#Ft. Convenient red lighting

[hajihiko]

buddy your countdown is changing from years to seconds

[bluelockmaniac]

👑 .𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍

ft. crown prince!itoshi sae x commoner!femreader x second prince!itoshi rin (only bc you are rin's fiancée)

🗡 synopsis. you were chosen to be the second prince’s fiancée for rin’s convenience, but fate had different plans when you fell for his older brother, the crown prince, instead. as you start hearing strange voices during your engagement ball, sae falls victim to alexis’ curse, which only your love can break. what happens when news spread of the crown prince's revival and rin finds out?

⛓ content warning. 13.3k (yikes)ノ royal au ノ classism ノ cheating themes & pdaノ⚠ rin is rude, offensive, & insulting ノ your parents & sis for plot are assholes ノ semi-arranged marriage (?) ノ reader is illiterate ノ narration heavy ノ reader gets called whore once ノ implied death & gorish description ノ implied stranglingノ animal murder ノ minimal implication of shorter readerノthe relationship with sae is highkey rushed now that i reread it.

notes. this took me two weeks+ to finish ahhh. i thank my past self for being obsessed with manhwas so muchh, and ty to rhymezone for saving my ass w/ the ancient poem. first time using capital letters when writing fanfics, only bc it's really long though, eeee.

In the Twilight of the Eclipsing Red Moon,

When Stars Align and Shadows Loom,

The Great’s Fate is Sealed in the Veil of Night,

By the Hand of One from Mystic Light.

But From the Dust of Forgotten Lands,

Shall Rise a Heart with Common Hands,

With Lips of Rose and Spirit Warm,

To Bring the Order, End the Storm.

A Crown of Old Shall Find its Grace,

In the Embrace of a Simple Face.

But Do not be Fooled, One Shall Not Bloom,

For This, Will Lead to One’s Gentle Doom.

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,” your father stammered, “M-My eldest daughter has fallen gravely ill, and I fear she physically cannot journey to the Grand Empire of Aquaria tomorrow!”

The king’s eyes flared open in shock as the words reached his ears. His grip on the plush armrest of his throne tightened, the baroque carvings digging into his palm.

“What?!” He yelled, dismissing the fan bearer with a sharp glare before rising from his throne and taking two steps forward. His shadow covered large over your father’s trembling figure. 

“She chooses now, of all times, to be stricken with sickness? At a crucial time for our kingdom? Such insolence!” He descended three more steps and glared down at him. “Did you forget that His Imperial Highness has specifically requested a lady from your clan?”

“I—”

The king struck his scepter harshly against the floor, silencing the man. “All the other houses of your garbage clan bore only sons,” he spat, “She will go, and that is final!”

“Actually…” the commoner’s lips pointed upwards in a well-rehearsed smile as he placed a hand over his heart in false politeness. “I have another daughter. She’s eager— eager to fulfill her duty. She is twenty, two years younger than the prince, but still of age.”

King Orion arched an eyebrow and his mouth twisted into a sneer. “Very well,” he replied, waving his hand in disinterest as he returned to his throne. “Summon her.”

In truth, the king’s concern wasn’t with Aria, your older sister. He cared little for which daughter was offered up to Aquaria’s second prince. It was a political necessity, nothing more— a favour to His Imperial Highness, Prince Rin. Or more like a fulfillment of Rin’s rather odd request that came with a threat. As long as someone from your clan was presented, it mattered not to him whether it was your sister or some other sacrificial lamb for the slaughter.

At the call of your name, the guards creaked open the heavy doors, and you entered the throne chamber slowly. When you reached the foot of the throne, you lowered your body in a curtsey bow, your gaze fixed on the scarlet carpet that stretched beneath you.

“It is my greatest honour to stand before you, Your Majesty,” you said, though your indifferent tone made it clear to anyone listening that you longed for nothing more than to be anywhere but here.

But you knew the truth behind this charade. Aria wasn’t ill. She was the jewel of your parents’ eye, their pride and joy, shielded from the Empire’s gaze like a pirate’s precious treasure. You, on the other hand, were the forgotten one– the daughter they kept hidden, a mere shadow in their halls, easily discarded when it was convenient. To your father, you were a little more than a weight around his neck, an extra mouth to feed, a burden he was eager to rid himself of.

The king’s eyes scanned you up and down, his expression visibly souring as he took in the sight of your tattered ankle-high, brown dress and scuffed boots. Disgusting.

“Ugh,” he muttered under his breath, leaning on one elbow as he sneered at you. “She’ll do, I suppose. Pretty enough for their tastes.” He turned to his chancellor with a condescending wave. “Have the maids find something more… suitable for this one.”

The chancellor bowed deeply, “At once, Your Majesty.”

“Alright, you’ve packed everything, haven’t you?” your mother asked as she rubbed Aria’s shoulder comfortingly.

Your gaze drifted to the battered briefcase lying at your feet. You had stumbled upon it by accident, shoved into a forgotten corner of the dirty attic, coated in layers of dust and practically falling apart at the seams. With a sigh, you bent down to pick it up, nodding as it threatened to collapse.

“Yes,” you murmured, a bitter smile tugging at your lips, “There was hardly anything to pack, anyway.”

Your father scoffed, rolling his eyes as he wrapped an arm around Aria, who had begun to shed what you knew to be crocodile tears. The act was almost laughable. She suddenly broke free from their grasp and rushed over to you, flinging her arms around your waist with a dramatic sob.

“Y/N!” she cried, “Please take care of yourself– hic– I’m going to miss you so much!”

You hesitated for a moment before stiffly returning her hug. She was a liar, through and through, and you both knew it. 

Before the act could continue, the distant sound of hooves clattering against cobblestone paths captured your attention. Gently, you pried yourself away from her clutches, turning toward the approaching sound.

Your breath hitched. The Empire’s Royal Carriage was quickly nearing, and it was no exaggeration to say that its massive size dwarfed everything coming its way. It was magnificent, its gleaming white exterior and elegant navy blue designs that were above the huge clattering wheels. Silken curtains furnished the windows, embroidered with golden threads that caught the eyes of your greedy family. But what truly stole your attention was the shining silver crown perched atop the carriage, with Aquaria’s Royal Crest.

“Listen–” your father’s obnoxious voice cut through your admiration. He leaned close, his voice coming out in a hiss, “You better behave yourself, got it? If you mess this up, it’s not just you– it’s all of us. Understand?”

You shrugged off his threat with a nonchalant nod, “I’ll do my best.”

The sounds of the porcelain horses neighing were suddenly right behind you. They looked so soft, so immaculate, that you had to resist the urge to reach out and glide your fingers through their carefully groomed manes. But you knew better. This was no place for such frivolities.

The royal coachman descended from his designated seat and approached you. His right hand gracefully flew to his heart and he bowed slightly, his eyes closing for a brief moment.

“Greetings, my lady,” he said, straightening himself elegantly as his brown eyes met yours. He took your worn briefcase from your hand and placed it gently in the carriage’s wide storage compartment in the back. Then, he slid aside the long curtains and extended his hand toward you.

This was it. The moment you stepped into that carriage, you would leave this wretched life behind forever. No more grime, no more being hidden away like some shameful secret. You would be free– or at least you clung to the hope of freedom. 

Taking the coachman’s hand, you felt the fine material of your simple sage gown– one begrudgingly gifted by King Orion– brush against the spotless steps of the carriage. You could hardly believe you, of all people, had the privilege of entering something so grand, so expensive.

For one last time, you glanced back at your so-called family. They stood there, masks with feigned expressions of sorrow worn over their faces. But you weren’t fooled, and you certainly weren’t going to indulge them. Instead, a slow grin crept across your face and you mouthed a few words that served as a final act of defiance.

“Shitty lives for shitty people, I guess.”

“.... lady,”

“My….”

“My lady!”

“Hm…” You muttered drowsily, your eyelids slowly fluttering open to the sight of the coachman and several other servants peering in at you with concerned expressions. Startled, you shot upright, your hands grasping the seat beneath you. “Y-Yes!”

So far, you were off to a great start.

But now, as you finally stepped out of the carriage and beheld the regal palace before you, every bit of exhaustion from the long ride seemed to dissolve. The sight of it stole your breath and you tried to conjure up a word to describe it, but words escaped you. Beautiful, perhaps, though even that felt insufficient. Magnificent, maybe. 

There were towering stone sculptures and a large marble fountain in the center, its water elegantly cascading down like it was raining crystals. The front lawn was meticulously trimmed and maintained till perfection. The walls of the palace shined, built from pale limestone that you recognized from years of working with fire and sedimentary rocks. And at the peak of the palace dome, a lone flag fluttered in the breeze, proudly displaying the Royal Crest of Aquaria.

Your home now.

Yet, no lines of maids awaited your arrival at the main entrance, as you’d always imagined from reading those fairytale books you’d find tucked away in your attic. And there was certainly no sign of your supposed fiancé— His Imperial Highness, Itoshi Rin, the Second Prince of the Empire.

But then again, it made sense. You were just a humble village girl, after all— hardly worth the attention of someone as important as him.

The sudden neighing of a horse behind you jolted you from your thoughts, and you spun around. There, your gaze locked with the prettiest set of eyes you had ever seen— legendary teal irises framed by lashes so thick they casted a shadow on his cheekbones.

If the palace was magnificent, then he was simply breathtaking. 

Your heart stuttered in your chest as you instinctively took a step forward toward him, prepared to pinch fistfuls of your dress and bow down to him. 

He must be your fiancé, you thought. How could he not be? Those eyes were a symbol of royalty. His dark, reddish hair swayed with every blow of the wind, and the way an exquisite sapphire brooch shone against his royal attire screamed authority.

What did they call this phenomenon? Love at first sight? But then—

“Welcome back, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince!” a unified set of voices suddenly echoed from behind you in greeting, and you whipped your head back to see every servant and the carriage driver on their knees, their heads bowed low, and their hands clutched to their chests.

Crown Prince? Your breath caught in your throat. The Crown Prince? In other words, the future Emperor of Aquaria?

His gaze left yours to briefly sweep over the kneeling palace workers, before he waved his hand dismissively. “Rise.” he ordered. His deep voice made you feel a sudden tightening in your throat, and you had the urge to obey though you weren’t even on your knees.

When his eyes returned to you, you flinched, every nerve of your body feeling on edge. You drew in a sufficient amount of fresh air and held onto bunches of your gown, bowing respectfully.

“G-Greetings, Your Imperial Highness,” you stuttered.

Sae guided his horse to a halt and swung his leg over the saddle, dismounting and landing on the grass smoothly. He gave the mare a gentle pat, and you suddenly felt conscious as he approached you in long strides.

He stopped just in front of you, eyes seemingly studying you. “You are?”

You swallowed nervously, daring to meet his aquamarine gaze. “Y/N,” you said softly, “The Second Imperial Prince’s fiancée.”

His eyes narrowed and he closed them fleetingly before opening them again. “I see… That foolish younger brother of mine.”

You remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Your sparkling eyes flickered to his mare standing patiently beside him for a moment too long. Her coat was as white as fresh snow, and it almost hurt your eyes the way the sunlight reflected off her.

He noticed. “Oh, her?” He nodded toward the horse, gesturing for you to come closer. “Go on. You can touch her if you wish.” 

Your eyes widened in disbelief, trodding towards him in excitement. “May I, really?”

“Sure, whatever,” he muttered nonchalantly, though his gaze softened slightly. He was more focused on observing the horse’s reaction to you.

With careful hands, you reached out and gently raked your fingers through her silky mane. A delighted giggle escaped your lips as the fauna neighed softly and nudged your hand for more of your kind attention.

“She’s beautiful,” you whispered, and he hummed in interest. You paused for a moment, glancing at the prince curiously. “What’s her name?”

“Celestia,” he replied, pulling on the horse’s rein before folding his arms over his chest. He watched you interact with the animal. “She rarely warms up to anyone, but it seems as if she likes you.”

Your eyes lit up with surprise and you smiled, your fingers still tangled in the horse’s mane. “Celestia is a beautiful name… It suits her. She’s as white as the moon.”

For a brief moment, the prince turned his head to the side, as if he was hiding something from your view. He wouldn’t admit it, but he’d trust anyone his beautiful horse liked. His fingers slipped through his tousled red hair, and though his voice slightly carried a tone of arrogance, it was also laced with something else. “Tch. Thanks. I named her myself.”

You laughed lightly, “How old is she?”

“Turning nine soon,” he answered, giving her a pat. “She’s the mother of a black stallion.”

Your eyes twinkled in awe, fists clenched in front of you as you beamed up at him. “She’s a mother?!”

Sae raised a brow, leaning back slightly. “You’re standing too close.”

“A-Ah, my apologies, Your Highness,” You stuttered, retreating several steps just in case. “I… I seem to have forgotten my place,”

“No, it’s quite alr—” He started, lifting a hand as if to stop you from backing away, but was interrupted by one of the pesky servants from Rin’s wing of the palace. “...”

“I-I apologize for interrupting y-your conversation, Your Imperial Highness,” She panted, bowing low, “But The Second Prince has requested his fiancée’s presence for a private audience.”

Sae clicked his tongue in annoyance, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer before he mounted Celestia. “I guess it cannot be helped. Fine, whatever.”

Your heart sank slightly, a wave of disappointment looming over your ethereal features. Your pretty eyes downcast and fists clenched lightly by your sides. You had hoped to stay just a little longer, either with the man you had mistaken for your fiancé or perhaps with the beautiful horse. You weren’t sure which had captured your fascination more.

You thought that, perhaps, if Rin was not unlike his brother, then marrying him probably wouldn’t be so bad.

Still, with a deep breath, you held onto your skirt and followed the maid. But just before you left, you glanced back over your shoulder at the First Prince with a smile so pretty it could coax the sun out of the sky and make even the stars envious.

“See you around, Your Highness!” You called out, waving your arm before turning around to trail after the servant woman.

Sae stood frozen for a heartbeat, his thoughts clouded by the ghost of that smile. Something stirred in his chest, something unfamiliar and probably unwelcome. He huffed quietly, silking his hand through his hair before muttering under his breath.

“Yeah… see you.”

Your heart raced as you stood before the polished double doors of Rin’s chamber. You swallowed hard in an attempt to calm your nerves. Your breaths came in shallow, like there was some sort of invisible weight pressed against your chest. 

Your hand hesitantly hovered mere inches from the door. You hadn’t even met the man and yet the tension was thicker than when you had personally greeted the crown prince.

The maid beside you fidgeted, clearly just as anxious. She stammered softly, “My lady…  j-just knock and wait for his word. I-I’ll take my leave now.”

You nodded, watching her scurry away so quickly as if she couldn’t wait to be out of the prince’s domain. You blinked in thought— if the servants in this wing were this jumpy around him, it didn’t bode well.

You took a deep breath, trying to steady your trembling fingers. After whispering a few reassurances to yourself, you finally raised your knuckles and knocked gently on the door.

No answer.

A few more seconds passed before you tried again, but this time you heard a deep, irritated voice call out.

“Enter.”

You gulped and planted your hands on the heavy door, pushing it open. The moment you stepped in, you held in your breath. The interior was extravagant beyond words– a room fit for royalty, as expected. 

Your enlarged eyes scanned the deluxe chamber, mouth unintentionally falling agape at all it held. But the awe immediately vanished as your gaze landed on Rin. The prince stood by a grand archtop window with his back to you, gazing down at the Aquaria Royal Gardens— which, to compare in size, were bigger than your whole village fit together.

He turned at the sound of your entrance, his sharp eyes immediately narrowing with a look of disdain. His voice was flat, yet annoyed. “Quit ogling and close the door behind you.”

It was an order, and you felt your body immediately move on its own. Your hands fumbled as you quickly shut the door, unable to keep the heat of embarrassment from rising to your cheeks. You lowered your gaze, focusing on the rosa aurora marble floor beneath you.

Rin’s eyes raked over you, his foot tapping on the floor impatiently. His eyes were just as icy as his brother’s, but where Sae had a certain aloofness, Rin’s coldness felt like a blade to the throat. He eventually crossed his arms over his chest and looked at you condescendingly, “No proper greeting?”

Your mind scrambled. “Ah..!” Your fingers gripped onto the fabric of your dress tightly as you bowed stiffly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Y-Your Imperial Highness,”

He let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing a hand over his face as if the very sight of you was an inconvenience. “Horrible posture,” he muttered. “Your etiquette needs a lot of work.”

Your heart sank further, and humiliation washed over your whole face. You straightened up and pursed your lips together tightly, the words sticking to your throat like superglue, afraid that whatever you’d say next would only make matters worse.

He remained quiet and turned around, walking to the large seating area in the corner of his chamber. You hesitantly followed after him, taking a seat right beside him on the burgundy plush.

He eyed you sideways, clearly displeased. “...Really?”

“Um…” You shuffled your feet awkwardly, the fabric swishing against your ankles. “Sitting in front of you would be presumptuous of me… How dare I make eye contact with someone as great as you, given my position?”

He rolled his eyes at your words. “How audacious.”

“Oh— Your Highness, you’ve got an eyelash on your cheek,” You started, instinctively reaching out to brush it away. But before your fingers could make contact, his hand snapped out, roughly swatting yours away.

“Don’t fucking touch me, commoner scum.” He hissed.

You immediately withdrew, rubbing your stinging hand gently. You bit your bottom lip to keep quiet. “I apol—”

“Go sit in front.”

You obeyed without question, your body moving on autopilot as you rose from the sofa, taking a seat across from him. If you hadn’t the guts to defy your parents, what made you think you could defy a prince? You didn’t even have the strength to be angry; you were too preoccupied with trying to hold yourself together under his oppressive gaze.

What followed was more of an interrogation than a conversation.

“Can you read?”

“No.”

“Write?”

“No.”

“Table manners?”

“I eat with my hands.”

“... Can you do anything at all?”

Your fingers twisted nervously in your lap as you swallowed thickly, embarrassment creeping up your neck. “I can make really good vegetable soup...”

“...”

The silence stretched out, and you could feel your self-worth slowly becoming nonexistent. After a moment, he stood with a sigh, making you flinch. 

You averted your gaze to the window and you tapped your foot anxiously against the floor. You realized you were swallowing thick lumps of nothing more than usual. All his questions were glazed with layers of dripping haughtiness and it hurt when you realized how useless and worthless you were as you answered each one.

“No, this is good,” He assured, almost to himself, as he began unbuttoning his white shirt. You looked up at him, confused.

“Good?” You repeated softly.

Rin approached you with his shirt halfway undone. He stopped just in front of you, leaning down with an expression so intimidating it sent shivers sprinting down your spine. “Do you know why I chose someone as lowly and pathetic as you, peasant?”

You rubbed your clammy palms together and paused. “I think I might have an idea,” You whispered.

“Oh? Continue.”

“You want to win the public’s favour, perhaps?” you guessed carefully, “because it shows a connection to those of lower status…”

He raised a brow, “Hm. You’re smarter than you look.” He admitted.

But his next words made your blood run cold. His hands found your shoulders, his fingers gripping onto them with not much force as he leaned closer. Your gaze ashamedly darted down to his peeking sculpted chest before flicking up to his eyes.

“After I’ve become emperor instead of that shitty brother,” he whispered, his breath hot against your ear, “you will bear my child. Then, I’ll find a way to get rid of you.”

Your whole body was trembling as soon as his hands left your shoulders. You could feel your teeth clattering slightly as you stared at the floor, unable to speak. You tilted your head up and watched as he slowly slid off an oval-cut sapphire ring, rimmed with shimmering stones of diamond, from his finger.

“Give me your hand,” He ordered impatiently.

You nodded immediately, extending your hand in front of him with starry eyes. Without a word, he slipped the opulent band onto your ring finger, careful not to make contact with your skin. You pulled away and admired the accessory— you’d be set for a thousand lives if you sold this heavy thing.

“Thank you…” You smiled softly.

“This ring is a royal heirloom, along with one other,” He warned, pointing to the Crest engraved in the gemstone. “Do. Not. Lose. It.”

Your heart pounded in your chest as you stared at the ring, nodding quickly, “Yes… I won’t.”

“Good. Now go. The maids will show you to your chambers. Be ready for your etiquette lessons tomorrow.”

You rose from the sofa shakily, bowing once more. The difference between this man and the one you’d met earlier was staggering, and you already had a not so vague idea on who you preferred.

“Then I shall see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Your Imperial Highness.”

Your eyelids felt heavy as you tried to open them. You blinked once, twice, three times– your vision blurred with remnants of sleep before gradually sharpening into clarity. But what you saw around you was anything but familiar. 

Gone were the days of waking up to dusty cobwebs and the cracks and crevices of a wrecked ceiling that you had grown used to. Instead, your eyes met a vast, polished quartz ceiling, glistening in the morning light. Above you was a fancy chandelier, its long golden-framed vines dripping with crystals, and glass trickled down from the hooks. 

You shifted beneath your plush cover and froze for a second, because this soft sensation was just as unfamiliar. No more prickly stacks of straw or thin, rough blankets. No, today, you had woken up in luxury.

As you sat up, memories of yesterday flooded your mind. Oh, right. You were absolutely shocked when you were first led to your room. You could say you were floored by its elegance– far larger and more lavish than any room you had imagined you’d get. Though it still paled in comparison to Rin’s personal quarters, it was hard to grasp that this space was your room.

You remembered indulging yourself in a little tour last night, exploring it in awe. There was a massive walk-in closet, filled to the brim with fine dresses and gowns of rich silks and satins. Accessories like cocktail hats, jewel-studded heels, and purses of gorgeous colours, all of which you couldn’t wait to try, filled the shelves.

The grandest thing you had ever owned prior to this was a ring made of a flower’s stem.

But as you rubbed the sleep from your eyes, you felt a shiver run up your spine. Your heart jumped as you realized someone was in the room, and you let out a small squeak, instinctively clutching the covers.

“So you’ve finally woken up, my lady,” came a gentle, slightly amused voice.

You blinked rapidly, your gaze locking onto a pair of soft amethyst eyes. The young woman standing beside you had ginger hair that fell to her shoulders in soft curls, her pale cheeks peppered with specks of pretty freckles.

“W-Who are you…?” You asked carefully.

The woman set a pair of fluffy cotton slippers on the floor beside your bed, then gave you a small curtsy. “Eleanor, my lady. I am your lady-in-waiting.”

You slid your feet into the slippers, still feeling a little dazed. Eleanor busied herself with smoothing the bed linens as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “Meaning..?” you echoed, sitting up straighter.

She chuckled lightly. “Meaning I’ll attend to your personal needs and assist you with your duties to make sure you are well taken care of.” She gave you a smile, “You’re new to all this, aren’t you?”

You looked down at the marble bashfully, nodding your head, and admitted softly, “Yes…”

“Haha, that’s quite alright. But let’s not waste anymore time! We have to get you ready for today!”

“... Huh?”

You were absolutely pampered.

The question constantly lingered— what had you done to deserve this? Probably nothing but you were thankful that you went in the stead of your older sister.

Just a short while ago, you had been treated to the greatest bath of your life, courtesy of Eleanor. She had insisted it was part of her duty as your lady-in-waiting, but it seriously felt like a ritual reserved for queens. She skillfully massaged your muscles and rubbed your scalp with rosewater serenade. And when her hands worked authentic vanilla lather across your skin, you smelled like a warm, freshly baked biscuit. An upgrade from your baths in the river.

Currently, you were seated on a leathered stool as Eleanor combed through your hair with care. The reflection in the mirror in front could leave you gushing over yourself for hours. Your gown was a waterfall of midnight blue silk with intricate silver embroidery. Your waist was still uncomfortable from the pressure of the tight corset, but the result was definitely worth it. 

A delicate web of pearls hung from around your neck, cool against your collarbone. You absentmindedly toyed with the silver tassel earrings as Eleanor finished adding the final sprinkle of silver glitter to your styled hair.

“You look absolutely breathtaking, my lady!” She exclaimed as she clapped her hands together to dust off the excess shimmer.

You smiled admiringly, turning your head left and right. “Thank you, Eleanor. I never thought I could look like this...”

You stood from the stool, walking towards the door before her voice stopped you in your tracks.

“Wait, my lady!”

You turned, watching as she carefully presented a delicate box etched with faint leaf patterns. Nestled inside were a pristine pair of white fine lace gloves that were long enough to elegantly reach the elbows. 

“His Imperial Highness the Second Prince has ordered that you must wear these whenever you are with him,” She said quietly.

“Ah. Thanks.”

You understood. It was slightly disappointing that your fiancé would go to such lengths to avoid touching you. Was the prospect of touching you truly that distasteful to him? But you shrugged off the thought and removed your heirloom ring before sliding the gloves on. You put back the ring on top. It wasn’t everyday you got to wear something this refined. Perhaps it would be everyday from now on…

But then, the memory of Rin’s chilling words echoed through your mind. “Then, I’ll find a way to get rid of you.”

Your heart clenched and you shook your head. As long as you did as commanded, you were sure you’d be fine.

“Let’s go, Eleanor.”

Your body tensed under the penetrating gazes of the countless servants. Their stares followed you as you walked down the Main Hall of the right wing, heading towards the heart of the palace.

They weren’t even trying to hide their gossip. Why would they? Servants here were no ordinary peasants, they were people of the lowest class of nobility. Sons and daughters of Earls, Counts, Barons.

“His Highness must be smitten,” one maid said, “Just look at her dress!”

“Isn’t she from the slums?”

“And she wears the Royal Heirloom on her finger!”

“So, the rumours were true, then?”

“I heard she thought she'd be marrying the Crown Prince.”

“Pftt, That’s embarrassing.”

The hushed whispers suddenly quieted down to zero, and you assumed it was probably Eleanor’s doing because you could literally feel her piercing gaze though she was trailing respectfully behind you.

“It’s alright, Eleanor, leave them al—”

The words died in your throat the moment you caught sight of him– the man you first encountered when you arrived at the palace. He was exiting the Council Hall, deep in conversation with what looked like an advisor or high-ranking official. Your heart skipped a beat as you instinctively lifted the hem of your dress and rushed towards him.

“Your Highness!” you called out, your voice chirpier than you had intended.

He turned at the sound of your familiar voice, his eyes widening just slightly in surprise. For a fleeting moment, it seemed you had embodied the grace of a princess… had your heel not caught beneath you. You stumbled, eyes squeezing shut as you braced yourself for the fall. But instead of tasting the cold, hard floor, a pair of strong hands caught you, steadying you by your waist.

“Careful,” he warned softly, his hands lingering for just a moment before falling back to his sides. “You’re not used to heels.”

You laughed awkwardly, but you could not hide the disappointment that washed over your expression as his hands left you. “No, it’s my first time.”

He paused. His eyes stayed on you for a moment longer than they should, taking in the way your dress perfectly complimented your figure. But he realized this, and his gaze quickly shifted to the golden deer emblem mounted on the wall.

“You… look different,” He continued, rubbing the back of his neck.

The hall suddenly felt hot, or maybe it was just the heat radiating from your face. You dipped your head, fiddling with your clad fingers. “Oh, do I…?” you sputtered softly, but you silently cursed yourself for replying in such an awkward manner. Of course you looked different!

“Ahem,” Eleanor chimed in, coughing into her fist dramatically. “Not to interrupt, but I hear some alarming footsteps…”

“If you slack off one more fucking time, I’ll display your decapitated head on a pike to serve as an example for your pathetic kind!” a voice yelled from behind.

Rin stepped out the Council Hall, his face an angry scowl as he finished lashing at the minister who scurried away like a frightened animal. His eyes then flickered towards you and his older brother, and his expression soured further.

He turned to look at your lady-in-waiting, speaking sternly. “I thought I told you to bring her to my study,”

“We were on our way, Your Imperial Highness,” Eleanor responded politely, bowing her head.

“Incompetent.”

Rin’s attention shifted to you, noticing the lacey white covering up to your elbows. Without warning, he inched forward and closed the distance between you, his hand snaking around your waist. You tensed as his not unwelcome grip pulled you closer, your palm instinctively flying up to settle on his chest. You looked up at him gently, hesitantly, but his eyes weren’t on you– they were locked on his older brother.

He eyed his brother suspiciously, “What are you still doing here?” He asked. “Shouldn’t you be preparing for your trip to Berlina?” 

“Berlina…?” You repeated in confusion.

“The Kingdom of Sorcery and Magic,” Eleanor quickly whispered into your ear, leaning in with her palm covering her mouth.

Sae’s expression remained indifferent, clearly unbothered. “Shouldn’t you be focusing on more important matters right now?” He let his eyes wander lazily towards your hand on Rin’s chest before he smirked. “Like… sharpening your embarrassingly inadequate swordsmanship skills?”

Rin’s face contorted in anger and his neck flushed a deep red. His grip on your shoulder tightened just enough to make you wince. “You bastard… You’ll regret this.” He seethed through clenched teeth. 

The Second Prince glanced back at Eleanor in disgust, “You’re dismissed.”

He looked back at you, noticing your extravagant dress, before furrowing his brows. “The dress you’re wearing is too fancy for a day with no important occasion.”

You glanced down at your blue gown and shrugged. “Eleanor chose it for me,”

“Who?”

“—I personally think it suits her just right.” Sae broke in suddenly, wearing a smirk on his face as though he found pleasure in annoying his younger brother.

Rin narrowed his eyes at him. “Who asked for your opinion? And what were you two talking about, anyway?”

The Crown Prince hummed, leaning against the wall behind him. “Let’s see. Well, I told her she looked different, and helped her up when she tripped on her heels.”

“Tch.”

“But be careful,” Sae’s lips twitched into a small grin, his gaze drifting to meet your eyes. “keep your eyes on this beauty else I might steal her from you. Isn’t that right, my lady?”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

“Your Highness, even if you joke around like that, I don’t think my heart can take it–” you whispered, and Sae chuckled lightly, though Rin quickly pulled you behind him.

“That’s enough, stay away from her.” He glared, barely affecting Sae. “Your little jokes aren’t funny.”

“Who said I was joking?” The eldest quipped nonchalantly, and Rin just rolled his eyes.

“Let’s go.” He exasperated, holding onto your wrist and dragging you alongside him.

As his hand guided you away, you looked over your shoulder, searching for a familiar pair of tourmaline eyes. Ones identical to those of your fiancé’s. But instead, all you saw was a broad back and auburn hair shifting as he walked away in the opposite direction.

Rin slammed his fist against the hardwood of his desk. That interaction seemed to have spilled gasoline to the blue flames in his eyes, which were already burning with rage. “That bastard thinks he can keep playing games with me!”

You remained still, hands folded patiently over your abdomen. The last thing you wanted to do was provoke him further.

After a tense silence, Rin let out a sigh and collapsed into the plush seat behind his desk. “It’s alright,” he began, his voice softening just slightly. His gaze locked onto you in a way that made blood rush quicker through your veins. “You’re my ticket to becoming the emperor—” He leaned forward. “I need you.”

Your breath hitched in your throat at those words, but you knew not to expect much. Still, you mustered a sweet smile. “I’ll do my best, Your Highness. You were mentioning today’s schedule…?”

He leaned back, propping his arm on the armrest. “Right. My father is holding our engagement ball next week. Every noble house will be there to congratulate us. In the week leading up to it, you will perfect your manners and court etiquette. Understood?”

You gulped hard as a huge bag of responsibility was suddenly thrown onto your back. A week? To not work on, but perfect everything?

“...Understood.”

—

“... After you master public speaking skills,” Rin went on, “you’ll focus on formal dining etiquette. I don’t want you embarrassing me by eating with your hands. Then, you’ll have dancing lessons and study Royal Dress standards. You also need to be familiar with Aquaria’s history, diplomacy, and customs– especially royal protocols and responsibilities, and….”

His voice continued on, listing task after task. Your head was spinning, and you thought you were going to faint and collapse to the ground. This wasn’t the fairytale you’d imagined. You signed up for the fun part of being a princess— the ballgowns and the makeup, and maybe kissing the prince. This was a chore, the kind that made growing carrots and potatoes seem like heaven in comparison.

“By the end of this week, I expect you to be flawless. I’ve brought in the best tutors for reading, writing, and everything else– all that easy stuff. Do not disappoint me.”

You nodded automatically, but not before adding an innocent thought that had slipped into your mind, in a slightly sarcastic manner. “Have you perfected your swordplay, though?”

Now the temperature in the room seemed to drop down to zero as he bore his narrowed eyes at you. You felt a cold shiver run up all your bones, and your knees weakened. “You think you’re funny don’t you? Do you really want to play this game with me?”

Your bravado crumbled. “N-No…”

“Then get some rest,” he ordered. “Your training starts this afternoon.”

You nodded and quietly turned to leave the study.

Six long days had passed by since your lessons began. Six mentally and physically exhausting days.

Your dance instructor was a strict middle aged lady with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue, who worked you till your feet were bruised. She made you balance books and vases on top of your head as you marched back and forth, her shrill voice cutting you off whenever your posture was horrible, or when you mixed up the steps for a dance made for another song. Although you loathed her guts, you couldn’t deny the significant improvement of your poise.

The dinner etiquette lessons, however, offered a time-out from that hag. Yes, you learned the basics of formal dining– how to keep your elbows off the table, chew with your mouth closed, use the silver utensils correctly, and pat your lips clean with the patterned napkins. But, the best part, or reward, was tasting the delicacies they served. Truffles, lobster coated with butter, and tender lamb chops. And then there were the fancy desserts– macarons pumped with ganache filling, puff pastry, tartelette au citron, éclair au chocolat, and more.

All of which you had never dreamt of tasting in your life, you who had never tasted anything more luxurious than a loaf of bread.

You also learned how to read and write, not for the reasons you preferred, but good nonetheless. You had found a particular fondness for the history lessons, which were not tedious at all. You were focused at all times much to your mentor’s surprise. Learning about the Royal family’s reign— how they had ruled over neighboring lands for centuries, managing resources, trade, and finance— fascinated you.

But your ears always managed to tune in and pick up the subtle gossip rotating among the maids and servants in the halls and libraries, so you had learned a few things.

The two princes were locked in a one-sided rivalry. One was fighting crystal and pickaxe for the crown, while the true heir showed little interest in the throne he was destined to inherit.

Sae, the eldest, wasn’t just entitled to the crown by birthright. He excelled at everything– swordplay, defense, archery, and horseback riding for royal ceremonies or simple trips to cities. His skills were polished to literal perfection. Rin, on the other hand, was skilled, but not extraordinary. He always lived in the shadow of his brother.

Yet Rin’s desire to become emperor wasn’t merely a wish— it was a burning, desperate need, an ambition to prove himself worthy. To finally win against Sae.

Killing his brother, of course, was out of the question— such an act would be treason. Besides, Rin didn’t just want him gone; he wanted Sae to see the moment when he ascended the throne, to admit defeat, to acknowledge that Rin had bested him.

Rin believed that the key to winning favour with their father—the current emperor—and the people was to flaunt his achievements, which, to remention, were not as good as Sae’s. But his sharp tongue and cold demeanor made it difficult for him to win many hearts. Sae learned to place a mask behind his foul words, whereas Rin still struggled to.

And that’s where you came into the picture.

You weren’t just his fiancée; you were part of his strategy. He’ll show you off before the court and the public, showcasing to the world how he transformed a mere commoner, a peasant, into someone of worth. 

You came from a disgusting, needy village, yet now you stood in royal fits. To Rin, you were a symbol showing his ability to elevate those beneath him. A tool to gain the favour of the people. You could read and write now, you were beautiful, and in the eyes of the kingdom, you had the potential to become the empress one day— if, of course, Rin managed to seize the crown from his brother.

—

It was late at night, and the moon’s natural light filtered through your curtains. You moved to your huge window and brushed aside the rosegold-embroidered fabric as you peered down at the Royal Gardens. The view was similar to that of Rin’s, since your chambers were three spare rooms away from each other.

You were exhausted, but you always had time to admire the water spilling down elegantly from the angel sculptures’ stone lips, or the beautiful shrubs clipped into topiaries. 

But all the exhaustion you felt moments ago suddenly vanished when your eyes caught sight of someone unexpected. 

It was the Crown Prince. You had seen Sae around the palace during these tiring six days, and you’ve engaged in many small talks with him without Rin’s knowledge. Conversations flew naturally with him, he asked you about your life before the engagement, and though you were initially hesitant, you found yourself speaking openly with him. There was a strange ease to Sae that, oddly enough, only you seemed to feel.

You stared at him a bit too long, your gaze almost boring a hole into him, and he sensed it.

Pivoting on his heel, he made direct eye contact with you from below. A soft gasp escaped your lips, and you hurriedly pulled the curtain closed. But he could still see your silhouette, and when you peeked your head out slightly from the curtain, you could’ve sworn you’d seen him chuckle.

With a quick gesture of his hand, he beckoned you down to the gardens. Your pretty eyes widened, but you found yourself nodding eagerly with no hesitation. How could you refuse?

—

Panting softly between giggles, you rested your hands on your knees.

“I can’t believe you ran to meet me in your… nightgown,” Sae remarked, his lips curving into a subtle smirk.

You straightened and boldly stepped closer until you were only centimeters away from him. Your eyes twinkled in the moonlight, and you shone a smile brighter than la lune. 

Sae’s breath caught in his throat as your face came full view and he felt his body still. You were Rin’s fiancée– he shouldn't be looking at you like this. But the glow of moonlight was making it hard…

“... You’re beautiful,” the words slipped out naturally.

Heat flooded the sweet curves of your cheeks at the way he said it so casually, so suddenly. Your gaze dropped to the freshly cut grass, your fingers nervously tucking a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. 

“Thank you,” you muttered quietly, your voice barely above a hush.

Silence followed. But comfortable, nonetheless. Then, you noticed his hand, palm up and waiting in front of you. You blinked up at him in confusion.

“I am aware that I am in no position to do this, but…” He paused, “May I have this dance?”

Your eyebrows shot up comically in surprise, glistening doe eyes widening for the hundredth time tonight. Your heart was thumping so fast you thought it might burst from your chest, and you feared he might hear it.

It was risky, you knew that. If Rin were awake, he might have been watching from his window– his chambers were so close to yours. You knew how much he enjoyed looking from his window from the time you’ve spent together in the past week. But, he had dismissed you earlier to rest and this moment alone with Sae was tempting.

Hesitantly, your hand hovered over his before relaxing and letting it fall in his grasp. You met his gaze, and you shyly whispered, 

“I know we’re not supposed to be doing this… but I want to.” Your fingers intertwined with his, and you smiled softly. “May I have this honour, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”

Sae glanced down at your hand weaved between his fingers. His brows furrowed in a frown, and a wave of panic washed over you. You literally felt your heart leap out of your chest. Had you overstepped your boundaries?

“I was only kidd—”

But instead of pulling away, he gently hooked his finger under the wristband of your glove, sliding it off your hand. You felt warmth bloom across your cheeks as he slowly removed the other glove too, making sure to leave his touch lingering on your bare skin.

“You don’t need to wear these ridiculous gloves to bed,” he said, “It’s unnecessary.”

Your cœur fluttered. “I… I just forgot,” you mumbled, embarrassed. 

He rolled his eyes, but his lips quirked into a smile as he clasped your now bare hand, while the other found its place on your waist. The fabric of your silk nightgown was thin, and his touch felt intimate, direct, and you could feel his fingertips pressing lightly against your skin.

He led you in a slow dance gracefully under the protective gaze of the serene moon, delicately spinning you before your arms naturally draped around his neck. His hand slid to the small of your back, pulling you closer. He looked so good, he smelled so good, his touch so gentle. You wanted him.

“Do you like these gardens?” He asked suddenly, giving you another twirl.

You nodded, lacing your fingers in his. “I do. It’s quiet. The palace can be… overwhelming.”

Sae raised a brow, “Overwhelming, huh? For someone like you, I suppose it would be.”

The words stung slightly, but there was no malice in his voice. You dared to meet the eyes you came to adore, “And you? Why are you here, Your Highness?”

He paused, then turned slightly. “I’m avoiding another council meeting. You’d be surprised how tedious it can be listening to old men argue for hours on end.”

You laughed softly, and for a brief moment, his eyes softened. He pointed toward a part of the garden in the distance. “Come with me,” he said simply. 

You followed, trembling as the Crown Prince led you with his fingers gently wrapped around your wrist. When you came to a stop, your breath caught in awe. Before you were roses of every shade– deep crimson, soft peach, porcelain white, and candy pink.

“They’re gorgeous,” you gasped.

“Right.” Sae bent down and plucked a single red rose from the bush, turning to you with a small, rare smile. “The red ones are my favorite,” he murmured, carefully tucking the rose into your hair.

You smiled sheepishly, gently patting the rose he’d placed. “They remind me of strawberry ja—”

“They remind me of blood,” he interrupted with a casual voice.

You blinked, startled by his answer. “R-Right.”

He chuckled softly, rubbing the area around his neck. “I can see why Rin chose you.”

You looked at him for a few seconds before quickly shaking your head. “He didn’t choose me, he just wanted any girl from our clan. My older sister was supposed to go, but I went in her stead. Besides, I’m nothing special… just convenient.”

“Convenient?” His gaze darkened slightly before his hand came up to rest on your chin. “...Don’t sell yourself short. You’re more than that.”

Your head quickly tilted down and you began to fiddle with your fingers, then with the simple lace adorning your neck. “Your Highness– stop saying things that make my heart, I don’t know, hurt?”

“Oh?” He placed his hands gently on your cheeks and you looked up at him lovingly. “That isn’t good for Rin, is it?”

You shook your head, “No, it isn’t. But he doesn’t make me feel this way.” You boldly placed your palms on his shoulders and stood on your tippy toes, and as soon as he leaned down slightly in approval, you pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

He tapped his forehead against yours and smiled. His heart was beating a bit quicker, and he found it dangerous. “Well, I’m afraid I must leave now.” He drawled.

Your heart sank a little, your ethereal eyes flicking down. You nodded slowly, “Thank you for your time, Your Highness.”

He looked down at you, his expression softening. Slowly, he lifted your hand to his lips and pressed a chaste kiss to your skin. “It was a pleasure, my lady.”

If he couldn’t hear your heart thundering in your chest one thousand miles per hour moments ago, then he sure could now. As he disappeared, you placed your hand over your chest, rubbing over the spot where he’d kissed.

It seemed like Sae had yet again bested Rin in a game neither had realized they were playing.

Tonight was your engagement ball, the grand celebration that would officially announce your impending marriage to Rin.

You were both in his chamber, dressed fully in fancy outfits. He wore an elegant white attire adorned with the brooch of Aquaria and a navy blue sash draped across his chest. You wore a pitch black gown embroidered with gold, matching gloves, and heavy golden jewelry that Rin had exclusively bought for you. 

The party had already begun downstairs, the grand ballroom filled with the most important guests from across the empire. But the grand entrance of the soon-to-be bride and groom had to wait for the Emperor’s speech, set to occur an hour after the festivities commenced.

“It’s a lunar eclipse,” you mused admiringly, leaning against the window. The moon, bloody red from the umbra, hung in the night sky ominously. “I’ve read about the phenomenon in the Royal Library. The stars look so close… they look like they could fall right into our hands.”

Rin rolled his eyes and walked closer to you, resting his hand on your further shoulder. He stared out the window in boredom. “How poetic,” he muttered sarcastically. “Even the moon is congratulating us tonight.”

You turned your gaze from the sky to him, your hand gently smoothing out a small wrinkle on his sash. “It’s time, isn’t it? We should head to the Ballroom.”

He grumbled in response, pushing your hand aside as if your touch was unnecessary. 

The intricate grandfather clock suddenly chimed loudly. Midnight had arrived.

Tick.

“In the Twilight of the Eclipsing Red Moon…”

Tick.

“When Stars Align and Shadows Loom…”

Tick.

A strange voice seemed to rise from nowhere. You flinched visibly, a shiver creeping up your spine as the tiny hairs on the back of your neck stood up. You quickly found Rin’s hand and grasped it tightly. 

“D-Did you hear that?” You shuddered, voice trembling.

He raised an eyebrow. “Hear what? You’re imagining things.”

You shook your head, swallowing hard. “No… I swear, I heard something– like a voice. It was…”

He scoffed, shaking his head dismissively. “It’s just the clock ticking. Don’t start getting all nervous on me now.” His grip tightened around your hand, but you doubted it was for your comfort. “You’re going to be on your best performance for me, Got it?”

You hesitantly nodded, your gaze lingering on the moon for a few more seconds. The red, eerie glow still haunted your thoughts. You reluctantly turned away, looping your arm through Rin’s to exit the chamber and enter the grandeur.

“Yes…”

“And I want to thank you all once more for attending tonight’s ball,” The Emperor’s proclamation boomed from behind the closed doors. The attention of every soul present was on him. “I would now like to announce the formal entry of The Second Prince of Aquaria, and his fiancée, a soon-to-be princess, Y/N!”

The large doors, decorated with orchids and bloody red roses, parted dramatically to reveal you and Rin hand in hand. The Royal Guards on each side immediately stiffened and raised gloved hands to their head in salute. 

The aristocrats hushed immediately and their eyes followed as you both stepped onto the red carpet, descending the grand staircase and heading towards the two thrones.

You halted just below the steps of the thrones, immediately lowering your head in a bow of respect alongside Rin.

“Greetings, Your Imperial Majesties,” you murmured, lifting your head as you learned to.

“... Thank you, Father, Mother,” Rin’s voice followed formally.

Your gaze shifted towards the Empress. You particularly loved her as her lovely crimson hair always seemed to remind you of Sae. Oh, speaking of the Crown Prince, where was he? You hadn’t caught a glimpse of him yet. 

You turned your head, eyes subtly scanning the room in search of a distinct redhead. And in the corner of your eye, you found him leaning casually against a balcony pillar, arms folded over his chest and eyes closed.

Your gaze softened at the sight of him before refocusing on the mob of aristocratic ladies and noblemen that had rushed to circle your betrothed as soon as the Imperial Greetings were over. They approached and offered smiles under snobby and vexing expressions, backhanded compliments under the guise of praise.

“Such a refreshing choice, Your Imperial Highness!” A brunette lady gibed, fanning herself with an elegant fan as she slyly smirked, “You’ve truly outdone us all in… originality.”

A Lord chuckled beside her, his laugh insufferably pompous. “I must say, Your Highness, I certainly admire you embracing such humble roots! A prince of the people! Ho ho ho!”

“I’m glad we have such a reliable prince who values all his subjects equally!”

“It is odd that His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince hasn’t found a lady yet.” One brought up.

An Earl added, “That’s true. He’s supposed to step up to the throne sooner or later. He needs an heir once he becomes Emperor.”

You squeezed Rin’s hand discreetly as he bit his lip in frustration at the mention of his brother. He needed to restrain himself at least this one time. 

“I appreciate your sentiments–” he began, but faltered for a split second. “No I fucking don—” You squeezed his hand again, giving him a gentle nudge, and he cleared his throat. “Your support is reassuring,” he finished with a strained smile.

As your fiancé continued chatting with the backhanded nobles, your attention kept drifting towards Sae, stealing quick glances every now and then. He had begun conversing with a group of higher officials and ministers, likely discussing Berlina, The Kingdom of Sorcery and Magic that he had frequented many times to strengthen the Empire’s growing alliances.

Loud enchanting music began to play from the orchestra and many already established couples began to dance in the center. Expensive and rare gifts began to pile at your feet, congratulatory offerings from various guests. Rin accepted them indifferently and reluctantly offered his thanks with as much enthusiasm as the stone sculptures that lined the ballroom.

“This jewel was found in the Ancient land of Topion and is thought to bring good fortune!”

“This exotic bird from Elakis produces gold everytime it sings!”

“This sword is forged by a legendary ghost smith whose body lives in the volcanic depths of Loo!”

You froze when Sae stepped forward as the next gifter, and it seemed like the entire room was also holding its breath. He approached, your widened eyes drifting down to the elegant box in his hand. He opened it, revealing an intricate necklace with shimmering, round pearls.

“An authentic pearl necklace crafted by the Merman Emperor of Eau.” Sae presented with his usual calm demeanor, making it hard to believe that he had spent days negotiating with the merman to create a necklace exclusively suitable for you.

Your mouth parted in surprise, and the words tumbled out. “Oh– thank you! It’s… beautiful.”

Rin rolled his eyes, gently fisting your hair and lifting it to expose your neck. “You didn’t have to do that,” He hissed through gritted teeth, looking at Sae with teal eyes that crinkled in hate.

Sae met his brother’s glare with a simple hum, fastening the beaded necklace around your neck. You bit your lip tightly as his touch lingered on your skin, looking down at the pearls that beautifully settled against your collarbone. “That would be disrespectful to you both, I’m afraid,” He said. “Even Our Father, the Emperor, has offered her pleasantries.”

Rin clicked his tongue and looked back at you, wrapping his arm possessively around your waist and pulling you closer to him. He pressed a quick kiss to your forehead, catching you by surprise. The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes at the gesture.

“Come on, darling,” Rin emphasized as he spat out the term of endearment, though he internally cringed and wanted the ballroom to rupture and swallow him whole. The pet name left a bitter taste at the tip of his tongue. “It’s time for our dance.”

You nodded, your lips parting to speak, but, “Of course, Your High—”

“The Great’s Fate is Sealed in the Veil of Night…”

That haunting voice again. Your ears were ringing. You quickly squeezed your eyes shut and froze in your tracks.

“...By the Hand of One from Mystic Light.”

“I-It’s the voice again!” You whimpered, hands flying to your ears in a desperate attempt to block out the sound. “I hear it!”

Rin scoffed loudly, glancing left and right at the guests who were exchanging confused looks. Sae, on the other hand, seemed out of it, with half-closed, bleary eyes.

“Quit it, you fool!” Rin cursed in annoyance, his patience snapping. He grabbed you by your shoulders and yanked you to his chest away from their judgemental gazes.

“Voice? I don’t hear anything,” a lady whispered.

“Neither do I,” someone else chimed in.

A voice snickered, “She said ‘again’.”

“His Imperial Highness must be marrying someone with auditory hallucinations.” The words stung as they left another noble’s mouth.

Then, in an instant, the ballroom plunged into darkness as the bright chandeliers went out. The ballroom was only illuminated by the glow of a large bolt of lightning, and a thunder rattled so violently it deafened you and shook the windows. When the bulbs flickered back on, a shrill lady’s voice pierced the silent room.

“T-The Crown Prince! He’s not moving!”

All eyes shot to Sae, who lay motionless and graceful on the floor, hand on top of hand. He looked calm, as though he was merely resting. 

You gasped in fear, hands flying to your mouth as you tried to stay balanced on your feet. Rin’s eyes in particular were the widest. The atmosphere in the room immediately shifted to terror as everyone noticed the ink-blue vines creeping slowly up his neck, thorn designs wrapping themselves around his throat.

“T-That’s… Alexis’ Curse!” The Emperor panicked.

You had read about it. Alexis’ Curse—an ancient legend of a wizard scorned by love. His heart had been shattered by the daughter of a shoemaker, Michelle Kaiser, who had chosen her Earl lover over him. She always refused Alexis’ advances, and the gifts he’d always present. 

Enraged, Alexis had cursed the Earl, condemning him to a fate of eternal sleep unless the one he loved kissed him to break the spell. The curse wasn't one of eternal youth, however—the body continued to age, to decay, until there was nothing left but ugly bones. 

But because Alexis had disposed of his inked body in his tower, the Earl had died alone, Michelle never finding him.

The curse had become a myth, that Alexis’ wrath was aimed at those of high status, warning them of the dangers of meddling with those beneath them. 

But the nobles’ faces were literally drained of colour because what had once been myth was now terrifyingly real, before their very eyes.

It had been a few weeks since the disaster during your engagement party.

They had sealed Sae’s lifeless body deep in a chamber within the Main Palace’s basement. You attempted sneaking in multiple times, but you failed– the entry was heavily guarded and there was too much risk. And besides, if slipping past your lady-in-waiting wasn’t hard enough, Rin had become increasingly possessive as the possibility of being promoted to Crown Prince rose. That is if he was elected as so in the Royal Committee Meeting.

He was proud enough that he’d permit small acts of closeness– letting you remove your gloves when in his presence, even sharing his chamber. So, you would never risk waking him up while trying to sneak into the basement.

You recalled the aftermath of the disastrous ball vividly:

—

“I never knew he was so pathetic,” Rin sneered that night, running a hand through his dark hair before resting it at your throat and squeezing lightly. “Falling in love with you? A commoner? He must be out of his mind.”

He chuckled as he released you, pulling you into his chest.

“The whole Empire is so stupid. They think he fell in love with someone else. But it’s better this way.”

—

Yet despite Rin’s actions, your thoughts remained with Sae. You’d spent the weeks caring for Celestia, his white mare, as well as tending to Rin’s black stallion which he had never bothered to give a name to. You learned from the stable workers that Celestia was the mother of the charcoal horse.

Tonight, however, a once in a red moon opportunity presented itself. Your fiancé was away on royal business in Yelund, negotiating financial matters with their government in place of the Crown Prince. You took this chance, knowing it was the only one, and decided to sneak out.

You left your chamber, clutching a cage with a rat you’d found in the servants residence. You made your way through the darkened corridors until you reached the entrance of the basement. You hid yourself behind a large stone pillar and took a deep breath, tossing a small block of cheese across the room as a distraction. 

The guards were alarmed by the subtle noise and quickly whipped their heads and ran towards the sound. You bit your lip in concentration— everything was going according to your plan. You quickly released the rat from its cage, watching it scurry across the concrete, and silently slipped into the Royal basement. You sighed in relief as you heard a guard's voice.

“Oh, it’s just a rat. Guards, get back into position.”

—

You slid off your heels so that your bare feet barely made a sound as they grazed the stone steps of the staircase. The basement wasn’t very illuminated if not for the dim candles that hung on the wall, and the stench was not horrible as you thought it would be. Instead, it smelled like preserved jasmine.

You were at the last step when you put your hand on the concrete wall, trying to catch your breath.

At the bottom, in the center of the relatively smaller room, stood a rectangular crystal glass box. Inside it, Sae lay perfectly still. The sight of him made your gaze soften and your heart clench as if it was put in a meat slicer. His skin was pale, but it was bolded, in contrast, by the inky blue vines tracing thorn and rose patterns across his body. 

His cheeks and ears were faintly flushed by a baby pink dust, and his lips looked so soft, so gentle, so inviting. Stray strands of his red hair lay on the cushion beneath him, his long lashes resting against his cheekbones.

You were aching as you approached the enclosure. Your fingers trembled as you pressed them to the glass, your breath slightly fogging the surface. Tears blurred your vision as they began to roll down your cheeks, and you leaned down to gently caress his cheek with your bare hand, feeling the coolness of his skin.

You sniffled and your palms went to rub your glossy eyes, before you straightened up and curled your fingers on the glass in a tight grip. He looked beautiful, you thought, with roses that matched his hair colour surrounding him all over.

“Your Imperial Highn— no, Sae—” you whispered, “I… I love you, too.”

You cupped his face with quivering hands, your thumbs rubbing sweet circles on his skin as you contorted your body awkwardly to reach him. The glass was positioned high, at your waist’s level, so you had to twist your body and bend to touch him intimately.

Sae remained unmoving, yet you had hoped that somewhere deep within his slumber, he could sense your touch, or the sincerity of your unsteady voice confessing your reciprocated love.

As you leaned in to kiss him, that same sharp voice that you always hear yet again cut through your ears, and you instinctively covered them with your hands for protection.

“But From the Dust of Forgotten Lands,”

Your heart thumped faster in your chest as you tried to shake it off.

“Shall Rise a Heart with Common Hands,”

Beads of cold sweat trickled down your temple— you could never get used to the voice, no matter how many times you’d heard it.

“With Lips of Rose and Spirit Warm,”

Your hands fisted at the cotton under Sae, inhaling deeply before bending down until your face was inches away from his.

“To Bring the Order, End the Storm.”

Your lips hesitantly hovered over his mouth before you fluttered your eyes shut and pressed them against his in a kiss. Your lips together were so soft, yet they weren’t moving against each other like a mutual kiss would. They locked seamlessly in a way that felt strangely natural, as if the pair were made for each other. 

Your lips lingered against his for a few seconds, and you wanted to relish the moment more, but you felt a subtle shift in Sae’s body. A faint flinch, almost imperceptible, ran through him, and the blue roses on his skin suddenly began to glow.

You pulled back before you could fully comprehend what was even happening, your lips just brushing his as you turned and sprinted towards the stairs. Fortunately, the guards on duty were in the midst of a shift exchange, so you assumed you had gone off flawlessly.

But not entirely.

A certain awakened man had caught a glimpse of your hair as it bounced during your escape.

The first light of morning stabbed your eyes, and they fluttered open abruptly as you realized Rin’s hands were on your shoulders, shaking you harshly. His face was itched in a deep scowl, his breath hot against your skin.

“What the fuck is all this about? This is what I come back to, you fucking whore?” He fumed venomously.

You blinked in confusion– your head was still fogged with sleep, after all. 

“W-What..?”

—

The usual tranquility of the whole palace was broken by hurried, squeaky footsteps and frantic voices. News of the Crown Prince’s revival had spread like wildfire through the Royal Quarters: the sleeping prince had defeated the curse and had awakened after only a few mere weeks.

The servants and maids rushed through the hallways, scrambling to prepare for what would be an unexpected audience. Gossips and rumours flowed through every corridor of the palace faster than the head maid brewing herbal tea in preparation for noble guests.

And in the Royal Gardens outside, hundreds to near thousands of noblemen and noblewomen who were alerted of the Sae’s revival gathered, dressed in their finest dresses and suits. 

Oh, you were so fucked.

—

“M-My lady, this isn’t good!” Eleanor cried as she ran into your room, “Hundreds of guests have arrived in the Throne room, and both princes are there too! His Imperial Majesty is now urgently awaiting your presence!”

Your hands instinctively wrapped around your abdomen, and you suddenly felt nauseous. Your body shook slightly, your teary eyes fixing themselves on the ground. You loved Sae, you really did, but doubt was gnawing at your organs. Kissing him felt right in that moment, yet you were starting to regret ever doing it. 

What if he didn’t want your help? What if your peasant lips had tainted him? What if he didn’t want you?

“I… I don’t want to go,” you hiccuped, walking around your room in circles. “I’m so stupid, I should have never—”

“No, my lady,” She interrupted gently. “You must.”

You gulped and nodded hesitantly. Rin’s anger lingered in your mind like salt and pepper— his eyes were boiling over with rage, his face tinted a deep crimson red. You had never seen him like that, and now, as you stepped into the crowd gathered in the grand hall, all heads turned to look at you in a way that made you even more uncomfortable.

But the Emperor, however, did not seem angry. Weird enough, he looked elated for reasons you couldn’t yet pinpoint.

As Eleanor had said, Rin and Sae were both present, standing opposite each other like the rivals they were. Rin was struggling to contain the way he was absolutely fuming, while Sae was blatantly staring at you with no intention of hiding it. Unlike the way you usually reacted to the Crown Prince’s gaze, you felt rather nervous, flexing and unflexing your fingers.

You pinched the fabric of your simple gown and bowed low, and the thin patterns of the marble floor never seemed so interesting.

“Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty,” you addressed. 

The Emperor nodded in acknowledgment, before turning his attention to Sae expectantly. “My son.”

“Yes, father.”

Before your wracked mind could process what was happening, Sae suddenly began striding toward you. Rin was a considerable distance away from you but he also furrowed his brows in confusion. A million thoughts started to run through his mind and he felt the unease creeping up his spine. Had they planned something behind his back?

Sae came to a stop in front of you, and your breath caught in your throat as you felt his arms, so muscular despite being under layers of hand-crafted clothing, loop around your waist and pull you close. Your face pressed against his chest, and your hands awkwardly hung near your sides despite being desperate to place themselves in places they’d beg to touch.

Loud gasps and surprised awes of the hundreds of uninvited, stunned guests echoed throughout the large room.

“Hey, what the heck–?” Rin suddenly snapped, biting down on his lip so hard that blood seeped out, the iron leaving a metallic taste on his tongue.

He didn’t like you, not really, but he had finally claimed something– someone that his older brother desired, and now it felt as though Sae was taking you from him. 

It irritated him to no end, the way Sae’s hand gently patted your hair and the way you sheepishly smiled into his suit like an idiot– who the heck did you think you were? How could you? How fucking dare you?

And more importantly, why was the Emperor fine with this? Why was he chuckling so carelessly akin to the circus’ fool? What was going on?

But your mind was already in Saturn. You were lost in the Crown Prince’s musky scent and the oh-so-delicate taps of his fingers on your head, and when you heard that voice again, you closed your eyes knowingly and smiled for the first time in what felt like forever.

“A Crown of Old Shall Find its Grace,”

“In the Embrace of a Simple Face.”

“Y/N.” Sae’s voice broke through your thoughts and the voices of gossip in the crowd died down instantly. He tilted your chin up gently, thumbs caressing your face sweetly before his hands found their place on your cheeks.

Your eyes darted left and right nervously, avoiding his gaze. He'd never called you by your first name before. You shook those thoughts away and met his gaze. “Yes…?”

“You know,” He started, “To break the curse, the feeling of love must be mutual…”

Your cradled head nodded in his hands in embarrassment, and you felt heat creep up from your neck to your ears. “I’m aware,”

“So?”

Your eyes widened and immediately snapped down to the floor, watching your simple heels shuffling softly. You couldn’t help the soft giggle that escaped past your lips, and you only hoped that no one had heard that. You looked up at him affectionately.

“I love you…” Your voice dripped like melted caramel on his tongue, so sweet.

He smiled– a real, genuine smile that no one besides you could see– and leaned down, whispering an “I love you too,” before sealing his lips against yours. The kiss was gentle, and you let out a soft sigh as your fingers curled onto the rich fabric, gripping onto his attire tightly. His lips were warm as they moved against yours, unlike the cold, unmoving lips that you had claimed a while back. 

When you finally pulled away, your eyes fluttered open, dazed with bleary eyes, little hearts seemingly etched into your pupils.

The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, and maybe a few rolls of the eyes and glares from jealous noblewomen or daughters of Lords who had hoped to have Sae all to themselves, though you barely registered anything.

Why would anything matter, when you were here, openly in his arms?

“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is in love with his soon-to-be sister-in-law? This is hot news!”

“The Second Prince didn’t love her anyway.”

“He didn’t? But was it really a marriage of convenience, then?”

“No way, he must have been in love. What’s there to gain from a commoner?”

“But what could a village girl like her possibly offer the Crown Prince?”

The Emperor suddenly rose from his golden throne and stepped down the carpeted stairs, standing in the center. He cleared his throat and raised his scepter high in the air.

“I, the Emperor of the Royal Empire of Aquaria, officially dissolve the engagement between Y/N and the Second Prince, and announce the engagement between her and the Crown Prince!”

Rin’s eyes twitched. His fists clenched tighter by his sides, knuckles white and nails digging deep into his palms. He felt humiliated in front of so many people, but it is said that what goes around comes around. 

“Huh? But Father, she's—” Rin began, but the Emperor turned his head and shot him a threatening glare. 

“Emperor’s order.” With a voice that sharp, there was no possible room for argument.

You also stood frozen, mouth hanging open in disbelief as you blinked at the Emperor in the distance. But Sae’s fingers tipped your chin back up and his lips latched onto yours in a bold, open-mouthed kiss.

“Look at me,” he murmured as he pulled back slightly to look at you, his breath warm against your skin.

Your breath hitched, your gaze locking onto his. “Your Highness… I can’t believe this is happening,” You whisper-yelled in excitement, your hands waving around uncertainly.

He gently poked your cheeks. “You’ll take my last name since you don’t have one.”

You pinched yourself to check if this was all just a dream. If it was, you didn’t want to wake up. But it was all too real. The Crown Prince was now your fiancé. You were going to be the Crown Princess, and eventually, the Empress. And you were going to take his last name because commoners do not have the privilege of family names.

And despite everything, you strangely felt no deep remorse. You had slightly opened up to and grown fond of Rin in the past few weeks– he had those moments, but with you in his brother’s arms right now, you felt something different. You felt bad, but at the same time you didn’t. It wasn’t guilt. It was more complicated, but in the end, you didn’t dwell on it. You didn’t need to.

Rin stood in his spot motionless like a fallen angel’s statue, face hidden by a brush of his dark bangs. His eyes were fixed on the floor and his hands were clutching onto his pants like if he removed them hell would break loose.

His plan had backfired on him. Initially, he had chosen you, a commoner, as his fiancée to gain favour with the people, to appeal to the majority of Aquaria’s population, who were commoners themselves. It seemed like a strategic move at the time. His father, the Emperor, was known for his peculiar love for equality and would occasionally volunteer in villages, much to his dismay. Rin had believed marrying you would show his alignment with his father’s baffling… values, and would increase his chances of becoming the next ruler.

But no. His darn prodigy of a brother had bested him once again. Sae was better at everything: swordplay, horse riding, diplomacy, even winning nobles’ hearts. And now, his brother had not only fallen in love with his fiancée, a dumb commoner from the slums that he had chosen to boost his image, but also managed to make her fall heads over heels for him as well.

If that hadn’t infuriated him enough, he despised how his father wore that sickeningly proud smile on his face as he clapped his hands together, and how the couples were cheering and twirling like morons on the floor. While he stood stiff and awkward in the corner, insides seething in mixed emotions, hearing your stupid giggles and his brother’s irritatingly sweet reassurances of a better life with him. Sae had taken everything away from him, and it felt like salt being rubbed into an open wound.

But Rin hated his older brother, and he hated you too.

So on the night of your wedding, the chambermaid in your room let out a blood-curdling shriek, her face as pale as the moonlight that shone through the window. 

Cruel streaks of mulberry and plum bruises painted the delicate canvas of your neck. The once-pure white of your nightgown now blemished with spreading stains of deep cherryrose dye called blood, seeping through the fabric and into the silken sheets beneath. 

A severed porcelain horse’s head lay propped beside the body with vacant eyes, and scattered across the carpet were shattered remnants of a pearl necklace.

“But Do not be Fooled, One Shall Not Bloom,”

A dagger, its handle carved from true blue sapphire, was loosely wrapped between cold, limp fingers of a lifeless corpse sprawled across a river of red.

“For This, Will Lead to One’s Gentle Doom.”

© 2024 bluelockmaniac — do not repost, copy, translate, modify, etc my work on any platform !

[kenslilove]

᯽៰ ͘ ࣭⸰ 𖥔 ͙ࣳ A present for Chifuyu

preview. chifuyu comes home to a very surprising, yet satisfying Christmas gift, featuring a red ribbon <3

ft. Chifuyu Matsuno x Fem!Reader

wc. 1.4k

W. NSFW 18+ MINORS DNI, fingering, pet names, oral (f!receiving), fem bodied reader, nipple play

an. Merry early Christmas Nie 💖🥺🎄! This is my present to @fuyuluvr for the @enchantedforest-network secret Santa event! I loved writing this as a gift!! It was so much fun! Plus, I’ve never written a full fanfic for mister Chifuyu Matsuno! So this was super fun to do <33 I hope you enjoy it honey <3 and all the my fuyu lovers out there, I hope you enjoy too! Also, shoutout to @benkeibear for the adorable Christmas themed headers hehe, they are SO cute 💖🎄

Feedback, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated <3

“Babe?” Chifuyu returned home after what felt like the longest day he’d ever experienced. People had been annoying, the pets had been annoying, Baji made him almost walk out a time or two.

He had been excited to come home to you. You, his calm. You, the warm embrace he always looked for, even if it hasn’t been a long stressful day. So he couldn’t even help but pout a little when he didn’t hear or see you instantly in the apartment. He huffed to himself, slipping his shoes off when he finally perks up. There’s a shuffling from your room.

“Baby?” He called again, smile coming to his face as he makes haste to the bedroom.

“Cmere, fuyu.” You called to him. “I need help”

“Oh yea? What’s up baby? Is everything oh—“

His words fall flat as he swings the door open. He’s left in a stunned silence, his hand still on the knob as he stares at you.

You, his pretty girl. Sprawled out on the bedroom for him. You’re wearing a new set, one he did not recognize but very much enjoyed.

Because it wasn’t much material at all. Rather a red ribbon seemed to be curled and wrapped around your body. It covered your most intimate parts, wrapped over your hips and over your slit. Hugged around your waist and conveniently covering your perked nipples. Tied off and finished around your wrists loosely, keeping them held together in front of you. You blink your lashes at him bashfully, innocently even. As if you weren’t basically naked and waiting to be unraveled.

“Hi~” your voice is in a purr, and when you notice the blush start to form on the tips of Chifuyu’s ears, the way his black jeans already start to tent, the way his Adam’s apple bobs roughly, you can’t even help but let out a breathy laugh.

“I got you an early Christmas present~”

“And it’s the best gift I could receive” Is Chifuyu’s response. His voice is already lowered, lust swirling in his pupils. He doesn’t wait another moment to pounce you, his lips crashing against your own in a kiss that takes your breath away. With a palm cupped on the back of your neck he lowers you to the bed, never once breaking the kiss as your back comes into contact with the plush comforter of your bed.

When Chifuyu does finally pull back you’re both panting, a string of drool connects both of your swollen lips to one another, both your cheeks with a matching shade of light flush that has him grinning, shamelessly licking up the string of saliva only for the rest of it to snap back against your chin.

After a kiss like that the ribbon is already struggling to do its job. The delicate material has lower on your breasts, slipped right off your nipples that perk up as if beckoning Chifuyu in. And he hears their call, his fingers swirling around them methodically, slowly, his thumb joining in to apply pressure to the nub just so he can see your back arch for him.

“Such a pretty little present…” he murmurs, this time, it’s more to himself, pupils blown wide with his lust as he pinches one of your nubs, toying with the rose bud, and in turn you make the sweetest little noises for him.

“Fuyu…” you whimper, lips in a slight pout and he knows exactly what that means. You want more from him, need more. And he is more than happy to give you what you need. He confirms that with one more kiss to your lips, while he takes your bound hands and places above your head. You grip the sheets without him having to ask, bat your lashes in obedience and in reward he smooths his palm over your pussy. The red ribbon that was once covering your slit is soaked through, tucked between your swollen lower lips. It makes Chifuyu smirk to himself because your sweet little pussy is already sucking in anything it can get, how cute.

You’re so sensitive, so excited that when he pulls the ribbon from your pussy and it grazes along your clit you gasp, eyes glassy with desire that Chifuyu takes in stride. “Need me so bad, hm?” His voice holds that kind of mock sympathy he knows you love, the tone that makes your pussy lips quiver and hole clench up. You nod, “mhm’s” pooling off your lips as he collects your slick with his middle and ring finger. “Anything for my pretty present.” He reassures, finally sinking his fingers inside when they’re fully coated in your arousal.

He pushes right in to his knuckles with little resistance from your cunt. Your eyes flutter from the feeling, the ribbon now laying limp over your body, basically unwrapped and leaving you naked and flushed and needy under his knowing touch. His grin stays plastered on his face, his free hand cupping the back of your neck to make sure he always has a view of your pretty face while his fingers create a steady rhythm.

In and out, in and out. He stretches the two apart and you mewl, he curls them upwards and your lips hang open, drool threatening to pool down your chin.

Your voice is babbles, pleas, moans for “oh, yes, more, good, fuyu, baby—!”

“You’re so pretty when you fall apart for me, darling…” he murmurs his words, a sigh to them almost because he’s admiring you with every twitch, every cry of pleasure. When he can start to hear the squelch of your cunt he picks up his speed, one of his legs hooked over your to keep it spread for him, keep it from trembling less as he works you into a haze that really has you drooling now.

“Tell me you love me baby.” It’s low, a command that make your eyes open up, glossy and devoted. He knows you hear him because your pussy hugs his fingers first as a confirmation before your words follow. “I love you, baby I love you, love you fuyu so much~” it’s a melody that makes Chifuyu’s cock so hard in his pants, makes his heart squeeze so tight and then burst into flutters.

He was so lucky.

“I love you too, sweetheart.” He murmurs his words up against your lips, kissing you over and over, lulling you towards your release which he knew was coming. He could tell from the telltale signs. Your cunt squeezing his knuckles, sucking them in and holding them tight. You’re slick, which now leaked out of your needy hole and down his palm, over his wrist. Your hitched breathing, tensed up abdomen. With his fingers curling once more, focusing on that sweet, spongy spot within your walls he smiles against your mouth, breath mingled with your own.

“Let go honey. Be good, let go for me.”

And you do just as you’re told, all while holding his gaze. You gasp, body frozen at the pinnacle of your orgasm before the pleasure comes crashing down around you. You cry out “thank yous” and “Chifuyu’s” as your pussy pulses over his fingers, a steady stream of slick leaving you as your release makes you blink pleasurable tears from your eyes. And Chifuyu works you through every step of the way, with petting fingers, kisses along your tear streaked, warm cheeks. It’s only when your pussy finally stops clenching that he pulls he fingers free.

And he sucks on them shamelessly. He moans at your taste, lapping at his own digits while you try to collect yourself, regain your breathing to its normal pace, stop your body from trembling with pleasure.

You don’t even notice when Chifuyu moves. Suddenly his hands are hooked under your thighs and he’s pulling you forward along the bed. You can’t help but yelp gently, followed by a fucked out giggle when your ass lifts from the mattress, your legs held firm over his shoulder as his nose nuzzles lovingly against your swollen clit.

It makes your arousal smear all over his face, but neither of you seem to care. “M’not done with you yet.” He murmurs, and his words this time are directed to your cunt. You just stare at him, dazed, smiley and giddy as his tongue leaves a long, slow, fat strip along your pussy. You just know your “present” worked, and you’ll be getting his attention all night long <3

PROPERTY OF KENSLILOVE. DO NOT COPY OR REPOST ONTO ANY OTHER PLATFORM‼️

[thesmutsideblog]

When Your Heart Feel Heavy You Drink (Eddie Munson, Ft Steve Harrington)

Content Warnings: Accidental Pregnancy, Implied Plans For Abortion, Explicit Language, Alcohol Use, Drunken Behaviour, Smutty-ish Content But Not Extensive There Would Be More Heavy Smut If I End Up Doing A Second Part. Implications Of Reputation/Bullying. Use Of Nickname "Bunny" Both Derogatorily And Affectionately. Not Beta/Proof Read. AFAB Reader Word Count: 8k+A/N: So, a few things. One, I started writing this at 1am on a random Wednesday because I had a half asleep thought and then could not let it go. Two, I have said, time and time again, there are few tropes I hate more than accidental pregnancy. Now take that as a personal preference issue, take that as an embodiment of my fear of pregnancy, the fact I do not want children and my raging asexuality. Three, I had no idea this was going to be as much as it was when I started writing it. And I had no idea where it was going to go either. I knew I wanted it to be Eddie based, but I also knew it might end up being Harrington in the end, maybe even some Steddie content, I really didn’t have a clue, so I just let it write itself. And I might continue to write it, fuck knows. Do I think this is my best work? No. Not remotely. But I wrote it, and I wrote a lot of it, and tbh I’ve written a lot worse and thought fuck it, it exists, might aswell put it out there, so both you’re welcome and I am sorry. But also I am not sorry.

Now

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

No string of curse words was going to change the two red lines on the stick you held between your hands. No amount of praying, of cursing, of wishing. No amount of screwing your eyes closed and counting to ten and opening them again was going to change the result.

The tiny little rest glares up at you, illuminated by the shitty white lighting of the convenience stores public bathroom, and it feels like the biggest taunt you’ve ever experienced. You wonder to yourself if you could drown yourself in the dripping water of the sink you are resting your head against. You doubt it and with a deep inhale you pull yourself up off the floor.

“Right,” you tell yourself. “Not ideal, but we can fix this, we can fix this and we can forget about it, and we can focus on college applications.”

You tell yourself over and over you can do that, you can focus on tomorrow like you’re not spinning. You can think about school and college and work like your heart isn’t threatening to stop in your chest.

Like you’re not pregnant.

Your watch beeps and your hairs stand on end. Four o’clock. It’s Saturday, and it’s four o’clock. Shit, you’re about to be late for your shift at Family Video. Your whole body feels cold. You cannot go to work today. You can’t. Not with everything going on. Not there. Not if there is even the smallest chance you’ll see him.

“Keith is going to kill me,” you whisper to yourself, as you make a beeline for the payphone. You twist the metal chord around and around as it rings out, praying to the wide open that anyone else picks up the phone.

“Family Video,” comes Robin’s voice and you’ve never been so glad to hear it, “what can I do for you?”

“Buckley,” you say but your voice barely makes it out.

“Bunny?” is her reply. You groan, that nickname has followed you like the plague and Robin had never used it, until now. “Shit,” she whispers, realising her slip up, “sorry.”

“It’s fine,” you tell her, it’s not, but you’d forgive her a whole manner of sins if she doesn’t make you feel even worse for what you’re about to tell her. “Robin I cannot make my shift.”

“It’s Saturday,” Robin whines.

“I know,” you tell her, “I know, and I am sorry, and you know I wouldn’t leave you hanging if I didn’t have a really good reason.”

“What is it?” she asks. Notoriously nosy and yet it never stops surprising you how shamelessly Robin will demand answers for anything. It is as if the girl has never had to keep a secret in her life, as if she has never had a single thing she wanted to keep to herself.

“I’ve been throwing up for the last three hours and I hoped it was going to pass, I thought, hey maybe if I get it all out my system I can get to work, but between heaving up my insides and trying to force water down my throat I didn’t realise how much time passed, and I know that’s a shit excuse for giving you so little warning, but as it turns out, this might be a little more than a bad reaction to my mothers quiche,” you lean into it now, knowing how Robin feels about germs, “and unless you want to share whatever it is making me want to tear my intestines from my body-,”

“You’re good, stay home,” Robin says, “can you at least call Harrington and have him cover?”

“He is your best friend, you call him,” you say, a little too harshly, so with a wince you add, “it took all the energy I have making this call.”

“Sure, sure,” she says, and you don’t have to see her to know she is waving a hand in the air to usher your words away from her. “Whatever, just… stop being sick or something.”

“I’ll try,” you say before hanging up. Every muscle in your body hurts, you want nothing more than to sink onto the floor of this dirty payphone box and let the ground swallow you. But you can’t, because that gets you nowhere, and you’ve got places to be.

You give the door of the box a small kick before pushing it open, and staring down the road, it’ll take you about twenty minutes from here to walk to where you need to go next. Your brain is screaming at you, desperate for you to think of another option, a better option, any other option. Because there is only once place you’d not rather be than where you’re headed. One person you’d not prefer to see right now, in this moment, than who you’re walking to. But you’ve got no other choice and for every reason you want to stay the fuck away from him until you figure everything out, until everything is fixed, you can think of sixteen other reasons to go to him instead. So you do, one slow, dragging step at a time, knowing that at this pace it might take more like forty minutes to get there, but before you’ve managed to talk yourself out of the idea entirely, and before you can think of any other option you can see the benches where Gareth is stood, telling a story with his arms spread wide, and Wheeler is looking at him so intently you wonder if his eyes might pop from their sockets. Dustin is pacing, trying to figure something out, and Lucas watches sat between Gavin and Jeff, no doubt wondering why he agreed to be here on this slightly too warm June Saturday. In the middle of them all, with his legs crossed, centre of the picnic table, lazy smile on his face with a cigarette stuck between his lips, still unlit, the person you really don’t want to face right now, the person you want to run from as fast as your legs might carry you. Eddie Munson, you looks up, and in seeing you, jumps to his feet, smile turning into a wicked grin as he thrusts his arms open wide and does a theatrical bow at your approach. Eddie Munson, your best friend and favourite person in the whole wide world.

“Malady,” he calls to you, “I did not believe you would be gracing us with your presence today, thought you had to earn that money, what was it you said, the honest way.”

His jovial tone, his welcoming smile, the way he lights up when he sees you is enough to make you break. You hold yourself close, arms wrapped around your torso, as if you could stop yourself bursting at the seams if you just kept holding on tight enough. You cannot cry, you tell yourself, you will not cry.

“Princess?” Eddie asks, seeing your face, searching for a smile that he cannot find. “You okay?”

“Can I borrow your van?” you ask. This gets everyone’s attention and Eddie knows without asking by the way you look at the ground, focused intently on a rock you’re pushing between your feet, that attention is the last thing you need right now.

“Scram rugrats,” Eddie says.

“But,” Dustin starts.

Eddie just holds up a hand to silence any disagreements. “Scram.” He approaches you, slower than normal as the others start to disperse. He reaches you and he moves to place a hand on your arm, and you let him, his rings cold against your skin but you barely even register the touch. You feel so unreal, the gravity of everything suspended above you, threatening to crush you at any moment. He waits until everyone is gone, and waits a little longer before trying again. “Hey, what happened?” he asks.

“Can I borrow your van?” you ask again. Not to avoid the question, but in an eagerness to get everything moving, keep everything moving, God you need everything to keep moving because if you stop, you will fall and you doubt you have the strength to get back up again.

“Sweetheart, you cannot drive my van,” he reminds you. You nod, realising you really haven’t thought any of this through.

“Okay, can I borrow you and your van?” you ask, your voice cracking now, every other syllable seeming jaded and stifled as it comes out. Eddie’s concerned look only grows.

“I am going to need you to tell me what has happened,” he says slowly.

“Eddie,” you try, “please, can you just…” you inhale, a deep shaky breath. “I need to get to Pennsylvania.”

Eddie laughs, part of him knows he shouldn’t but the ridiculousness of you stood in front of him, in the afternoon of a Saturday in blue jeans and a tee-shirt he knows you well enough to know is a pyjama top, asking him if he can take you to Pennsylvania is just too much for him not to laugh. “Got a sudden killer urge to see the Liberty Bell?” he jokes.

“Eddie I… I really can’t have you asking questions right now,” you admit, “can you take me, or am I looking at buses?”

“Wait, you’re really serious,” he says, looking you up and down, trying to decipher why in the name of all things, would you be so serious about this.

“As a heart attack,” you say. Or an accidental pregnancy, you think to yourself.

“That’s like… an eight hour drive,” he says.

“Is that a no?” you ask, and there it is again, the pain in your voice, the threat of bursting into tears right here and not knowing if you can stop. Eddie cannot bear it, the sight of you so empty, so broken.

“No,” he says, “I’ll take you-,”

“Great,” you don’t let him finish, “where did you park?”

“Right now?” he asks. You nod and gesture around as if to enforce your question. “I parked by Family Video.”

“Oh,” you say, “well I can’t go there.”

“Because you’re skipping your shift,” Eddie says, his studying you feels so invasive all of a sudden, like he can see right through you. He can’t, and he has never wanted more to be able to. Everything about you right now seems so far from normal. He wants more than anything to know what has happened, what is happening right now, why you’re suddenly a million miles from your body and you are asking the strangest things of him. He would’ve been less surprised if you had walked up to him and told him between him dropping you home last night and now, you’d gotten hitched to a member of New Kids On The Block. He just wants to know, so he knows how to fix it, how to help.

You can see that on his face. “I told Robin I was sick, and that’s not a lie,” you say, “I spent enough hours today chucking up yesterdays diner food that I don’t think I could look at a burger right now without wanting to hurl, so no, I cannot be around Family Video,” you say, but that’s not all of it. But you don’t have the energy or the ability right now to explain that to him. “So if you want to help Eddie, please go get the van and come get me.”

“So we can drive to Pennsylvania for a reason you haven’t told me?” he asks. You nod. “And we need to leave, right now?” You nod again. He nods slowly, pulling his keys from his pocket and swinging them between his fingers by the keychain. “Okay,” he says after a moment. “I’ll be fifteen minutes, tops.”

Waiting for Eddie could have been forever but it could have been a blink of your eyes, you're not sure because you're reeling. To find this out, to consider what this means and then try and get out of state the same day is what some might call impulsive choice making. But it doesn't really feel like you've got options. Not like this. Not now. There are so many conversations you'd have to have that your head starts to ache so much at the thought of it all that your vision blurs. You're not even sure what you're going to tell Eddie, and Eddie knows you better than anyone, Eddie has always known all your secrets, all except one.

You’re sat on the curb when Eddie pulls up, the van making all kinds of noises you’d usually be worried about, the type of sounds you’d start hammering into Eddie he needs to have checked out. But you don’t have it in you to be worried about that right now. That doesn’t matter right now. Just getting the fuck out of Indiana is a start.

You open the passenger side and slip in, you hadn’t noticed how long Eddie had been gone, but he must’ve been gone longer than fifteen minutes, because from the bag you can see peeping out from behind Eddie’s driving seat, he had a chance to swing home and grab a few things. You recognise your backpack you left at his for the nights you both drink far too much and cannot get home. The backpack with all the supplies you need to look like a functioning human the next day, anything emergency you might need. You give him the softest look you can muster, and he nods, the silent thank you acknowledged and immediately put aside. There were some things in your friendship with Eddie that never needed to be said, and this was one of them.

He lets you start the drive in relative silence, you reach to turn on the cassette player and before you can fill the quiet with heavy metal, Eddie’s hand rests on top of yours, pausing you, a gentle quiet gesture, trying not to push too far. But he needs something, he isn’t asking for all the answers right now, he doesn’t need them right now, a lot of it can wait, he can tell you need it to wait. But he needs something. “One thing, one answer and then you can blare Judas Priest all you want,” he says, not taking his eyes off the road, but you feel his gaze as if it were on you. “Just… why Pennsylvania, that’s all I am asking right now.”

It's a fair question, you know it is. You’re getting him to drive you eight hours across States and you’ve not given him the smallest inkling as to why. You shuffle in your seat, feeling the belt across you like a noose tightening. You wanted to run from Eddie because you’ve never been able to keep things from him, he knew all your secrets, except one. He recognises every single tell, he knows you, he has always known you and he can smell a lie from your lips before it makes it there, and you knew this would be no different. But you just need a few more hours where this is yours, and you can put things into order, find the right way to explain yourself, to explain it… to explain everything. Because you know you cannot just tell him you’re pregnant, you have to tell him… everything, and you know he will have questions and you’re not sure how to answer them yet. So you rake in a breath and bite the inside of your cheek. “Pennsylvania feels far enough away that no one will know who I am, and no one will care to remember,” you say, eyes on the road.  

You know he was looking for more, but he doesn’t ask for it. You know he will, but not yet. He let’s your hand go and presses the play on the cassette tape. Breaking The Law starts up, part way through the first verse and you sink back further into your seat, hoping you might just let it swallow you, but you know it won’t. You’re stuck in the long haul now.

The Night Of The Party

You weren’t sure of the dress. You stared at it for what felt like hours in the mirror. This was a party you were going to, and you had an idea about what that means you should wear. But the dress felt too different, it was something your mother had bought you, thinking you were someone else, she had a habit of doing that.

You wanted to slip into black jeans, you wanted to back out, but you'd convinced Eddie, you'd finally, really convinced Eddie and you weren't going to ruin that for yourself. Eddie leant around the doorframe, dressed in usual attire, a band tee shirt with a few holes in it, he'd claim aesthetic choice if asked but you know he has more often than not caught that fabric jumping fences. But he looked good, he always does. He smiled at you.

"You look..."

"Different?" You offered.

"You look like her," he said. You frowned, not sure what he meant until he raised two fingers behind his head to mock up bunny ears.

"Shut up Munson," you said, flipping him off. He meant no harm by it, and you took no offence from it, because it's him.

"Nah, see, there, just like that, you're back to being my girl again," he said, opening the door for you, "no floppy ears in sight."

"And you as always look like my misfit, I am glad you're not wearing the hellfire shirt."

"Are you? I can change."

"Don't you dare."

In moments like this Eddie felt like some wonderful dream, this figment of your imagination you’d conjured up to keep you from being lonely, but you doubted your mind could ever contrive something quite as wonderful as Munson. He stuck his tongue out at you and you flipped him off in return. At times like these Eddie felt like something you could keep, something that was truly yours, and yours alone. You had to share Eddie with school and work and life and the boys, but you never felt lost to those things. Like above anything else he was your Eddie. Your best friend. Your partner in crime.

“I don’t know how you talked me into this,” he said, ruffling out some of his curls with a shake of his head. You giggled.

“You’re like a poodle,” you had teased him.

“Calling me a dog sweetheart?” he’d asked, and leant over you, tongue lolling out. You’d laughed and shoved him back, palm to his face.

“Down boy,” you’d mocked. His laughter had carried you both out to the van and all the way to the house party.

The porch felt like the final and biggest hurdle, neither of you were exactly popular at school and this was akin to walking into a shark tank. Eddie asked you again why it was you wanted to even go. You shrugged. "Feels like a necessary experience," you stated.

"I think making out under the bleachers might be a necessary experience too," he teased, "need my help with that one?"

"If I need any help making out, I will let you know," you retorted before pushing open the unlocked door.

The party was the type of loud where you had no room for thinking, the music turned up so you can barely make conversation, the real sounds that compete with the speakers are the cheers and chants of those observing and partaking in the drinking games. The occasional less than sober giggle of those heading up to empty bedrooms.

"We can head home right now," Eddie whispered, offering you the out, sensing just how overwhelmed you could become. You shook your head. "We can have some drinks at the trailer, watch a movie, we do not have to put up with this, just say the word."

"I'd like to stay," you told him, and you'd regret those words before the hour was even up.

You'd gotten lost in the people at some point, a few drinks in, talking to Robin and Eddie had disappeared into the mass. You'd gotten a reassuring squeeze on the arm as you tried to wade through the crowds to find him. You didn't like the party. It wasn't for you, you knew it, he knew it, and he had been right. Eddie often was. You were ready to find him, take his hand and pull him out of his unimaginable hell and start a sobering walk home.

But when your eyes had finally landed on Eddie, he didn't look at all like he was suffering. He was smiling, leant one hand against the wall as he talked to some girl in a tennis skirt and even over the music and the crowd and the mess of it all, you could hear her laugh from a room away. All flirty and wanting.

And just like that, your stomach was being ripped out and you forgot how to breathe. Eddie wasn’t just yours, he wasn’t this magical creature that only you could see, he wasn’t something you get to keep to yourself forever, and you knew that. You were around Hellfire enough to know that, but it was different then, with the guys, you never felt like this. Something about some pretty girl with her fingers playing with the hem of her skirt as Eddie talked made you want to drown yourself in the punch.

So you had.

You had a drink, and then another, and then another, and somewhere between your empty bottle of vodka and the pile of red cups you lost count of just how much you were drinking.

Each drink made you more drunk, and the more drunk you became the less the feeling in your stomach of seeing Eddie with that girl was noticeable, so you got drunk. You got so very drunk.

Now

You hadn’t been asleep exactly, but you’d been clocked out and you weren’t sure for how long. The sky was darker now, the sun setting and the road lights starting to turn on. Eddie had changed the cassette over and is tapping his fingers on the wheel, not impatient or anxious, just absent of mind. You sit up straighter and he throws you a glance. “Back with me sweetheart?” he asks.

“Somewhat,” you say. Your voice is grouchy, and Eddie would think you’d woken from a slumber if he hadn’t spent every passing minute with you. “I guess.”

“You ready to talk about it?” he asks.

“No,” you admit, not holding back your discomfort as you try to roll the ache from your shoulders, but it’s not the drive and long time seated that is making your body ache, it’s the gnawing dread. “But I will.”

“I don’t mean to push,” Eddie says, and you don’t recognise the tone in his voice, it’s laced with something you don’t remember ever hearing from his mouth. Which is an admittedly strange experience given how long you’ve known Eddie, all of your life that mattered. But that thought brings clarity, this is probably exactly how he feels about your behaviour, how strange and alien it is to look at someone you know better than yourself and not recognise a thing they’re doing.

You sigh. “I couldn’t be in Indiana anymore,” you say.

“I got that part,” Eddie admits, and the chuckle is almost sad.

“I… I am sorry,” you say. You are. You’re sorry you’ve had to drag him into this. You had wanted another option, you’d wanted nearly any other option. But it was always going to be Eddie. Because Eddie is who you go to when you’re stuck, when you need help, when you need someone to bail you out or offer you a hand, when you need somewhere to crash or someone to cover for you, it’s Eddie. It’s always Eddie. It was always going to be Eddie.

“Don’t apologise,” he says, trying to shrug it off, “you’ve got nothing to be sorry for, I think.”

You pull your knees up onto the seat with you, wrapping your arms around them, and resting your chin. “Remember the party?” you ask. Eddie scoffs.

“You mean Hagan’s party?” he asks. You rolls your eyes as you look at him.

“No I mean the beach party at the White House,” you mumble. He smiles, glad to recognise you again.

“There she is,” he whispers. “But yeah, I remember the party.”

“Yeah well, it starts with the party,” you explain. But memories come bubbling back.

You were leaning against a wall for support and you were looking for Eddie, even if you didn't want to see him, not if you might see him with that girl, with his hands on her waist, his tongue down his throat. The thoughts were swimming through your mind and you wanted to drink until they drowned. But you couldn't stop thinking about Eddie, the same way you can't stop thinking about him in the quiet moments, the late at night moments, the moments when thoughts of his tongue and his hands creep all too eagerly into your mind. You shook the thoughts out because now instead of hearing your name on his lips, hands tracing up the inside of your thigh, quietly whispering requests against your skin, looking for permission to have you. It was her you were picturing with him. Her skirt hiked up, her bra unfastened. His mouth leaving marks on her hips and you wanted to scream. So you downed your drink.

You shake them away, trying to start at the beginning, trying to keep it relevant, trying to not out your feelings. “I was two drinks in and we got separated, I saw Robin and she asked me if I had seen Vicky, and I thought I had by the beer pong so I tried to direct her and maybe the drinks were stronger than Craig let on, but I felt like I was spinning out,” you explain. Eddie nods.

“They were strong,” he agrees. His tapping on the wheel has gotten lighter as you start to talk, you know that means he is concentrating on what you have to say, but you know what Eddie is like, his mind runs faster than the conversation and he is jumping hurdles way ahead of the journey. You try not to let it distract you.

“I found Vicky and she was with her boyfriend and Robin said something about getting drinks, and she walked away and I was trying to find my way back to you, but I couldn’t find you anywhere and I didn’t really know anyone else and I didn’t like those I recognised and I needed air,” you pause, letting your eyes fall on the road, watching the little white dots marking the lanes disappear in flashes as the van moves forward, if you watch them long enough they become this blur of reflective light. You’re watching them, trying to find the words to explain what happened next. “And then I saw something, and I felt like I was…” you stop yourself. You can’t explain how seeing Eddie with another girl made you feel like you were dying, not now, you have too much to explain already. “I felt awful, I felt really, really awful and I wanted that feeling to go away.”

“What did you see?” Eddie asks, letting his eyes flicker over to you for a moment.

“That doesn’t really matter,” you say, trying to brush the question away.

“If it made you upset it matters,” he says.

“It’s not relevant to the story,” you say, “you just need to know I got upset, over something, something really stupid and I should’ve have gotten upset about it. I had no right to get upset about it, but I did. I got really upset. And I didn’t like feeling that way, so I made the third bad choice of the evening.”

“The third?” he asks, trying to keep a light tone despite the heaviness of the air around you both, the threat of this topic burying you alive ever prevalent.

“Well the second was leaving your side at all, and the first was convincing us to go,” you breathe out. “But anyway, I made the third mistake of the evening, I went back to the punch. And I drank.” You push your shoes against your palms, trying to ball yourself up as small as you can be, trying to hide from yourself. “I drank a lot.”

Eddie doesn’t say anything to that, and you half expect him to, but he keeps his eyes on the road, hands now on the wheel fully, no tapping, no lightness, and he waits for you to continue.

“And I kept drinking, and kept drinking, and at some point, someone, I think Tommy handed me a bottle of… cherry tequila I think, and I don’t remember how much of that I drank, but I remember a lot of chanting and encouragement and the bottle feeling much less heavy in my hands. I got dizzy after that, and I went to find some air, but I kept walking into door frames, and the ground kept getting dangerously close to me.”

“You were really drunk,” Eddie says. Had he seen you? You wondered. You had thought that after you saw him with the girl, you’d lost track of him for the rest of the night, and maybe you had, but just because you hadn’t seen him, didn’t mean he hadn’t see you. But you thought it unlikely, because if he had seen you the way you were he would’ve made you both leave there and then.

“I made it to the door, and then I nearly fell off the front step,” you say, “but luckily, he caught me.”

“Who?” Eddie asks.

“Just this guy,” you say, really not wanting him to push the matter. “And I was so glad to see him, I know him, we know him, I wouldn’t say I know him well, but it was nice to see a familiar face that didn’t make me want to crawl into a hole. And he was careful with me, and he helped me sit on the porch and get some cold air, and I thought I sobered up a little more, and maybe I did, but not enough because I went back inside and I found another drink. But I got halfway through it, and he stopped me. He seemed concerned for me, he could see how drunk I was and I couldn’t, I just wanted to keep drinking and stop feeling so bad, and jealous and petty because I had no right. But he took the drink off me and put it down, asking if maybe I wanted some water. So I let him get me water, and he was gone maybe a few minutes before some jock was hitting on me, and I wasn’t paying much attention because I was looking for someone, Robin I think, but you can only ignore someone for so long, and he tried to kiss me so I was suddenly very aware of how close he was and then the guy got back with the water and told him to stay the fuck away, and he did. I drank the water and I felt, giddy and I felt rescued.” The way you say the word makes Eddie’s fist clench around the steering wheel for a moment. You try to ignore it. “I felt rescued and I was drunk,” you say, “I was so drunk.” You suck your teeth for a moment, gathering up more of that courage to get yourself through the story. “So, I threw myself at him, repeatedly, insistently, relentlessly, it was pathetic and I wish the alcohol would’ve taken those memories away because the things I said to him, the things I suggested, it was… embarrassing. It is embarrassing,” you groan and return your face to being buried in your knees. “I hate knowing all those… filthy things I said, things you couldn’t pay me to say sober, things I never even thought would come out of my mouth, things I haven’t even thought about, but again… I was drunk. I was… so fucking drunk.” You inhale. “So I asked him to take me from the party, I hadn’t seen you in hours and I figured you’d gone home.” You can’t ignore the flicker of hurt that crossed over Eddie’s face as you say that. That you thought he would’ve left without you, without finding you. But you’d hashed that conversation out weeks ago. And you wanted to let sleeping dogs lie. So neither of you comment any more on it. “So he took me back to his place. He hadn’t drank so he could drive.”

“He what?” Eddie asks.

“Eddie I was so drunk I couldn’t remember my own address, I couldn’t tell him where to go because I didn’t know,” you say. He turns the steering wheel in a quick action, and the van jerks at the change as he pulls off to a layby. You hadn’t noticed how tightly he had started to grip the wheel the more you talked, but his knuckles are nearly white.

“I don’t… I don’t like where this is going,” he says. You see that look in his eyes, that anger, and you’ve seen it before, it’s the kind of anger that makes him slash tires and break windows.

“Eddie, no,” you say, trying to steady yourself, “it’s not. He wasn’t like that.”

“He wasn’t?” the words feel venomous as they drop from his mouth but you know the anger isn’t at you, it’s for you.

“I don’t have enough gaps in my memory for you to doubt me on this, okay,” you tell him. “He took me back to his place, and I tried to throw myself at him more, but he wouldn’t have it, he kept telling me that I was drunk and he was glad it was him that I fell into but no. He set me up in his guest room, and I threw up, a lot, and he held my hair back and made me drink ice water. I woke up in the morning and I had a bad headache, but it could’ve been so much worse. All the things I said, all the ways I acted, it could have been so much worse. I had a shower in the ensuite and when I got out, he had made me breakfast. And a hangover smoothie and I felt a lot better. And then I felt something else.” With the van in park Eddie is watching you very closely now, turned to you, eyes studying every small movement, waiting to catch you in a lie or react to whatever you might throw at him, what feelings you might have that bubble up, he needed to be ready. Because above all, he wanted to be here for you, he wanted to fix this, and he has long lost the thread on where this is going. “I felt grateful.”

Eddie wishes he could hide his response to that, and he manages to not sneer but the irritation is clear in the way he draws his breath in tight. “Grateful,” he says. You know why that bothers him, he has spent years showing you the difference between good behaviour and common decency, and you know better than to thank someone for not being the worst.

“He is a good guy,” you try but regret the words.

“Because he didn’t take advantage of someone so drunk they literally couldn’t remember the address of the house they’ve lived at their entire life?” Eddie asks. He looks sad, really sad and you want to break apart. He sees it in your face and he winces at himself. “Shit, sorry, I am not trying to make you feel bad, I just… I wish things were better for you.”

“I know,” you tell him honestly. “But I’m not done.” He had figured as much, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear where this was going now, but he knew he had to. “I felt grateful, and I felt stupid, I felt really stupid because I could remember all those things I said and I apologised over and over, and he told me not to worry about it. That people say dumb shit when they’re drunk, and I thanked him for being there, and he said he really didn’t mind. And I apologised again for putting him out and for hitting on him like we were dying tomorrow and he shrugged it off, and he said ‘I wouldn’t have minded if you were sober.’” You bite your tongue as Eddie does the same letting his hand squeeze the wheel again. “Eddie, he wasn’t… it was on me, okay. He was good and sweet and I felt safe because of him, and I got caught up in myself and… I kissed him.”

“You kissed him?” he asks. You can feel the memory of his lips on your collarbone, his hands all needy and giving. The ways he touched you, the ways he held you, the ways your back arched and your words become nothing more than whispers. But you do not want to think about that right now. Because if you think about that you'll remember how much you thought about Eddie, and then you might just sink far enough into the car seat that you don't return. Maybe that would be better.

“And then I more than kissed him,” you say. He nods, really not wanting more detail, and you not wanting to give it. “And that would’ve been fine, it would’ve been a dumb, embarrassing memory, and a decent hook up, and it would’ve all been fine.”

“But?” he asks. He is waiting for it, the penny to drop. This nice guy of yours, did he have a girlfriend he neglected to tell you about while he was kissing you? Eddie wants to say so many things, but he doesn’t he just waits.

“But, we got caught up in it, and I didn’t think, and I don’t know if he just didn’t think either, or if while I was drunk I said something that wasn’t entirely true that made him think he didn’t have to think,” your words are becoming riddled again and Eddie’s brow furrows, trying to follow.

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“I think I said something about the pill,” you say, “which wasn’t untrue, but I may have run out and not thought much about how long I’d not taken it, I started taking it again a few days later, and I didn’t think anything of it. Until yesterday,” you say. You watch it process behind Eddie’s eyes.

“You didn’t use…” he doesn’t finish the sentence. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” you nod, “oh.”

“Oh shit,” he says, leaning back into the seat.

“Yeah, oh shit,” you echo. “The party was like five weeks ago.”

“Shit,” Eddie says again, “your pregnant.”

“Ding, ding, ding,” you whisper. You’re not sure when you started crying but you can feel the tears spilling out from your eyes now, dripping down onto your arms and exposed skin. “Not exactly a test I wanted to pass.”

“Shit,” he pulls you in, giving you a hug and resting his head on top of yours. He brings no attention to your sobs as you finally let all the feelings you tried to bury flow out of you. He doesn’t know what to say any more than you do. But being close to him, hearing his breathing, his heartbeat as he tries to keep himself calm, it reminds you of home, not your home, but true home, the place where you feel safe and understood and always welcome. That has always been Eddie for you. Now is no different.

“So Pennsylvania,” he says after a long silence.

“Yeah,” you manage, “it felt far enough away that it couldn’t come home with me, the whispers, the judgment.” You feel Eddie’s posture change, his shoulders falling lower, his muscles relaxing, you hadn’t realised how tense he had been. So it’s not surprising when you look up at him and his expression is soft, his lips gently parted in thought.

“Why are we going to Pennsylvania?” he asks.

“To deal with this,” you say, “and then never think about it again.”

He nods, you knew he wouldn’t try and talk you out of it, you knew he wouldn’t do anything but support you in whatever it was you wanted to do. Hell, knowing Eddie he would offer to take the blame, joke about a shotgun wedding if you wanted to keep it. But in his silence you hear the quiet for the first time, and the question you didn’t want creeps in.

“I am going to ask you once, and then I will never ask you again, and you don’t have to tell me,” Eddie says, “but the guy?”

“I haven’t told him,” you say. Eddie frowns for a moment, and then gives your forehead a gentle flick. “Ouch.”

“I wasn’t asking that,” he says, “I would never ask that, it’s not his business frankly, not unless you want it to be.” You give him a small smile. “No, I just… who was he?”

“You really want to know that?” you ask. Eddie tilts his head from side to side.

“I don’t know,” he admits, “curiosity might kill me, but I don’t think I am going to like the answer anyway.”

“You don’t like any guy that’s taken an interest in me,” you point out, rubbing some of the remaining moisture from your eyes with the back of your hand.

“Well, usually they are trash,” he says, “and I don’t think defending the guy you knocked you up is going to go down well,” he jokes, or mostly jokes anyway.

“Promise me you won’t tell him if I tell you,” you say. Eddie mocks offence, it’s nothing like the hurt you saw in him earlier, when you recalled how you thought he left without you, it’s all play.

“I would never,” he says, “you question my honour so?”

“I question your ability to not want to start something with him, because I know what you’re thinking,” you say.

“Has he spoken to you since?” he asks.

“Yes,” you say, and he has. Not about it, not that you would have given him the chance to. You were so eager to forget anything happened at all, too embarrassed by the entire series of events and just wanting your life to go back to how it was. Just you and Eddie, with the rest of the world at arms length. But he has talked to you, he kind of has to, it’s hard to give silent treatment to someone you work with.

“About it?” Eddie asks. You look at your tattered converse and Eddie has his answer. “Unbelievable.”

“Did you call the girl you hooked up with at the party?” you respond. Eddie frowns again, all confusion now.

“I didn’t hook up with anyone at the party,” he says. You laugh.

“Not true,” you say. Eddie stares at you, blank. You don’t understand what reason Eddie would have to try and lie about that, especially right now. “Eddie, were you wasted?”

“I had three drinks,” Eddie says, “two of which I had with you.” He looks so clueless and you don’t understand it, the girl had been all over him, and she didn’t seem eager to leave any time soon, it had shocked you sick. It had sent you reeling, it had hurt you in ways you didn’t want to process, and he doesn’t remember it.

“Eddie, the tennis skirt,” you say, like it is the most obvious thing in the world. He still stares at you like you’re talking another language. “Eddie how many people do you have to get hot and heavy with that you don’t remember someone like that?”

“I told you, I didn’t get hot and heavy with anyone, I spent most the night looking for you,” he says.

“Eddie I saw you, with the flirty tank top and tennis skirt, she was like half a sentence away from jumping your bones,” you say.

“That’s got to be an exaggeration,” Eddie states, moving to take the van out of park and get back on the road.

“No wait, we need to finish this first,” you say, pulling the keys out the ignition. “She was drinking something really cheap with a cherry in it.” A look of realisation crosses over Eddie’s face.

“Estelle?” he asks.

“I didn’t stick around to ask her name,” you point out, “I was replacing all the water in my blood with alcohol remember?”

“Estelle, Tommy’s cousin,” he starts to describe her in vague detail and she sounds like she fits the bill so you shrug.

“I guess,” you say, “she was gorgeous, that’s all I really remember about her.”

“Was she?” Eddie asks. You laugh and it’s bitter and Eddie can’t tell why. “What?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t notice Munson,” you say.

“I guess I didn’t,” he says, “like I didn’t notice she was all over me apparently.”

“Trust me,” you say, “she was.”

“You sound…” he stops. You’re quick to respond to that, fear flooding you. You put the keys back in and try to nudge him to move the car.

“Places to be, problems to deal with,” you tell him. He doesn’t move. He is staring into nothing, like he is playing a reel back through his mind, hitting through the rolodex of memories. You’re scared of what he might find there.

“You said,” he pauses. You can hear his heartbeat, as it starts to hammer like an all too eager drum in his chest. “You said you saw something, and you got upset, and you went to get more drinks.”

“Eddie we should move, not let the night get ahead of us, we have miles to go,” you try.

“You said, you saw something that made you feel awful and you needed to drink to make that feeling go away,” he says, he sounds scared as he speaks and that fills you with a whole other type of fear.

“Eddie, please don’t think about it too hard,” you beg him, but you know it’s too late. He is a dog with a bone, and he has found all the pieces, it’s just a matter of time now.

“You didn’t stick around to ask her name… and that’s… I lost sight of you before that, and I thought I saw you when Estelle was talking and I came to find you but you must’ve already been getting more drunk,” he says.

“Eddie,” you say, not even a whisper, not even a plea, just a need to say it.

“And you almost sounded… jealous,” Eddie says, so hesitant on the word, “and that’s what you said you felt, sad about something childish and jealous when you had no right to be.”

“Well, how can I get mad about someone noticing you Eddie?” you ask. “I notice you all the damn time, hell I don’t know how to stop noticing you. But I can’t make other people not see you because it makes me feel small, unimportant,” you sigh. “I saw Estelle in her little skirt and her chirpy demeanour and I immediately wanted to drown myself.”

“You… you got drunk because of that?” he asks. You understand now with one simple sentence. He blames himself, that is the thing he takes away from this. You got drunk. You got vulnerable and drunk and he sees it as his fault.

“Eddie, no,” you say, but the words don’t bring comfort, because they’re not really true.

“I should’ve found you sooner, I shouldn’t have let you out of my sight,” Eddie stammers.

“I shouldn’t have made you go to the party,” you say, “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve.”

“This is my fault,” he says. You punch his arm, hard and he throws you a wounded look. “Fucking, ouch.”

“You do not get to take credit for my accidental pregnancy,” you state, “did you knock me up? No. Did you drink your body weight in punch? No. All you did was let a pretty girl talk to you, you couldn’t know how that would make me feel.”

“I didn’t mean to let a pretty girl talk to me though,” Eddie says, “I only ever really want you talking to me.”

“I don’t know Eds,” you say softly, “I think there are things appealing about talking to someone who isn’t me, like a pretty girl,” you pause, “or guy.” He looks at you with those puppy dog eyes, so brown and lost. He let’s the comment pass you both by in favour of something more important.

“You’re the only pretty girl I care about talking to,” he says. “Or pretty, anyone.”

“Eddie,” you say, “you don’t mean that.”

“I do,” Eddie says firmly, “I do mean it, and I’ve been meaning it for a while, but I thought… how could you feel like that, that hurt and not tell me?”

“What did you think I was going to say Munson?” you ask. “Hey, I know you’re my best friend in the whole world, but seeing another girl flirt with you makes me feel like I’m dying, that seeing anyone noticing you in all the ways you should be noticed because you’re a fucking rarity, makes me feel like I’ve lost you. Makes me feel like you’ll wake up and find someone and forget about me, because I am in love with you Eddie and I don’t know how to process that properly so instead I got drunk and I hooked up with Steve fucking Harrington.”

Eddie wants to say a lot of things in response to that, to ask about the whole ‘you being in love with him thing,’ to tell you all the things he hasn’t said but always wanted to, to make you see that he sees you just the same. But only one word manages to form on his lips and he can’t keep it to himself try as he might it just falls out.

“Steve?”

[doubleddenden]

Just for fun, I'm going to make an absolute WORST CASE scenario for Pokemon day (with sillies)

Pokemon decides to announce NFTs (they did put out a job listing for an NFT expert months ago)

Pokemon merch that's just more overpriced garbage. Shitty pastel tshirts that just have the pokemon logo stamped on the left breast area- $50, only goes to size XL.

Pokemon Go has way too much screen time for yet another Kanto fest

Pokemon Masters, Unite, and Cafe just won't end their trailers.

New tv show that's just a vague reality show about celebrities that liked Pokémon once, and it's more of an episodic celebrity biography show with one line or two about Pokémon. Not even fun ones, C tier at best. So, something like T@yl*r Sw*ft's boyfriend's football career, but one line about playing Blue for a few hours at his cousin's house.

Pokemon Home fees will increase

Pokemon Bank will close TODAY

Port of Red, Blue, Gold, Silver, Ruby, and Sapphire to NSO- you have to pay for online to access it over cloud- internet connection required, and for some reason you have to pay extra for them in a Pokémon exclusive expansion pass. No word of third versions. Does not include the events or Japan exclusives.

Black and White 1 remakes announced. It's chibi like BDSP, colors are dry and washed out, there's graphical errors in the trailer frames, they state BW2 specifically is not part of the remake, they promise tweaks to make the gameplay EASIER than ever. Parts of the game are made with AI and script rewritten by Chat GPT, with an error you spot easily in a trailer. Masuda has the remake game director's neck clenched tightly from the back. He looks at you and says "you will buy the games this time. This isn't a request." Japan pre-order exclusives are amazingly crafted Reshiram and Zekrom statues that even have light up tails and eyes, and also you get shiny versions of them only in the Japanese copies, US gets a cheap piece of paper with generic stock images of Pikachu and Charizard on it, everything is shiny locked for everywhere not Japan.

They tease a Legends game. You think it's going to be amazing, you think oh my god we're getting Legends Unova... wait, it looks Japanese, maybe LEGENDS CELEBI???...it's Legends......... KANTO, and it's the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen after the clear lack of care put into their non gen 1 games since the Switch launched. A selling point is, once again, no new Pokémon after the og 151 so older fans can enjoy it better. Your starters are Charmander, Charmander, and Charmander, you might encounter Bulbasaur and Squirtle in post game. Your job is to stop EEEVIL outsiders from the rest of the regions with their newer Pokémon from settling into Kanto. Johto is having an awesome party next door with all the regions invited, but there's been a convenient landslide blocking the only way over. It's just reskinned Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee. Professor Oak is your age and putting moves on your mom.

Features a mythical Pokémon based on depression that looks like a tiny salary man, comes with its own movie featuring Ash as a depressed Millenial realizing he peaked at 10. He has to get a job. Pikachu is dying of old age and Ash has to "grow up" and release him and all of his other still living Pokémon. It cuts to real life, and Pokémon was just a game he has been playing for years to cope with his parents' divorce and eventually his own with Misty, then May, then Dawn, then Serena, then Goh, etc. Ash's dad is finally revealed: it's Chris Pratt with bad cgi wrinkles, back with milk. They go to the arcade to play Mario to stomp on some................................................................................................................................................................................... KOOPAS.

"Well that's all. Oh wait, one more thing!"

Ed Sheeran and T@yl*r Sw*ft music video featuring 1 Pikachu in a frame that can be easily edited out, with a song not even about Pokémon. The song sounds like shit and is about another breakup.

There, the bar has been lowered to the floor. It cannot get worse.

[jiunngs]

WATERMELON SUGAR ✶ CHOI YEONJUN

ft. gn!reader x choi yeonjun warnings pining idk wc 1.5k

desc ★ summer brings him watermelon ice pops and an evening with you.

the sun’s last few rays hit him straight in the eyes as he stepped out of the convenience store, determined to still shine as much as it could before it fully disappeared beneath the horizon. yeonjun winced and brought the hand not holding onto the plastic bag up to shield his eyes, stopping where he stood to take a moment to himself.

the heat was the type that was edging on uncomfortable—the shirt he was wearing was sticking to his back, and the hairs on the nape of his neck were a little damp—but he ignored it, shaking himself out of his short stupor to tread over to where you were leaning back on the wall waiting for him, sunglasses covering your eyes, and one hand disappearing under your too-short top to scratch at an unknown itch on your stomach.

the action lifted the fabric along with it, and then he felt like he was thirteen all over again, back in the alleyway he’d walked into with a couple stealing desperate kisses, face burning as he glanced at something he shouldn’t.

a smile spread over your face as he slowed to a stop, and yeonjun hoped the sunlight painting him gold and blinding him in the process would be enough to hide the red tips of his ears. he hoped the crunch of gravel underneath his beaten trainers and the crash of the plastic bag hitting his bare legs would be enough to hide the sound of his heart trying to beat itself out of his chest.

“what flavour?” you made a gesture at the bag he had a hold on as you spoke—or maybe you didn’t. his eyes had snapped to where you had reached up with your other hand to brush a flyaway out of your face, your shirt dragging up your abdomen again with the movement. he bit his lip hard enough to break the soft skin underneath, and it tasted like the things he wanted. things he didn’t think he was allowed to have.

“uh.. watermelon.” he rushed to justify his choice, even if you hadn’t said anything against it yet. “i just picked up the first thing i saw.”

a shrug, and then your hands were on him, trailing down his arm for a few fleeting moments before you were gone, taking the bag with you as you went. “doesn’t bother me. i just wanted something cold.”

neither of you needed to talk as the next sequence of events played out—while he took the popsicle you offered him, said his thanks, wrapped two hands around the plastic wrapping and pulled in one quick, swift action to open it—but he wanted to. wanted to hear your voice, telling him about your day. the errands you’d done, the people you’d talked to. the parts you liked and the things you didn’t.

yeonjun kept his wants to himself. focuses instead on watching you tear into your own iced treat, discarding the colourful packaging into the plastic bag it came from, and taking a bite straight from the top, kissing your teeth afterwards at the shock to the system. his own was still in his hand, and he knew it would melt if he didn't start to eat it soon, but he didn't make any moves to raise it to his lips.

“so, jjunie.” the tone you began your next words with had never meant anything good, but he didn’t say anything. he let you pause to hoist yourself up onto the wall you’d been leaning on, let you point your popsicle at him with a grin. your lips looked different—stained red from the artificial colouring and shiny from the ice. maybe it was just a trick of the light. “you got any summer lovers that i should know about?”

his heart rate hiked up, a spike of panic flaring. it would be so easy to lie, spin words made up of the evening sunlight and sorbitol about a fling he didn’t have, a name he didn’t know. he knew he would’ve done it as easy as breathing, worn it like a second skin, if it was anyone else asking. but he didn’t want to lie. not to you.

so yeonjun shook his head, a smile on his lips. “i don’t really want one.”

i want you. he didn’t say it, but he turned his eyes to where the sun was still shining and indulged himself, let himself dream of what would happen if he did.

i want you, he’d say, and you’d stop mid-bite. he would be looking straight at you. he wouldn’t be able to see where you were looking, not with the shades covering your eyes, but he would hope you were looking at him too.

you’d laugh once, twice, and then stop. bite down hard on the popsicle and lean back onto the little space the wall allowed, stray stones and gravel digging into the skin of your palms.

me? and yeonjun would nod. poke your side to get you to move over to make room for him next to you. he’d sit and stare at the setting sun, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling of brick digging into the undersides of his bare legs, just for the chance to be that much closer to you.

huh. how long’ve you been keeping that one to yourself?

forever. he wouldn’t shy away from admitting it, not when his secret had already been shared—when his heart had been cracked open on the bland pavement underneath you, a melted watermelon popsicle lying alongside it with the stick snapped into uneven halves. i want to kiss you.

a startled laugh, loud and harsh against the soft breeze blowing through his sweat-slick hair and the calm sunrays covering him. your ice pop would be back in your hand, the one closest to him. the grip on it would be bruising.

well. it came after a while. a start, short and concise, and the teasing tone was back like it’d never left. he was running too hot for the thin fabric of his shirt. what’s stopping you?

his heart would just about stop dead in his chest. his eyes would flick to meet yours, and he would find you staring straight back at him; the sunglasses pushed to rest atop your head.

do you—mean that?

you would roll your eyes, moving to face him properly. a smile would paint your face, the sun would light you up. get on with it, jjunie.

he wouldn’t need any more direction. kissing you would taste like sweeteners and the strawberry of the body mist you could never seem to go without, the salt of sweat on your skin and something else he couldn’t put a name to but knew was yours all the same. sticky watermelon would drip down his hand where he’d moved it to grip the one you were still hanging onto the long-forgotten ice pop with almost desperately, finding its way into the crevice of all his fingertips.

yeonjun would hold on tighter anyway, feel you hold him right back, and then he’d know. know that you were it for him, and summer would never taste the same afterwards.

gravel crunched underneath your shoes, and it startled him out of the daydream. he looked up, felt more than he saw your gaze on him, and watched as it soon drifted to the neglected iced treat still held in one of his hands.

“not hungry, jjunie? i’ll have it if you won’t. i’m not licking it off of your hand, though, those bits you can keep.”

he agreed in a half-daze, offering it up with no complaints. maybe it was a good thing your attention span had immediately flicked to the half-melted ice, the remains clinging to the wooden stick underneath like a lifeline, because if you’d kept it on him you might’ve seen the way he stared at you like he didn’t think anyone else mattered, might’ve made him lose his hold on his tongue and say something stupid. i want you.

as you dug into what was now your second ice pop, he raised his hand up to his face and a finger to his lips, licking off the juice that had melted. it tasted like saccharin and missed opportunities, the chance to speak up passing by like a train he’d missed.

he would say it, one day. on a day just like this, sharing sunlight and smiles, with no one else around to witness it. it wasn’t something he particularly wanted an audience for, after all, would prefer it if it was just you and him and the sickly sweet flavour of multicoloured ice pops, the sun looking down on you as it set. he hoped that on that day you would still be around to listen, sunglasses on and a smile on your face. it wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t.

the summers would come and go, but for yeonjun they wouldn’t mean a thing if you weren’t there to share them with him.

✿ ermm.. gingers am i right haha [GUNSHOTS]. sorry 4 any mistakes i do NOT want to read this again for like. 6 months im leaving. happy summer holidays 2 me though

[conkniving]

scaredy cat club, at night ft. @anchoragestarters cap — (4/4)

dead eyes bore forward, reclined as fallon was upon the lip of the back counter with its headboard of shelved booze and sinister crimson accent lighting. it was anything but nonchalant, memories past of the red glow curating a vibe that dared most to attempt a purchase from the hellish clerk. now, there was a defeated hunch to the bony shoulders as she sunk against the position, uncharacteristically clad with little skin on display from the fitted black long-sleeve and ripped jeans draping from the hips ( conveniently masking the oppressive anklet that was getting old by now ). little detail by way of jewelry or accessory, it was evident the body was there but the host was not. should one have been observing, there would be a witness to the moment the bastard came to their senses unwelcomingly, blinking rapidly with a paling of the features. pushing up from the bar, fallon lurched for the exit. the cold a valiant combatant to the wave of imminent nausea, thick soled boots carved through salt and snow until she could find the embrace of the back alley, felicitously devoid of occupants. nearly slipping in part to the weary extremities, hands collapsed to the bite of rough brick as she fought to stand while heaves wracked her diaphragm. there was little to produce and gratifyingly short. despite the weather, her forehead was clammy as it came to rest against folded hands against the wall, focused on regulating her breathing with eyes closed in the small security of her bubble. a few beats and then the proximity of another pricked the senses. "just, uhm... gimme a moment," said she beneath her breath, unable to move yet. "i'll clean up and get outta here."

[midnighthwng]

sight to see // hyunho

an unexpected find during the end of the world.

₊˚.⋆ pairing: lee know + hyunjin; ft. i.n

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ genre: sci-fi + meet cute (kind of)

₊˚.⋆ warning/s: mentions of blood

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ word count: 2.2k

₊˚.⋆ ao3 link

──────────

"hyung! did you hear that?"

minho rolled his eyes, walking over to jeongin, who eagerly peeked out one of the windows. 'the window', made of a tiny slit in between the wooden boards, hastily nailed in place of broken glass. they figured that convenience stores were built to be steady, but glass was glass.

"you could hear the wind blow and you would think it's an approaching survivor," he sighed after he saw nothing through the space. he almost went back to his resting spot before jeongin pulled him back to peek.

"no, really! i heard something, i heard footsteps," the younger whisper-yelled. he was shaking his brother's shoulders, which really didn't help with his now growing headache.

minho swat his hands off of him, before pulling away from the window and walking to his previous seat. "it was probably, i don't know, a dog? i mean if you were sick of our biscuit supply, then i could have a look…"

a newspaper roll came flying onto his face. where'd that come from? "oi!"

"that's disgusting, hyung! i can't believe you think i would ever!" jeongin whined. minho chuckled and approached him again, ruffling his hair. the younger kept his pout.

"we'll… ah," he sighed, he's giving in, again. "i will check it out. only me."

"but hyung," the other whined again.

"no 'but's. you heard something and that's enough, we don't want you in danger."

"i don't want you in danger, either!"

"hyung can take care of himself just fine, buddy. besides, it's really probably just the wind," he winked.

minho stood and collected keys and a big padlock from the counter across the entrance of the store.

before he unlocked the doors, jeongin stood to hold him back by the arm. "wait."

the elder raised a brow. jeongin slowly lifted his arm to place something in his palm. a lollipop?

"in case you get hungry…?"

minho's eyes suddenly felt heavy with water. "what are you saying— i'm not gonna leave for that long!" he grabbed the candy and pulled his brother into his chest, into a tight embrace. "you're annoying."

"i'm just being cautious! you won't let me leave with you," jeongin chuckled. minho felt growing warmth on his shirt.

"i'm not gonna…" minho trailed off. he didn't want to say the word. why was he leaving again? ah right, jeongin heard something outside. "i won't be gone long, okay? i'll just round the building and i'll be back." the younger nodded, pulling away and unlocking the doors for him. he kept the keys and the lollipop in his front pocket and stepped out.

the atmosphere hadn't changed from when they first came here. the same gloomy red skies, abandoned cars, other stores broken in, electrical posts knocked down. there was a nonfunctional tank in the middle of the road, crashed to its side and reeking of undead remains it had run over before. maybe there was one or two in there, still.

minho sighed and turned to lock the outside bars with the padlock. he put the keys back into his pocket and looked over to their window, meeting a pair of eyes, to whom he smiled and waved.

then he heard it. rubble cracking underneath light footsteps. minho quietly walked over to the general direction of the sound, slowly reaching for the pistol in his makeshift holster. don't shoot, just warn. he made it a couple of buildings past their store before he found the source, situating himself behind a rundown car and peeking out.

some guy had half of his body through the backseat window of a car across the road. what the hell is he doing? the man was shifting around as he seemed to be looking for something, rocking the car and causing metal to creak together. he's being too loud…

just as the thought entered his head, he recognized a second pair of footsteps approaching. he looked around to find the origin; an alleyway behind the rundown car. where the man was still halfway seemingly stuck inside.

"damn it," minho cursed under his breath. he took his hand off the pistol and reached for the knife next to it.

the walker looked around for the sound and started speeding towards the car. just before its hands were to grab onto the guy's black pants, minho shoved it onto the floor and pierced its head with the knife. rotten blood laid itself onto his hand and flew onto his cheek. what a mess…

the creaking noises had stopped. minho slowly stood, wiping the blood off with his denim sleeve, and turned around to face the almost victim, who had finally pulled himself out of the car. the man, tall with messy, jet black hair and a black hoodie, stood there, with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. he grew red all over his small face. minho would've laughed had he not almost died because he was being too careless. he may have noticed the other's admittedly pretty face, though.

"sh-shit, i'm sorry— you had to— i'm sorry," the man hung his head low.

minho chuckled. "you should pay attention to your surroundings, kid," he said coldly. "if i hadn't been here… well, you'd be making different, unfortunate, noises…"

he thought the other's eyes couldn't go any wider, but they did. "i-i'm really, really sorry, sir," his voice grew bigger with panic, minho looking around for any danger, "you had to go through the troub—"

minho turned the man around and cupped a hand over his mouth to shut him up for a bit. loud rustling came from the direction of the store. jeongin… he had no time to get back inside.

he led them to a block farther from the store, farther from the approaching horde, hoping to find temporary shelter. hoping that the horde would only pass by.

he found an opening; yet another shattered window to an electronics store. it had been almost wiped clean by survivors— thieves, what would you need electronics for in the apocalypse?— save for a few blocky monitors ruined on the floor.

minho encouraged the man to climb in first before he followed. "here," he whispered, both of them ducking behind the store's counter. the rustling became louder. as if the horde was taunting them, following them wherever they had gone, trapping them until there was no way out, no way back home. back to the convenience store… back to his little brother.

"who are you? why did you save me?"

minho slightly jumped and stared at him. he didn't expect a conversation, nor did he want it. the man's voice was soft but it wasn't quiet. not with how the walkers could hear everything, and how they would follow whatever they heard. minho held a finger to his own mouth as a shhh and peeked over the counter. he immediately sat down.

"they're coming," he mouthed, closing his eyes and listening to the approaching parade.

both of them seemed to stop breathing in anxiety. noise attracts attention, not only to humans, but to the undead. especially the undead.

seconds before the first walker stepped into view, minho was grabbed and pushed to the ground— his eyes flew open and was met by the sight of the man he rescued wrestling with a walker, an unlucky store clerk that they didn't notice before they stepped in their hiding spot.

"fuck—" minho cursed, shuffling behind them and kicking it behind its knee, causing its calf to dislodge but not fall off. it lost its balance, but was still inches from being face to face with the man, so dangerously close to pulling him to the other side.

minho pulled out his knife and, as carefully but swiftly as possible, dug it into the walker's brain. slowly, it lost power and collapsed in the other's arms. he pushed it away and sat back down, checking himself for injuries. "damn it…"

as silence swept over them again, they noticed that the commotion outside had stopped. minho carried his gaze to the outside of the store. it was clear. the noise only faded into the distance, but the horde was out of sight.

"do you feel a sting anywhere?" minho looked over, eyes widening as he saw blood on the man's nose. "is that—"

"no, it doesn't hurt anywhere," the other responded. he stood in front of minho and bowed. "thank you for saving me. thrice."

minho had his brows raised. he was surprised to see the respectful gesture after so long. but to think… he was the first other survivor he's run into in a while. minho held his shoulders to help him stand, "it's no problem… just be careful and be alert, alright?"

the man smiled brightly and nodded. well, that was a sight to see. "yes, sir." as if he remembered something so important, his smile dropped, eyes widened, and bowed again. "m-my name is hyunjin, sir. how rude of me."

"wh— it's okay," he chuckled, helping him stand straight again. "minho." he held out a hand which the other respectfully shook. they listened to the wind blow for a second, before he asked hyunjin where he even came from. "do you have family to go back to?"

hyunjin looked away. minho observed as the other's eyes seem to start watering. "shit, sorry, you don't have to answer..."

"it's alright," hyunjin sighed. "just… we should probably get somewhere safe first."

minho almost jumped in realization. they weren't anywhere near safe right now, plus he had to get back to his brother. "i'll take you to our place, we gotta go now," he rushed, already climbing through the broken window. hyunjin followed suit and basically ran towards the convenience store.

as they approached shelter, minho sighed in relief as he saw the same pair of eyes peeking through the slit in the window. "you been watching the whole time, bud?" he whispered, almost giggling as he noticed how the younger's eyes seemed a bit damp.

"you scared me when you just ran off… come inside now, please?" jeongin pleaded. his expression went from worry to shock as he saw hyunjin come into view.

minho waited for hyunjin to catch up before he took out his keys and unlocked the door. he let him in first and scanned their surroundings as he followed.

jeongin shuffled to stand, jaw dropped as he stared at the taller boy. "you were right, innie," minho called after he secured the padlock, walking over to mess with jeongin's hair. "finally."

quickly, jeongin went over to hyunjin and started patting him everywhere— from his hair to his hoodie to his pant pockets— "who are you? where did you come from? why are you here— is that blood on your nose???" hyunjin's eyes blew open as he pushed jeongin off of him and rushed to the surveillance mirror of the store.

he looked over himself in panic, but quickly calmed as he seemed to realize what it was. he sighed as he wiped the blood off with his sleeve. "it's just a splatter from earlier…" he turned and sat on one of the benches in front of the other two.

"earlier? what happened earlier??" jeongin nearly yelled, minho not appreciating the sound at all. his headache had suddenly come back.

"we ran into two of them," minho tiredly answered, reaching over to pat jeongin's head. "no one is hurt, don't worry." he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. he hadn't been aware that he was out of breath and energy from today's encounters. how long had it been since then?

jeongin cleared his throat. "why are you staring? what are you planning?" he said lowly. minho opened an eye to peek and met with hyunjin staring at him like the younger had said.

"w-what," hyunjin stuttered, quickly averting his gaze and moving it to one of the windows, "i'm not.. staring.."

"you were," minho chuckled. "it's fine, i know i'm cute."

jeongin groaned, brows furrowed and making that silly, disgusted face that minho adored. "hyung, please, can you not." hyunjin turned extremely red.

minho couldn't help his laughter. he missed these moments. teasing his friends and his brother about literally anything, not worrying about anything around them. not being worried of lurking danger from people, alive or undead. "am i wrong?"

the younger made a face, causing minho to chuckle a bit louder and tackled him into a hug.

"actually, he isn't wrong," they heard from the seat across them. they both turned and saw hyunjin, less red, looking at them with a soft smile.

then, minho finally got a good look at the other's face. the messy hair, intimidating siren eyes, small nose, and the plump lips… it's a good combination. "you're really handsome, hyunjin-ah."

he laughed as he watched hyunjin avert his gaze again, eyes wide and furious blush brought back. he felt jeongin chuckle on his side. "so that's it? y'all were just checking each other out?"

"checking ea— jeongin, where did you learn this language??" minho mocked, giggling at jeongin's exhausted expression. faintly, he heard a chuckle from the other seat as well.

minho looked at hyunjin and saw that bright smile again. "you can stay here for a bit."

──────────

☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

another repost from my ao3, yippee! fun fact, i wrote this with their double knot teaser images in mind, so if you wanted to imagine them in certain clothing or in a certain setting, that was the inspo for this :)

i've had the idea to continue this zombie au as a series with the other kids but haven't had the motivation to do it, buttt maybe i can restart that idea sometime soon :o idk yet hehe

thank you for reading, and i hope you enjoyed <3

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽

[vivantaweddingcost]

Celebrate love in these 3 Dreamy Goa Wedding Resorts

A land of sun-kissed beaches, swaying palms and eternal romance: Goa is an ultimate gem for destination weddings in India. Nestled amidst the Arabian Sea, Goa offers picture-perfect backdrops and unmatched beauty that make any wedding extraordinary.

From stunning coastal backdrops to culinary delights, Goa offers premium settings for all weddings. Whether you want an intimate wedding with 50 guests on a beach or a grand celebration with 500 guests at a banquet, or vice versa, Goa has a trove of venues for every event.

The beauty and luxury of Goa make it a top destination places in India. A properly planned destination wedding in Goa can make a wedding an experience of a lifetime. However, wedding planning starts with choosing a venue that suits your requirements and budget.

Here are three top goa wedding venues that you can consider for your dream wedding:

Checkout these 3 Wedding Resorts in Goa

1. Radisson Blu Hotel Goa Candolim

Experience the epitome of luxury and romance with a Radisson Blu Goa Wedding Package, where stunning venues and breathtaking coastal views create memories to last a lifetime.

Radisson Hotel Goa Candolim is a popular picturesque wedding venue near Candolim Beach in Goa. Just a short walk from the beach, their event venue coral room has an area of 2,300 ft². It can accommodate around 150 guests for an intimate ceremony along with other events with different settings.

For guest accommodation, the property offers 78 rooms and suites with luxury furnishing and modern amenities to ensure an intimate stay experience. The property offers various amenities like air-conditioned comfort, LCD satellite TV, free Wi-Fi and more. Guests have access to all the property's photogenic spaces with the best views, ensuring beautiful pictures of your special day.

As for the dining facilities, the property has two in-house restaurants called The Palm and Red Mango. The guests can enjoy Goan delicacies along with flavours from around the world without having to go out.

With Fiestro’s expertise and local knowledge, you can plan your Radisson Blu Goa wedding hassle-free. From decor to catering, photographer to logistics, we take care of everything so that you relax and savour every moment on your special day.

2. Kenilworth Resort & Spa, Goa

For a dreamy wedding that looks straight out of a fairytale, consider a Kenilworth Goa Wedding. With over 13 stunning event venues, the property offers various indoor and outdoor spaces customised for different ceremonies.

If you wish to get married by the sea, with a backdrop of an ocean and swaying palm leaves, Kenilworth Goa is the perfect place. You can choose any venue based on your wedding size and budget. From venues spread over 1900 sq ft to 85000 sq ft, you get a list of stunning venues to choose from.

The property also offers 101 rooms, and suites designed with modern luxury to provide a comfortable stay. The cosy bedding, warm lights, lush interiors, and world-class amenities make every moment priceless. Moreover, the property also offers other amenities like a swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi, activity centre, etc.

As for dining facilities, the property has 5 restaurants and a bar designed in pure luxury and art. Their in-house chefs are professionals who take dining to the next level. One can enjoy Goan delicacies along with other flavours from around the world.

If you are planning a beach wedding, a Kenilworth Goa Wedding is one of the best options. 

3. Alila Diwa Goa

Alila Diwa Goa Wedding is another type of wedding that you can consider. Alila Diwa is a five-star retreat with state-of-the-art conveniences, pristine tropical outdoors and unparalleled hospitality. Celebrate your love amidst the stunning backdrop of emerald palms and lush paddy fields cascading towards the azure waters of the Arabian Sea.

Alila Diwa offers three event venues for different events and functions. Their first venue Udeta is spread over 18000 sq ft and can accommodate over 1000+ guests. Their Alila Ballroom is a luxurious regal space that accommodates 500+ guests. For intimate ceremonies, their Alila courtyard can accommodate 100+ guests. 

Build with contemporary Goan architecture and local materials. Alila Diwa has over 115 rooms and suites for their guests. Providing various in-house services, the staff ensures every guest has a comfortable stay here. The property also has 5 restaurants and bars The Edge, Vivo, Bistro, Courtyard Bar and Spice Bar. The restaurant serves finger-licking good Goan delicacies while the bar offers some of the finest beverages from around the world.

So if you think this is what you want for your beach wedding, then the Alila Diwa Goa Wedding Packages is for you.

Ready for your beach wedding?

A beach wedding is an excellent idea for couples who don’t want to settle for less and want a wedding that becomes the talk of the town. Inspired by Western culture, beach weddings have become popular in India.

Goa is a crown jewel for destination weddings as it has numerous beaches with several resorts and hotels to choose from. Goa’s natural beauty and local delicacies will transform any wedding that happens here. Vivanta by Taj is also good option in goa for wedding, you can also checkout Taj vivanta wedding cost for your dream wedding.

However, a perfect Goa wedding requires proper planning and execution beginning with venue selection, decor, logistics, entertainment, catering, etc. As the best wedding planners in Goa, we help couples plan their dream wedding in Goa that too in their budget.

So, contact us today to bring your vision to life!

[travelwithmeapp]

Amsterdam, NL

September 18, 2017 - September 19, 2017

The first time I traveled internationally was on a 7 day trip with my brother. Our first day in Amsterdam we arrived in the afternoon on a train coming from Dusseldorf, Germany. We had rented an AirBnb which turned out to be in a suburb of Amsterdam. We miscalculated the distance and We spent the day walking around the city and getting our bearings. The city is very walkable and it's pretty easy to find your way around even without public transit. If you want to take public transit, the system was very convenient with a rechargeable card that you can purchase at stores near the stops.

We stopped by and tried some stroopwafels, which if you haven't tried them definitely give them a chance when you can. They're made of two thin waffle like cookies with caramel between them. Absolutely delicious, I highly recommend trying one!

We went on a night cruise of the canals. As we passed by, the guide told us about the narrowest building in Amsterdam, which is a mere 2 meters (6 ft) wide! The cruise was well run and included food and drinks and for a pretty good price. After the cruise we walked around a bit more. We happened to pass through the area around Old Church, also known as the red light district. It was, an eye-opening experience for sure.

The second and last day was very busy, we walked around some more and checked out Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum which had an incredible view overlooking the main square. Stopping in the Rijksmuseum, we were able to see one of the coolest libraries I've ever seen. It looked like something right out of the past.

[vividracing]

New Post has been published on https://www.vividracing.com/blog/top-6-best-mods-for-the-toyota-tundra-22/

Top 6 Best Mods For The Toyota Tundra '22+

With their 3rd generation Tundra, Toyota is once again showing that they are committed to delivering vehicles with exceptional power, efficiency, and capabilities. This modern full-sized pickup is their toughest yet, and their most durable, and reliable, and on top of that it has impressive features and a comfortable interior ready to give you an unforgettable street driving experience and off-road adventures. We know how much personalizing your ride with aftermarket parts means to a car enthusiast like you, and so we have 6 top best mods for your Toyota Tundra ’22+ to help you add a personal touch that will make that beast truly your own.

1.) Cold Air Intake

A cold air intake upgrade for your Toyota Tundra is the first mod we recommend for obvious reasons. A cold air intake upgrade will increase airflow to the engine which will translate into improved efficiency, performance, horsepower, and torque. A cold air intake can also give your ride an aggressive sound, making it sound more sportier. We recommend the aFe Momentum GT Red Edition Cold Air Intake System w/ Pro DRY S Filters Toyota Tundra V6-3.4L 2022-2023 as it is best suited for both street and light off-road use.

Features:

Dyno-Proven Gains up to +13 HP and +17 Lbs. x Ft. TQ

Outflows Factory Intake by 11%

Measured Flow: 495 CFM @ 7″ H20

Washable and Reusable Pro DRY S Air Filters for Maximum Convenience

Innovative Filter-to-Housing Interface for

Easy Installation

Large Clear Sight Windows for Convenient

Filter Inspection Without Disassembly

Easy installation using factory mounting location

Premium Clamps and Silicone Couplings

Provide a Secure Seal and Excellent Durability

2.) Exhaust System

An exhaust upgrade has a way of bringing out the best out of a ride, it’s no wonder it’s one of the most sought-after mods. For your Toyota Tundra, we recommend the MagnaFlow Overland Series Cat-Back Performance Exhaust System Toyota Tundra 2022. This system is durable and can stand anything in your adventures as it has elevated ground clearance and superior departure angles which gives it an added advantage compared to the stock exhaust. In addition to that it gives you more options when it comes to the sound heard from your ride as the system was engineered with NDT (No Drone Technology) resonators which keep droning noises in check using quarter-wave passive noise cancellation.  This means you will get appropriate sound for the trail as well as when you are on the highway.

Features:

3″ diameter

Mandrel-bent main tubing that flows through a fast-flowing

Straight through 5″x11″x22″ offset/offset same-side muffler with an internal branch pipe

All with a premium brushed finish

This Toyota Tundra performance exhaust system is made of durable

Corrosion-resistant stainless steel and produced using advanced

CNC precision robotic manufacturing techniques

Limited lifetime warranty

3.) Tuning Box

We recommend the VR Tuned ECU Tuning Box Kit V2 Toyota Tundra i-Force 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 389hp 2022+ for the power to fine-tune your car’s performance to your preferences. In addition to that a tuning kit will also provide the following benefits to your Tundra;

Boosting of engine’s performance

Enhanced throttle response

Better fuel efficiency

In addition to those benefits, the VR Tuned ECU Tuning Box Kit will give your Tundra an additional 60hp and 75ft-lbs, it is a plug-and-play solution so it will not affect your warranty in any way.

Horsepower Ratings:

+60whp (73bhp)

+75wtrq (91ft-lbs )

0-60mph Testing:

Stock – 7.44 seconds

Tuned – 6.55 Seconds

Testing completed with 37″ tires

4.) Leveling Kit

A leveling kit is one of the important upgrades for pick-up trucks, and for your Tundra we recommend the ICON Vehicle Dynamics Stage 4 complete suspension system. This system offers improved on- and off-road performance as well as improved alignment specs and increased front-end lift height range for a proper stance and fitment of up to 35″ tires. The system allows for up to a 40% increase in front wheel travel over stock, and on top of that it’s a bolt-on kit so no welding or cutting is needed for it to be installed

Features:

Vehicle-specific design for 2022-2023 Toyota Tundra

2.5 Series front coilovers with internal reservoirs for superior damping and vehicle control

Adjustable front ride heights from 1.25-3.5″ of front lift over stock when used with included billet UCAs

Billet aluminum UCAs for added strength, durability, and on-vehicle caster/camber adjustment for optimum drivability

UCAs feature the patented (U.S. Pat. 10,731,700) Delta Joint Pro with 90 degrees of total articulation

Included sway bar drop brackets reduce bind in OE sway bar links

Allows for up to 40% increase in front wheel travel over stock without overstressing OE components

2.0 Aluminum Series rear shocks provide a balanced tune with coilovers and increased performance

All ICON shock absorbers are fully rebuildable and re-tunable

100% Bolt-on system – no drilling, cutting, or welding necessary to install

5.) Wheels

  Nothing says styles and individuality like a wheel upgrade, and we recommend the Volk Racing TE37XT, which is rigid, has reduced weight and is elegant. These lightweight wheels complement your car’s look and give you that exceptionally relaxing ride on the highway. They feature a one-piece, forged structure and they are long-lasting their brave nature makes them suitable for off-road applications.

Features:

Wheel Size: 16″, 17″, 18″

Finish: Blast Black | Bronze | Matte Red

Configuration: 5×127 | 5×150 | 6×135 | 6×139.7

RAYS original test: Clears JWL & JWL-T standards

Included: European Aluminium Air Valve (RAYS new logo)(BK)

Covered with a wear-resistant finish

Provides impeccable strength and lightweight to easy handling and accurate power

Durable and compact design

Even though we recommend the Volk Racing TE37XT, we don’t want to limit your options, CLICK HERE to check out wheels for your Toyota Tundra that come in different sizes, and finishes and are made by different brands.

6.) Tires

To make the most out of your on-road and off-road adventures, one needs aggressive tires that can do the job well. We recommend the Toyo Tire Open Country M/T 35 X12.50R18 LT 123Q E2 BSW only if you decide to opt for an 18×9 with offset around +19. We love the look of a 35″ x 12.5″ M/T tire and it has an aggressive mud terrain tread design that delivers maximum off-road traction in any terrain with great on-road performance. This tire is durable and ready to deliver the best performance and traction in deep mud and snow making your adventures more enjoyable and unforgettable.

7.) Light Bar

A light bar will help you make the most of your off-road experience. With a light bar, you will have improved visibility in low-light conditions, such as fog, rain, or snow, hence assuring your safety when navigating challenging terrain during nighttime or in areas with poor lighting. The Baja Designs S8 20 Inch Behind The Bumper Light Kit – Amber Toyota Tundra 2022+ will also improve the aesthetics by adding a rugged and sporty appearance, and the performance of your ride in your adventures. This kit is inexpensive and easy to install and is designed to mount cleanly to your vehicle.

Kit Includes:

(1) 20” S8 Clear or Amber Driving/Combo Light Bar

(2) Mounting Brackets

(1) Wiring Harness

(1) S8, Backlit Add-On

All necessary hardware

[jolienjoyswriting]

The Maiden in the Mist (ft. Riku (the-minuscule-task), Ch. II

Chapter 2 of 4 for "The Maiden in the Mist," a fan fiction story.

When Joseph finds him faced with a language barrier, his new dragon friend finds a most unexpected way around it.

Word count: 2,898 – Character count: 16,524 Drafted: April 5th, 2023 Revised: April 6th, 2023 –

"Kāmu on, bēbī, kisu mī!  Moh-moh-moh-moh-moh~!"

Incidentally, the name of this story came about because I'm jolly well addicted to Bones, innit. (Almost every episode name follows a "X Preposition the Y" format, so…)

Riku and related characters and concepts created by and © the-minuscule-task Joseph Lithius and related characters and concepts created by and © Jo Li

[ ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → ]

    Okay, maaaybe I jumped to conclusions…  Maybe she wasn't a dragon.  Maybe she was just some other kind of lizard lady.  She did look kind of like a dragon from Eastern mythos, though.  At the very least, she was anything but ordinary.  She was really beautiful.

    The woman stood knee-deep in the waters of the hot spring, taking in the warmth and the mist that surrounded her.  She had golden horns that were maybe about a foot long?  They were kind of faintly Z-shaped, pointy, and segmented with a trio of rings.  The woman's hair was dark green in color, some falling over her shoulders with most of it draping along her back and coming to rest just above her tail.  On that topic, her tail had a wide stripe of fur that ran down to a soft-looking plume at the tip, all of it as dark and lovely as the hair on her head.  I suddenly wondered how far the other way the fur went…     As I continued to look at the woman, I noticed that her body was covered in light green scales.  From where I was, though, it just looked like "skin".  She had a strong, slender, feminine form, a long neck, and average-sized hips with very lovely legs.  I couldn't see much more of her, though.  She was holding her tail in one arm, conveniently covering her chest.  Her other hand, though…  Her… her other hand…  O-oh.  Oh, gosh.     My face burned under my fur and my eyes widened.  I hadn't noticed until just then… but that woman wasn't simply standing there.  Her eyes were closed and her cheeks were a faint shade of pink.  I could hear her panting a little, too.  And that hand?  It was, uh… b-between her legs, let's say?  You can probably guess what it was doing there, too…

    When I looked back up, I noticed that the girl was looking at me through one half-open eye.  She… er… "tended to herself" for a few seconds more… then, as if just realizing someone was there, both of her eyes shot open and her face turned bright red.  I froze in place, unsure of what to do.  She seemed frozen, too, still clutching her tail while the other hand stayed right where it was.  I couldn't help but look into her startled eyes.     "Etooo…"     She spoke in a soft, almost innocent tone.  That, in itself, was surprising.  I was completely prepared for her to scream…     "Gomen'nasai!"     She never screamed.  She just yelped an apology before making a fast break for the women's locker room.  However…     "Hey– wait!"     I grabbed her tail as she ran by… and immediately got pulled off my feet!  She was strong!  However, I didn't stay airborne long.  I let go of her tail… and fell forward, faceplanting hard against the stone.  Ouch…

    "Anata wa daijōbu?!"

    When I managed to regain my senses, I dizzily looked up…     "Hnnngh…"     I quickly shook my head, trying to clear the daze.  Once I did, I realized what I was looking at.  The lizard lady had stopped running and came back to check on me.  And man… she got close to my face.  Those big, innocent eyes of hers looked like dinner plates, too!  I guess she was really worried about me.

    "Etooo…" I said, knowing that was the Japanese equivalent of a stammer.  "Daijōbu…"     "'Daijōbu'…?" she echoed, sounding surprised.     I nodded, gently sitting up on my knees.  Honestly, my face hurt…!  I don't think my nose was bleeding, though.     "Yokatta!"     I looked up… and almost jumped back, startled.  That lizard girl's face had gotten intimately close to mine!  She looked happy, though… probably relieved that I hadn't hurt myself.  That really was stupid, grabbing her tail like that…

    I offered a smile as I stood.  She looked up with big, innocent eyes, softly blinking.  I was watching her watch me…     "Watashi wa amari nihongo o shirimasen," I told her.  "Gomen'nasai."     She blinked again.  Then, she tilted her head.     "Eigo," I said, trying to tell her I spoke only English.  "In-gu-ri-sshu."     "'In-gu-ri-sshu' desu?" she asked, repeating what I'd said exactly as I'd said it.     I nodded.  She nodded back.  Wait… was she just imitating me?     "Gomen'nasai…" I said, rubbing my arm.     Her head tilted the other way.  Then, she slowly stood.  W… whoa…  She was tall!

    The lizard… dragon… lady thing rose to her full height, easily standing more than a head taller than me.  I'm about five-foot-eight, so she must have been close to seven feet fall – not including her horns.  My eyes wandered a little…  As I'd assumed, her body was slightly toned – especially in the leg area.  She also… uh… wasn't very buxom?  Is… is that polite enough?  I… she– she had a very "conservative" curvature in her chest area.  N-nothin' wrong with that…

    "Ah!"

    I jolted as she gasped.  I took a step back, then, as she crouched on the balls of her feet.  Something had caught her attention.     "Reddoroketto!" she said, staring at my… crotch.  Oh.     "Wh-what?"     I looked down… then I burst into a blush.  My towel was missing – probably knocked off when she pulled me off my feet.  More embarrassingly, though… she was absolutely correct about what she saw.  Oh, geez…     I fidgeted a little, rooted to the spot as the lady stared at my lap.  She reached out with a hand, gently poking me with one of her claws.  When she looked back up, I just nervously smiled.  Those innocent eyes of hers were equal parts disarming… and alarming.     "Itai no?" she asked.  I think?     "I don't know what that means…" I answered.     When she tilted her head again, I got the feeling we weren't going to be doing much communicating…  There was a language barrier between us, clearly.     I blinked as the lady got back up.  When she took my hand into hers, I just blushed even more.  She was leading me back into the locker area…  Worse still, she was bringing me into the women's side!  I almost told her not to, but I realized she wouldn't understand, so I just… let her.

    "Chottomattekudasai!"

    Now, as I'd mentioned… I didn't know much conversational Japanese.  However, I'd watched enough dubbed anime to recognize that.  She was either telling me or asking me to wait.  So, I waited.  I waited, and I watched.  I watched her walk over and gather a few towels into her arms.  I then watched as she walked over to a nearby outcropping… or seating area… and set them down.  My gaze started to wander as she did whatever she was doing.  Funny enough… the women's locker area wasn't much different from the men's.  The only real difference was that it seemed mirrored or inverted when compared to the men's lockers…

    "Junbi!"

    I blinked, my ears flicking.  That mysterious lizard lady had spoken again, her tone cheerful and merry.  When I looked back over, though… I went wide-eyed again.  The dragon girl had found a spot on the bench… and taken quite a pose!     I stared at the woman, my heart racing as she sat on the long bench.  There were towels between her and the wall, working as a kind of cushion for her to rest against.  Her legs were tucked in slightly, partly hanging off the bench, and her tail was to one side.  Those legs of hers were also spread wide open…  Between that and the placement of her hands on her thighs, it was pretty obvious she was… u-uh… well… "presenting" herself to me?  I just didn't know why…

    "Kitsune-san?"

    I snapped out of my daze, looking up.  I noticed that she was looking at me with those big, innocent eyes, again.     "Junbi dekimashita…" she softly told me.  "O mata se shinaide kudasai!"     Language barrier be damned…  I didn't need to understand a word of what that girl was saying to know what she wanted.  Between her soft tone and provocative pose, I could tell that she wanted… well… me!  I didn't know what to make of it…

    I slowly walked over to the dragon lady, my ears twitching and my cheeks burning.  I'm not gonna lie…  My body wanted hers.  Her body seemed to want me, too.  She still had the soft fragrance of… uh… l-let's call it "womanhood"… lingering on her body.  It seemed like my trip to Japan was about to go somewhere I never anticipated…  That is… until I noticed something.

    I paused, standing close to the woman.  As I looked down, I noticed that she was starting to blush.  It wasn't a sweet, shy blush, though.  It was the blush of someone who wasn't entirely comfortable with their situation.  On top of that, her innocent eyes… were showing uncertainty.  Her body might have been ready for what she was suggesting… but it was pretty clear that her heart wasn't.  Worse still, the longer I stared… the more uncomfortable she seemed to get.  Eventually, though, she broke the tension with more words I didn't understand.     "A-anata wa nani o ma– matteimasu ka…?"     She gestured downward with her head.     "Anata no besuto o tsukushite kudasai…"     I continued to stare, watching the girl squirm.  She didn't seem anxious for us to be intimate anymore.  She seemed just plain anxious…  Seeing her so uncomfortable affected me…  And no, I don't mean a physical one.  Though, I probably lost my… ah, never mind.

    "No."

    The dragon jolted.  All at once, she moved her hands away from her crotch and sat up.     "No…?" she cried.  She definitely knew what that meant.  "Nazena no?"     I was about to explain when I noticed something else…  Her face was turning stormy.     "W-wait.  Don't do th–"     But it was too late.  She brought her hands over her face and began sobbing.  Quietly.  Thank goodness it wasn't a "big ugly cry".  Still… she was crying… over being rejected, seemingly.  I couldn't let her feel that way…

    "Miss…"     I sat next to her, being careful of her tail.     "Miss, it's not that I don't want to…  It's more than I don't know you…  I'm sure you're lots of fun…!"     I almost added, "In bed".  Thankfully, I had more tact than that.     "B-but, I'm not the kind of person who has 'casual encounters' with people I just met…  I… oh, why am I bothering…  You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?"     The girl peeked through her fingers, calming slightly as I sighed.     "You know what?"  I smiled.  "Actions speak louder than words.  Here."     Not knowing what else to do, I leaned up and kissed her cheek.  Yeah… it was boneheaded, I know.  But, hey.  It worked.  The girl stopped crying entirely!  I almost started to smile… until I noticed the look on her face.     Her eyes seemed to shrink and she looked at me like I'd just done something horrible.  Her mouth opened to say something.  Instead, though, she winced back, pulling her legs up and hiding her face again.  I was positive she was going to scream, that time.  But…     "Wa… watashi ga… su… s-sukidesu?"     I was wrong.

    Her words hit me like a bolt of lightning.  Again, my knowledge of anime was paying off.  However, I wish she hadn't asked me that.  I didn't know what to say to "You love me?"…

    "I…"  I paused, then I swallowed hard before telling her, "Yeah.  I do."     She looked at me with newfound awe, blushing as we sat there side-by-side… naked in the women's lockers.  I smiled at her, my tail wagging.  I wasn't lying.  I did like her.  I thought she was interesting, at the very least.  And beautiful…  Really beautiful.  She was the most beautiful… most innocent thing I'd ever seen.  I wanted to see her smile.  I wanted to be the one who helped her smile.  And… it seemed like I was on the right path for that, too.

    "Mm– hey…  Hee hee…"

    I blushed a little more as the taller woman draped one arm around me and pulled me into her embrace.  She was… colder than I'd expected.  However, I was happy to wrap my arms around her and hold her close.  When she started purring, so did I.  When she nuzzled between my ears, I nuzzled into her collarbone.  Then, when she let her snout run across my ear… I shivered… and I let my tongue taste her neck.     "Mmm…"     She giggled and squirmed in response.  Another good sign…

    "Oi…"     I leaned back as she got my attention.  There was a twinkle in her innocent eyes and a smile on her draconic muzzle.  She looked even more beautiful than before…     "Oi…" she repeated.     There was a certain uncertainty to her face… like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure she should.  Eventually, though, she asked me something that I wasn't ready for.     "D… dū yū… uantto…"     She gulped, her face getting redder.     "U-uantto…" she continued in horribly fractured Engrish.     "W-want to…?" I repeated, blushing a little myself.     She nodded.  Then… she whispered two more words…     "K-kisu me…?"     I almost forgot myself, right then and there.  I wanted, so badly, to just blurt out "God, yes" and smooch her soft, inviting snout with all my might!  I'm sure she sensed that, too, considering she shifted and blushed even harder.  However… being the gentleman that I am – don't– don't laugh – I just warmly smiled and reached up, stroking her cheek.  As she closed her eyes and leaned into it, I whispered back…     "Yes…"

    The girl flinched as I spoke… but she leaned forward.  Her lips pursed and she blushed harder still.  She wasn't hesitant about letting things happen, I'll give her that.  Even so, I didn't take advantage of her generosity.  Instead, I gave her another little peck on the cheek.

    She snapped out of her shy state long enough to give me a perplexed look.  Then…     "No, no, no!"     She raised her hand, pressing her finger against my lips… then against hers.     "Kisu me!" she exclaimed, sounding confused.  "Kiiisu!  Wakarimasu?"     I leaned in and kissed her nose.  She looked at me again, growing visibly frustrated while still a little red-faced.     "Kiiiiisu!!" she said in an adorable, raised voice.  "Kisu me, bakana kitsune-san!"     "No," I teased with a grin and a wag of my tail.  "You kiss me, kawaii ryuu-chan!"     She hid her face, quietly screaming in frustration and shaking her head.  She was losing patience with me fast.  Either that, or she couldn't believe I'd tried to turn things around on her.  Either way, she quickly calmed back down and kind of angrily pouted at me, still blushing.

    "Rukku, damī!"     I grinned as she grabbed me by the shoulders.  I was "rooking", alright.     "Kisu!  Kiiisu!" she squeaked.  "Kono yō!"     My eyes shot open again as the dragon girl pulled me up and into a hard kiss.  Honestly… I wasn't sure who was blushing more, at that point.  Her, out of sheer embarrassed frustration… or me because the kiss took me by surprise.

    "Sh-shī…?"  She leaned back, continuing to blush like crazy.  "Ī-īshī…"     I couldn't stop myself from nervously giggling.  I kind of wish I had, though…     "Nani ga son'nani omoshiroi?!"     I think I ticked her off…

    She continued to look at me, her brow furrowed down and her eyes locked on mine.  I couldn't tell what was going through her mind in the slightest.  Was she offended?  Was she upset?  Did she just want me to kiss her that badly?  I genuinely had no idea…     "I… heh."  My ears flicked and I smiled skittishly.  "I just…"     "Boisu…"     I blinked.  All at once, the lady went from looking upset… to being amused.  She rolled her eyes and offered me a smile, then she leaned in and nuzzled my muzzle, pulling me back into her lap and a hug.  I was happy to hug back, too.  She was so sweet…

    I'm sure we must have spent a lot of time just sitting there, enjoying each other's company.  I say that because, by the time I managed to look back outside, I noticed that it was getting dark.  I started to sit up, prepared to leave… but the lovely lady pulled me back in.     "Sutē…" she whispered.     I looked up… and I noticed those big, innocent eyes pleading with me.     "Purīzu?" she asked in an even sweeter tone.     She was asking me to say with her… begging, almost.  "I…"     She nuzzled me, softly purring…  "Heya ga arimasu," she said, knowing I wouldn't know what she was saying.     "I don't know what–"     "Etooo… 'a rūmu'…?" she tried to explain.  Wait.  Was she telling me she had a room?     I hesitated for a moment… before I softly nodded.  "Y… yeah.  O-okay."     The girl squeaked with excitement before kissing me on the forehead.  She set me aside, then, and stood up, walking over to a random locker.  As she opened it with a key she seemingly had hidden in her tail's plume, she looked my way and smiled.     "Shūshū," she said, politely waving me away.  "Soto de aimashou!"     I didn't quite understand her, but I nodded.  I went back to the spring and returned to the men's locker room.  I dressed as quickly as I could, wondering what she had in mind.  After I put the locker key back, I walked over to the entrance leading into the main building.  And that's when I saw her, again…

[sedonaselectproperties]

PENDING! Taking Back-up Offers - 2035 Whippet Way Sedona AZ

1MLS #532148-

2035 Whippet Way, Sedona, AZ 86336 - This distinctive 3 bedroom, 3 bath home is located in the center of West Sedona. Check it the backyard oasis and self-contained guest suite. 

 Month to Month Rental Capability 3 Bedrooms   |   1,704 Sq Ft   |   3 Baths  | 10 Ft Ceilings Red Rock Views   |   Front Courtyard Patio   |   Stunning Backyard Oasis 0.10 Acres   |   2 Car Garage   |   Shared Driveway   |   Single Level Covered Rear Patio   |  Rear Gas Fire Feature  |  $4,211 Taxes/2022 

Distinctive Home In the Center of West Sedona Delight in owning your piece of the Sedona dream in the heart of West Sedona, where all the action is located.  You can find restaurants, four grocery stores, plenty of shopping, two movie theaters, professional and medical services, plus much more. Hiking and biking trails are also nearby. All of this is just minutes away.  

 IMAGINE... Imagine yourself sitting on your front courtyard patio.  You are sipping your favorite beverage while you watch the sunset against the red rocks in the background. Enjoy the Kitchen and Interior Design Layout Afterward, you cook a nice meal in your well-designed, efficient kitchen. There is plenty of counter space to cut vegetables and prepare your meal. Your gas range has four burners, just like chefs use to ensure every dish is prepared to your liking.  There is a skylight that adds a nice touch of natural lighting during the day.  For those quick meals, there is a breakfast bar for your convenience. Relish Your Gas Fire Feature In the Tranquility of Your Backyard Retreat You sit down for a nice meal at your dining room table, and when your meal is finished, you bring your favorite beverage out to the landscaped garden area that is manicured to your liking.  As you settle in, you relish your gas-fire feature and appreciate the Milky Way in the sky above. The backyard is also protected with custom lighting, a gate, and a wall, for added security and privacy. In the unlikely event that it is raining, there is no problem because you can still relax on your lounge under the covered patio. Sit back, and take pleasure in an excellent book or magazine.  Remember, you can use this patio all year long because it is out of the elements. This is the Sedona lifestyle! Unique Resort Style Self-contained Guest Suite Each of the three bedrooms has an attached ensuite.  But this self-contained guest suite also includes a living area with a TV and a wet bar with a wine refrigerator. Add a microwave, and you can have a small meal in the comfort of your own guest suite.  This guest suite also has a private entrance that leads to the backyard or front patio.  What a nice touch! Great Room is the Center of the Home… You enter the great room when you open the door from your covered front porch.  The open floor plan allows you to move to other rooms with ease.  There is plenty of room to entertain guests or enjoy a conversation or TV program. Choose to take the conversation to the front courtyard patio or the privacy of your covered rear patio.  There are a lot of spaces where you can go to relax and unwind.   The Owner Sanctuary Retreat With Five Piece Ensuite Set yourself apart from the rest in your Owner Retreat.  It is a sanctuary and easily fits a king-size bedroom set. The ensuite has dual vanities, an updated walk-in shower, and an oversized tub.  As you close the door, you relax, knowing you have everything you need to enjoy a spa-like experience.

[hempstore]

Gardguard LED Grow Lights, 20W Dual Head Red Blue Spectrum Plant Lights, 40 LED Lamps 9 Dimmable Brightness Plant Lights, 3 Switch Modes with Auto ON/Off 3/9/12H Timing for Plants (Extended USB cable)

About this item

【9 DIMMABLE MODES & 3 SWITCH MODES 】Our Dual Head led grow light has 9 dimmable settings ranging from 20% to 100% to suit varied stages of plant growth. It has 3 spectral modes (red, blue, and mixed light) to support photosynthesis. You can just switch the lights off or on to suit the plants need.

【Extended USB Cable and 360-Degree Adjustable Goose Necks】The upgraded plant grow light has a USB cable up to 8.2 ft long, and you can clip the lamp anywhere you want without worrying about the length. The goose necks can be rotated 360 degrees so you can control the angle easily and the distance between the lamp and plants.

【Timing Function & Efficient Red/Blue LED Combination】The plant light comes with 3 timer setting options which allows up to 3, 6, or 12 hours according to plant needs. This is a one-way timing setting, the plant grow light can be turned on/off automatically every day.14 Blue LED chips ensure plants take in more energy through the synthesis of chlorophyll to help in germination. The 26 Red LED chips contribute to effective germination, flowering, and enhances photosynthesis for better results.

【Visible Quality and Wide Use】The coverage area with one head is roughly 24-27 inches depending on the height you have the head aimed. The LED grow lights have a USB connector which makes it convenient to connect in your office or home to USB or AC power plug (includes adapter). The metal clamp allows the lamp to be placed anywhere. Our grow lamp is suitable for indoor plant seedlings, potted plants, leaf cuttings, greenhouse vegetables etc.

source https://hempproducts.shopping/gardguard-led-grow-lights-20w-dual-head-red-blue-spectrum-plant

[whatifyoulivelikethat]

what happens, m | jjk

pairing(s): jungkook x reader

summary: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Eh, well, Jeon Jungkook came to Vegas to eat and get drunk with his six friends. He didn't think one of them would bring a girl along and he certainly didn't think he was going to end up sneaking about with his dick down her throat.

warnings: rated M (18+) for language; mentions of alcohol consumption and gambling (on vacation in Las Vegas); Yoongi's involved (?); slow burn + fluff, tbh; smut (fem reader, m-receiving oral, flashing each other(???), making out in public, handjob, cowgirl, nipple play, fingering, mild breathplay, penetrative sex); non-idol!AU - ft OT6 being clueless and drunk, oop; Jungkook's POV

--

"They're going to hear–"

"Then you better close your mouth."

Whatever protests Jeon Jungkook had prepared immediately disintegrated the second her soft lips touched his suddenly exposed skin. Oh, fuck. Weren’t there rules to this? A step-by-step guide? A goddamn instruction manual? Fuck, fuck, fuck! There was no unpleasant stickiness of lip gloss, just the pure softness that he had tasted earlier, now on his hip, followed by fingertips trailing down, the light caress burning memories into his future dreams. His own hands flew up and slapped his mouth shut, his eyes going up to the expensive hotel ceiling.

One wall over, his friends were screaming and doing shots.

Not even a wall. Only a half-wall and slightly open French doors of the suite separating his mostly drunk friends and Jeon Jungkook with his pants rapidly sliding down his knees.

Her hot, wet tongue licked down his v-line.

He squeaked past his closed fingers even though the karaoke music was too loud for his friends to hear him.

"H... Hurry..."

She pressed her tongue flat against throbbing, taut skin, searing the scandalous moment into his memories.

His head snapped down, his eyes going wide. Saw the image before him. Spread thighs, cute black two-piece set of a flared skirt and crop top with red flames all over the bottom. Her fluffy black jacket tossed aside. Too hot, oh no, her elegant hands poised on his hips and waist, pushing up his black t-shirt, turning him into an image under her grasp. An image of lust, his hard cock pulsing against her dripping tongue as knowing eyes observed his face before those dark mauve lips wrapped around the head of his cock, pushing him into soft, wet tightness.

Jungkook shoved his palm on top of his moan and forced it back into his shaking chest.

-

It started innocent enough.

She hadn't even been on Jungkook's radar. Didn't even really know her until a few days ago. He knew of her, in passing, simply as one of his hyung's friends. An artist or something. He couldn’t really remember.

"She wants to come with us to Las Vegas."

"Hah? That's so random. Why?" Kim Seokjin asked, his handsome face twisting into a confused but not quite disapproving frown.

"I thought this was a just-us-guys trip," Kim Taehyung added in his deep baritone, pushing back his long dark brown hair.

"If she tags along, we can book that huge family suite though," Kim Namjoon pointed out. "Since the hotel is giving a discount for groups of eight or more people."

"Ah, I dunno, we're all gonna be piss drunk..."

"Which is why I figured it'd be a good idea. She doesn't drink or gamble. We won't have to take care of her and she can make sure we don't choke on our vomit in our sleep."

Min Yoongi had brought up the idea in the first place. She was primarily his friend, after all.

"Then why does she want to come? We're a mess," Jung Hoseok had laughed.

"Because she wants to come to Las Vegas to gain some personal inspiration. She'll be at a luxury hotel on the strip if she tags along with us, which will be much more convenient when it comes to getting around."

Park Jimin's eagerly mischievous face finally popped up from his phone to add lewd commentary. "I thought she got enough inspiration from your d–"

Seokjin bonked him on the head before he could finish.

"Ow!"

Yoongi continued calmly as if Jimin had said nothing at all. "If you guys think it would be a bother, I will tell her we've already booked it and can't change it. She's not going to be upset."

Taehyung groaned. "No, no, that's mean. I say let her come. You wouldn't even mention it if you thought it was a bad idea, hyung."

The second oldest shrugged, brushing back his long black hair, looking bored. Classic Yoongi. "She's probably going to wander around ninety percent of the time and crash for ten. You all probably won't even notice she's there. We can always meet up before and you guys can see what you think."

Seokjin tapped his full lips. He was the oldest. "She did lend me her extra Joy-Cons when mine were being fixed for drifting. She can't be that bad, I suppose..." And a video game addict.

Namjoon waved a hand. "Eh, it's better to book sooner than later. I'm in. Let's go for dinner too before the trip. Might as well."

Hoseok chimed in, nodding. "More the merrier!"

Jimin prodded Yoongi in the arm. He enjoyed tiptoeing om the line of danger. "You guys going to get a drive-thru wedding? Is that why we are going to Vegas? Eh?"

He received a deadpan stare in return.

Yoongi then turned away and cocked his head to Jungkook, who had listened to this entire conversation with vague but silent interest. He was trying to remember what she looked like. Was it that one... or was it the woman with that dangerous smirk?

"Hey. If you're not comfortable with it, I'll nix the whole plan," Yoongi said to him.

Jungkook scrunched his face, frowning. "Ah... what does she look like again, hyung?"

Yoongi had raised his dark eyebrow, but fished out his phone, poking the screen. He turned it around to an image of himself, another male friend, and a woman, seemingly at some event.

"This is her."

It was, in fact, the one with the dangerous smirk.

-

"Why don't you drink?"

"Because a girl shouldn't get drunk on a vacation with seven guys."

It wasn't so much her answer that gave Jungkook the chills up and down his spine. It was her casual smile. Something in that intense gaze. Inviting but somehow immoral, sitting in front of her meal in between Namjoon and Yoongi. Just something about it. Something about those eyes that said, ah, the taste of power, and Jungkook had no idea if those eyes meant herself, the two men beside her, or him, the one she was staring at right now.

He also had no idea if those chills were a warning or want.

"Yah! We're not going to do anything. We're not scoundrels!" Seokjin butted in, waving his steak knife at her.

With a swift flick, she picked up her own and pushed the tip of the blade back down to Seokjin's plate, chiding him with a tongue click.

"Besides, alcohol tastes disgusting," she chuckled, the tip of her tongue sticking out, childish and yet...

What are you thinking, Jungkook? Stop that!

"Sounds like you're allergic to a good time," Seokjin chittered just as childishly, already comfortable with teasing. That was how Seokjin was. He tended to break the tension and facilitate the personalities of others.

"Don't threaten me with a good time," she warned jokingly and, there it was, that smirk again. Dangerous but pretty, like a cocktail loaded with alcohol. You knew it was there, and yet it was so sweet and delicious it was hard to notice. "That's what Vegas is all about."

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," Hoseok chimed on near-prefect English, or at least Jungkook thought so, not that he had any idea what the phrase meant.

Back then.

-

It escalated far too quickly, just like a wild night.

He didn't even notice it at first. Jungkook never thought he was clueless, but now he figured he must be. There weren’t rules when it came to attraction, no step-by-step guide on how fast or slow you could learn to want someone, no instruction manual for how to proceed when someone asks to have you and you realize far too late that you have to have them too. Too late because the desire was too strong and Jungkook learned he too could get to the point where he forgot how to stop himself, forgot to stop and think, hm, perhaps don't fuck Yoongi's female friend because you don't know what's going on there, yet every interaction was throwing back another drink and Jungkook realized far too late that he was, in fact, blackout drunk on… her.

That was the only way he could describe it.

It was a small thing at first, a single sip.

In the airport, he moved too fast in and bumped into her, dropping his passport and ticket. She caught it as his hand collided into hers, his fingers closing in, gliding over smooth skin interrupted by silver rings.

"S-Sorry!"

She was wearing a face mask and oversized hoodie, looking like a black marshmallow with colorful splatter paint accents on the hoodie. Her sweet perfume drifted towards him. She wasn’t not quite looking in his direction.

"S'kay."

Her hand turned and passed his documents back to him.

"Here."

Her fingertips grazed the side of his hand, her nails nicking at his wrist. His breath hitched all of a sudden, so faint he hoped she didn't hear.

Her eyes shifted to glance at him.

He couldn't see her mouth but there was a define curve of the little puffs under her eyes. A cute eye-smile before she moved past him to the check-in kiosk.

It was small sips.

The cocktail as so sweet that he couldn’t even taste the alcohol.

Maybe she didn't actually notice his gasp. Maybe she was simply being polite. It didn't mean anything anyway. She didn't stand near him during boarding; she chatted with Jimin and Taehyung. She sat next to Yoongi and Hoseok on the plane, at the window seat. Jungkook sat behind her, Seokjin in the middle of him and Namjoon who needed to be in the aisle because of his height. Jungkook thought about asking Hoseok to switch with him, but his hyung was avidly in conversation and he didn't want to interrupt despite wanting more legroom.

Well, he did.

But he didn't.

"Jungkook?"

He started a bit, seeing her peer through the crack between the seats. It was already mid-flight, the period of time when the lights were off and the plane was only soft murmurs. He hadn't expected it, halfway between putting his headphones away so he could nap. Seokjin was already in dreamland, eye mask and all. Namjoon was absorbed in a book.

Her husky whisper through the seats had sent chills up and down his spine.

It felt like a secret, even though they were surrounded by people and his friends.

Her name spilled out of his lips, breathless.

"Uh... yeah?"

She wiggled a bit and her eyes popped over the top of her seat, her hair curling over part of her forehead.

Oh, fuck.

"Do you want the rest of my apple juice? I'm tired but I don't want it to spill if I fall asleep. Yoongi said you'll drink it."

Her eyes sparkled in the low light. Perhaps teary from sleepiness, but, man, did they look captivating.

"Uh... yeah. Yeah, I'll drink it."

Her hand popped up, holding the half-full plastic cup.

"I drank from this side, so this side is untouched."

"It's okay, I don't–"

Jungkook stopped himself.

He was about to say, I don't mind, but then he suddenly became aware that Namjoon was still awake. Not that the older man had moved anything but a page in his book, and yet... well, it was still weird wasn't it, he didn't know her very well, it would be strange to just...

He held out his hand, reaching for it.

"Ah, okay. Thanks. I was thinking the drink portions were really small."

She handed it to him, untouched side first, still only showing the top half of her face. "Thank you, Jungkook."

He caught her gaze the second she said his name again. Those orbs gleamed in the low light, and he could hear it against his skin, Jungkook, his own name like a spell, giving him a weird fuzzy feeling, a candle flame flickering against his heart, heating it up, and now his blood was humming in his veins, a light buzz all over his body.

It was all in his imagination.

Jungkook slowly lowered the plastic cup of apple juice.

He nodded, not trusting any other noise he would make thereafter. Her hand was resting on the top of the headrest, beside her head. She blinked slowly. He paid attention to every detail, those inquisitive eyes, the placement of her fist, the curious observation she kept on him for the moment.

Milliseconds it must have been.

Then the little puffs under her eyes curved up into an eye-smile before she plopped back down, turning back the correct way.

Jungkook looked down at the amber liquid.

Took a sip.

It tasted like apple juice, obviously.

Before he had time to think, Jungkook snuck a peek at Namjoon. His hyung’s eyes were focused on his book, looking studious in his glasses and serious expression, absorbing what he was reading. He didn’t even glance in Jungkook's direction.

Okay. Safe.

He looked back down at the cup. There was no visible marking on the edge. She hadn't worn any lip product. It wasn’t easy to tell which side she drank from. That must be why she pointed it out.

Jungkook stared at her side.

Don't. That would be weird.

He took another sip.

Don't.

He turned the cup in his hands to her side.

Come on. You don't really know her. The only thing you know is that she's Yoongi-hyung's friend and she makes art. You don't even know what kind of art. You didn't even pay attention.

Jungkook turned the cup back to his side and drank the rest of the apple juice. The tip of his index finger grazed the other side of the cup. He remembered her lips. He found that he had already memorized the color and the shape.

Then Jungkook realized he hadn't seen them since the dinner.

-

The second interaction was akin to taking a double shot of dark liquor too fucking fast.

"Ah! Sorry!"

"It's fine. I'm about to leave."

Jungkook nearly threw himself out of the bathroom, but she grabbed his naked arm and yanked him back in before letting him go and going back to what she was doing.

"I-I-I'm so sorry, I forgot–"

"Believe it or not, I've seen a man naked before. You and your ass in boxer briefs is not a great shock," she chuckled, shaking out her hair from the clip and placing it next to the sink, checking her appearance one last time in the giant hotel bathroom mirror.

Jungkook immediately put his hands over his crotch, seeing his bedhead and bewildered, half-asleep expression in the clear reflection. He was, indeed, naked except for his underwear, stumbling into the bathroom after the first night in a different country. Oh, shit. His face was a little puffy from the sodium of the buffet dinner of last night. His black hair was sticking up in every direction. He was still toned and muscular from his workouts, but that would certainly disappear after a week in Las Vegas. The harsh bathroom light caught the gleam of his silver lip ring and increased the stark contrast of the tattoos on his right arm, the etched ink standing out against his tan skin.

He was standing behind her, and, damn.

Damn.

She looked so fucking hot in a blood-red slip dress that skimmed over her body. Black mesh shirt underneath. Legs for days, shapely and powerful. Clean winged liner and stained red lip. Simple, but effective.

She turned around and raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?"

He swallowed too fast. "Nothing. Sorry. I should have knocked. And put pants on."

She removed her gaze from him and he finally exhaled, not realizing he had held his breath for so long.

"S'fine. Like I said, I'm about to go."

He attempted to make conversation to make the situation less awkward. "Ah? Where?"

"A museum," she replied absentmindedly. She plucked her phone from the edge of the bathtub, along with a purple pouch that seemed to hold her makeup.

No further explanation.

Uh.

Her brows furrowed and she suddenly looked at him intensely, the directed attention making him freeze again.

"Don't feel weird,” she said calmly. “It's no big deal. Here, I'll make it even for you."

Then she grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled up.

Any residual sleepiness he had vaporized immediately.

Jungkook's jaw dropped.

The screws of nervous tension holding his jaw up had loosened immediately at the image of delicious hips framed by black lace and red velvet, complete with a tiny satin bow at the center. Juicy thighs that connected with a visible dip, framing a perfect spot to shove his hand into and grip the soft inner thigh, up, up to a slender waist aching for his touch, the cropped hem of the mesh shirt revealing a mole under her left breast and hints of a matching bra to those sinful panties.

The shock to his system was so strong that Jungkook nearly choked.

"Now we're square."

What?!

She dropped the hem.

Waved and waltzed out.

Jungkook stood alone, standing in the expensive ass hotel bathroom in a foreign country with a rising tent in his thin boxer briefs.

Did she...?

He wandered to the sink in a daze, shuffling awkwardly due to his erection. Was he dreaming? Was this real life? How did she develop that kind of reckless confidence? Was there something in the Vegas water? Was that a power move? What did it mean? Why was he turned on?

Why am I so fucking turned on?

He had chills up and down his spine, blood buzzing in his veins, and Jungkook looked into the mirror to find his shaking lips parted, breathless, aching for those soft-looking pink lips murmuring, now we're square, to cover his and capture him.

No. Come on. Get a grip.

He ran his fingers through his hair, fixing it the best he could with nature's natural comb, attempting to collect himself physically as his brain attended to the mental side. His lips were still trembling, making the mole under them quiver as well.

Jungkook shut his mouth.

Don't get carried away. It's nothing.

"Sorry. Forgot my clip."

Jungkook nearly squeaked as her elegant hand glided past his left arm, snatching the obsidian hair clip from the sink counter. Her lithe frame suddenly behind him, pressing against his for half a second. His body jerked at the contact, instinctively searching for the heat.

What!

Five fingertips splayed over the small of his back, gently nudging him to his original position in front of the sink. His hard dick bumped the bottom of the counter and Jungkook had to bite his lower lip to avoid making any embarrassing noises. Thankfully it was part of the length and not the head. It wasn't painful. Only faint pressure.

No, what really made him almost moan was the shivers that erupted all over his body as the fingers of her right hand touched his bare back.

They stayed there.

And so did the chills, radiating from her touch.

His eyes darted forward, seeing part of her reflection behind him. Her eyes were peering over his shoulder, the lower half of her face covered by his taller frame.

She said nothing.

It… It’s nothing.

That little eye-smile returned.

Okay. Maybe it's not nothing.

She held up the hair clip.

"I forgot this."

She waited for him to respond.

He swallowed hard, steeling his voice. "R... Right." It came out gruffier and deeper than he intended.

She removed her hand from his back.

Jungkook realized that he missed her touch already.

She tilted her head, but her lips remained hidden behind his shoulder. Her gaze remained on him, longer and longer each time, examining his face despite his obviously naked torso, and he found himself thinking, go ahead and look, it's fine, I don't mind, and simultaneously, that's nuts, of course she should only look at your face, what are you thinking, his heart thudding in his chest, rattling his ribcage.

The eye-smile returned, cute petite puffs of amusement.

"I hope you end up liking Vegas as much as I do, Jungkook."

And then she turned around, leaving the bathroom with very little sound.

-

"Jungkook."

He was dead.

"Jungkook."

If he wasn't dead, he certainly wasn't alive. In a state of limbo, maybe. The world was fuzzy and he had a vague memory of a toilet. Huh. Strange, considering he was pretty sure toilets were meant to be used from the other end of the human body. Why would he be facing it?

Five points of gentle contact landed on his collarbones and upper chest.

Skin to skin.

Jungkook gasped as if he had been under water the entire time, his eyes snapping open. Next to him, Taehyung let out a particularly loud and disgustingly moist snore. Jungkook was too preoccupied with the scene before him to scoff or address the noise.

He was too busy looking at the most beautiful woman in the whole world.

Well.

That was what his drunken brain thought, anyway.

Then Jungkook realized he was conscious of the thought, so how truly drunken was his observation? Was it actually his subconscious revealing himself? Were his inhibitions being released because of the violent amount of liquor he consumed or–

Yoongi's female friend, wearing only a black bra and hip-hugging black sweats, held out a tall plastic cup of water and a white pill.

Was she going to drug him?

Jungkook took both.

"Hydration and to prevent hangover tomorrow," she explained calmly.

She was going to drug him, but not in the sexy way. Not that he wanted that. Well. Maybe. He wasn't exactly in his best state of mind. Judgement and common sense were currently lacking. She watched him as he took the pill and took a large gulp of water to swallow.

"Thanks," he croaked out.

Nice, Jungkook. That was hot.

She smiled.

It made her eyes gleam in the semi-darkness that was hotel rooms in big cities.

Meanwhile, Jimin grunted as Taehyung threw his leg over the other man, treating him like a convenient body pillow instead of a human being whose soft cheeks vaguely resembled mochi. Neither woke up to witness the strange interaction of a shirtless, half-dead Jungkook and a shirtless, water-and-hangover-cure fairy.

He drank silently, staring into her eyes.

She waited patiently.

He finished his water.

She reached over and Jungkook leaned in.

Five points of gentle contact on his chest and he jumped as he felt her fingertips press to his skin, seeing his own shirt on the floor, finally registering that he must have ripped it off before flopping headfirst onto the bed. His heart beating fast under her touch, chills up and down his spine, and he...

She plucked the plastic cup from his hand and began to rise.

Instantly, his right hand shot over and grasped her wrist.

Their eyes connected.

"Wait."

He whispered it, like a secret. Also because he didn't want to sound like a zombie rising from the dead again. It still sounded grainy and rough to his ears, but she paused, looking at him. Her hair was messy, tumbling down one side, no make-up, parted lips glossy with lip balm. Effortlessly pretty. He was trying to find the right words.

"I..."

It was at this moment that he realized he did not know what the magic words for this moment were.

"What... what kind of art do you make?" Jungkook asked.

Taehyung snorted. Jimin mumbled at him to shut up and get down from there. Jungkook remained mesmerized by the shirtless woman holding the emptied plastic cup that he now realized was a souvenir soda glass that read Viva Las Vegas. He had no idea what that meant. Maybe his English truly was dogshit.

Later that week, Jungkook realized that it wasn't English.

The world of languages was truly difficult.

"Everything," she replied softly.

He was still holding her wrist. She didn't pull away.

"Everything?" Jungkook echoed back, quiet in the silence of heavy snoring.

She nodded. "I made Yoongi's clothes for the promotional photos of his mixtape. I shot and edited those pictures. I painted the mural in Hoseok's bedroom too." She pointed to the chocolate brown blazer on the floor, thrown carelessly against the armchair. For some unknown reason, the armchair was on its side. "I made the flower brooch on Taehyung's jacket. Stuff like that." The brightly colored fabric flowers were slightly flattened, white, pink, purple, blue, orange. "My actual paying job is working at the antique shops. I go around the country, restoring old furniture. It's what my dad used to do. Sometimes I buy and sell my own." She frowned, ticking her head sheepishly in her explanation. "I bet you do something more interesting."

"Oh... I'm a personal trainer."

She nodded.

Silence.

Except for the car honking loudly outside.

Usually people looked down at his body when Jungkook stated his profession, but she continued staring at his face. Moments passed. Maybe an eternity. He didn't know. Couldn't know. Didn't care. The world was her touch and her face before him. She smiled and the little puffs under her eyes became more prominent.

Then she pointedly looked down at his hand still holding her wrist.

Jungkook felt his cheeks burn. The chills returned.

"You can let go now."

"S-Sorry, I..."

He lowered his head, feeling a strange sense of shame, and then came face-to-face to her breasts gently cupped in black satin, the delicate scalloping flush against the curve, not that far from his hand, if he just reached out, he would touch them, but, no, that was inappropriate, at least look up, Jungkook lifted his head again, let go, his fingers slipping from her wrist, the possibility floating in his head, just do it, looked into her eyes, you only have the guts to do it right now anyway, shaking breath, lean in and, to his surprise, she was leaning in too, closing his eyes as their faces neared, and…

Air.

Her warm breath feathered against his ear, five points of gentle contact on his collarbones and upper chest to stop him from coming forward any further.

"Maybe when you have your wits about you, yeah?"

Jungkook was highly unsure what that meant. Even when he was completely sober, he did not really have his wits about him when he was in her presence. It was more akin to chasing around his own brain cells every five seconds, eventually giving up to space out instead to avoid embarrassment.

"It's cheating," she purred. "If you try to come onto me when you're drunk."

Her middle finger caressed the pocket at the base of his throat. Jungkook shivered, blood roaring through his vessels, his skin tingling, hiding in the safety of his closed eyelids.

"It's not... cheating."

"You know how you act, Jungkook. Don't pretend."

So fast, so fast, his heart was beating so fast.

"If you act dangerous, danger will come and find you."

He inhaled and her hair smelled wonderful. Turned his head and he felt the warmth of skin close to his nose, so close, and he lowered his voice, breathing just as soft, it is not nothing, it is something, and maybe it was the cocktails, the beers, her touch, the moment, the pressure of everything hanging in the balance of his next words, hushed suspension like an acrobat ready for the amazing stunt of the grand finale.

"I think," Jungkook whispered into her ear. "I think danger has found me already, so maybe she should give it her best shot."

-

"Shit, my bad–"

"No, it's fine. I'm gonna go soon."

She yawned in the middle of the afternoon, blinking the sleep away. Black gingham loose short-sleeved button-down shirt with matching shorts. Not the same thing she wore last night. Jungkook vividly remembered every detail of last night.

Lust was more sobering than he thought.

Maybe it depended on the potency and strength.

She scratched her cheek, her lips twisting in thought. "Sorry about running off, but you heard the retching, had to make sure the vomit wasn't on the floor or something, thankfully Seo–" She paused abruptly, clearing her throat. "Thankfully, the person made it to the toilet."

Jungkook felt a mischievous grin itch onto his face. "I'm glad you made sure hyung was okay."

She frowned and ran a hand through her bedhead, messing it up and making it sexier. Uncapped her bamboo toothbrush and looped around him, running it lightly under the faucet before turning the water off.

"I didn't tell you who it was."

"Nope."

She backed up, unzipping the purple pouch under her arm, taking out a travel toothpaste. Caught him staring as she maneuvered the toothpaste onto the bristles, raising an eyebrow.

Jungkook tapped the sink counter in front of him.

"You can stand here."

Tilted his head a little, letting his freshly done hair graze his cheekbones.

"With me."

Her eyes followed his hand, up his arm, to his oversized white t-shirt and down his jeans, back up, flickering to the matching jean jacket by the unused hotel bathtub, then back to his clean, moisturized face and intentionally mussed hair. She took in his done-up appearance very deliberately, maintaining eye contact in her just-woken-up state.

She cocked her head, wordlessly sticking her toothbrush in her mouth.

There was something sexy about it, slightly dismissive, but also a confidence that continued because she didn't stop looking at him. Simply brushed her teeth with him standing right there. Almost... domestic in how little she seemed to mind, as if she was accustomed to watching him get ready. She was just now beginning her day after babysitting seven drunk men all night. Tonight, the same seven were supposed to go to a buffet and then to a concert. The goal was to not get completely drunk so they could at least remember the majority of the concert.

That was the goal, anyway.

She brushed her teeth and observed him as Jungkook adjusted his necklaces and checked his face in the mirror again, sneaking glances at puffed cheeks full of toothpaste suds and very focused brushing. Silent, but attentive to his movements.

She would be really cute to wake up to.

Her eyes found his and Jungkook looked away quickly, his hands drifting over the plethora of small fragrance bottles by the sink. All the guys had left their respective signature scents there, the last step before stepping out of the bathroom. He saw his own but paused, picking up a different one instead. Took off the silver cap and sniffed lightly, breathing in a warm, sharp scent that had a hint of fresh citrus mixed with the salt of the ocean.

Then he almost shattered it when he felt the warmth of a hip and thigh press against his own.

"O-Oh!"

She couldn't respond because she was spitting into the sink and rinsing her mouth out, but Jungkook couldn't even bring himself to look, trying to contain the chills going up and down his spine. Skin tingling, breath thinning, mind hazy at the closeness, clutching the expensive cologne that wasn't his. Out of instinct and desire not to look like a complete creep, he sprayed the sides of his neck and wrists, dousing himself in the rich and intense scent, although that wasn't the reason for the heady feeling consuming him at the moment.

"That's Yoongi's."

Jungkook started, seeing her wipe her hands on a hotel towel. Her purple pouch was now in the sink counter, her toothbrush sticking out.

"W... What?"

"You used his cologne," she remarked calmly.

How does she know...? He tried to speak, but found himself tongue-tied, suddenly realizing how close she was to him, wiping her face clean with a damp cloth, her skin glistening in the bathroom light, side by side, like a girlfriend, a lover, his...

She ticked her chin to the little bottle in his hands. "He made me buy him the travel size when I was out because he forgot to pack any. I asked him what it was called and he could only describe the bottle." She sighed absentmindedly, as if it was a nuisance, and yet there was a smile dancing on her lips. "He kept saying, the blue one, I kept telling him, I'm in the men's section, there's a lot of blue ones, and he–"

She stopped speaking.

Jungkook found himself staring at her in the mirror and she was staring back.

If there was noise outside the room, he couldn't hear it. He was too busy looking into striking eyes that struck him, her head turning, slow motion, his breath stilling, heart crashing, from reflection to flesh, shoulder to shoulder.

Now looking at each other.

He willed his body to be still as his heartbeat scattered to the wind. Her lips looked so inviting and perfect. Pink. Glossy. Soft. Plush. Kissable. He thought he had gotten close to his chance last night, but perhaps that was building up to this.

The little puffs under her eyes curved upwards, those orbs sparkling with mirth.

Jungkook hesitated, realizing he had already closed half of the distance.

"What's with your eyes?" she suddenly asked.

He blinked, confused. "What?"

She smiled under him. Mischievous and playful, similar to a cat caught doing something naughty and knowing their owner would do nothing to punish them.

"Your big peepers."

My big what?

"You're staring so big that it's a little unsettling."

He jerked back, spinning to the mirror and finding his own shocked, deer-in-headlights expression. "S-Sorry! Sorry, it's just–!"

She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Jungkook felt his whole body burst into flames.

Not literally. Well, that’s how it felt like, anyway. Record high-speed embarrassment burning his neck and cheeks, the sudden rush of validation far too fast in far too short of a time span. It ate him up and made him whole, the subtle affection an injection right into his blood, his voice of reason muffled, you shouldn’t, be careful, but he didn't give a fuck. Jungkook told the inner voice to shut up and bring out his worst behavior instead, this isn’t nothing so I could make it something, impulsiveness taking the reins. How many sips of her was it now? The alcohol was kicking in full force.

"Next time."

She whispered into his ear and walked out.

He had no idea what he would have done if she hadn't left so abruptly, but it would have been a sight for Jimin and Taehyung as they stumbled into the bathroom arguing about the best flavor of donut from the hotel breakfast buffet earlier that morning.

-

Gambling was not a good habit to start, but Jungkook chose to indulge.

Drunk and high off the excitement of the concert, everyone was trying their luck. Blackjack, poker, slots, and the like. It was probably incredibly unfair odds, especially in the hotel casino. They were all either too optimistic or too drunk to care. At least Namjoon had the foresight to force everyone to leave their cards behind and spend only a fixed amount of cash. Currently his intoxicated self was questioning why the fuck he did that.

“Yah! Nooo!”

“Where did Jungkook go?”

“Dunno, he said something about the bathroom. Maybe got distracted. He’ll come running back to Namjoon-hyung when he realizes he doesn’t know enough English.”

“He has his phone. Message him.”

“Uh… What’s my passcode…?”

“Your fingerprint, Taehyung…”

-

Jungkook knew he shouldn’t gamble.

In his defense, these odds were better than any of the games here.

He thought it was his imagination at first. He could dream up those shapely legs and those elegant hands. Those plush lips and that little eye-smile that formed when they spotted him across the casino floor. Then he realized his imagination was not that creative to dream up a red-and-white striped bra top with a pineapple print and viciously short black denim shorts with a loose white dress shirt hanging off one shoulder. Plus, the extra detail of those pointed toe, black velvet heels with a thin strap around the ankle, giving the casual outfit an unexpected killing point.

A smile danced in her eyes and on her lips.

She turned and slid through the crowd.

Jungkook abandoned his spot over Jimin’s shoulder where he had been mocking him about his luck at the slot machines. Maybe slightly sober him wouldn’t have. Maybe slightly sober him would have thought, nah, that can’t be her, and even if it was, she hasn’t hung out with us yet, she probably wants to be let alone, I shouldn’t bother her, but that smile, that damned smile that went from her lips to those little puffs under her eyes, and Jungkook didn’t care, pushing through the crowd, following the flutter of white and long legs, smelling the reek of cigarettes and cigar smoke. With a start, he realized he was a little lost, looking up and seeing an ornate, gaudy ceiling. Fake marble and glided gold, surrounded by opulent shops and too many tourists.

Cool fingers brushed against his cheek.

He spun around and then froze, suddenly pressed up close, staring face-to-face to that eye-smile.

“Hello.”

Jungkook gasped her name between their lips, softly like a secret.

She grinned.

“No. I’m what you call danger.”

And she leaned up and kissed him.

His eyes went wide. The sudden softness, the rush of intimate contact, his heart pounding, realizing he could count her eyelashes. Thump-thump-thump. His heartbeat fluttering to his throat as he noticed that one of her eyes was partially open, like she was mid-wink as she kissed him, cheekily peeking at his reaction, increasing the pressure and intensity when she was caught, not looking away, sparkling smile in that shrouded orb. Tilting her head, her fingers grazing his jaw, pulling him closer, his mind going fuzzy, acutely aware that they were in public, kissing, right the view of people neither of them knew. Strangers in a strange land, alcohol mixing with the rush of her passion and his.

His hand lifted and touched her arm, grasping at the dress shirt.

She broke the kiss, her tongue trailing down the center of his lower lip, flicking lightly in their parting.

Jungkook gasped, cutting off his own whine. She smirked, teasing him, drawing him closer, closer to her addictive charm, but he was willingly falling, his eyes blind to everything but the cheese in the trap.

She adjusted her head, pulling down the collar of his jean jacket, sniffing lightly next to his neck.

“The cologne smells good on you.”

Thump-thump-thump.

She was wearing some kind of perfume too. Sweet but smooth, like biting into a nectarine in the summertime. It lingered over her collarbones, and he found himself wanting to claim that space, but the hesitation kicked in.

Instead, Jungkook lifted his gaze to her eye-smile.

“You…”

His thoughts were stumbling, burning in her heat.

“You’re… too pretty. It’s hard to look away.”

The side of her lips lifted.

“That sounds like a problem.”

She didn’t come with you and the guys to hook up, you should back off, Yoongi-hyung might get upset, she’s dangerous, look at that smile, but I can’t help it, look at the way she fits herself into my arms, she’s pressing her thigh against my thigh, I’m drunk, right, or maybe I’m not, I don’t know anymore, I need more, more, just to make sure…

“I want to do dirty things to you,” she whispered to his lips, soft and smokey.

That devious gaze enticed him, asking him to come hither.

“Do you want to do dirty things with me?”

Her hand slid down his shoulder, fingers fanning over his back, stroking it sensually, rolling her body into his. Not that he needed more convincing.

“Yeah…”

-

“P-Please…”

Getting am empty elevator wasn’t impossible in Las Vegas. It might be, depending on the time of day, but also there were a plethora of elevators all over the hotels. There were often lulls, moments where it seemed no one needed an elevator.

This moment was such a moment, which meant the second the door began to close, Jungkook found himself shoved into the wall of the elevator where only the gods knew how many other people were shoved for the same reason.

His air suddenly cut off, mouth to mouth, body to body, moans trapped in his throat.

Her hand pressed against his chest.

He shut his eyes.

Swallowed his shudder as her tongue flicked against his lips, toying with his lip ring, her hand sliding down, down, fitting to the contours of his torso, her other hand cupping his cheek, running her fingernail against the curve of his ear. Chills up and down his spine and all over his body, a constant buzz, her teeth nipping lightly at his lip in between insistent kisses. Were those wispy gasps him, surely not, stiffening as fingertips toyed with the waistband of his jeans.

Jungkook almost opened his eyes, but he didn’t.

He breathed her name against her lips, a breathless question.

She pressed her lips to his and he felt her smile.

Her hand molded to the growing tent trying to get past the zipper. It was as uncomfortable as it was arousing. His head hit the wall of the elevator, yanking his head away to moan, clutching her hips and trying to push her down, but her legs shifted and she stopped him, stroking him through the thick fabric and reducing him to pleas, snapping his chin back down, staring at her under him.

She grinned, shaking her ass in his hands while applying even but firm pressure against his erection, her tongue playfully between her teeth, daring him to do something about it.

There wasn’t anything to do but beg.

“Please…”

Her other hand ran down his stomach, gripping his t-shirt, tugging it up, the hem rising, rising, but not fast enough, it was probably only milliseconds, but it was milliseconds too many, the elevator climbing through the floors, his shirt hiking up, her nails grazing and leaving ghosts of relentless desire on his abdomen.

The elevator pinged loudly.

The door slid open.

Her head turned.

Jungkook’s breath caught in his throat when he realized it wasn’t their floor.

A couple blinked at them from the entrance. A man and a woman, holding hands and wearing matching colorful souvenir t-shirts. Meanwhile, her body was covering his, her dress shirt down her bare shoulders, not moving her hands from between their bodies.

“It’s going up,” the man said in English, pointing at the wall where the indicator light was.

The woman was gawking, too stunned to speak.

Jungkook felt his cheeks burn.

The door began to close.

“Keep a secret, okay?” she said to the couple, right before the door closed.

Jungkook’s English was limited but he was better at understanding than speaking.

“A secret?” he choked when she lazily turned back to him, using Korean because he wasn’t ready to embarrass himself in front of someone who clearly knew more English than he did. He was confronted with a self-satisfied smirk and sparkling eyes. “W-What if they call security–”

“This is America. I’m sure they’ve seen porn. You’re not even naked.”

Her fingers gripped the button of his jeans, her other hand splaying over his bare abs and rendering him speechless.

“Unless…”

She started messing with the button.

“It’s not like anyone will recognize you when you’re in a completely different country, you know?”

He wasn’t thinking it. Now he was. He stared into her eyes, a silent do it. Impulsive bravery in the face of danger. Amusement and agreement looking back at him. She nudged the fabric and the metal apart.

Found the zipper pull of his jeans.

Stuck her tongue out, extending it far, far down, curling it in the air, the metal teeth below coming apart from her insistence, his cock straining against his underwear, begging for a taste of that nimble, wet, glistening muscle dancing in front of his lips.

The elevator pinged again.

This time it was actually their floor.

-

Either Jungkook wasn’t as drunk as he thought or the shock was sobering him up real fast.

He made it about two steps into the hotel room before the door suddenly snapped closed and his pants were yanked down to his knees. Thumbs hooked onto the sides of his underwear and pushed down, and he found himself raising his hands and letting it happen with a gasp, looking down to meet the image of lust.

Her getting to her knees and licking the inside of his thighs, covering him with saliva.

Like he was the fucking Mona Lisa and her tongue was the paintbrush, not that that made any sense because Jungkook knew very little about classical art and even less about how the Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, but the point was that art evoked emotion and Jungkook was feeling.

He was feeling a whole fucking lot right now.

“Oh, s-shit…!”

She looked up at him, pressing her hand into the saliva and sliding up, rubbing the slick liquid all over his balls, gentle but with intention.

Cradled her hand under his jutting cock and raised an eyebrow.

Jungkook had no idea what she was going to do.

“D… Do it,” he gasped.

He probably should have asked what, but he was two seconds away from grabbing her hand and jacking his own dick, so he figured it was better to just encourage her to do what she wanted to do and see if he liked it rather than force her to do something she might find off-putting.

She spat on his dick and started jacking him off.

“O-Oh!”

It was a lot to take in at once, the image of her spitting on his dick, the sudden slipperiness wrapped in her firm hold, steady but tight, radiating pleasure flowing through him, down his legs and up his torso, seeing the glistening dark red tip disappear and reappear in her fingers, dangerous smirk and eye-smile accompanying the lewd image.

“Don’t hide your lovely voice,” she purred. “No one is here to hear you.”

He wasn’t sure if that was true or not, but it was unlikely that anyone was in the hotel room considering it was silent except for the noise outside in the adjacent rooms, and yet there was that sense of nervousness, jitters in being in this kind of situation with someone new, trying to keep his cool that was rapidly being consumed by flames.

“U-Um…”

She leaned forward, sticking her tongue out, and continued jacking him off with the head of his cock rubbing against her tongue.

“A-Aah, fuuuck…”

It was moving so fast, he was so intoxicated, he couldn’t stop, grabbing his shirt and yanking it up so it didn’t get in the way, seeing her wink at him and feeling the pace intensify, no, no, he couldn’t take it anymore, moaning helplessly, his breathing stuttering, so good, felt so good, strong grip, tight but not crushing, fast but enough to feel everything, tongue rubbing against sensitive skin, tilting her head and dripping more saliva down his length, so messy, seeing her thighs spread more. Right there at the door of the hotel room, not even waiting to take their shoes off.

Jungkook thought it would take him longer to cum but, to his surprise, the power of lust did not disappoint.

“I-I’m gonna cum, where–”

She tilted her hand back and stuck her tongue out, beckoning him with the tip.

He couldn’t even finish the question.

He gasped at the orgasm seized him and sent a burst of pleasure through him, making him lightheaded at the rush, gasping her name, holy fuck, he was witnessing his cum shooting down her throat, thick streams of white onto her tongue and sliding into the darkness. She didn’t close her mouth, letting him watch it slide down into her throat. Slowly massaging his twitching length, pressing her tongue to the base of the head, rubbing so, so softly.

There was so much pleasure that he couldn’t breathe.

Her lips closed, a kiss to the shivering head of his cock, and he heard her swallow.

So fucking sexy that he shuddered.

One eye opened, peering up at him, lightly licking the tip. A gentle tease. He whimpered, twisting his own shirt in his hands. She drew back a little, something clouding the previous playfulness from before.

“Too much?”

The question seemed weighted.

Not quite about what just occurred, but more about herself as a person.

Jungkook shook she head, biting his lower lip, knowing he was pushing his luck.

But this was Las Vegas and he came to gamble.

“Not enough.”

-

There probably should be instructions for how to proceed, but either Jungkook threw away the manual or was too horny to read it.

He probably should have thought twice before falling onto the bed he shared with Jimin and Taehyung, but he didn’t, dragging her onto his lap and whimpering at her touch and her bites on his neck, his eyes rolling back at her tongue following the curve of his ear, flicking his earrings. Shrugging out of their jackets, her chuckle between them, there probably isn’t enough time to get fully naked, and he knew it was true but he asked anyway, I need you, and then he realized her purple pouch was on the table by the bed because his eyes followed her hand when she pulled her phone out of her back pocket and stuck it on the nightstand.

When had that…?

But he didn’t really care, she was unzipping it and pulled a condom out.

“W… What?”

She shrugged as her response, licking the palm of her free hand. Never mind, he didn’t care why she had a condom in her toiletries bag. Condoms had one purpose. It was being used on him and that was good enough for Jungkook. He moaned as her wet left hand gripped his half-hard cock and pumped him. She straightened, standing between his legs.

“Hey.”

He didn’t have the capacity to speak, so he made a noise of want and curiosity, indicating that was ready to take an order.

“Help me take off my shorts.”

Be cool, his brain told him, but his hands were practically ripping off her clothes, yanking the button open and unzipping quickly, pushing it all down, black panties and shorts, gasping as she continued to jack him off while he revealed those lush hips and deliciousness between her legs, trying to tell himself to calm down, but, nope, that pussy looked more delicious than the expensive buffet and the buffet was fucking delicious.

Her hips swayed and she kicked her clothes away.

She held out the condom.

Jungkook reached between her legs and brushed his fingertips in between those glossy lips.

She raised an eyebrow as he brought it to his tongue and licked, trying not to pass out at the sweet taste.

Fuck.

He smirked at her inquiring expression.

“Just a taste.”

He took the condom, ripping it open. There was amusement in that eye-smile, but also a fluster that she covered with veiled calm.

“Ah.”

There was probably an unspoken rule that said, slow the fuck down, but it seemed that she didn’t care and neither did he, rolling the condom down his stiff length as soon as her hand moved away and she sank down on him, replacing her hand with her pussy.

Oh.

Fucking.

“A-Ah…!”

She rolled her hips, adjusting the angle, and Jungkook saw stars or maybe reached spiritual ascension, he had no other way to describe the overwhelming pleasure of the tight, warm softness, slick and wet, her hand gripping his shoulder, sliding up and down on his cock, his hands falling back to anchor himself up, his hips following her rhythm, thrusting up to meet hers.

She lifted her head, a heavy exhale tumbling from her lips.

Half-smile, her cheeks flushing.

“Fuck, you’re sexy.”

He felt the back of his neck burn and hoped it didn’t creep to his cheeks. She was riding his dick and he was dying from a compliment.

“Y-You too.”

Before he could slap himself upside the head for that response, she grinned.

“I know.”

He felt her squeeze him when he was deep inside, her nails digging into his shoulder, his right arm sticking out of his white t-shirt, his hair falling onto his face from the force of the bouncing. Bravery or feeding on her confidence, maybe simply lust and pleasure, who the fuck knew, his reservations disappearing, one of his hands lifting, touching her bare hip, testing the waters, pulling her closer when she smiled at him, breathless sigh at his force.

Harder.

Shifting the position slightly, fuck, right there, he knew that was the spot because they both gasped, tossing words aside and speaking through their bodies, harder, faster, rougher. It was easy to follow her pace. Maybe it was the knowledge that everyone may come back soon, maybe it was all those subtle tastes of her strong flavor from before, maybe this was her trap or maybe it really was undeniable attraction, but whatever it was, it was becoming something, mixed moans, matching pants, slapping bodies, and her hand turning, sliding into his hair, her fingers tense but not grabbing his hair, clenching her jaw.

“It’s okay,” he panted. “You can tug my hair a little.”

She bit her lip, a rare moment of lost composure.

“F-Fuck, Jungkook…”

Her fingers twisted into his hair tightly but didn’t pull, tipping her head back and moaning to the ceiling, clenching down him, shivering walls and sloppy squelch, still forcing her hips forward despite it but his own fingers dug into her hip and forced her to stop, the feeling too much and pushing him to the edge. Her name tumbled from his lips, his hips thrusting forward powerfully as he came, so good, rushing pulses and spilling into the condom, feeling her squeeze and tremble around him.

So good.

His.

At least this moment was, and he was going to treasure it.

Her hand worked into his hair, pinpricks of her nails crawling up, panting hard, opening her eyes slowly as she came down. There was something endearing about it. No walls here, no hiding behind confidence and knowledge of her own power.

Just bliss in orgasm.

“You can be rougher with me.”

She panted, cocking a brow at his declaration.

“You seem like you’re holding yourself back a little.” He grinned. “Or am I wrong?”

She ticked her head, not yet saying anything. Her gaze shifted, playfulness returning, running her fingers through his hair and making his scalp tingle.

He leaned forward and touched his nose to hers.

“I can take it.”

He saw those little puffs under her eyes curve upward in amusement and felt her fingers curling inward, a firm grip, his breath catching his throat, almost, he could almost taste her kiss on his lips again.

They heard the sudden whirring of the door being unlocked.

-

There were four rooms in the suite – the room Namjoon and Hoseok shared with separate beds, the room Yoongi and Seokjin shared with one bed, and the room Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook shared with the bed and pull-out couch that they ignored, cramming onto the California-king bed with too many limbs sticking out.

And the smallest room, hers, since she was the one girl.

Jungkook woke up far too early the next morning with Taehyung’s arm over his chest, staring down at the corner of the bed that he had fucked Yoongi’s female friend on the night before.

At least it was his side of the bed.

He got up and went for a long work-out session in the hotel gym to avoid any… foreseen circumstances. And to avoid Jimin bringing up anything from last night in the morning.

“You left Taehyung on read.”

“What?”

Jimin had scrunched up his face as he trotted into the bedroom, sighing. “Your phone. You left Taehyung on read, so we knew you weren’t dead, but at least text back and let us know where you are! What if you get kidnapped? We’re in a foreign country.”

Jungkook had blinked at him, sitting on the bed with his shirt half on and his pants hastily yanked on, trying to occupy Jimin so he didn’t start looking around the room. That turned out to be easy, considering Jimin was annoyed at him for not responding to texts. Jungkook had a good reason.

He was busy being balls deep.

He wasn’t going to say that because inevitably Jimin’s next question would be who and Jungkook wasn’t ready for his pint-sized hyung to start teasing and dropping hints to the silent-but-scary hyung.

“Why would I get kidnapped? I would kick their ass.”

Jimin made a pained face at him. “Yeah. Exactly. How are we supposed to bail you out of jail? What do you think we are? Fluent in English and rich?”

Jungkook coughed. “Uh… I got hot. I came up to change. I was gonna go back down.”

Jimin rubbed his head and ran his hand through his black hair, flopping onto the bed. “Never mind,” he sighed. “I’ll text them and let them know you’re okay. Man. You scared me for a second���”

“… Sorry.”

“What’s this?”

Jungkook snatched the scrap of blue foil wrapper from Jimin’s wandering hand. “Nothing. Just, uh, hangover tablet. She gave me an extra.”

“Oh, man, I’m gonna need one, I hope she has another…”

“I’ll ask if I see her.”

You did, Jungkook. You saw a lot.

Jungkook told his inner voice to shut the fuck up.

He wondered. If the others had thought about looking after him, then did any of them worry if she was going to be okay? She was one girl wandering alone in a big city in a foreign country after all. Her English seemed pretty good though.

He didn’t have to wonder for long.

“She’s at Starbucks.”

“What?”

Yoongi yawned and turned his phone around at the table of the hotel buffet, stuffing a slice of prime rib into his mouth. “Green dot.” A steady green dot on a white map with blue roads was chilling in a teardrop-shaped pin labelled STARBUCKS.

“You GPS’ed her?! What is she, an endangered animal?” Seokjin gasped, the half-eaten pretzel bread falling out of his mouth. He quickly snatched it from his plate and shoved it back in.

Yoongi grunted and swallowed, putting his phone back down. “She asked me to, obviously. She texts me where she’s going each day and I check sometimes if she’s there. Takes me two seconds. She’s fine.”

Jimin wiggled his eyebrows. “Where’s she going today?”

“Sex clubs and drug dens.”

Namjoon dropped his fork with a loud clatter.

Yoongi snorted. “She’s going to the Luxor to look around. You think she’d actually be in a drug den? You can’t Google that, sheesh.”

Namjoon had to ask for new silverware because he had flipped his knife onto the floor the second the waitress managed to get to their table.

The fair-skinned man shook his head, his long black hair neatly tucked under a gray beanie. “I told you, she intended to wander around alone. Of course, she took precautions. She’s not a kid.”

Taehyung poked Jungkook on the side of his head. “Yeah, unlike this guy.”

“What? I’m not a kid. I’m already over twenty-five!”

“Okay, next time we go somewhere, you can do all the talking in English.”

“… A-Ah…”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“I know, I just can’t focus on… remember… when put on the spot…”

“That’s kind of…” Seokjin paused to mock Jungkook. “… The most important part.”

“Hyung, you know zero English.”

“Yah, I know come on and you know, you know?!”

-

The memories started blurring together, as they did when one was slowly blacking out.

He found they came rushing back every time they kissed, so he always searched for the next time they could kiss again.

Five points of gentle contact on his back and he would turn, a rare moment in the bathroom of both of them getting ready, sudden silence when Jimin stepped out to change his shirt, unsatisfied with his outfit.

Just a quick taste, throwing a shot back as casually as they came. Her lips and tongue working him, soft and insistent, running her fingers up his back, tracing patterns that made his skin radiate with need, wanting her to push the layers of fabric away, but it was gone as quickly as it came, Jimin rushing back in and she was reaching past him, snatching Yoongi’s cologne on the counter and spraying down her neck and chest.

“Isn’t that hyung’s?” Jimin teased, nudging her from behind.

She smiled, playful and unbothered. “If I smell of men’s cologne, less men walk up to me because they will assume I’m already with a guy. Or slept with one the night before.”

“Ah, wait, that’s kind of smart though,” Jimin nodded, sounding surprised. “Don’t you think so, Jungkook?”

She tilted her head at Jungkook, looking innocent.

“Uh… yeah?”

She put down the bottle, sliding it back onto the counter. Not where it was before. His eyes flickered to the movement, sensing a deliberateness to her action. Her hand stopped, backed off.

She had placed it next to his.

Either she knew it was his or it was a very lucky guess.

Jungkook did not think it was a lucky guess.

He turned to make eye contact but she was already leaving the bathroom, waving a hand while tucking her purple pouch under her arm, looking far too pretty in a long-sleeved black shirtdress and studded leather choker, wearing the signature scent of another man.

She could have picked his and didn’t.

The thought lingered in his mind.

In the night, he felt someone poke his side.

He opened his eyes to see hers peering at him from the side of the bed, her fists on the sheets like a curious cat. He couldn’t see the lower half of her face. Heart racing, pushing Taehyung’s leg off him, turning in his body just in case. Taehyung and Jimin breathed softly, lost in dreamland as Jungkook encountered his.

That little eye-smile.

She backed up, placing a finger to her lips, dressed in her black-and-white gingham pajamas. Beginning the game. The silent journey, sneaking past their sleeping companions, into her room, close the door, whispers in the dark, shh, hands under clothes and lips on skin.

Shot after shot.

Common sense nagged at him, but Jungkook pushed it away, losing himself in the feeling of her tongue on his chest, her hands sliding up his sides as she crawled up his body, leaving his skin on fire with her kiss.

“I can turn the light on if you want.”

The curtains of the high-rise room were open, letting in the light of Sin City.

“I can see,” he breathed onto her skin. “This is nice.”

Her top coming off, shorts following. She grinned. He loved the way it flowed to her eyes. His kiss down her neck, smooth skin under his lips, and he could still smell the lingering fragrance, citrus and the ocean with heavenly depth that was uniquely her. He ran his tongue down like she did with him, wrapping his lips around her nipple, feeling her fingers curling in his hair, pushing him around with silent force.

I can take it.

Rolling her chest into his face, soft sigh above him as he sucked, more, so he sucked harder, rubbing his tongue against the hard nub between his lips, reaching up with this other hand to tease the other, the taste filling his mouth, fuck, something different and addictive, too many parts of her that were too enjoyable. Her hands in his hair and her moan of his name as he switched sides, feeling her thighs squeeze his torso, too good, her nails dragging down his back, pinpricks of pain to bring pleasure, and he could feel it, so intense, from her to him, flames melting together and burning, and then all of a sudden her hands yanking his hair hard. Pain shot into his scalp, forcing him to let go, and he gasped, confused, colliding with her insistent kiss, her grabbing his hand, pushing it down, plunging two of his fingers into dripping wetness and tight heat.

Jungkook moaned into her mouth, feeling her fuck herself with his hand.

Nothing could stop this now.

He really didn’t care of anyone heard him now but she didn’t let him, rocking her hips into his hand, trapping him with her kiss even when she came, her orgasm sliding down his palm, shuddering muscles choking his fingers in a punishing pulse and he wanted it on his cock, so much so that when she finally let him go, he grasped his own length with his wet hand and smeared it all over him, a wanton groan escaping him.

Her hand immediately slapped over his mouth, her brows furrowing.

“Shh.”

He shook his head, gasping against her fingers, tighter, pushing the limit.

She gave him a helpless smile and felt around behind her, finally finding the condom and bringing it to him.

“Man, you’re gonna wake someone up…”

He bit down on his lower lip, fuck, it just felt so good, so good burying himself into that tightness, her muscles relaxing for a second to let him enter and then wrapping around him, just like that, swearing under his breath as she chided him, slow, angling herself to accommodate his length, oh God, right there, that depth and that sweet spot, slow and forceful, her legs wrapping around his waist, rising her lower body to his.

He tipped his head back, trying to contain his moan and failing. Her hand flew up, covering his mouth again, careful with the lip ring.

“Lift your arm for a second,” she gasped, and he did, and one leg was on his shoulder now, yes, yes, panting against her fingers, even better now, fucking him hard from below as he fucked her from above, attempting to minimize the sound, clutching his face as hers remained focused, biting her lip to hide her noises, the loudest being their bodies slapping against each other.

Nothing they could do about that.

He saw her neck tense and her eyes flickered up. He felt it too, the rush and the need, staring into her eyes, the thrill all over, her thumb stroking his cheek fondly while not letting go. The light of the city down below lit their bodies, and perhaps there was something in the air, too many drinks and not enough self-control.

Except he was sober.

She was the alcohol.

Jungkook felt his cheeks and neck flush. He hoped she couldn’t see in the darkness.

He whined softly under her palm and she nodded, squeezing him from below. Closer, closer, harder, faster, taking the chance, her gaze shooting up and he was there, her thumb suddenly covering his nose as he half-screamed into her mouth, hitting a strange kind of airless high that was so intense he felt his brain go hazy, squeezing his eyes shut as his hips jerked, wave after wave of pleasure colliding into one another, orgasm punching into him as he felt hers all around, pulsating constriction and slippery juices stuck to the insides of his thighs, hearing her head flinch to the side and bury her face into the pillow in mute ecstasy.

Holy.

Fuck.

She suddenly removed her hand from his face and the oxygen came rushing back, knocking the wind out of him and making him collapse on top of her. A faint sound of mild discomfort under him, but she did not tell him to get off.

He could feel her racing heartbeat against his.

Did she feel it too, the high of the buzz that was them?

-

Jungkook pressed his hand onto his mouth and his thumb over his nose, feeling the orgasm building up within his core.

It was loud in the living room area, singing, screaming, laughing, and he was slowly cutting off his own air, watching those lips around his cock and feeling that tongue race up and down the underside of his length, furiously rubbing the bottom of the head where it was the most sensitive, then descending into that throat that squeezed him, wet and hot and wonderful. So close to getting caught. So close, but not close enough, and that was the sweet spot, watching his cock disappear into that mouth and seeing that eye-smile teasing him as he watched, covering his mouth so he didn’t give them away.

He couldn’t breathe.

The climb was heaven.

The orgasm slammed into him and he clenched his jaw, squeezing his eyes shut, fuck, fuck, fuck, feeling his length jerk and shoot down her throat. The lack of oxygen bombarded him with thoughtless, unbridled bliss, this, fuck, why does this feel so good, his eyes rolling back, tipping his head back and hitting the wall, thrusting into her throat and hearing her choke slightly, swallowing quickly and shooting a bolt of near-pain up into his head that punctuated the high, leaving him teetering on the tightrope in a dangerous suspension.

She let him go and dragged his pants up, rubbing her throat.

“G… Go back…”

“S–”

She shot up and covered his mouth, shaking her head. Breathing hard, staring into his eyes.

He felt it, the something between them.

Dancing twin flames.

Slowly, she removed her hand, closing the distance between them.

He fell into it, the softness and the pressure and the insistence.

Euphoria.

“You know you can suck his dick in Korea, right?”

They both jumped.

The head of long black-hair tilted, dark brown orbs watching them like a cat who may or may not be silently judging. A smirk, open-mouthed and amused, looking from Jungkook to her.

“While I’m sure it’s incredibly fun for you,” Yoongi said quietly in his low voice. “Maybe control yourself at least in this room.”

Jungkook sputtered but she covered his mouth again. He realized she was smiling.

“I’ll think about it.”

She backed up and picked up her jacket, the short skirt flashing more ass than necessary.

Jungkook was about to move but Yoongi pushed him back against the wall, holding up two fingers and shaking his head, indicating him to wait two minutes before reappearing. Then his hyung followed after the flame.

“Uh huh,” Yoongi muttered as he fell in step behind her. “You act like I didn’t know what you were doing…”

“I tell you what I’m doing every day.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

She shrugged on the jacket, ticking her chin at Yoongi. “Keep a secret, okay?”

“Right, I can see how worried you are about it…”

They rounded the corner and left Jungkook alone, breathing hard in the semi-darkness, pants still unfastened, trying to push down his embarrassment.

“Where is – oh, hyung! Uh… what were you two doing?”

In unison.

“Nothing.”

“Kinda looks like something.”

“Well even if it was something, are either of us going to tell you? No.”

“Aww… but hyung, look, I found a song you produced on the list!”

“There’s no – whoa…”

Jungkook breathed out slowly as everyone was distracted. Rebuttoned his pants. Calmed himself back to normal. Smoothed out his shirt. What if…? He shut his eyes, telling his brain not to go there. Remembered her words. I’ll think about it. Yeah. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Yeah, because it was just for fun. A game. Meant nothing. Vacation from real life, and afterward just a distant memory of drunk fun times.

...

Fuck.

“Jungkook?”

He jumped. She stood in front of him, holding her phone.

“I… I left it on the ground,” she mumbled absentmindedly, awkwardly waving it about. “Are… Are you okay?”

“Uh…”

He swallowed, feeling a strange tightness in his chest.

“Yeah. I’m good.”

She tilted her head at him. Took a step back but then stopped. Shook her head.

“You’re not okay.”

Her voice was soft, delicate, a sharp contrast to everyone yelling on the other side of the wall.

“Y-You should go back,” he choked out, trying to keep his voice from cracking. “They’ll think–”

She chuckled dryly, cutting him off. “Yoongi will cover if anybody asks. And besides, I don’t care.” She searched his face, brows furrowing. “You’re not okay. Tell me what’s wrong.”

Nothing.

He stared at her, in her fluffy black jacket and two-piece set decorated with flames.

Tell her it’s nothing.

She waited, patiently, one in the darkness with him.

Or ask if she feels something for you.

“You…”

She took a step towards him, listening.

“You’ll suck my dick in Korea, right?” he blurted.

She blinked at him.

Wait.

That didn’t come out right.

The side of her lips lifted upward in exasperated mirth. “Uh… sure. I planned on it. I was actually going to suck you dick a couple more times in Vegas too, if the opportunity arose.”

A weight of relief. “Oh. That’s…”

I planned on it.

Jungkook felt his whole body burst into flames. Not literally. But it felt like that.

“You… planned?”

She nodded. “Yes. Because I like you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t try to kiss you. Or touch your dick. Or go to the trouble of buying condoms in a foreign country so I could ask you to put your dick in me.”

He gawked at her.

Moments passed.

There was a series of discombobulated yelps and thumps, someone screaming, "Namjoon, no!", followed by profuse apologizing and Hoseok's crazed laughing and recognizable clapping. Jungkook heard none of it.

His ears only registered the words, I like you, ringing in his ears over and over.

"Oi."

She raised her free hand and pointed at his face, startling him.

"What's with your eyes?"

He blinked, raising his hands and touching his cheeks. "W-What?"

"Your big peepers."

She snickered as if she had told a great joke, grinning wide, the little puffs under her eyes giving them a gentle curve, the delight reaching them too. There was just something about it.

“You look so funny when you’re surprised. It’s cute. I like it.”

He blinked rapidly, finding his mouth partially open and closing it. Swallowed, sputtering. “I… I like your eye-smile.”

She stopped laughing and gave him a confused look. “What?”

“Your cute eye-smile.”

She coughed. “I don’t have an eye-smile.”

He tilted his head. Now he was the puzzled one. “But… you do.”

She backed up, waving a hand. “Nah.” Turned slightly, covering part of her face. He caught the redness of her ears. “No. No, I don’t. Shut up. I’m going. I’ll see you later. I already booked for Tournament of Kings and I’m not missing it.” She pointed at him accusingly and Jungkook found himself smiling, grinning as she backed up carefully, stumbling into the wall and shaking herself vigorously, waving her hand around. “Don’t say anything. I’m leaving. Don’t look at me. Bye.”

And she ducked out, practically leaving a dust cloud in her haste.

Well.

It didn’t seem like what happened in Vegas was going to stay in Vegas, at least in this case.

--

masterpost