#I know the entire second episode is going to me consumed with lust but hey

[clownaddict]

I’m about to disappear for a while and binge the One piece Live Action show.

There’s a rollercoaster of emotions coming up and the carnival attendees forgot to secure my harness

[jawnjendes]

i will take your pain | shawn mendes

chapter 15/15, university au, shawn x goth oc

AN: last chapter bitch.

masterlist | playlist

A number of people stopped Shawn for selfies and autographs after the show. An even bigger number of people bought merch, and were walking around the bar wearing T-shirts with his name on. Shawn felt like he was in the clouds, but there was still something he had to do before he let himself fly. He pulled out his phone during the short two minutes he had between fan interactions, wanting to text Ann. He had lost her when the crowd moved to meet and touch him, and he wanted to make sure she wouldn’t leave so soon.

For once, she texted first.

“Meet me outside when you can.”

Shawn moved a little quicker through the people who wanted selfies. It still took all of forty five minutes to get to all of them. Some wanted selfies, others wanted a conversation, and one specific fan really wanted Shawn to take her pink cowboy hat. Shawn had a different girl on his mind, though, and wasted no time to get outside once he was free.

Ann was by the lounge entrance, arms crossed and leaning against the wall. She was almost hard to spot in the dark, because of her equally dark attire. Shawn could never miss her; She was the beauty in the dark, after all.

He approached her, a soft smile on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but once again, she beat him to it.

“I’m gonna talk for a minute.”

“Please,” he said with a nod.

Ann looked around, watching people walk past. Then, she looked up at the sky, noticing the dark clouds. Shawn looked up as well, only to receive several raindrops to the face. Ann gestured for Shawn to follow her. She lead them just a little up the road and stopped at an alleyway.

“We doing a drug deal?” Shawn joked.

“Shut up.”

“Okay.”

She sighed quickly and looked around again, covering herself with her black denim jacket. “Um… I really loved your set. Like, I forgot how much I loved seeing you perform. You look so good, so happy. Radiant. And the songs! I don’t even have the words!” Her voice was getting higher pitched and just a little shaky. “I’m happy that you’ve been writing and singing again after… after everything I put you through.”

Shawn tilted his head. “You put me through?”

There was a pause as Ann rubbed her hands together, and it definitely wasn't because she was cold. She looked at the ground, then the sky, then at the street. When she spoke again, her voice cracked.

“I took a lot of my feelings out on you. You were just trying to help and I kept pushing you away. And not just this semester, but while I was recovering from surgery too. And you were having nightmares because of me and I feel so, so guilty for it.” She paused to clear her throat. “I thought the only option was to separate and… and I’m sorry for you pushing you away when I was going under.”

Shawn felt a sting in his throat, his heart pounding. “I told you I’d do it all again. Wouldn’t even hesitate.” He stepped closer. “And the nightmares… that’s not on you. It’s because of you why I went to therapy. I wouldn’t have gotten the help I needed if it wasn’t for you.”

Ann’s eyes were shiny under the nearby lamp post. “I… I didn’t even know post surgical depression was a thing. I didn’t even know something like that could be traumatizing. I, I thought if I was going to regain my strength and independence and ease my guilt… I thought I had to do it alone, like how I used to. I just wanted to go back to who I was before the surgery. But I’ll never be that person again. And I can’t - I can’t do it alone. I need you.”

Shawn closed the gap between them and cupped her face. “I’m here, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, okay?” He kissed her forehead gently, and then her head was against his chest. His own tears fell as she cried silently.

Really, he had no idea just how deep this thing went. It wasn’t just a case of cabin fever that spiraled, or arguing that went too far. Ann was grieving the person she was before the depressive episode hit. She was mourning a loss. In return, Shawn was just angry at her and pushing for her to open it all up. If he had known sooner, he would have been better at giving her the space she needed. He would have done more for her.

“Hey,” he said softly, making her look up at him. “You know you’ll get through this, right? And I’ll be here for you no matter what. I’ll do it all a thousand times.”

Ann sniffed. “Let’s hope we don’t have to do it a second time.”

Shawn offered a grin.

“And anyway,” Ann continued, wiping her tears with her jacket sleeve, “I love you, or whatever.”

“I love you too.”

“And if it wasn’t obvious, I’m calling off the separation.”

He grinned even wider. “Seriously? You’ll be mine again?”

She shrugged. “It’s not like I ever wasn’t.”

Shawn felt his insides turn to mush. Just a minute ago, they were both emotional wrecks. He leaned in to kiss her, but Ann was suddenly smiling wide too. Their lips touched swiftly, Ann holding his wrists, sparks and fireworks setting off between them.

“Don’t make a big deal outta this when we get back in there,” she mumbled.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Shawn said back.

She sighed. “Fine.” Then, she grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him out onto the sidewalk, in the rain. “Might as well make it extra fucking cheesy.”

Then, she pulled him in for a deep kiss. Shawn was so consumed by all of her - her lips, her soft breaths, her scent - he couldn’t even be mad about getting rained on. His arms went around her waist, pulling her close as his mouth moved slowly with hers. They paused for a breath several times before joining lips again, Ann running her fingers through his now drenched hair. Her tongue slowly touched his bottom lip, making Shawn pull back.

He kissed the corner of her mouth, then her cheeks. He opened his eyes when he heard her shaky breath, concerned that she had started crying again.

“Baby-” He cut himself off, realizing that her jaw was chattering. “Are you cold?”

“Yeah. Aren’t you?” she replied.

Shawn nodded, now noticing the intense chill on his arms. “Let’s get back inside.”

~

Most of the afterparty took place at The Cameron House, meaning that Shawn didn’t have to play host to all of his friends and some strangers. After 2AM, everyone was pretty partied out, giving Shawn and Ann a way out. Somehow, Shawn still spent another hour saying goodbye to friends and fans who were on their way out as well, while Ann waited at the bar. After a couple of drinks, spirits were high between the two of them. She wasn’t in a hurry to leave.

Shawn didn't even have to ask her to come spend the night. Actually, Ann told him that Stella was her ride, but she took Camila home.

"I'm sleeping over at yours for the convenience," she joked when they were finally in the car.

He reached over and rubbed her arm. "The convenience being that you love me?"

She grabbed his wrist. "Shhh…"

"Nah, you love me, I heard you say it!"

"You're cute or whatever…"

He took her hand and kissed her fingers. Tonight has just been way too good, and it was definitely going to get better. Ann returned the pressure in their hands, smiling to herself.

They got back to the apartment only to discover a squeaky cat. Henry was on the kitchen counter, her green eyes wide and borderline demanding. A strange thing about her was that she didn't properly meow, she just let out tiny squeaks and mewls.

"Ooo, someone's mad at me," Shawn said as he set down his guitar case.

"Why?" Ann asked as she leaned against the kitchen sink.

"I may have forgotten to feed her before I left." He scratched Henry's chin, and she nuzzled into his hand. "Yeah, she's being cute because she's hungry. Do you want food, Henry?"

The feline mewled again, completely alert. She mewled even louder when she heard the familiar shuffling of the bag of cat chow.

"I know, honey, don't yell at me," Shawn told her as he filled her bowl. "Don't come yelling at me in a half hour when you finish your food."

Ann giggled from behind him, making him turn to her.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," she said as she stepped towards him to snake her arms around him. "You're cute with your cat."

"How many drinks did you have?" he asked in response.

"One and a half, and it barely did anything."

She clearly didn't see how flushed her cheeks were. It was insanely adorable, Shawn couldn't help but run his thumbs across the red patches on her face. Brown eyes surrounded by heavy liner never looked so goddamn pretty. Black lipstick never looked so good. How did Shawn end up with someone like Ann?

He noticed something shiny on her jacket collar. Moving her hair aside, Shawn noticed the roses pin he got for her, and smiled.

“You really liked these, eh?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” she replied. “They’re grave markings! You know me and Death are lovers!”

Shawn hummed. “I love you more than Death does. He hasn’t even taken you out yet.”

“He tried, but I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment.”

“You’re too cute. Drunk, but still cute,” he told her, kissing her nose.

Ann craned her neck to reach his lips, and he didn’t hesitate to give back just as much. His fingers tangled into her hair, hold her close as he finally kissed her the way he had been wanting to for months. It wasn’t full of lust or a need to rip each other’s clothes off, not this time. Their lips pressed together softly, lingering when they pulled apart. Ann rested her head on his chest, actually hugging him now. Shawn wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her close.

“I really missed you,” she mumbled.

Shawn might as well have ripped his own heart out and gave it to her. “I missed you too. So much.”

Ann kissed the center of his chest, her nose nuzzling against the hair on his skin. “I love you so much. Like, I’m probably in love with you and I’m terrified.”

He practically melted into a puddle. “Don’t be. I’ll take care of you.”

The balance of the universe was restored. Everything means something again.

~

“Ann, wake up!”

Brown eyes flipped open, Annalise’s entire body jerking by the sudden noise. She squinted at the bright sunlight entering the room, and she rubbed her eyes. She had less than two drinks, she couldn’t possibly be hungover.

Shawn’s face was hovering over hers, wide awake and completely delighted. Gently shaking her shoulder, he cooed, “Ann, baby, wake up! Wake up! Are you awake?”

She reached up to push his face away, but he grabbed her wrist and kissed her hand.

“I got a message on Twitter!” he exclaimed, holding her hand to his cheek.

“So?” she grumbled, wanting nothing more than to be cuddled back into slumber.

“Ann. It’s from Bella Santiago.”

She blinked a few times. “Shut up.”

“I’m serious.”

“Shut up.”

“She wants to fly me out to Los Angeles.”

“Shawn I’m gonna kill you!” Annalise snapped as she sat up.

He showed her his phone, where he had the message open. Annalise read it, mouth hanging open. She looked at her boyfriend in disbelief. It wasn’t just a mere follow. It was going to be something more.

_____

lmao is it really over? nah. 

NEXT SERIES: Shawn Meets... (a separate taglist will be made for that series, let me know if you want to be added!)

taglist: @normalcyisoverrated-beyou @ilsolee @mendesromano @1-800-khalid-mendussy @kitykatnumber @strangerliaa @iloveshawnieboi @goldenmndes @shawnsunflower @shawnvvmendes @shawmndes @ruinhoney @someoneunimportantxx @calyumthomas @yourdeflightfullyleft @havethetimeeofyourlifee @wronglanemendes @chillingbythesea @softmendesss @mutuallynotmutual

[theangrypokemaniac]

Ma adopts the classic pose of a Lady by gathering her hands together, for that speaks of breeding. Look at Renaissance portraiture and you'll find many a predecessor doing alike.

When at ease, Pa puts his hands behind him, as they teach a gentleman to behave. Prince Philip also follows the rule in part thanks to the hard discipline of a naval career.

On Ma her waist is a deeper red, as that's the shadow cast by her...blessings.

In a similar fashion, the ideal build of a man is a flat stomach and broad chest, and Pa's pecs extend so much the rest of him is thrown into darkness.

I told yer it was gym in the dungeon!

Let me make a comparison with Sinnoh's version of this scene.

Original picture:

You're too far away. I can't see properly.

Instead of staring out of the French window, maybe more concern ought to paid to the demonic apparitions in the background.

What's this, a party for the Beings Between Dimensions?

I kept thinking the second one is Angela Lansbury, busy blending in to solve another society murder.

This explains why James is confined to the immediate outside: well within observing distance but not too close, in case one of the guests consumes his soul.

How bloody evil is Sinnoh Ma there?

Look at her nasty face: she's like a furious mint imperial.

Her head is imploding under its own gravitational pull.

Even Sinnoh Pa's trousers are an affront to me. Gone is the proud protuberance and in comes a material arrangement implying he's trying not to soil himself whilst also hiding the truth, both in stance and spillage, hence turning his back to the crowd.

Worry not, Sinnoh Pa, you're wearing those special pads aren't you? Very absorbant.

I know the berks who wrote Sinnoh held Team Rocket in contempt but does that extend to their relatives too? Is there any reason why Sinnoh Ma and Sinnoh Pa have suffered the Palsied Touch Of Death wiping 'em down with its slimy appendage?

Perhaps it befell the pair on this very evening, so the boy was locked out for his own good.

Too late, his head's already had the sniff of it, that's why he resembles a midget version of his older self.

As I've commented previously, every single scene of The Treasure Is All Mine! featuring James's parents was lifted straight from Holy Matrimony! because the 'artists' are too busy picking their own arses to come up with anything new.

Why not? The plot's a copy, so might as well do the same with the animation. Flaunt those recycling credentials!

Some are exactly the same pose, albeit in poorer quality, but many are reversed, as if that disguises it, and when a picture is flipped, it seems twisted and misaligned, as shown above.

Yet even that wasn't enough, as their rendering of it is even worse, and given a scowling expression.

What are they trying to say? You think a wizened old dog like that could ever entice Pa's lust?

As if! Sinnoh Ma is blatantly older than him! Why would he put up with that?

He's rich! He can pull underwear models!

Sinnoh Pa would, because he's desperate. Appearances don't matter so much when you're in dire need of a bed bath.

I tremble with the fear that one day the writers might recall Ma and Pa's existence, and reintroduce 'em, as going by this progression the third showing will be even more shrivelled:

Next thing you know we'll be dealing with Link's nan from The Wind Waker!

What is this thing in anime when anyone over forty suddenly resembles a friendly walnut?

What colour is Sinnoh Ma's hair meant to be there? Mauve?

Mauve?!

Since when was she bloody mauve?

Her actual shade somewhat depends on where you get the image.

Google:

Serebii:

Both of these match the old cassette copy I cherish.

What's up with yer screen shots, Serebii? Did you take 'em through one of those blurring toilet windows?

Pokémon T.V. Crapp:

I can't trust it. Each update produces a slightly different version of the same scene. I don't know whether I'm coming or going.

What is it, claret? Maroon? Aubergine?

Hey, T.A.P. isn't on intimate terms with exact hues and all their airy-fairy appellations. In my day reciting the contents of a rainbow was impressive. Doing it in order ranked one as a genius.

It certainly isn't mauve. Apparently Sinnoh Ma wasn't withered enough, and required something to really wash out her complexion, implying greyness but not quite.

I'll tell you of what this reminds me:

Hey Arnold!

If I remember it correctly (and that's not guaranteed) there was an episode featuring a go-kart race, though I don't believe they really exist, as I've never seen such a spectacle.

Sid (the one with a penis for a nose and a nose for a penis) called his The Dark Avenger, whereas Eugene (the grinning one with ginger frizz) had The Mauve Storm.

After a mishap they were obliged to share an makeshift vehicle, but rather than combining names to form The Dark Storm, Knobnose got well annoyed as Pubehead insisted on christening it The Mauve Avenger.

You could call Sinnoh Ma that.

Well there's some bloody mauve avenging taking place tonight, though I don't deserve this insult.

Fun fact: mauve is entirely synthetic, invented by accident during the Industrial Revolution.

Well there you are then.

God is so opposed to the concept of Sinnoh Ma's barnet He refused to even make it possible, because God hates mauve, refusing to allow it in nature. 'Twas forged from the diabolical furnaces within those Dark Satanic Mills instead, emphasis on the Satanic.

But I thought you liked purple and all it's many varieties.

Quiet you. It's the principle.

Where was I?

The reason why Sinnoh Ma has the fan surgically grafted to her person is it makes an easy flat surface to draw, rather than having to bother with her beads, brooch and folded neckline.

Her bony exterior evokes female slebs who foolishly imagine being as thin as possible adds youth, when in fact it's deeply ageing.

As for Pa, none of his colours have been followed, and that waistcoat on Sinnoh Pa has a most angry cut.

His general dodderiness gives the impression his pockets are peppered with furry Werther's Originals, as pensioners love sucking a Werther. Everyone knows that.

But they break yer teeth!

S'okay. Sinnoh Pa has none.

Now what about the physiques?

Notice on Pa little red is visible, with his blazer hanging straight down for meeting no impediment, even drawing inwards at the end of chest.

You can see a lot more red on Sinnoh Pa, and the blazer has to part the further down it goes to accommodate the belly. The shadow is absent because this area exceeds the top.

They've warped Pa from being a fella who cared about his body enough to keep it trim, to one who let himself go.

How people deal with weight tells you about their personality. He can't be busy sweating it off and also not give a toss!

What, is Ma gonna tolerate the possibility of a conjugal crushing as it rolls over?

No way, she's got standards!

Why would she touch that when there's plenty of sexy beasts ready to snap 'er up?

Sinnoh Ma would. She needs a big container to store her favourite tipple of blood.

Bear in mind that Pa is the character when James is grown up, and Sinnoh Pa a recollection from childhood, meaning the old, fat, grey, decrepit vision is the younger incarnation. Make sense to me.

Sinnoh Pa ate all the pies, man!

[dreamhimcloser]

Heed

Hyunbin x Longguo x Reader, fluff, 2,783 words, pg13.

You would never admit it, but you watched them enough to know they kept their nights interesting. You also used to think they were good friends, the kind who knew each other so well that one can think they were sharing the same mind. You thought so for a long time.

They always caught your eye. Even if you were so busy handling the clients who gathered around the bar that you could barely breath, you could still feel their presence around like a certain kind of warmth moving with the flow of the room.

You couldn’t even fathom what was so special about them. I mean, sure, they were handsome – one of them being tall and build well, you could see that even through his clothes. His face was made up with soft, rounded features, and yet there was something intense about the way his eyes scanned through the room full of people.

The other was quite different but interested you no less. He had a whole other kind of tension in his eyes, just as captivating as the one in his friend’s. His features were more feline – making him constantly look like the cat guarding the cream. Maybe he was, with the way his eyes turned especially lustful when he spotted a yummy new pray.

You would never admit it, but you watched them enough to know they kept their nights interesting. Sometimes they were separated – walking into the bar together but losing touch with each other for the rest of the night until the tall one was too drunk to stand without leaning against his friend. The feline man would give him a blank look before wrapping an arm around him and carrying him out.

Other nights they would step in together and leave separately, but not alone. You noticed how both of them found their nighty fancy in men and women alike – both going with the flow of those who court them. You saw them rejecting some along the way, but never because of gender.

You used to think they were good friends, the kind who knew each other so well that one can think they were sharing the same mind. You thought so for a long time. One night they came in – the tall one first, and there was evident fire in his eyes. The feline entered shortly after in a storm, a scowl drawing his eyebrows tensely together.

That night, they didn’t pay attention to anyone else in the space around them, as if they were alone. You thought every single person could feel the lesser stares they gave each other from across the room. That day was also the first day you talked to either of them, quick curses slipping from you as you spotted the handsome one walking to you in a bee line. You put up your best fake smile – like you didn’t notice this is a very bad night for him. He asked you for the strongest thing you had, but the feline one caught up with him before you managed to pour the liquid into glass.

You had no idea what the feline whispered into the tall one’s ear, but it was enough to almost erupt everything he had inside. The feline grabbed his friend before anything happened, dragging him to the dance floor. You watched them closely, the alcoholic bottle still in your hand as you watched them dance – if you could call it that. They moved aggressively against each other, in the blink of an eye the movement turned so sexual you felt like an absolute pervert for watching. Their bodies were pulled tightly together, and something the feline said made the tall one crash their mouths together. You could see the exchange of tongues, and you were far enough from them to be surprised.

From that day, you were confused as to what they were to each other. You couldn’t mistake those actions as just friendly, there was a clear territory that you couldn’t shy away from, intimacy that left you tingling. They missed a few nights after that episode, about fourteen of them, but who counted. Just when you began wondering if they’ll ever be back – they walked into the club, hands together and a soft kiss of goodbye before they went their separate ways.

Whatever happened between them that night passed, and they went back to their natural circle. Without much of a fight, so did you.

Working as a bartender meant your life were mostly upside down. You were awake all night and fell asleep just when the sun reached its bright place in the sky. This lifestyle was really difficult if you had things to do, like taking your very sick cat to the vet.

You entered your apartment with a sigh, your alarm clock sounding from behind you to remind you of the appointment. Your cat, Lollipop, suffered long enough – you spent about three days in the horrible feeling of being a very bad pet owner, the feeling only growing whenever she curled up to your form and sneezed so bad she shook violently against you.

You can’t avoid this one. You were tired and you felt like maybe five showers will finally make you feel clean, but you had to settle for one, knowing you don’t have that much time. You took all your make up off, figuring the vet will live without seeing you too groomed, and didn’t do much to your hair besides brushing it and pulling it up into a messy ponytail.

This will do.

The sun was warm against your skin – a feeling you could only feel on your rare days off and you found yourself missing. You really needed to switch jobs, but looking for a new one when your routine is so messed up was a difficulty of its own. The vet wasn’t very far away from you, and the walk went by fast when you didn’t do this for a while.

You entered the reception room, smiling at the vet’s secretary as you informed her you arrived. She directed you to enter the second vet room in their clinic, the one farther away from her. You thanked her and made your way there – only to find the room almost empty except two cages, sitting alone on the chairs. You heard a soft meow from one of them just when you stepped in, and you peered curiously inside it to find a young cat – probably less than a year old – black and white looking at you cat with biddy little eyes. You peaked into the second one to find an even smaller cat, beautiful, gray and happy to see a human face. You allowed yourself to offer the gray cat your finger, receiving a few excited licks as thanks.

“Why are you guys here alone?” The black and white cat meowed again, and you tried patting him through the bars of his cage as well. “Who leaves their cats like that?”

“Hungover people,” A voice answered from behind you, making you jump onto your feet with the surprise.

You were even more surprised when you turned around and locked eyes with no other than the feline man. He really did look hungover – and even if he didn’t look it, you would’ve known mainly because you handed him most of the drinks he consumed last night. He walked closer, hands in pockets as he looked at the cats – you assumed they were his.

“We just went to get water, we didn’t really leave them alone,” he mentioned off handed, just staring down at the cages.

You slowly came to terms with the fact that the man you’ve been watching for a while now is actually talking to you. You could spot a Chinese accent on him, not that in your face but not entirely hidden either. His eyes were not as fierce as you used to see them, especially not when he looked down so affectionately on the cages.

His eyes slowly moved to your own cage, resting on the floor by your feet. “Who did you come with?”

“My cat,” You answered simply, watching him as he lowered himself down with a hand holding onto the top of one of his cages, balancing him on his descend. He peaked into your cage, a smile curling his lips.

“Hey, little one! You’re so pretty,” His voice was a little higher when he talked to your cat, making you raise your eyebrows. This personality is maybe the last one you’d imagine on him – and you felt like you watched him long enough to know.

“Are you hitting on other people’s cats?” A second, much deeper voice came from behind you. You already knew who it was before you looked, but you weren’t any less pleased to find the tall one entering the room. He looked even more hungover then the feline one, a blame easily placed upon the large number of different drinks he drank throughout the night. He was a very heavy drinker, you were kind of impressed on the nights he went all out.

His eyes stretched a little bigger as he spotted you, lifting the hand holding a chilled glass of water to point a finger at you, “Bartender!” You nodded, watching a smile rise on his lips. “If it’s the bartender’s cat it’s alright, you can hit on it.”

“Of course you would say that,” The feline rose from the floor, a little woozy but still made it up. “Then night comes, Talbi sleeps on your side because he’s mad at me and you gloat until I get mad.”

“Talbi just likes my body heat better, don’t be so jealous, babe.”

Babe. This made things a bit clearer. You watched the two of them exchange a look, too secret for you to decode with your obvious lack of knowledge about the two.

Lollipop sneezed from its cage again, making the feline gasp. “Poor thing!”

You moved uncomfortably, “Yeah, she’s pretty sick.”

The feline studied you for a few seconds, “Take good care of her.”

That saying seemed to be a little weird, since it was your cat and you didn’t know each other – staring across a large space filled with people failed to give you that. You nodded nonetheless, just because you could see very clearly how much he meant it.

The vet stepped out of his room, hands on his hips as he looked at the cages. “I’m ready for Lucy.”

The feline grabbed the gray cat’s cage immediately, but the tall one was quick to argue, “Longguo, I want to go inside too. I want to see her off.”

“But Talbi will be here all alone,” Longguo argued, hugging Lucy’s cage to his chest.

The tall man looked at you, his eyes a little too hopeful when looking at a stranger. You already knew what he meant by it though, and it didn’t matter much to you. On the contrary, it was an opportunity to maybe get a little more friendly with the two men who caught your interest for so long. “I’m staying here, I’ll watch Talbi,” Your offer granted you a bright smile from the tall guy.

“Thank you so much!” He quickly pushed Longguo into the vet’s room, leaving you alone with both cages. You lifted Lollipop’s cage onto a seat, sitting yourself between her cage and Talbi’s. Talbi looked a little shaken from having both her owners and her friend taken away from her. You looked over at Lollipop, sleeping away in the soft blanket you stuffed inside her cage. She had no friends to be taken away from her, at least you could give her that confort.

Only a few minutes passed before the door opened again and Longguo stepped out of it, his face looking a little paler than before. He sat on Talbi’s other side, staring ahead. His foot tapped nervously on the floor, and it served as the only noise inside the room. That is, until Lollipop sneezed again from her sleep.

“She’s really sick,” Longguo mentioned, foot still tapping.

“She is,” You glanced at him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m worried.” His voice contrasted his words with how calm it sounded. “Lucy is getting castrated today. Talbi is male, so I never had to worry about a big surgery until now.”

“Lollipop is my first pet, so I kind of know how you feel,” You offered, and his eyes targeted you immediately. “I so nervous before her surgery I couldn’t even sleep, but she’s here now. Not that healthy, but she is strong and she will also be healthy very soon. It’ll be alright.”

He nodded slowly, and you could see the muscles of his face relaxing into a more natural expression. “She is, right? Lucy will be okay.”

“She looked very energetic, so I’m sure she will be,” You smiled at him, the action mirrored in his own features.

You carried a light conversation about practically nothing, just to take Longguo’s mind off of the vet’s room and what’s happening inside. You knew from experience that the sleeping drug takes a while to kick in, and the tall one – who’s name you still don’t know – would probably stay inside until the surgery started, just like you did when you were in that position.

You found out they’re a couple, just like you suspected. Longguo chose not to mention the people you watched them take home, but something in the look he gave you told you he knows you know. You felt like your conversation was teasing you closer and away from what you wanted to know about them. Almost like Longguo meant it – which wouldn’t surprise you, not when you watched how smooth he is for so long.

Your conversation died down for a second and you looked away from him, using Lollipop as a way to get away from his pointed stare. You could still feel his eyes on you though. “You know, those people we take from the club are pretty meaningless.”

You slowly turned back to him, obviously confused with how straightforwardly he approached the subject after spending an entire conversation in avoiding it. “Okay?”

“I mean, we don’t approach those who interest us like that. It’s too risky, so we do fun, mostly.”

The look he had in his eyes now reminded you of how he looked at people in the low lights the club offered – like pray.

“We noticed you watching us,” He explained, crossing his legs as he settled back in his seat. “We just haven’t quite figured out how to approach you.”

Right when the words left his lips, the vet’s door opened. The tall man stepped outside, giving Longguo a narrowed look. “Tell me you didn’t just say that.”

“What, am I not allowed to hit on Bartender?”

You mentioned your name, but this information got swallowed in whatever went on between them.

“Was I not allowed to hit on Bartender that day, when you practically ran to get me away from the bar?”

Longguo raised his hands in front of him in surrender, “Point taken. She’s just really cute, you know. The cat too.”

You stared at Longguo and he met your eyes with this blank look he has sometimes. You felt like he was just showing you he wasn’t ashamed of speaking out so bluntly.

The tall man looked at the two of you, hands on his hips. “She looks traumatized.”

“She’s not traumatized, I’m being nice!”

“He gets like that sometimes, I apologize,” The tall man ignored his boyfriend altogether, speaking solely to you. “We didn’t plan to throw our intentions at you like that.”

“Hyunbin! You can’t apologize in my name right in front of me, that’s rude.”

“Making people uncomfortable is also rude.”

“I’m not uncomfortable.” Those words silenced both of them. You felt your skin turning a little hotter under their combined stares. “Just surprised.”

“Why are you surprised?” Hyunbin’s full lips stretched just a little to the right – that look on him should be illegal. “In all this time you watched us, you never noticed we watch you as well?”

You blinked at him, almost missing the sounds of a door opening and Lollipop’s name being called. Longguo tapped on your shoulder, informing you with a smirk, “You’re up, Y/N.”

Your body flushed hot as you stood, taking Lollipop’s cage with both hands. You were too shaky to hold it her firmly with only one. You walked towards the vet’s room, refusing to look back even through you could feel both sets of eyes trained on you.

“Hey, Y/N?” Longguo’s voice caught you right before you passed into the safety of the vet’s room. You turned back to see the two of them standing pretty close together. “Think about it. If your answer is positive, you know very well where to find us.”

You felt yourself giving a nod before finally stepping inside and closing the door behind you.