smiled. Dippers' face turned red and he tilted his head to the side to hide it. "Hey, I don't mean it as a bad thing!" You confirmed, patting his back. He chuckled slightly, though it faded as fast as it started. Stan laid out beach towels on the sand. "Come on, you both. Let's get set up." He called.
You and Dipper went over. You set Mabel's cover-ups and shoes down in a neat pile. You and Dipper both took off your shoes and you took off your coverup. Dipper went and sat In the sand with some book of his. Stan looked at you, scanning every inch of your skin. You looked at him and grinned. "Gee, Stan. Keep your eyes in the socket." You laughed, sitting down in his lap. "Oh, hush you." He booped your nose and you giggled happily. He grinned and hooked his arms around you. You laid your head against his shoulder, burying your face in the crook of his neck.
He laughed, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "You're in a real lovey mood today, aren't ya, babe?" He smiled at you as you looked up. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." You flashed him a smile. "Mabel got my heart in a good spot today while we were in the kitchen." You said, pressing another kiss to his jaw. Stan propped you up in his lap, facing him. You wrapped your legs around his torso in response. "How so?" He questioned. "Well, she asked me for love advice." You smile, draping your arms over his shoulders. "Is that right? I never really expected her to do that." Stans's eyebrows raised in sought surprise. "I certainly didn't expect it either."
You chuckled softly under your breath. "I think she thinks we were made for each other." You said. "And? It's a fact." Stan gave you a peck on the lips. "I know! That just made me really happy!" You chirped. "Then we better keep up with what we're doing. Because we're clearly doing something right." Stan held you closer to him, then knocked you back against the towel. "Stannnnnnn!" You laughed, face flushing in embarrassment. "I'm not doing anything weird. I promise, toots. Not here."
You nodded softly as he buried his face into the crook of your neck. He pressed kisses all over your neck and jaw, earning giggles and laughs from you. You wrapped your arms around him and laid your head on top of his. He held you close to him, placing a calloused hand on your cheek and rubbing it with his thumb. You leaned into his touch with a light smile. His hand trailed down to your side, just rubbing up and down. You laughed softly and tangled your fingers in his hair. He grinned and kissed your cheek, laying to his side, and pulling you closer to him by the hip.
He laid his head in the crook of your neck and you laid your head on top of his. "Stan. I think people are watching us." You said softly. "Let them look. It's nothing they ain't seen before, sweetheart." He told you softly, bringing his hand up to your cheek, then pressing a kiss to your lips. You melted into it, laying your leg over him as his hold around your waist tightened. The kiss lasted for a good moment before you both pulled apart for air. He smiled and laid his head on the ground, keeping his hand on your cheek with his other arm around your waist. The sun was perfectly warming your skin to where a feeling of drowsiness came over you. You were just about ready to doze off when Mabel's voice aounded.
"Grunkle Stan! (Y/N)! Come into the water with us!" Mabel shouted, waving her arms to get you to see one another. You and Stan looked at each other. Stan grinned and untangled his limbs from yours. He got up, his knees popping in the process. Although that was nothing you weren't used to. He lent his hand to you and you took it. Pulling you to your feet, you kissed him on the cheek as a thank you. He chuckled, still holding your hand as he ran for the dock. You trailed behind bim, running onto the dock. Stan jumped first, still holding your hand. You squeaked, jumping next and the both of you splashed into the water.
Stan was the first one to resurface but after a moment, you popped up as well. You both looked at one another, then laughed. You hooked your arms around his neck and he held you close with a big smile on his face, a belly laugh erupting from his throat. "Guyssss!! Over here!" Mabel waved her arms and Dipper joined in on the waving, as he had gotten into the water. You and Stan grinned and swam over. And the rest of the today, you all would have the best time.. Having chicken fights, so splashing around, and racing to see who the fasted swimmer was.
-•☆~~~~☆•-
Soon the sky fell dark. The moon and the stars lit up the sky and it illuminated the top of the water, which flowed delicately in its place. Stan and you sat at the edge of the dock with your legs in the water. Mabel was wrapped up in a blanket in Stans's lap. Her head laid against his shoulder as she scored softly. Dipper was back in his cover-up and laying behind you, with his head against your shoulder blade. They were both asleep.
You smiled to yourself. "I'd say today was a success." You said softly, turning your head and meeting Stans's eyes. "Yeah, I'd have to say I agree." He smiled toward you as his free arm wrapped around your shoulder. "We should do this again sometime." You said, laying your head against his shoulder. "Yeah. That sounds good. But for now, we should head back and get these kids to bed." Stan said. You nod. "Agreed." Then, you both get up, holding the children in your arms, heading back home.
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sleepypanda27 · 5 years ago
Text
Addicted To You
Bucky Barnes x reader
Request: I adore your writing💕 Could you possibly write a fluffy Bucky x reader where (Y/N) a new addition to the avengers is usually happiest amongst the members. It’s addictive and Bucky appreciates it *wink**wink*. Everyone has bad days though and it’s very clear (Y/N)s going through one. Bucky immediately takes notice and is simply there for her throughout the day doing what he can to help.
Warnings: Grumpy Bucky, so much fluff
Words: 2,196
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The first time you met Bucky you wandered around Avengers tower searching for Steve's office. You couldn't remember where exactly it was, and there was no one around who you could ask. Rounding the corner, you accidentally run into Bucky, knocking the coffee cup he was carrying over his shirt.
“Ah-what the-!?” He yelped in surprise, jumping back.
“Oh my god, I'm so sorry.” You apologized, seeing the mess you had accidentally made. The sleeves of his burgundy henley were rolled up to his elbows. When you noticed his shiny metal arm, you instantly recognized him.
“Good thing it wasn't hot.” He pulled the wet part of the shirt away from his chest. You looked so guilty and sorry that he couldn't blame you. “It's my fault I didn't look where I was going.”
“I'm really sorry, it's my first day here, and I got lost and...” you started rambling, your eyes were glued to the dark wet spot on his shirt that clung to his muscular chest. “I'll pay you back?” You offered with a smile.
“Don’t worry about it, who are you looking for?” He smiled friendly. “Maybe I can help.”
“Steve Rogers.”
“Follow me.”
“Hey punk,” he opened the door to Steve's office peeking inside to make sure he was there and then opened doors wider. “I found this Doll wandering around the halls spilling coffee on people.” He teased, earning a disappointed look from you that he absolutely loved finding it funny.
“Y/n, there you are, I was waiting for you.” Steve glanced at Bucky's wet shirt. “What happened to you?”
“Her.” He pointed at you. “Do you even listen to what I'm saying?” Bucky shook his head and left you two alone to go change his ruined henley. Later he returned. Leaning against the wall by the doors, he patiently waited while you and Steve finished the conversation.
“So that's that. I'll find someone to show you around.” Steve said with a smile.
“I can do that.” Bucky volunteered.
“You?” Steve asked skeptically.
“Yeah, me. Is that so hard to believe?” He rolled his eyes.
“You usually do everything that’s in your power to avoid doing something like that, so yeah.” Steve chuckled, leaning back into his chair. “I would say it's hard to believe.”
“Dude, don't say that in front of her, you are making me look bad,” Bucky whispered, intensely staring at his friend who only laughed.
“I'll pretend I didn't hear that.” You chuckled, standing up from a chair.
“Let's go doll, I'll show you everything. You can call me Bucky I will be your tour guide for today. You can ask me anything you want.”
“I’m getting a tour by Bucky Barnes himself,” You smiled, holding onto his arm. “I feel special.”
“You know who I am, huh?” He blushed and almost melted into a puddle from seeing your beautiful smile that was directed towards him. “So about that coffee, you mentioned earlier.”
***
It’s the end of a successful mission in the middle of nowhere. There's only trees and fields as far as the eye can see. A couple of old buildings scattered here and there on a brink of collapsing, and then there’s the one that was in a good condition before you accidentally blew it up.
Bucky managed to lose his boot after the explosion wave sent him flying in the nearby bushes. One of his feet stuck in between the branches where he couldn’t get it out, so he sacrificed his boot for his freedom.
He’s in a bad mood - grumbling, groaning and cursing under his breath. For others, he would look scary and threatening, but you only saw a giant puppy who needed a big hug.
Small drops of water fell on his nose, making him look up at the dark clouds that formed in the sky above. Like one of those summer rains that comes out of nowhere surprising you unprepared, It started raining, drenching him instantly.
You can see he’s about to lose his temper. Closing his eyes he takes a deep, deep breath holds it in for few seconds and lets it out. “Great, just great. Can this day become any worse?” Heavy raindrops hit his face, and you hear a low rumbling sound. For a second, you thought the sound came from Bucky but turned out it was thunder rumbling in the distance.
You chuckled at the scene, pulling off your boots.
“What’s so funny?” He looked at you, brows furrowed, a deep line between them.
“It’s just rain, Buck.” You spin in circles stretching out your arms as far as you can, tilting back your head, letting the warm raindrops hit your face. “Who knows what will happen with us in this crazy world, enjoy the little things.”
Bucky stares at you, his features becoming softer. You are drenched through the bone, clothes clinging to your body, hair dripping with water. And you don't even care about that, quite the opposite you are having the time of your life. It doesn't matter how long he knows you, he still gets surprised by all the small things that make you smile with excitement, like rain or seeing a puppy on the street happily wiggling its tail.
You're always so happy and full of life. He doesn’t know what it is about you that’s so attractive to him. He can't describe it. It’s not one thing, it’s every little detail about you. It's the feeling he has when he's with you, it's addicting like a drug he can’t get enough of. With every passing day, he falls in love with you a little bit more. 
Something tugs at his heart, and he feels warmth spread through his chest, his anger disappearing. He takes off his one lonely boot and throws it on the ground, forgetting about it. Not like he would need it anyway.
“Come on Buck, smile a little.” You come closer to him, taking his hand. The smile on your face is contagious, he couldn’t stop the growing smile on his face, even if he tried. He twirls you, bringing you close to his chest. There is literally a building burning behind you, how can this feel romantic? He wonders. But in some odd way, it does.
The smile on your face and the happy glimmer dancing in your eyes it’s his home. No matter rain, snow or storm, you are his little ray of sunshine, in the otherwise dark world. Sometimes he just wants to tuck you in his pocket and carry you around with him everywhere he goes.
“Are you going to kiss me or what?” You place one of your hands on his chest, and with other you brush back wet locks from his forehead, leaving your hand on the back of his neck. And he does, he kisses you like his life depends on it, moving his hand to the small of your back he pulls you even closer, leaving no space in between you. The rain ceased as the clouds drifted away. It was gone almost as fast as it started.
“Did you two turned into hippies or something?” Sam teased, seeing your bare feet when he arrived to pick you up.
“Shut up, we need towels.” Bucky rolled his eyes.
***
“Doll, what’s wrong?” Bucky asked when you walked into the common room. You hadn’t even uttered a single word, but he knew instantly something was wrong. You didn't look any different in your appearance, but he sensed it. It was as if a dark cloud was formed around you instead of the usual sunshine.
“Nothing.” It was one of those days where everything just seems so depressing that you can’t do anything about it no matter how hard you try. The only thing you can do about it is to live through it.
He didn’t believe you, not even for a second. He pulled you into his lap. You looked down in your lap, away from his eyes.
“Solneshko, (sun)” he curled his finger under your chin, gently tilting it up so you would meet his worried eyes. “please talk to me, what’s going on?”
“It’s nothing Buck.” You tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“It doesn’t look fine to me.” He didn’t let go searching your eyes for something, for some kind of clue.
“Just a bad mood ’s all.” You peck his forehead and stand up to go to the kitchen to gather some snacks. Bucky looks after you wishing that he would know how to cheer you up.
All-day he helped you with little things, like brought you snacks and gave you random hugs and small kisses throughout the day and even made dinner. He gave you his hoodie in hopes that in some magical way, it would improve your mood.
When the night came around, everyone gathered in the common room to watch a movie. Your head was laying in Bucky’s lap while he gently brushed your hair with his fingers.
Not once did he pressured you in talking, he knew you would tell him when you would be ready. Meanwhile, he did what was in his power to help you feel better, even if it was only some small thing. He was simply there for you as you were always there for him when he had his bad days.
There was a soft knock on your door. You grumpily slid out of the bed to open it. In front of you stood Bucky with a sheepish smile on his face, his hair tied up in half bun and wearing light blue plaid pajama pants and a black hoodie. In his hands, he held a tub of your favorite ice cream with two spoons.
“Where did you get this?” You moved away from the entrance so he could come inside.
“I have my sources.” He closed the door behind himself.
“It’s Sam’s, isn’t it?”
“It’s possible.”
“You are going to get in big trouble.” You crawled back into the bed.
“Pfff, I can deal with him.” He placed the ice cream tub on the bedside table and joined you in bed. “I’ll pay him back later.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, besides, you need it more right now.” He placed his hand on your knee. “I don’t know what’s happening with you today, but know that I am here for you no matter what.” He reassuringly squeezed your knee.
“I know, Buck, I know.” You wrapped your hands around him, hugging him, burying your face in the crook of his neck. “I love you.” You murmured.
“I love you more.” He squeezed you tightly in his bear hug producing a small squeak from you. When you pulled back, he scattered thousand little kisses all over your face kissing away your sadness and making you laugh. It’s the first time today that he sees your genuine smile that he adores so much. His heart swelled with happiness.
When the ice cream was eaten, you felt cold. Bucky pulled off his hoodie, his shirt riding up, revealing his torso and disheveling his hair. He propped up a pillow against the headboard, resting his back against it.
“Come here.” He stretched out his legs in front of him. You obeyed sitting between his legs resting your back against his chest. “Give me your arms.”
“Why?” You asked but stretched out your arms anyway.
“I wanna try something.” He turned your arms around and tenderly, barely touching your skin, traced up and down the back of your forearms with his fingernails.
“Mmm.” You hummed at the sensation melting into him. “Feels so good.”
Bucky smiled, trailing his fingertips down your arms so gentle and loving. Playing with your fingers, he intertwined his fingers with yours bringing your hand up to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of your hand, and then to your temple.
You didn’t notice how fast the time flew by, somehow it was almost morning. You hadn’t moved from your positions Bucky’s arms around you and his chin on top of your head while you sat between his legs, back against his chest, cradling his forearms. You watch as the darkness outside the window turned lighter by the minutes.
You yawned your eyelids feeling heavy. Turning around, you winded arms around his shoulders. “Thanks for staying with me, Bucky.” You placed your head on his shoulder, nuzzling into his shirt, bunching up the soft material between your fingers.
“I’m gonna always be here for you, Y/n.” He whispered, brushing back the hair from your face and slid down to laying position. “Do you need a pillow?”
“You’re a good pillow.” You brought your leg over his thigh for comfort.
Bucky chuckled, pulling the blanket higher up over both of your bodies. He pushed his hand underneath your shirt, softly scratching your back until you fell asleep and then a little bit more because he loved to hear those little purring sounds you made.
There’s no warmth in this cold world without you, that’s why he would do anything that’s in his power to make you happy.
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peggysousfanarchives · 3 years ago
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Sneak Peek
This is for the Agent Carter Series: Discovering True Love
I know its been forever since I’ve updated this, and I apologize. But i am back on it. The ending has, to say the least, dragged out, so I figured why not post a small piece? Its not much, but I hope it makes up for the lake of peggysous content on my page🥺 This story really likes to drag on lol and its hard to stop
@peggysousoversteggy
                                                         ~~~
The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon as I waited on the Brooklyn Bridge for Daniel. Working at the office today felt so different. The senator himself came in today to speak on the matter of Howard's case, what happened, and how it was closed; including the threat on Time Square. Of course Jack got all the credit, which was something that got under Daniels skin immediately. He nearly stormed into Jack's office to tell the senator what really happened, but I told he he need not. I know my value, anyone else's opinion doesn't really matter. Even as I said so I took off my jacket to start the day expecting that to be the end of it, but its Daniel. As I turned back around to my desk he stood there, a beaming smile on his face. It was so contagious I found myself smiling in return.
"What?"
"We should go out for a drink." Well I wasn't expecting that. I look at the clock over my shoulder and then back at him, surly I misheard him?
"Right at this moment? It's nine o'clock in the morning." He laughs nervously but his smile stays. I quite like this look on him.
"No, no not now, but maybe tonight? After our talk?"
"Mm you may want to reconsider it being tonight after our conversation. But I would be more than happy to grab one with you soon."
After that the day went on, both Daniel and myself couldn't be put down. And after Howard's case I was treated much differently form the office boys; apart from Steve of course, but what's new? I wasn't simply used as a secretary but a rue agent. My first assigned case was placed on my desk by Jack himself. Even with his snide 'Don't screw it up, Marge' comment it never deterred my good mood. Because I knew my day was good, my work even better, and tonight everything could change for someone I held close to my heart. Something he deserved more than anything.
The same man whom I spot walking nearby on the bridge towards me. He's still got the breezy air around him from this morning, and I hope that I don't crush it now. Telling him of Howard's plan could be a good thing, but if it doesn't work I fear Daniel will be immensely disappointed; and I never want to be the cause of such feeling in him. But I push down all fear and embrace him quickly as he reaches my side, and I hold on for as long as I can without drawing attention.
"Hey, Peg."
"Hello." He smiles again and I swear I could never tire of seeing it.
"So, what'd you want to talk about all the way out here?"
"Howard and I have an idea. Its a long shot but it could work."
"Okay... what's the idea?"
I take a deep breath and think over how to say this. Even after staying up all night doing much the same I still don't know how. Its all wishful thinking in the end. I still wonder if it will work at all, let alone adding in the new element Howard discovered during the war. Adamantium. We're not even sure if an trace is left of its existence, which is why Howard has flown to Canada to speak with his old colleague on the matter. It would be incredible if any was left and it did what it was said to do, but I fear if it does not work I could be giving Daniel false hope. And yet I know he is strong with or without the serum and Adamantium. Whether it works or not I know he would be willing to give it a shot. Its then I take the vie of Steve's blood from my pocket and present it to Daniel. Confused he looks between me and the vile.
"Howard thinks he could, in theory, extract the serum from the blood. Many have tried and failed but he believes he can do it." Daniel nods along to my words but the expression of confusion never leaves his face. "And I was hoping you could be the one to receive it."
"Peg... You can't be serious?"
"I am. I know of no one else who has a heart like yours. No one is more worthy of this opportunity than you, Daniel. You have earned this! You deserve it. I know you, Daniel. And I want you to take this. I trust no one else like I do you, I hope you know that."
"Peg." Is all he says before reaching out to me, his hand on my waist and his nose nuzzling my hair. Stunned, it takes me a moment to respond in kind, wrapping my arms around his neck to keep him close. He smells of coffee, cologne, and something that could only be described as Daniel. What I would give to not pull away, but I know I must.
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toloveawarlord · 4 years ago
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Ch. 6
Characters: Edgar Bright, Iris Adley, Sean
Pairing: Edgar x Iris
Tagging: @plumpblueberry​
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“You can’t blame them for being curious. No one knows what Sir Edgar is having you do as his second,” Sean said, lounging back on the perfectly made bed. He and all the others that were under the Jack of Hearts were hovering around me, asking an infinite amount of questions about the allusive and mysterious Edgar Bright…ever since he appointed me as his second.
I buttoned up my uniform shirt with visible annoyance. “I’m basically a glorified secretary, organizing documents, keeping notes about important dates and meetings, and pretending to be him when penning letters that he finds too boring while he sits on the sofa sipping tea.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t work. Soldiers came and went all day long with reports and documents. When he wasn’t in his quarters, he was in meetings with Jonah and Lancelot or officials in Central Quarter, on top of training his own troop of soldiers with a warm smile and steel fist. And yet, when we were alone, he turned into a candy gobbling child that enjoyed causing me a headache.
“Aren’t you tired? You don’t return from your duties until the early morning hours and then turn around and be up at first call at 7 like the rest of us.” He was just as intrigued by my new position as the others, but for more reasons. Every day he asked if we’d spoken about my predicament and the answer remained a stern no.
“Tired of his ridiculously idiot game? Yes.”
“Aw, that’s no way to speak about your adoring superior.”
The only slightly peaceful part of my day came crashing down at the presence of the Jack of Hearts. He’d let himself into the room without any warning, apparently a recurring trait of his. I can’t exactly complain, outwardly at least.
I rested against the bed to slip on my boots, tugging the laces extra tight while imaging the thin string to be around his neck. The whispers from the hallway not so quiet, nearly bringing a large commotion to the barrack hallway. “I’ll assume you’re here for business, sir.”
“Sean, you will be in Central Quarter today.” Edgar gave the order with a hint of edge to his voice. He received a salute and Sean scuttled off to leave us. One quick glance over his shoulder and the rest of the soldiers scattered before those mischievous jade irises were turned on me. “You will be accompanying to patrol the forest. Won’t that be fun, Iris?”
“Are you going to insist on calling me that when we’re alone?”
“It is your name. Besides, the expressions you make are worth any risk.”
I swiped my hat from the rack, settling it on my blonde locks, adjusting it with stiff movements. I made a silent vow to work on how I outwardly reacted to his taunts, if only to irritate him a fraction of how he irritated him.
Outside of his personal unit, the soldiers continued to treat me like an outsider. They glared when they thought none of the ranking officers were watching. They whispered in ear shot of me, insisting on being petty about my sudden rise in position. Only the ones within Edgar’s unit had begun to accept me, at least enough to not avoid me during meals and free time.
The leaves crunched beneath his boots, the Jack of Hearts strolling with a spring his step. His good mood almost contagious. It was strange, simultaneously keeping up my guard while also lowering it at times around him. He hadn’t broken his word and exposed my secret. “Iris, lost in thought, are we? I do hope it’s me on your mind.” 
Jade irises mischievously reflecting my own clear, blue ones. Edgar’s face mere inches.
I took a step back only to hit a tree. The pain dull but grounded me back in reality.
Quick to close the distance, like a wild cat slinking up to its cornered prey, Edgar’s grin grew wider. “You make a pretty boy, but I prefer the real Iris.” Gloved fingers expertly removing the earring and pocketing it in seconds. “I’ll hold onto this until it’s time to return.”
Without the magic, nothing hid the fact that I was a woman. It would be unlikely for the army to send multiple soldiers on this patrol, but not unheard of. And yet, winning an argument with a rock was more attainable than reasoning with the gentle demon. 
The forest was peaceful. Although not many ventured in due to the rumors surrounding it, bandits tended to gather on occasion. The town was abuzz with talk of some unsavory types moving between Central Quarter and the Forbidden Forest. Edgar had been tasked with uncovering and eliminating them.
“I did some digging, but there’s no record of where your brother disappeared to. Not even your parents have any inkling. I suspect that you have some idea.” He broke the silence as he adjusted his gait to fall in step with me. 
“I don’t. He never told me where he was going. Only that the girl he’d fallen obsessively in love with was the reason he wouldn’t take his position in the army.” The night he’d left still seared freshly in my mind. It made little sense. He had been handed the fourth highest rank in the Red Army and he abandoned it for a woman.
Edgar hummed in response, gaze lifting to the treetops above us. “Peculiar, but I hear that love makes one do crazy things.”
“He’s an absolute fool. Love is an abstract idea that is fleeting. He barely knew her, and yet he threw away his whole life, making a traitor of himself, of our family. For what?” He’d said that he might be gone for a while, years. At that time, it would be much too late. Our family would be ostracized, the position given by birthright erased and passed on to some distant blood relative.
“You’ve never been in love, have you, Iris?”
I gave him a disgusted glare before replying, “No. I’ll wager you haven’t either.”
He snickered from behind his palm, not making any attempts to avoid my slap to his arm. “You’re right. I’ve little time for dalliances with women. I have been approached, but taking a wife is not of importance to me.” For a second, the facade slipped, and I saw the flash of melancholy cross his features. Then it was gone, replaced with that empty smile. “I imagine you’ve had plenty of men throwing themselves at you.”
“You mean at my father.” I shivered in absolute revulsion. None of them had approached me directly. Whispers of how I could be harsh and hard to please were always circling me like rampant sharks. Negotiations went through my father, and I never accepted a single one. “I have no desire to be someone’s wife.”
“You’d rather be a solider?”
There was no judgement or ridicule in his question, as it had been with all the men previous in my life. Any time I trained with a sword or learned hand to hand combat, they all had a similar tone. It’s not for a woman. I would prove them all wrong. “Yes. Only the Red Army has rules against women joining. It seems obvious that after 500 years, perhaps a different perspective might be advantageous.”
“War is not made for the weak.”
“Weak and female are not synonymous.”
Jade eyes crinkled as he smiled at me. “Oh, I’m well aware of your strengths, Iris. And I, for one, have no qualms with you being in the army. It’s not simply a matter of changing laws.”
The politics. It’s always about the politics among the Red elites.
The scent of smoke drifted through the trees, silencing our discussion. The rumors were proving to be true. We both became silent, like ghosts leaving no trace of their existence as we neared the campsite. Only one man guarded the camp.
“We’ll wait until nightfall, and all of them are to be captured.” His whisper carried the weight of his position. The teasing superior vanished without a trace, replaced with the Jack of Hearts giving his soldier an unbreakable order. His gaze only flickered to me long enough to see my nod before returning to our targets.
They came and went, five of them in total. As the sun began to slide beyond the horizon. Once the light faded, the group all gathered around the fire, clinking dirty glasses of stolen booze, and rifling through their treasures. Edgar gave a signal, directing me to circle to the other side.
Blending in with the darkness was easy. The moon cast slivers of silver light between the leaves rustling in the wind. I crouched by a thick bush, waiting patiently for our moment to attack. I hadn’t, however, expected him to announce himself.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Edgar startled the whole lot of them, hand lightly gripping the hilt of his sword. The fire crackled as one choked on his drink at the sudden appearance of the officer. “You’ve caused quite the ruckus in town. It’s time to answer for your crimes.”
Swords and knives were drawn, all eyes focused solely on the single man in the crisp white uniform. Their bravery coupled with cowardice as they collectively moved the opposite direction with slow steps, save for their so-called leader. He alone faced the gentle demon with a scowl.
He gave a howl and lunged at Edgar, only to grab air and lose his breath as his torso connected with the Jack of Heart’s knee. 
Tension rose through the campsite. Some were frozen in their spot, watching the imminent defeat of their boss. But one... there’s always one, who decides to save themselves and run.
Unlucky for him.
The wheeze that passed his lips when I wrenched my elbow back into his throat divided the attention. He collapsed to the dirt, body curling up as he clutched his neck and struggled to catch his breath. “How pathetic,” I said, drawing my own sword from its sheath.
There’s two of them?
Who cares! Just take them out and let’s get out of here!
They were barely worth any effort. Their form sloppy and no coordination between them. Although it hadn’t been too long since being under Edgar’s guidance, I had picked up on some quirks of his. In the beginning, the soldiers in the unit avoided me, leaving Edgar to spar with me most of the time. I’d learned his movements quite well.
“I’m impressed. You’ve done so well,” Edgar praised with a pat on my shoulder. He chuckled as I brushed it off. 
I finished the knot on the last rope, creating a line of prisoners so they couldn’t try to escape. “I didn’t ask for your evaluation.”
“But that’s my job. Your hand to hand could use a little work. I’d be happy to teach you.” His eager grin disappeared at the voice of the leader of the bandits. I hadn’t witnessed the demon side of him until now.
Since when did the Red Army employ women?
I turned away, remembering that he still had my earring and no magic had shielded my features. Edgar slipped it into my palm without a word before slinking up to the angered prisoner.
“He is quite pretty for a boy, I’ll admit. You’d do well to keep your mouth shut.” The malice laced in his words paired perfectly with the dagger pressed a little too hard against his prey’s throat. His threat received with a silent nod.
I trailed behind, lost deeply in thought. It hadn’t been necessary. There was no reason for him to say anything. No one would have believed the word of a criminal over the Jack. There’s no logical reasoning behind why Edgar had protected me, nor why I can’t simply say thank you and move on.
My cheeks were unbearably hot.
Why did he confuse me so much?
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softly-savage-mint-yoongi · 5 years ago
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Allotrope pt. 4
Genre: Idolverse Pairing: Kim Junmyeon (Suho) x f!reader Warnings: Angst. Internal struggles with Mental Health problems. Relationship struggles. Smut. Edging. Overstimulation (m!rec.), oral (m!rec.), no protection. explicit, soft sex. Words: 12.2k prev. / next.
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You’ve always been an animal lover. Today, however, for the third day in a row, you’re cursing the existence of birds in particular as you roll over in bed. Lately, the window beside your bed has become a stage for their sing song voices. It’s been just enough to wake you from precious slumber the moment the sun just begins to creep into the sky.
You dread having to open your eyes, huffing in annoyance as you reach for your phone and cradle it to your chest for a moment. You felt the gentle vibration of a text message notification when you pulled it from the bedside table. Cracking one eye open, you lift it above your head and rest your thumb against the unlock.
Your background is simple but makes your heart flutter nonetheless. A pastel blue color with a single symbol of a tribal water droplet in white. His symbol, your idol. Your Water King.
Swinging your feet from under the comfort of your covers, you rise begrudgingly. Making your way to the bathroom, you remember today is… Wednesday. Although you don’t have work today, you look around your apartment and realize you’ve got a day of cleaning ahead of you.
For the last two and a half weeks since Junmyeon gave you his number, you’ve neglected to tidy up more than necessary. Instead, you’ve been too attached to your phone, talking, texting or video chatting with him. Constantly sending memes and jokes and book recommendations. It’s been wonderful, really.
Shoving your toothbrush in your mouth, you begin your day. While you brush, you check your messages. Two from him, one from Soohyun.
Junmyeon’s first text is longer, answering your question about seeing each other soon, and letting you know he will be coming back from overseas tomorrow (today) after an interview that will wrap up their schedule in North America. His second text promises that he can’t wait to see you when he returns, and wishes for you to sleep well with a kiss emoji.
It sets a smile on your face too broad to contain the foam of your toothpaste. You finish up and wash your face, making your way to the kitchen.
Waiting for your coffee to finish brewing a whole pot, you open Soohyun’s message. He’s asking if you want to visit the new restaurant in town for dinner. His offer assures you he has a connection who could get you in without the waitlist, but he needs to know asap. Word around town is their menu in its entirety is well worth the required reservation days in advance.
Automatically, you’re excited. Your mood lifts a bit at the idea of deliciously rumored food, and you can’t wait to confirm. Sending him a load of excited emojis and the word ‘yes’ in all caps, you go about your day with a happy bounce.
It starts off well, with a playlist of piano covers of EXO albums carrying through the apartment. The curtains are spread wide open to allow the bright sun in while you tidy up. With every chore that you complete, you relax that much more. Laundry folded, papers you no longer need shredded, trash out, all of it. You’ve even got a candle lit in every room and you’re on your third cup of coffee by noon.
At this hour, an anxiousness begins to creep in. You know on the other side of the world, where there’s a thirteen hour difference, Junmyeon is finishing his schedule for the day and is probably just getting back to his hotel room. Which means he’ll be texting you.
It makes you check your phone constantly, even though you’ve heard nothing from the device stuffed into the pocket of your tattered sweats- you have to check. It’s manic.
You’re not sure what to expect. Although the last week of nonstop contacting one another has been wonderful, it’s also been… difficult.
Sure, there have been way too many good things. Your favorite in particular is whenever you get to watch an episode of his latest drama, Rich Man Poor Woman. You cackle in delight every time he’s making a ridiculous face or you pause the feed at the perfect moment to catch a silly expression. You’ve made a handful of memes with the images, sharing every single one with him to tease him.
He called you once immediately after you sent one to complain loudly through the speaker of your phone, until your laughter made him chuckle. Most of them he would pout at but then find just as hysterical as you would- claiming your tearful laughter contagious. He knew you thought he was a wonderful actor and these would be safe from ever being released to the masses of the internet.
Other times there were quiet moments where he would read to you over the phone or video chat as you fell asleep. Or vice versa. Quietly whispered conversations from under your covers with him until one of you was too tired to continue. Sometimes it was just getting to know one another better over endless games of ‘this or that’, asking a plethora of random questions and discussing the answers of why either of you chose one versus the other. You both have quite the affinity for books it seems.
Two or three times over the last week there’s also been heated moments. Snapshots of abs, not revealing his face as the top of the picture showed him biting his lip only. Teasing innuendos or emojis from both parties, sometimes ending in laughs and sometimes more.
You’d both been afraid to do more yet- fearful of it somehow getting hacked. Only one phone call where you’d been too desperate, you had panted into your phones at each other about how much you wish the other were there. During such, you’d admitted how much the audio turned you on. You could hear the slick sounds of every stroke he took, and in turn he could hear the gentle buzzing of your vibrator as you brought yourselves to completion. His quiet moans and huffs of breath in your ear haunt you still. Strange how intimate a moment could be with an entire ocean separating you.
Occasionally, conversation turns to the heavier things that you both need to discuss. About your relationship, about what you are and where you are and where you’re going. Two days ago, the conversation had turned from a conversation to an argument. You’d both raised your voices, but not at each other. Out of frustration.
Often the questions ran along the lines of what are you? Or are you in an exclusive relationship? You’d both easily admitted you would like that, but then the what ifs about it. The insecurities and uncertainty. The pressure to be all that an exclusive relationship typically entails.
You’re under the impression Junmyeon struggles with it harder than you do, naturally. He’s an idol. He already under an intense amount of pressure. In your mind, he doesn’t need the additional pressure of having to be there for someone when he can’t be all the time. Can he commit to you like that? Normally you spin it much the same- you’re about to start your last year of college. Are you going to have time for him, too? What happens if the few times he’s available by chance, you’re not? How upsetting and frustrating that would be. Are you both mentally and emotionally strong enough… mature enough to understand that if you become an actual item there is a chance you might go months between seeing each other? What if the fans find out? What if that becomes not enough and one of you calls it quits because it’s driving you mad? What if something like that happened and if affected his performance as an idol? What if he couldn’t keep up the facade- a second is all it takes for someone to say something about his composure.
So, do you stay as you are? The hooking up when it works out for your schedules by random chance? You know that won’t work either because you hate it. You know he hates it, too. You like belonging to one another too much. You like being selfish.
Both of you struggle with all of it. It’s terrifying when you don’t know the answers to the what if questions. How can you commit without knowing how frustrating it’s going to be? Becoming someone’s partner means disappointment at missed holidays and birthdays, anniversaries. Lack of intimacy, which you both clearly need a healthy amount of at this point.
The most frustrating of all is that neither of you have an answer for those kinds of questions. It’s a vicious cycle.
You pull yourself from your thoughts with a sigh. So much for your unstoppable, fantastic day. You feel gross, having done all of your house chores and needing a shower. Even looking around your clean apartment wasn’t relaxing you how it should be.
You’re hopeful a shower might lift your spirit enough to save the day, but the spray and suds in your hair aren’t doing much good. Just as you step out, you decide to drain your hot water supply completely and run a bath to lounge in.
While it fills the tub, you brush your hair and pull it onto your head and refill your coffee cup, even going as far as to grab a bath bomb from your pampering supply for good measure.
For a few moments you watch as it fizzes and swirls the lavender, gold and cream colors around the steaming water. Goddess, the name of the bomb, and one of your favorites.
You’re too impatient for it to completely dissolve- balancing your coffee mug on the side of the tub as you get comfortable in the depths of vanilla scented water.
Intentionally- you left your phone on the kitchen counter. You want to relax. Instead of letting yourself hyper-fix on it, you focus on your coffee as it slips down your throat. You’re being warmed inside and out from the coffee and the water, slowly sapping the tension from your bones.
While you drink, you busy yourself deliberating about what you might want to wear tonight.
By the time you’re frowning at the coffee-stained bottom of your mug and your skin is prickling from the tepid bathwater, nothing has sufficed to distract your thoughts.
You feel lousy and terrible and kind of don’t even want to go to dinner because you know your shitty mood will ruin the evening. Soohyun knows your moods shift and fluctuate with the wind, and he wouldn’t judge you for cancelling, but you feel disappointed about it. How burdensome.
Pulling the plug on the drain, you pull your knees up to your chest and sit in the tub, watching the space between the water’s surface and the ring of purple foam grow wider slowly. The gurgling sound of the drain swallowing the last liter stirs you from your blank thoughts.
You stand and give the tub a quick rinse- then pat yourself dry with a fresh towel and grab your empty mug. There’s an uncomfortable feeling tugging at your chest the closer you draw to the kitchen, and your phone. Like you can’t reach it fast enough in hopes the unease will go away if you look at it.
Setting your mug down in the sink and letting some water run into the bottom, you side eye your phone. Sitting there right where you left it, incriminating and imposing beside the coffee pot. There’s a little text bubble icon on your lockscreen when you tap the screen and illuminate it, staring back at you. You don’t have to unlock it to know who it’s from. Swiping it from the counter in all of your stark naked glory, you carry it back to your bedroom and toss it onto your bedspread without checking it.
At least you can wear your favorite lounge clothes and curl up on your bed while you feel awful. After you dress, just to procrastinate, you even sit down at your vanity to put on some extra moisturizer and toner and use a spa roller.
Eventually, the feeling in your chest scalds to an unbearable degree. You can’t ignore it any longer, throwing yourself onto your bed like a petulant child.
Sure enough, the message is from Junmyeon. Luckily, it’s simple. A sufficient 'hello beautiful’ with a smiley face.
You can hear his voice saying it in your head, and it makes the corner of your lips tick upward just slightly. It makes you feel a little better. Junmyeon makes you feel a little better. He is good for you, and you know it…
But what about the rest of it? Your personal problems when your moods shift like the sands and your mental health status. The things that make you worry and fear and you want to keep from him for as long as possible so they won’t ruin whatever this is that you have with him.
He doesn’t deserve anything except the very best. What if he gets too close and you snap and then he goes running? Of course you don’t want that, it would only put you in a worse place. A place you’re doing your best to forget and move on from.
A slight pain in your jaw tears you from the cloud of your thoughts, realizing you were clenching it too tightly again. With practiced ease you release the tension, letting your mouth hang open and rotating the hinge. Idly, you check the time on your phone. Nearly one-thirty.
Staring at the device, you watch as the illumination dims. Just before it goes black completely, it lights up with a goofy picture of you and Soohyun. He’s calling you, and you fidget, hesitating to answer it.
The moment you decide to pick it up, you’ve already missed it.
Instead, you curl in on yourself and try to focus. You try to talk yourself into going to dinner still, but ultimately know your resolve is weak.
Before you move, forty minutes has gone by and there’s a knocking at your door.
The sound confuses you, and you swiftly move from your bed to check it. An oddly shaped Soohyun is staring back into the peephole, his nose looking far larger than the rest of his face, and it makes you laugh.
He is loud from the moment you unlock the deadbolt, swinging into your apartment in his work clothes. Only his apron is missing as he waltzes in and swings you up in a hug.
Immediately, you protest, “Get off of me, I’m clean!”
He grins at you, setting your feet gently back on the wood of your kitchen floor. “Good afternoon to you too, and thanks for picking up my call?” he chides.
It earns him a slap to the arm, but as usual nothing can bring down his mood and he only laughs at his own punishment.
While he settles, you turn away and gesture to the now cold coffee pot. He loves cold coffee anyway, excitedly nodding his head when you gesture to the machine in offering.
Soohyun is at home in your apartment, much the same as you are in his. You watch him silently as he flits about your kitchen, grabbing his favorite glass, adding ice and draining the last of the coffee from the pot.
Graciously, he sets the decanter in the sink and fills it with water before he joins you on the couch.
“What’s up?” you ask sheepishly. His awareness of you makes you anxious suddenly. It’s been like that for a long time, even with medication.
Your knees join your chest, not bothering to look up from the floor or hide your mood from him.
Soohyun sips the coffee, “I wanted to see if you wanted to come hang out back at my place before we go to dinner… if you were still interested.”
His voice and tone give nothing away. Perhaps there isn’t anything to give at all, because you know he is not judging you for anything. Although he doesn’t have the same struggles you do, he respects you enough and understands that you sometimes have trouble. He doesn’t love you any less because of it.
“I’m so-”
“Don’t say it.” he clips before you can finish the word.
Your mouth snaps shut and you turn, foolish. “Okay.” you say instead after a moment.
“Do you want me to leave? If it’s not a good time that’s fine, too.” he offers instead, posture relaxed.
You shake your head, “No, you’re alright. I don’t mind the company, as long as you don’t mind my mood.”
Soohyun takes a large mouthful in pause before asking, “I don’t mind at all. Did you want to talk about something?”
You’re about to reply when your phone rings from where you left it on the kitchen counter again to answer the door, and you’re up off the couch to answer it. It’s Junmyeon.
“Hello?”
“Hello beautiful.” His voice is tired and stressed as it meets your ear from the receiver. You walk back to the couch with it pressed to your skull. He must be so exhausted, but his care and affection for you makes you warm.
“Are you having a good day?” he asks, and you smile. Soohyun is listening to you intently, pretending to be vastly more interested in his own phone than your conversation.
You sigh, “It’s just been a normal day. How are you, you sound stressed…”
You strain to hear Junmyeon’s dark chuckle over the phone. It’s hard to concentrate on his voice with the background noise; a movie playing perhaps?
“Junmyeon?”
“I don’t know. They got what they got.” he answers cryptically.
You frown, “What does that mean? Are you alright?”
He sighs, “I’ll be okay. I just wanted to hear your voice before I try to go to sleep.”
“Are you sure?”
You can hear the laugh again. A laugh you’re coming to understand means the opposite of what a laugh usually means. An uninspired one.
“I have to be sure.”
You don’t press him on the issue, “Okay. Are you going to sleep now?”
He hums, “Yeah. We just reached cruising altitude.”
“That’s good. I hope you sleep well. I’ll see you when you get back, okay? I’m off tomorrow night.”
“Mmm.” your lover replies.
You think he’s going to say goodbye, but he chooses a different direction, “I want to come over.”
A smile stirs upon your lips, he sounds so sleepy.
“Junmyeon, I don’t know if that’s a great idea. What about the media?”
“I don’t care, I just want to see you…I will be careful.” he murmurs, voice sulky at your answer.
You laugh gently, “I want to see you, too. We’ll see. For now, please rest well. Get sleep.”
He hums again, “Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon. Sleep now.”
Removing the phone from your ear, you end the call and look at Soohyun. He’s staring straight at you with a grin plastered onto his face.
You hold a single finger up to your lips, prompting him to grunt and sip at his drink, pointedly looking away. Just as you think is going to abide by your rule- he speaks.
“I see things are still about the same in that lane.”
Huffing a sigh, you dramatically wipe your hands down your face. You groan, “It’s complicated.”
Soohyun huffs this time, surprising you, “Do you know that you just keep saying it’s complicated every time someone questions you?”
Brows furrowing, you pull your lip between your teeth, “Well, it is.”
“Do you like it being complicated? Seems to me it’s pretty frustrating and stressful on both of you.” he laughs gently and he narrows his eyes at you.
“Of course not. I just don’t know how to fix it.”
Soohyun sets his now empty glass on the shiny wood of your freshly cleaned coffee table before turning to face you completely. “Sure you do.”
Now you’re just confused, “If I knew how to fix it, I would.”
He barks a laugh that only sounds a little patronizing, “That’s the thing. You do know how to fix it. You just don’t want to because you’re afraid.”
You know Soohyun isn’t trying to be arrogant or mean, but his words still sting.
With your silence, he continues, “You’re afraid of the unknown, Y/N. You always have been. You’re always thinking a dozen steps ahead for your future and the things that are unknown and you have zero control over are not welcome in that equation. It drives you crazy not knowing what is going to happen with your relationship.”
“We’re not in a relationship.” you quip sharply.
“But you want to be!” Soohyun smiles wide, voice rising just a bit with his exasperation. His hand sweeps out over the coffee table as he explains. “Don’t even try to tell me you don’t want that. I know you, and I’m hearing enough from Sehun that 'Myeon wants that, too.”
You roll your eyes defensively, trying to change the subject, “You and Sehun have gotten close.”
He smirks at you and tilts his head, and his gaze is unsettling to your nerves. “Besides, it takes both of us. I’m not the only one struggling with this.” you say just to fill the unnerving silence with word vomit.
“I know.” he nods slowly.
“So what if I decide I want to try it? What do I do if he doesn’t?” you ask with a pout. It calls attention to the lump in your throat when you say it- you hadn’t realized it was forming.
Soohyun looks at you fondly, “Have you been listening to anything that man has said over the last few weeks, my dear?”
Serving him a look that says he’s about to regret talking to you like a child, you wait.
Proud of himself for getting a rise out of you, he answers, “I’m sure if you said you wanted that, he would be all in. From what I understand, you’re the only one who is letting the 'what if’ unknowns stop you.”
“But I-” you try.
“But nothing!” Soohyun comments loudly, holding up a hand, “Are you really going to let the unknown possibilities stop you from enjoying what’s right in front of you? I’ve seen enough and heard enough to know there’s a wonderful person standing in front of you. Someone who, by the way, could have anyone they wanted, and is choosing you and all of your crazy talk of the unknown bullshit.”
Stunned, you blink at him.
“I’m sorry.” Soohyun says, voice lowering, “It’s very frustrating for the people that love the both of you, too. It’s hard to watch your self torment stop you.” When you don’t respond right away, he adds, “It’s frustrating for Sehun and the others, too.”
“Won’t I regret it though if we don’t work out?” you ask him, face serious.
Soohyun coos at you, “I don’t know. You don’t know, and he surely doesn’t know, and you will never know.” You consider his words for a moment, “By the way- you’re never going to find out if you don’t do it, either. Do you want to be stuck wondering if there would have been regret if you never even take the leap to find out? You’re so set on getting answers that you stop yourself from even trying to answer the question, skipping it completely.”
Your eyes widen, and he makes perfect sense. He’s right- if you don’t try, you’ll never know. It’s a revelation, making you physically bring your hands to your mouth as you stare at him with your doe eyes.
He smiles at you, knowing he got through.
“Now that you understand, let me ask you something, you goof.” he snickers.
It earns him a playful smack on the leg.
“Have you enjoyed the last few weeks of talking to him, even though he hasn’t physically been here? Even if you’re not actively in conversation- do you still look forward to his texts and communication?”
You don’t need to answer him with words as the smile softens your tense features.
“Do you want to be with him?”
“Yes.” you murmur immediately, gaze resolute as it flicks up to meet the depths of Soohyun’s dark eyes.
“Okay. Then what happens if you let the unknown eat at you and let him go? You’ll still want to be with him, but you might have to see him with someone else someday. Surely then you’ll be wondering and regretting and hurt because you never found the answer.”
He pauses, but holds up a hand that he isn’t done. “Now, as your best friend, I can’t just sit here and be okay with that. It’s my job to talk some sense into you, Y/N. I am going to tell you right now, from my perspective, you have never been this invested in another person like this. Even your last real boyfriend didn’t have this big of an affect on you over, what was it… a year? Fourteen months?”
He looks at you pointedly, driving home his point. “From another outsider’s perspective, Sehun says much of the same.”
You cut in, “Oh my god, what are we to you two, a soap opera? Don’t you have anything better to talk about than someone else’s love life?”
He chuckles, pulling a laugh from you in return and resuming his monologue, “Shut up, we love to talk about you two. As I was saying, he can assure you that Junmyeon has never met someone like this, either. They’ve been best friends for long enough that his word has credibility.”
You’re softly smiling at him by the time he finishes, “He’s not the type of guy to be really into all of that.”
Soohyun claps his hands, “See, that’s my point. If you know he’s not the type to be creeping into people’s DMs and sleeping around a lot, why are you having such a hard time understanding how much you affect him, too?”
“I see it.”
“Then why are you hesitating and driving you both insane?”
You frown, picking at your fingernails, “I don’t want to hurt him.”
Soohyun’s posture freezes, his lips dropping to match your own expression. “Why do you think you’d hurt him?” he asks, but you feel like he knows the answer.
You stare at him pointedly before your gaze wanders to the kitchen and lands on the prescription bottle on the counter.
“Does he know?” Soohyun asks calmly.
Shaking your head, you reply, projecting your voice around the ball in your throat, “Why would I tell him?”
Your best friend smiles softly at you, quietly taking your hand that is closest to him and holding it so you’ll stop picking your nails, “It’s not my business how you handle that, but it might be worth considering to tell him about if you want a relationship with him. It might make it easier for him to understand you sometimes.”
You nod, not really sure what to say. Instead, “I don’t want to put that kind of pressure on him, either. He’s already under so much stress.”
Soohyun releases one breath quickly through his nose, “I think you are what relieves his stress- not just in that way, either!” he clarifies, “I think it might stress him out less to know and I imagine he would be understanding, but that’s just my opinion.”
“It’s still scary. When someone knows you that personally.”
He whispers, patting your hand, “It’s a sign of weakness to you. Y/N, I know I’m one of the only people who knows, but I think getting help and taking medication takes a lot of strength and not at all a weakness. Hell, it takes a lot of courage to admit it to yourself, right?”
Nodding, you lean into him, “Yeah.”
“Let me ask you one more time, do you want to be with him? Totally? Like exclusively?” he asks into your hair, pulling his arm around you.
You don’t care anymore that he smells like work and you’re clean. This time, you can’t get your voice through the weight of your throat, so you nod into his frame, rubbing your face against his shirt.
“Then do it, okay?” he presses his lips against the side of your head.
You nod again, just leaning into his warmth and letting the silence settle over you.
Eventually, Soohyun gently removes you, “Are you still going to be boujee and get some damn good food with me?”
His question makes you laugh. You know this man well enough to already assume he would ask you this once the conversation lulled. The feeling in your chest isn’t as heavy as it was before, and you realize that sulking around your apartment all afternoon isn’t going to do anything for your well being.
Instead, you allow Soohyun to talk you into wearing a dress that you hate but has always brought you good luck. He has enough time to shower in your bathroom and rummage through your closet for a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie of his that you swear you never stole while you do your makeup.
He buys you an iced americano from the cafe across the street from your apartment building before you’re comfortably weaving through the throngs of people on the subway system this afternoon.
It takes seven minutes to reach his apartment. Even though you hate it because of how congested the area gets, you admit there is a convenience for Soohyun to live in an apartment mere steps away from one of the busiest subway terminals in the city. Especially for someone who is perpetually pushing the clock to be on time.
The moment the door is unlocked, Mingho is standing in the entryway, meowing in greeting and running forward to twist herself back and forth between Soohyun’s legs with affection. Her spotted fur shines in the afternoon light cutting across the room from the living room window, and her purring grows in volume when he scoops her up to cuddle as he walks to his room.
Just as at home here as you are in your own apartment, you peek toward her food bowl and notice it’s empty. You look down the hallway from the kitchen to see her jump off of his bed just as you open the pantry and shake her food container.
“Thanks!” Soohyun calls to you from his room, already flinging his hoodie off to find an appropriate outfit for the evening.
Mingho winds herself between your legs as you place a scoop of food into her bowl. She immediately begins to eat, raising her rear into the air as you scratch gently down her back.
______________________________________
You wake with a groan. You remember walking into your apartment at midnight and falling into bed shortly after. While you had expected to be home after dark last night, you had hoped you would at least be home with enough time to get a solid eight hours of sleep before your brunch shift this morning. No such luck.
Rather, you’re ensuring you’re showered and decent and quickly standing in an impossibly crowded subway car so you can get to work on time.
You hadn’t bothered with breakfast this morning and are barely sipping on your coffee, still too full from the amount of food you had consumed with Soohyun and his friend Beomsuk last night. His friend Beomsuk… who was very tall and very handsome and very much interested in you.
On the ride home, Soohyun swore up and down he had no idea, and you were sure he was telling the truth. You had only kindly declined his invitation to bring only you back to the restaurant as a date under the guise of your busy schedule. You’re extremely cautious now, too afraid to confirm that you have someone special to you in the event someone would try to find out who that special person might be.
Shaking your head, you think back to how it might have swayed you differently before you met Junmyeon. Perhaps you would have let him whisk you off into the night or played with him. Now, nobody else on the face of the planet even compares.
The rest of the morning drones on slowly, just like that. The money is good, filtered through the hands of a crowd of business people having meetings over brunch and lunch. It’s still a little slow for your usual pace, but you don’t mind when you walk out into the afternoon sun with a wad of cash on par with your average for an early day shift.
Your stomach feels empty now, having worked off majority of the food baby. The cafe across the street from your building suffices enough, stepping into the shade and removing your sunglasses. Their bagels have always been delicious and fresh. You order one with your favorite flavor of cream cheese spread.
Walking up to your apartment door, you let the last half of the bread hang out of your mouth so you can use your hands to unlock your door. When the door clicks shut behind you, a tension you didn’t know you’d been carrying leaves your shoulders.
You kick off your shoes and use one foot to slide them neatly into place on the mat before tossing your trash into the bin in the kitchen. Even though you just showered, you smell a bit like food and old people’s cologne from walking through clouds of it over and over again at the restaurant.
While you’re in the shower, your phone rings. Obviously, you can’t answer it, but you hasten your routine. While you wrap your towel around yourself and wipe a hand over the fogged mirror, you check it. It was Junmyeon.
You swipe to call him back right away, pressing your thumb into the speaker button and setting it on your vanity as you dry yourself and find some comfortable clothes to wear. You don’t plan on going anywhere for the rest of the day.
“Y/N?” he says after the first ring. His voice sounds painful and sad.
“What’s wrong?” you ask immediately, staring a frown into the device.
There’s only the sound of him catching his breath for a moment, then, “I don’t know. I’m just really stressed out.”
“Where are you?” you ask. He said he was stressed when you talked to him yesterday, too.
“Out.” he murmurs.
You sigh, “Where? Do you want to come over here?” You wait for an answer while you pull on your panties and pull up the straps of your bra.
He sucks in a breath from the other end of the line, breathing hard. It sounds like he’s outside. “I don’t want you to see me like this.”
Instantly you pick up your phone, swiping the call to the edge of the screen so you can access your display. You type in your address into the message box and send it to him.
“I want to see you, even when you’re stressed out.” you say quietly, stuffing your head and arms through the wide holes of a thin camisole. Your legs follow suit in a pair of distressed denim shorts that hug your hips just right.
The notion that you care enough to want to fix it for him dawns on you. The realization that you want to do anything to make him smile and not be stressed and worried. You want to give him strength and support. Your heart is thunderous in your chest suddenly and your voice seems gone.
After the moment of panic passes and you calm enough to speak, you take a deep breath.
You ask when he says nothing, “Junmyeon?” You swallow and take the leap.
“Yeah?” he replies softly.
“How can I be a good girlfriend to you if you won’t let me try to help you when you’re not feeling your best?” The questions puts a halt to your breath, picking at your nails and furrowing your brow as you wait anxiously.
There’s silence on the other end of the line. Not even the sound of his breathing as you imagine he may have pulled his phone away from his ear to look at it suspiciously.
“How am I supposed to help you feel better and support you when you won’t let me?” you ask again, nervous by his lack of response.
He makes a sound like an unbelievable chuckle into the receiver, “…Does that mean what I think it means?”
You smile at the sound of his voice. It’s still small and shallow, but there’s not as much sadness to his tone.
“That depends on what you think it means.”
Junmyeon hums, “You’re willing to give us a real shot?”
“Do you want to?” you ask with a hint of apprehension in your throat.
“Yes.” he whispers immediately. The word sends such a sense of relief washing through your body you’re vaguely aware you have to blink several times to disperse the moisture pooling at the rims of your eyes.
“Then I guess that makes us together, doesn’t it?” you comment breathily, pulling your wet hair into a loose bun on top of your head.
You can hear him smile through the phone, swallowing a sound you can’t place, “What changed your mind?”
You sigh, picking up your phone and carrying it to the kitchen with you, “Did you know our best friends are wholly invested in our relationship and talk about us a lot?”
Junmyeon laughs loudly on his end, “I assumed as much. Sehun has been complaining a lot about us. In a good way though, like he really wants us together.”
“Hm…” you agree, “Same on my end.” There’s a sound from the other side of your front door, just down the hall.
“Hey Y/N?” he asks. His voice drops again, like he is tired.
A sound that tells him you’re still listening lulls through the phone. Waiting for his question, you pour yourself a glass of water and stare at the bottle of pills on the counter beside the coffee pot. The pills you’ll have to tell him about if you’re really trying to give this your all. It terrifies you.
“Can you open the door?” he asks unexpectedly.
Your head whips to the door not five feet from you- the sound was him? You don’t bother replying to him verbally, instead crossing the space easily to fling the door open.
“How did you get here so fast?” you gawk at him, checking the hallway for your neighbors before you pull him inside. There’s a dark hat and a pair of oversized black sunglasses hiding his face. He looks casual otherwise, wearing a branded baby blue hoodie, black athletic pants and a pair of black slides. In the middle of Summer.
He melts into you instantly, “Don’t kill Soohyun, okay?”
You know where he’s going with the remark, but you raise one brow at him expectantly.
“A week ago he may have told me the name of your apartment building just in case there was an emergency. He didn’t tell me what number though.” he says sheepishly.
“I see.” you say, not caring about it anymore. Junmyeon was here now, like you wanted him to be. He puts his shoes beside yours at the door and follows you into the kitchen, “Would you like something to drink?”
He removes his hat and sunglasses, shaking his hair free, “No, thank you. I just wanted to see you.” You take a mild sip and place your glass of water back on the counter.
Smiling, you don’t give in to him just yet. “Okay. I’m here, so now do you want to tell me what’s been bothering you?” you try, taking his hand and leading him to the couch.
He looks away from you, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth and rolling one string of his hood between his fingers idly, “The interview didn’t go well.” he finally whispers after a moment.
You frown, “What happened?” You lean toward him and Junmyeon reaches for you, pulling you to tuck against his side. He sighs and relaxes a little, pressing his cheek against the damp coolness of your hair.
You wait for him to tell you, letting your fingers play with the opposite string of his hoodie and pulling your feet up on the couch.
“Being an idol is one thing. Being in a relationship is another…it,” he pauses, trying to find the proper words to explain. Eventually, he gives a frustrated sigh, “You have to cater to the fans as an idol. I love our EXO-Ls, don’t get me wrong. But it doesn’t make me feel good to give them false hope, either.”
You remain silent, letting him get out his words before you comment.
“I can’t easily say fanservice comments anymore about marrying them or about loving them most in the universe. It feels like a really shitty and shallow thing to do, and it bothers me more than I thought it would.” he reveals.
“I understand.” you answer carefully.
He pulls you tighter, wrapping both arms around you, nearly tugging you into his lap, “But the interviewer asked us questions along those lines and I had a really hard time playing to it. I reacted poorly and we had to do a second take and I had to act like it was fine. It was embarrassing and our manager made the interviewer sign a nondisclosure about the incident.”
The explanation has your stomach dropping through the floor. You push up from his body and meet his eyes. He’s clearly upset but you’re not sure what you’re supposed to do in this situation.
“I had to have a meeting with SM about it. About you, and me.” you want to cry. There’s no way after all of the internal struggle to come to terms with wanting and trying to have a half way normal relationship, it’s going to be taken from you. Obviously he would have to choose being an idol. It wouldn’t even be a competition for you.
“Oh.” you croak, blinking.
He pulls you back forcefully, “I told them I’d be fine. I didn’t know I would react that way… it’s my first time even trying to have some semblance of normal.”
You’re worried but his sentiment makes your smile a little nonetheless.
“I’m not the only one going through this. I talked to the other member about it, too, and he gave me a lot of advice.” he adds.
Your brows furrow, “Someone else in your group is in a relationship?” It makes you feel much better knowing he wouldn’t have to choose between his career and you.
“Oh, sure. There are lots of labelmates that are in relationships, but yeah, another EXO member is.” he clarifies against your head.
Pouting, you ask, “Who?”
You can feel his smile against your temple, “I want you to guess.”
Scoffing, you accept his challenge, “Jongin or Baekhyun?” It was educated, considering their previous relationships. It was more than likely one of them.
“Nope.”
You think a little harder on it. Most of the others seem to shy or too busy. You think back to the last time you saw them, all at karaoke. Was anyone glued to their phone or giving away hints? You may have missed a clue when you went to the bathroo- oh.
“It’s Jongdae.” you state matter-of-factly.
Junmyeon stills, “How did you guess that?”
You laugh, “Last time, he made a comment about you and I being in a relationship right before you came out to find me and he said it in a weird way? Now that I think back about it, it was in a way that said he knew what it was like to struggle like we do.”
Junmyeon huffs, “I understand.”
You want to ask, now that it’s been brought up, “Is that why you knew we weren’t talking about anything weird in the hallway? Why you knew for sure Jongdae wasn’t into me?”
It’s his turn to chuckle softly, “Yes.”
You feel foolish, “I’m sorry I said you were jealous then.”
He laughs louder, smiling a bit more, “It’s okay. You’re right, I can get jealous. Especially when we were not exclusively together yet- the idea of anyone else being interested in you made me very frustrated.”
“But your own members though? That seems a bit unlikely.”
He pouts at you, “When Baekhyun and Jongin first invited you over I didn’t like it. I thought they might try to steal you from me.”
You laugh obnoxiously this time, covering your mouth, “I knew something was wrong! I felt you stiffen up!”
Both of you are grinning like idiots now, “Don’t worry. I’m happy to be friendly with everyone but I’m only interested in one person.”
“Oh?” he inquires, “Who might that be?”
Your grin is playful, “Oh just some guy. He’s like the leader of this band of chaotic singers or something, I don’t know.” You add a shrug to the end to emphasize your feigned nonchalance.
“I better make sure I let him know you’re mine, then, right?” he smirks with one brow cocked upward, face leaning closer to kiss at your lips.
You push back at him, making him lean back into his seat on the couch, “Later. Right now, I want to take all of that stress away for you.”
He pouts, “You don’t have to do anything, I’ll be okay.”
Shaking your head, you stand from the couch and make yourself comfortable between his knees on the floor, “I want to. You work so hard, let me take care of you, please.”
The way the words unfurl from your mouth has Junmyeon complying in no time at all. He quickly shuts up, letting your hands creep up his thighs slowly. It doesn’t take long for your fingers to wander, slipping beneath the fabric of his hoodie to grasp the waistband of his pants. You let them pause, heating with the warmth of his skin.
He smiles lazily at you, “You’re so pretty.” he whispers just audibly enough.
His compliment makes you smile, teasing him by laying your cheek against his thigh. You mouth rests just beside the place you want, letting him twitch to life from the anticipation alone.
You sigh, letting your chin turn upward gently to rest over the area, looking directly at Junmyeon. A grin tugs at your lips, feeling the proof of his growing arousal. His eyes are on your lips, his own pouted open.
At an agonizingly slow pace, you pull at his pants. He helps you guide them down, lifting his buttocks from the relaxing hold of your couch. You want Junmyeon to enjoy this. Enjoy it messily and without delay, throwing caution and propriety out of reach. You want him aching and swollen and ready to burst. You want to see him forget about his stress and fall up into cloud nine.
With these thoughts in mind you drag the athletic pants until they are around his ankles along with his boxers. You attention remains focused on him, almost all the way hard against his thigh just where your face was.
Gently, you let your fingers smooth back up and over his knees, your mouth quick to follow the path until you force his knees apart as best you can. So far, he seems to have no complaints about your control over him.
His breath hitches at the first touch of your warm fingers against his cock, loosely gripping around the base. It doesn’t take long for him to gain full rigidity in your soft grasp. Subconsciously, your lips pout, realizing this may not last as long as you hoped.
He laughs quietly, squirming in your grip.
“What?” you ask with a silly smile, eyes wide.
He smiles, lifting one hand to poke at your lip, “It shouldn’t be cute but you pouting at me in this kind of situation turns me on.”
You huff indignantly, instead angling yourself toward him and kissing the tip to shut him up. It’s super effective, and Junmyeon can only suck his lip between his teeth and stare as you set to work.
You’re determined to give him the best orgasm of his life, slowly sinking your wet mouth over him, letting your lips envelop him fully and lowering until he hits the back of your throat.
He moans softly, and you can hear the sound of his head falling back against the plush cushion. You want to smirk or look up and see his face, but you remain focused on your mission.
Slowly, you repeat the motion several times, listening intently to the increasing respiration of your lover. You let your nails softly scratch over his hip or abs while the other remains holding the base of him, occasionally pumping to match the rhythm of your mouth.
Too quickly for your liking, Junmyeon seems close. His abs are twitching beneath your palm, stuffed under his hoodie, and the muscles in his thighs are quivering slightly. His mouth spills beautiful sounds of pleasure as you take him deeper. Relaxing your throat, his length slides past with mild effort until your nose is pressed into his skin and he keens.
Swallowing once, he whimpers out a weak 'fuck’ with a ragged breath. You can feel his abs clench as he tries not to sit up and curl himself over your body to bring you closer.
His hands have behaved all this time until he collects a bundle of your hair and makes a soft fist, trying to control your pace.
Instantly, you’re rising off of him, forcing his hand from your head. You wipe your mouth with the back of your hand, giving him a stern look of pure mischief.
“No.” you say, “Keep your hands to yourself until I say so.” You like the authoritative sound of your voice, and love the look he serves you at your instructions. His eyes suddenly seem to sparkle.
He doesn’t say anything about it, apparently accepting your words as law. Rather, he licks his red bitten lips and lets his eyes flick down to the shining head of his cock, glistening with your saliva as if to ask what you’re waiting for.
As punishment, you purse your lips and blow cool air onto him gently. His answering hiss makes him get the picture and settle back against the couch. Immediately, you’re back on him.
The whine that pitches up his throat has your core clenching around emptiness, but you ignore it in favor of bringing him bliss. Hollowing your cheeks, you continue your onslaught, sucking and swallowing around him until he’s a shaking mess in your hold.
Before he can reach his high, you back off, gripping the base of him tightly. Junmyeon cries softly, “Wha… what don’t stop, please.” His head flops back to the couch cushion again and he puffs out his cheeks to catch his breath.
You shush him, letting the nails of your free hand drag a little harder against his hip and thigh to distract him as you kiss the head of his cock, angry and red.
He’s panting, stuffing a hand into his hair to sweep it back off of his forehead. He lifts his head, blinking rapidly down at you with furrowed brows, you can feel his hips flexing against your arm as he tries to create friction and control himself all at once.
“Please, sweetheart, I can’t.” he breathes.
You smile at him, reassuring, “Yes you can, just relax and calm down.”
Junmyeon tries his best for you, letting his body sag back into the cushion and breathing deeply with his eyes closed. His fingers jerk and flutter at his sides.
Once you think it’s safe, you resume slowly. Relaxing the tight grip you have of him, you let your mouth descend upon him again. You kiss, lick and tease him with gentle stimulation. The sounds you’re creating together are obscene, and it paints an instantaneous flush over your skin. You’re so warm and you can feel your own arousal pooling.
Junmyeon is having a hard time controlling his body from the small spasms of pleasure beginning to curl his toes. The most sinful groan drops from his lips as he feels you lips wrap around his wet, aching cock once more. Your pace is much slower but you don’t think he’s complaining.
The sound of your lips gliding over his slicked skin are tearing you apart and setting your body on fire. You can feel his thighs quaking and his hips softly lifting as he comes close to the edge again.
He dips his head back, “I need to come.” he warns, voice quiet and strained through the tension in his jaw.
So you ease yourself back off of him, kissing at his thighs while you wrap your hand tightly around the base of him once again. Fascinated with the strong feeling of his pulse from his cock, you go to war with yourself on what is better to stare at. His perfect manhood, angrily flushed and swollen, leaking and soaked from your mouth. Or his face, spun up in a tragic pout as his mouth hangs, seemingly unhinged from his jaw. His abs flutter when you pass your palm over them. He groans sourly but it still sounds so delicious.
“You’re so pretty.” you murmur back to him, mirroring his earlier sentiment to you with a saccharine smile. He tries and fails miserably to smirk at you, whimpering when you give him one tiny, shallow stroke up from the base.
“Too m-much.” he blurts out, hardly able to keep himself all the way seated against the couch holding his twitching form.
You feel powerful having reduced such a man to a mess of quivering whimpers, a mess of pleasure just for you. It makes you feel good, and it feels even sweeter to know Junmyeon will get the relief he so desperately needs. It feels like lightning courses through your being, vibrating with excitement as you smile, lowering your mouth over him again.
He cries out this time, an exclamation of pleasure and he cannot contain his jittery limbs anymore as his hand finds its way into your hair. He doesn’t try to control your head though- choosing instead to gently push the hair that has fallen into your eyes from your loose hairstyle as it dries. You allow it, cherishing it even more as you lift your eyes up to see he’s slouched over, head tilted against his own shoulder to watch you almost choke on his cock over and over again.
“P-please… oh,my god, please, I want to c-come.” he comments with lips apparently too loose to form words as sharply as he normally does.
Your fingers spread over his thighs, feeling them shaking as he pushes himself further back into your couch, reflexively raising his hips to bury himself impossibly deeper in your mouth.
You decide it’s enough, hollowing your cheeks and hastening your rhythm by just enough, sucking at his length lewdly until he’s moaning with every breath he takes. His body is hard and tense beneath you.
Flicking your eyes up to his, he whimpers, “Oh, god, yes… yes, fuck.”. You nearly choke as you try to take him back farther, your throat constricting around the bit of him that reaches. His eyes screw shut tightly and he mimics a face of pain until he releases the loudest groan you’ve ever heard from him, along with his impending release.
Even though the taste isn’t something you always enjoy, the act of giving a blowjob and seeing your lover fall apart in such an explicit way is something you don’t ever think you’ll dislike.
Junmyeon is a beautiful human being and a beautiful soul and you feel your own pleasure soaking your underwear as his orgasm rocks through him so completely. His body jerks, a tear spills from the corner of one eye, his lips are red and puffy and shiny as they split and release sounds that make you shiver with desire.
You feel triumphant when you rise, having brought him to such heights as he twitches with every inch you rise off of him until he slumps back and takes a single deep breath. A lopsided, easy grin is plastered onto his face, the apples of his cheeks dusted a warm rose. He’s looking at you through half-open eyes.
Your knee pops loudly in the following silence when you stand.You brush away his bangs from his forehead, dampened by a bit of sweat.
“Thank you.” he whispers reverently, taking your hand from his face to hold it to his chest.
His softness breaks a wide smile over your face. You feel so light and elated at having successfully released some of his tension. The urge to take care of him is strong, making it easier to ignore the desire to have him between your legs.
You rise from your place, “You’re welcome.” you whisper in reply. It feels like it would be too loud to talk at normal volumes in this space.
He reclines, moving a hand into his hair as he releases your hand, smiling to himself sweetly as he watches you move. With his eyes fixed on your form, he looks your way until you disappear into the bathroom. He can hear the water running and the sound of scrubbing. You must be brushing your teeth.
When you emerge from the hall with a damp cloth, you sit beside him again, letting the warmth run over first his thighs and then his softened manhood. Junmyeon twitches and sucks in a sharp breath but doesn’t move or say anything otherwise until you’re finished.
With warm and gentle hands he pulls the cloth from your fingers and toes off the pile of clothing tangled around his feet. The rag joins his pants on the floor, followed by his hoodie as he rips it over his head.
No words are said as he slowly clasps one of your wrists and guides you to sit, fully clothed, over his lap. His palms are warm where they settle against one hip and the opposite side of your ribs.
You make a sound of surprise as the flavor of his lips meets yours, unexpected yet delightfully fruity. Junmyeon grins, holding you so delicately in his arms. His kisses are slow and grow in depth as he sweeps his tongue along the seam of your lips.
Complying, your arms settle around his shoulders, fingers playing with the hair that sweeps across the nape of his neck, cupping his jaw softly, anywhere you can reach to caress your adoration for him against his skin.
He groans softly at the heat of your body pressed against him, and his fingers skim below the edges of your camisole, lifting slowly in a silent plea.
“It’s okay, we don’t have to.” you whisper against his lips, turning your head to press your cheek against his.
You feel more than see Junmyeon smile against your face, “I want to. I just need a minute to recover.” He laughs quietly.
Your heart leaps as you realize you can hear his smile in his voice. Lifting your head, you grin back at him with a nod. He wastes no time in slowly peeling your top off and flinging it to the floor with the rest of the clothing.
Junmyeon kisses you again, hungrily this time, as if the growing exposure of your soft skin is more than he can bear to control himself over. He cups the back of your neck, pulling you to lean into him smoothly until his mouth can reach your shoulder easily.
He kisses, some chaste, mostly open mouthed and warm, from the side of your neck, down your shoulder, pulling the strap of your bra down your arm until his trailing mouth reaches the joint. His hand slides up your side, over your ribs until he’s cupping the swell of your breast over the clothing.
In one smooth motion he pulls the cup down until he can easily grasp the fullness of it without clothing, and he moans softly as his mouth freely descends over your nipple.
You gasp and whine against him, pushing your chest further into his delicious mouth. His tongue, skilled and wet, rolls over the bud until it’s peaked. He releases momentarily to plant a kiss directly over it, making you shiver against him.
Impatient, you break out of his loose grasp, sitting up to reach behind you and fling the offending garment from your body. You smile against one another’s mouths, claiming each others breaths until his hands slide up the back of your thighs.
His fingertips skim beneath your shorts, and the touch of them against the swell of your ass under the fabric shifts something in the both of you. A sudden urgency to be connected as you pull back to look at his face and watch him looking at you with the same desire and fascination.
It registers in your mind that he’s half hard beneath you, stiffening with his need to be buried in your warmth. Junmyeon’s breathing comes shallow now as his blood begins to race faster for you. His fingers ghost over your hips hurriedly, fumbling for the button of your shorts.
The moment he pops it you climb off of his lap to shove them to the floor along with your panties. As you do this, he adjusts, moving to recline his shoulders against the arm of your couch in a split second. His hands and mouth can’t find your skin fast enough when you try not to hurt him in your attempt to climb back into his lap.
The angle of his body forces you forward until your breasts are pressed firmly against his strong chest. He plants a messy kiss to the side of your neck as his hands find your hips as he takes himself in his hand, guiding himself back and forth through your wetness.
The repeated motion pulls a whimper from you and a groan from him, sucking in a breath as you plant your palm against his chest and sit back. You can’t wait any longer, having been so desperate for him for what feels like hours.
The relief of his cock filling you with no trouble is so intense it spills a tear from your eye. Below you, Junmyeon moans, digging his heels into the couch harder to let you fall back into his chest.
Neither of you move for a moment, just breathing and enjoying the pressure of your bodies pressed together completely.
Junmyeon is staring at you, his eyes wide and bright as he looks between each of your own with a fondness you simply bask in. You’ve learned when he looks at you like this, he sees you as a flower that only blooms for him, with him, because of him.
He slides himself out, almost completely, before just as slowly raising his hips to bury himself back inside of you. His gaze remains on your face, mirroring your pleasure on his.
You compliment his rhythm with your body, meeting him softly thrust for thrust. Small sounds of pleasure slip between you but the intimate moment is mostly filled with the sounds of your mingled panting. It won’t take you long to reach your high, you can feel how tightly wound you already are.
Junmyeon’s cheeks are flushed, his forehead damp with a sheen of sweat again as he closes his eyes and kisses you. One of his hands curls over the back of your neck to keep your lips against his.
He gives a particularly deep thrust, using the other hand clutching your hip to push you harder onto his lap with a groan. Driving on like this, you’re close.
You lift your head to breathe, settling your forehead against his own and closing your eyes. Every thrust pushes a soft gasp past your lips as he works your bodies in unison.
“Can you come like this?” he asks on a whisper against your cheek, checking. He can feel that you’re close, but isn’t sure if it’s enough to push you over the edge.
You nod, feeling the edges of your orgasm beginning to creep in. The air is humid in the space around you, all of the skin between you sticky with heat. Junmyeon tilts you further into him, sinking lower onto the couch so he can angle his hips better.
Just enough so he hits a place he’s never hit before. A spot that spins you rapidly toward your release as he hits it a second time and you cry out his name.
“Oh, fuck.” you whine in his ear, one of your hands tangling your fingers in the back of his hair. He hisses, brow furrowing in concentration with your tightening heat.
He thrusts sharply, pace becoming fast and hard into your heat, making a mess of  his lap where you drip around him. So long you’ve waited for him. The explicit sound of your activity, the heat of his skin, the smell of his cologne and sweat. The taste of him on your lips, the closeness of his body, all things that propel you to cloud nine suddenly as if having launched to the sky on a rocket.
Junmyeon can feel you before you make a sound, squeezing him so tightly, your thighs shaking, your breath holding in small pants that you release with a gasp each time. Your body freezes on top of his until you cry loudly against his hair.
It’s beautiful, he thinks. You’re beautiful, surrounding him and surrendering to him like this. Shaking in his arms as he drives his cock deep into your perfect heat, your fingernails digging into his shoulder and tightening in his hair.
It’s the sound of his name falling like a prayer, a blessing and curse, gasped from your lips all at once that rips his orgasm from him suddenly. He groans, freeing a breathe he didn’t realize he’d been holding until he’s panting right along with you, riding his high.
In the back of his mind he takes note of how tired his body feels, how deeply his thighs ache from exertion. You laugh above him, your bodies stuck like glue as you bend to kiss him, carefree.
“You okay?” he asks you on impulse.
Nodding, you dip your head to kiss him again, “Never better.”
You bask with him in the moment, the post-sex glow that has you both smiling at one another, not minding the sweaty mess you’ve become there on your couch.
The moment he softens and slips from your core, you grimace. The slick mess you’ve made begins to ooze down the inside of your thigh onto his, and you look at him with a frown.
“Shower?” he offers, still grinning.
__________________________________________
You sleep the best you have in ages. The birds don’t wake you as easily today. Instead, all of your own, your body wakes you with an uncomfortably full bladder.
The soft snores beside you gain your attention. Junmyeon, your boyfriend, is sound asleep. His face is relaxed and peaceful. The sun envelops your room from the window, like always, shining across the floor and spilling its warmth onto your bed.
His dark hair is pushed partially off of his forehead and up onto the pillow. From where his cheek rests against the soft white of your linens, his face squishes adorably, and you stifle a giggle so you don’t wake him yet.
You’re reminded of your wish, to see him in your bed, uninterrupted. To steal those first glances of him, his skin and hair glowing with morning sunlight while he still sleeps. You feel wonderful in that moment, eyes mapping his face and memorizing everything about this moment, down to the heat of his body beside yours in your bed. The comfort of him being here. The sense of peace.
A rhythmic vibration comes from your dresser. You realize, sneaking out of bed, it’s his phone, plugged in and charging from the outlet beside the furniture. Glancing at him, he doesn’t move.
Approaching the device, you stand in the sunlight heating your carpet. You flex and wiggle your toes over the softness, reveling in the warmth as you peek at his phone. A selfie of himself with Sehun is illuminating the screen, a phone icon tilting from left to right in the center with Sehun’s contact information below it.
For a moment you debate answering it until it’s too late and it stops. It’s only when it repeats and Sehun calls him a second time do you decide to unplug it and carry it quickly to to the living room to answer it.
“Hello?” you say gently into the receiver.
“Y/N?” Sehun breathes, sounding relieved.
You look back at your open bedroom door, leaning back to further look inside at Junmyeon, who hasn’t moved an inch.
“Yeah, is everything okay?” you ask, walking to the kitchen. You glance at your medication on the counter. You should take it- but you need to relieve your bladder before you drink anything.
Turning back to the living room, Sehun answers you in a rush, “I’m assuming since you answered, he’s with you?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong?” you ask, leaning against the wall and looking out of a window, down at the street in front of your apartment.
Sehun sighs, “He just up and left and didn’t tell anyone where he was going and oh, I don’t know, hasn’t answered any of our texts or calls.”
You feel guilty suddenly, “Sehun I’m so sorry.”
“Even Soohyun didn’t know if he was with you. He said he tried to call you but you didn’t answer either. He told me if you didn’t answer this morning he was going to go to your place.”
Quickly and quietly, you fly back to your bedroom, leaning down to check your phone.
Sure enough, you’ve got seven missed calls from Soohyun and one from an unknown number. Twelve text messages accompany the notification bar. Majority are from Soohyun, but you read two of them are from the unknown number, telling you it’s Sehun and asking if Junmyeon is with you. Checking why you missed all of their attempts to reach you, you see your phone is on silent, somehow.
You breathe in deeply, “I’m sorry, my phone was on silent by accident.”
The idol is silent for a minute, “Just tell me he’s okay.” he demands softly after a moment.
Junmyeon, having heard noise, stirs in the sheets. His body curls in on itself slowly, his dark hair disappearing beneath the white covers before he stretches back out, his bare arms reaching over his head with a groan.
“Yeah, I think he’s okay now.” you say quietly.
Junmyeon rolls over, facing you and squinting one eye open. He smiles at you but frowns shortly after, seeing his phone pressed to your ear.
He sits up, quickly rubbing his eyes and holding out a hand.
“Hang on, he just woke up.” you comment, passing the phone over to him before climbing back on the bed.
His arm curls around your waist as you curl up next to him. He kisses your hair and you can hear Sehun from the other line yelling at him.
“Yes, yes, okay, I got it. My bad.” he groans, still half asleep.
You’ve come to learn Sehun doesn’t just get mad- he gets concerned. Angrily upset, when it comes to Junmyeon, his best friend, his brother, his leader. You can hear the fear in his voice, answered by Junmyeon’s soft assurance that he’s okay and he is sorry for making him worry.
“I just needed some space away.” your lover comments with a sigh, rubbing the warmth of his palm up and down your arm.
While you listen, you shoot Soohyun a text that everything is fine and he doesn’t need to come over and you’re sorry your phone was on silent. The anxiety of the situation fizzles out and you relax just to notice you still need to pee.
With a pout from him, you extract yourself to use the bathroom while he finishes his conversation, slumped over and groggy, rubbing his face.
He’s still on the phone when you emerge, so you head for the coffee pot. Your hands work on autopilot to fill the decanter with water, pour it in, spoon in the grounds, get out cups and click the ‘start’ button.
Lost in thought, you pick up the imposing bottle of your medication where it rests beside the coffee pot. You reread the label over a few times, just as always, before unscrewing the safety cap and shaking one out into your palm. You make a mental note to order a refill soon, squinting one eye to look into the bottle and count how many are left.
Rough hands sliding around your waist startle you, dropping the bottle onto the counter and spilling some onto its surface.
192 notes · View notes
jeonsjiddies · 5 years ago
Text
Something Good | knj
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summary- you’d known from the moment you’d laid eyes on him, Namjoon was good.
rating- e for everyone? lol
word count-  3395
pairing- namjoon x reader
genre- fluff
Warnings- lots of emotions, possibly kinda angsty?
a/n: possibility of a smutty part 2 if people want it?
Namjoon-
Namjoon was tired. He loved his life, he really did. He loved his career, he loved Army, he loved his bandmates. He could not have asked for anything better. But today, Namjoon was tired. He was worn out, and he just wanted to drift into the crowd unseen long enough to get his coffee and go back to his hotel room. He was dressed casually, jeans and a dark blue cotton t-shirt paired with a black baseball cap and a gray jacket, hood up. He wore a mask across his face, but with how smoggy it was in the city, that didn’t make him stand out. 
He found a small coffee shop that looked fairly empty and ducked inside, quietly giving his order to the first employee, an older woman with a kind smile who nodded, writing “John” on his cup when he said Joon but he didn’t mind. His eyes flicked to the young woman who began mixing his drink, her pretty hair bouncing with her movements, languid and quick. She hummed quietly to herself, so quietly he couldn’t make out the song, but her sunny disposition made his mouth curve up into a smile.
“For John?” she smiled brightly at him, and he nodded, handing her the money and taking his change.
“Thank you.” he responded kindly, reaching out to take the drink.
Her eyes widened, mouth falling agape as she looked up to hand Namjoon his drink, their fingers brushing slightly as she handed it off. Namjoon felt a spark run clear down to his toes, and he met her gaze with similar surprise.
“Kim Namjoon?”
Y/N- 
“Kim Namjoon?” you breathed, recognizing that voice anywhere. 
Your skin was electrified where it touched his, and your gaze shot up and locked with his. Kim Namjoon, leader of BTS was standing right in front of you. The man who’d taken control of your every unconscious moment, drifting through your dreams like he owned them. The man you’d almost watched grow up on any screen you could get your hands on. You knew BTS had a concert in the city in a few days, but it never crossed your mind that he would appear in the small coffee shop you wasted your days in, barely making enough to cover your rent.
“Please don’t scream.” he begged, not in a conceited way, more desperate, exhausted.
“I won’t.” you promised.
“Thank you.” he whispered in a sigh of relief. 
Namjoon flashed you a smile, which you only caught by the crinkle in his eyes. He turned to walk away and you stood there, frozen in place until your heart kicked into overdrive. This was your one chance. You hopped over the counter and dashed after him, skidding to a stop in front of the door just as he was about to open it.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re probably tired of fans approaching you, and I swear I’m not insane. I’ve been your fan for a while, but I’m not going to pretend I really know who you are. I would like to, though. I might not know everything about you but after watching you from the sidelines, I can tell there’s something different about you. You’re good. I could really use some good in my life.”
Namjoon’s eyes met yours but he didn’t speak, his gaze just searched yours. For what, you didn’t know. 
“You don’t have to decide right now. Look, let me put my number in your phone, so you have it. You can decide if you want to text me or not. I won’t be offended if I don’t hear from you. But I think I could be something good for you too.” you offered, heart pounding with adrenaline.
Seconds passed before Namjoon nodded, something about the spark in your eye drawing him in and begging him to trust you. He dug in his pocket and pulled out his phone. You gently took it from his grasp and input your contact information, hitting save. You looked up at him as you handed it back. He looked at the screen momentarily.
“Nice to meet you, Y/N. Have a good day.” he said softly before exiting the shop and disappearing into the crowd. 
When your shift ended two hours later, you were still in shock. Namjoon. Kim Namjoon had been in your coffee shop, had touched your skin. You shivered at the memory, a smile gracing your lips. You began walking home, ready to crash into your small twin bed inside your shared apartment. The sun began to set just as you crossed over to the shadier area of town, the only place you could afford to reside. You looked at your phone to check the time, and noticed a text from an unsaved number.
Namjoon [8:37PM] Hey, Y/N. It’s Namjoon.
Your heart thundered in your chest. He texted you. This had to be a joke. 
You [8:39PM] Hey! I didn’t think you’d actually text me. How are you?
Namjoon [8:42PM] Honestly, I didn’t either. But you were so honest and open I figured it couldn’t hurt. 
Namjoon [8:43PM] I’m okay, just tired. It’s been a long day.
You [8:44PM] I’m glad you did. I’m pretty great now. What made it a long day?
Namjoon stared at your message, unsure of if he should be truthful in his sour mood or pretend everything was fine. You’d only just met anyway. But something about you, it just made him feel like you’d get it. That you’d understand. He decided it would be okay, and he needed to let it out.
Namjoon [8:47PM] We had dance practice today for our upcoming show and I kept messing up and making everyone start over. I just couldn’t focus.
You [8:50PM] Are you working yourself too hard? Maybe you need to take a break.
Namjoon [8:53PM I don’t have time to take a break. Our show is in two days and we have to be ready.
Your heart ached for him. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders and he couldn’t spare a few minutes to prioritize his health?
You [8:55PM] Have you ever tried meditation or anything?
Namjoon [8:56PM] No…
You [8:59PM] Okay, hear me out. There’s this app I use when I’m stressed. It helps you meditate and has scenes with nature sounds to help you calm down. It’s even got a deep breathing feature to help you breathe. I listen to the sound of the rain when I just need to disconnect from the world and it always puts me at ease. You might try it.
Namjoon [9:00PM] What’s it called?
You [9:00PM] Calm. :) 
You didn’t hear from Namjoon for a good twenty minutes, and you were starting to wonder if you’d said something wrong. You sighed, setting your phone down and curling into the blankets, disappointment crawling its way into your heart uninvited. That was, until your phone started ringing and Namjoon’s name flashed across your screen. Your heart lept into your throat and you slid the answer key across the screen.
“Hello?” you tried to make your voice even.
“Hey. Sorry. I hope it’s okay that I called. I didn’t feel like typing.” he chuckled, seeming in a much better mood.
“No that’s fine!” you assured him.
“I love this app. Thank you for recommending it.” he praised.
“Oh, Namjoon, haven’t you heard women are always right?” you giggled.
“So I’m learning. Twice now you’ve been right.” his deep voice held a smile you could imagine if you closed your eyes.
“So you feel better? More relaxed?” you verified, turning to lay on your back and close your eyes while you relished in the sound of his voice.
“Much better. Thank you.” he said sincerely.
“Next step is a bubble bath and a face mask.” you teased. 
“Ah, I think I’m okay for now.” he laughed, letting the warm happy feeling settle in his chest at the sound of your voice. Namjoon thought you had a beautiful voice. It fit you. Soft, gentle, but with a little mystery and a hint of mischief. 
“I’ll convince you one day. It’ll do wonders for your skin.” you explained.
“Are you saying I have bad skin?” he scoffed playfully.
“Stop fishing for compliments.” you chastised. “You know you look great.”
Namjoon’s deep laughter floated through your ears like your favorite song. You giggled to yourself, his laughter was contagious.
“It’s weird how comfortable I am with you already.” Namjoon admitted suddenly, “I feel like I’ve known you forever and we met today.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” you agreed easily, buds of hope blooming in your stomach.
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In the long months that followed, Namjoon visited you every time he was near. He texted you or called you every day that you were apart. He couldn’t always talk for long, but a simple “good morning, have a good day” if that was all he could manage. There was something about the spark in your eye that drew Namjoon in, and he wanted to make sure you knew he was thinking of you. He wanted to keep you. 
The sun had long gone to sleep by the time Namjoon and his friends finished their dance practice and headed back to their hotel for the night. The dark skies had opened up and began to let the rain trickle down, thudding against the window in a soothing rhythm. Namjoon immediately thought of you and your love of the rain. You’d told him on more than one occasion that the sound of the rain coming down was one of the most calming sounds you’d ever heard. 
“You coming?” Tae asked, waiting by the door with one of the umbrellas as the group left the vehicle for the safety of the hotel.
“I’ll catch up with you guys.” Joon smiled.
Tae shrugged and jogged off.
Joon waited until Tae’s form disappeared into the large rotating door to turn his attention to his phone, pressing the facetime button on your name. When your face popped up on his screen, surrounded by a thick comforter, he worried he’d woken you up. 
“Joonie!” your smile lit up like the sun and Namjoon felt something warm fill his chest.
“Y/N.” he greeted pleasantly. 
“What’s up Joon?” you asked, the smile not leaving your lips.
“It’s raining here, and I thought maybe you’d like to listen?” he asked quietly, suddenly unsure of the gesture.
“Omg Joon! That’s so sweet! I love the rain, almost as much as I love you!” you giggled, and though Joon knew you didn’t mean it like that, his chest stirred. 
Joon turned his camera around to show you the darkened night sky and the rain that fell rhythmically on the rooftop of the car, the windows, racing down. 
“I want to see your face, Joon.” you whined a bit. 
He turned the front camera back on and smiled at you. Your face lit up and you just watched him watch the rain, eyes flickering back to you every once in a while.
“Hmmm… this is so soothing.” you hummed quietly, making sure your voice didn’t overpower the rain.
“I think of you every time it rains.” he admits, barely above a whisper.
You were quiet for a moment, and Namjoon was almost afraid to look at the screen before he heard “I miss you, Joon.” 
“I miss you too. We’ll be in town in the next month or two though.” he soothed you, noting the way your eyes filled with tears but they didn’t spill over.
“But I want my best friend here now.” you sighed. “It’s colder when you’re not here.”
“I know what you mean.” Namjoon agreed, an involuntary shiver washing through him as he turned the heat up in the car.
“Tell me what you did today.” you smiled, Namjoon could tell you were getting tired.
He spoke gently, voice low in an attempt to lull you to sleep. He knew you pushed yourself too hard, stayed up too late. You worked multiple jobs to keep yourself afloat and assist your family in any way you could, and Namjoon had offered on many occasions to help you out financially, but you had refused, stating that he was your friend, not your ATM. 
Your stubborn personality was one of the most infuriating things about you, and also one of Namjoon’s favorites. When you’d set your mind to something, there was no going back. You never backed down when you were passionate about something, and you were passionate about Namjoon. Too many times you’d watched him get close to people who only wanted him for his fame or his money. He acted like it didn’t hurt but you knew. Each time he was betrayed it was like a piece of him chipped away. He smiled though. He never stopped smiling. 
Sometimes Namjoon felt like BTS and you were the only people in the whole world he could trust, aside from his family. 
“... then Jin tripped over Tae and busted his ass and we couldn’t stop laughing.” Namjoon recounted dance practice and watched your sleepy smile spread over your face. “We decided to call it quits for the day and here we are.” he finished.
“Mmm.. I’m glad you had a good day.” you mumbled from your half-conscious state.
“Thank you, Y/N. You should really get some sleep.” Namjoon told you.
“You’re right… I can’t keep my eyes open. Thank you for calling me, Joonie. I love you.” you spoke slowly, eyes threatening to drift shut.
“I love you too, Y/N. Sweet dreams.” Namjoon said, but his words fell on deaf ears as your eyes had already closed. 
Namjoon knew he should’ve ended the call, but his eyes watched your peaceful expression, a hint of a smile lingering on your lips. He watched you take deep, even breaths. He studied the way your eyelashes fluttered when you stirred. Namjoon’s chest tightened as he gazed upon your features. That was the first night Namjoon came to the realization that he was in love with you.
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Of course, you’d known you were in love with Namjoon much sooner than the dense man had realized his own feelings. You never showed it though. You didn’t want your feelings to make things weird, as Namjoon’s presence in your life was the only thing keeping you centered. Namjoon was where you went when you were angry, when you were scared, when you felt alone. He was your anchor in a world that tried to sweep you away into an empty abyss. He was your home.
Namjoon was the only person in the world who seemed to understand you completely. You’d never really felt like you belonged anywhere, constantly yearning for a place that felt safe. With Namjoon, you belonged. You were safe. Protected. You were valued and revered and you could let your walls down and melt into your best friend’s embrace, knowing he’d always catch you. You knew there were millions of girls who wanted his heart, who were in love with the idea of him. You knew who he really was though. 
You were the one who stayed up talking him through his dark moments. You were the one who held him and stroked his hair when he fell apart. You were the one who listened without judgement, who understood him just as much as he understood you. You were the one who never used him, never left him, never let him feel abandoned. You were the one who waited up, pretending you couldn’t sleep just to hear his voice for a few fleeting moments as his day wound down into the quiet night. Everything Namjoon gave to you, you returned with vigor. 
That’s why, when his plane landed in your city, you were the first thought on his mind. You were the one he wanted to run to. You were the one he wanted to wrap up in his arms. And that is exactly what he did as he arrived at your apartment, dressed to blend in, knuckles rapping at the door excitedly. You flung the door open, jumping into his embrace as he pulled you tight against him and shut the door behind your bodies. You breathed in his scent, your senses flooded with Namjoon. You could finally breathe again.
You felt your body go pliant in his grasp. His strong arms held you close, his breath tickled your ear. His heart beat just as fast as your pounding one. Your best friend was finally home. Well, he didn’t live with you but in your presence was the place Namjoon felt the most himself, so he might as well have been home. Namjoon was completely overwhelmed with emotion at finally being by your side again. He didn’t know what came over him. He didn’t have time to use rational judgement, didn’t have time to think. Everything in his being needed this. He needed you.
As soon as your feet had touched the ground, before you could release yourself from Namjoon’s grasp, his lips found yours. In that moment, time stopped. Your heart stopped beating for a moment, then immediately began hammering in your chest. You kissed him back after a moment of letting the situation sink it, everything inside of you seeming to reach for him. You wound your fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck and his arms tightened around you, pressing your body against his as his lips worked against yours. 
Had it been minutes? Had it been hours? You weren’t sure. Time wasn’t real when you were in Namjoon’s arms. All you knew is it was far too soon for your liking when he pulled away to catch his breath, his forehead resting against yours. His chest rose and fell rapidly and his eyes met yours. You shivered at the intensity, the adoration in his gaze. 
“I’m in love with you.” left his lips before he could even register what he was saying. 
Even though he’d only realized this fact a few months prior, Namjoon had been in love with you the better part of a year. It really hadn’t taken long for you to wrap yourself around his heart so completely that he couldn’t possibly want anyone else. He’d been waiting ever since that rainy night in the car to come home to you, to wrap you up in his arms, to risk it all and tell you exactly what you’d meant to him.
“I had a whole speech planned. It was going to be much more romantic. But I can’t think right now. All I know is I’m completely in love with you, and I really hope you feel the same way or this is going to get really awkward-” he began.
“I love you too. I’m in love with you, Joonie. I’ve been in love with you. You’re everything.” you sighed contentedly, leaning your head against his toned chest, listening to his heart beat like a hummingbird’s.
His fingers tenderly snaked their way under your chin, tilting your face up to meet his gaze. His lips found yours once more. This kiss was slower, more intimate. This kiss held everything the two of you couldn’t express with words. All the heartache while you waited for him alone. All the longing you’d felt, thousands of miles apart. This kiss was a thank you for your continued friendship, a promise of so much more to come, a whisper of love drifting between your connected lips. It was everything you’d both been holding back for almost a year. 
Your whole body trembled and tears forced their way down your cheeks against your will, and Namjoon moved his lips to your cheeks, kissing them away. He knew. He understood. He felt it too. He led you to the couch, consuming you in his embrace, letting you be at ease for the first time in months. Namjoon finally let out the breath he’d been holding since, well he wasn’t sure how long. It felt like he was breathing for the very first time.
“Please say you’ll be mine.” he whispered, almost inaudibly, as he trailed kisses along your ear.
“I’ve always been yours, Joon.” you whispered back. 
And it felt like the beginning of something good.
taglist: @blkjmn
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babyleclerc · 5 years ago
Text
Tequila Sunrise
Pairings: Chris Evans x Fem Reader
Style: One-Shot
Request?: No, but 100% inspired by that stupid Shawn Mendes/Camila Cabello song I will never get out of my head
Warnings: Language. Smut. Unprotected sex (woops, wrap it before you tap it, kids). NSFW. Slight dom!Chris.
Word count: 4.5K 
Summary: You’ve known Chris since you were twelve. He’s always been a constant for you, never a romantic interest. But will the summer heatwave, humidity and pool time get to your head and change the way you feel about each other? Includes Anthony Mackie!
A/N: Holy shit, you guys. I’ve been working on this one all week. I won’t lie, I’m attached to this one and really hope you guys like it. :3 I’m considering doing a series tied to this -- more of what happens with Reader/Chris & potentially with Ava (bc I love her personality and modeled her off Blake Lively, if you couldn’t tell). If you liked this/would be interested in reading more in this world please comment and let me know!! Your support helps me write :))
This story truly feels like my baby so please do leave it some love/review if you liked it. Sorry if the smut sucked I hate writing it but felt like it was essential to the story jfdlakflds;akf;dsaf. Don’t hate me. ALSO, huge thank you to my #1 @deartomhardy. She helped me through this in so many ways. Hyped me up when parts of this fic made me sweaty, yelled at me when I whined about the smut. Supported me literally through it all. I love u my baby angel. <3 (Gif not mine!)
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You say we’re just friends,
But friends don’t know the way you taste.
‘Cause you know it’s been a long time coming,
Don’t you let me fall.
It was hotter than all hell, and you were starting to get sick of the dry heat that was coursing it’s way through the city the past few days. Your hometown used to be so enjoyable; better weather, less traffic, less people, less lines, less noise. Now, everything was popular - and not in a cute way. The donut shop down the street you had been going to since you were five was now considered a collectible. You saw tourists at the airport with the stupid blue boxes everywhere. The quaint coffee shop that was next to a questionable Chinese restaurant had now multiplied where you could find one on almost every street corner. Even down to the people - one in particular - who used to just be a regular Joe Schmoe was now a celebrity in his (also your) hometown. Wild.
“Find any hotties out there?” You turned your head to the edge of the pool to peer through your circular sunglasses at the voice. Mackie was leaned against the cool tiles surrounding the edge of the pool, the bottom of his body enveloped in water. He turned to look at Chris who had just entered the gated pool area.
“I just went to get some beers, Mack. Chill.” Chris replied, and you couldn’t help the small smile that formed on your lips at his response.
Local-theatre-geek-turned-celebrity did have its perks, though. For one, you were able to enjoy a private pool on a 97 degree day, well, privately. Chris’s summer home was nothing short of a resort; food at any and all hours of the day, a pool, hot tub, and theater room. The best part about the pool was that there were no kids screaming and running around, wreaking havoc. You had a barbecue all to yourself, you could blast music and no one would complain. Plus, you found yourself suddenly surrounded by far better and more interesting company.
You and Chris had always been close. That was clear to everyone around you. You went to his premieres, supported him on Broadway, stayed up with him late into the night over the phone when his anxiety got the best of him, and he was a full Country away from you. Assured him that he would have the family he’s always wanted one day. And he supported you through all your endeavors. Helped you pay your way through grad school (I have so much money, Y/N, I literally don’t know what to do with it. Let me do something good for you, just this once he’d said to you late that night on the floor of your college dorm). Listened to you when you ranted about your parents and how the planet alignment was throwing off your mood. Was a shoulder to cry on when you went through breakups. There were no secrets between you, and there was no drama.
You knew this was because the only rule you had with Chris was the one that had stood the test of time: no sex. Period. No matter how drunk you got in the college dorms or at Marvel premieres. Even if you didn’t have someone to kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Even if you were vulnerable, heart aching for some affection and non-romantic sex after your ex cheated on you. Even if you were just plain horny. No. Sex. Your 20+ year friendship had lasted this long because one person in the relationship had always stood that ground no matter the circumstances. And for that, you were so thankful. Thankful for the lack of complications and strings; thankful you had someone in your life you could be you around. It was a rarity these days.
“Beer?” Said friend asked you, sunglasses adorned his tanning face. You looked up from Mackie and nodded, stretching out a hand to reach for the refreshing drink Chris was offering your way.
“Please,” You respond, waiting for Chris to pad his way over to you across the massive outdoor patio.
Had Chris not had his sunglasses on, you would have noticed the way he was eyeing your outstretched body, clad only in a thin, navy blue bikini on the poolside chair. Your bottoms hugged your hips as if made just for you; your tousled hair touching just beneath your shoulders; stray strands innocently snuggled beneath your breasts.
He took a breath, willing himself to look away as he handed you the cool drink. You noticed the way his obliques twitched with his arm movement, and how massive his biceps were after coming off of Endgame. You had, of course, noticed your best friend’s looks before - you weren’t blind - but the heat was making you see him in a different light. You took a swig of your beer, hoping the distraction would take you away from the way a bead of sweat was falling just along his torso towards the top of his swim trunks...
“I’d love one, Chris, thanks for asking.” Your best friend, Ava, spoke out next to you.
“Did you have to bring her?” Chris teased, grabbing another beer and gently tossing it towards Ava, who lay sprawled out on a lounge chair next to you in a stunning red one piece that hugged her cleavage just right.
Ava was the quintessential best friend whose kindness and selflessness made up for the fact that any woman next to her would otherwise feel inadequate.
She had long, slender legs, carved after years of soccer, tennis, biking, and basically any sport she could get her hands on. The constant need for an adrenaline rush made her tanned skin stay year-round, which was accompanied by a moderate four pack, large natural breasts, and wavy, thick blonde hair that always fell just right. Add her bright emerald eyes and a contagious laugh that lit up any room, and she was a heartbreaker to any man that was lucky enough to be in the same room as her.
But Ava didn’t care about that stuff, and that’s what made her so special. She was selfless. She put everyone else’s needs above her own, and had kindness oozing out of her, no matter the circumstances. She went to Mexico on a UNICEF trip on a whim after reading an article about children in need on a random Tuesday morning. She put her younger brother through medical school when both of her parents passed away unexpectedly (still a mystery to everyone else how she ever managed it). She was a perfect blend of compassion and enthusiasm that attracted men who wanted to get in bed with her and women who wanted to be associated with her. And it was effortless; as if it came to her like breathing.
“They’re kind of a package deal, those two.” Mackie piped up from the pool, grinning as he unashamedly drank Ava in. He had been trying to get with her all summer, but Ava stood her ground. She wasn’t one for summer flings.
But Chris knew this already; in fact it was Ava and Chris’s friendship that had gotten you to know Chris to begin with. Your mom had forced you into 6th grade soccer (hoping you would show some sort of athletic talent in your childhood) where you had met Ava on the very first day. Chris had been on the boys team at your middle school, and Ava being, well, Ava, had already made friends with the entire team within days. Your practices were on separate fields, separated only by a goal post but always ended at the same time. You would frequently all walk home together after practice, stopping for a smoothie, donuts, or ice cream along the way depending on the weather and talking about everything under the sun. Those walks were the reason you stuck with soccer for all those years (sorry, Mom).
“I already know what you’re going to say,” Ava started, lowering her voice and leaning towards you so the boys couldn’t hear. “But if I didn’t know any better, I’d say a certain someone was checking you out today.”
You rolled your eyes, but felt your heart skip a beat at the insinuation. “Don’t go starting shit, Ave. He’s seen me in a bikini a million times.”
“Yeah, and you’ve seen him shirtless a million times, too, and yet here you are gawking at him like he’s some Sports Illustrated model.”
“Am not!” You laughed, taking a drink of your beer. You noticed the way Chris’s eyebrows raised at the sound of you from across the patio; he was always in tune with you even from a thousand miles away.
“Prove it.” Ava deadpanned, swinging her legs over her chair to sit up and face you.
“What?” You asked, exhausted by your best friend’s antics.
“Prove it.” She repeated, setting her beer down on the cement. “If it’s no big deal, and you feel the same way about him you always have and nothing’s changed-” She used air quotations, referring to the thousands of conversations you’d had about Chris since you were both back visiting your hometown and hanging out with Ava, “-then swimming and playing around in the pool should be no big deal. Just another swim with your best buds.”
She had a wicked grin on her face, and you knew you were in trouble. When Ava set her mind to something, she always saw it through. No matter what.
“Please don’t do this.” You pouted, though your best friend was already standing, waiting to make her move. The pitied look on your face didn’t fool her, and you found she was ignoring you as she dramatically fanned herself, heading towards the pool.
“It’s getting a bit toasty. I think I’ll take a dip to cool off.” She announced, “Y/N, you coming?”
“I think I’m good, thanks.” You glared at her, unamused. She shot you a wink in response.
“Man, I was really hoping we could chicken fight. Evans!” Chris jumped at the sudden inclusion from the loud blonde. “You in?”
He looked up from the edge of the pool where he had been leaning against one of the railings. Him and Mackie had been discussing some latest sports announcement at length, since you had been too bored earlier to listen out at lunch.
“Mhm?” Chris asked, clearly not paying attention to Ava’s antics and shooting a look over to the both of you. You noticed the beer in his hand was nearly empty.
“Chicken fight!” Ava said enthusiastically, “Me ‘n Mack vs you two losers.”
“Alright!” Mackie shouted happily, “Now things are getting interesting. Finally.”
Chris sighed, not near excited for the fight as the other two. “You in, partner?”
“I guess.” You groaned, knowing you had no way out of both Anthony and Ava’s persistence. You pulled yourself up off the chair and stood, stretching and rolling your neck, which had been stiff from the CrossFit class Ava had forced you to earlier in the week. Your muscles still ached from the fifty minute torture session you cursed your best friend all the way through, and though you’d never admit it - a dip in the pool sounded so refreshing after nearly 45 minutes in the heat.
Chris’s eyes never left you, or the way your body was glistening in the sunlight. The summer heat was leaving your cheeks just flushed, and he noticed how the thin swim material hugged your plump ass seductively. You were oblivious. Oblivious to the beauty and perfection Chris saw in you, how your right dimple surfaced when you laughed, and your eyelashes fluttered when you slept deeply. He felt a small pang of jealousy in his gut at the thought of all the guys who had seen you that way, and wondered if they noticed all those things about you that he did.
Throughout high school and through adulthood, people had always assumed Chris was dating Ava. Whether it was friends, family, or tabloids - people always gushed over what a “beautiful couple” he and Ava made. Maybe it was because of the stark blond hair, or maybe that she was almost taller than Chris, and they appeared to be “perfectly matched”. To Chris, she was just Ava. A close, and dear friend, but no one he would ever be romantically interested in. 
She wasn’t you.
--- 
Much to your annoyance (and to Ava’s pleasure), chicken fighting with Chris had been just as awkward as you had expected. You were acutely aware of every touch - the way his strong hands gripped your thighs when you were straddled on top of his shoulders, desperately trying to shove your best friend off Anthony’s. She was stronger than you; that much was obvious. But having Chris at the base gave you an edge, and you ended up winning more than the other pair thanks to his cheating swipes at Mackie from under the water.
While the game was innocent enough, you heart drummed loudly in your chest every time his skin made contact with yours. Several times as you fell, shoved off by Ava’s very aggressive pushes, you’d feel Chris’s strong arms envelope you, laughing and crashing into the water with you. His arm stayed wrapped around your torso, holding you easily against his hip as you pushed up for air. Water droplets danced along your shoulders as you laughed, easily wrapping your legs around Chris as an excuse for support.
Finally, after several hours of Marco/Polo, ring tossing, and shark and minnows, Anthony and Ava had tired themselves out and retired to their respective homes. You and Chris had moved to the hot tub, tucked deep into the corner of the house, where you could still see the stars. The heatwave had finally burnt off, and you felt a cool breeze rolling through the property, sending a slight shiver down your spine. You leaned your head back onto the cool, diamond tiles that lined the tub, your legs peacefully resting on Chris’s lap across from you as the jets made water bubbles all around you. You sighed, blissfully happy - nothing was better than a long, warm day at the pool with your best friends.
“What’s goin’ on in that head of yours?” Chris asked softly. His fingers danced across your legs like a whisper, his warm blues matching the color of the water just beneath his sturdy chest. 
“I’ve just missed this,” You reply, raising your eyes to meet his. “Life should always be this simple.”
“It can be.” Chris retaliated, thumb now making small circles just above your ankle. You smiled softly.
“Sometimes. But other times I remember that there’s reality, and we have to work and pay bills and like... be an adult.” You sighed again, “It’s just not the same as...” You trailed off, not having the balls to finish your sentence. You awkwardly broke eye contact with him, looking down at your hands in the water.
“Not the same as what?” He pressed, hand now gripping your ankle gently. He tugged just enough to force you to make eye contact with him again. 
“Real life just isn’t the same as being here with you,” You finished out awkwardly. This was uncharted territory - you’d never talked about this kind of stuff with Chris. You were always just friends, and that was the extent of it. Nothing more; and there was never really an opportunity to be more than that because both of you had never let it. 
But now... now he was here. And he was so... perfect. And caring. And kind. And he listened to your ideas, beyond just wanting to get into your pants. And he knew you so intimately, it was hard to think about being with anyone else. It made you wonder if all of your past relationships had failed for a reason, maybe there was someone else you were supposed to be with, and he had been right in front of you this entire time?
Chris tugged on your leg, a little stronger this time, willing you towards him as the water bounced between you guys softly. He was closing the gap between the both of you, but the pace in which he was taking was painfully slow. You felt every second, as if it had been slowed down five times, as you inched towards him slowly.
“Chris, I...” You whispered, as his hands enveloped you, gripping your waist and maneuvering you so that you straddled his lap.
“What?” He asked breathlessly, drunk on your smell, and the way your ass was settling on his groin. His eyes still haven’t left yours, he’s testing you - daring you to be the one to pull away first. 
“I don’t trust myself right now.” You reply, eyes boring into his. Your face was millimeters away from his, and you so desperately wanted to reach out and taste him; know what it would feel like to kiss those soft, pink lips. 
“Just one kiss.” He breathed. His tone was more of a request than it was statement, he was begging you to give in just this once. You lifted your hands and rested them on the sides of his face, feeling his slight stubble against the palms of your hands.In the decades of knowing him, you had never been this close. You breathed in deeply, taking in his scent. You felt as though you were home. And although it was likely only seconds that passed by, it felt like it had been a million minutes all smashed into one, and you finally leaned in, closing the fraction of space between your lips.
And suddenly, you were falling. Falling so deep into Chris and your feelings it was indescribable. He tasted like a perfect blend of vanilla, honey and strawberries; likely from the massive bowl he had eaten just hours before. 
His arms wrapped around you, pulling you as close into him as he could. This was more than just one kiss, and both of you knew it. There was no going back now.
After a few breathy moments, Chris pulled back for air, immediately relocating his lips onto the crook of your neck, kissing every inch of your skin from your jawline down to your shoulder. Your skin felt as though it was on fire, and it had nothing to do with the temperature of the water. You leaned into him, a soft moan escaping your lips as you let your eyes flutter closed. His hands roamed up your spine, tugging at the spandex material that was barricading him from access to your breasts.
“Not here,” You murmured, letting your head fall against his shoulder. As warm and sexy as the hot tub was, you weren’t interested in your first time with Chris being messy and wet in his outdoor hot tub. Plus, the cool breeze was starting to give you goosebumps.
He pulled away from the hickey he was working on just above your right breast. “Hold onto my neck.” He said against your skin. Wrapping your legs around his waist he easily stood, carefully maneuvering the both of you out of the hot tub and towards one of the guest bedrooms just a few feet from the hot tub. All the while his lips continued his assault on any part of you that he could, stumbling in the dark towards the massive queen bed that was enveloped in snow white sheets.
A small giggle escaped from your lips as he tripped slightly, dropping you backwards and onto the soft mattress.
“Think that’s funny?” He asked, grinning as he took in the sight of you; eyes sparkling and hair wet and wild, soaking the cotton sheets beneath you. Nothing separated him from you other than your skimpy bikini, which he was determined to pull off within minutes of having you on the bed.
“I mean, it was a little dramatic,” You teased, reaching out to grab his left arm, and interlacing your fingers easily as he leaned over, hovering over top of you. No part of you were touching just yet, other than his hand in yours. “I do have working legs, ya know.”
“Well, yes, but where’s the fun in that?” He teased, allowing himself to settle on top of you easily. He was grinning from ear to ear, and you weren’t sure if it was your ego or the heat of the moment - but you could have sown you’d never seen him this happy.
“Are we really gonna do this?” You asked softly, reaching your hand to stroke the side of his face, your eyes searching his.
“Do you want to?” He asked, ever the gentleman. Your heart was ringing in your ears, aware of the hard erection Chris was sporting through his swim trunks. It pressed against your right thigh gently. You squirmed beneath him.
“I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.” You murmured, and that was the final confirmation Chris needed to close the gap between you two once more.
And this time was different from the hot tub. In the water you were slow, deliberate, wanting every nerve in your body to feel him against you. This was different; he was hungry for you. His hands made quick work of your bikini top, tossing it onto the floor as your lips parted to make room for his tongue.
His right hand massaged your left breast, pinching and flicking your nipple every so often. The sensation made you moan, and you arched your back in response. You could feel your pussy throbbing for him, begging him to please you, touch you.
Needing air, you pulled away from him, placing kisses along his chin and down his jawline.
“Chris,” You moaned into his ear, slightly tugging on his long, wet hair as his thumb padded your tout nipple.
“Mhm,” You were quickly realizing that Chris was going to make you beg him for this one. After years and years of waiting, he wanted to hear exactly what you wanted him to do to you. He wasn’t going to give you an easy out. Not tonight anyway.
“Please,” You begged, as his right hand moved slowly, torturously from your breast and across your tummy, running a finger along your slit over top your bottoms.
“What do you want?” He asked, nose nuzzling your neck before biting you gently.
You groaned, annoyed at the teasing. “We’ve had twenty years of foreplay, Evans. You know what I want.”
He chuckled against your skin, palming your pussy in response.
“Don’t be a smartass.” He bit your earlobe gently, running his tongue along your neck. “All you have to do is ask.”
You weren’t used to such a dominant side of Chris, but the rate in which it was turning you on was unbelievable. He was confident and sexy in the bedroom - a side of him you weren’t used to seeing. It was a relief to feel like you were being taken care of, and that your needs were coming before his. Even if he was making you beg.
Deciding that being blunt was the only way to get what you want you pushed him away from your neck gently, meeting his warm blues. There was a quick beat.
“I want you to fuck me, Chris.” It was so vulgar you felt your cheeks go warm. But if Chris was turned on before, it was nothing like the look of desperation and hunger he had in his eyes now.
He shoved  his swim trunks off, freeing his cock that was standing at attention. You craned your neck to get a look, mouth practically watering at the sight. Chris yanked off your bottoms next and paused for a minute, drinking you in.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” He breathed, his hands running down your sides. His hand stopped just above your folds, locating your wild eyes and watching your face as he slipped in one, two, then three fingers, testing your readiness.
You hissed, writhing at the feeling and pulled at the sheets in a death grip. After a few pumps he pulled out of you, but not after sliding his index finger once across your clit. The feeling made you shutter, and your eyes rolled to the back of your head.
He aligned himself, pausing to soak you in. After all these years of wondering, wishing, hoping; you were all his. He didn’t have to worry about anybody or anything else. You were here, and this was perfect.
Your eyes fluttered open, wondering what the hesitation was. You knew immediately he was silently asking for permission one more time. Once you crossed this line, there was no going back. Your hand found his and you intertwined your fingers once more.
“I want this.” You whispered reassuringly.
That was the confirmation Chris needed to settle himself above you, and slide into your pussy slowly. Inch by inch you felt yourself filled up by his impressive length, and you squeezed his hand, moaning loudly.
“Jesus,” He moaned, allowing your body to adjust before beginning to fuck you slowly. “So wet.”
His mouth latched onto one your breasts, licking and nipping at your sensitive nipple as he began slamming into you with more speed. His thumb was still making fast work of your clit, and the triple combination was making it hard for you to not cum quickly.
“Chris,” You breathed, reveling in the way his cock felt inside of you. You bucked your hips hoping to allow him to penetrate you deeper.
“So absolutely perfect.” Chris kept murmuring against your skin, over and over as he kissed, licked, and squeezed every inch of you he could. He picked up the pace, feeling your walls tightening around his cock. You were dangerously close to release.
You tried to form words but couldn’t think coherently. Everything was a blur, and every nerve was on edge as you felt yourself inching quickly toward orgasm. One more thrust from Chris and you let go, crying out as your walls clenched down on his cock without mercy.
Squeezing your breast, he found your mouth and kissed you as if his life depended on it. After a few more thrusts, he, too, let out a loud groan as you felt him finish inside you.
Still seeing stars you blinked a few times, your brain trying to catch up to the scene unfolding in front of you. You had just had sex with Chris Evans. Best friend of over 20 years. Man you shared every intimate secret with. He’s seen you naked. Touched you everywhere. Came inside you. Holy shit.
Chris was still lost in his orgasm, panting slightly. He pulled out of you, rolling over to his side.
“Wow,” He breathed. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you into his side. “That was…”
“Amazing?” You offered, snuggling into his chest and letting a hand dance along his skin. Your heart still hadn’t recovered from the previous cardio session, and you could feel Chris’s still racing also.
“I was gonna say mind blowing.” His chest rippled in your hand from a laugh. “But amazing works too.”
Fin.
---
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barnesandco · 5 years ago
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Nikah: December
Story Masterlist
Nikah: noun, Arabic, meaning the contract of marriage.
Bucky marries Peter’s former tutor because her student visa’s about to expire and the government isn’t granting her a green card. Can she find a way to permanent residence by marriage, and if so, will it be at the cost of their hearts?
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader
Warnings: Vague smut. 
A/N: Written under the Arranged/Accidental Marriage trope for @mermaidxatxheart ‘s writing challenge. I cannot believe I just finished my first series. I owe major thank you to everyone who has been so supportive, and a great debt of gratitude to the writers on this site who inspire me to keep going. Thank you for staying - I look forward to sharing future works with you. 
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His wedding ring shines softly in the dim lighting of the hallway as he stands in front of the door, hand resting on its handle. The wood is cold against his forehead as he  breathes slowly, trying to calm his foxtrot heart. After three-quarters of an eternity, he knocks, and then enters upon the permission of his wife from within the room. Almost stumbles at the sight of her, as if he doesn't know her ethereal beauty like every speck of sunshine in her eyes.
She's sitting at the foot of the bed, the skirt of her glowing, white-golden lehenga spread out in front of her, her dupatta draped over her head and behind her to lay and glimmer like stardust over their silk sheets. Bucky's tie tightens around his neck and he lifts a hand to rub it nervously, and clears his throat, as she smiles reassuringly at him.
His wife, his moon and star, is tired and pleased, after the day's festivities. As is he. The wedding reception - held secretively in the same ballroom as his birthday - was quite the celebration.
"Hey," She says, unwavering, ever the anchor to ground his meandering mind. He stands in front of the mirror now, untying his tie, letting the silk slip through his hands like her love did for so, so long.
"Hey back," He answers with a grin as he removes his waistcoat. Drapes it over a nearby chair before sitting down to remove his socks. Relishes in the warmth of her content gaze as it washes over him. "How are you feeling?" He asks, leaning back to take her in. 
"Tired, but happy. Today was a good day, Bucky," She says, and he couldn't agree more. Not one to mince words where they are not needed, he walks over to her as he unbuttons the top of his shirt and kneels in front of her.
"Tired, huh? Anything I can help with, wife of mine?" He teases, trying to pretend to take one of her legs in his hand to massage, but is soon bewildered by the fact that he can't, the layers of fabric impeding his intentions. 
"Maybe I should be asking you that," She laughs, no malice in her amusement, only joy, and total awe at this man on his knees before her. He growls lowly and pushes up to meet her smiling mouth with his own, raspberries and gulab-jamun a magical mix he thinks he could live off of, if allowed to. Her lips are his aab e hayat - water of life - and he drinks her breaths until he hopes he will never go thirsty again. They part slowly, lips still grazing gently, and he returns to his crouching position at her feet. 
Until she frowns and stands up, urging him to do the same. Guides his hands to the pins holding her dupatta to her head and shoulders - he should not be thinking of superhero capes right now - and urges him to remove it. He slips it off with nimble fingers, and it slides off her and down the bed to puddle in a pool of gold on the floor. She doesn't let him reach for it, lifts her hands to cup his face, her own illuminated by the moonlight. Traces the planes of his cheeks and the valley between his brow and eyelids. Having taken her heels off, she stretches on tip-toe to plant a kiss on the ski-slope of his nose, the crevice of his chin, before sealing her lips over his again.
Bucky's hands, distinctly different but both unified in their desire, reach up to loosen her hair-do before burying themselves in the soft, comforting mass of it, using the grip to bring her somehow, some way, closer to him. Her whimpers are feather-soft against his tongue, her hands shaking as one grips his waist and the other reaches for the remaining buttons on his shirt. Her desire is contagious, amplifying his own tenfold, and his hands glide her back, coming to rest over the elegant embroidery at her waist. 
"Can I take it off?" She whispers with unbridled arousal in her eyes, and Bucky now realizes his shirt has been fully unbuttoned. He nods, lets her take it away. Lets her take him away. And God, does she take him away.
His wife, his golden woman takes him to a world where demons lose their power and no sound exists except the rustle of their bedsheets as they settle on them, and her gentle whispers of assent and encouragement. He forgets the planetarium when he has a galaxy in his hands, under his palms. The column of her neck is a nebula against his mouth, her waist a solar system between his arms. She kisses him like he's going to fly away, but he knows that the planet of her smile is his only home. The only place he can breathe right, the sun he needs to survive, is right here, not a millimeter apart.
The move like satin and soft clouds between parted mouths and gasping breaths, as they join forever, till death do them part. And after, after the tide crashes over the beach of their shore, bringing satiation and deep union with it, they lay together, her head on his chest and his heavy with the weight of the universe he has just gained. 
"Today was a good day," He echoes her earlier sentiment against her hair, voice rich with desire. A laugh rumbles through her cheek to his chest, and his heart is fit to burst. Something gives her the energy to lift her head and lean on an elbow above him, a free finger tracing any eyebrow as he traces her smile. 
"I almost fell over about a dozen times, Bucky. But yeah, other than that…" She reminds him playfully, and he rolls his eyes.
"I don't blame you, baby. Not in those heels," He points out. Throwing her head back, she laughs fully this time, and his cheeks hurt from grinning. "I still can't believe Sam danced to Katrina Kaif," He says, shaking his head. Her hand drops from where its busy tucking his hair behind his ear, and her responding smile is blinding.
"Wow, Buck, referring to Bollywood singers by name instead of song. I'm proud of you," She jokes.
"I had a good teacher."
"Anything else I can help with?" She asks, parroting his earlier comment as he had tried and failed to find her skin beneath her clothes. He found it in the end, and he'll be damned if he ever loses it, forgets the feel of it on his fingertips, ever again. He nods sincerely at her question, preparing the answer.
"Yeah. Stay," He replies quietly, and the laughter falls from her eyes to be replaced by brimming desire and overflowing love. This, Bucky knows, because it is a reflection of his own.
"Okay, Bucky. I can do that. We can stay," She says, before pulling the covers further over them, nestling against him. His arm fits like a puzzle-piece around her body, their intertwined forms the complete picture. 
Her words ring louder than the azaan in his ears as the silence envelopes them once more. Her embrace is kinder than he thought he deserved, but that he is imprinting into his memory, inch by glorious inch. Her hand rests on his chest, feeling his heartbeat thrum below, steady and alive. Bucky grabs that hand and brings it to his mouth, lays a snowflake of a kiss against the back of it as he thinks: love doesn't need second chances - it just takes a little faith.
Taglist: @suz-123 @mermaidxatxheart @buckyreaderrecs @shield-agent78 @corneliabarnes @stevieboyharrington @notsomellowmushroom @veganfangirl5 @mood-pancakes @lbuck121 @starnight-charmer @redhairedfeistynerd @geeksareunique @samingtonwilson @alyxkbrl @bucky-smiles​ @marvelrose​
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kn1feinthec0ffee · 4 years ago
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in too deep (epilogue) - jules
jules x reader
warnings: a nearly imperceptible amount of angst which is completely overshadowed by the CAVITY INDUCING FLUFF (but also a teeny bit of sexual content bc my fingers slipped hehe)
word count: 1,766
notes: I COULDN’T POSSIBLY END THIS WITH A SEMI-FLUFFY ENDING WHEN THERE IS A WAY I CAN MAKE IT EVEN FLUFFIER DO YOU KNOW ME AT ALL??? 
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********************
you kept running. 
you ran and you ran and you ran until your legs wouldn’t carry you anymore. but they always seemed to be two steps ahead of you. each time you thought you got farther and farther away, they were right in front of you with a new weapon to torture you with. 
you rounded the corner of the seemingly endless corridor, there he was, a cleaver in hand. you fled down a flight of steps only to be met face to face with her wielding a fireman’s ax. 
you heard loud, booming gunshots from every direction except for the one you were headed, so you continued on. you spotted sweetiepie at the end of the hallway, quietly sobbing to herself. 
  “hey, are you okay?” you approached the girl slowly. she went eerily silent as she looked up to you and began chanting. 
  “help me, help me, help me!” she cried out, reaching her arms out to you. you lunged forth to grab her, only to be yanked to the floor by a chain around your ankle. sweetiepie let out a piercing scream, looking at you in betrayal. 
  “you said you’d help,” she sniffled. “you promised.” suddenly she fell through the floor, disappearing into total darkness.
heaving sobs wracked through your body. you curled up into a ball on the cold floor, wrapping your arms around yourself as you shook. “why couldn’t i help her? it was m-my fault, it was a-all my fault, all my f-fault,” you whimpered. 
  “hey!” jules exclaimed, giggling when you jolted awake. “sorry, you were tossing and turning a bunch. have any good dreams?”
you sat up and pulled her into a kiss without any hesitation. her hands threaded into your hair, the ring on her finger glistening as sunlight streamed through the windows.
  “only you, my love,” you grinned, telling a small white lie as to not ruin the mood. you moved to kiss her neck, but you were interrupted by sara bursting through the bedroom door. “well, well, well, look who it is!” 
the two of you could’ve kept the name sweetiepie, but you all collectively decided to distance yourself from anything that had to do with the psychotic couple who had taken you hostage. instead, you chose sara, a name that invoked strength and positivity. 
she smiled and climbed up onto the bed, forcing her way between you and jules so she could lay comfortably in your arms. jules gasped in mock offense. “hey! you trying to steal my wife?” 
  “nope, i’m trying to steal my mom!” sara’s laughs turned into giggles as jules’ fingers dug into her sides. 
“not on my watch!” jules growled playfully, scooping her daughter up and off of the mattress. “come on, mama, let’s make some breakfast,”
you followed her into the kitchen where she was already instructing sara how to crack an egg. “now be careful, you don’t wanna get any of that shell in there, or else it’s gonna be pointy,” you watched on in admiration as she cracked it into the bowl flawlessly.
“there you go, sweetheart!” you gave her a high five. “you’ll be out-cooking us in no time.”
the three of you finished cooking the bacon and eggs, sitting outside on the porch to eat. you realized just how much you loved where you lived as you gazed out into the vast expanse of the ocean.
jules noticed you staring and scooted her chair closer so she could wrap an arm around you. “how ‘bout a beach day today, huh girls?”
“yaaay!” sara squealed. “i’m gonna go get my swimsuit and toys!” she ran over to the door, skidding to a stop and running back to grab her dishes before heading inside.
jules chuckled at her excitement before turning to you. “what’s goin’ on up there, girly?” she prompted softly.
you sighed, deep in thought before you responded. “i don’t know, its just - don’t get me wrong, i’m happy and all, but i just don’t feel i deserve all this. part of me died in that house and i guess i just wonder why i moved on,” you bit your tongue, trying to hold the tears back. “why do i deserve a family life when i’ve done so little? i’m not worthy of you, i’m not worthy of any o-”
she cut you off with her lips. “i don’t wanna hear any of that. you’re worthy of the world, sweetheart, and i want you to realize that. you know they say you get back what you’ve put out into the world, and what i see is a beautiful woman who’d risk life and limb to protect her family.” she threaded her fingers through yours. “and i know that’s true because that’s the woman i married.”
“i want you to tell me whenever you feel like this, just so i can tell the demon that lives in your head how wrong they are.” she reached over and wiped the tears that had fallen down your cheeks. “no more crying, alright, babe? it’s beach day! no tears on beach day!”
her contagious happiness caused a smile to bloom on your face. you laughed through a cry, standing up from your seat to pull her into a hug. “i love you. so much.”
“i love you more, baby.” she grinned.
———————————————
you busied yourself unfolding a few chairs and and finding a good spot to dig the umbrella into the sand while jules rubbed sunscreen onto sara.
“remember sweetheart, no swimming without your mommies, okay?” jules reminded her. sara nodded, running down to the edge of the beach to make a sandcastle for her horse doll.
you reached every spot on your body until it came to your back. “julie, can you get my back?” you felt her presence behind you, the slick sound of sunscreen between her hands filling your ears.
you felt her warm palms smooth the substance across your skin, kneading in between your shoulder blades as she moved along. you relaxed against her chest as her hands migrated to the cups of your swimsuit, massaging your breasts through the thin material.
“you know, there’s no one else nearby,” she murmured, sucking on the patch of skin underneath your ear which caused you to go even more pliant in her hands. “what do you say we turn this into a nude beach?”
“more,” you moaned, keening into her grasp. she grinned wolfishly, but her plans were quickly thwarted when -
“mommy!” sara shouted, quickly sobering the both of you up. a look of confusion crossed her face as she watched the two of you pull apart.
“what’s up, hon?” jules swiftly answered, pulling her sunglasses down to her nose.
“can you come swim with me, please?” she asked politely. the two of you nodded, getting up from the lounge chair.
you turned towards her, placing a chaste kiss on her lips. “can i get a rain check on that?” you giggled.
“oh absolutely, baby.” you gasped as she picked you up, running down to the shoreline with you in her arms. “mom’s really eager to join you, sweetheart!”
she waded in about ankle deep before tossing you into the waves. you resurfaced with a deep breath, gaping while your girls laughed at you. “holy sh-shit, it’s freezing in here!”
“here, i’ll warm you up!” jules giggled as she tackled you into shallow water. you shrieked and laughed as the two of you splashed around in the water. 
the three of you stayed on the beach until the sun began to set. sara had moved onto the sand, searching through the grains to find pretty shells. just as you and jules had begun to pack up your belongings, a golf cart slowed to a stop behind you.
a tall man exited the vehicle, clad in red swim trunks, sunglasses on top of his head, and a t-shirt that said ‘lifeguard’ on it. “excuse me, ladies, it’s starting to get dark out, d’you need a ride home?”
you were apprehensive to trust another man for fear of evil intentions, but jules seemed to see a certain kindness in his eyes. “sure, we’re just about finished packing up.”
“oh, i can help with that,” he offered, helping to dismantle the beach umbrella. sara had put away all her toys and we were helping the man load all of our things into the back of the cart.
“thank you...” you trailed off, hoping to learn his name as you extended your hand out to him.
“mickey.” he smiled as he shook your hand. “and it’s nothing, i help folks out like this all the time, it’s kind of in the job description.”
you sat in the back of the cart with sara while jules sat in the passenger seat, making small talk with mickey. from what you gathered, he seemed really sweet, and he lived in a small apartment in the seaside town with his doberman, max.
the ride was brief, but the swimming had apparently tired sara out enough for her to fall asleep on your shoulder. when you pulled up to your house, you pulled sara into your arms to carry her inside.
“it was nice to meet you, mickey. i hope we see you again sometime.” jules smiled at the man. mickey gasped, pulling out a pen and a notepad from his pocket.
“here, i’ll give you guys my number so it’s not left up to chance,” he mumbled with the cap in his mouth as he scribbled out his phone number.
you said your goodbyes to the lifeguard as he hopped back into the golf cart to return it to the beach. you headed inside, showering of the salt and sand of the day before heading to bed.
you curled up next to your wife, inhaling the scent of her body wash. she soothingly ran her fingers through your drying strands of hair. “do you remember what i said earlier about getting back what you put into the world?” you nodded. “well, look at what you got today. you spent the day with your wife and daughter and nothing went wrong. that’s because you’ve only put positivity out into the world, so that’s what you get in return.”
she shifted so she could look at you. “in my professional opinion, you deserve the world, and you have nothing to be worried about, alright, love?”
tears of joy threatened to spill down your cheeks, but you held them back. she pulled you in for a kiss and you melted against her embrace. “i love you, julie.”
“i know.”
******************************
YAAAYY HAPPY ENDING!!
also you know i had to write mickey into this story somehow you KNOW i had to do it and i just so happened to be presented with the perfect opportunity for lifeguard!mickey and there was no WAY i could pass that up
but this is the true end to this story and i had so much fun writing it 🥺
tags: @emmyrosee @bill-skarsgard-owns-my-ass @phantomnae @flowers-in-your-hayr
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crystaljins · 5 years ago
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A long journey home | 02 FINAL
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Characters: Taehyung x Reader
Word count: 12.2K
Synopsis:  All you wanted was to confront your flaky coworker, Taehyung, not get dragged across a magical fantasy realm trying to deliver a baby dragon safely back to its home kingdom.
Fantasy!au
Notes: Actually I don’t have much to say. But hey, we all love a finished fic, don’t we?
1 | 2
It is easy enough to pick up horses and proper clothes and supplies at the next town. It takes a bit of convincing to get Taehyung to buy you your own bed roll.
“Why can’t we share?” He had whined. “Weren’t you comfortable? Plus we’ve done it before.”
“Don’t press her too hard lad, it’s better to give the missus a bit o’ space when she’s upset with you.” The shop clerk had warned him. Being mistaken for your husband had put him in a good enough mood that you were able to coax him into purchasing the second bedroll.
“It’s better to have two just in case! Besides, we can still share if it gets too cold.” You had reluctantly pointed out as he made the purchase. That left him beaming, at least.
Once you set out, Taehyung moves quickly because there is no doubt in his mind that the lizard men are still after the three of you. Probably more- apparently the whole race is on a wild hunt, attempting to capture the prince for their queen. You have five days left and the horses will greatly reduce the travel time. You have ridden horses before- your uncle owned a ranch and you had spent every summer there since you were very small. But you have never ridden for such long periods over long distances and it is a painful and hard slog. But you make good time and Taehyung informs you that you will probably make it to the draconian kingdom with a few days to spare. He cheerfully informs you of all the places he plans to take you sight-seeing. Most of the places sound strange and exotic and you find yourself sharing in his cautious optimism. He’s been in such a good mood ever since that night by the fire and it’s contagious- you find yourself smiling despite the discomfort of the past few days of travel.
Tata chirps where he is seated on Taehyung’s saddle with him, surprised by Taehyung suddenly sliding off his horse and dismounting. You have your horse halt as well, confused.
“What’s wrong?” You question. Taehyung squints at the long road ahead. There is a cliff side and it seems the dirt path curves and runs parallel to the cliff’s edge. It’s beautiful, like scenery straight from a movie- distantly you can here the crash of waves as they collide with the cliff face far below. Ahead of you the sea extends in a deep blue blanket until the distant horizon.
“This road is known as the Road of the Oceans Song. This is where sirens gather at the cliff face below and lure unprepared travellers to their death with their song. Unfortunately, we are those unprepared travellers and I only have one pair of enchanted earplugs to fend against their song. You can’t get these anywhere and we don’t have time to get another pair. And we’re going on foot from here because it’s harder to do anything if you’re on a horse. So you will be walking with your hand tied to mine the whole way and any frivolous behaviour will earn you a spanking.” He informs you, reaching into his satchel and pulling out a pair of said enchanted earplugs.
At your dubious and unimpressed look he laughs. 
“I’m joking. It just means I’m going to make sure you can’t get away from me for the next couple of hours, beautiful. It seems you won the lottery today.” He tells you with a wink before sliding the ear plugs into place. “Let’s test it out. I should be able to hear fine but be immune to their song- say something charming.” He requests.
“Kim Taehyung is a menace to society and smells like feet.” You announce. He grins at you. 
“Oh darling, you’re too sweet. Nothing like praise from my beloved to give me the strength to carry on this long, difficult journey.” He hums cheerfully, before extending his hand. “Come on, then.”
“Why can’t I wear the ear plugs?” You ask. He grimaces.
“Well, I’d love to save you from the agony of their song and honestly the thought of you desiring someone other than me even if it’s only for a couple of hours sound positively horrifying.” He tells you. You grimace at his words. He continues on, unbothered like he is for most things. “But yes. I can most definitely overpower you and would probably drag us both and the horses to our deaths if I were bewitched. Tata would survive though.” Tata cheers his agreement. You nod and sigh.
“Ok, fine. Do your worst.” You say, brandishing both hands at him as if you expect him to suddenly handcuff you. He chuckles before reaching into his bag and pulling out a ribbon. You stare at incredulously. “You mean you had time and money to buy that but not a second pair of earplugs?”
He shrugs.
“I didn’t want any rough rope scraping your wrists! You humans are so fragile and chafe so easily. And the enchanted earplugs can only be produced by a mage who lives three months journey from here across the sea. So yes, I had time to buy the ribbon and not the earplugs.” He tells you, winding it around your wrist and then his. “Also, it’s a gift.” He says it quickly and if you didn’t know better you would say he was blushing as he says it. But he also made a joke about spanking you with a completely straight face earlier and so you don’t think he is capable of blushing. “For you to tie your hair back once we get past here. You were complaining about it getting in the way when we went into town and I’d hate for you to cut it off.”
“Oh.” You say. “Thank you.”
He offers you a smile. Then his expression turns serious.
“Their song will be agonising. You will do anything and everything to get to them, and so I apologise for whatever I do to you over the next couple of hours. Know that it’s to protect you and my decisions were made under duress, ok?” He warns you. You shake your head to comfort him.
“I trust you.” You say dismissively, because you do. He may be cheeky and overly flirty, but he’s proven himself as someone you can trust. Though you whinge and complain constantly, deep down you know you’d jump off that cliff if Taehyung told you it was safe to do so. Because he wouldn’t allow any harm to come to you. He had promised.
Taehyung’s expression scrunches.
“Hold on tight.” He says. “Tata if you see any funny business from her, let me know, ok?” He tells the little dragon. He nods his head sternly and you are reminded of a little toddler. He clambers onto your shoulder and with the thicker clothes you are wearing his claws aren’t as uncomfortable. He offers you a low growl to let you know he’s keeping a close watch. You laugh.
“Alright, alright. Keep me in line, ok little guy?” You say. He chirps.
Taehyung walks slowly and cautiously at first. The first 15 minutes or so you hear nothing but the steady stream of conversation he keeps up. Tata keeps glancing around nervously, his gaze catching on random things like he’s seeing something you can’t. It’s a little unnerving. It wouldn’t bother you if it weren’t for the way Taehyung grips your hand so tightly it is almost painful despite you being tied together. The horses follow obediently, almost sleepy in the warm sun. You wish you could enjoy the scenery, but as time goes on, Taehyung grows more and more tense.
You don’t even notice the shift when it happens at first. Their song is almost as innocuous as the wind whistling through the air and the crash of waves far beneath you. You find yourself humming along before you even realise that you can hear it.
“Darling,” Taehyung calls warningly. “Watch yourself. It will only get worse from here.” Tata tightens his claws from where they cling to your shoulders and wraps his long scarlet tail around you. You nod absently, still straining your ears to discern the faint melody.
“Ok.” You say and your voice sounds strange and foreign to your own ears. A bit airy and distracted. He offers you a tense smile and continues to tug you along in a rapid stride. The gravel crunches beneath your feet and even that is louder than the song you can barely hear.
Then it grows louder. You can’t discern any words- it is not in a language you speak, but it’s oddly haunting. Like a sea shanty with a sad ending. The melody curls and sings through the air, winding and not quite eerie. Just beautiful… enchanting. You feel an odd tug in the centre of your chest and you don’t realise you had been drifting away from Taehyung side until a firm tug from him pulls you back in close. Tata offers a warning nip and the horses are beginning to get antsy. Taehyung has gone pale and sweat begins to bead at his temple. His eyebrows knit together as he watches you. He seems rather afraid.
“We just have to keep going- can you do that for me sweetheart?” He questions. You nod with a dreamy smile. You feel a little bit like you’re tipsy- wobbly and a bit euphoric. Your cheeks are warm- the sea below would offer a pleasant coolness to the warmth rolling off you. “What did I say earlier about the song?” He interrogates.
“That it would be agonising?” You recall, nose scrunching with the effort. It seems like a distant dream now. “It doesn’t seem so bad though- I’d rather like to meet a siren, I think? Are they beautiful?”
“They can’t compare to you.” Taehyung answers, though it is terse. His grip tightens and you cry out.
“Ow! You’re hurting me!” You complain although admittedly you are playing it up a little because you are hoping he’ll let you go long enough for you to have a little peek over the edge. Just a peek.
“Sorry.” Taehyung answers and his grip lightens just the slightest bit but he does not let you go.
The song grows in intensity, and like the sultry throbbing of a club beat you can feel it thrum in your chest- in the very centre of your being. You are certain you have heard nothing more beautiful in your life- you just want to see the creatures that could produce such a sound. Thick and syrupy and sweet to your ears. It’s like the most pleasant dream. Would they welcome you into their depths, were you to peer over and shout your greeting? The drop does not seem that far.
“I really want to meet them, Tae,” You beg. He grimaces. “What would it take for you to allow me just a little peek?”
“Nothing.” He tells you. “I don’t like to share, sorry sweetheart. No sirens get you today.”
That irritates you, for some reason. Not because of the implication that you are his to share (though perhaps when more coherent that would bother you), but because of his constant refusals to allow you to see them. You can think of nothing you want more in life, but he’s refusing you. The thought is agonising- how could he deprive you of such a vital need? It feels like he is denying you the oxygen to your lungs. It hurts you to be apart from them- tears begin to fill your eyes.
“Please!” You gasp. He risks a glance at you and your tear-stricken expression and his expression goes hard.
“No.” He says firmly, though he avoids your gaze. Perhaps if you can get him to look at you he will take pity and allow you to see them? You sniffle and wipe hastily at your eyes with your free arm. He watches you cautiously, as though afraid of what you will try next. You step in close until you could probably count each individual lash that frames his dark eyes. Would the sirens have dark, hypnotic eyes like he does? His expression is guarded, though his grip on you goes loose at your proximity. Even if you were to dart away you are still tied firmly to him, after all.
“Hello,” He says softly, though uneasily. His gaze darts away.
“Tae,” You plead, because you know he likes it when you use his nickname. “I just want one little favour,” You point out. “Is that really so hard?”
“It’s very difficult.” He answers through gritted teeth. “Keep walking.” He demands and adjusts your pace until the two of you are near sprinting. You almost swear in anguish- how will you get to him and join the sirens beneath when he is setting such a fast pace? At this rate you will pass them all by! You dig your heels into the ground but Tae is far stronger than you and so all you achieve is him yanking you forward so forcefully you begin to stumble. His eyes go wide and he releases the horses just in time to catch you. You both stagger and he falls so that he lands on his back with you on top of him. Taehyung grunts in pain but you are too distracted to notice- is this your opening to convince him? The siren’s song is still just as hauntingly beautiful but the longer you deny its call the more it morphs into anguished demands that Taehyung is refusing to allow you to meet. He struggles to sit up but you shift so that he is pinned beneath you. No doubt with his superior strength he could lift you, but for a moment he just stares up at you, immobilised. Tata clambers down off your shoulder and hisses something at the horses- they stop their antsy tossing and go still.
“Tae,” You say. “I’ve never wanted anything more. Please let me see them.” Tears begin to pool and drip down your cheeks- they land on him and he flinches as each drop lands on him. “It’s so painful, Tae,” You begin to sob, because honestly the siren’s song has escalated to agonised screeching and you feel you could end the pain if you just peered over and looked at them. “I just really, really, want to see them.” Taehyung’s expression goes soft and he lifts the arm that isn’t bound to you to gently wipe away your tears. It is unfair of you to use your proximity as you do, to try and sway him, and he did not know how weak he was to the warmth of your body against his until that moment. Still, to allow you to get what you wanted would be to allow you die, and he cannot do that.
“In like, ten minutes, you’re going to thank me.” He tells you. “But for now, we’re going to do things the hard way.”
And then he forces you off him and hoists you up onto his shoulder. You screech in agony and struggle, but he has a firm grip, crying out obscenities.
The scream dies in your throat once you are out of earshot of the sirens. Instead it is replaced with crippling embarrassment.
++
“It’s not that bad!” Taehyung calls out to you. You do not acknowledge him, continuing to urge your horse to maintain a good few metres ahead of him. You hear him urge his horse to move faster and with a clatter of hooves he pulls up next to you. Tata naps in the saddle bag, bored with the constant scenery. “It’s sweet- you’re sweet.” He reassures you kindly. You still cannot look him in the eyes.
“Thanks, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.” You retort drily, your gaze still fixed determinedly ahead. Taehyung deflates.
“Hey, if your life weren’t at stake, you really would have convinced me to go see the sirens!” He points out. “I almost caved a few times there- be proud of your incredible abilities of persuasion- they almost rival the sirens.”
You flush and are about to urge your horse to canter further ahead, but Taehyung reaches out and catches your reigns.
“Hey,” He calls warmly. “I know you’re embarrassed and I’m sorry you had to go through that. This is the quickest way to the kingdom. And honestly, you didn’t do anything that embarrassing!” He reassures you. You grimace.
“Can we just, move on from this? I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” You sniff. He grins widely.
“I’m fine with that. You won’t hear a word of it from me.” He says, holding his hand against his chest. “We can talk about something else instead- the next little leg of the journey is really enjoyable I prom-“
He cuts his words short and his eyes go very wide.
“W-what’s wrong?” You demand, panicked by the sudden distress in his expression.  
“Dismount.” He orders, clambering off the horse. You follow suit. He murmurs something under his breath to the horse, scooping Tata’s sleeping form into his arms. He murmurs to your horse as well before clapping them both on their rumps. They set off at a canter, with all your supplies in tow. You gape for a moment.
“Tae,” You cry. “What- Why did you do that?” You demand.
“They’ll meet us at the next town- I cast a homing spell on both of them. Horses are too inconspicuous and we need to shake our followers.” He admits. “We’re being tracked.” He tells you in a low voice. Your heart leaps into your throat.
“H-how do you know?” You stutter, unconsciously drifting closer to him. He gives you a look and you grimace- right. His enhanced abilities or whatever.
“Just stay close, ok? I’ll keep you both safe.” He promises you, his arms curling protectively around Tata’s sleeping form. At his urging, you both scurry off the road, moving rapidly towards a clutter of trees in the distance. “I had hoped to avoid getting separated.” He confesses to you as you realise the clutter of trees is actually a forest. “But we have no other way to lose them or throw them off our trail.” He admits. “Sweetheart, this next leg of the journey is very dangerous.” He confesses. You are gasping for breath at the near sprinting rate he has set, but nod to show you’ve heard him. “If… if anything happens to me, I need you to take Tata, ok? Hide in that forest for a few days and don’t stop moving and then go back to the town that road was leading us to. Tata will know the way home once you get to the next town. And the dragon king will help you get home.” He tells you, and something in his voice has you on edge.
“Why would anything happen to you?” You question urgently.
He doesn’t answer. More accurately, he isn’t given the chance to answer, for he throws himself to the side just in time for an arrow, a real, actual arrow, to whiz past and embed itself in the ground where he had been about to step. You stumble back in shock and lose your balance. Taehyung is more coordinated than you- he rolls as he falls, and springs back so that he’s on all fours.
A horn sounds behind you and you turn your head- at the crest of the hill you have just run across, three lizard men mounted on strange feathered beasts watch you. The one in the centre is blowing into a strange instrument- something rather like a dear antler, with two feathered wings on either side. These lizards are different to the ones who had kept you captive for two days. Those men had shimmered green when they revealed their faces but these three are a brilliant blue. Their attire seems more formal as well- the closest you have to compare it to is perhaps a military uniform.
Beside you, Taehyung says a word that isn’t in your language but you suspect may be some sort of swear. You both get to your feet. Taehyung hands you Tata, who is now awake and frightened, and holds an arm protectively out in front of you.
“You did well to follow me this far,” Taehyung observes, as the feathered beasts carry their mounts closer. They are sort of similar to horses, but rather than hooves they have thick, well-muscled talons that cut into the earth and stir the soil as they come closer and the way they move is almost cat like. Their heads are round with thick horns curling around their temples and long, golden beaks protrude from their muzzles.
“We are the finest hunters the Queen has to offer. Finding you was child’s play.” The lizardman who had used the strange instruments points out. Instinctively, you hug Tata’s small, prone form into you and he whimpers in fear.
“Over my dead body will she have him.” Taehyung answers, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword.
“That is exactly our intention.” The lizardman answers.
“Run.” Taehyung hisses to you. Your eyes go wide.
“What?” You ask. He turns to you and his eyes are anguished and distressed.
“Go. I’ll find you.” He says.
And then the beasts launch their attack.
They go for Taehyung, all three of them, and he vanishes beneath a whirl of feathers and bulky muscles. You cry out, but Tata growls, reminding you that you are useless in this situation. The lizardmen haven’t even deemed you worthy of attention at this stage- once Taehyung is disabled, catching you will be easier than ‘child’s play’. The only thing you can do is trust him. Nodding shakily at Tata and feeling tears pool in your eyes, you set him down on the ground and the two of you sprint desperately for the tree line, leaving Taehyung behind. The sounds of chaos and fighting fade behind you.
As soon as you cross the tree-line, the forest seems to fold around you like a protective blanket, but you and Tata do not stop sprinting. The air is clean and earthy, and the only sound is your harsh, desperate pants. You do not know where you are going or how you will get out. Those men are hunters and could probably track you down but you do not even know how to cover your tracks. You are Taehyung’s last resort. Perhaps if he’d been travelling alone with Tata, he could have moved faster, and travelled for longer. You wouldn’t have been slowed down by the journey through the Road of the Ocean’s Song. He wouldn’t have lost time rescuing you in that cave. He’d probably be at the Draconian Kingdom by now, enjoying the sites and planning his next journey to this realm.
Instead he may not even be alive and you, a mere office worker, are trapped alone in a forest with a dragon and no idea of where to go or how to get out. Tears dribble down your face. How could things have come to this?
Beside you, Tata stops running and trills loudly to get your attention. You skid to a stop and turn to look at him. He gazes up at you with determination in his earthy green irises, and he gestures his head to your left. He then sets the path, leading you away. Great. You’re so incompetent the baby dragon had to take the lead.
You are much quieter now and slow to a walk as you and Tata wonder through the forest. The air is dusky and thick and the ground beneath you spongy. Dark emerald leaves hang into the path Tata leads you through. You wipe stubbornly at your tears as you go, though your heart still cries out in anguish. Is he safe? Did those monsters defeat him? He had promised he would keep you safe but you didn’t know that involved sacrificing himself. You recall Tata’s prior guardians. They had died on his behalf. Was that what the weight of a promise meant amongst Taehyung’s people? Nausea rolls in your stomach and you swallow to quell the burning sensation of bile rising up in your throat. Your lungs still burn from your desperate sprint and sweat soaks into your clothes.
“What now, Tata?” You ask despondently, though the little dragon cannot respond in a language you understand. He does, however, pause. He turns and in the emerald light of the forest, his scales turn him into a brilliant mobile flame, one that clamber up your leg and grips onto you so that he can stare into your eyes. Tata has always preferred to communicate through his little chirps and coos but as he stares deeply into your eyes, you feel a sense of calm wash over you that you don’t think comes from yourself. Stay calm, he seems to be saying. He hadn’t been able to do that at the start of your journey, that much is certain. Your features soften. He’s right though- you must stay calm. There’s no use wondering around this forest in tears. Taehyung wouldn’t have sent you off on your own if he didn’t trust you. You’re an adult, and you can problem solve.
“I got you, buddy.” You say softly, and the gentle smile you offer the dragon prince has him almost purring in delight. He leaps off your shoulder and extends his wings in a stretch. Taehyung had told you that one day, when Tata is fully grown, his wings would be able to carry him over mountains with just one swipe, but for the moment they are delicate little membranes that do little more then help him keep balance. He’s so fragile and small, even though his legacy is such a fearsome, magnificent creature. You wouldn’t leave a baby to fend for itself if you knew bad people were after it, and the same courtesy extends to Tata.
The first thing you do is search for somewhere to shelter. Somewhere you and Tata can huddle for the night. Taehyung had said he would find you, and if he is still alive, he will. Moving around too much will make it difficult for him to find you, but it will also make it difficult for your pursuers to find you. The compromise is to travel as far into the forest as you dare to go in the daylight, and then settle for the night. You pause every so often to check for signs of anyone following you, but Taehyung either kept them sufficiently distracted or they cannot find you.
Eventually you find a place to settle for the night. You do not have your bedroll since it was tied to your horse, and you don’t have anything to light a fire with for Tata- not that you would be game enough to give away your position like that. Instead the two of you find a small alcove, where an overhanging rock provides a meagre amount of shelter and the shrubbery that surrounds it conceals you from the view of anyone who may walk by. Tata curls into your lap and you huddle together in the confined space. It isn’t the most comfortable, but at least you feel secure.
Sleep does not come to you that night. Every rustle could be one of the lizardmen or it could be Taehyung, and just as you think you may fall asleep, you snap awake at the slightest crack of a twig. At one point a spider crawls on your arm and you do not know how you stop yourself from screaming. Tata eats it, and you spend the rest of the night in tears, flinching at the crawling feeling against your skin even though Tata keeps watch for any further bugs that may scare you.
The thought occurs to you in your exhausted, fearful delirium- you could just go home. Leave Tata to fend for himself and ask someone how to get to the human realm. It had been Taehyung to promise that he would deliver Tata safely home, not you, and you are not part of a mythical race that must keep its promises. You’re just a cowardly human who got in over her head. If anyone were to believe the absurd tale you told them, you’re sure they wouldn’t blame you for taking the easy road out. Tata is a capable little guy and it’s hard to find a tiny little dragon. He’d probably be able to make the last little leg of the journey safely. You don’t even know if Taehyung is alive. And sure, he had saved your life a few times, but you were only in danger because of him in the first place. And when considering all the times you’d covered for him at work, you were well within your rights to just bail. Forget about him and Tata and this entire realm and go back to your easy, day-to-day office life. It would be easier. Less scary. Less dangerous. 
You don’t want to though. The thought of betraying his trust like that feels like you are considering prying your own heart out of your chest with your bare fingers. Not just because you’re betraying Taehyung, but because you are betraying Tata too. It has only been a few days, less than a week. So it is foolish to be so strongly attached to them. Are you really willing to risk your life for a dragon you met a few days ago and your flaky coworker?
You are. You’re prepared to do whatever it takes to see this through and while that scares you, it also calms you. It doesn’t matter how foolish, how scary, how naive it is to put everything on the line for those two- it feels right. You’ve always tried to live your life with as few regrets as possible and you know you will have zero regrets as long as you do everything you can to get Tata home.  You tug his scaly little body in closer and curl around him. 
“We will give Taehyung until tomorrow.” You whisper. “If not, then we set off for your kingdom tomorrow, ok, Tata?”
Tata lets out a soft little growl, a sad noise of acknowledgement and agreement. It is sad, for such a young creature, to have a noise of such resignation and sadness, but that is what the situation has driven him to.
You aren’t like Taehyung. You don’t have enhanced abilities and promises only hold as much value as you decide. You don’t have an obligation to help every creature that asks it of you. Still, you see the value of a promise.
“Tata, I’ll get you home safe, little guy.” You promise. He looks up at you with those soothing, earthy green irises. “I promise.”
He makes a contented noise, similar to a purr, and falls asleep shortly after that.
++
Though you wait until the sun is high in the sky and the air thick with the warmth of early afternoon, Taehyung does not show up. You are worried sick- is he safe? Is he alive? But you are not allowed the luxury of answering those questions, and to wait any longer would be to endanger both you and Tata. And to have waited as long as you do is already dangerous enough. You set off quickly, in the same urgent but cautious way in which you travelled before. Tata seems to know which way to go, slithering through the underbrush like a snake. A few times you see hints of the lizardmen scouring the forest for you, which makes your heart sink because it means Taehyung probably did not defeat your attackers. But you never come across them and you safely clear the forest before the day is up.
You do not return to the main path- it is dangerous and open and obvious for you to go that way, and no doubt the lizards and their strange feathered mounts are scouring the main road and the towns for you. They’ve probably taken your horses too (though Taehyung had said that there is a treaty that prevents their entry into human towns so your horses may still be safe.). Rather than travel along the road, you travel as far west of it as you can manage while still keeping its course in the periphery of your vision.
Tata is helpful- without Taehyung’s enhanced senses, you are a sitting duck, but Tata has learnt to listen for travellers passing by and has gotten good at communicating to you when you need to hide. He spends the whole time invisible and the only reason you know he is still with you is when you feel his claws digging into your boots when he wants you to hide.
Travelling is slow and it takes you a full day to reach the town that Taehyung told you about. You sneak in under the cover of night, wondering how you might go about searching for your horses. You are safe within city limits as long as Tata remains invisible and out of sight, but you are still on edge. You will trade Taehyung’s horse for supplies and money, you think. Maybe a weapon- not that you’d know how to use it, but you’d feel better knowing you aren’t entirely helpless should the lizardmen find you again.
You are lucky- at the inn, you find your horses tied up and waiting for you. The innkeeper tells you that travellers do it all the time, sending their horses ahead, but he didn’t think it would take you so long to arrive. Tentatively, you ask him how you might go about selling one of your horses. The innkeeper promises to help you in the morning and shoos you away into the room you managed to book with the coins from the saddle bag of Taehyung’s horse. You had secretly been hoping only your horse would be there, because it at least would mean Taehyung had retrieved his mount and is alive, but it seems that is not the case. You really are on your own for this leg of the journey.
You end up sleeping until late in the day. Perhaps Tata senses your exhaustion for he does not rouse you like he normally would if he think you’ve been sleeping too long. Instead, you awaken to find it is late afternoon and you have a mere two days to get Tata home before his coronation. That realisation leaves you antsy and afraid. The innkeeper senses it.
“Are you going to see the Falls, traveller? It’s rare to see a human, nowadays, especially on their own.” He questions, as he examines the soundness of Taehyung’s horse. He’s happy to buy it off you in exchange for travel supplies and a knife his daughter used to use when she lived in the village.
“The Falls?” You question. He nods.
“It’s really all anyone passes through this town is here to see. They say it’s the entrance to the Draconian kingdom, if you believe in that sort of stuff, but none of us lesser beings has been able to access it.” He says. You nod, fidgeting with the torn and tattered ribbon in your hair.
“How long will it take to get there?” You ask. He shrugs.
“With your horse, if you’re comfortable riding, about a half a day east? It may take longer if the road is flooded, which happens on occasion.” He tells you. You thank him for his help and hospitability and waste no time in setting off. You have every intention of riding for as long as you can and if the lizardmen capture you, you will send Tata on his own. You’ll distract them long enough for him to get away and by then he should be close enough to his kingdom that he can make it.
Perhaps the worst part of the journey as you desperately traverse the countryside is Taehyung’s absence. You had not realised the extent to which you depended on him not just for safety, but for companionship and hope. You would get home, you had thought, as long as Taehyung was beside you. He would make sure of it. He had promised it, and he had proved it when he saved you from that frost demon. When he had tied you to his hand so that you would not fall victim to the Siren’s song. This journey had not been without its hiccups but that was because this place, this realm is a dangerous place for a feeble human from an average no-name city. He had taken every step not just to keep you safe, but to keep you sane and you miss it. You miss him, and the deep ache in your heart is probably because you don’t know where he is, if he’s safe, if he’s hurt, and how you’d even find him or help him if he wasn’t. All you can do is keep desperately riding towards the falls and hope no one catches you or Tata in the meantime.
The Falls are imposing limestone cliffs that glow bone white on the horizon, like the skeleton of a long dead beast. You ride parallel to a large frothy river. In slower patches, birds bathe and dragonflies dance along the surface, pausing only for a drink. In other parts though, the river is wide and dangerous- debris crashes against the stone bank and remind you that it would not be a nice place for a swim. You race the current towards the limestone cliff-face. Beyond that, you see nothing, but you picture forestry and greenery extending until the horizon beyond the sheer drop.
As you draw nearer to the Falls, you dismount and lead your horse, for the ground is too rocky and unstable for it to handle a rider. You see no sign of a kingdom, or any kind of civilisation, and remember the innkeeper telling you that no lesser creature has ever been able to access it. That includes you.
“Where to from here, Tata?” You ask uneasily, coming up towards the edge of the cliffside. There is no hidden kingdom beyond. Just a large, imposing waterfall. The drop isn’t even as big as you’d originally thought. You can think of a few places back home where people would make the drop for the thrill and land safely in the pool below with little more than some bruising if it’s as deep as it looks. You can’t hear his answer above the roar of the Falls beside you. Apparently they were the entrance to the kingdom, so you walk towards the mouth of the river. “Is there some kind of doorbell? Or like a summoning spell?” He climbs up your leg and perches on your shoulder to peer over the waterfalls at the forestry beyond. If nothing else, at least the scenery is beautiful.
“They have it protected. They do not want any unwanted visitors stumbling upon their beloved kingdom, after all.” A hissing, raspy voice sounds behind you. You stiff and turn so that the cliff face is at your back. Taehyung snarls at the lizardmen that have surrounded you. You are essentially pinned to the cliffside.
“Don’t you guys have anything better to do than follow a baby dragon?” You complain, though really your heart is in your throat and you feign nonchalance. “Like seriously… just order Mcdonalds or go to a fancy restaurant or something- why do you need to eat a dragon? Isn’t that like cannibalism since you’re both reptiles?”
Tata’s claws dig into your shoulders as he tenses uneasily, his ears flattened against his head and his wings spread in what would have been an imposing pose if he weren’t the size of a small angry beagle at best.
“Hand over the dragonling, human, and your death will be swift.” One of the lizardman demands. You wince- what are your options? You cannot allow Tata to be captured but you are literally at the edge of the cliff. The only way to go is down, and you have no intention of breaking your neck or drowning yourself.
“Any ideas, Tata?” You say under your breath. He just growls in response as the lizardmen close in in a horse-shoe formation around you. Hesitantly, you back towards the cliffside, feeling the open air at your back. This exact moment is a bad time to realise you are afraid of heights, but the dizzying sensation of fear and the cold sweat you break out in allow you to learn something new about yourself.
You continue to back up until you are right on the edge of the cliff side. You have nowhere else to go- this is literally the end of the line. No Taehyung to save you. You have the knife at your side but you don’t know how to use it and bought it to make yourself feel better, more than anything.
“Tata, you need to go. You know the way, right? You can make it to the kingdom.” You tell him in a hushed voice, still watching the lizardmen advance slowly, like they’ve got all the time in the world because the do. It’s not like you can escape anywhere. Tata shakes his head. “You do, little guy. You can do it. Don’t worry about me. I’ve lived a good life. And this is a pretty cool way to go- my tombstone will read “death by lizardmen”- how many people can say that about themselves?” You urge him. “Climb down the rockface or something and I’ll distract them.”
You feel Tata tremble beside you. He releases a little whimper and digs his claws painfully into your shoulders- he’s afraid. He feels the resignation just as much as you do. You can’t leave him alone, but the only way out of this mess is… down. You swallow the bile that threatens to rise in your throat. You remember going to a similar jump with your high school friends a few years ago. You had ended up flopping and having awful bruises all over your thighs and butt and your friends had mocked you. This is the same (except you don’t know the depth of the water.)
“Alright. Alright.” You say, your heart screams in protest, thumping determinedly against your throat. “Together, or not at all.” You promise Tata, tugging him off your shoulders and hugging him tight against you. “Sorry, suckers, but not today.” You screech at the lizardmen. And with a few sprints to the side, you launch yourself off the cliff face, plummeting down into the water below like another droplet in the thundering water fall. You hear the leader’s enraged cry and then the sensation of falling engages your ever sense.
You can’t hear your screeching above the roar of wind in your ears. You’re sure gravity has pulled your stomach up into your skull and Tata roars his terror along side you. His claws grip your forearms so tightly they draw blood.
All that vanishes as you hit the water below. With the intensity of a thunderclap, the outside world vanishes. The cold water smacks into you, slamming the air from your lungs and the warmth from your body. For a moment, you keep going, crashing into that dark, cool water, but then the shock of the impact wears off and you kick desperately for the surface- Tata remains anchored to you by gripping so tightly to your body his claws cut into your skin through the thick cotton you wear.
Your head breaks the surface- you did it. You got away. The roar of the nearby waterfall serves as the triumphant applause to your victory. You’ve made it- now all that remains is for the dragons to open whatever concealed entrance to their kingdom there is and you can go home. For about a half a moment, it is peaceful, with just you and Tata in the fresh, cold water.
And then the first arrow slices through your bicep. You scream out in pain, suddenly flailing desperately. It doesn’t embed itself in the soft tissue- it only cuts across your arm, slicing your arm open and then vanishing into the depths of the pool you float in. The deep cut leaves ribbons of crimson red spreading outwards into the water from you. And then suddenly the air around you is filled with whistling as the lizardmen continue to fire arrows at you from their vantage point at the top of the cliff. It’s like you’ve been transported to a war movie. There is nowhere safe for you to go- you splash desperately but each movement has your arm stinging in agony.
Stupidly, your instinct is to curl around Tata. He is defenceless- a baby, forced to endure this pain and fear for the sake of a selfish, faceless queen. You squeeze your eyes shut, embracing yourself for the arrow that will inevitably pierce your vulnerable, prone body, and can only hope that the dragons rescue Tata and are able to pry your cold, dead corpse away from him.
A loud, crashing splash occurs and suddenly the arrows stop. You don’t know why- suddenly the air is clear. You unwind your body from around Tata and the two of you exchange confused glances.
A warm arm hooks around your waist. You scream- so it wasn’t over! The lizardmen simply changed tact. Rather than kill you, they want to drag you out and capture Tata that way. You struggle and scream desperately, but the arm anchoring you against the solid body is far stronger than you and the next thing you know you are being yanked onto the river bank, Tata clutched tightly in your arms. Oddly he does not struggle or growl. He just lies there, curled up in your arms.
“And here I thought you’d be happy to see me again, sweetheart.” A familiar voice laughs, out of breath and winded.
Your heart catches in your throat and your jaw drops as you release Tata and pull free of your captor and whirl to face him because you know that voice. Its absence since your separation had plunged you into a dark, fearful despair throughout your journey. A voice you feared you may never have the pleasure of hearing again.
Taehyung stands before you, dripping wet, covered head to toe in bruises and cuts that weren’t there prior, but absolutely warm and alive. Alive.
Before you know what to even do with yourself, you are kissing him. You did not know you were capable of such desperate, reckless passion. Nonetheless, you crash your mouth against his with an intense fervour that has him staggering backwards. For a moment he can only catch your form as you cling to him. His breath catches in his throat, and his arms come up to cup your shoulders, more out of a need to steady himself. But then the initial surprise wears off and he kisses you back with an intensity that would frighten you if it didn’t match your own. You pull back to gasp for air, with the intent to kiss him once more once your oxygen is replenished, but he chases your mouth with a desperate sort of noise under his breath. It seems he’s unwilling to part with you for even a moment. He catches your lips between his teeth and then reverently traces the shape of your mouth with his tongue. His hands grab desperately at you, first at your shoulders, then your waist and then he slides them up to cup your face to hold you against him.
Eventually, the need for oxygen means you must part, and the two of you do so breathless and a little stunned at what transpired between you. It seems there is a lot that needs talking about.
“What happened to the lizardmen?” You ask, your cheeks flush red as you abruptly decide to skirt around the part where you had been kissing him like there was no tomorrow.
“I dealt with them.” Taehyung answers, but his gaze does not lift from where it is anchored at your mouth. He opens his mouth to say something, perhaps to comment on the kiss, or even request a reoccurrence but he is unfortunately never given the chance. A loud cacophony of roars cuts off his next words and you look behind you to witness the marvel of the waterfalls parting.
Behind them lies an ornate and elaborate archway- the entrance to the Draconian kingdom. Tata crows in delight.
You made it- you delivered him home safely.
++
The Draconian Kingdom is, admittedly, less of a kingdom and more of a wondrous natural valley. You suppose it is foolish to have pictured a towering palace, or fancy buildings or anything. Taehyung informs you that long ago all dragons went into hiding following relentless hunting of their kind, and this secretive but wondrous place is where they retreated to. Only those they deemed worthy could enter, and apparently that now included you. A random office worker whose biggest achievement was working out how to create a pivot table in a spreadsheet.
Dragons cannot cry but the emotion in their eyes as the King and Queen are reunited with a son that they thought was dead, one who has been missing for nearly 60 years thanks to the way time flows differently in your home realm conveys to you what they are feeling far better than any tear could. A hard lump settles in your chest at the anguish and heartache they must have felt when their baby was snatched away from them.  As you and Taehyung stand before the throne of the King and Queen, an impressive rock structure carved into the mountainside itself, the Queen descends rapidly, landing in front of you with a powerful flap of lethal, emerald wings. For a second, your heart catches in your throat, for she is large enough that she could swallow you in one gulp. Her claws could slice your entire body in half like you were no more than a wet tissue paper, and her teeth are foreboding and sharp, designed for tearing flesh from bone. Yet she makes no intent to harm you- instead, she closes her eyes and extends her mighty neck, lowering her head until it hovers above the ground directly in front of you. Oddly, you recognise the gesture. It was the same thing Tata had done when he first met you, what feels like a lifetime ago. Hesitantly, you extend your open palm towards her, just like you did with Tata, although the size difference is almost laughable.
Slowly, she presses the tip of her snout against your hand. You do not speak her language, and she does not speak yours but you know the meaning behind her gesture as clearly as if she had spoken it to you aloud.
Thank you.
You feel a tug on your trousers and look down to find Tata has caught them between his teeth and is trying to tug you down to his level. Bewildered, you sink down onto your knees and he clambers towards you. To think a mere week ago you hadn’t known his kind existed but now you feel inexplicably linked with him. Tata’s form before you blurs as your eyes fill with tears.
“I’m going to miss you, little one.” You whisper softly, closing your eyes to press your forehead against his. You feel the rumble of his soft, contented growl and inhale shakily. “We did it.” You remind him. “You’re home safe, and you’re going to be a wonderful king.”
You feel oddly choked as you take a step back to allow Taehyung to step forward and say his good-byes. He crouches before Tata and scoops his small form into his arms.
“I promised I’d get you home, didn’t I, little guy?” He chuckles as Tata scrabbles at him, licking his face like an overexcited puppy. The sight of it has you feeling oddly warm and sentimental. Taehyung gives Tata one big, long squeeze, before setting him down and getting to his feet. He bows deeply to the King and Queen before turning to you.
“They requested we stay for the coronation and have offered us a way to get home safely afterwards.” He tells you, but oddly the words are stilted and awkward. Formal, like the two of you were strangers. It… stings. His distant tone. Perhaps you made it awkward by kissing him, and he feels uncomfortable with you now?
Regardless, this is not the time for such thoughts and so you shelve them away into the ‘deal with later’ section of your brain, like you’ve done with the numerous odd feelings this adventure has dredged up towards Taehyung. For the moment, it is time for Tata’s coronation, the whole purpose of this entire journey.
Taithrwyn means ‘king of the stars’ in an ancient language lost even to the most ancient of civilisations in this realm. He was named so because the night he hatched, a brilliant meteorshower lit the sky, unlike anything anyone had seen for a millenia. Even the dragons, hidden away in their secretive but mighty kingdom, had witnessed it and been awestruck. And so the Draconian King and Queen had named their son because of that brilliant blaze, hoping it was an omen for how he would one day reign.
It is only fitting, Taehyung had informed you amidst the joyous celebrations that signalled the Prince’s safe return home, that his coronation be held beneath the stars. The smooth river that cuts through the centre of the valley that comprises the Draconian Kingdom catches the light of the stars above it like a perfect mirror. You are sure that were you to dip your fingers into the cold, smooth water, what you would catch between your fingers would not be water but pure, liquid starlight. You sit beside Taehyung from your vantage point in the cliffside and watch as the dragons glide over the water. Their wings catch the silver light, and while beneath bright sunlight each dragon is the colour of a gemstone, beneath the stars they become the subdued but gorgeous colours of an aurora. They weave through the air like one, in a complex dance that you do not understand the significance of but can appreciate the beauty of.
“It’ll be weird to go home, after all this.” You confess to Taehyung below your breath. He has been quiet since your reunion. Perhaps he is just as exhausted as you.
“You think so?” He questions, and his voice is soft and oddly choked. You frown and nod.
“It’s not my home, but it’s… It’s oddly beautiful here. I could have done without the whole nearly-dying-every-second-day thing, but I think this is the most fun I’ve had in my entire life.” You tell him, and when you turn to him you are surprised to find his eyes oddly misty. “Are you ok?” You question. He smiles forlornly and nods.
“Just… sad to be parting from the little guy, I guess.” He tells you, and you nod solemnly for you feel the bittersweet ache of goodbye in your chest as well. He gets to his feet and brushes away the soil that clings to the back of his trousers before helping you to your feet. “Come on, (Y/N),” He says, and the way he says your name feels different than every other time, and to his odd, frequent pet names. You cannot put a name to the tone to his voice and you do not try to. Instead you accept his hand and allow him to pull you to your feet. “It’s time to go home.”
The smile you offer him as he leads you away is both sad and relieved.
++
Your alarm awakens you early the next morning and you snap awake with a horrified start. It takes you a moment to gather your bearings and to orientate yourself. Though a week had passed in the other realm, it had been a mere few hours in your home realm, and Taehyung had delivered you safely to your doorstep, just as he promised he would when this whole ordeal had started. He had lingered at your doorway like there were words he wanted to say. You had a lot you wanted to say too- that you wanted him to stay. That you wanted more adventures with him. That you could still picture the taste of his lips on yours when you shut your eyes. But the words had stayed caught in your throat until he was long out of sight and you were alone in your apartment.
You allow yourself the luxury of lying in a stupor in your bed for a few more moments. You hadn’t realised how accustomed you had grown to the warmth of Tata curled up at your side and the gentle sound of Taehyung’s breathing close by. Now your bed seems empty. Maybe you should get a pet- a cat, or maybe a snake. Then again, maybe not.
With a sigh, you roll out of bed. Perhaps you’ll get your chance to speak with Taehyung if you see him at work. It feels strange, the mundane-ness of going through your morning routine like the past week didn’t happen. Perhaps it didn’t. You have no proof other than your memories and the bandage around your arm where the first arrow had pierced your flesh and a few bruises. You smooth your arm over the rough cotton bandage before slipping on your uniform. The long sleeves conceal it and suddenly to the outside world there is no proof at all. You look and feel different as you gaze into the mirror though. Perhaps it is the way the sun has darkened your skin, or the way your eyes shine with an edge that wasn’t there before. You feel like a different person yet to every person in that office save for Taehyung you are the same person. Your mundane office life was just yesterday in this realm yet it feels a lifetime ago for you.
“You look different.” Jimin comments as you arrive at work, squinting at you suspiciously. “Did you go out in the sun yesterday? Also is that a bruise?” He squints at you with concern. “Did you and Taehyung get into a knife fight last night?” He demands, rising to his feet to examine you from head to toe. You shake your head and lightly push him away.
“No, no, nothing like that.” You say quickly. “I banged my head on the cupboard when I got home is all.” You lie to him. Jimin regards you with suspicion but does not press.
“I see…” He says slowly. “How did the confrontation go? You haven’t been answering your phone.”
“I lost it.” You explain about the missed phone calls because that is the easier question to answer. As for the confrontation… How do you even begin to answer that question? Just a week ago, you had been prepared to give Taehyung an earful but suddenly the thought of forcing him to lose his job when you know why he’s so flaky makes your heart ache. It must be difficult, both desiring and being obligated to help while also wanting to live his own life. You remember the day you first met, when he confessed that he was on the verge of losing his job. That sensation, that Taehyung shouldn’t lose his job for wanting to help, wells up in you until you feel you may cry. Jimin nods.
“So did you see him or not? How did it go?” He demands.
You are saved answering when you catch a glimpse of the man currently occupying your thoughts. He is just arriving at the office- the strap of his bag is gripped tightly in his fist. He regards you with an odd, slack-jawed sort of expression. For a moment the two of you gaze at each other across the cubicles, wide-eyed. Slowly, hesitantly, you offer Taehyung a smile for you do not know how else to react to him. He glances away though, tearing his gaze from yours and the gesture has you feeling oddly hurt.
“Not well, I take it.” Jimin comments as he watches the exchange with mild interest. You glance down, unable to process the onslaught of emotions you feel. On one hand you want to abandon your work and race to Taehyung’s side. You want to share with him all the thoughts from yesterday. You want to ask about his adventures. You want to beg him to take you along the next one. But his oddly distant and cool reaction to you holds you back. Is he mad because you kissed him? Is he trying to distance himself from you now that the journey is over? Perhaps he only stuck around out of obligation because you were in trouble because of him and now he wants to steer clear? Doubt swirls uncomfortably in your stomach.
“I…” You say, your voice raspy with an emotion you can’t identify. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
You quickly slide into your chair and distract yourself with starting up your computer so you don’t have to acknowledge the way Jimin’s gaze has sharpened with worry and curiosity.
The rest of the day passes like this. You think you catch him staring a few times but his gaze always flicks away before you can actually catch him in the act. Why is he acting like this? Like an awkward co-worker who hardly knows you? What triggered this behaviour? Was everything the two of you went through together… did it mean nothing to him? Or worse… was it really all some strange dream? Did you imagine the whole thing?
Finally, the end of your work day arrives. The day felt like it crept by, second by agonising second. All you want to do is curl up at home, maybe have a long bath and try and distract yourself from overthinking Taehyung’s behaviour. You’re about to rise from your desk and leave for the day, when Jimin skids into view, fresh from gossiping in the tearoom.
“What the heck did you say to Taehyung yesterday?” He demands breathlessly, an unusual mixture of eager for juicy gossip and horrified at whatever it is may have happened. “He just quit.”
Your bag, which you had been in the process of slinging over your shoulder, slips suddenly from your grip.
“What?” You ask, your heart dropping into your stomach. Jimin shakes his head.
“I know! So out of the blue- but Martha says he just handed in his resignation letter and I-“ You cut off his explanation.
“What’s his address?” You demand. You had noticed Taehyung hadn’t returned after your lunch break but you thought maybe he had just been avoiding being seen by you. Jimin looks surprised and a little irritated to have been cut off.
“Why do you want to know? Anyway, what I want to know is what did you-“
“His address, Jimin!” You plead urgently, and something in your voice and expression must give him pause. He stares at you for a long moment before reaching over your desk. He pulls out his phone, scrolling through until he finds what he’s looking for and then scribbles an address on a sticky note. He hands it to you.
“That’s his apartment. But why do you want to know? What happened, (Y/N)?” He asks. You grip the sticky note tightly in your fist like it is your lifeline and stare at Jimin with a wildness you don’t really understand.
“I’ll explain everything later, ok?” You promise. Jimin looks like he wants to protest, but it is too late- you are already fleeing, sprinting through the office like a madwoman.
++
You thought you had a lot to say to Taehyung. A lot that you wanted him to say. But as he gapes at you from his doorway, his still-ruined apartment in view through the opening, you only manage one coherent statement. 
“What the hell, Taehyung?” You demand, a little breathlessly and a little hurt. Taehyung merely stares at you like you are a mystical creature who just appeared spontaneously on his doorstep. He opens his mouth like he intends to speak, but then simple continues gazing at you with that same, bewildered light. “You resigned?” You ask, and your voice trembles with your confusion and distress. His expression softens at the hurt in your expression and he takes a step backwards to allow you to step inside.
“Why don’t you come in, sweetheart?” He offers weakly and you oblige.
He’s made some effort at cleaning up his ruined apartment. One of the shattered windows has material taped over it to seal the hole and the glass is nowhere to be seen. All the ruined furniture is thrown carelessly in a far corner and he’s laid various objects out as if he were in the middle of sorting them when you showed up. “Do you want some tea? My kettle is one of the few things that still work.”
“Taehyung,” you say. “Your apartment...” He stiffens at the horrified sympathy in your voice. 
“Don’t worry about it. I knew the risks when I decided to help Tata. It wasn’t a request I took on lightly.” He tells you sternly. “And besides, material things can be replaced.” He reminds you. 
“Not if you quit your job and are currently unemployed.” You point out hotly, irritated at his casual attitude. He grins lazily.
“Who said I was unemployed?” He tells you. Your eyes go wide. 
“What?” You ask. He shrugs his shoulders and smiles. 
“I actually planned to quit right before Tata showed up.” He admits. “I got a better job offer with better pay and more flexible hours. Figured I couldn’t keep taking advantage of my sweet, naive coworker who kept covering for me forever.”
Suddenly you feel foolish. Had you been so arrogant as to think his sudden resignation had to do with you and your little adventure? You flush hotly and try to backtrack.
“Oh,” you say, ducking your head in an attempt to conceal your mortification. “I guess this was a misunderstanding then- I’ll just be going then-“
“Wait!” Taehyung cries, grabbing your hand. With a rapid manoeuvre, he spins you around so that you stumble into his awaiting arms. He gives you an odd half-smile. “D-don’t go yet.” He says softly and are you imagining the redness in his face? “You only just got here.”
You realise that when you lost your balance, you had grabbed onto him for stability and that you are now clinging to him like a swooning maiden. Embarrassed, you straighten and clear your throat.
“I guess... I guess I can spare the time.” You sniff, in an effort to sound uninterested. He chuckles. 
“You’re cute.” He mutters under his breath. “I was just about to sit down and have a nutritious dinner of instant noodles because the only thing cooking equipment that wasn’t smashed to pieces by those lizardmen was my kettle. Why don’t you join me, darling?”
You pretend to consider even though your heart is already leaping with joy at the opportunity to spend more time with him. 
“Ok.” You agree, hoping you don’t sound too much like an eager teenager who just got asked out by her crush. It only sounds slightly breathy and enthusiastic, to your relief. Taehyung smiles fondly. 
“Then have a seat and prepare yourself for my impressive culinary skills.” He says, gesturing towards one of the few unbroken chairs in his apartment. He drags a chair that has had the back broken off but still functions as an odd half stool across the room and sets it opposite you. His dining table has been discarded in the ruined furniture pile. 
“Don’t talk yourself up too much or I won’t accept anything less that Michelin-Star cuisine.” You admonish him, but you are only joking and settle obediently into the chair. 
Dinner is a quiet affair. The two of you sit in silence until you can bear it no longer. 
“Why didn’t you say anything at work today?” You ask. “You ignored me.” 
He looks unsurprised at your question. If anything, he looks like he expected it. He digs his teeth into his lips and runs his fingers almost reverently across them. The tips of his ears grow bright red. 
“I... I was shy.” He confesses at last, ducking his head. “I didn’t know how to approach you after... after...” he trails away. 
“After we kissed?” You question tentatively. He shakes his head and risks a look at you from beneath his lashes. 
“After everything.” He admits, and his voice is a shaky whisper. You can’t really name the look in his eyes but it has your heart tremoring within the confines of your rib cage. He clears his throat and straightens, smoothing his hands hugging his bowl closer to him where it sits in his lap. “I’ve dated before, you know.” He announces, and the statement is so baffling and out of context that you merely stare. He coughs awkwardly. “As in... I’ve gone on dates. And I’ve flirted with a lot of people- I flirt with a lot of people. But it never goes beyond a first or second date because someone asks for help and I end up cancelling.” He explains. “So I’ve never had a relationship. But with you...” he trails away, clenching his fists tightly as he steels himself for what he’s going to say next. “When you kissed me I got scared. Because... because I wanted more than a second date. I know what it feels like to fall asleep with you in my arms... I know what it feels like to have you look at me with those big eyes of yours and tell me you trust me. I can’t just do the casual first date thing after all of that only for you to tell me I’m not really boyfriend material. You can’t just kiss me like you did if you’re going to get sick of me. It doesn’t work that way, sweetheart. So I was scared because I don’t know what it looks like going beyond some flirty lines and a second date and I’m scared that’s what’s going to happen. So I chickened out, I guess.” He confesses in an emotional rush that leave you speechless for a few moments. He shoots a furtive glance at your utterly gobsmacked expression before shaking his head and chuckling. “Ridiculous, isn’t it?” He says and his tone is warm but his words are self-deprecating. It makes your heart ache. “Those feelings are stupid and I-“
“I can’t do it either.” You confess in a rush, squeezing your eyes shut as if it will help you spit out the words. “After everything that happened... I don’t think I can go back to being just coworkers or having a casual fling. I... I like you Taehyung. I like how you kept your promises and I like how you want to help others so much and I like that your first instinct in danger was to protect Tata and me. I like that you risked your job and your life to get a baby dragon home and... I like that you... I like that you’re the kind of person who gave up his umbrella to a random lady on the street just because you could.” 
Taehyung’s whole expression scrunches up like he’s in physical pain. 
“Oh thank the stars.” He cries, and then he leans across the small gap between you and presses his mouth enthusiastically to yours with an ease and accuracy that tells you it’s probably what he’s been thinking about since sitting down. “I like you too.” He says, pulling away only to give you another peck. “So much.” He gasps between eager little kisses. “I like you!” He exclaims and then kisses you again. The last kiss is long and slow and lingering and it takes you a long moment to finally open your eyes. When you do, Taehyung is beaming at you. 
Something feels right, about the way he stares at you and you know in that moment that everything is going to be alright.
“(Y/N)... I want you to be there on adventures with me... I want to show you all the amazing places the realm I grew up in has to offer... and I want to take you to dinner and hopefully get another one of those kisses.” He tells you with a blush. “Because dang I haven’t  been able to stop thinking about it.” His voice is breathless as he admits it and his gaze is anchored on your mouth. You don’t say anything and merely stare at him, bewildered at how much you like the man sitting before you.
“What do you say, sweetness?” Taehyung asks you softly. “How about dinner?”
You smile and your answer comes in the form of leaning towards him and stealing another kiss. 
And that’s how you start your next big adventure with Kim Taehyung. 
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bangtan-sonyeonddaeng · 6 years ago
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Jin Scenario: You two like each other but don’t know it
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Jin had made plans to hang out with you today. You two were going to go out and get some coffee and then go for a walk around the city. Now that winter was over and spring was finally here you wanted to take advantage of the nice weather. You decided to wear a nice sun dress that complimented your figure nicely. Even though you had been friends with Jin for a year now, you couldn’t help but develop feelings for him. He was so sweet you, he knew just how to make you laugh and cheer you up when you were upset. He was your idea of the perfect man. But you were convinced he only saw you as a friend. Sure he complimented you often, but he always did so playfully so you thought he wasn’t serious with his flirting. It didn’t stop you from wanting to look nice for him though. You put on the choker necklace he had bought for your birthday last year. You heard him knock on your front door. You gave yourself a once over and decided you looked decent enough and opened the door.
“There’s my y/n! Oh... wow. You look really beautiful you know?” You playfully slap his arm. 
“Sure I do Jin.”
“I’m serious! I mean you always look beautiful but today is just.. wow. I feel like a potato standing next to you.” 
“Oh shut up Jin. You’re world wide handsome remember? If anyone is going to be feeling inferior its me. You always look too handsome for your own good.”
“Ah yes, a small price to pay for being friends with me I guess.” He can’t hold back his laughter and soon you’re both laughing until your sides hurt. It doesn’t matter, Jin could say the stupidest thing but his laughter was so contagious it never failed to get you laughing to the point of tears. Jin holds his arm out and you take ahold of it.
“Alright pretty lady, I am going to be your date for the day. So let’s get going.” You try not to let that word affect you. You know it’s not a date and your expression falls slightly at the realization. Unbeknownst to you, Jin had seen it and is now internally scolding himself for making you uncomfortable. Clearly he’s only a friend to you. He needs to quit letting his feelings get in the way and just treat this as any other day out between the two of you. Jin was always hoping that you would give him some kind of sign or hint that you felt the same way about him, but your playful flirting made it impossible for him to tell if you actually liked him or were just teasing him. You two were silent on the way the cafe but Jin had made a point to stop moping and make sure you had a good time with him. 
He ordered you your favorite drink, having been friends with you for so long he knew exactly what you liked from every restaurant you two went to. You two sat at your usual table by the window, quickly falling back into your usual moods. Jin made you laugh so hard coffee came out of your nose, much to your horror and his amusement. You don’t think you’ve ever seen him laugh so hard in his life. Every time he smiled at you it sent your heart rate racing. 
You two were now walking around the city together. You two were walking so closely together that your hands kept brushing against one another. Every time they did you would jump, and Jin would look at you questioningly. After the 5th time it happened Jin turned to look at you with a smirk on his face.
“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were trying to hold my hand y/n.” He reaches for your hand and laces them together. You stop in your tracks and stare at him, not caring that people are staring at the two of you and glaring for stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
“What are we doing Jin?”
“Um, going for a walk together?”
“No I mean what are we doing?” You hold your hands up so he knows what you’re talking about. Jin goes to untangle your fingers but you only hold onto him tighter.
“I could ask the same thing y/n. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable with my flirting I know you just see me as a friend but sometimes I can’t help it.”
“Why can’t you help it?” The tips of Jin’s ears are turning red, a telltale sign that he is flustered about something.
“Because, the heart wants what it wants and mine wants you.” You swear everyone else in the world disappears in that moment. All you see is Jin, standing in front of you with an unsure look on his face but adoration for you in his eyes. You lean up to press a kiss to his cheek. He looks at you in shock. 
“Y-y/n?” You press a finger to his lips and kiss him. Jin stands there unmoving, trying to process what exactly is happening. When his brain finally catches up his lips are moving against yours. You both pull away and are absolutely beaming at one another. 
“So, I guess it goes without saying but, my heart wants you too Jin. It always has, it always will.” He kisses your forehead before taking your hand in his again and continuing your walk with a bounce to his step and a permanent smile on his face. Now that he has you, he’s never going to let you go.
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mdelpin · 5 years ago
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The Red Dragon - Chapter 25
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AO3 | FF.Net | Tumblr: Ch1 | Ch24
I try to make it through my life, in my way, there’s you I try to make it through these lies, and that’s all I do
Just don’t deny it Don’t try to fight this, and deal with it And that’s just part of it
If you were dead or still alive I don’t care, I don’t care Just go and leave this all behind ‘Cause I swear (I swear) I don’t care
I Don’t Care by Apocalyptica
Chapter 25
Natsu landed on their field, feeling the wetness of the morning dew on his talons. He flexed his injured wing, wincing slightly at the remaining tenderness. He’d refused to let Atlas heal it completely, not wanting to lose the stitches that Gray had put in. His uncle had yelled at him for it, insisting one of these days his misplaced sense of romance was going to get him killed, but Natsu didn’t care. Every time he looked at those stitches, they filled him with hope. They felt like a hard-earned victory.
It didn’t matter to him that Gray didn’t know it was him he was stitching up. Natsu had almost given himself away several times, the situation as disliked as it was familiar. It had reminded him of the life he’d left behind, of jobs taken together, and of Gray’s fierce yells demanding Natsu be more careful as he tried to patch him back together. This had been even truer once his regeneration had slowed down.
The important thing, and it was something Natsu carried in his heart, was that Gray had helped a dragon. Not because the dragon had asked but because he’d wanted to. Because he’d felt it was the right thing to do.
Natsu knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up yet, he wasn’t particularly sure that Gray even liked Fukou that much, although there had been a few moments in their strange relationship where he’d thought maybe he had started to get through.
He looked up at the sky impatiently, urging the sun to come up already. Neither Igneel nor Atlas had been much help when he’d asked them about how he might have managed his temporary transformation the previous year, but the one theory they’d had was that it was somehow related to the summer solstice. They’d said many magical ceremonies were held on this day because of the high concentration of ethernano in the air, and the fact that he had reverted back to his dragon form at the end of it certainly seemed to lend credence to that idea.
He paced the length of the field several times, needing to do something while he waited for the sun to finally begin its rise. He was worried last year had been a fluke, but he was just as terrified that it wasn’t. Regardless of what happened, he would have to make some decisions today. His time was running out, he could sense it.
Natsu had felt an overwhelming change in their bond on his flight back from Drak Aast, and it had terrified him because he didn’t understand what it meant. It was what had kept him so distracted. The fear and dread that Gray might have finally had enough of him and his excuses had stolen his breath, much like a punch to the gut. Even though he knew it was well deserved.
He’d been so focused on trying to interpret Gray’s feelings that he hadn’t bothered to pay any attention to where he was flying. A careless mistake he had paid for dearly.
Natsu stopped in his tracks as he began to feel something, a sensation so small it would have been easily dismissed had he not been looking for something like it. It tingled and spread throughout his body, covering him in a golden glow before slowly transforming him.
He bounced on his heels, delighted to be back in his human form, but frowning at his arm, which bore the telltale marks of stitches. He was annoyed that he hadn’t thought to bring any gauze but ultimately shrugged it off, it was the least of his worries.
After everything that had happened since he’d left Talos to protect Igneel, Natsu was determined to do things right this time. He wanted to spend as much of this day with Gray as he could, grateful for the opportunity, no matter how small to be able to spend time with him. To shower him with all the love and affection he deserved for putting up with all his crap. To help combat the loneliness he’d felt from him when he’d spent time with him as Fukou.
Natsu had never planned for that to happen. Had actually made up his mind that the best thing for both of them was for him to stay on Drak Aast permanently, regardless of how it might affect him. Had the dragon attack occurred just one day later, he would never have found out about it until it was too late.
He’d been sitting on his ledge when he’d heard Anna’s scream and smelled the intruding dragon. Had sensed Gray’s proximity and that had been enough to get him moving towards Talos, determined to protect his mate at all costs from any further dragon-related trauma. He got there just in time to witness Gray’s reckless rescue and realize that Erza was in danger.
He’d honestly thought that would be the end of it, had even agreed with Igneel that he should stay away, but then Gray had searched him out, and Natsu had realized he was being given an opportunity he shouldn’t ignore.
Out of all the dragons, he was the best equipped to help Gray. He knew him like the back of his hand. He could let him insult him, abuse him, and, in the end, maybe get him to some sort of understanding. It’s not like he’d had anything to lose, and if he was honest with himself, he had done it for himself too. After all the fights he’d had with the renegades for the last few years, it felt good to have positive interactions for a change. To have kids calling out for him in joy rather than yelling in fear.
Natsu began walking towards the town, not wanting to waste a moment of the time fate had given them. He hoped that Erza hadn’t scheduled Gray to work, but in all honesty, he didn’t care what they did as long as they were together.
He tried to prepare himself for what he knew must be coming. Of course Gray would be angry to see him waltz in like he hadn’t disappeared without any explanation the year before. He expected that, knew his mate had every reason to feel that way. Especially when he had remained silent for another year. No matter how patient or understanding Gray might be, it was a lot to ask of him to just overlook Natsu’s actions. Especially when Natsu knew he’d just have to leave again when the sun set that evening.
Whether he admitted it to himself or not, Natsu harbored the hope that now that Gray had spent some time getting to know him as his dragon self, it would help his mate realize that he was the same no matter what form he took. Maybe they could still have some sort of relationship the rest of the year, but that required Natsu coming clean.
He knew it would have to happen eventually, and he wanted to do it, he really did. Gray deserved to understand the truth of their situation, but Natsu just couldn’t take the idea of Gray hating him. Even if it was probably for the best, he knew that if Gray rejected him a third time, he wouldn’t be able to handle it, and all the words he wanted to say died in his mouth.
If Gray was entirely out of his life, what was left for him?
And if he accepted him as he was now, what kind of life would that be for him?
o-o
Natsu had become somewhat lost as he walked through the streets of the village, amazed by how much it had grown and changed in the last four years and trying to find his way to Gray’s apartment, heart heavy but hopeful for the best.
He’d flown over Talos plenty of times, but he’d never really paid much attention. The refugee camps were gone, replaced by colorful houses with small yards. The business sector had also expanded quite a bit. As he walked through it, he noticed there were a large number of people up and about, sweeping the streets, hanging decorations, or setting up colorful booths. They were singing or humming as they worked, and their mood proved contagious. He wondered what they were getting ready for.
He found himself in front of Gray’s apartment sooner than he was ready for, staring at the front door, his heart beating wildly in his chest while his stomach felt like he might be sick at any moment.
He’d been here many times before they’d gotten together, but it had been years since he’d set foot inside. He could smell the scent that was uniquely Gray, and a sheen of sweat spread across his body. He had no idea what kind of reception he was going to get. He’d almost gotten up the nerve to knock on the door when he heard an unexpected voice behind him, and it was not kind. In fact, it sounded furious.
“Just what in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Natsu tensed even more at those words. Shit! Gray must have told Lyon what had happened. It made sense, as far as he knew, outside of the dragon slayers Lyon was the only one who knew that he and Gray were a couple. Natsu turned to try to speak to Lyon, but he never got the chance as he felt Lyon’s fist connect with his jawbone.
“Ow, what the hell, Lyon?” Natsu complained, his right hand immediately moving up to try to rub some of the pain from his jaw.
“You’ve got some nerve showing up here after what you pulled,” Lyon growled. He was already moving in for a second punch, and Natsu didn’t bother to move away. Just pulled his arms up to block.
He hadn’t tried using his magic last time, and he was worried it might be unstable. He didn’t want to hurt Lyon, and he’d certainly taken harder hits before.
“I get that you’re mad, but don’t you think if there were any way I could be here with him, I would?” Natsu entreated, trying to keep himself under control, deeply aware he was the one in the wrong.
“What could be so important that you would leave him like that?” Lyon kept at him, his voice getting progressively louder after every question. “Do you have any idea how hard it’s been for him with you gone? Not knowing if you were alive or dead? Are they really more important to you than he is?”
“Of course not!” Natsu snapped, trying but failing to keep the frustration out of his voice. There was no one more important to him than his mate. “I’ve already told you, I couldn’t be here.”
Before Lyon had a chance to reply, another voice from his past asserted itself, but at least this one sounded happy to see him, “Natsu? Is that you?”
He was assaulted once again, but this time in the form of a tackle hug from Erza. “You’re back!”
“I was so worried!” Erza was practically vibrating with excitement, completely missing Lyon’s animosity. At least her arrival had made the ice mage back down. She finally let go of Natsu long enough to look around. “Where are the others? Are they back too?”
Natsu shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry, it’s just me.”
“Why is that?” Erza puzzled, “Didn’t they want to come back?”
Natsu could almost feel Lyon’s glare physically assault his body, and he tried to ignore it before his instincts called on him to deal with the perceived threat. He should have realized last time that the draconic instincts were much closer to the surface than they had been before the war, he needed to be careful.
“M-my mother?” Erza asked slowly as she tried hard to remain strong and in control of her emotions, but Natsu could already smell the tears that Erza was holding back.
He knew Erza hadn’t seen her mother in over five years, and there really wasn’t much he could tell her. “She’s with Belserion, I saw her recently, and she’s doing well. She’s in charge of all the remaining dragon slayers,” Natsu told her with a reassuring smile.
“The war is mostly over, but there is a faction of renegade dragon slayers that are still fighting us,” Natsu explained as best he could, knowing Erza needed answers perhaps almost as much as Gray himself. “Most of the remaining dragons have been relocated, but the slayers are with them to help fight against any possible surprise attacks. Our stronger fighters are trying to remove the renegades magic so they’ll cease to be a threat. Only then can we all finally come home.”
Erza relaxed visibly, and Natsu took a moment to really look at her. She looked a bit older, but something about her had changed. Did she look... happy?
“You look different, these years have been good to you,” Natsu complimented honestly.
Erza’s cheeks crimsoned, and she punched Natsu on the shoulder, making him laugh. “I got married,” she mumbled.
“You what?” Natsu asked in mock shock, wanting to tease her a bit. He’d missed Erza and all his other friends, even Lyon, whom he knew he owed a great debt to. “Who’d be crazy enough to marry you?”
“That would be me,” Lyon replied dryly.
“Finally made a move, huh? I’m glad, I always thought you two would be good together,” Natsu smiled at them.
So Lyon had finally managed to get his act together, good for him. He felt a stab of jealousy at the two of them for having it so easy, but he didn’t really mean it. Natsu was glad they had found happiness in each other, it was all he’d ever wanted for himself and Gray. He was sick of fighting and hiding. He just wanted the life Igneel had always told him he could have, but it was outside of his reach.
“Does Gray know you’re back yet?” Erza asked, ignoring her husband completely, “He’s been miserable ever since you left, you know.”
Natsu deflated, his guilt surfacing once again. He’d done that to Gray. “Uhm, no. I was just about to knock when Lyon got here. What’s going on today, anyway? It looks like you guys are setting up for something.”
“Remember that festival we were going to have to boost morale a few years ago?” Natsu nodded, and Erza continued, “We’re having it today. A festival for the red dragon who has become our town’s protector. It was the kids’ idea, and we decided to humor them.”
Natsu was shaken and also incredibly touched. “A red dragon?”
“Yeah, even Gray tolerates him, if you can believe that,” Erza laughed, “I never thought I’d see the day when that would be possible. Lyon calls him Gray’s guardian dragon. Anyway, we’ll have to catch up later, Lyon, and I need to supervise the setup. Tell Gray he can have the day off.”
Erza waved as she walked away, dragging Lyon behind her. He hadn’t stopped glaring at Natsu for a second, and now Natsu was back to staring at the door. He heard a noise and was keenly aware that Gray was standing on the other side. He took a deep breath and hoped for the best.
“Gray?” Natsu called out, “Can we talk?”
“Go away, Natsu,” Gray replied from the other side of the door, his voice sounding muted. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“I--I don’t have a lot of time,” Natsu answered truthfully, “Please, can we talk?”
“The only way you’re coming in is if you promise to tell me the truth,” Gray said firmly, “No more running away.”
Natsu remained silent, considering the things that Lyon and Erza had just told him about how his mate had been doing in his absence and adding them to what he already knew.
“If you can’t agree to that, then you might as well go, cause I’m done.”
Natsu could hear him walking away from the door, and with a sinking heart, he realized Gray was serious. It was worse than he had feared, he wasn’t running out of time, he was entirely out.
As he stood there, thinking about what he wanted to do, he felt it. Anger, sadness, worry, confusion, hurt, it was all coming from Gray, and Natsu made his decision at long last. It was time. He couldn’t knowingly hurt his mate, it wasn’t just his instincts screaming at him anymore, it was the right thing to do.
Okay, you win. Natsu addressed Gray in his mind. Just please let me in.
The door opened after a few moments, and Natsu stepped inside, instantly soothed by the way everything smelled of Gray. It helped to calm his frayed nerves, and even though he knew the conversation was doomed before it started, he stubbornly held on to the hope that Gray might understand.
A lot had changed inside the apartment. Natsu supposed it made sense, Gray would have wanted to make it his own once Lyon had moved out. He followed Gray to a couch in his living room and sat down, taking a moment to examine the apartment. This could have been their life. A little place just like this somewhere, where they could leave everything behind and just love each other. It was all he’d ever wanted, and they’d only had it briefly.
Natsu felt the need to touch Gray somehow, to hold his hand or hug him, but he could see from the way Gray looked like he was about to snap at any moment that it wasn’t a good idea. This wasn’t about him anyway, this was about finally giving Gray what he needed regardless of consequences.
“What would you like to know?” Natsu asked somberly, his eyes darting to examine Gray’s before looking back down at his hands.
“Everything. What’s going on? Why did you leave last year and why did you wait a whole year to come back? Are you in danger? What happened in the war?” Gray kept asking question after question, barely breathing before adding more to the growing list.
“Can you slow down? I can’t remember all of those,” Natsu interrupted him, already lost amidst all the questions.
Gray stared at him, his midnight blue eyes boring into Natsu with a gravity they’d never held before, “Just tell me the truth.”
Natsu wasn’t at all surprised to realize he was more scared at this moment that he’d ever been while facing Acnologia.
He thought about all the things he could say, but there was really only one thing Gray needed to know to decide whether he was done with him or could find it within himself to accept Natsu as he was.
He sighed and began, “I told you the truth a long time ago, but you didn’t believe me.”
Gray wrinkled his brow and remained quiet for a while, trying to figure it out on his own, but ultimately he looked at Natsu blankly, “What are you talking about?”
Natsu’s heart throbbed with the need to touch Gray’s face one last time, but he knew he didn’t have that right any longer. He wasn’t ready for it to be over, he never would be. The thought was so overwhelming that his tears flowed before he ever had a chance to stop them causing Gray’s armor to chink just enough to reveal his concern and fear.
“Natsu, please, just tell me,” Gray reached for him and wrapped him in a tight embrace, rubbing circles on Natsu’s back and kissing his head before releasing him.
“I’m a dragon,” Natsu said quietly.
“Not this again,” Gray protested, instantly annoyed, “I thought you were taking this seriously.”
“Gray, I’m a dragon,” Natsu repeated more forcefully, “The day we met, your scent called to me, and I flew off in your direction. I was caught in the tree cause I changed back in mid-air and fell.”
“This is stupid, and I’m not laughing,” Gray replied stubbornly.
“Igneel and Atlas aren’t my dragons, “ Natsu continued in a monotone, “They’re my father and uncle. My mother was a woman by the name of Porlyusica, she was a healer in this town. I was never a dragon slayer, I only pretended that to be able to hide among the others. I had my magic before, remember?”
“Don’t do this!” Gray yelled, covering his ears, “If you want to go, just say so, but don’t fucking lie to me! Not about this.”
“Gods, I should have never hidden it from you, I just-- I love you so much, and I was so tired of being alone,” Natsu couldn’t really continue talking any longer, the force of the anger and resistance to his words destroying him. So he communicated the rest of what he wanted to say through their bond. I’m so sorry, I never meant to hurt you.
“NO, I refuse to believe it,” Gray’s voice shook as he demanded, “Prove it. If you’re really a dragon, show me.”
“Alright,” Natsu replied, shoulders slumped in defeat as he stood up. He moved to the kitchen where there was a door that led to a small back yard with Gray following behind him silently.
He opened the door and made his way outside, not wanting to destroy Gray’s home on top of everything else. Once he changed back, he had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to return to his human form again until the following year, but Natsu owed it to Gray to show him the whole truth.
He called on the familiar magic to change himself back, but nothing happened. Natsu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Just like when they were young, he wasn’t able to change in front of his mate.
He kept trying, feeling Gray’s eyes on him, and he wanted to scream at the injustice of the situation. He was trying to do the right thing, and whatever magic had changed him into his human self would not let go, and probably wouldn’t until sunset.
“I can’t,” Natsu finally accepted defeat, “I won’t be able to until the sun sets, something to do with the ethernano in the air.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why the hell would I lie about this?” Natsu snapped, lashing out at Gray in his frustration, “Do you think this is easy for me?”
He tried to think of how else he could prove to Gray that he was speaking the truth and with increasing dread realized there was still one last truth left to tell. One that he had conveniently forgotten, and regardless of how his mate felt about dragons, this truth was not one that would be easily forgiven.
Gray remained where he was, arms crossed in front of his chest as he leaned against the building’s exterior wall.
Natsu bowed his head as he tried to work his courage up to do what he had to. He called some fire to his hand, wanting to make sure he had access to his magic before he made an even bigger fool of himself. His hand was soon covered in flames, and he quickly released them.
He thought about the spell he’d learned from Atlas, the one they’d been using on the renegade dragon slayers after they withdrew their magic. It removed their memories of ever having had magic. It was a nicety of sorts, but Natsu had used it for a much different purpose. One designed to protect not only Gray and the truth he hadn’t been able to handle back then, but himself as well.
It had the unexpected side effect of allowing Natsu to spend time with Gray as a dragon, which had been a double-edged sword. In the end, he’d only been postponing the inevitable. He should have just stayed away as his father had suggested. He thought about telling Gray that he was the red dragon that he’d spent time with but decided not to. Maybe that way, Gray would at least have some good memories of him.
“Gray, there’s one last thing I have to do,” Natsu said as he slowly walked towards his mate.
“Last thing?” Gray scoffed, “What are you talking about, we haven’t even started talking yet. You promised to give me answers.”
“I know, I’m about to,” Natsu replied, standing in front of Gray and looking at the love of his life one last time. “I need to touch your forehead.”
Gray shrugged, not giving the request much importance. He stood still as Natsu placed his left hand on his forehead and began chanting a spell, Natsu’s fingertips glowed with a bluish light.A small blue magic circle appeared in the air, instantly sinking into Gray’s head, entering his brain and unlocking the memories that Natsu had kept contained.
“What’s this?” Gray sounded confused but soon remained quiet as he slowly started to recover the memories Natsu had kept from him. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and Natsu had no chance to feel anything through their bond as Gray immediately punched him in the stomach as hard as he could manage, knocking the wind out of him. Natsu fell to his knees with a thud.
“You fucking bastard!” Gray yelled in outrage.
Natsu couldn’t find it in himself to protest. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Gray asked, eyes wide in disbelief and body tensed in an obvious struggle to restrain himself, “Get out.”
“But Gray--”
“GET OUT!” Gray screeched, quickly molding an ice blade and getting into an attack stance.
Natsu got himself up and nodded, making his way to the door. He looked back one last time to find Gray staring back at him, face still composed, but Natsu could see the cracks in the hard lines of his features.
He couldn’t remember ever feeling this worthless before. He’d managed to break Gray’s heart and, in doing so, broken his own as well. Natsu opened the door and closed it silently behind him, hurrying to let himself out of the apartment and Gray’s life forever.
He would leave in the morning. It was time to go after Acnologia. With him gone, the rest of the renegades should fall easily. Natsu would free the dragons or get himself killed in the process. He was okay with either outcome.
A/N: I wrote most of this chapter over a year ago, it seems crazy that it was that long ago! When I was plotting out this story I had a bunch of sources of inspiration. Much of Gray’s personality in this story (as well as some of the events) is inspired by the song I Don’t Care by Apocalyptica. I’ve always liked this song but it just clicked for me for this story, if you’ve never heard it give it a listen. Natsu’s song will be in the next chapter although I think many fans of this ship might have already figured out what it is. (I’d love to hear guesses in the comments :) )
Although Gray kicked him out this is obviously not the end of their story, I promised you a happy ending and there will be one, but having your memories taken from you is a horrible betrayal no matter how good your reasons might have been at the time. Bright side, Gray is getting his memories back, so expect to get a little more insight into things that happened between them in the next chapter which should be up next Saturday.
@ao3feed-gratsu​
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