#(plus i need to get furniture cuz as it stands the place is really quite empty and bare except for like my room and the kitchen)

[phantomrose96]

So I know this isn't anything that like actually needs an apology but it'll make me feel a bit better to say it. Oof whoops this ABoT chapter is super late. Timing kinda sucks since I wanted to have some updates out while s3 was airing but

Been kinda mega busy and stressed since October with the whole condo buying thing which rolled right into immediate day 0 plumbing and boiler issues I had to get fixed and general moving hassle and financial commitment stress and I kinda just fried myself hard. Plus then acclimating to a new place without my familiar street or familiar grocery store or familiar room or any of that. Like there's no "just go home and take your mind off it" to this cuz home is the "it". So I'm just kinda enduring until I can calm the hell down.

And anyway I definitely have progress on ch47, like 7000-ish words of it, but it's the kind of like "there is writing there" and hasn't exactly hit the "there is substance there" that I want ABoT chapters to be. Like this in particular is a chapter I want to be good, not just be done. So it's taking time to get my brain somewhere that can do that.

[tyxoxo]

One Night Only - V.

ch.4, m.list

Jeno x fem!reader series

Genre: slow burn, fuckboy!jeno, enemies to lovers/hate fucking fwb! bookstore jeno → model jeno au, 00’ dream + mark + jun (seventeen) character inserts

Words: 1.9k

Warnings: pure filth, jeno is mean, cocky, stubborn, this relationship is extremely toxic (i dont condone, this is pure fiction)

tagging: @sukistrawberry @mingiandbaconjam @baecobies @produmads

a/n: guys this chapter was going so well and then i just hit a dead end (darn writers block >.<) i will attach a link to a piece i cut from the final draft cuz i felt like it was boring and messed with the pacing :))

Chapter 5

Renjun was still expecting an answer. His jaw clenched as he saw you reach for your chopsticks and grab a piece of food without another word.

You didn’t want the rest of the hangout to be awkward just because you lacked an explanation.

But you needed a couple more seconds to come up with a response, plus you were quite hungry.

“I was just curious is all.”

“Yeah, suuure.” Renjun’s drawn out annoyance had a hint of lightheartedness, much to your relief.

“He hasn’t seemed to scare you off yet. You must really like it there.”

“Hmm?” Your mouth was too full to make a comment of inquiry.

Renjun shook his head with a smile as the two of you continued your meal in comfortable silence.

~

The optical illusions museum was a nice change of pace for an off day. Not too much out of your comfort zone, but enough to keep your brain stimulated.

The two of you were currently in a liminal space of sorts, an Ames room with furniture to boot. Renjun looked awfully tiny on the couch in the upper corner whilst you looked gigantic next to a standing lamp in the opposite corner. Passerbys stopped every once in a while to view the two of you move around the small area.

“I wish they had a camera to take a shot of this and print it out for us.” Renjun said as he stomped along the floor to touch the other props placed in the room.

“Just ask someone to take a picture for us. I’m sure they will.”

“Good idea!”

You leaned against the yellow painted wall as you watched him skip out to ask a stranger who happily agreed. In those few seconds you had the idea to check your phone, not really understanding why you were expecting something from him.

The two of you had never exchanged messages before; the only reason you had each other's numbers was that Mark insisted on it in case of call-ins.

“You ready?” Renjun hopped back over to his favorite spot, the couch. You got back in the corner and aided in an awkward pose as the elderly lady snapped a few pictures with a smile.

Once she was done, the both of you bowed in thanks as Renjun retrieved his phone.

You hovered over his shoulders to view the pictures, both giggling at the results.

“I’ll send you these later okay?”

“Sounds go-”

You were interrupted by a call that popped up on Renjun’s screen…

Caller id: Jeno

Embarrassingly enough, your heart dropped.

Renjun accepted it but remained close enough for you to hear the other end of the line.

“Dude…I just got an email from a Seoul Fashion Week associate!”

This much excitement was unheard of.

“Woah, really?!” Renjun jumped slightly, disregarding his inside voice.

“I read through it like five fucking times. I guess they want me to audition for LIE?”

“That’s the one I was hoping for!”

“Let me finish! It’s in 2 weeks, at the Dong…dae..mun Design Plaza.”

You found it oddly endearing how he slowed his reading to make sure he pronounced the name of the plaza correctly. Though, you mentally shamed yourself for using that favorable of a word to describe his comprehension skills.

“Okay but still! They probably want you to bring a bunch of stuff. Did it say? Y’know what, nevermind! We can discuss it later when I get home.” Renjun rushed, knowing you were standing closeby, but you didn’t mind.

“Where are you anyways?” Jeno asked, seemingly eating cereal based on the crunching and tapping of his spoon in the background.

“I’m at that optical illusions museum I told you about.”

You blessed Renjun at the fact that he spared mentioning you were there, even though it was much deeper than that.

“With who? You’re too lame to go by yourself.”

With a look of regret towards you, Renjun mouthed a “sorry” before spilling your name.

You slammed your eyes shut, waiting for his presumed dickhead response.

That still didn’t prepare you.

The familiar disconnect tone rang through both of your ears.

It was uncalled for.

“What the hell?” Renjun’s voice was far from calm, baffled by the “Call Ended”. You knew exactly why he hung up, but Renjun sure didn’t.

It was best if it stayed that way.

“We should move, I think there’s some people that want to get in here.” Your tone of voice had dropped to that of disappointment but you spoke quickly to distract Renjun, who was on his way to call him back.

Planning an escape would be ideal.

Was he unsatisfied about last night? Disgusted? Appalled?

These were the questions that became of justified interest; yet you weren’t guaranteed an answer, even if your life depended on it.

What made it worse, was that you would have to see him again at work tomorrow, if he didn’t call in.

“Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

Renjun snapped you out of your inner monologue, eyes scanning your face for a reaction.

“I’m fine. I know you need to go help Jeno. We can meet again later.”

“Well wait a second! We still have 2 more sections left to look at!” Renjun pointed back towards the art pieces that were indeed waiting to be seen. But based on the impending catatonia that was bound to erupt out of you, there was no patience left in you to stay here.

“No, it’s fine. I know this is a big deal and you need plenty of time to prepare. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

You turned on your heels and walked towards the exit, leaving Renjun in the middle of the crowd.

There was definitely something he was missing, and he had to figure it out.

~

“Jeno, I’m homee!” Renjun’s voice rang through their apartment as he took off his shoes by the door.

He heard the flush of a toilet and running faucet water, assuming Jeno was busy in the bathroom.

“The museum was super cool! You would’ve liked it.” Renjun spoke low, trying his hardest to gauge Jeno’s body language as he appeared out of the bathroom.

“Mm.” Jeno didn’t bother making eye contact, instead plopping on the living room couch to view the emails on his laptop with the most horrid sitting posture.

Noted.

Renjun joined him on the couch, leaning in to adjust his eyes to the tiny font.

“Okay so let’s go over this again.” Renjun said as he quickly scanned the email for anything Jeno could’ve missed.

“They need you to bring a physical portfolio, ID, aaaand, that's it. They’ll supply you with clothes and makeup for the audition.”

“Duh, that’s what it says.” Jeno spoke matter-of-factly, obviously annoyed.

“I’m just trying to gather all this info, no need to have an attitude… jeez.”

“We have time to gather everything. I’m gonna head out.” Jeno slammed his laptop shut on the coffee table and rose from the couch. Renjun immediately took note again:

Distancing.

“Okay you sounded so excited earlier. Now you don’t give a shit? What’s the deal here?” Renjun got up from the couch, purposefully blocking Jeno’s view of the front door. He was beginning to get hot-tempered, oddly matching his best friend's habitual energy.

“All I said is that we have time! You automatically think I’m disinterested now?”

“This is a big deal, and you’re blowing it off! Don’t come to me pissed off if no one ends up wanting you!”

Renjun tried his best to fight back a lip quiver, somewhat apologetic for saying such a statement.

Jeno froze. Eyes stinging and anger brewing.

There was an uncomfortable pause. One where Renjun considered asking if there was missing a puzzle piece to you and Jeno’s madness.

Before he could commit, Jeno grabbed his keys and phone off the coffee table and shoved past Renjun, slamming the front door shut on his way out.

~

Jeno already knew where to go to get away from Renjun.

The subway ride felt like a drag, but he found himself staring off into space; eyes nowhere near a female like usual.

Jeno experienced déjà vu, realizing he was in Hongdae.

But he wasn’t here for you. He was here to see Haechan and Jaemin, to take his mind off the overstimulation present in his life. He needed something boring, for once.

2:32pm

[jeno]: im on my way up

[haechan]: kk

Jeno shook his head, the way it never failed for Haechan to make him cringe with the use of “k.”

Jaemin was the one to open the door. Stopping in his tracks at the sight of him.

“You look like you just got laid. How do you feel? Better I hope?” Jaemin’s devious grin paired well with his bizarre observation.

“Whatever.” Jeno scoffed as he took off his shoes near the door and made his way to the kitchen.

“No, I’m serious. Who was it this time?” Jaemin followed behind, eager to hear Jeno’s storytelling, as it was something he was always good at.

Instead, Jeno made headway towards the pizza box sitting on their kitchen island, not even bothering to ask for a slice.

“Sooo…?”

“Don’t make me leave.” Jeno took a bite out of the pepperoni pizza, chewing rather savagely.

“Can I make a few guesses?”

“No.”

“Oh wait, I think I know who.” Jaemin’s cheshire grin grew even wider at his own speculation.

“It’s that chick you work with isn’t it?” This time Haechan chimed in, making his first appearance from his own bedroom.

“Y’know, I came over here hoping to relax, not play 20 questions.” Jeno finished the slice within their sentences, grabbing another and dragging his feet to their living room.

“We knew it. Sorry.” Jaemin followed again, sitting next to him on the couch.

“I’m guessing it went terrible, based on the fact you’re not saying much.” Haechan said as he grabbed the remote to turn to a scary movie, Jeno’s favorite, hoping to cheer him up from his “awful” experience.

If only they knew it was the complete opposite.

You were absolutely amazing, he thought.

He just didn’t want to share that. And to gloat about you, felt unnatural unlike the others.

If he could keep you to himself, he would. No one else needed to know.

“Well there’s plenty of them left out there.” Jaemin patted Jeno on his back, feeling smug that his friend felt comfortable enough to come around.

They had everything misunderstood, but maybe it could stay that way.

~

11:25pm

You were being suffocated by your thoughts.

To think you were replaying the events of last night again, made you somewhat nauseous.

Jeno. Naked. You. Naked.

How he rearranged your guts in the most filthy way possible.

But it was everything you wanted. And more.

It wasn’t often you were faced with the dilemma of grabbing your phone and staring at your contacts, contemplating communication; finger hovering over his name.

Before you could even take a breath, a dropdown notification covered the upper half of your screen:

“jeno”

It wasn’t even a text. The obnoxious ringtone being the only indication to snap you out of your disbelief.

If this was “pre-fuck” Jeno, you would’ve let it go to voicemail.

Your trembling thumb tapped the green phone symbol, opting to hear him talk first.

“Probably wasn’t expecting me huh?”

His voice was still just as cocky, with a sneer to go along with his mixed signals.

[cut part]

[ushidoux]

False Intimacy - Oikawa x Reader

Summary: You’re an escort that is quite good at her job but one particular client happens to catch you a bit off guard. (~1.9k words)

Warnings: minors dni, nsfw, fem pronouns, fem!reader, escort!reader, implied dom/sub dynamics, hurt/comfort

A/N: Ngl I was gonna write mean dom oikawa just cuz and then it got ~deep~ i’m sorry lmao

---

It was a colder night than usual in Buenos Aires, or maybe it was just the slight chill that ran up your spine when you remembered your client’s phone call just a couple of hours ago.

Please arrive at 8 pm sharp. I’m not a fan of tardy people~

His voice was honeyed before he cut off the phone abruptly - smooth and sweet as though masking some unpalatable part of his personality you hadn’t quite detected. 

Not that you would put your guard down anyway; most of the men you dealt with, either the extraordinarily rich, terribly famous, or some wretched combination of the two, were in some way dangerous. They all seemed to thrive on the same idea: that they had some power over others, and this could manifest in anything ranging from bratty behavior to a god complex.

But you could deal with these things well, you had been in the business for long enough. Oikawa Tooru was no problem.

He must have watched you arrive because the moment you stepped before his hotel room, taking a moment to adjust your hair and check on your makeup in a compact mirror before knocking, you heard the door swing open.

“You follow directions. Delightful,” he almost whispered, a sly smile on his face, shrouded in dark due to the paucity of light generated from a single lamp in his hotel room.

Had he been waiting, or was it the fact that he knew you wouldn’t disobey him?

You nodded.

“I’m quite compliant when I want to be,” you emphasized, in the sultry voice you reserve for meetings like this.

Oikawa’s smirk grew even wider. Hook, line and sinker. 

With the lack of continuation to your opening banter, you now started to wonder why he wasn’t moving; his frame, larger than you had expected in person, lingered in the doorway, seemingly blocking it and he made no indication of letting you inside. 

This was strange. Usually, it didn’t take long for your clients to undress you and have their way, at the very least a quickie before you actually went out with them, especially if they were having you meet first before the venue. There was a pause where you took a deep breath, trying your best not to look as disconcerted as you felt. What was he doing?

Oikawa was still staring at you, but not in the way your other patrons ogled you as though you were a piece of meat, nothing more than a purchased pussy. He stared at you with greed as though you were the most precious item in a set, and he were preparing to introduce his prized collection to a waiting crowd.

If it were an attempt to fluster you, you had to admit that he was close.

But not quite.

“Shall we advance to our location then?” You asked, sweetly. 

There was something like a snort that he made, derisive and slightly maddening. You raised an eyebrow reflexively, but instead gave him a wide, somewhat vapid smile. 

Good customer service. Men like him love power.

“Oh, are we planning to be fashionably late, Mr. Oikawa?” You said, tapping a finger to your lip and furrowing your eyebrows as though you were trying oh so very hard to think. 

“We’ll get there when we get there,” he replied. To your relief, he did finally lead you into the hotel room, into a wide suite that illuminated upon the clap of his hands, revealing a modern open plan setup with white on white furniture, fully glass windows that gazed onto the city skyline and bossa nova playing quietly from a speaker. You had barely heard the music it since you had been so focused on him.

Knowing that he was not a native of this country, you considered teasing him to re-stabilize power dynamics.

“This is Argentina, not Brazil, you know,” you teased, as you gently set yourself down on the edge of his couch.

He was the one to raise an eyebrow this time, as he circled around the bar island across from the living room.

“I mean about the music,” you said, with a soft laugh. He smiled.

“Of course.”

A pop of a wine bottle opening disrupted the tension between you two even further, and you crossed and uncrossed your legs with mild discomfort while watching him pour two glasses of red wine for the two of you.

“What’s your name again, darling? I have awful manners,” he said. 

You had the impression he was lying, but still you repeated your name for him.

“It’s a beautiful name,” he crooned as he handed you your drink.

---

If it weren’t for the fact that you’d watched him like a hawk as he poured out your glass of wine, you would have thought that he’d drugged you.

But you weren’t exactly drunk - not in the typical sense, but there was an altering of the senses that seemed to overcome you as the night progressed. Between the flashes of the camera as party guests filed in, a particularly lavish dinner, drinks, and a too-short dance where Oikawa literally whisked you off your feet, you were starting to feel less professional and more… needy. 

You guarded your heart well normally, so this was a new feeling for you, the sudden overwhelming need to fulfill your contract in the fullest. 

Quite frankly, by the time you had made it back into his private car, you were absolutely itching to be fucked. It didn’t help that Oikawa had grown comfortable enough over time with you to place the palm of his hand on your bare knee, his fingertips grazing your inner thigh.

He wasn’t looking at you by now, but your eyes were absolutely transfixed on him. He was talking on the phone quietly in an even Japanese, as though you weren’t even there, and by the sound of his soft laughter, his conversation must have been pleasant. 

The little bit of warmth between your legs as his hand suddenly moved up your thigh and then back down could only be called distressing.

---

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

Did you or are you? The fact that he was asking this, while kneeling between your legs, slender fingers gripped on both sides of your shaking legs, and licking slow, languid strokes from the opening of your vagina to your clit made it unfair for him to expect you to answer.

His kisses were slow in between questions and through waves of pleasure as his lips pressed against your privates, you managed to eke out a “yes.”

It felt wrong to be feeling like this, inappropriate as though you were using him rather than him using you. As his tongue dipped into your center, you even dared to let out a soft moan, which only encouraged him to plunge in deeper, tightening his hold on you as you threatened to clamp your legs shut.

“Calm down,” he ended up growling suddenly, and your stomach stirred with excitement. A sound so animalistic didn’t sound fitting for a man as elegant and soft-looking as him. In an attempt to mollify the sudden tension he could feel permeating your entire body in anxiety, he whispered, “Don’t worry, you’ll return the favor soon enough. Plus, you taste delicious.”

Your heart fluttered.

Once he’d savored you to his fill, he rose to stand between your legs, inserting those same meticulous fingers into your pussy before leaning over to transfer the taste of your own fluids to your lips.

How can he be so tender to a stranger? You thought briefly, as you melted into his kiss. You were getting carried away, down in dangerous, dangerous territory.

His hands kept working as his tongue teased yours.

Shifting quickly from pussy to the mounds of your breasts, his hands continued to massage your body while your lips remained locked, until he maneuvered himself on top of you. A warm, hard cock laid pressed against your belly and his, igniting more fire between you.

Put it in, put it in, your body seemed to scream, but you knew better than to demand. You’re here to deliver fantasies, not indulge in one, even if Oikawa did not seem to get the memo.

He made your toes curl and your spine curve before flipping you over so that you lay atop of him.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, looking up at you as sincerely as one does an old lover. It was at this moment that you found yourself leaning forward to initiate the kiss before stopping yourself.

Distance was needed desperately. Remember, this was not a man who loved you.

You broke your demure act (which wasn’t really much of an act anymore) to pull back gently against the weight of his amorous stare, and slid downwards so that you could wrap your lips around his cock instead.

A blowjob is much less intimate, you told yourself. But you didn’t jump quite to that immediately.

Steadying your hand, now trembling almost as much as your heart was (what the hell was going on?), around his readied shaft, you glided your hand back and forth, aided by a few drops of precum leaking from the head and a generous amount of spit. You focused on his well-developed abs, not his eyes that were squeezing shut and the pretty mouth that groaned softly with every movement.

He was entirely too pretty for his, or your own good.

Why not a real partner? You wondered for a moment who you were standing in for. He touched you all too tenderly to be someone who cavorted casually. 

Even as you took him in your mouth, and his fingers made their way into your hair, tugging gently and praising you for how good you worked him up, bobbing your head up and down like the expect you were, you found yourself wondering. 

You took him deep enough to the point that you had to suppress a gag a couple times, and feeling the tightening of his grasp of your locks, you knew you did a good job.

“Fuck, baby, just like that.”

You considered maybe getting him to finish like this, in your mouth, so that you could go on your merry way and get as far away from this man that was already getting in your head as soon as possible, but he was pushing you off of him gently before you could get far enough. You ended up under him yet again, faster than you could bear.

His cock nudging its way against your folds on its way to your entrance made you shudder, and then he pushed inside you with another groan that was disgustingly beautiful.

Every thrust inside you felt like heaven but twisted; it felt far too self indulgent the way he wrapped his arms around you as his hips rolled against yours. He moaned your name, the name he asked for just hours ago, too familiarly as though he’d known you for a decade. The rhythmic slap of his skin against yours was hypnotic and you almost ascended as his arms raise your legs to dig into you deeper.

It’s too intimate, far from transactional, the explosive way you came around his cock, clawing at his markless back as you writhed around him, riding the wave of your orgasm. He pulled himself into a sitting position as you came, carrying you with him and holding you tightly as he followed shortly after. 

You could feel his cock twitch inside you.

And finally, you swore you could hear the name of the person he truly loved mumbled into the crook of your neck.

In response, you cling to him just a little bit longer.

[weiamilikethis]

Yes, My Lady

Genre: Fantasy (I guess?? Like low-key I have no idea what this is)

Word Count: 2,447

A/N: I wrote it awhile ago for another thing I was doing but cut it off cuz I couldn’t keep up with it. So here is an extremely cut down version just for Kogyeol. Honestly, it’s kind of hard for me NOT to see him as a butler and I just love the concept as a whole (plus, TOP media has a thing for sticking the boys in suits and it’s just... it’s a beautiful thing)

 - Admin Ania 

The room was dark and spacious. It fit a king-sized bed and all its antique glory, a rather large mahogany desk near one of the tall windows, a smallish living room set up and then the bathroom. In the bed, moving under the sheets slowly, the outline of a sleeping figure could be seen.

All the curtains were drawn, the only light that could be seen came from the hallway, which made its way into the room under the door. The silence was crushing while the darkness consumed the room. The furniture looked as though it was distorted and almost human like if one were to squint hard enough. Near the door, a wood burning fire place breathed the last of its life and let go with a puff of grey smoke.

After a few moments, the wooden door opened slowly and quietly. A tall, thin and lean figure walked into the room, making their way to the curtains. The butler of the house, as it were, was tasked with everything and anything that concerned the figure under the sheets. He moved through the dark with ease, his tailcoat swung gently behind him as he walked to the window directly across from the bed.

“My, my, my. How can you still be asleep?”

His voice was soft and low, as he didn’t want to disturb the figure just yet. While he reached up towards the curtains the clock in the room struck at quarter to ten. The butler quickly opened the curtains, the light of the morning flooded into the room and landed directly on the bed where the figure was.

His black suit looking darker as he stepped into the light, his face was covered by shadows. A light clicking sound could be heard from the shoes the butler wore as they walked over to the bed. The footsteps stopped at the right side, a white-gloved hand was pressed gently on the covers where the figure was asleep.

“Young mistress. Time to get up.”

Under the sheets the body moved slightly and soon a muffled sound could be heard. The butler went back to opening the curtains as the sheets began to stir. Finally a head of long, sleek black hair popped up from the covers. The owner of the house yawned, rubbing her eyes like a child would then sighed heavily. She had stayed up later than what was probably necessary last night, which meant that today would be more challenging.

“Come now my lady, that’s no way to wake up on such a fine day as this.”

The butler walked back over to her. He placed his gloved hands on the girl’s shoulders gently and had her sit up. Once he was sure she wouldn’t fall back, he walked across the room towards the closet.

“Minsoo, I’m tired. Why did you wake me up so early?”

A small chuckle escaped as he pulled out a black shirt, light blue crop jeans and a white button-down shirt. The French doors that lead to the closet closed with a small click as Minsoo brought the girl her clothes. He knelt on one side of the bed as she swung her legs out from under the warm covers.

“My lady Y/N, it is almost quarter to ten in the morning. It’s not incredibly early.”

The girl glanced at the clock and sure enough her butler was right: as per usual. She handed him a blindfold, which he took and tied around his eyes. If anything, Minsoo made sure not to let things slip. Many times, he could have gone without the blind fold but because his position was that of a butler, it would be highly improper of him. Moreover, Minsoo was a respectable butler and never allowed for anyone to see Y/N without clothing; that included himself for the matter.

“Mr. Kim will be arriving at twelve to discuss the next step in building the factory. In the meantime, I’ve prepared breakfast for you.”

By now, he had taken the blindfold off for he was adjusting her clothing which did not require such a garment over his eyes. As he straightened out the collar of the button-down shirt the clock struck nine fifty-five; it was time to get going. He stood up gracefully, holding out his hand for Y/N to take. She gladly accepted it, the soft touch of the white gloves he wore over his hands made her smile. It was something that made Minsoo more charming and for a moment she could forget that he was a demon.

The two walked down the long hallway, their footsteps were muffled from the carpet covering the floor. Minsoo talked to her calmly about what the day would look like and what time everything would be happening. She listened closely to times and names but not the exact events. There was no need to remember such things because the names explain what she needed to know and he would take care of the rest for her.

When they entered the dining room at the end of the hall, what the two found was something else. Minsoo didn’t show much of an expression but Y/N knew that burn marks on the table wasn’t what he had in mind. The food was also not on the table even though he had placed it there prior to waking her up. There were no fumes coming from the butler; he ran his left hand through his longish blond hair. He took a deep breath then called for the three bumbling, but very sweet and loving, idiots who screwed up the meal.

“Wei! Wooshin! Yeol!”

Minsoo’s voice was not strict, nor was it soft when he called out the three boys. It was authoritative mostly. When they heard the footsteps of the three coming out from the kitchen, he knew what they were doing. They stood on the left side of the two at attention with a stiff solute before letting it go once Y/N bowed. She took one look at the three of them before speaking in a very calm, collected voice.

“Gentlemen, can you tell me what happened here?”

“We were trying to help out Minsoo. He seemed like he could use it, not saying that he’s incapable but everyone needs help at one point or another.”

“Xiao is right. My lady, we wanted to make something for you as well as what Kogyeol had out but…”

“Clearly, we failed to deliver.”

Y/N sighed but never the less had them stop bowing their heads, it wasn’t good for moral. Wei bowed once more for good measure before turning to the left to clean up the kitchen. Wooshin headed toward the hallway so that he could go do the yard work while Xiao stayed behind. He was the official right hand for both Minsoo and Y/N, which meant that the job would never be done until both found that they did not need him for the moment. He went over to stand next to the chair at the end of the table while Minsoo rubbed his temple with his hand.

Y/N waited for him to gain his full composure before she made her way to the chair in front of her. She paused as Minsoo pulled the chair out for her, making no sound even with the polished wood floors. Her feet made no noise; her socks muffled any sound that could have been made, as she took her seat. He pushed in her chair with ease, walked to the right side of her and picked up the teapot. A fine China cup sat on a saucer, the gold rim shined in the sunlight that came through the large windows.

As he poured the tea, smoke floated off of the surface of the liquid and came into contact with the soft skin of Y/N’s cheek. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes to take in the smell. Minsoo glanced over at her as he finished pouring the tea.

“Jasmine: warm and welcoming like you. It will make a good match for what I prepared.”

“Hm…”

Sometimes he would allow himself to say such things to her and other times he would bite his tongue. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy saying such things; rather it was quite the opposite. If he had the mind and order to speak to his lady in such a way, as he so pleased, it would make him happy. Being a demon, there really isn’t much time for happiness or any kind of emotion at all. Rather, one is supposed to be as fun as a rock and as loving as a shark when they’re a demon. Minsoo was one of the few exceptions seeing as he wasn’t always one to begin with.

Speaking of his lady, her face was hidden behind a book. Reading was a pastime for her that could give out any other kind of world to her for at least awhile before she had to come back to her own. He noticed she was reading a horror novel this time; she seemed to enjoy the scary aspect of the stories. The sunlight caught her hair, turning it a light brown with a few golden and red strands making their appearance.

A small hint of a smile crossed his lips as he set a plate down in front of her. She glanced over the top of her book to see what breakfast would be today. Zongzi: steamed sticky rice with filling in it and wrapped in bamboo leaves. Her personal favorite was filled with pork and luckily Minsoo knew what she loved and what she didn’t. She set her book down and thanked him while he gave her a bowl made from the outer shell of a dragon fruit that had the pulp cut into small cubes. The final touch was highly condensed mint water, which he had spent two days making. He bowed before heading off to the kitchen to fix the mess that had been made by the three idiots.

Xiao was still standing at her side as she ate quietly. The only sound that could be heard was the clock in the corner and the faint rush of water from the kitchen sink. He watched her carefully in silence and when he was sure that Minsoo was not within earshot he cleared his throat. Y/N dabbed the corner of her mouth with the white cloth napkin and looked up at Xiao. He waited for her to say something or make a gesture for him to sit down across from her. She nodded her head to the seat on her right. Once he sat down he put on a very blunt expression that Y/N noticed.

“Yes Yeol?”

“My lady, what exactly is Minsoo to you?”

“You’ve asked me this question before and I always give the same answer because it is true. Go Minsoo is my butler.”

Xiao nodded his head, but it was clear that he was thinking through the whole situation in his mind. Y/N didn’t bother to go any further with the explanation, seeing as how it wouldn’t actually do any good. Once Xiao had an idea about something he wouldn’t let it go until he was officially proven wrong or until his hunch was correct. He stood up, took a bow and went back to standing silently next to her.

When Minsoo came back he was looking down at his pocket watch, a small click could be heard as he shut it. Y/N was reading her book once again, paying no attention to anything else that was going on around her. He made no effort in trying to bring her out of it as he cleared the dishes from the table. Xiao watched the blonde move back and forth seamlessly with speed. One moment he would be picking something up and the next he could be heard in the kitchen cleaning up.

After everything was cleared, the clock chimed eleven in the morning exactly. Only one hour before Mr. Kim showed up to the mansion and it was time for Y/N to not look so much like a teenager. He walked over to the girl, placing a hand on her shoulder so as not to shock her. When she looked up at him there was something different in her eyes. It wasn’t bad nor was it good, but it was simply neutral.

“My lady, we need to get you changed for the meeting. I can’t say that what you have on at the moment is very professional meeting ready.”

“You’re right.”

Y/N took the lead while walking back to her room with Minsoo trailing behind her a few feet away. As they approached the door to her bedroom, Xiao came running down the hall with something in his hands. He could tell that the other was running too fast to stop on his own without blasting a whole through the wall so he held out his hand in front of him. Sure enough, he ran his head smack into the palm of Minsoo’s hand, which sent the two of them back a few more feet before stopping.

“Yeol,” he began in a calm tone, “remember when I said no running in the halls? It is for that very reason.”

“I apologize Hyung, but I have a letter for My lady.”

“Give it here.”

Y/N took the letter from the boy, read who it was from then quickly handed it to Minsoo who nodded his head in silence. Xiao noticed a kind of unspoken understanding but didn’t bother trying to figure out what was going on. He quickly bowed to take his leave and retreated down the hall to tend to his next job. Y/N walked past her butler and into her room then sat on the bed, looking at the floor the entire time. He noticed this but did not bring it up. Instead he went back to her closet and took out a bit more formal clothing for the guest that would be coming over.

He returned with an A-line blue dress that ended at knee length, nude tights, a black cardigan and of course black heels. Mr. Kim was known to be a very formal man of business and it was always best to put on something that seemed to be over the top when meeting him. Y/N sat up straight, closed her eyes for a moment then stared right into Minsoo’s eyes. He didn’t waver for a moment; instead he kept the eye contact, waiting until his young mistress would say something.

“The doctor’s letter. Read it to me later.”

“Yes My lady.”