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fandom-puff · 5 years ago

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hii- so i have a request. This is my first time requesting anything in a long time so i'm sorry if it doesn't make 100% sense Could i have a fic with Mycroft where the reader basically has been his "friend" since he was in secondary school, but recently she was having problems finding a place to live so she came to Mycroft asking to stay there for a few days but one of the nights they get just a little tipsy and confess feelings? It can be fluffy or smutty or whatever please and thank you

Hi anon :) this made perfect sense- thank you for requesting it <3 Mycroft needs some lovin’, so here we are :))))

Friends and Favours

warnings: swearing, smut, alcohol. be responsible kiddos.

You took a deep breath, grounding yourself in front of the heavy oak door. Raising your hand for what must have been the 19th time, you retracted your fish before you could ring the bell. You had been dithering on the spot for the past 15 minutes. You were about the raise your hand again when the door swung open, revealing your oldest friend, Mycroft. He stood at the door, his suit jacket off, but still in his green tweed waistcoat and trousers, although his burgundy tie was loosened slightly. Instantly, you felt guilty; he must have had a long day.

“YN,” he said, arching his eyebrows. “I’ve been watching you dither on my doorstep for the past fifteen minutes. To what do I owe the pleasure?” his face was hard and his voice was cold, but his eyes softened when he saw you nibble your lip.

“I’m sorry,” you began, looking to the floor. “My landlord kicked me out- well he kicked both of us out because Rob, you know, my flatmate, well he’s been dealing and the flat reeked of weed because he’s been growing and smoking it in his room and bringing loads of people in and the flat was a mess, and he kicked us both out, even though I’m hardly there because I’m always in Baker Street and- and- I didn’t do anything wrong Mycroft, I swear,” you rambled, feeling the need to defend yourself like a child. you buried your face into your hands, blinking back tears, determined not the let them fall. “a-and then John helped me get my stuff to 221B and said I could have his bed for the weekend because he’s taking some girl out over the weekend, but Sherlock’s on one shooting walls and the flat stinks of ammonia from his experiments and-and-”

Mycroft sighed and grabbed your arm, pulling you inside and shutting the door, before gathering you into his arms. Only you saw this side of the Ice Man, and you were extremely grateful for it.

“Do you need somewhere to stay for the night?” he asked carefully. While he may care for you and was getting used to dealing with people crying, he wasn’t too sure what to do if you were to cry with gratitude. You looked up, eyes glistening as you nodded.

“Are you sure?” you whispered, but he shushed you and nodded.

“I’m sure,” he murmured. “go and run a bath, relax for a bit. I’ll have a word with my brother to be more considerate of his guests, and pick up dinner,” you nodded. Surprising yourself, you reached and wrapped your arms around his neck, brushing your lips against his cheek. “Thank you,” you murmured, pressing your face into his shoulder for a moment before pulling away.

During the car ride to give sherlock a verbal bollocking, Mycroft replayed that moment over and over. The two of you had always been close- he had tutored you when you started university, and when you finished university, he watched your graduation from the back, leaning on his umbrella as you went on stage. He refused to admit he cared, deeply, for you- after all, caring was not an advantage- but seeing you so vulnerable on his doorstep, knowing that you trusted him enough to come to him for help, and the grateful kiss you pressed to his cheek all stirred something deep within him. He wanted to hold you. He wanted to protect you.

Meanwhile, back in his house, you sunk into the steaming water, sighing as the hot water eased the ache in your muscles. after a good long soak, you drained the tub, before looking at your discarded clothes on the floor. Ah. that was an issue. All of your stuff was at Sherlock and John’s. Sighing, you bit the bullet and picked up your phone.

Mycroft- I’m a pain, I’m sorry. I’ve left all my stuff at Baker Street. do you mind picking up a t-shirt or something for me to sleep in? cheers

Mycroft looked down as his phone beeped. He was half-way home from baker street at this point, with your favourite Chinese takeaway in a bag next to him in his posh black car.

I’m almost home. You’re welcome to use one of my shirts to sleep in. Just don’t tell Sherlock. I have a reputation to uphold.

His posh car pulled into the drive. Entering the house, he wasn’t ready for the sight that blessed his eyes when he walked into the kitchen. There you were in one of his crisp white button-ups, with the sleeves rolled up over your elbows, pottering about his kitchen making a cup of tea. your legs were bare and he raked his eyes over the curve of your thighs, feeling his throat tighten slightly. He cleared his throat, and you jumped, turning around. “Christ,” you said, grinning. “Want a cuppa?”

Soon you were sat at his long dining room table, sharing a Chinese takeaway between you. You chatted, and eventually, the plates were in the dishwasher and your cups of tea had been abandoned in favour of some rather expensive wine. You sank into one of his luxurious armchairs, sipping at your third glass. “This is really good wine,” you grinned. “Where’d you get it? Marks and Spencers? It seems quite posh,” you grinned, feeling fluttery and giggly thanks to the alcohol.

“No, France,” he grinned, leaning forward and pouring more into his glass. He held the bottle up for you, eyebrows raised as he silently offered more. You giggled and leaned forward, eyes locked with his as you grinned.

“No more for me,” you said. “Wine’s the devil,” you informed him.

“Are you pissed already? Lightweight.” he laughed. He was much more relaxed when he was drunk, and used language that would make a sober Mycroft scowl.

“Maybe a little tipsy. Nothin’ compared to you- you’re swearing and everything,” you teased, sipping at your drink before refilling your glass.

“Thought wine was the devil, my dear YN,” Mycroft smirked, gently taking the glass off you, ignoring your pout.

Your eyes dropped to his hands as they held the glass and the bottle delicately, and you flushed, subconsciously reaching to trace the vein that ran up the side of his index finger. His breath shuddered out and he watched you with dark eyes and raised eyebrows. You met eyes with him. “Can I kiss you Mycroft?” you mumbled, fuelled by liquid confidence. When he nodded you sighed softly, leaning forward to press a chaste kiss to his lips. When he stayed frozen to the spot, you pulled away after a couple of seconds, embarrassed, but gasped slightly when you felt his hand cupping the base of your skull delicately, tilting your head for a soft yet passionate kiss. You hummed, hands on his shoulders, humming softly against his lips. Pulling away from one another and gasping for air, you stared at each other, panting.

“Upstairs?” you mumbled, eyes wide.

“Oh god, yes,” Mycroft hummed, taking you by the hand to his bedroom. He shut the door before gathering you in his arms and kissing you again, firmer this time, running his hands up and down your back until you grew impatient and began undoing his tie. Catching your drift, he fiddled with his cuffs and shirt buttons, slipping off his shirt and waistcoat. You hummed when he revealed his soft, strong abdomen, not caring about his extra pudge that his brother so often teased him for. You pressed kisses to his chest as you unlooped his belt, while his hands stalled over the buttons on the shirt you were wearing.

“Please, Myc,” you whispered, looking up at him with those wide eyes that made the Ice Man melt. He nodded and slipped each button out of the holes, before letting the expensive material drop to the floor. His mouth watered; you had forgone wearing a bra underneath, and thanks to the cool air and your own excitement, your nipples were pert and pebbled, and he stared at them, eyes hooded with desire. You gasped as his large hands covered your nipples, and applied gentle pressure to your breasts, causing you to squirm and sigh prettily for him. You palmed him through his expensive trousers, and he shuddered at the friction, before grabbing your wrists and pulling your hands to his button and zip, kissing you again as you tugged them down. He slipped your knickers down and tossed them aside, holding you steady so you didn’t topple over before scooping you up and laying you on his satin sheets. He nudged your neck and shoulder with his nose, pressing soft kisses to your skin and grinding his underwear-covered erection against your heat. He groaned as you sighed his name, gripping onto his arms for dear life. “Myc...” you whined, bucking your hips up and lifting his chin so he looked you in the eyes. “I need you,” you moaned. “Need you to... to...” you blushed, arching your back and humping your clit against his tented boxers.

“To what?” he questioned, smirking. Just having you squirming and begging beneath him without him even touching you massaging his eager to no end. “What do you need, darling? Do you need me to fuck you?” he grunted in your ear and you nodded desperately. “I bet you’ve wanted this for a while, haven’t you, YN, look how needy you are,” he smirked. Something about the normally prim and proper Mycroft Holmes muttering filth down your ear really set you off and you practically keened for him, nodding desperately and crying his name.

Then he pulled away.

You whined dejectedly, and although you vaguely heard the sound of a packet ripping and knew he would come back to you, the few seconds he wasn't between your legs made you wriggle, trying to grind yourself into his expensive bedsheets. He smirked down at you and lined himself up, waiting for your nod, before rocking his hips, pushing himself into your tight sheath, groaning softly. You whimpered, before you settled into a sensual steady rhythm, his body pressed tight against yours as he thrust deep inside you, hardly pulling away before slamming back into you, holding you close with those strong hands. Sighing, burying your face into his shoulder, you suckled a dark hickey into his collarbone, moaning at the thought that only you and he would know it was there- he’d be speaking in the Commons with a dirty great hickey hidden beneath his shirt and waistcoat and blazer. He grunted, hips slapping against yours as his thrusts became sloppy, drawing you out of your thoughts. You rocked your hips up to meet his, groaning lowly as his pubic bone knocked against your clit. Grunting, he pushed his thumb against your clit, rubbing in a skilled circular motion, wanting to draw you over the edge before he came. Your cries increased in pitch and volume as you teetered over the edge, your orgasm crashing in waves over you. Mycroft grunted as he stilled inside you, your pulsing walls causing his cock to twitch and jump as he came.

Panting, you clung to him. He left you again to dispose of the condom, before holding you tight to his chest, breath coming in uneven gasps as you both came down from your highs. You moaned softly, burying your head into his chest, clinging like a koala as the pair of you drifted off into a deep, satiated sleep.

You didn’t know what the next day would bring, or the next day, or the day after that. But you did know that regardless of what the world threw at you, Mycroft would shield you from it.

#sherlock imagine #mycroft holmes x reader #mycroft holmes smut #mycroft holmes #mycroft holmes imagine #headcanon #oneshot #sherlock #smut #mycroft holmes x reader smut #request

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tomspancakes · 5 years ago

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This Way: Part 3

Pairing: Tom Holland x Actress! reader

Word count: 4251

Warnings: A crazy bih lol

Summary: It’s time for Y/n’s welcome dinner with the Hollands. An uninvited guest joins and Tom is left making a tough decision.

A/N: Here’s part 3 I hope you enjoy! Please lmk if you’re enjoying this/ have any constructive criticism. Don’t hesitate to ask to be a part of the tag list :)

Part 1, Part 2

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“Thanks for taking me again, Tom, you’re a lifesaver.” You leaned over the center console and hugged him. Since nobody else was around the embrace lasted a little longer than you anticipated, but Tom enjoyed it. His heart warmed with the smell of your hair and he felt like he was at home in your arms. He was smiling and squeezed you a bit harder.

“Uh Tom,” You said awkwardly patting his back, taking him out of his daydreaming, “I have to go now.”

“Oh shit uhm sorry, love...” When he let go of you he furrowed his brows remembering he has a girlfriend.

“You ok?” you asked genuinely concerned as you grabbed your bags and stood up to get out. Many thoughts running through his mind about how wrong he’s being. He looked back up at your beautiful innocent face,

“Oh ya thanks,” he cleared his throat and noticed you took your extra clothes, “Oh you don’t have to take your extra bag. I’m picking you up for dinner right?”

“No no it’s alright Harry said he’d be able to pick me up.”

“Are you sure? I mean it’d be easier if I just took you, this place is out of-”

“Ya, I’m sure. Harry and I haven’t really had time to hang out yet.” You said trying to avoid his offer. It was already hard being alone with Tom for 45 minutes and you didn’t want to wreck his and Allana’s relationship. Tom wasn’t convinced, he just gave you a strange look and bit his lip, “Alright then, love. Didn’t ever mean to make you avoid me.” You blushed because you were now exposed. You shrugged,

“Thanks again. See you later, Tom.” You turned and began to walk feeling Tom’s eyes burn into your backside. He was feeling so conflicted between you and Allana now. He shook his head and drove off to his parents’ house.

“Bye, y/n, can’t wait to begin filming with you in a few days!” You smiled and gave your co-star Lana Condor a hug.

“Likewise! I’ve been looking for a project with strong leading women roles and it’s finally happening.” You both smiled and parted ways when you saw Harry pull up at the front of the gate.

“Hey, bestieeeee!” You said, Harry laughed at your enthusiasm,

“Hi, love, get in now. There’s a bit of traffic.” You got in and Harry saw the outfit you were wearing.

“Whoa you own clothes other than sweats and leggings?” Harry asked in a fake shocking voice. You slapped his arm and he laughed, “Just joking. You look gorgeous though, Tom’s gonna have a hard time keeping it in his pants.” Again you slapped his arm and rolled your eyes.

“That’s your brother, yuh nasty. But thanks.” You giggled and blushed.

You wore a white cropped turtle neck long sleeve, a suede nude high waisted skirt with a small slit on your right leg, and black heeled suede boots that went up just below your knee. The outfit hugged your curves perfectly, but was still very comfortable.

“Ok update time! I have to tell you what happened before the tableread.” He nodded,

“Who ended up taking you?” He asked.

“Tom did and he took me to lunch also.” He nodded his head like ‘ok so what?’, “Tom uhm… He took me to the burger cafe…”

“WHAT?” Harry yelled scaring you a bit,

“I know it’s crazy, but you didn’t have to yell. It was so awkward that he brought me there.”

“No, y/n you don’t understand. After you guys broke up he refused to go there, even if it was just to pick food up for us. Then after a week of him and Allana dating he said he’d get some for us and he came back 2 hours after with super red puffy eyes. We all tried to talk to him about it, but he refused to and never went back until today I guess.” Your heart dropped hearing how sad Tom was you thought he was fine after everything you two went through. You were also surprised because you thought he hardly ever kept anything from the boys.

“Then why would he take me there?” you asked softly

“Beats me. He hasn’t even brought Allana there. He always tells us it’s because Allana doesn’t like ‘greasy’ food, but I say that’s bull.” You sat there stunned, but you couldn’t think too much of it or else bad things would ensue.

“Anyway, how was filming?” You asked. Harry smiled widely and let out a dreamy sigh,

“It’s so fun, I’m living my dream and I love it even more.” You smiled seeing your friend so passionate about something.

“I can’t wait for you to see the final result, I cried a bit when filming it.” Harry said before pulling into the driveway of his parents’ house.

“I can’t wait to see what you’ve done, the script was really well written.” You smiled at him before he got out and opened the door for you. You looped your arm in his and walked to the front door. He knocked and you realized you forgot to ask him about whose idea it was to have you stay for the next few months,

“Harry, can I ask you something?”

“Ya what’s up?” Before you could ask him the door swung open and Sam stood there with a wide grin.

“Y/n!” You jumped into his arms and he chuckled,

“How’ve you been, Sam?”

“Great! I’m getting better at cooking everyday.” He said proudly, stepping aside to let you and Harry in.

“Oh my god, Paddy?” You stared wide eyed at him, “You got so tall. You’re going to look like the eldest soon.” He laughed and gave you a hug, you were still shorter than him in the heels.

“Yeah I see you’re still tiny.” He joked and laughed when you put your hand over your heart pretending to be offended.

“Oh, Paddy, be nice to the girl.” Nikki said wrapping you in a hug and you giggled squeezing her back, “I swear, y/n, you get more gorgeous every time I see you whether it be on instagram or in person!” She said looking at you up and down and you flipped your hair in a joking way.

“I could say the same to you, Nikki.” And she smiled widely at that. You went over to Dom and gave him a hug.

“Oh y/n it’s so lovely to see you again and not on Harry’s laptop!” You giggled,

“It’s nice to be here! I missed being in such a nice environment. After coming here once I believed American hospitality actually sucked.” He laughed at your comment and you all moved to the living room to catch up a bit more.

The doorbell rang and Harry came back with Tuwaine and Harrison who had cases of beer in their hands.

“Oh my goodness, you boys better not get too drunk tonight, it’s a weeknight for christ's sake.” Nikki said, scolding them.

“Sorry, Nikki, we won’t I promise.” Harrison said and he winked at Tuwaine. Nikki shook her head as everyone else laughed.

“Where’s Tom? He was supposed to pick up the drinks with us.” Tuwaine asked.

“Oh he’s in Paddy’s room. He’s been on a call with his girlfriend since y/n and Harry came.” Dom said.

You stood with Nikki drinking wine and watching Sam and Dom cook.

“So, y/n, a little birdy told me you have a new flame in your life.” You laughed wondering if Tom or Harry told her,

“I’m afraid that flame has already been burnt out,” she looked at you apologetically with a hint of excitement, “No worries though, it was for the best. Now I am focusing on myself and my work.” You said happily.

“I’m glad to hear that. It’s refreshing to hear that you can do well without being in a relationship. If you’re ever looking for one though, I know someone who maybe… I don’t know, never stopped looking your way.”

You stared at her wide eyed. You knew she was talking about Tom and that she had loved you for him, but you didn’t think she’d put her son out like that especially when he’s currently dating someone. You were about to comment back that you couldn’t, but something warm and fuzzy rubbed against your leg.

“Oh my goodness! Tessa baby where did you come from?” You cooed and put the wine glass on the counter to pick her up. Nikki smiled and awed. You heard footsteps approaching the kitchen,

“Tessa where’d you go? Mum can you put out another plate, Alla-” Tom stepped into the kitchen and stopped to scan your figure with his eyes. He gulped and brushed his hands through his hair,

“H-hi, y/n. You uh look nice.” Nikki smiled cheekily at how you made her son all flustered.

“What was that, Tom?” Nikki asked, he cleared his throat,

“Oh right, Allana is coming if that’s alright. Can we put out another seat at the table?”

“Tonight of all nights? This was supposed to be a welcome dinner for y/n. We’ve invited her over so many times and after almost 5 months of you two dating she decides to meet us for the first time now?” You looked back down at Tessa who was cradled in your arms. How has Allana not met Tom’s parents, he introduced you to them before you even dated.

“Mum, you know she’s always been busy. Tonight just happened to be one of her open nights.” Nikki sighed and grabbed another plate from the cupboard. You put Tessa down to help Nikki set up the table.

You and Tom made eye contact and he smiled softly at you. You smiled back and he asked,

“Wanna go outside? The boys are doing some trick shots.”

“Ya I’ll be out in a bit, let me just finish helping your mom.”

“No no, y/n, you shouldn’t even be helping. Tom you’re being a bad host.” She scolded and he put his hands up in defense before helping the both of you.

When you finished he walked with you to the backyard. You thanked him when he opened the sliding door for you. You sat down and watched as Harry, Paddy, Harrison, and Tuwaine tried to get a ping pong ball into a cup by bouncing it off a wall. Tom sat next to you after closing the sliding door and you shivered a bit, now regretting not bringing a jacket. Tom quickly got back up and went back inside, not even 30 seconds later you felt a fuzzy blanket wrap around your shoulders and cover your legs. You looked up to see that Tom had brought a blanket out for you,

“Just returning the favor, love.” He winked at you referencing to when you put the blanket on him this morning. You smiled and silently thanked him.

“So, when’s Allana coming?” You asked and Tom plopped down next to you again,

“Oh she just left her friends so she’ll be here in 15 minutes maybe.” You nodded. ‘So she was already occupied before deciding to come to this dinner, interesting.’ you thought.

Tom scooted a little closer to you, shoulders rubbing making your heart rate speed up. ‘Fuck it I’m gonna ask him’ you thought.

“Tom, did Harry really beg you to let me stay in the house? He told me it was your idea.” You said quickly looking at him.

He cleared his throat with wide eyes before rubbing his face.

“Uhm… no?” You raised your eyebrow at him,

“Why’d you lie?”

Tom sighed and brushed a hand through his hair before pulling his knees closer to his chest and resting his chin between his knees. He was really nervous for some reason. He bit the skin on his thumb before saying, “Well, I didn’t think it’d be a terrible idea to have you here. We’d be too busy to even really see each other because I’d leave to shoot Uncharted…” He looked at you in the eyes and paused thinking about what he was going to say, ��plus I uh kinda missed seeing you and talking to you. I kinda felt like a dick for not talking to you when you reached out to me as a friend after we broke up. I meant to reply, I swear, but I just couldn’t find the right moment I guess.” He sighed and looked back down, “I-I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get you back.” Your eyes widened a bit.

“Oh not like in a relationship way, like uhm…”

“A friendship?” You asked and giggled at him stumbling with his words. You were relieved, you were definitely not down to have drama in your life right now.

“Hm, yeah, a friendship.” He said and looked at you with a crooked smile. That didn’t seem very convincing, but you brushed it off.

“Well, Tom, I’m 100% down for a friendship. There has to be some ground rules though, which I can't believe I have to say this, because you have a girlfriend.” You said sternly, “First you can’t compliment me anymore, kinda messes with my feelings…” he smirked at that going back to his cocky self, “Second you absolutely cannot be flirtatious with me,”

“Love, you can’t tell me to not be me.” He said winking, you hit his arm, “I’m joking, I’m joking.”

“Third…” You looked at him seriously completely disregarding what Haz told you, “I uh think we should leave the past behind us. You know, start off this friendship on a new slate.” Tom looked at you upset with furrowed brows like he wanted to say something, but his face relaxed knowing if he did it’d cause problems.

“Ok then, is that all?” He asked softly, looking away from you.

“Hm… I guess so.” You looked at one another trying to read what the other was thinking. Then you looked away afraid you’d fall deeper staring into his brown orbs.

“Actually while we’re getting stuff out the way… How’d you know Gavin and I were dating?” You asked while fiddling with the hair tie on your wrist. Tom’s thoughts began to race figuring out a way to get out of this situation without sounding like a creepy ex, but he felt that he could only tell you the truth.

He sighed, “Well actually, I didn’t know. I was-”

“Tommy!” A squeaky voice rang out behind you. You and Tom moved apart from each other quickly. ‘Oh shit’ Tom thought. Again, he was getting caught up with you and forgetting about Allana. Although, he was relieved to be pulled out of saying a very embarrassing confession.

“Allana, hi, when did you get in?” Tom smiled, only sounding half excited and more nervous. Paddy looked curiously at the new girl that entered while Harry, Tuwaine, and Haz looked displeased to see her. Harry glanced at you raising his eyebrow and you shrugged standing up to leave Allana and Tom alone.

“Baby, I texted and called you so many times when I got here,” She rolled her eyes, “Your mum let me in when she saw me through the security camera.” Then she glared at him, if looks could kill Tom would be 6 feet underground by now.

“Sorry, darling. I left my phone inside.” She scoffed.

“You could’ve knocked or rang the doorbell.” Paddy said, everyone looked at him surprised. Allana snapped her head up in the direction of his voice, but her expression softened a bit when she noticed that Paddy was the one that said that.

“Hm, I mean, I guess…” She shrugged and subtly rolled her eyes, “Tommy, why don’t you introduce me to your family now?” Oh god. You wanted to try to like her, but she was really making it hard.

“Didn’t she just pass by the kitchen and see Paddy just now? Did she not greet any of them?” you asked Harry in disbelief. He scoffed,

“Yeah, but she probably needed, ‘Tommy’s’ help.” Harry said mimicking the way she says his name. You watched as Tom introduced Allana to Paddy and then brought her in to meet his parents and Sam.

“Sam this is absolutely delicious. I hope there’s leftovers because nobody can cook in our house.” Tuwaine said, eating another bite of steak.

Harrison chuckled, “Haha true, this morning Tom was just frying bacon and burnt his side real bad. Y/n had to nurse him, it was hysterical.” Allana looked at you displeased and you blushed.

“Harrison, you’re a fucking twat.” Tom said and Nikki glared at him for cursing.

“Oh my goodness. Tom were you cooking with your shirt off again?” Nikki asked, disappointed. Tom looked down at his plate guilty. Nikki looked at Dom,

“Don’t look at me, darling, I no longer claim him as my own.” He said with his hands up in defense and everybody laughed at that. “Anyway, y/n. Whatcha filming now?”

You finished chewing, “I’m filming a new action movie called, “Run”. It’s about a family on the run that is under the protection of two female rookie CIA agents. That’s all I can really say for now, but I’m really excited to work on it because of the wonderful empowering story.” You smiled, you could’ve talked about the project forever, but you legally couldn’t because of the contract you signed.

“That sounds so bad ass!” Paddy said suddenly. Nikki looked at him,

“Oi! No cursing at the table. Tom, see what you’ve taught your brother?”

“Mum, really?” Tom moaned. She gave him a stern look and he pouted, you giggled at the cute moment and Tom’s heartbeat quickened when hearing it.

“Was it hard getting here, y/n? You know with all the covid-19 news?” Dom asked.

“Oh it was a nightmare! Even though the airports were less crowded people were still freaking out and sanitizing every moment they could. Also as soon as I landed there was a bunch of news that things were beginning to get shut down in my state. I just hope filming doesn’t get cut short.”

“Yeah it’s unbelievable. The producers for Uncharted said to be ready for anything.” Tom added. It was quiet then you decided to ask Allana about what she was currently working on, trying to help her gain brownie points back with the Hollands.

“Allana, what about you? Aren’t you working on something as well?” She looked up surprised that she was brought into the conversation. Tom put his hand on her back to ease her nerves, your heart dropped at the sight, but you tried not to think about it because he’s your friend now.

“Well, I actually run a business with my friend and uh...,” she thought hard about what to say next and as if a light bulb went off in her mind, “we’re uh all about empowerment as well.” She looked at you smiling for the first time ever, “We design and sell chique clothing and then 20% of the proceeds are given to charities that stand out to us.” Tom’s parents looked impressed. The boys seemed surprised as well. She smiled at you again looking thankful… and smug?

“That is lovely, Allana. I’d like to see this business of yours sometime.” Nikki said, smiling at her kindly. Everyone carried on with their own conversations. Harry leaned over to your ear,

“Looks like the devil has a soul after all, but I don’t know if I’ve fallen for it yet.” You elbowed his side.

“You just gotta give her a chance. Looks like you guys have never even asked what she does.”

“Touche,” He shrugged, “Not gonna lie, I’m surprised you're being so nice to your ex’s girlfriend.” He said as if Tom wasn’t his brother.

“Well, Tom and I talked about it and we’re going to start off on a new slate as friends…” You looked at him, “Just like you suggested.” Harry smiled and hugged you, clearly proud of you. When you parted you caught Tom looking at you. You smiled at one another before carrying on with your conversations.

“You lot want to play a quick board game or something before we all call it a night?” You all nodded in agreement and migrated to the living room. Paddy said he was tired and decided to head to sleep for the night since he has school still. ‘What a responsible kid.’ you thought when you all said your good nights to him.

You all decided to play Heads Up. Dom was downloading the game on his tablet and Allana pulled Tom somewhere else.

Tom joyfully walked behind Allana into the guest room,

“What’s wrong? My parents seem to like you a lot, darling.” Tom said to Allana. She smiled pleased with what he said, but there was something else bothering her,

“What’s going on between you and y/n?” She asked straightforwardly as her mood switched fast.

“What? Nothing at all why?”

“Hm really? I get here and see you two basically cuddling and I keep catching you looking at her. If I didn’t know any better I’d think you have a crush or something.” She said in a serious tone. Tom sighed,

“Ok I know this isn’t the right time to hear it, but please don’t get mad at me and let me finish explaining.” She gave him a displeased look telling him to go on.

“Well y/n is my ex-”

“What the fu-” she interrupted furiously

“No, please let me finish,” He said with his hands on her shoulders, “I never told you because nobody even knew we ever dated, only our family and cast mates knew… I just didn’t think it would be cool if I broke my promise with y/n and told you too. She wanted only a few people to know.” Nothing he was saying was making Allana feel better. In fact it made something in her snap, her face began to turn red with anger. She pushed his hands off her shoulders,

“What the hell? I’m your girlfriend not y/n. Shouldn’t that promise mean nothing to you by now? Plus can’t you trust me enough?” Tom looked at his feet as he brushed his hands through his hair. Allana let out a stressful sigh and said,

“Look, Tom, I really really like you. We’ve been dating for almost 5 months now and you couldn’t build up the courage to tell me about your ex?”

“Allana, don’t go blaming me for not telling you anything. I had to find out through a friend that your ex actually broke up with you because you cheated on him for christ’s sake, not because you were moving to a different city!” He whisper yelled, getting angrier.

“God I hate when you bring that up, it was one slip up. I barely cheated on the guy.” Tom was about to say something really rude but she beat him to it, “You know what? I will not make a fool of myself. Definitely not in this relationship. I don’t like seeing you and y/n together at all. You can stay with me and we’ll work this shit out or…” she thought for a bit,

“Or what?” Tom asked impatiently, making her a bit more angry.

“Or I swear if I see you close to her or looking at her again I will share with the world what you told me tonight.”

“What the hell are you fucking crazy?” Tom asked in disbelief.

“No. I’m just a boss lady that gets what she wants.” she said with full confidence crossing her arms over her chest, “just think about it, Tom.” She began to walk toward the door,

“Allana, y/n has been nothing but nice to you. Don’t you think it’d be a decent thing to at least leave her out of this? She’s really serious about her privacy. A-and didn't you just say you believe in women sticking together and empowerment?”

“What and lose all the leverage I have on you? Plus that’s something I tell everyone to promote the business.” She laughed darkly and started walking away again, “Oh and if I hear that anyone finds out about our deal, I’ll share your little secret. And I don’t give a shit that you two live in the same house, get creative, babe.”

Tom sat feeling defeated at the edge of the bed.

He thought to himself, ‘What the hell was that? In all the months I’ve dated Allana she has been bossy, but never this evil or mean or fucking psycho. What have I gotten myself into? How did I not see the signs? Well the boys did say something about her being off…’ Tom’s thoughts were cut off when Sam came in,

“We’re starting the game now, come down or else you’ll get put on a shitty team.” He joked, but his smile fell when he saw the upset look on his older brother’s face.

“Wait are you ok, Tom?” Tom looked up, smiled, and nodded. He got up to follow his brother and Sam decided not to press on knowing Tom didn’t want to talk about it.

Tom’s eyebrows furrowed again when he thought, ‘Well this is it. I have to avoid y/n as much as possible, it’s best for the both of us. I never thought things would turn out this way.’

+++

Tag list: @averyfosterthoughts @thollandx @mrsjeffwittek @panicattheeverywherekid @racewife2004 @greatpizzascissorstaco @witchything @wheelertozier @runway-to-my-aid @rafficorn @jessirosebud @peterspideyy

#tom holland #tom holland imagine #tom holland x you #tom holland x reader #tom holland x y/n #tom holland series #tom holland x famous! reader #tom holland x actress! reader #tom holland x actor! reader #tom holland angst #tom holland fluff #harry holland #tom holland fanfiction #tom holland fandom #best friend!harry holland

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alpaca-writes · 4 years ago

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Mystics, Chapter 7

When Arch becomes hired on at Mystics by Lyrem, everything seems to be going well- their life nearly becomes perfection. Soon enough, however, Arch realizes that perhaps not everything is as perfect as they think...

Directory: [chapter one] [chapter two] [chapter three] [chapter four] [chapter five] [chapter six]

Tag list: @myst-in-the-mirror

CW: leg injury, knife whump,

---

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE GODS OF JUST AND UNJUST MEN

The man keeled over just as the darkness had engulfed him and the sensation of ground had returned beneath his feet. Ragged and shaking, he cried out in agony, clutching his right leg that poured deep crimson blood staining his fingers. A soft blue light emanated from a tunnel above his head, showering him in a beckoning glow.

Beside him, a woman formed from the drifting darkness of the abyss. Her black hair was pulled off to one side in multitudes of smooth braids that reached her hips. She knelt down in her simple white linen gown, and touched the man on the shoulder. He stared up at her, his face soaked with more tears than rain or sweat.

“Th-They don’t… They don’t remember me,” he stammered shakily.

The Goddess hushed him softly, and brought her hand down to the knife handle. She met his gaze, and searched his green eyes. He became lost in her mesmerizing essence and in one swift motion, she pulled the knife out of his thigh.

He launched onto his back, roiling in the unfathomable release of pressure in his leg. He was screaming, but the void consumed his cries until the very end.

“I gather you were unable to kill him?”

She had waited for him to stop screaming before tossing the knife down in a clatter by his head.

The man still laid on his back, caring not for the wound that was bleeding out with fearsome speed. His lower lip quivered and he closed his eyes.

“No,” he answered through gritted teeth. “He… He was in a meeting.”

The woman breathed out the last of her hope and stood over him, shaking her head.

“We don’t like excuses,” she expressed, circling him. “Lyrem is only a man, and Hades wants results. If you don’t deliver, then you don’t get to stay on Earth. Running away with another human is not what we asked of you, was it?”

He shook his head, wiping a hand over his face like he was shielding himself from the rays of her shame.

“Next time,” he said. Forcing himself to sit up, he looked at her squarely, and turned his face to stone to address the Goddess as she ought to be. “I’ll get him next time. Persephone, please send me back- I”-

“No.”

He forced on, “I’ll get him this time, I swear”-

“Ar”-

“SEND ME BACK!”

This time, his voice carried farther through the void and then it echoed back to them. He lowered his voice reactively, sensing that he had done something severely improper.

“Please… Send me back.”

Seeing his emotionally fragile form was endearing as well as tremendously unsettling. Persephone lowered herself to him as he laid there, barely supported by his one elbow. Huffing, she laid a hand against his leg. He stared into her perfectly dark eyes, trusting her once more with great effort.

“I can heal you partially,” she offered, “And with a bit of time, I’ll be able to send you back.”

“Don’t bother healing me if you can send me back now.” He argued, “Lyrem has Arch”-

“If I don’t heal you, you’ll bleed out and return here within minutes. And you will be of no use to us then. You’re a mortal, remember; dancing between worlds of life and death.” Persephone explained. Gently, she cupped his cheek with a soft, sympathetic hand. “The rules were never written for someone like you.”

He tore himself away from her grip, and gulped down the last option that he was given. He took some time, considering her words with the reverence that one would give to a wise crone.

“I don’t know how long they… Fine,” he finally agreed.

Arguing with Gods and Goddesses alike wasn’t a normal habit for him- but for now, he would take what he could get.

“But I promise you… I promise Hades… I will kill Lyrem. I’ll do it, no matter what it takes. I’ll deliver his head to you on a fucking silver plate if it means I can go back to my old life.”

“Usually, I would advise against making promises you cannot keep,” the darkness called through, washing over him. It was the voice of the Underworld; of Hades Himself. He could not be witnessed in the dark abyss, where only the dead contained the sight to see the God in His glory. The voice carried on, shaking the injured mortal to his very core as it rumbled through him like a thunder.

“But with you… I am willing to believe that there may be some hope for us all.”

Persephone blinked slowly; the words of Hades filling her soul like she had taken a breath of fresh morning air. She looked down to the human, allowing a small smile to sneak its way onto her face, as his filled with cautious determination.

-------------------

“I think I like them.”

Lyrem looked up from his two fingers of scotch whisky and smiled to the man sitting across from him in a matching orange armchair by Mystics’ storefront window. The lights of evening downtown glowed inwards, as the two of them caught up with each other. Lyrem had finished his story of the strange and annoying priest at the hospital- and the terrible treatment that his charge, Arch was receiving there.

“I thought you might,” Lyrem replied. “I’ve primed Arch with talents they’ll be able to carry forward for years and years to come.”

“And yet, you still cannot trust them to keep their memories.”

There was a twinkle in the dark eyes of his guest. Everything from his squared off top hat to his jacket and to his bejeweled cane spoke of decadence and divine tailoring. He smoothed his long black beard down to its tip with long fingers, studying his friend and regular supplier with great interest as he took his time with his response.

“I cannot be certain that they will follow me.” Lyrem admitted, taking a sip from the glass tumbler that sat in his right hand. “They are so connected with people… with life… How can one twist a mind that pure?”

“All that purity, it ends somewhere. Everyone has their limits. Goodness leaves us all in the dust eventually and your successor cannot be someone with sentimental ties. One day, even you will have to leave them behind.” The man’s pinky finger danced in the air as he raised his own glass. “Since you know, the Devil always comes to collect on her debts.”

Lyrem grunted rudely at the reminder.

“Any word on when that might be?” Lyrem asked with deepening interest in his tired face, “I know you have an ear to the abyss, Paimon. You can tell me.”

Paimon merely chuckled, and clicked his fingers. The record player began to set itself up, playing the tunes that were primed to go. The album was something picked out by Arch from the record store across town several weeks ago after they had grown tired of John Denver.

I wouldn’t want to be a chimney sweep,

All black from head to foot,

From climbing in them chimneys,

And cleaning out that soot…

“Just enjoy life, Lyrem- while you still can,” Paimon winked as he finished his glass and clunked it down. “Throw out your stoic wisdom, already, and prepare your charge for when you’re finally dead. That’s my advice.”

Sensing that Paimon was on his way out, Lyrem stopped him.

“One more thing... I suspect that a particular captive of mine has found a way out of the Labyrinth in the back room. There are no… other doorways that you neglected to mention when I purchased it off of you, are there?”

“I am leasing it to you, Lyrem.” Paimon corrected him with a shake of his head in pity. “Like all rental properties, sometimes renovations are necessary.”

Lyrem scoffed at his flippant response. But before he could say anything else, the demon had vanished from his chair.

“At least give me a bloody notice first,” Lyrem muttered to himself before finishing his glass with a final swallow. Only the melody would keep him company now.

The honey from the bee,

The shellfish from the sea,

The earth, the wind, a girl,

Someone to share these things with-

Lyrem switched off the record abruptly and then picked up the empty glasses left on the corner table. Paimon’s words rang in his head as though they were warning him. He had been sensing for quite sometime that Hekate had grown impatient with his antics. He had been given many gifts from the underworld’s many inhabitants in his short time on Earth, and as a result owed many debts; some debts simply would not be repaid in the bones of ancient Mayan sacrifices- though sometimes they did make thoughtful gifts.

Demons and divine spirits, Gods and Goddesses alike, all had some opinion on Lyrem Nomadus. At one time or another he had procured an item or two for almost all of them- whether it was something as frivolous as an original Da Vinci sketch or as dark as a human heart for ritual consumption. Whether they had a fair opinion of the man, or a sour one, they would all agree that for a human, he was really rather quite useful and would go the extra mile to make them happy as long as he was paid in full with their favors.

Lyrem was well aware that those days of retrieval and dealing were long past him now. His age was beginning to show in all the worst ways. Sentimentality becoming the latest of wrinkles in his pallid complexion. The first wrinkle of which was when he had removed memories from Maria, his one and only love, so that she could be happy living out the rest of her life with a normal human. Meeting Arch, and the strong connection that they had grown, was just another one of the latest displays of his sentimental nature. The visit from his old friend this night yet again, a reminder that his good work would soon be coming to an end.

Lyrem had to be sure that Arch was prepared by any means necessary. This meant there could not be room for distractions. There was no room for failure. If Arch was unable to make use of the gift they were given, then they would die before they even started.

“What now?” Paimon returned, sensing Lyrem call for him in short thoughts. The demon stood, leaning against his cane by the door, regarding Lyrem with a tired interest.

“I have an idea,” Lyrem postulated, placing the tumblers on the counter as he paced the store’s sale floor. “-but I will need your help to locate a shape-shifter.”

Paimon perked his head higher, as Lyrem continued hesitantly.

“One, preferably, that is extraordinarily good at acting.”

Paimon’s lips curled as his eyes danced with amusement, and nodded.

“I’m always willing to help out an old friend,” he smiled.

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korra-the-red-lion · 4 years ago

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Unnatural Affairs. Chapter 2: Let the Good Times Roll.

When I woke up the next morning, my eyes were achy and itchy. Falling asleep after spending most of the evening crying might have had something to do with that. I groaned as I reached for my glasses, deciding that I definitely needed a shower. I grabbed my soaps, shampoo and conditioner, flip flops, towels, and headed towards the communal shower area.

Luckily for me, there was no one here when I got there. I turned on the water, letting it heat up as I set up my things. I pulled the curtain across and got to washing all the eye boogies off my face. The warmth of the shower was very much needed as it ran down my body. I started feeling more like myself again as I scrubbed all the night grime off. I spent a few extra minutes, just enjoying the feeling of the warm water against my skin. If I closed my eyes, I could convince my mind that I felt great about this whole thing.

Then my stomach rumbled. I realized that I really didn’t have much of an appetite after my chat with dad and emotional break down with mom. I hadn’t eaten much of anything since lunchtime yesterday. The allure of food was more than enough to convince me to leave the comfort of the shower. I quickly wrapped a towel around both my body and hair. I gathered everything up and shuffled out of there. I peeked my head around the corner, feeling self-conscious of the fact that I had to go back to my room practically naked. I dashed back to my room and closed the door as quickly and quietly as possible. Sarah was still sleeping, thank God.

I got dressed and towel dried my hair the best I could. I didn’t bother with anything fancy today, since I was going to be spending most of my day standing in line to get my textbooks. I wasn’t going to wait around and end up spending hours of my school time there, so I planned to do it today.

I checked myself in the mirror before leaving. Just plain black leggings and a over large t-shirt that read ‘how-to pick-up chicks’ with a picture of a stick figure picking up a baby chicken. I adjusted my glasses to make sure they were straight, and I tossed my hair over to one side, trying to give it some style. I said I wasn’t going to be fancy, but I’m also not going to go out looking like I woke up from a rager.

I grabbed my purse, student card and my phone, and left the room. The sun was shining brightly overhead once I got outside, trying to squeeze out those last few days of summer. It felt good on my skin, and I thought about maybe eating outside. That would be nice.

Yawning as I made my way to the meal hall, my thoughts of my new classes and the new people I would meet wormed its way into my head. I knew I would do well in most of my classes, except for maybe some of the science ones. The issue was making friends. It’s not like I had hard a terrible time making them or anything, but my disposition ended up pushing away a lot of people. Then of course, the conversation I had with my dad popped up like an unwanted house guest. Dammit, he really knew how to get in my head.

I was practically storming as I walked into the meal hall. It was actually nicer than I thought it would be. There was quite bit of space, with nice large tables. It was also clean, which was a huge plus. Of course, move in day was literally yesterday. Maybe give it a week or so, and it would change. I walked down the stairs, letting the smell of food knock me out of my foul mood.

I loaded my plate up with hash browns, two fried eggs, bacon, and toast. I was starving and couldn’t wait to eat. I was about to head outside when I saw familiar strawberry blonde hair and I found myself walking towards it.

Shyly I approached the table where Lyn sat by herself. She was nearly dozing off in her seat, her plate empty in front of her. I tapped her shoulder, causing her to jolt awake.

“Wha’?” she blinked a few times and looked over her shoulder, smiling when she saw me. “Oh, hey Ally, wassup?”

“I was hoping I could sit with you?”

“Be my guest,” she said with a yawn. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun today, instead of that tight ponytail she had yesterday, and she wasn’t wearing the paint either, revealing all her freckles that were splashed across her nose and cheeks, like I suspected.

“How’d you sleep on your first night? Any crazy parties for you, or was the noise enough?”

I shook my head. “I’m not really a party girl, honestly. And I mean, the noise was definitely something I need to get used to. But my roommate seems really cool and at least that’s something. I was worried I was going to have a horrible roommate, like some of the horror stories I read about.”

Lyn cupped her chin and was leaning against the table as she listened to me. I wonder if anyone ever told her she had an intense stare. Even in her sleepy state, I know her focus was entirely on me as I spoke. It wasn’t uncomfortable or anything like that, more like an observation. She smirked into her hand and said, “I had one of those in first year.”

“What? Really?”

She nodded, still not taking her eyes off me. “Oh, hell yeah. She was so strange. She ironed all her shit in the room, told me I wasn’t allowed to cross the line she taped to the floor unless it was a necessity, and legit told me that I couldn’t listen to my music too loudly with my headphones in. Like, this girl was on something, I swear. Eventually, I broke down and requested to be switched out. Thank God, they moved her into a single dorm, and I got to stay. That’s when Nura moved in, and she’s awesome. We get along like PB and J, you know? I’m rarely in there anyhow, with practice and work, but still. Gotta feel welcome in your own home, you know?”

She ends with that a lot, I noted. It was endearing. I nodded in agreement. “I get that. Sometimes it was hard to um…go home after school. I don’t always get along with my dad, so it was awkward to go home.”

Lyn winced. “Shit, sorry. That’s crappy, not feeling like home is a safe place.” She sat up and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. “Dammit, Hart, you ruined the mood.”

“No, no! You didn’t do that at all,” I said quickly. “I was the one who brought it up in the first place!”

“I was the one who was all like ‘feel welcome in your home’,” she groaned. “Listen, I’ll make it up to you, yeah? You can ask me one thing, anything you want.”

“That seems really extreme…”

She shrugged. “I’m pretty much an open book.”

I bit my lip in thought, not really sure what to ask her. I didn’t know her all that well, but the offer to get to know her better was intriguing. Still, nothing really came to mind, and I ended up shaking my head. “Can I cash it in later?”

Lyn laughed, “Sure thing, Ally.”

We ended up talking for awhile longer about general things, like what majors we were taking and our favourite bands. Just simple stuff. Talking to Lyn was really easy. She laughed for no reason and had an infectious smile. When she was excited about something, she ended up bouncing her leg under the table. I’m not sure what it was about her that calmed me down, honestly. But she did. Maybe it truly was just her easy-going nature, but she seemed like a genuine person. Eventually, I had to get going to grab my books, much to my disappointment. I knew that once school started for real, I wasn’t going to be able to hang around her as much. It sounded like she had a lot more on her plate than I did.

As we both stood, I worked up the courage to ask for her number. That way, I could at least keep in touch with her by text. When I did, her eyes narrowed as a smirk appeared on her face.

“Sure, totally, Ally,” she took my phone from me, her fingers brushing against my hand as she did. “I don’t usually give my number out to anyone, but I will for you, since you’re cute and all,” she handed my phone back with her smirk still firmly in place.

Damn, that something I wasn’t expecting. I know I was blushing, but I tried to play it cool. I got the feeling yesterday that Lyn was a flirty kind of person, but I’m not entirely sure what her whole situation is.

“Thanks. I just know once school starts, we’ll both be pretty busy,” I said, looking away. Yeah, play it cool.

“Totally, just playing, you know?”

“Ha, totally.”

She pulled out her own phone and checked the time. “Yikes, gotta head out for real, though. Let’s try and hang before classes start, yeah? I’ll see you around, Ally!” With that, she left. But not before giving me her signature wink on the way out.

I tried to stop myself from smiling, but it was so hard. She really did have an infectious nature to her.

XXX

As I had hoped, there weren’t that many people at the bookstore. The line was a little long, but not so crazy that I would regret my choice in footwear. The bookstore itself was small, with not a lot of room to navigate. The lady behind the counter seemingly was 100 years old and was certainly moving like one. The only reason why this was taking a long time was literally because of her.

I tapped my foot along to the song I was listening to. I have to say, while I don’t love the lyrics, drivers license was a pretty catchy song. I missed the days of women writing songs telling men who did wrong by them to eff off. There was something cathartic about it all. Still, can’t deny a good song when I heard it. I was pretty content to stand there idly until someone tapped my shoulder.

I looked over, but there was no one there. Maybe the guy behind just hit me by accident? Shaking my head, I went back listening to the music when I felt the tap again. Again, there was no one there. Slowly, I take one earphone out and can hear the sounds of someone whispering around me. My eyes widened in understanding horror of what was happening.

There’s a freaking ghost trying to get my attention.

Inwardly I groaned, but I kept a neutral face on the outside. Well, except for the frantic look around I did with my eyes. There, in the corner. I turned slowly, trying not to draw too much attention to me as I did.

There is a ghost, looking no older than me, with some fancy hair cut and a nice suit on. He’s got a wicked grin on his face as we made eye contact. He floated over to stand directly in front of me.

“So, you can see me after all,” he said. All ghosts have this tinny tone to their voice, as if they’re talking through a bad phone call or something.

I nodded slowly but don’t dare say a word. There are way too many people around right now.

He tilted his head in a mostly human way, until it creeps a little bit past his shoulder, like his neck was broken. “Can’t you speak? You’re not one of those mutes, are you? Not that that’s an issue, but I was hoping to get someone who could share my story.”

Sighing through my nose, I pulled out my phone and typed out a message. I can talk, just not here. Too many people. Can it wait?

The ghost squinted at the screen, clearly able to read what I wrote. He frowned as we make eye contact again.

Oh Christ. I didn’t like the look in his eyes. He looked like he didn’t agree with me one bit. Some ghosts understood that most people can’t see them and that it makes a person look insane if they just start talking to thin air, while others just didn’t care. I had a bad feeling that this one fell in the second category.

He reached over, his hand going through my face. I felt the cold sliminess as he pulled his hand back through, and it takes my entire will power to not shudder or vomit on the spot. I really hated when they did that.

I wasn’t sure if it was normal for them to be able to touch people. I honestly never looked into too deeply, as it was best to avoid talking about it at all. But not for the first time do I regret that decision from 14-year-old me. I should have just used public library sources and at least had a better understanding of these things. But nope, I didn’t want to do anything out of the ordinary. Stupid.

“Human, all I want is for someone to listen to me and tell them what happened,” he said snootily. He reminded me of some popular guy who was used to people doing what he wanted on the drop of a hat.

I shuffled forward in the line a little. There were only three people ahead of me. I turned my head slightly, pulling my earphones up, hoping to God it looked like I was talking into the mic. “Listen, buddy. I am very happy to listen to you, but after I get out of here!” I hissed as quietly as possible.

Now he looked pissed off. Once again, he reached for me, as if that would make a difference. Except this time, it does. I can’t help but violently shudder as I stumbled back, reeling from the sudden shock of falling to my death. I don’t know if it was murder or suicide, but regardless, I feel the impact as my body hits the ground. My books tumbled out of my arms as I began to hyperventilate.

Oh my God, breathe Ally, BREATHE!

How could I breathe when I feel my neck snapping, but I don’t die right away? How can I breathe when I feel my skull leaking my brains all over the pavement? My vision is getting narrow as I trembled on the floor.

Okayyoujustneedtotakeadeepbreathlikemomtaughtyouinandoutinandoutcountto7holdfor7right?

My thoughts were racing and jumbled, my breathing definitely not slowing down in the slightest. We make eye contact one last time, me and the stupid selfish ghost. He was looking down at me with absolutely no pity or guilt at all. The look he was giving me suggested that if I had just done what he wanted, everything would have been fine.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to take a deep breath, but it didn’t work. I was still hyperventilating, my vision getting spotty. There is someone next to me, maybe another student. Quite frankly, I don’t really know much at this point. I felt someone, someone alive that is, take my hand and help me towards the door.

Yup, this is exactly how I expected my trip to the bookstore to be.

XXX

I woke up in my own bed, my mouth dry. I remember going outside and telling them to give me my purse. I took my Ativan and got back to my residence with the help of someone. I seriously can’t tell you who. Judging from how dark it was, it must be nighttime. Groggily, I sat up and reached for my glass of water instinctively. Except, it’s not there. Because I’m in a dorm, not my house. So, there is no night table with my water. I forced myself to get up and head towards the bathroom.

I washed my face and mouth, taking sips of water as I do. When I looked into the mirror, all I saw was my own pathetically pale face staring back at me. Day 2 and already I failed dad. Goddammit, the school might call my parents to tell them I had a panic attack at the bookstore. How humiliating. Not even a day away from home and I fall apart.

I can’t stop the tears as they fall down my face. I feel like garbage and I know I look like it too. I break down, using the sink as support. I feel like such an idiot. My mom wanted me to take a year off, maybe do some traveling. She probably knew that the stress of being away from home wasn’t going to be great for my stupid anxiety. As the sobs rack my body, someone’s timid knock draws my attention.

Sarah pokes her head into the bathroom, a look of worry on her face. She walked right in and pulled me away from the sink, embracing me.

“I’m here for you, Ally.” That’s all she said, but it strikes me deeply. This girl barely knows me but is here in this stupid bathroom, holding me tightly. Goddamn, how were some people just that good?

So there we stood, in the bathroom. She just held on to me, whispering into my ear and rubbing my back. I couldn’t say or do anything, so I just rested my head on her shoulder until I finally felt okay enough to head back to our room together.

XXX

As expected, I had a voicemail from mom when I bothered to check my phone in the morning. Well, more like afternoon. I stayed in bed all day, wearing my sloth covered PJ bottoms and my favourite hoodie. I basically watched one movie after another, just to keep my mind off things. Sometimes you really needed to take a ‘me day’.

Sarah left after checking to make sure I was feeling better. She said something about getting some good food and better desserts to cheer me up. I gotta do something nice for her after I was feeling better.

I stared at the screen, wondering if I should listen to the voicemail when a text appeared there. I was confused for a minute until I saw it was from Lyn. Then shame filled me, stopping me from opening it. She probably thought it was so lame that I had a panic attack in the stupid bookstore.

So, I ignored it. I didn’t want the only other person on this campus who I knew to think I was some pathetic loser.

Well, that only worked until my phone lit up again, this time with a phone call. I really didn’t want to answer it, so I declined the call.

Sarah walked into the room, holding two huge bags. “Okay, so like, I got some super yum food to help you feel better.”

“You really didn’t have to do that,” I mumbled into my hoodie.

“Sorry? Can’t hear you when mumble like that,” said Sarah. She plopped down on the bed and opened the first bag, pulling out a bunch of Taco Bell. The second bag had cupcakes and mini cheesecakes in it. I couldn’t believe that she did all this just for me.

She handed me a handful of Taco Bell things. I wasn’t even sure what most of it was, since my parents and I rarely ate fast food like this. But my God, it smelled amazing. I opened one up and took a tentative bite. It was so good right now. It was like Sarah knew I just needed some junk, just salty goodness.

“Yas! I like, was hoping that would work,” she said triumphantly. She noticed my phone was vibrating and picked it up, staring curiously at the screen. “Who’s Lyn? She’s called you like, 3 times. Is she your sister?”

I shook my head, stuffing more in my face. With some difficulty, I swallowed and took my phone back from her. “I just met her the other day. I guess she heard about the whole bookstore incident and wanted to check in…”

“But?”

“But I don’t want her to think less of me…”

Sarah made a disgusted face. “Ally, if someone thinks less of someone because they have anxiety, then they need to like, check themselves. So many people have mental health stuff going on. Like, seriously girl. I think she honestly just wants to make sure you’re okay.”

I stared at my phone, knowing that Sarah was probably right. Still, I wasn’t sure I was ready for that conversation. What was I going to say anyway? Hey, everything is totes fine now. Just had a panic attack because some jerkass ghost demanded I see how he gruesomely died, except didn’t bother to tell me who I was supposed to tell. So yeah, basically went through something extremely traumatic for absolutely no reason at this time. How was your day?

Yeah, that wasn’t going to fly. Instead, I fired off a text that just said, I’m doing okay now. Thanks for checking in. I don’t really feel like talking about it right now.

There. Straightforward and easy. When I got a message from Lyn, this time I opened it. Ok, let me know if u do wanna talk. I’ll be here.

“I guess I should call my mom, huh?” I said, looking over at Sarah, who was attempting to stick a whole mini cheesecake in her mouth.

She smiled unabashedly at me and swallowed. “Oh, I think you like, should, but no pressure. If you need to take time, then like, take your time.”

I gave a little laugh as I handed her a napkin for her face. It felt good to laugh. Sarah laughed too, as she wiped whipped cream off her lips. She handed me a mini cheesecake and we both attempted to shove the whole thing in without making a mess of ourselves. I giggled as I tried very hard not to make a mess, only to end up smearing a whole streak of chocolate sauce on my face somehow.

Sarah wasn’t much better off, with whipped cream on her nose this time. We ended up taking silly photos of each other and drank a ton of the pop she brought from Taco Bell. We ate and joked around for the next little while, until I finally worked up enough courage to listen to my mom’s voicemail. I excused myself and told her I was going to make the call.

I sat outside, the afternoon sun warm on my face. I don’t love the idea of making this call out in the open, but I didn’t want to kick Sarah out of her room either. It is what it is, I guess. I opened up my voicemail and listened to mom’s message.

“Hey, baby. How are you doing? Dad and I got the call and I just wanted to make sure that you’re doing better? Was there something that triggered it? Or did it just happen out of the blue? Either way, just call me back so I know you’re doing better now. Love you, Alexandra. Bye-bye.”

I scrolled to my mom’s name on the call list and hit call, listening to my phone ring in my ear. She picked up after the third ring. “Hello? Alexandra, is that you, baby?”

“It’s me, mom.”

“Thank goodness! Are you okay?” I could hear the concern dripping from her tone.

“I’m doing fine, yeah.”

“Okay, I’m glad to hear it. Can you tell me what happened?”

This was the part I wanted to avoid but knew I couldn’t. I shifted to get more comfortable and told my mom everything that happened. I wanted her to understand that everything about the whole situation was basically non-consensual. If I had the choice, I never would have spoken to that stupid preppy ghost in the first place. I wondered if my dad was listening in as I explained it all. I honestly hoped he wasn’t.

There was silence at the other end while I waited for mom to take it all in. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until mom said, “Okay.”

I sighed in relief.

“It sounds like that was…different? They’ve never done that to you before, right?”

Kind of think of it, no. That was different. Of course, when I was younger, I would just speak to them normally anyway. But that? I’ve never had a ghost do that to me, ever. I’ve never felt so violated before. It was strange…

After talking to mom a bit longer, I finally hung up and laid in the grass, looking up at the clouds. Was there something about this area that made them stronger, maybe? I really shouldn’t be thinking too much about it, but I also didn’t want that to happen again. Maybe I could walk down to the store tomorrow and see if they had anything that warded off spirits. I might also do some research, just to make sure.

So much for being ‘ordinary’, huh?

#unnatural affairs #ua #original story #original fiction #ally holland #lyn hart #mystery #spooky #ghosts #depiction of death #tw panic attack #sapphic lead #romance

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waejinyoung · 4 years ago

Text

Can’t Swim - EP . 5

word count: 4.4k+

a/n: a quicker comeback unlike last time. i know the ending might annoy some people but i wanted to try out a cliffhanger having got the chance.

warning: swearing, thats it lol

EP . 1 , EP . 2 , EP . 3 , EP . 4 , EP . 5 , EP . 6 , EP .7 , EP . 8 , EP . 9

Well, Friday was unexpected. Friday answered many things. Jinyoung’s job. Jinyoung’s friends. Your feelings. Jinyoung’s feelings towards your feelings. So much happened in one day even you couldn’t believe your life had gotten so much action.

Now it was the weekend and luckily you had things to do to take yesterday’s doings off your mind. The eco-hotel.

Saturday Midday

You had Beck come over for the weekend to work on the eco-hotel together. The sheets for the new hotel plans were distributed across the living room floor and the sun was at its peak. You went over to your air con and switched it on. Beck wasn’t a stranger, so you were dressed in a pair of shorts and an oversized short sleeved top. Your hair was up in a messy bun with a pencil behind your ear. You had all your equipment around the room. To be completely honest, the room was an organised mess. Note the word organised.

“Y/N can we take a break? It’s boiling in this room.” Beck looked absolutely drained from the morning session working to finish the eco-hotel.

“I was about to ask the same thing. Want an ice cream or a cold drink?” You signalled that you were gonna head to the kitchen.

“A cold cup of water should do. I’ll be out on the balcony.” You headed over to your kitchen and grabbed a glass of cold water for both of you.

You made sure to manoeuvre through the sheets of paper without dropping a single drop on the them. You gave the drink to Beck. He downed the whole glass in seconds.

“Beck, if you were this thirsty you’re no stranger you could have gotten some water.” You chuckled at his obvious thirst. You sipped some of your water.

“I didn’t even realise how thirsty I was either. Let me go grab another glass.” Beck went back to grab more water.

“Be careful of all the sheets on the floor. No frog movements please, just be extremely careful.” You shouted back into your home hoping he got the message.

You thought to yourselves how you’ll be able to have all the drawings done for Monday morning. You and Beck decided that it was both of your faults for having one of the pieces of land stolen from the next door firm. Hence why you called off all your employees that were working on this project. So, it was just you and Beck until Monday morning

“It’s going to be a rough weekend isn’t it?” Beck came back onto the balcony and saw your nervous face.

“I’m so scared we won’t finish it on time. I even considered calling the client and completely blowing off the project.”

“Good thing you didn’t. I believe we can do it. Even if it does mean less hours of sleep. This is nothing new Y/N. This has been our lives since the first year of architecture school.”

“Speak for yourself. I didn’t cut any hours of sleep for our under grad.”

“That’s true and somehow you still completed your work with flying colours.” You brushed your shoulders and flicked your hair trying to act out the phrase ‘what can I say? I’m that good’ in actions.

“Don’t get too happy. We need those skills back in action until the end of this project.”

“I think what hurts is that this project is actually finished but the client wants hand drawings as well as digital orthographics. Who even wants hand drawings anymore?” You sighed at the unnecessary request by the client.

“Ya! Don’t say that, especially not near the client.”

“I know, I know. He’s a big deal. Everyone knows him and his creations. Who thought he’d want a hotel built in a small town like Jinhae?”

“I guess he heard about the increasing number of tourists coming to Jinhae, especially during the cherry blossom season. If you ask me, it’s a smart move.” You nodded in agreement.

“Come on, let’s get back to work. Enough chit chat.” You headed back into the living room. Beck straight behind you.

“I finished the floor plans. So, we have elevations and sections to draw. We’ve done the axonometric drawings digitally anyways. Mr Chan is gonna have to excuse us for one missing drawing. I may try and do it if we have enough time.” Beck looked at you with a shocked expression.

“You have all the plans done already? Why in hell are we stressing then?” Beck had a smile on his face. Why in hell is he smiling?

“Why are you smiling? We still have so much to do, come on.” You faffed your hands around trying to get Beck to now focus on his work.

“Okay, okay! I’m working.” You guys returned to working at a reasonably fast pace hoping to have most of the drawings done by the end of today.

6:00 PM

You both ended the day by 6:00 pm. You guys had most of the drawings done by then anyways. Beck had never actually had a sit down session alongside you and was shocked at how quick you were. You were done with your drawings, but he had a couple left which you guys both agreed on finishing for Sunday. You still insisted for him to stay the whole weekend which was the original plan.

You guys made eye contact having declared that was enough for the day.

“Takeout.” You both mouthed to each other at the same time.

“Great minds think alike.” Beck exclaimed as you grabbed your phone to call in your usual order. Pizza. A food that’s simple, easy and you just can’t go wrong with.

“Can you order a x-large for today? I’m feeling extra hungry.”

“Alrighty, give me a second?” You rang up the usual place and processed your order. The person on the other end of the call took your order and read back that it should be there in 20 minutes.

“We have 20 minutes to kill. What do we do?”

“I think you should make a call to the leisure centre too.”

“Why?” Were you missing something?

“The meeting is at 11:00 am. Your swimming lesson?”

“Ah shit. I was looking forward for that lesson too. Maybe I can move the lesson so it’s after the meeting. Are we available then?”

“Bad news. The client said to leave the rest of the day free after the meeting. He didn’t say exactly why but I say we listen to him.”

You were looking forward to seeing Jinyoung. More than that whenever you couldn’t make it for your lessons, Max would be the one to cover for your group. Although, everyone knew that wasn’t a good option considering the awkward situation. But you had no choice, it was now up to Jooheon to solve the issue.

You dialled Jooheon’s number.

“Hey Y/N!” He seemed really cheery. You were sure the news you were gonna give him now would kill the mood.

“Hi Jooheon, got some bad news.”

“What is it?”

“You know about the eco-hotel… The presentation for the project is at 11:00 am on Monday meaning I won’t be able to come for the 10:00 am beginners class.”

“That’s fine. I’ll let Max know he has a cover for Monday.”

You waited in silence hoping Jooheon got the idea why it was bad news.

“Oh shit…” Took him long enough.

“Yh… hence why I said bad news.”

“We don’t have anyone else free during that period too. You know about that.”

“I was going to see if we could rearrange the time but turns out the client wants the whole day off with us. No clue why.”

“I’ll talk with Max, you don’t worry. If you can contact Jinyoung prior to the lesson too that would be great.”

“I’ll try my best to squeeze in some time. We are busy as you could imagine.”

“You guys get back to work. I’ll solve the problem. You don’t need to worry. If that’s all I need to get back to my own work too. Talk to you later Y/N!”

“Thank you so much Jooheon!”

You hung up.

“Sorted?”

You nodded at Beck.

The afternoon continued calmly, and you guys discussed the eco-hotel presentation that’ll take place. The pizza arrived and you guys tucked into your food. Your anxiety was growing as the minutes went by. How was Monday going to turn out?

…

Sunday Evening

You guys were actually ready. You both were shocked after rehearsing the presentation for the 10th time how well produced all the work was.

“I wouldn’t have even thought that I’d be getting a night’s sleep before this meeting.”

“I think sleep was the big motivator. You know how I can last on a hand full amount of sleep.”

“That’s true. You’re useless when it comes to working during the night.”

“Wooow, rude much.”

“I’m kidding. You performed really well. You reminded me why I partnered with you to start up a company.” You smiled at this compliment.

“You gonna stay over tonight as well or crash at home?”

“Could I stay over so we can just go to the meeting together tomorrow?”

“Yeah sure, this is like your second home after all. I feel like you’d also want to take advantage of my signature breakfast.”

“Was I that obvious?” Beck laughed at his failed attempt.

“I can read you like a book. You don’t need to hide your intentions.”

“Damn it.”

“I’ll prepare the long awaited breakfast tomorrow morning. Be up for 9:00 am. Set an alarm if you have to. I’ll tuck into breakfast with or without you.” You headed over to your bedroom and waved Jooheon goodnight.

“Goodnight! Sleep tight, don’t let the cantilevers bite.”

You went back to react to his really dead architecture joke.

“Get in the bin.” With Beck laughing at this really bad joke, you went back into your room and headed off to bed.

…

Monday morning

“Beck get your ass up its 9!” Typical, he hadn’t moved a single inch for the past minute that his alarm has been going off for.

“Y/N 5 more minutes.”

“5 more minutes and you’ll get no breakfast.”

“Breakfast…BREAKFAST!” Beck jumped out of the bed and flung himself grabbing some clothing on the way straight to do bathroom.

“This guy” You laughed at his reaction.

You left him to get ready and went back to the balcony and poured both of you some rich black tea. You settled in your usual seat and started filling your plate with all the different delicacies you laid on the table earlier on.

“You’ve done it again! I love these Mediterranean breakfasts you make. I need to come here more often.”

“Be my guest. It’s sometimes lonely enjoying a feast alone.”

“I could imagine. Although, that should have changed no?” What was he on about?

“Once you’re gone I’ll be back to having lonely breakfasts.”

“No, I mean you and your new boyfriend. When were you planning on telling me? You’ve been silent all weekend about it- “

“Boyfriend?? In who’s world did you hear that I have a boyfriend?” You used all your strength to not spit out the tea you had just sipped.

“The singer-actor guy? What was his name again? You were making headlines with him all weekend have you not checked your phone at all?”

You leaped back inside and grabbed your phone. No messages. No calls. What? Was this some kind of joke?

“Beck I haven’t got a single notification. Are you taking the piss?”

He grabbed your phone from you and enabled your WIFI. He knew you would switch it off whenever you had important things to do like this weekend. As soon as your phone connected to your router, all sorts of things flooded your phone screen. You took it back off him and read all the headlines.

Love strikes under the full moon

Waves were not the only things crashing that night

GOT7’s Jinyoung and his secret lover

Who could she be?

Secret Girlfriend and Aspiring Actor kicking it off on the Beach

“You’ve got to be kidding me?! Right before an important meeting as well. The company’s image. My image. My parents. How in the hell did this all happen?”

“Y/N sit down. It’s kinda late. You’ll just have to explain everything to whoever asks. Don’t worry about the company’s image, we all know how hardworking and talented you are.”

“Give me a sec. I need to make a call.” Jinyoung must have seen all the news too. You gave him a ring but no answer. He might be thinking that he’ll speak at one point during the leisure centre and you hadn’t found the time to let him know you won’t be in.

“Y/N calm down. Focus on the meeting please. You can sort out whatever this is afterwards.” You sat back down and tried to calm yourself down. Beck was right. You guys had an important meeting to focus on.

“Sorry.”

“Y/N shut up. I don’t want to hear it. Eat up, we have a long day ahead of ourselves.”

You tried to eat something, but it just wouldn’t work. Every mouthful felt like labour. You guys cleared up the table and went to prep for the meeting. You brushed your teeth and took a quick shower. You knew you were ready for this meeting, now it was just time to act on what you knew. You took out a pair of cream shorts alongside a white oversized tank top and a brown belt. You grabbed your nude heals and the gold accessories off your drawers to put on as you left. You had your hair wavey from your twisted bun that you always slept with in and a little mascara, the usual. Beck had loaded your car with all the sheets to pin up for the meeting alongside all the small scale models you had at your house.

You locked your house and ran to your car. Beck was ready in the passenger’s seat running over the minor things on his iPad.

“Have you rung the company to check the room is prepared, refreshments all that jazz.”

“Erm… yeah but there’s apparently loads of paparazzi that security is trying to hold off.” Your head shot towards Beck. As if that was needed.

“Guess we are entering through the back entrance. Call the client at let him know to do the same.”

“On it.” Thank god for Beck.

…

20 minutes later

You were driving past the usual entrance of the company and saw the tons of people that the security was blocking off. In a million years you wouldn’t have thought you’d have paparazzi at your company door.

“Can today get any worse?” You questioned out loud.

“Don’t say that. Just get in through the back, it’ll be over soon.”

Your receptionist let you through the back entrance and you guys moved to the meeting room that was prepped for the meeting.

“The room looks great. Just like how we agreed on.” You smiled at your receptionist.

“The presentation team did a great job. I’ll treat them for a meal.” Beck offered. You agreed with his statement.

“Mr Chan should be here in 30 minutes. Let’s pin up the sheets and bring all the models to this room.” You both left your belongings in the room and went down to the fabrication labs down stairs. To head to fabrication, you guys had to walk past the front entrance. You peaked to see if the people had gone but no. It had gotten worse. There were more people we even bigger cameras. How on earth?

JINYOUNG’S POV

You were right on time for your lesson. You and the kids were waiting at the pool side for Y/N. You kind of felt giddy after what happened on Friday. What stage would you call you and Y/N now? You checked the clock and saw that she was 5 minutes late. This didn’t seem like Y/N, she’s always early. Or has been for the past 2 lessons anyways.

“Woojin, is Miss ever late?” Woojin shook his head no.

Jaehyun heard from his dock and decided to let you know about the news.

“Jinyoung hyung, Y/N has a really important meeting today. She called in to say she won’t be making it for this lesson meaning Max will be taking over for today.”

Max… is taking over? This isn’t going to go well.

“Thanks, Jaehyun.” Jaehyun saluted which is his way of saying ‘no problem’.

You were thinking why Y/N wouldn’t have told you until you realised… the missed call this morning. She tried to get in contact with you, but you weren’t available. Damn it.

“Jaehyun, do you know where Y/N’s company building is at?”

“Yh, it’s the one and only big fancy glass building in the town centre.” She works there? She’s very humble for a CEO.

“Right, I’ll be absent for today. You can let Max know when he does the register. Also, what time is the meeting?”

“It starts at 11:00 am, why did you ask?”

“I’m going to attend.”

Jaehyun started cackling, “Do you think you can just walk into a client meeting? You must be mad. Jinyoung hyung it’s a serious meeting, you can’t just barge in.”

“Fine, I’m going to wait for there then.”

“No can do.” Max was behind you ask he listened to the conversation. You turned around to face Max.

“I can leave if I want.”

“Kids, do we want Jinyoung to leave this lesson? We all want him to stay don’t we?” You couldn’t believe he was going to use the kids as bait for you to stay.

“Yes, Jinyoung oppa please stay!”

“Jinyoung hyung, don’t go!”

The kids started whining, hoping you would stay for the lesson. He used his weapons well; you couldn’t break the kids’ hearts especially when you knew how much Y/N cares for the kids. You were gonna stay for her sake.

You knelt down to the kids and gave them a smile, “Fine, I’ll stay.”

You gave a glance to Max and hopefully you both sided with getting through this lesson without any disruptions. And so, the lesson commenced.

“We will be doing a test today.”

“A test?”, Hyungwon gulped, “But Miss didn’t mention a test last week?”

“Well Hyungwon, this is a surprise test. I’ll be marking everyone on how well they perform on the things Miss taught in the past 2 weeks.” This guy is doing this on purpose.

“How will you be marking us?” You spoke up.

“3 columns. Speed. Technique. A race. The place you come in the race will determine how many points you get for the ‘race’ column.”

“I’m gonna beat you all.” Woojin was already hyped to get the highest score. You would have probably been as excited as Woojin if the teacher was different.

“Right, we will be starting with Technique. I’ll be going off the register order so line up in that order and I’ll be testing your technique swimming front stroke.” You lined up along with the kids. You were obviously last.

Max got to you. You had a feeling he was gonna try and do everything to give you a bad mark. You remembered all the things Y/N had taught you and starting swimming to the area Max marked. You hated that this man was good at something you weren’t. Knowing he was ahead in something gave him more say and material on you.

“I feel sad for Y/N,” You waited for him to continue to see what he meant, “For having such a crap student.” He jotted down a fat 0 next to your name under the technique column. Jaehyun heard from his dock the comment Max had made and made eye contact with you. He was pleading for you to not react to Max’s words since that was exactly what he wanted to do. You clenched your fists and took a deep breath. You weren’t gonna lose this easily.

“I feel sad for Y/N too. Different reason though.” You gave Max a dirty look so he got the idea that you were referring to him in some way.

“Max hyung, are we moving onto speed now?” Woojin separated both of your focusses onto him.

“Yes Woojin-ah, get ready I’ll be timing you guys. You all have to swim in whichever style you want from one end to another.”

“Get to the side.” Max turned his face back to you and spoke in a demanding tone. He was really grinding your gears. This was going to be a long hour.

Y/N’S POV

“Good morning Mr Chan. I hope your flight yesterday was well.” You shook Mr Chan’s hand as he took his seat in the meeting room.

“Good Morning Miss Y/L/N and Mr Longing. I arrived without any problems. I got some rest too. All in all, I’m ready for today’s meeting.”

“Agreed, Mr Chan. I’ll begin with the site analysis and our response with our design.” You and Beck agreed for Beck to start the meeting and then you to end it.

“So, as you may have heard one of the plots of land were taken out of our hands. There was some complications with the landowners, but we decided that one plot of land was enough to fulfil the criteria of an eco-hotel.” With that Beck continued with explaining the new updates on the hotel design after the land issue.

“Mr Chan, the maquettes and models are laid out in the order of development. This is how the overall design developed into the final result. The 3D printed large model at the end is the final version of the hotel in a simple representation of the surrounding area around it.” You moved towards the model and showed Mr Chan where the sun would be travelling throughout the day. You brought along all the hand drawings from the past couple days too to show what each individual room would look like from all angles.

“These look amazing. I’m really thankful for the models and the drawings, they give a really good idea of what the final outcome will look like.” You and Beck looked at each other and gave a smile. All the hard work you both had put on for the past couple days had come through.

“Although, I wanted to ask one thing.” You diverted your attention to Mr Chan.

“Yes, Mr Chan go ahead.” You were nervous from his sudden question. You were sure you and Beck hadn’t missed out on any information.

“It hasn’t got to do with the project.”

“What exactly are you referring to Mr Chan?”

“You, Miss Y/L/N.” You looked up at Beck. What could Mr Chan want to know about you?

“Go ahead, Mr Chan. I’m listening.” If you were honest, you weren’t feeling well. You started breathing heavier than usual scared of what Mr Chan was going to ask.

“The paparazzi’s at the front door. Why are they here?” Fuck. This should have been something you should have thought about earlier on. You looked at Beck for help. You had no answer to give.

“That wasn’t Miss Y/L/N, Mr Chan. There has been a misunderstanding. The news reports are still speculating who the person is and Miss Y/L/N has just been mistaken for the girl that the actor was with. As you may have seen the photographs were taken at night, so it is hard to tell who it is, as expected.” Beck covered up for you.

“I see… and Miss Y/L/N what do you plan on doing about the news.”

“I’m aiming to get in contact with the actor’s agency to speak up and deny allegations about my involvement since that is the truth. I’ll also be holding a conference soon to news outlets about the situation. I don’t want anything like this to throw dirt under our company’s name.”

“I thought it was you Miss,” Is he being serious?, “I was going to congratulate you on your new relationship. That was the reason for the flowers. You’re also human. I thought you were taking a step forward in your person life. I know about how popular you are among fellow architects, for your work and for you too.” Me? Popular among architects? Step forward in my person life? Can life stop throwing new surprises nowadays, you were happy with your boring life.

“Mr Chan.” Beck addressed your client.

“We thought you would be disappointed about the truth. If that is the case I’d like to firstly apologise for what I just said. I didn’t mean to lie Mr Chan, but we didn’t want anything to cause you to- “

“It’s fine Mr Longing. Congratulations Miss Y/L/N. It’s really nice to see the new generation finding love. I’m sure you have found the right person for you.”

“Mr Chan, I appreciate your comments although it’s a little more complicated than that. We are not exactly dating or haven’t exactly clarified it between ourselves.” You struggled to keep eye contact with your client at this rate. Beck eyed you knowing you could have just suggested that you had a fling days before an important meeting.

“I’m sure you guys will even end up getting married one day. I sensed it when I saw your photos side by side.” You just smiled at Mr Chan’s observations.

“I hope whatever is best for the both of us is what happens.” Mr Chan agreed and focussed back on the project.

“Was there anything else you’d like to ask Mr Chan?” Beck wanted to make sure Mr Chan was completely clear of the new changes in order to process the build.

“Can I decide on which trees and floors to have planted in the hotel? I know the botanic designers tend to do so.”

“Of course, Mr Chan. As long as the greenery you choose passes the climate test meaning they’ll stay alive in Jinhae’s weather conditions, you can choose which ones we decorate the hotel with.”

“Great, that marks the end of the meeting. You guys have done an outstanding job. Better than what I expected. What’s the estimated date of completion?”

“If everything goes well, the hotel should be completely finished and ready for service for the month of March 2022.”

Mr Chan clapped in happiness. You were happy to have made your extremely important client over the moon.

“I’d like to take you guys out for dinner. I hope you guys made sure the rest of your days are free-“

You were getting a call from Jooheon. You never get calls from Jooheon during meetings, he knows not to disturb unless it’s an emergency.

“Mr Chan, could I please take this call?”

“Sure, go ahead. Me and Mr Longing will decide on where to eat.” You smiled and left the meeting room and picked up the call.

“Jooheon, what is it?”

“Y/N.. I-“

“Jooheon please tell me. Did something happen?”

“Jinyoung…He’s in the- “

“The what Jooheon can you just say it already?”

“The hospital.”

“HOSPITAL?!?”

---

Oooooo… the suspense. I haven’t tried these sorts of endings before, so I wanted to give it a shot. I want to leave it up to you guys for now to imagine what may have happened. Until the next episode, see you! Next episode will be extraordinary, you can count on me.

writer-nim x

19 notes · View notes

war-sword · 5 years ago

Text

what can i get you? (3)

part 3 | index | masterlist

draco x female reader [muggle AU, slightly aged-up]

summary: One handsome Draco Malfoy is the only boy you trust at your new job to tie your ties. words: 3,196 a/n: thanks y’all for supporting & enjoying this lil self-indulgent moment of mine! ♡ playlist: here taglist: @clockworkherondale @accio-rogers @mayorofzillyhoo @diademofdraco @drawlfoy @ladybuginthetardis @silversslytherin @lushlavenderskies @socontagiousimagines @acciodracoo @eltanin-malfoy @maceyisntcool @newhopenessie @hp-slaps

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On Saturday morning, you wake up to a horrible sensation at the back of your mouth. You get out of bed and chug a glass of water, but your throat still feels as dry as a piece of paper. You think about texting Gabrielle and asking for the day off, but remember how you need the money… that, and you’d been snapchatting Draco all week and knew he would be there tonight. It’s only just past nine, you can rest all day and save your energy for work later.

You nap on and off, nursing a glass of water and a couple bowls of hot cereal. You don’t feel bad otherwise, and by midday your throat is actually feeling a bit better. Around 4 you get ready for work, and decide you can walk. You’re lucky Gabrielle scheduled you so close to your flat, some fresh air will probably do you some good. The crisp fall air helps you feel refreshed, and you make your way around to the back door of the event space at exactly 4:30.

As you walk towards the kitchen to put your bag down, you see the catering truck pull into the alleyway. Even so, you’re not the first person there. Draco is sitting in the kitchen on his phone, eating a container of takeout.

“Hey, Y/N.” He looks up when you walk in. “I like your hair.”

Your fingers reach up to touch your meticulously mussed bun. “Thanks.”

He reacts immediately to your raspy voice. “You haven’t got the lurgy, have you?” He asks, giving you a wary look.

“Just a sore throat,” you assure him, boosting yourself up onto the counter. “Maybe allergies or something.”

Draco still looks skeptical, and you just roll your eyes. “I don’t have the lurgy, thanks. If I thought I was contagious, I wouldn’t be here to serve people food.”

“Good thing you’re not on kitchen,” he points out, closing his now empty container.

“C’mon, the truck just pulled up,” you say, sliding off the counter.

Draco follows you out to the back, where the truck is backed up to the loading dock. Everyone else starts to trickle in as you help Michael, Gabrielle’s husband who she owns the business with, unload. Racks of plastic covered food go to the kitchen, bins of dishware and glasses stay in the back room. Theo is there, and so are Astoria and her sister Daphne, but Pansy is nowhere to be seen. This will be your first time working without her, so you open your phone to send her a Snapchat as the boys grab the last few things off the truck. You snap a photo of you giving a thumbs down captioned “can’t believe we’re separated”.

Michael puts Theo and one other boy you haven’t worked with before in the kitchen with Draco, and sends the girls off to set the tables. The event space is an open industrial-looking room, with a dance floor and lots of tables draped in pale blue and yellow. Signs across the room say “LIA”, and at first you wonder if it’s an acronym for something.

“Do you know what kind of party this is?” You ask Astoria while you set out forks.

“I think a mitzvah,” she responds. “That’s Mary Anne, the event planner over there. We’ve worked lots of mitzvahs for her in the past.”

“Oh, cool.” You look around at the space in a new light. These people certainly are spending a lot of money of their daughter’s bat mitzvah.

You finish setting the tables and filling the glasses with water. There’s multiple food stations set up along one wall of the room for the adults, and the other for kids. You all join Michael in the back room for a quick meeting.

“We’re limited in buffet space, so around ten we’re going to flip the pasta station for dessert. The family is going to have a long horah, so that'll be our best chance to bus all the dishes and silverware before we set that out.” Michael explains. “We’ll set up bussing back here so we can load while the party is still happening. If you’re working the floor, go ahead and get changed.”

Astoria and Daphne grab their uniforms and disappear off towards the bathroom together. You think about following them out, but realize it’s only you and Draco in the back room now. Last weekend comes back into your mind. He’s in the other corner of the room, not even looking at you as he pulls on his own dress shirt. Fuck it.

You turn your back and strip your t-shirt off, slipping into the stiff fabric of your dress shirt. You do up the buttons on the front before turning around. Draco’s staring at you, now fully dressed. He’s got his arms crossed and is observing you with a smirk on his face while you button your cuffs.

“What?” You taunt.

He just beckons you over with a single finger.

You cross the room seemingly too fast and find yourself just inches away from his chest, looking up into his grey eyes. The slight blue tinge in them is set off by his sky-blue tie. Draco slips the silky strip of fabric from between the fingers in your outstretched hand, looping it around your neck and pulling you just slightly closer.

Oh.

You can feel his eyes on you as he does your tie, while you pretend not to notice and busy yourself with buttoning your cuffs again. He takes his time tightening it against your throat, the tips of his fingers brushing against your skin.

“Do you always forget this button on purpose?” He dips a finger into the collar of your shirt to fish out the button to fasten it. You look up at him as he concentrates.

“No,” you lie.

Draco finishes with your tie and takes a moment to study your face. His captivating eyes burn with something unsaid. “Let’s get out to the floor.”

Michael puts you behind a table on the side of the room, in charge of making overdressed twelve-year-olds Shirley Temples. Your coworkers mill among them, passing appetizers of miniature soft pretzels and mac ‘n cheese bites. It feels strange to be serving and treating such young children like adults, who are all across the room sipping real cocktails and having normal horderves. The nice thing about your standing station is that you can sip water to soothe your throat, and check your phone for messages from Pansy. After about two hours, Draco comes over to check on you.

“How are you feeling?”

You shrug, snatching the last pretzel off his tray. “It’s not any better, but I’m fine.”

“Wanna switch? We’re starting bussing, you can sit in the back and scrape plates if you want to sit down.”

You’d be fine to keep standing, but sitting and taking a break from the loud music does sound nice.

“Sure, thanks.”

You take his tray from him and head to the back. You sit on the tables that had been set up, and scrape plates into the giant trash can and put them into their designated bins. MIchael comes into the back and enlists you to help set out the desserts. You pass Theo, carrying a large tray of squash ravioli, as you head to the floor. “Don’t put it away just yet, I want some!”

“Gotcha,” he acknowledges, before toting it into the kitchen.

You help Michael and Astoria carefully arrange brownies and waffles covering in chocolate and sprinkles on sticks on what was once the pasta table. The children all gather at a safe distance, waiting for you to finish. As soon as the three of you step away, there is a slightly terrifying primary-schooler stampede.

Michael makes eye contact with you and looks disgusted. “I’m never having children.”

You and Astoria burst out laughing and you all head to the back. As promised, Theo has left the extra pasta out for you, and you pack your takeout container with ravioli and roasted vegetables. Michael finds a tray of waffles that didn’t make it out, and after swearing a little decides there’s no way he’s going back out there and lets you all eat them. Draco is still out on the floor, and you go out to relay the information of the waffles.

“We can switch again,” you say, but your tired voice doesn’t carry over the music.

He leans a little closer. “What?”

You repeat what you said before and add the part about the waffles. Your throat is killing you, and you make yourself a new cup of water. Draco looks at you sympathetically, and heads back to the kitchen.

At eleven, it’s time to break down. Guests are finally leaving, and you bring your leftover sodas and mixers from your station to the back along with your trash. Michael sends Astoria and Daphne to check the floor one last time while the rest of you change and pack the truck. They return with a few stray silverware pieces and the event planner trailing behind, who hands you each an envelope with forty extra euros in cash inside.

You pretend to busy yourself with putting your tips in your wallet, but in reality you’re just buying a few extra seconds so you can shamelessly watch Draco slip back into his jumper and ruffle his hair. It still doesn’t make sense to you that he can look so good under the unflattering fluorescent lights, and you’re too busy contemplating his hair to look away when he catches you staring.

Instead of a teasing quip, he asks, “Still not feeling any better?”

“Honestly? My throat feels like shit right now.”

He waves a hand in the direction of the door. “Come, lets go get tea.”

He’s already walking, and you have no choice but to follow. “Draco, you know I can just go home, I have tea in my own apartment.”

“Oh, come on now,” he says, turning around and walking backwards. “Where’s the fun in that? Let me buy you a tea.”

You roll your eyes, but then jog a few steps to catch up with him. “Would you mind dropping me off at my flat after? I walked here.”

“You walked to work? While sick?” He looks down at you, shocked.

“Uh, yes?”

“You are crazy.” He leads the way to a parking deck around the corner from the venue, and up the stairs to the level his car is parked at. Draco pulls out his keys and clicks the button on the fob and you see lights flash up ahead, but when you catch sight of the blue and white checkers you almost stop in your tracks. “...You do not drive a BMW. This is not you car.”

Draco pauses, hand on the driver’s side door. His face crumbles as he struggles to contain a massive grin, and he just bites his lip and gets in the car.

“No!” you yell as loudly as you’re able, heading for the passengers side and sticking your head into the car. “No! Draco, I thought you were a student! How the fuck can you have a car like this and work as a server for a catering company.”

The luxurious car lights up as he puts in the keys. “Um… that’s for me to know, and you to never know, how about that?”

“Bloody hell,” you mutter, slipping into the car. The leather seats are like butter beneath you.

I can’t believe this, he’s one of those rich boys. I have a crush on a rich boy. You shake your head in disbelief and buckle your seat belt. Post Malone starts to play over the speakers.

Draco does the thing where he puts his hand on your headrest as he turns to look out the rear window while backing up. How can boys make such normal things so hot? His eyes momentarily flick to you and he catches you watching him. You both let slip tiny smiles.

“Let’s go fast,” Draco says, putting the car into drive.

“What? Draco, we’re in a parking deck- AH!” You screech as he floors the car for a second and you speed down the aisle, and he laughs. He takes the turn down the ramp fast, too, and you grab onto the handle above the door. “DRACO STOP!” But you know your high-pitched screams are just encouraging him, his deep boyish laugh filling the car.

Once you’re on the road, you take in the lights of London as you drive, enjoying the cozy interior of Draco’s car and it’s wonderful sound system. It feels slightly wrong to pull into a curbside parking space outside Balans.

“Looks busy,” you muse, peering through the window.

“I’ll bring it back here. What do you want?”

“Green is fine.”

“Make sure no one steals my car, please,” he says as he opens the door and slips out.

You watch him go around the back of the car and make sure he’s inside the cafe before you cover your face with your hands and rest your head on the dashboard. You let out a long, close-mouthed screech. I. Cannot. Believe. This is happening. “The one time be decides to take me out I’m sick… BECAUSE I’m sick,” you say out loud to yourself. “Stupid fucking thoughtful, cute boys.”

Draco returns with your teas after a short while, and you relish the warmth radiating from the cardboard cup. “I had them put honey in it,” he says.

Your chest does that stupid thing where it feels like your lungs stop working. “Thank you. How much…” but you trail off when you catch sight of his calculating look.

“Y/N, a tea is like two quid. You don’t have to pay me back,” he says with a chuckle, taking the lid off his cup and blowing on his drink.

“Yeah, yeah, I realized that as I remembered we’re sitting in a series 5.”

Draco snorts into his cup. He sets it down for a moment in the cup holder and kicks off his shoes, turning in the seat so he can face you. “I know, it’s embarrassing,” he says, picking his tea up again.

You remove your shoes and mimic him, wiggling your toes in your socks. “Okay, seriously though. Now I need to know the reason you work at a bloody catering company.” You sip your tea, enjoying the relief it brings your sore throat. A sprinkle starts outside, dotting the glass of the car with water like glitter.

“My mum always told me everyone should have experience working in service,” he says. “Also, it’s stupid to go your entire student life without any work experience.”

You nod. “Okay, fair, fair.”

“Why are you working at a catering company?” He counters.

“Because I have a flat to pay rent for,” you snort. “And it pays better than working at a place like this.” You job your thumb behind you at Balans.

“Mmm, do you have flatmates?”

You shake your head no.

“Double edged blade,” he says, sipping his tea. “No help but at least you’re alone.”

“Yeah. And it’s better than living on campus.” You pretend to gag. “I did that first year, and never wanted to again.”

Draco wrinkles his nose in understanding. “I agree. Where do you study? I guess not too far, since your flat is nearby.”

“Bernel. You?”

“Kings College,” he answers. “Pansy, too. Did she tell you that?”

“No, actually. So do you know each other from school or work?”

“She’s a family friend, actually.” He says. “Theo had the job first. He told Pansy, Pansy told me. My ex used to work with us too, but he quit a while back.”

You can’t help but stiffen a little at the word ‘he’. Oh no. This boy could not be gay. You’d been so sure he’d been flirting with you all this time! All those moments, all you texting and talking on Snapchat...

Draco seemed to sense your sudden energy shift. “I’m bisexual,” he expands.

“Oh,” you breathe a sigh of relief.

“What were you thinking?”

“Nothing. Nothing bad! It’s just... good to know you like girls.”

“It is?” He cocks an eyebrow. “Why?”

“No reason.” You busy yourself with examining the stitching on the car seats, but you can feel his gaze burning into the side of your head. You look over, and he has the most disgusting smirk on his face.

Oh, he knows alright.

“Do you want to hang out?” He asks, leaning towards you. “Outside of work.”

“Then what are we doing right now?” You peek over the lip of your cup at him.

He pauses, then practically purrs, “I think I’d prefer it if you weren’t sick.”

A tingly sensation spreads throughout your body, this time not from the tea. You’d never wished to be well more in your entire life. “Well, believe me when I say I’ll let you know as soon as I’m lurgy-free.”

“Good.”

You and Draco talk until the rain is coming down hard, and Balans goes dark at midnight. He starts the engine again and follows your directions back to your flat. By then, your voice is starting to go, leaving you speaking a good two octaves lower than normal.

“Sorry, I keep making you talk,” Draco says as he pulls up across from your building.

You gather your bag from the floor and push your shoes back on. “And scream for my life.”

“Hey, but you have a sexy sick voice.”

You squeeze your eyes shut bite your lip to keep from making another involuntary screech. “See you later, Draco.”

“Get well soon.”

You close the door of his car and leap across the sidewalk under the awning of your door, when your heart skips a beat and sends you flying back to the passenger side. “DRACO!”

“What?” He looks at you slightly alarmed as you start to get soaked by the rain.

“I forgot to clock out!” You cry.

His face goes from blank back to alarmed. “Fuck, so did I!”

You can’t help but start laughing, and he shoos you towards your apartment again. “It’ll be fine, just text Gabrielle. Please go inside!”

Rain is rolling down your face and into your eyes. Instead of turning back around, your dive back inside the car. Your knees dig into the passenger seat and you lean across the center console, one of your hands making contact with the glass of the window behind Draco’s head. Because of the awkward angle, your foreheads collide a little more forcefully than you anticipated, but the feeling of his warm lips against yours is worth it. You pull away and relish the look of surprise on his face.

“Have fun being sick,” you say with a grin. You slide back out of the car and slam the door.

You run up the stairs into your flat and close the door, leaning back against it. Strands of wet hair are plastered all across your face, but you’ve never felt happier. Inside your pocket, your phone buzzes.

Draco Malfoy is typing…

Snapchat from Draco Malfoy

#draco x reader #draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy #draco malfoy x you #hp fanfic #my writing

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jenovahh · 4 years ago

Text

The Honey Pot - Ch. 14 - Wallflower

“Good morning, Honey.”

Ever since he had learned of your schedule, Elidibus had elected to chat with you each morning for the duration of his stay. You found it incredibly strange, considering that you came from two different worlds. Nevermind that he was a government official, coming from Garlemald of all places was reason enough to have different ideals.

Garlemald was slow to step into a new era and join the rest of the world in democracy, clinging to an emperor until they were brought down by peer pressure. Their monarch had lost a majority of his power, but still had a large amount of sway over government matters. Elidibus was the true ruler, with a surprisingly low profile. You weren’t sure how to feel with someone so important deigning to eat breakfast with you nearly every morning…

Or that that fact had spurred Zenos to join you as well.

“Good morning, Elidibus.”

Zenos is never far behind, always seeming to show up right as Elidibus does. Dressed in his workout clothes, he towers over the two of you, his expression blank to the untrained eye, but it is the ever so slight furrow of his brow that hints at his annoyance as soon as ruby eyes meet crystal blue.

“Good morning to you as well, young Zenos.” Elidibus hums, a curious smile on his face. He sounds as if he knows something you do not, and truthfully that is a feeling you get from him any time he opens his mouth. As a result, you’ve tried to be as friendly as one can, while also taking anything he says at face value. “Joining us for breakfast once again?”

Zenos doesn’t bother to answer, merely strolling into the dining room. Sighing at his lack of manners, you trudge along behind him, hearing Elidbus’ footsteps follow close behind. You take your seat next to Zenos, knowing he would throw a fit if you even bothered to sit near Elidibus. He never tries to make conversation; he merely sits there quietly until you are served, only offering commentary if Elidibus seems to ask something he doesn’t like.

“Are you ready for today's events?” Elidibus asks, paying no mind to the maid pouring his coffee. A tray of cream and exactly two cubes of sugar are placed in front of him, complete with a delicate stirring spoon.

“What’s there to be ready for?” You counter, more than used to his prying. You had caught on quickly that Elidibus was the type to ask questions yet reveal nothing. Any attempts to know anything more than his favorite color were rebuffed with carefully chosen words or a query of his own.

“Oh nothing, we shall hope. The previous incident certainly has a lot of guests on edge…” he trails off, plunking the two cubes of sugar into his cup. With practiced hands he stirs, and you swear he’s somehow able to stir in a perfect circle.

“I’ve been informed that there will be extra security,” you comment, sitting back as the maid places your cup of apple juice in front of you. Zenos throws you a small sneer to which you arch a single eyebrow daring him to not let you have your one sugar fix. He stays quiet. “And as you have seen, I am more than capable of taking care of Zenos. Varis’ own guards will be at the gala to protect him, and I’m sure things will be fine.”

The “event” as Elidibus had mentioned, was a charity gala. You had taken a peek at the attendee list and saw all kinds of names: from singers like Cirina, to actors like Hildibrand. There would be no shortage of high profile names, and though you would only be given the opportunity to gawk, you were excited nonetheless even if you did your best to not show it. A part of you wishes it was you getting dolled up in an elegant evening gown, your hair and makeup done, hand in the crook of a handsome man’s arm or even a beautiful woman…

“Honey.”

You snap out of your daydream as your breakfast is set in front of you, blinking the imagery away. Zenos throws you an inquisitive look and you merely shrug him off, deciding to pay more attention to the plate of Dzo eggs and various fruits before you. “With the added security, I think things will be fine. It might be a bit awkward for celebrities to have to be escorted around by their bodyguards, but it is with their safety in mind.”

“Well put.” Elidibus thrums, smiling gently as he is served.

“Will you be attending, Emissary?” You ask, cutting your fruit into bite sized pieces. Your time at the table has allowed you more time to grow familiar with the cutlery, with Elidibus’ instruction. Much like Zenos, he was a surprisingly patient teacher, and you didn’t sense any condescension from him either.

That or he was great at hiding it.

“Attending the event? No, not this time. As a political figure, I have no business attending such an event, even if it is for charity.” Elidibus replies, dabbing at his full lips gently with a napkin. “An event such as that has long lost its luster for me anywho. If I did go, it would be to see your reaction to our world.”

You snort in a very unladylike fashion, having long lost any sense of propriety when Elidibus was around. “Not like I’m going there to dress up in a pretty gown and grab a couple champagne flutes myself. I’m going there for work, and work is what I’ll do.”

Elidibus lets out a rich laugh at that, pausing to take a sip of his coffee. “Well said from someone as dedicated as yourself, Honey. Young Zenos has little to fear with someone who focuses so hard on their duty by his side.”

You resist the urge to snort again, instead settling for a light shrug of your shoulders. “Someone’s gotta take care of him.” He clearly can’t do it himself, almost rolls off your tongue, but you bite it back, remembering that Elidibus does not see your treatment of the young heir. It had been annoying to be on your so-called “best behavior” around the Emissary, but at Zenos’ request, all insults and back sass had to be reserved behind closed doors.

And speaking of behind closed doors…

Zenos’ would stand there and take your insults in stride as he always had. The only difference now is that given the opportunity, especially in private, he would not hesitate to make some lewd innuendo in response.

“Could you focus you actual twelve year old--”

“I am focusing.”

You yelp as your feet are suddenly kicked from underneath you, back crashing hard into the floor. Even with your quick reflexes, the pain of your landing makes you too slow to roll out of the way of Zenos who comes to pin you in place. “It is not my fault if you can’t keep your mind out of the gutter long enough to prevent yourself from losing focus, my beast.” His hair whispers against your skin as he looms above you, ice blue eyes blocking out the bright, fluorescent light. “I never thought you so easily flustered.”

Your lip curls in indignation as you lie completely still beneath him. Zenos knows how to pin someone, his bulk be damned. If he wanted you to slip from his grip, he would let you. Giving him your own smirk, you arch your chest at him, not missing how his eyes dart down for the briefest of moments. “You wish I was flustered.” It is your turn to purr at him, taking note of how desire slowly creeps into his gaze.

He lowers himself, wisps of his breath trailing across your face. You’re not even sure if you’re still breathing yourself, truly going still underneath him. “And if I did?”

You give him a roguish grin, all teeth. “I make it a habit to not sleep with people I don’t like.”

He barks out a laugh at that, head canting back for a moment as his entire body shakes with the force of his laughter. As it abates, you swear the desire had mixed with reverence. “You will fight me to the bitter end, won’t you?” He sighs almost dreamily, a hand coming to cradle your chin, thumb running across your bottom lip. “Suppose I accept your challenge. What must one do to gain your affections?”

Your eyes widen before narrowing, positive he’s just yanking your chain. “Not being a fucking murderer would be a good start.” You deadpan, starting to feel your leg fall asleep.

“I am not a murderer, but an enforcer.” He tries, having the nerve to give a sheepish smile.

“Yeah. You enforce your will, through murder.”

“Semantics.” He waves nonchalantly, as if making light of all the men he’s killed is as simple a topic as the weather. “I do not enjoy the act of the kill itself. Quickly now; tell me what else.”

Your throat constricts without your warning, unsure how to feel about this line of questioning. “Nothing, you bastard, I hate you, what do you not get,”

He chuckles deep in his throat, the sound vibrating through you at every point of contact. “Oh, Honey...if I wanted you, I would have you.”

With one of your hands free, you waste no time socking him in the jaw.

The blow manages to rattle him enough given that you held back none of your strength. It shifts his weight just enough that you can push him off of you and storm out the room without another word.

Even though you know it’s Zenos’ status and bulk that has probably prevented anyone from telling him he’s an insensitive prick, it doesn’t stop the sting you feel in your chest from feeling any worse than it already does. His confidence was more exasperating than it was attractive, his self assuredness more irritating than it was sexy. You could not expect genuine feeling from someone like him--

Not ever.

With a sigh, you retreat back to your room, deciding to enjoy some time to yourself before the charity event later this evening. Thankfully it seemed like Zenos was able to take a hint, remaining blessedly absent for a few hours, or perhaps he went to go busy himself with whatever preparations he needed to do.

As you lounge upon your bed, your (Galvus Enterprises issued) cell phone gives a ring. Rolling across the soft top you snag it, giving it a quick look, beaming as you see it is a welcome caller.

“Heya, Ardbert!” You greet happily.

“Hey.” He responds in kind, and you can hear the smile in his voice. “How’s it goin’?”

“Eh, the usual. Same shit, different day, you know?” You groan, rolling back to your original position on your back. You mindlessly wiggle your legs as you stare at the art on the underside of your canopy. “Just killing time before this charity event or whatever. You goin’?”

He snorts. “Like I have a choice.” He laughs. “These events are super boring. I’m charging my phone and tablet ‘cause I gotta stay out in the car for hours. Don’t even get to come in and get some free hors d'oeuvres.”

“No worries, I’ll make sure to shove some in my pockets to save for you on my way out.” You snicker.

“I’m sure the Flint Caviar will taste wonderful after sitting in your pockets for a few hours.” He jokes, sending the both of you into a fit of laughter. You sit and giggle for a few seconds, before both of you begin to settle down.

“So...you sounded a little down when you picked up. Anything wrong?” He asks. As usual, there was no hiding from Ardbert, and so there was no point in lying to him either. Besides, who else could you confide in and gripe to about your boss?

“It’s nothing really, just Zenos being his usual, bastard self.” You sigh, flopping your legs out. You had started to calm down but just thinking about what he said gets your blood to boiling again.

“Oh no. What was it this time?” Ardbert questions, his very voice a comfort.

“He keeps flirting with me. After telling me weeks ago that he wouldn’t ever make a move or be interested because someone has to keep things ‘professional’. But ever since I saved his ass, he can’t seem to help himself! He has no concept of personal space and has the nerve to make some shitty innuendo and turn around and make it sound like I should be lucky to have his attention!” You didn’t realize you had raised your voice until you could hear Ardbert shushing you through the phone.

“Sounds like he got under your skin real good…” He trails off, clearly unsure what advice to impart.

“Sorry. Usually he doesn’t, but just… I don’t know. He said that if he wanted me, he would have me and that just…”

It’s Ardbert’s turn to sigh into the phone. “Look, Honey. You are a wonderful woman. Any guy would be lucky to have you. Someone who’s smart and can kick ass. Just ignore him for now. He might keep you on a tight leash, but you still have your own life to live, yeah? Why not show him by getting out more? You said you should be lucky to have his attention. Why not show him what he’s missin’ out on?”

“Deny it all you like, my beast. You are mine, and mine alone, no matter how much you may hate me. Until you breathe your last breath, I never intend to let you go.”

“Yeah.” You reply, staring blankly at the canopy. “You’re right. Thanks Artie.”

“Oh? We’re doing nicknames now?” he chuckles, the sound filled with genuine amusement.

Ardbert’s pep talk puts you in a far better mood for the event later that night. As the sun sets on Hingashi, you don your freshly pressed and starched event suit, thankful that it is a new one and they’re not making you reuse the one from the hospital. Seeing as you’re not spending hours putting on makeup or trying to fit into a dress, you finish in record time, making your way to the debriefing room where Livia and Rhitahtyn await you.

Since the “incident”, they have shown a concern bordering on fear for you. It is not a concern for your mental health and well being because they care and want you to do well, but a concern where they fear saying the wrong thing will make you snap and cost them their lives.

Not that you know anyone like that.

Done with explanations, you grab your linkpearl and head to the garage where Zenos is waiting for Ardbert to pull up underneath the awning. Father and son step into the limo while the security team gets in unmarked, black cars, sunglasses on as they prepare for a long night. The drive is somewhat long, as you have to cross town to get the Rakusui Gardens, which is normally public, but has been closed off for the event tonight. Just seeing the hoards of cameras and paparazzi as you pull up makes you groan outwardly, waving away the driver’s look of confusion. With a shrug, they wrap up their job by pulling in behind the Galvus’ limo, the wheels having barely stopped as you open the door and hop out.

You find you’re thankful for the shades as they protect your eyes from the unbearable camera flashes. Livia beats you to the door as she opens it, the crowd going wild as Varis steps out first, followed by Zenos. He makes a sharp figure in his tuxedo, the obviously tailored pieces fitting to him like a glove. A wistful sigh escapes your lips without your realizing it as you sidle up to him, keeping fairly close as he strides down the red carpet behind his father.

The water of the pond reflects the many hanging lights from trees, and the glitter of jewelry. Already you can see notable figures such as the artist Alphinaud, with several of his pieces for sale on display. Environmental activist Kan-e-Senna catches your eye as well, her white gown accentuating her youthful features. It’s hard to not be a little star struck being around so many celebrities, and it’s only when Zenos clears his throat do you quickly turn your attention back to the task at hand.

“I’m allowed to look.” You hiss under your breath, throwing him a glare.

“Look, yes. Gawk, no.” He taunts, reaching to grab a champagne flute from a nearby waiter. “At least try to look like this isn’t your first time seeing the sun, and you, a blind man.”

You grab two flutes from the tray before the waiter can slip away and down both in one gulp for each. Were you not in public, you would throw them at him for extra measure, but instead place them down gently on a nearby table. “Finished?” you hear him ask, his voice betraying his entertainment.

“I could probably down a dozen more to have to deal with your insufferable ass tonight.” You grumble as you trudge back over to him, thankful your glasses shield your eyes and therefore, won’t betray your emotions.

“If I am so insufferable, why don’t you go scurry off then?” He asks, making his way through the crowd. Where most people would weave through the throngs of people, it was almost scary to see how people would just naturally move out of his way, even if they were deep in conversation.

“And have your father fuss at me for being out of arm’s reach? No thanks.” You snort, content with simply gazing at the lavish decorations. It was like being in a magical wonderland, and you couldn’t help but feel enchanted. “I doubt you want me handing your father’s ass to him to make the news.”

“Don’t tempt me.” He jokes, throwing you a sly grin. You try to ignore the way your heart stops for a second. “If you must stay near, then we might as well start our little charade.”

The charade, of course, involves talking to all manner of celebrities and making good impressions. Zenos is a surprisingly good actor; able to flip the switch of his charm to where he’s a different man entirely. People seem to be drawn to him like moths to a flame, not knowing danger if it stared them in the face. You had seen a few blush under his attention while the bolder would silently slip him their number. You grit your teeth as he palmed each one into a pocket, politely kissing the backs of hands and allowing casual hugs. Things he would never--

“Honey, get us a drink, if you would.” He orders and you take the out as soon as you’re given. So caught up in needing to get away, you temporarily forget your need to stay close to him for your job. You reach a table filled to the brim of various, rich foods, feeling a little lighter now that you’ve put distance between the two of you.

“You look like you could use something heavier than champagne, yeah?”

On full alert your eyes jump up to meet blue ones, preparing a retort before you realize these aren’t the same blue eyes you know. While cold, these have an almost jagged edge to them, much like the silver hair framing the man’s face. Pointed, Elezen ears peek out from the snow white locks, the tips a rosy red. Thick, strong eyebrows are furrowed in a scowl, with lush lips pulled into a frown. “Are you done staring?”

Snapping from your stupor, you have the decency to mumble an apology and avert your gaze. The stranger scoffs and reaches inside his coat. Your instincts go on high alert, a hand of your swiftly moving to reach for his wrist before it is intercepted by his other hand. Your eyes widen at the man’s quick reflexes, to which he simply arches a single eyebrow. “Calm down. I’m just trying to help you. I know who you are.” He pulls out a simple, silver flask, giving it a shake so you can hear what must be liquor sloshing inside.

He flexes his hand around your wrist, and you realize he’s waiting for you to go slack. “Well? You want some?”

Still wary, you release the tension you had been holding, and he lets you go. “Only if you tell me who you are.”

Tutting, he twists the cap off the flask and takes a long sip. Smacking his lips with a smile, you can smell what is a strong bourbon on his breath. “Only if you tell me yours. Name’s Estinien.” He holds out the flask once more. “Last time I’m gonna ask.”

Taking it from his hand, you stare at it for a moment before quickly taking a gulp. The bourbon burns, but in a silky smooth way. High quality bourbon apparently. “I’m Honey.” you return, giving his flask back to him.

Grunting his thanks, he twists the cap back on in one turn and shoves it back inside his blazer. “Bodyguard to the Galvus heir right?”

Biting your lip, you wonder if he’s just digging for information, or genuinely making small talk. “Oh come on, I’m trying to make conversation here. Not like you weren’t all over the bloody news a few weeks ago.”

Huffing, you cross your arms defensively. “I am here on business you know.” You do your best to maintain a neutral expression, but something about his gruffness knocks you off balance.

“So am I. You think you’re the only bodyguard stuck here?” He questions, arching a wintry brow. “I’ve had my eye on you ever since you got here. I’m free to roam wherever the hell I want; so long as I keep boss man in sight.”

At his comment, your eyes search out Zenos in the crowd, able to find him easily as he towers over the majority of them. He’s still winning over whatever woman he’s with at the moment, and for the most part, safe, so he doesn’t need your attention still. “Considering the last time I went out, my client was nearly killed. Forgive me if I try to hang a bit closer.”

“Apology accepted.” Estinien grins roguishly and your face goes up in flames at how good it looks on his handsome features. “Aside from that disaster, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you. Seems like he keeps you on an equally tight leash, huh?”

Reaching for what looks to be some sort of fish on a nearby table, you pop it into your mouth to bide some time to figure out a crafty answer. “He keeps a low profile compared to his father. Everyone knows who Livia is, right?”

“That bitch? Who doesn’t?” He snorts, leaning back against the table. His rough demeanor has you warming up to him rather than feeling pushed away. Maybe something was wrong with you… “Anytime I’ve tried to talk to her, she’s had a stick up her ass. But I’m not surprised. All the Garlean bastards do.”

Oh, you two would get along just fine.

“You’re definitely a better conversationalist than I’ve heard here tonight.” You compliment, to which his grin grows. You find yourself girlishly amused by his antics.

“Well, not like I got anything else to do tonight ‘til I can go home. Might as well and try to find someone interesting to talk to.” His handsome grin hasn’t left his face, blue eyes twinkling with mirth. Keeping Zenos in your sights, you remain there by the table, unsure of how much time passes as you continue to talk with Estinien. Guests come and go, art is sold, and the trays slowly empty as the night wanes on. You can’t remember anyone making you laugh as much as Estinien had, as he shares some of the happier blunders of his youth. You wonder how you can ask for his number without being so...obvious.

“Making friends Estinien?”

Turning, an older man (or is he younger?) strolls up to you two. Dressed in his own tuxedo, he shares the same frostbitten hair as Estinien, though that is where most similarities end. Far shorter in stature, a pair of goggles sits on his forehead, his jawline covered by a well groomed beard. Something about him seems familiar...you’ve seen his face before.

“You’re the one who told me to go mingle, Cid.” Estinien drawls, suddenly prickly as a pear.

“Cid?” Your eyes widen as you take in the stockier man before you. “As in Cid nan Garlond? Creator of Ironworks?” You gasp, unable to keep the stars from your eyes.

He gives you a warm smile. “The one and only. Might I have the pleasure of your name?”

Shyly, you tuck a stray hair behind your ear. “My name is Honey, and I’m the bodyguard of Zenos yae Galvus.”

His eyebrows shoot up for just a second as he glances at Estinien. You miss Estinien give a curt nod to Cid. “Oh, is that so?” His hand fishes into his pocket for a brief second before he extends it in an offer to shake. As you clasp your hand with his, you feel cardstock beneath your palm. As your eyebrows arch in confusion, he gives you a wink. “It is not often we get to meet on...kinder terms with our competitors.”

“Kinder, Garlond?”

Quickly releasing his hand you spin to find Varis has somehow snuck up on your little gathering, usual frown in place. His hair is neatly braided down his back, tuxedo accentuating his figure just like his son’s. Cid gives Varis an innocent smile, one that shows no fear. “Of course, Galvus. After all, you are such a fierce competitor and as such we haven’t been able to speak as companions. I was merely commenting on the novelty of meeting an employee of yours that was not so...abrasive.”

Varis’ frown deepens, clearly unsatisfied with Cid backhanded comment. “She is certainly more...docile than others in my employ. However, I have heard of her ferocity.” You flinch as Varis places a hand on your shoulder, wishing desperately to move away. “Did you have a reason for talking to my bodyguard?” You swear you can feel bile rise in your throat.

Cid still smiles, betraying nothing. “Personally, no. I had seen her speaking with my own bodyguard here, and was curious who he had found to chat with. She was a new face as far as I could tell. We had just finished introductions when you had arrived.” Varis’ cold, golden eyes slide over to Estinien, who looks like he’s one hair away from telling him to fuck off.

“I see. Perhaps your own bodyguard could benefit to learn from her.” Varis comments to which Estinien starts to open his mouth before Cid places a steadying hand in front of him. Estinien huffs as he casts a murderous look at the Galvus patriarch.

“That actually sounds like an excellent idea, Galvus. Would you be opposed to Honey coming over to see what Estinien is lacking?” Cid proposes, pressing firmly on Estinien who throws him an exasperated look.

Varis considers him a moment, looking between you and the Ironworks CEO. Giving your shoulder a firm squeeze, he speaks, “An agreeable idea, Garlond. Since she is so much kinder, as you have said, perhaps this can be the start of coming to more...agreeable terms with one another.” Varis finally releases you and you let out a breath you didn’t know you had been holding.

“Excellent. I will have the two exchange information. Until next time, Varis.” He nods, at the much taller man, before turning to you. “And to you, Miss Honey,” he holds out his hand to which Estinien places a glossy, blue card in it. Flipping it over, he whips out a pin from inside his blazer and scribbles a number down. “Please take this. This should have Estinien’s contact info so that you may reach him and organize for your meeting at a later date.” Taking the card from him you give him a slight bow and a murmur of thanks. “I believe it is time for us to start making our way home. Good evening to you both.”

You watch as the pair stride away, taking a moment to glance at the business card you were given. Estinien Wyrmblood is printed in elegant lettering, complete with his contact information. You can still smell some of his cologne lingering on it, finding it pleasant.

“Do not dally on meeting with them.” Varis cuts into your thoughts, causing you to turn to him. One brow of his is upraised as he looks down at you, though with infinitely less disdain than you had met. The way he looks at you makes you uncomfortable being belief, wishing to be anywhere else but here. “I certainly do not know Garlond’s motives, but you will be useful in figuring out what they are.”

Furrowing your brow at him, your cross your arms in defiance. “I’m a bodyguard, not a spy.”

“I am aware. However, this is the first time Garlond has ever entertained ‘building a bridge’. You will simply need to act as you normally do. Meet with this Estinien; see what happens.”

He smirks just as Zenos strolls up, lips curled cruelly.

“That is an order.”

#FFXIV #Final Fantasy XIV #ff14 #zenos yae galvus #zenos #THP #apparently i never posted ch 14 #so here it is

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chronicallyhaughty · 5 years ago

Text

I just love being with you

@ricky-toffee WELP. This... took a while. Ironically this was mainly because I fell in love with the prompt, lol. But here, have almost 3k words of me loving demons loving each other.

[Genyatta, AO3, Ko-fi]

———————————————

The plot of land is small, but it has everything Zenyatta needs. The little orchard he tends barely qualifies for the name, being more a copse of apple trees, but the apples they produce have an unusual sweetness. His blatant interest in the apples the moment Ingrid offered him one to try when he first came to look at the house must have been what convinced the Lindholms to allow him to purchase the house.

Like most of the other houses on the surrounding islands, the cottage Zenyatta has called home for the past three years is a deep red with bright white corners, and simple black shingles cover the roof. With help from his neighbours, he has renovated it piece by piece until it is very much his own.

It is a one floor building with an attic best suited for storage instead of people, but Zenyatta has considered preparing the space for year-round habitation. There is a brick chimney for the open fireplace in the living room – that would help keep the attic warm in the colder months, as it does for the bedroom – and the room is traditionally furnished with sheepskins and wooden sofas that double as additional storage.

The back of the fireplace juts into the bedroom, helping the radiators keep the whole house warm during the colder months. The solar panels on the roof provide enough power for lights and even hot water for the shower, in moderation. In the winter months he boils water on the kitchen wood stove for the dishes and laundry, and walks or skates across the ice to shower at the Lindholm’s house.

The island is small, just under ten acres, and pine trees take up most of it. He has a small dock and a rowboat with a motor that he rarely bothers to install, much less use. It is not a long trip over to his neighbours, after all, and he enjoys the exercise. Beside the house there is a root cellar, a garden shed with an open section for firewood, and a hammock he has set up between two of the sturdier apple trees. The wildflowers and rose bushes, strawberries and raspberries thrive, and the floor of the pine forest, small as it is, is covered in bilberries and lingonberries.

He has placed a little fox statue by the door, for protection and good luck.

This particular day has been spent picking berries in the forest, and as afternoon turns to evening he’s just putting on a pot of coffee to go with the bilberry pie he baked, when there is a knock on the door.

Now, a knock on the door wouldn’t be alarming for most people, but, well. Zenyatta happens to be the only occupant on this island. The only visitors he usually receives are the Lindholms, and they usually call ahead, or at the very least announce their presence with the engine on their skiff.

There has been no rumble of an engine tonight.

The knock comes again, and Zenyatta hums to himself, “’Tis some visitor, nothing more,” and goes to open the door.

Beyond the door stands a man. Perhaps. Many minute details about this man tell Zenyatta that there is more to him than what meets the untrained eye, like the way he holds himself, the way he quickly glances over the hall before finally settling on Zenyatta.

“Can I help you?” Zenyatta asks regardless, because he has manners.

“I saw the light on, decided to come say hello.” The man smiles winningly at him. For a second he glances down to the dock where only his own boat lies at rest, considers calling out the absurdity of that statement, but, then again… Zenyatta smiles back, enjoying the swiftly disguised surprise on the other’s face.

“Well, do come in. I just put on some coffee, in case of an unexpected visit. How fortuitous!”

Should the man prove troublesome, Zenyatta is confident he can handle it. Should he bring no trouble, well, then he will have made a new friend.

“Sugar? Milk?” Zenyatta checks the oven. “Pie?”

At that, the man, who had been casting his eyes about Zenyatta’s home with interest, visibly perks up and focuses on the kitchen.

“Yes! To all three. Please,” tacked on almost as an afterthought. Zenyatta doesn’t mind, letting the man admire the cornflower blue cupboards as he goes about fetching another cup, plate, and dessert fork.

“I believe that in our excitement we forgot to make introductions,” he remarks as he puts on oven mitts and carefully extracts the pie. “I am Zenyatta. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Genji, and likewise. Man, that smells amazing.” Genji is suddenly nearly right on top of Zenyatta, looking over his shoulder at the pie. Zenyatta hadn’t even heard him move. He gestures at the plates next to the pie tin.

“Guests first.”

—————

“There’s something about you,” Genji says through a mouthful of bilberry pie. It is nice to have his cooking appreciated. “You are far from home, I think.”

“And you are not?” Zenyatta retorts, and Genji laughs, not answering. A true enigma.

Together, they manage to demolish half the pie in between hours of conversation, until Zenyatta glances outside to find it pitch black.

“Oh dear, it has gotten so late already. Can you find your way in the dark?” Genji begins to say something but cuts himself off when Zenyatta continues. “Or perhaps it would be safer for you to spend the night?”

“Well, well…” he leers, and then, “Hey! Safer? I’ll have you know that you’re the one who’d be safer if I spent the night!”

“Be that as it may, I will prepare a place for you to sleep, then,” Zenyatta laughs, and again at Genji’s exaggerated pout when he realises that this place won’t be Zenyatta’s bed.

He quickly gathers bedclothes and extra sweatpants for his guest, forgoing a shirt as none will fit. He keeps a mattress inside the storage compartment of one of the wooden couches, and easily sets it up with the linen and pillow and duvet on the living room floor. Genji shamelessly changes right there in the living room, but Zenyatta only laughs. His enthusiasm certainly is charming.

“Good night, Genji,” he says at the door, smiling down at the man wrapped up before the fireplace.

“Night, Zen,” Genji murmurs. The door closes softly between them, and Zenyatta meets the eyes of the little jade fox figurine on his dresser.

It doesn’t move, of course. It is only jade. But it still reassures him that the night will pass peacefully.

—————

“I swear I heard a scream in the night,” Genji says at breakfast. He’s certainly putting away cheese toast like he’s unbothered by it.

“It might have been a deer or a fox. Their calls can sound eerie if you haven’t heard them before.”

“Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it was a ghost.” Genji grins at him, and Zenyatta can’t help but laugh.

After breakfast, they go for a walk around the little island, Genji making faces at the sour lingonberries and threatening to throw Zenyatta into the sea when he laughs at him. They get back just in time for Zenyatta to hear the Lindholm’s outboard engine start up.

Genji loses some of his good humor as he helps Zenyatta fill two baskets with jars of apple jam from the root cellar, and plops down into the hammock as Brigitte berths.

By the time Zenyatta has helped her fasten the skiff and asked how her family is doing, Genji is on his phone, playing some game by the sound of it. Brigitte startles when she spots him.

“Brigitte, this is Genji.”

“Oh, um. Hello!”

Zenyatta can practically see the cogs turning in her head, how there’s only Zenyatta’s little boat at the dock beside her family’s skiff, how any visitor reasonably would have to pass by the grocery and mechanic shop her family runs, but this man definitely hasn’t – at least one of the many Lindholm children would have noticed a boat coming or going, and they surely would have made a ruckus.

Genji doesn’t even bother to look up from his phone when he says, “yo.”

She shoots Zenyatta a curious look, to which he can only shrug. He honestly still isn’t sure how Genji got here, either.

“Well, I won’t intrude too long,” she says, easily picking up the two baskets full of apple jam, heavy though they are.

“Good,” Genji mutters, loud enough to be heard. Zenyatta stiffens.

“Be safe, Brigitte. And let Ingrid know that the roses she gave me seem to be coming along wonderfully,” Zenyatta says, louder than intended, as he accompanies her to the dock, keeping the skiff steady as she gets on with her cargo. Brigitte gives him a sympathetic smile and a cheery tack! before she cranks the outboard engine awake on the second pull and expertly navigates the little boat back to the larger island.

It takes some doing to irritate Zenyatta, but even he has his limits.

“Finally,” Genji grumbles.

“That was unnecessary.”

“Her visiting? Yeah.”

“Your rudeness.”

At this Genji deigns to look up from his phone, clearly startled. Zenyatta takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly.

“Do as you please, I suppose.” Zenyatta puts his sunhat back on. Trimming the beautiful roses Brigitte’s mother so kindly shared with him earlier this year sounds like an excellent activity to focus the mind and calm it down.

Zenyatta is almost embarrassed at his outburst. While Genji certainly has acted a bit spoiled, Zenyatta still feels somewhat betrayed. He’s known Brigitte for three years, for goodness sake, and Genji for mere hours. Why would he act like this? As though he is entitled to all of Zenyatta’s time and attention. Bizarre.

He busies himself with checking over the vibrantly pink roses climbing the lattice by the kitchen window, childishly ignoring Genji while his temper is still simmering. There is no need to react when he’s like this. He will calm down and they will discuss what happened. In a while.

He loses himself in gardening, finding almost meditative calm in the work, until a strange shadow passes over his flowers, breaking his concentration. He looks up to find Genji on the roof, for some reason. Once he notices Zenyatta’s eyes on him he easily jumps down, landing heavily but rising unharmed.

“I, uh. I fixed the shingles. Some of them looked like they were about to fall off.”

He’s rubbing the back of his neck, head bowed and eyes elusive. Zenyatta politely doesn’t mention the abnormally deep grooves Genji left when he jumped down.

“Thank you, that was very kind.”

“I’m sorry,” he bursts out, looking like it confuses him a little bit to say it.

“You do not need to repay me, not for the food nor the bed, and while I appreciate the apology, I am not the one who was slighted,” Zenyatta says, meaningfully.

“I know,” Genji grumbles, but he’s fighting a smile. Like a puppy, he’s excited to get approval.

“But, if you’re bored, you can always help tend the strawberries.”

“Sure! What do I do?”

—————

“Why don’t you just buy food? This seems like a lot of work,” Genji interrupts as Zenyatta is explaining how to recognise a weed. Not rudely, per se, more out of genuine interest in the answer.

“It is rewarding work. And besides, someone has to do it somewhere.”

“Doesn’t have to be you,” Genji shrugs. Zenyatta gets the sense that whoever Genji is, or was, many things have been handed to him on a silver platter.

“I enjoy the work. It is strenuous at times, but helping something grow? That is a wonderful thing.” Zenyatta is happy to explain. Genji looks thoughtful, and pays close attention to the rest of Zenyatta’s instructions.

There is something deeply endearing about Genji’s intense concentration as he shuffles around in the dirt, muttering the name of each plant and weed to himself as he checks one and removes the other. Zenyatta can’t help but smile as he watches Genji nurture, in slightly too small dungarees that Zenyatta isn’t even sure where he got. Maybe Ingrid? They look almost comedic with how short in the legs they are, and they stretch to a worrying degree over Genji’s thighs. Yes, quite the tight fit…

Genji swears loud and sudden, slapping at a mosquito, and Zenyatta rips his gaze from his houseguest’s shapely behind before he’s caught looking.

“Man, that bug would have regretted everything if it had gotten any of my blood,” Genji laughs, turning his head to grin up at Zenyatta. Zenyatta makes a split second decision.

“Why?” he asks.

Genji blinks up at him, opening his mouth, then closing it again. Zenyatta looks back at him evenly.

When no words seem immediately forthcoming, he raises an eyebrow.

“What gave me away?” Genji asks, and Zenyatta has to slap a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing at him.

“You literally just implied– oh, Genji,” he does laugh a little, he can’t help it. Genji looks so put out by Zenyatta having figured him out, even a little bit. “You show up out of nowhere, at a very unlikely location, eat like a horse–”

“Hey!”

“–and expect me not to figure out that something is going on?”

“In my defense, most people don’t even want to consider the possibility of… supernatural things.” Genji flaps a hand, indicating said supernatural things.

“You’re not wrong,” Zenyatta allows. Genji gets to his feet, clasps his hands, unclasps them, goes to put them into his pockets before realising it’s too tight a fit, instead leaving his hands to rest limp on his thighs. The very picture of nervousness.

“I don’t mind,” Zenyatta continues belatedly. “That you are… whatever you are.”

“You don’t even know what, exactly, I am. I’m, Zen, I’m not… a good creature.”

“Arbitrary.” Zenyatta surprises both of them with the sharp word. “Good is an act, not a state of being. You have done nothing but good things here.”

“But I…”

“Even humans have spats from time to time. It is how you react to the disagreement that truly defines you.” Zenyatta softens. “You apologised. That says more about your character than your classification does.”

A beat passes.

“You’re right.” Genji nods to himself, then again, more determined. “Hey, Zen. Wanna see something cool?”

Zenyatta makes a gesture as if to say, the floor is yours, and Genji grins, boyish and excited to show off.

Then he flicks his pants open, and drops them.

Before Zenyatta can react to that, Genji’s now boxer and t-shirt clad frame starts to change. His already muscular form grows even more imposing, fabric stretching to the point of near tearing, and his skin darkens to a mild greyish color, decorated by red markings. Horns in that same dull red sprout from his forehead, and his teeth lengthen to fangs. He grows at least thirty centimetres taller.

Transformation complete, he cracks his neck, practically oozing self-confidence.

“Like what you see?” he asks, flirtation even more evident than previously.

Zenyatta looks him over. He does like what he sees. And now that he knows what Genji is – an oni, unless he’s forgotten everything his mother ever taught him – well, is there any harm in indulging?

Genji leans in, towering over Zenyatta in this form, grin decidedly shit eating.

“Well?”

Zenyatta hums, contemplative, before smiling back.

“Well, show me what you’ve got.”

—————

Zenyatta sits up properly and stretches with a groan. He certainly tries to stay active and fit, but during the cold winter months his options are limited and some of his musculature tends to slip. It is always a bit of work to build it up again in the warmer months. But he seems to have managed adequately this year.

Genji is breathing heavy, face turned to the side as he’s on his front. The pillow is torn, likely thanks to Genji’s fangs and claws. Zenyatta lets the purple bruises littering that grey tinted neck and shoulders soothe any irritation he may have felt at that.

As he rises, suddenly starving, the oni whines pathetically, rubbing his face against what remains of the ripped pillow.

“Zenya, I can’t get up.” Zenyatta laughs at him and finds his underwear. Perseverance in the face of opposition is a virtue.

The fire in the stove is only embers, but they rekindle easily enough under Zenyatta’s ministrations. Zenyatta is chopping vegetables for an omelet when Genji staggers into the kitchen, gloriously naked.

“You’re a demon,” he groans in greeting, rubbing his face and electing to lean against the kitchen table rather than sit down on a chair. His words have no bite, rather the opposite, a wonderment and admiration reflected in his gaze when he removes his hand.

“You’re realising this only now?” Zenyatta teases, waving the wooden hilt of his knife at Genji, showing off yet another fox carving.

Genji blinks at it. Then blinks again, twice, in rapid succession. Zenyatta laughs, delighted.

“Oh! You hadn’t!”

“You–!” Genji gapes at him like a fish, and he’s still attractive. Then he throws his head back in a laugh. “Oh, I really should have, shouldn’t I, trickster?”

Zenyatta only grins, sharp and vulpine.

———————————————

[AO3, Ko-fi]

#genyatta #overwatch #haughty fanfics

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possiblyelvenart · 5 years ago

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Land Legs

[link to Ao3 | part 5 in a series]

Prince Sidon receives a visitor; and then another, more unexpected visitor. Captain Bazz is a good friend. Princess Zelda is a fantastic wingwoman.

---

“You look tired.”

Sidon startled out of his daze, turning to look at his companion. She was a small girl, barely into her teens, but with the expression of someone much older and wiser. At least, until an impish grin split her face.

“I know you’re not supposed to tell people that, but you do. Is something keeping you up at night, your highness? Or someone?”

Sidon spluttered at that, setting his tea cup down hard. “R-Riju! Really, so unnecessary. I’ll be quite alright, don’t give it another thought. How was your trip here?” The younger royal rolled her eyes, well aware that he was dodging the question. She was right, of course; the words that Princess Zelda had said kept ringing in his ears every time he tried to sleep. His dreams had been filled with eyes that glittered like waves in the sun, golden hair, sweet smiles. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept properly.

Riju crossed her ankles, suddenly looking thoughtful. “You know, there was one odd part about our trip this time.”

“Really? I hope you didn’t run into any trouble.” Sidon sat forward, genuine concern for his friend overriding his embarrassment.

“Not exactly, no.” Riju took a sip of her tea. “It was when we were a few miles out. We normally meet a few travelers, but this boy was different. He must have been one of yours, because he was too small to be a Gerudo who had wandered off from his place in the retinue. He was walking oddly, as if he was drunk.”

Sidon nodded. “Go on.”

“He was tiny, though! Clearly full grown, I’d say your age, but small as can be, like a little elf. He was dressed all in rags, and never said a word. It became clear that he wasn’t drunk, but very tired and a bit shaky on his legs, though I’ve no idea why. We offered food and drink and some extra clothing, though, and he was most appreciative. While he was eating, he asked us where the castle was. Through sign, you know?”

Sidon felt his heart leap into his throat, and he stood suddenly, hand slamming down on the table in excitement and sending his tea cup flying. “What did this boy look like? Not his clothes.” Riju looked mildly surprised, but mostly unimpressed.

“Manners, Sidon,” Riju teased, and Sidon reluctantly took his seat again. “He had blonde hair, but his eyes… my, they were striking! As if they were made of luminous stones. I swear they would have glowed, had it been nighttime.”

Sidon could hardly keep from vibrating in his seat. He itched to sprint out of the room, out of the castle, and go search for Link. It had to be him, right? No one else could possibly fit that description. “And where is this boy now? Did you bring him with you?”

“We would have, but when we offered, he refused. Before anyone could stop him, he’d disappeared again, as if into thin air. Perhaps he was a forest spirit.” Riju looked at him, suspicious. “At least, I thought so, but you seem to know him. Who was he?”

“A friend, I think.” Sidon tapped his fingers on his leg. “A merman. But… there’s no way a merman could get on land, is there?”

“There are stories,” Riju corrected, setting her cup down and sitting up straight, serious now. “Old legends that tell of Hylians trading their fins for legs, but the legends say it’s quite painful for them. Like walking on shards of glass, if my memory serves.” Sidon’s eyes widened. “If that young man was your friend, then he’s going through quite a lot of trouble to be here.”

“I have to find him!” Sidon rose again, and this time, Riju didn’t try to stop him. He took her hand, pressing a light kiss to the back before backing towards the door. “Thank you, Riju, for telling me all of this.”

“Good luck, Sidon! Give your friend my regards once you find him.”

“I will!” He gave her a final wave before heading out of the room at a quick stride, determined to find the captain of the guard.

It took them two days to find Link. Captain Bazz had told all his guards to be aware of a small young man with blond hair and blue eyes, likely wearing Gerudo style clothing, and to bring him to their prince if he was found. Above all, he stressed, the young man was not to be harmed. If he wouldn’t return with them, then they were to tell Bazz immediately, who would then pass the information on to Sidon.

Eventually, he was found in a tavern, trying to haggle for something to eat. Bazz himself had stopped in for a bite of food, and lo and behold, there was the man in question, insistently adding precious stones to a pile on the counter to an increasingly bewildered bartender.

“Pardon me - Pava, let the boy eat his fill, put it on my tab. Sir, would I be correct in saying your name is Link?” Link turned to him with wide eyes, unsure how the man knew his name. Bazz held up his hands, trying to appear as nonthreatening as one could be while still wearing most of a guard uniform. “It’s okay, sir, I swear. I work for Prince Sidon.”

Link lit up at the mention of Sidon, thoughts of food and stones abandoned for the moment. You work for Sidon? You can take me to Sidon?

Bazz nodded, smiling. He could see why Sidon was eager to bring the young man in - his enthusiasm was infectious. “Yes, I can. Let’s eat first, shall we? It won’t do to go on an empty stomach.”

Link nodded vigorously, turning again to the bartender and pointing to a few things past the counter. Bazz noticed, heart melting (though he wouldn’t dare to show it) to see that Link had to stand on tiptoe to gesture properly over the counter. Once he was done, Bazz ordered for himself and herded Link to a table in the corner where they were unlikely to be bothered, though Link received some curious looks on their way over. It wasn’t as if Gerudo clothing was common around these parts. Even with the Gerudo Chief visiting at the castle and some of her retinue coming into town, Link was clearly not a part of that entourage.

Bazz noticed with some concern the way that Link was walking. It wasn’t quite a limp; rather, it was more like he had trouble keeping his legs steady, almost falling over once or twice. It reminded Bazz of a calf he had seen once, right after it was born. It wouldn’t be polite to mention it, of course, but he kept one hand free in case he needed to catch the poor thing. He figured it must be due to exhaustion. After all, if his unsuccessful bartering attempt from earlier was any indication, he may have been unable to get food or a place to stay in the time since he disappeared from the Gerudo company.

Link kept his cheerful demeanor as he made his way over to the table, almost vibrating with excitement. If Bazz could make a guess, the young man was eager to continue talking with him, but couldn’t with his back to Bazz. Sure enough, as soon as they were seated, Link was leaning forward and signing rapidly.

Who are you? How do you know Sidon?

Bazz grinned. “My name is Bazz.” He added the sign for his name - the sign for captain , but with his hand in the sign for B . “I’m the captain of the guard for the royal family.”

Link stared at Bazz and folded his hands on the table, thoughtful. After a moment, he added, I am too.

“You - pardon me?” Bazz raised his brows, wondering if the young man was teasing him.

Captain of the guard. Head of the royal guard. He waved his hand in a gesture that seemed to say ‘aren’t they the same?’. Where I come from, I serve the princess. You serve the prince. Yes?

“Well… Yes, that’s right. Prince Sidon hadn’t mentioned that when he asked us to keep an eye out for you.”

He asked you to keep an eye out? Link blinked at this, leaning back in his chair.

“It seems he heard something that implied you were nearby, yes. He was worried for your health.”

Link looked flattered, hands splayed out on the table as he thought. He quickly removed them as a young woman came by, laden with food, and set multiple plates out in front of them. He hardly paused to sign Sorry! before digging in. For such a small man, Link had a voracious appetite. Bazz watched in amazement as dish after dish disappeared, one right after another, pace never slowing. Nothing would deter him from his meal, no matter what Bazz tried.

“How do you know his highness, Master Link?”

A flat look before returning to his food.

“Er… are you an envoy from your princess, then? Since you didn’t warn his highness personally that you were arriving…”

A small snort of laughter, a shake of his head, but nothing more.

“For that matter… where are you from?”

That one didn’t even merit a look up, only a moment of hesitation before returning to his meal. After that response, Bazz decided to stop bothering the young man and simply eat his own food. Link somehow managed to finish his multiple dishes by the time Bazz finished his one, and as soon as the captain had finished, Link was back on his feet, palms flat on the table and fingers tapping rapidly in his excitement.

We go now? You’ll take me to Sidon?

Bazz nodded, unable to say no to the exuberant young man. “If you’ll follow me, sir…”

Link became more subdued the closer they came to the castle. Bazz wasn’t sure if fatigue was catching up to him, or if he simply understood the solemnity of meeting a royal in their castle. It was hard to say, given that Link had abruptly stopped replying to him about halfway through the ride back. His gaze was as sharp as ever, though, and he continued to sit up straight in the rented coach as they passed through the castle gates.

“Evening, Captain,” the guard on duty greeted him cheerfully. “Got a runner from Pava’s place warning us that you were bringing back a guest. This is the man his highness had us looking for? Evening, Sidon’s friend!”

“Evening, Ales.” Bazz kept his voice mild, as Link gave the man a small wave. “Has anyone sent that message on to his highness?”

“Yessir.” Ales saluted his captain with a grin. “He’s asked you to escort your guest to his antechamber.”

“Thank you, Ales. You can return to your post now.” Bazz stepped out of the coach, paying the driver as Link carefully made his way to the ground. He offered a hand to the young man, but Link waved him off, steadying himself and looking around.

Link followed Bazz, keeping up with his metered pace, down into the private parts of the palace. His expression was almost contemplative, as if he hadn’t quite thought his plan through. He kept fiddling with a small shell on a strap of leather around his neck absently, flipping it between his fingers and drawing little designs over the top. Bazz almost asked him about it, but got the feeling that Link wouldn’t enjoy his bringing attention to it, so he instead pretended not to notice.

He stopped at an ornate door, knocking politely. Almost immediately the door was flung open; Bazz would bet his entire money pouch that his prince had been waiting on the other side, pacing or simply vibrating where he stood with impatience and excitement. As soon as Sidon saw his visitors, he lit up, grinning widely. “Link! It is you! Bazz, thank you for getting him here safely.”

“Of course, my prince.” Bazz bowed, pleased that he could be of service to Prince Sidon. “Is there anything else I can do for you or your guest?”

Sidon waved him off. “No, no, that’s quite alright. Submit a request to the treasury for compensation for tonight’s dinner, it’s the least I can do to thank you.”

“Really, your highness, it was my pleasure - ”

“I insist.” The prince’s tone brooked no argument, and Bazz lowered his head slightly in acknowledgement.

“Thank you, your highness. Master Link, it was very nice to meet you.”

Link snorted, but signed back Nice to meet you, too. Bazz took this as his dismissal, and he beat a hasty retreat, allowing Sidon to whisk the puzzling young man into his personal chambers and close the door behind them.

Master Link. Link’s gestures were exaggerated as he looked at Sidon, amused.

“He wants to be polite, Link, surely you can’t fault him for that.” Link’s only response was to tilt his head this way and that, as if he couldn’t fathom being called by a title, especially in a foreign land. Sidon gently ushered him over to an ornately carved bench covered with large, squishy pillows, ensuring his comfort before moving to pour them each a glass of wine. “Sit, sit, you must be tired. How have you come to be here, my dearest friend? Where did you come by a pair of legs, and where are your fins? How long will you be staying? I’ll have arrangements made - ”

Sidon stopped short as he turned around, seeing that Link had a hand in front of him, twisting his wrist rapidly back and forth in insistence that Sidon stop talking. He almost apologized, only stopping when Link started to sign again, that same look of amusement on his face.

I asked Zelda. I asked Zelda, gone for now. A week or so. Which do you want explanation on first?

Sidon blushed, realizing that in his eagerness he’d been rambling. He offered one of the glasses to Link, who took a sip and looked intrigued by what he found. Sidon wondered if merfolk had to drink, usually, and if all drinks were a mystery to his friend or simply the alcoholic ones. Somehow, he didn’t think it prudent to ask, even if they’d talked about their cultures before. After all, there were more important questions to ask at the moment.

“Er, something different entirely, actually,” Sidon replied, swirling his glass in hand. He wasn’t sure how to phrase it, but if he didn’t ask, the anxiety in his chest would keep rising, expanding, until it burst like an overfilled balloon. In a rush, he blurted it out: “Does it hurt?”

Link looked at Sidon patiently, head tilting to the side to ask him to clarify.

“Your - your feet. My friend - my friend said that if merfolk get legs and come on land, their feet hurt. Or - or their legs, I didn’t bother to ask, actually. But she said it was like walking on glass, and - ”

He was drowned out by Link’s laughter. Link waved his free hand, quickly setting down his drink with the other to keep from spilling it all over the plush carpet. Sidon almost spluttered in indignation - he was worried for his friend, and Link was laughing at him. Link moved his hand in unsteady circles over his chest, hindered by the fact that he was still howling with mirth.

“I beg your pardon , Link,” Sidon started again, miffed, and Link sobered quickly, though the grin never left his mouth and he continued to sign Sorry .

Who told you that old myth? Link’s eyes danced as he looked at Sidon.

“As I said, my friend. And she’s quite a good friend, too, so if you’re going to insult her intelligence - ”

Link shook his head quickly. Type of friend? Zora, Gerudo, Rito?

“Oh.” Sidon stopped shortly. “Gerudo. Why does it matter?”

Gerudo are friends to merfolk, or were. We remember Lady Urbosa.

Sidon blinked. He knew that name from his studies - the chief of the Gerudo during one of their early Golden Ages. “Lady Urbosa knew of you?”

Link fluttered his fingers. ‘You’ like merfolk, yes. I am not so old.

“How old are you?”

Lady Urbosa was kind to us. Link studiously ignored the latest question. She agreed to let us keep to ourselves. Said she understood not wanting to let the entire world in. She made the myth with the Queen to explain why we did not come in. Guess it got lost somewhere.

“The queen?”

Link gave him an exasperated look. Zelda’s mother. Mother to a princess. Queen.

“Oh. Right, of course.”

Link softened then, looking away. We aren’t supposed to talk about her. King doesn’t like it.

Sidon’s heart seized, and he had to sit down. How many times had he heard that from his own people as a young child? “No, I… I understand that. My apologies, Link.”

Link peeked up through his bangs, looking as though Sidon had handed him puzzle pieces that didn’t quite make sense but almost fit. He sat up straighter as he worked it through. Your mother.

“We’re talking about you, Link.” Sidon’s voice was soft, lacking reproach.

Sorry.

“So… it’s just a myth to keep people from bothering you, then? You’re not hurting at all?”

Not hurting. My legs are tired but fine.

“Is that why you’re shaky? I noticed, as you came in…”

Link snorted. I have these for a week. Did you learn to walk in a week?

Sidon flushed. “I hadn’t thought about it like that, but… no, that makes sense. We’ll go to the next part, then - how did you get legs?”

Link picked up the pendant around his neck, laying it out on his hand so that Sidon could see it better. Sidon scooted over, attempting to pull it up to see it up close, only to have Link bat his hand away in a panic.

Can’t take it off. Legs go away. Unless you have lots of water, leave legs alone.

Sidon held his hands up in surrender. “Understood, my friend. I won’t take it off you. May I touch it?”

Link nodded, slowly holding it back up. Sidon leaned in to look, gently taking the shell between two fingers. It was a simple thing, really; a scallop shell slightly smaller than the length of his thumb and fairly sturdy. There was gold on the edges that shimmered oddly as he turned it back and forth, with a plain leather cord threaded through a hole near the base. “You said that you asked Zelda for this?”

He glanced up and suddenly realized just how close his face was to Link’s. Link blinked at him, looking almost as surprised as he imagined his own expression to be. Hastily he dropped the pendant, shifting backwards on the couch and clearing his throat.

“Er, sorry. I - that is - tell me more about Zelda?” Sidon realized his voice was louder than he intended it to be, forcing himself into what he presumed was a casual stance. Nailed it. Link looked like he was fighting laughter, but there were spots of pink high on his cheekbones.

Yes. Normally merfolk don’t go to the surface. We don’t have the equipment. He gestured to both his legs and his necklace. But we know it’s possible. Just not a priority, yes?

Sidon nodded his understanding.

So I ask Zelda. She learns how to enchant necklace, help me go to the surface. In exchange… He puffed out his cheeks, then shook his head. Not important. Stupid trade.

That was fascinating. Sidon leaned forward. “No, do tell. What did you trade?”

Link bared his teeth in what was clearly meant to be a display of intimidation, which didn’t exactly work, given that he was a small slip of a man with very average teeth. Realizing it wasn’t going to deter Sidon, he sighed. Tell you later. Promise.

Sidon nodded again. “Alright, fine. As long as you promise.”

Promise, Link repeated, nodding back as he did. The man seemed relieved. He settled back against the couch, sipping at his wine. Anyway. Said I am allowed to come for several weeks to practice walking, to find you, to visit. Then I go home to Zelda, to work.

Go home to Zelda. Sidon was surprised by the pang in his chest that Link’s phrasing caused. Of course his home was back under the sea, with the woman he’d known all his life. Sidon’s palace wasn’t home any more than the sea was Sidon’s home. Still, he supposed he’d had an odd, unreasonable hope that Link was here to stay. That could be examined later.

He realized that Link was staring at him, head tilting. The movement caused the merman’s earrings to sway, one laying against his cheek and the other dangling down onto his shoulder. The movement was mesmerizing, and he almost missed Link’s hands moving again.

Is something wrong?

“What? No! Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Link simply raised a brow at him, unimpressed. Sidon leaned forward, expression earnest.

“Cross my heart, Link. I’m deeply happy that you came all this way to visit me, and that your princess is allowing you to stay for as long as she is.”

Link tilted his head the opposite way, and Sidon had the uncomfortable feeling that the man was staring directly into his soul. After a moment, Link pursed his lips, moving his hands slowly. Can I ---- you?

Sidon blinked at the unfamiliar sign: both hands with the fingers all pressed into one point, lightly touching just the tips together, almost as if he was preparing to make shadow puppets. Surely it couldn’t mean what he thought. Sidon felt like his face was on fire as he cleared his throat, took another sip of wine, and finally had the courage to ask. “Beg pardon?”

Can I ---- you?

“I’m… afraid I don’t know that sign, my dear-”

Sidon’s normal epithet was cut off as Link grew impatient and fingerspelled his intention. K-I-S-S can I you please?

Oh. Oh. He hadn’t misinterpreted Link’s gesture after all. Dumbstruck, he found himself nodding, hand setting down his glass without having to think about it. Link, for his part, lit up, carefully scooting closer to Sidon. The smaller man searched Sidon’s face - perhaps waiting for the prince to stop him? Sidon wished he had the words to say that he wouldn’t, he would never, he wanted Link to kiss him far more than he expected.

Before he had the time to think about it too hard, Link was raising up on his knees on the couch and kissing him, soft and sweet. He tasted like salt water, but in an oddly pleasant way, mixed with the wine they’d been sipping and something Sidon couldn’t quite define. Link’s lips were chapped slightly, but he couldn’t say he minded. All too soon Link was pulling away again; the merman laughed softly as Sidon leaned after him.

Sidon, still robbed of speech, managed to get his wits about him enough to sign Good .

This, for some reason, made Link laugh louder, even as he mimicked the sign back to him.

The next morning found them curled up in Sidon’s bed, Link having been delighted by the large soft object and outfitted in the smallest clothes Sidon had available. The tunic still hung on the smaller man like a dress, but it was easier to sleep in than the Gerudo fashions that Link had worn previously. Sidon woke early, as per his habit, but rather than get up and get changed immediately, he was content to watch Link sleep.

When Link finally did blink awake, he was met with a warm smile that he matched with his own, rolling to the side to better face Sidon. Sidon laid a hand on the smaller man’s hip, and Link hummed. He was loathe to break the silence, but Sidon’s curiosity got the better of him.

“Forgive my curiosity, Link, but… what did you tell Zelda you would do, in exchange for being allowed to come here?” Link turned a lovely shade of rose, puffing his cheeks out and clearly pretending to not have heard the question. Sidon jostled him gently. “You promised you would tell me. I’d rather not have it hanging over us.”

Link groaned, rolling onto his stomach and burying his face in the pillow. He fluttered his hands over his head, batting at Sidon and making him laugh.

“Link, please. Tell me to drop it and I will, but you’re only making me more curious.” Link shot up, expression mulish, and signed rapidly at him. Sidon blinked, startled, and barked another laugh. “Again, if you please? Slower?”

Link huffed. Promised to tell you how I feel. Kiss you if you felt the same. Did it backwards, don’t tell her.

Sidon felt dizzy, and lighter than he had in weeks. He found himself laughing and falling back on his pillow, aided by Link throwing his much smaller body directly at his torso and knocking the air out of him. When he finally caught his breath, he wrapped his arms around Link, grinning.

“I won’t tell her, I promise, my pearl.” Sending her a gift of some sort, though? Now that he had plans for.

#sidlink #prince sidon #link #loz #loz fanfic #botw fanfic #botw #okay to reblog #merman au #love like an ocean #mute!Link

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occasionalfics · 6 years ago

Text

worth my while // p. 6

main masterlist | thor masterlist | ko-fi | p. 5 | p. 7

Summary: After being banished from his home, Thor Odinson has stopped at nothing to prove himself worthy of his throne, title, and power.

After losing the love of your life, you turned to a power you didn’t understand.You know you shouldn’t get involved.

But how could you not?

Pairing: Thor x Reader (Hercules au…kind of…)

A/N: This one...hits all the feels. The very last scene was one I’d had planned the ENTIRE time so it’s arguably one of my favorites.

Warnings: Violence, lots of angst, borderline abuse and definite manipulation, eventual smut, way too many feels, major character death (eventually). A little more harassment on Hades’ part this time around. This chapter has slightly NSFW content, but nothing is explicit this time. Read at your own discretion.

Words: 3,794

Hades causes disaster after disaster, week after week. He doesn’t throw you into the mess of things again, thankfully, but he keeps you close and makes you watch the Avengers closely. He quizzes you on them after, insists you spend more time with them.

You don’t give him details of your time with Thor, but he definitely knows something is going on. And he’s using it.

You knowing that drives you to Thor more and more, but it also makes you close yourself off once you’re around him. You crave being close to Thor because he’s kind, because he cares, because he treats you well. Because, clearly, being friends isn’t what he wants. It’s not really what you want, either.

But once you’re in his presence, you’re constantly aware of the things Hades can use against him. You’re constantly thinking of all the ways Hades can use you against Thor.

If you keep a good amount of distance, maybe he can come out of his unharmed. Maybe you can come out of it free. Maybe you’ll be able to make amends, once Hades is done with you.

If he’ll ever be done with you, that is.

You know the team pretty well now. Well enough that Sam and Thor invite you to dinner, which means sixteen pizzas in the living room where you’d waited for Thor that one afternoon.

You settle on the couch next to Thor. Right up against him. He’s so warm, and far too comfortable. You pull your legs up under you and rest your head on his shoulder, completely aware of the eyes around the room that fall on the two of you.

You don’t know what he’s told the team about you, but you’re sure they know something is up just like Hades does. Only, they’re Avengers. They’re good people. Which is something you wouldn’t have said about them before all of this started.

Steve hands you a plate with two slices of pizza, and you smile at him. “Thanks,” you say, and he nods.

Thor takes his plate, puts it in his lap, and stretches an arm across your shoulders.

“Any requests?” Stark asks. His eyes fall on you, too, but not because you’re cuddling with someone you’d verbally swear is only your friend. “You’re the guest of honor. Favorite movie?” he asks.

You pause. This is the first almost-nice thing Stark has thrown your way so far. To be fair to him, you haven’t had many personal interactions, and you wouldn’t be surprised if he’s wary of your sudden presence around his teammate. Someone in his employ.

With a shrug, you tell him, “I’m easy to please.”

“Bet you are,” he says quickly, before looking around the room.

Thor nudges you softly, but you just roll your eyes. Hades has said much worse things about you to your face, so you let Stark’s words roll off your shoulders easily.

You eat your pizza quietly while the group picks a movie. They end up going with Clint’s pick: Moonrise Kingdom. Sam questions him, but Clint just says, “I like Wes Anderson,” with a shrug.

Almost too quickly, voices are asking questions. Too loudly. You can’t hear the movie, but you’re not about to go telling The Avengers to shut the hell up. You look at Thor, and he just nods and eats his pizza.

This must be normal for them, you realize. They don’t just watch movies like normal people. They’re not normal people. Two are genetically modified (Bruce Banner is across the room, beside Stark on a two-seat couch), two are spies (Black Widow is on the floor with Clint), at least three are Veterans of some branch of the military, and the one you’re currently sitting against is a literal alien.

So who cares if they talk over a movie you’ve never seen? It’s not like the movie won’t exist outside of this building, should you want to know what actually does happen later.

Suddenly, all eyes are on you again. You blink at them - mostly Sam, because you know him better than everyone except for Thor - and he chuckles.

“Nat asked if you wanted more pizza,” he says.

“Oh,” you say, looking down at your empty plate. You shake your head. “I’m okay, thanks.”

“We’ve got way too much,” Steve says. “You sure you don’t just want one more?”

You look at the boxes still stacked, one on top of the other. There are a few that’ve been emptied, but most of them are still full. Thor’s told you he eats a lot, and you’re sure someone with an enhanced metabolism like Steve’s probably eats a lot, too. But sixteen pizzas? That is a lot.

Still, you think one extra piece might not be the worst thing.

So you sigh and say, “Fine. Just plain, thanks.” You hand your plate to Sam, who hands it to Steve, who plates another piece before sending it back.

You’ve got a single nibble in your mouth before Stark turns to you.

“So, (Y/N). What is it you do for a living?” he asks.

Thor clears his throat, but you beat him to the answer.

“I’m a maid.”

Again, not the entire truth. But you remember telling Thor that much, so you may as well stick to that story.

Stark nods, but doesn’t seem impressed. You’re not sure why he would. He’s a fucking billionaire. He’s got maids, you’re sure. Maybe that Irish lady is one of them.

“Now tell me, what’s a maid doing getting pushed off a skyscraper in the middle of a mega-monster battle?” he asks.

“Stark,” Thor warns, the vibrations of his voice tickling your side.

But you just turn to look at him, giving him a warning look because you can answer for yourself. You don’t want Thor defending your honor or anything. That only leads to the kind of mess you are actively trying to avoid.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and some jerk chased me to the roof of the building,” you say. “I was just lucky that Thor was there to catch me.”

“He wasn’t,” Stark says shortly.

You don’t miss his point. But he does look back at the television. Steve glares at him, but Stark barely seems to notice.

You bite your lip and consider leaving, but being right up against Thor makes moving so difficult. Going home to your empty apartment for the night seems so wrong.

You know that, if Stark really wanted you gone, he’d have you escorted out of the building. It is his building, after all. Maybe you should tell him that you sided with him on the Accords deal, but you’re not sure what kind of a touchy subject that is right now. It’s not part of the conversation going on around you, so you decide to hold off.

If it never comes up, that’s fine. You don’t need to win over Stark, anyway. Hades plans on tearing this team apart, so you trying to wiggle your way into their good graces is probably not the best idea.

When the movie is over, you offer to help clean up, but the team refuses. They tell you to sit back and relax, because you’re Thor’s guest. Sam grabs your empty plate, then Thor’s, then takes a stack of them to the kitchen around the corner. Steve and Tony take care of the pizza boxes. Clint and Nat handle cups and napkins. Bruce turns the television back to local news.

Thor stands. He turns and holds a hand out to you. You look toward the kitchen, wondering what’s planned next for one of these pizza-movie evenings, but Thor tells you, “They won’t miss us, I promise.”

So you take his hand, stand up, and follow him to the elevator.

The whole way to his apartment, you remind yourself that you have a rule. Two rules, actually. One: you’re keeping this casual. Just friends, no emotions. Two: you’re not allowed to stay over. You can cuddle and talk, but at some point, you need to go home and wake up in your own bed in the morning.

The last thing you need is for Hades to call you in for the day, only to have Thor pick up your phone and find everything out before you’re ready to tell him what he needs to know.

You take a look at his clock, then remember that it’s on Asgard’s time. Your phone says Midgardian time is about 10pm. It’s getting late, at least for a woman to be walking home alone. You could take a cab, Hades wouldn’t mind paying.

That sets you at ease a little.

Enough to fall into step with Thor as he goes into his bedroom. You haven’t been back here before, but you try not to make anything of it. It’s just a bedroom, though his bed is fucking huge. It has to be - his body is long and wide and he needs to fit on this mattress every night.

You take off your shoes and socks and jump onto his mattress, nearly sinking into it. The sheets are actual silk. It’s the most luxurious bed you’ve ever been in, and when you relax, you can’t help but let out a little moan.

Thor chuckles and shakes his head, but joins you anyway.

“I take it you approve?” he asks.

“Anyone who doesn’t is clearly wrong,” you reply. And then you laugh together, and your whole face heats up.

That’s all you want. Just...to have him smile like that - so happy and genuine - at you forever. He’s so handsome, and his laughter is so endearing, and if you don’t do something about it, you’re going to fall into a pit that you won’t be able to get yourself out of before he gets hurt, too.

So you reach forward and kiss him, because you know that’s the quickest way to shut him up.

But just as quickly, he pulls back. He holds you above him and gives you a confused look. “I thought we were just going to be friends,” he says.

And you nod. “We are.”

“Then why are you kissing me?”

“Friends kiss.”

He freezes. Just stares at you. Finally, he asks, “They do?”

“Sometimes,” you tell him. “Friends can have casual sex. That’s not a thing on Asgard?”

He shrugs. “Casual sex is, sure. Among friends? Not quite as often.”

You wonder if it’s because he’s a prince, like if you’d asked a member of his court or any random Asgardian the same question, would their answer be any different? Ultimately, you decided it didn’t matter.

You and Thor weren’t on Asgard. You were on Earth, where your only option was to engage casually, if you were going to engage at all.

“That’s what you want?” he asks, as if he can read your mind.

You force yourself to nod. “Is that okay?”

He lets out a heavy breath, and you know, immediately, it’s not what he wants. It’s not really okay. His eyes are a little dull, comparatively, just to match.

“It is better than nothing at all, I suppose.”

You hate that answer, and you know he does, too. It almost completely ruins the mood. You almost give in, almost apologize for doing this to him.

Almost.

But you can’t. You can’t even think of what it’ll mean if you do.

You lean in again, pause for just a second, almost whisper an apology again, but think better of it. One day. One day, when all of this is over, maybe then you’ll get to apologize for playing him like this.

At least you know what you’re doing to him. Or...maybe that makes it worse.

One of your only two rules is that you don’t stay over.

And yet, you let yourself fall asleep wrapped up in Thor. You can’t really help it. He’s so warm and comfortable, and he doesn’t give you much of a choice.

He’s worn you out. Shown you what kind of bliss only he can really show you, then insisted you rest because there’s no way you can walk home when your legs are like jelly.

You wake up in the middle of the night and weigh your options. You could call a cab. You could get dressed and still go home and follow your own rule on a technicality - you’d still be waking up in your own bed in the morning.

But you’re already here, in Avengers Tower. There are so many floors to go through, so many possibilities of waking someone up or running into someone between the residential floors and the lobby. And even if you don’t, that means you have to go all the way down to the lobby by yourself at...four in the morning.

Even if the Irish lady is around and watching, the idea of leaving now isn’t perfect. It’s not ideal. Doesn’t make you want to leap out of Thor’s bed.

Especially not with his arm thrown over your middle.

You know you can’t like the feeling of having Thor hold you like this. But you do. You really, really do.

And because you do, you slide out from under him. Throw your legs off the side of the bed, stand up, and grab the first article of clothing you find.

It’s huge. Thor’s shirt, you realize. It’s a plain gray t-shirt. You throw it over your head, sighing as the cool cotton settles on your shoulders. It’s too dark to find anything else without causing a ruckus, but you do anyway, only half-regretting it when Thor groans and leans over to seek you out. His fingers brush your side, find a shirt there instead of bare skin, and he groans again.

You can’t help but laugh at the exhausted sound he makes as he rolls over - literally rolls over - until his face is in your back.

“Where are you going?” he whines, mouth moving against the shirt.

The laugh turns affectionate before you can stop it. You look back at him as best as you can, both in the dark and with how close he is. “Just wanted to get some fresh air.”

“So you weren’t leaving?”

At that, you turn carefully. When you can, you put your hands on the sides of his face and gently pull until you know he’s looking at you. “Since I’m wearing your shirt, and only your shirt, and it’s four in the morning, no. I’m not leaving.”

The sigh he lets out fills you up with glee. You know you shouldn’t let it, but you do. He just...sounds so relieved that you’re not leaving him. The thought that he wants you to stay is too satisfying. It’s too tempting. It’s a lot of too much, and you can’t tell if you’re ignoring it is a subtle way of giving in or a very clear way of keeping distance.

“C’mon then,” he mutters. And then he’s pulling out of your grip, and you let him because you have to. You just barely see his silhouette stand and find clothes on his side of the room before he turns on a lamp from his bedside table. That’s when you’re able to find your underwear - you only slip your panties back on before Thor’s coming around the bed to grip your hand in his, pulling you from the room.

“Where’re we going?” you ask as he drags you out of the apartment.

He laughs lightly, you shushing him, and says, “To get some fresh air, obviously.”

The Irish lady has the common sense, apparently, to wait until the elevator doors are closed this time. She asks Thor where his destination is, and he tells her, “The roof please, Friday.”

“Her name is Friday?” you ask.

He just shrugs. “You’d have to ask Stark what it stands for.”

But that only confuses you further. “Is she not...like, a real person?”

At that, Thor laughs harder. Unabashedly. But he has the sense to not appear to be laughing at you, not in a way that makes you feel like a fool for having asked. He shakes his head and says, “She’s Artificial Intelligence.”

You nod and laugh at that, too because, of course. That makes sense. You’ve only ever heard the Irish lady - Friday - and she’s been pretty much everywhere.

But now she leaves you and Thor alone as the elevator continues to climb. You wonder how far up you’re really going, because Avengers’ Tower is actually kind of pointed at the top. It’s not like you and Thor can just go out to the spire and hang on - or could you?

The doors open to face another set of doors, but these are heavy and metal and open outwardly. Thor holds one open, lets you out first, and follows you onto a deck that reaches over the city, a glass wall the only barrier between the edge of the deck and the sky.

The only time you’ve ever been close to this high up is when...when Hades pushed you off that building.

But thinking about that will kill the serene mood you definitely feel with your hand in Thor’s. So you kick Hades to the curb, at least for now, and follow Thor out to the edge of the deck. He tells you to sit, so you do, then he backtracks, but you’re too focused on watching Manhattan in the early dawn.

He comes back a moment later with a huge blanket that he rolls out along the cement floor. You look over your shoulder and find a metal cabinet with one of the doors flung open and rows upon rows of more of those blankets - and you think hey, at least Stark prepares for everything. You doubt the intended purpose for these blankets is sex outdoors, but you’re not even sure that’s what’ll happen with you and Thor anyway.

Not now.

Thor gestures for you get comfortable on the blanket. He’s not usually this bossy, you think, but he’s also not being rude. You can see the exhaustion in his eyes - Gods can feel exhausted? - so you don’t put up a fight or even politely decline. Besides, you miss holding him. Genuinely. You know you shouldn’t, that Thor is absolutely forbidden fruit, but it’s too early - too late? - to deny yourself or him the pleasure of touch.

So after you’re settled, Thor makes himself comfortable. His head on your shoulder, legs spread out long, feet hanging off the end of the blanket. He’s quiet for some time - long enough that you think he must’ve fallen asleep.

But then you hear yourself calling out for him. You don’t know what your mouth is doing. He looks up at you, eyes a little bleary but expression generally happy, and smiles.

“Tell me about Asgard,” you say.

You immediately know it’s the wrong move. Not because he reacts badly, but because asking him about this is an emotional weight that suddenly settles. It’s not unpleasant, but that’s the scary part.

He goes into excruciating detail with very little probing. Tells you of golden suns and gleaming palace walls, of hidden hills and glorious gardens. He brings up the colosseum, but only briefly, saying that it is “the place where warriors are made” before moving on.

And you just know that’s where all of this started, to some extent.

When he comes to what you think is a close, he sighs and you ask him, “And...what is it that you did to come here?”

That, he’s more hesitant to divulge.

“You don’t have to say,” you tell him quieter, but you can feel his sigh more than hear it.

“I do not want you to think ill of me for my mistakes,” he says quietly. “I have learned from them, whether or not I’ve been readmitted into Asgard.”

There is, surprisingly, no voice in your head telling you not to place a kiss on his forehead. You do so freely. And then, what you say next explains, to yourself, why.

“There’s nothing you could say that would make me think less of you, Thor.” And you say it reassuringly, lips still against his forehead, so that he knows you’re being sincere.

You wonder what he’d do if he knew it was because of what you are doing at that very moment.

He must feel how truthful you’re being. His arms around you tighten, pull you closer to him, and you throw a leg over his to sort of tangle your body over him. It’s funny, you think, that normally he is so large and intimidating, but right now, he’s just...soft.

So soft. So soft that you almost pull away, but then he’s telling you:

“I nearly incited a war with the Frost Giants of Jötunheimr. A few snuck into my father’s weapons vault and intruded upon what was meant to be my coronation ceremony, and in a fit of childish rage, I flew off the handle. Stormed into their homeworld, threatened their king, attacked their people - I was no better than the sneaky few who went against my father’s peace treaty with their king. Laufy sought retribution. My father sought to make a man out of me.”

He falls into silence then. You think, for a bit, that he might go on, that he just needs a break, but then...nothing. The sun peeks over the horizon just a smidge, and still, he’s unmoved.

“That’s it?” you ask. You had expected much, much worse. But then again, you’re used to Hades.

He looks up at you, confusion creasing the space between his brows. “No need to make high treason and unnecessary warfare sound so trivial,” he says. And he looks genuinely upset.

You smile at him, sure, but you just sigh and push your face right up against his. It’s so...intimate and uncommon for you to do and yet, with Thor, it feels like the most natural move to make. The sirens keeping you from making these decisions have, apparently, been put to sleep.

“It’s just...I wasn’t expecting that. And, to be honest, I’m kind of glad, in a weird way, that you did it. Because now, you’re here.”

You absolutely do not let yourself say with me, but that is all that you deny yourself. And still, even without saying it, it’s like Thor just knows. Like he can sense it’s on the tip of your tongue, fighting its way out of your throat. He nods, and a few of his fingers dip low to slip under the fabric of his shirt on your body. But all they do is touch.

That’s all you need. Just touch.

#thor x reader #thor odinson #thor fic #thor au #hercules au #worth my while fic

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theyrealllegends · 6 years ago

Text

Careful

Chapter summary: Roger is your new roommate and while you like to bury your pretty in nose in the books for your law studies, he finds other ways to pass his time.

Author’s note: I’m freaking excited people, I never thought I’d like an idea enough to really post it and then it just came! I’d like you to know that english isn’t my first language but I’m trying like crazy. Also, I didn’t put in y/N because I felt like I should call reader Tiffany. If you want to, feel free to insert yourself, though!

Words: ~1,4k for a start

Warning: mentions of sex and drinking but I wouldn’t put an age rating or anything, idk, sorry! (Okay, I’m trying my best to do this slow burn thing and if i’m failing miserably than I’m sorry!)

Chapter 1:

You didn’t really admit it but your new roommate was cool. At first, you thought it was just because he was the one moving in after your terrible ex-roommate who finally finished their degree. But within a few days you noticed it was also his hair, that was a bit longer and a bit messier than the guys that sat in your law lectures wore theirs. Also, you kinda liked his colourful clothing and his vintage furniture that was really giving you the hippie vibes you’d never channel. It was even funny to you that this guy was becoming a dentist but couldn’t boil eggs for the love of god.

“You’re the best!”, he’d tell you every morning he came into the kitchen only to see a prepared breakfast because you had a few spare moments before you had to go to your class.

“You’re welcome, Rog”, you’d just reply smiling into your mug.

“Should I take you to uni?”

“I can take the underground, but thanks.”

“How can you refuse me as a driver everyday?”

“Because you always leave after me and I’ve seen the traffic, I don’t even want to think about your driving!”, you told him and laughed.

“I’d be careful with you”, he said sheepishly and winked at you before he finished his breakfast and you left the kitchen so he wouldn’t see you blush. You didn’t really talk to a lot of guys, the ones in your classes were either too focused on getting good grades of spoiled pricks, really and you weren’t used to flirting from your ex-roommate either.

When you came home from your classes around five hours later, Roger was in his room, door open and -

“No, please, I really can’t!”

“Oh, hey, Tiffy”, he answered grinning. “I finally brought my drum kit!”

“No, you’re not! I need to memorise a billion laws this year, please you can’t drum in here!” He softly patted one of the freaking drums you wished never touched ground in this apartment and your stomach twisted with anxiety and hungriness.

“Don’t worry, sweetie, I just wanted to scare you”, he explained softly and moved closer to the doorframe, where you still stood in shock. “I got in a band and we’ll be practicing in some old room in the uni, I’ll move my drums there as soon as we start.”

“Thank god”, you mumbled and he grinned.

“I’m quite good with them, though.”

“I don’t deny that but you didn’t see the neighbours’ glares yet, if you think you could play them here."

“You should come to our first gig, would you? We’re playing right before Pink Floyd, have you heard of them?”

“Uhm, I’m more the classical music kind of girl, I guess”, you admitted, feeling your cheeks tingle again, hoping you wouldn’t blush.

*-*-*-*-*

You weren’t sure if Roger was okay with that but since you thought you wouldn’t like “Smile” and the huge crowd they’d probably gather, anyway, you told him you were too busy to come to his gig, even though the year was still fresh and this was nothing compared to the stress you got into weeks later. You didn’t really know how Roger didn’t drop out of his dentist classes right away because that first gig had seemingly made his band a thing, requiring them to perform every weekend ever since. It wasn’t that you weren’t happy for him - that you didn’t like the way his face lit up when he told you about the band, about his friend Freddie who he started a stall in Kensington Market with and everything else he told you, really - but sometimes it could be annoying. Sometimes he’d wake you up in the middle of the night, stumbling into the flat, looking piss drunk when you peeked out of your room to check what the hell was going on.

At first, you felt sorry for him and covered yourself in a robe to stay warm while softly guiding him into his room and onto his bed and then going to the kitchen to get him water and pain killers for the next morning. He’d either be fighting to get off his clothes or already be asleep on his bed when you returned. You’d make extra much bacon the next morning, hoping that’d soak up the left over alcohol in his system and you wouldn’t talk until he signalled that he was ready for more noise than the coffee machine’s. However, as time passed you stopped getting up to help him because Roger would still wake you up but in a worse way than coming home wasted - it could have variations but they all annoyed you just the same: sometimes it would be loud giggles in the hallway, other nights it would be his bed frame banging on the wall his room was sharing with yours. It didn’t make any difference that your bed wasn’t on that side of your room at all, it made your bookshelf unstable and wake you up without fail. Another time it would be the groaning and whatever noises he was getting the girl to let out and vice versa, it never failed to make you sick. Not that you’d ever bother to mention it. He’d probably just give you earplugs, something you tried multiple times but found too uncomfortable to even fall asleep in.

It was an early Sunday and you had already gone on your morning run to clear your thoughts, finished your shower, had breakfast and were halfway through your first round of law repetition for that day. You just left your room to get another cup of coffee when Roger caught you in the hallway.

“Please, you have to help me”, he mumbled into your ear. “I swear I didn’t plan to, I need to study, too and now I can’t get rid of this damn girl!”

“I’d suggest you put on a shirt to make it easier for her”, you couldn’t help but reply and he’d smile weakly before nodding his head in the direction of the kitchen. “Fine, I got this”, you tried to reassure yourself more than him before walking into the room, finding a girl in Roger’s shirt, trying to make pancakes or whatever. “How many times do I have to tell you?”, you asked Roger, letting your true annoyance come thru. “You can’t have guests in the kitchen on Sundays, my learning group needs the space!”

“I’ll be gone in a second!”, the girl replied and smiled at Roger in a way that made you snort.

“Obviously not, you’re leaving. I’m not trying to make a fool out of myself in front of the other law students, we need a quiet atmosphere!”

“We should go to my place then”, she’d tell Roger, ignoring you but also sounding annoyed.

“You know what, I’ll take a shower and come over later, okay?”

“Sure, sweet”, she whispered to him, glaring at you before leaving the kitchen as if the pancakes weren’t turning black.

“Thank you”, Roger mouthed into your direction, before following the girl. He only returned after she left a few minutes later and smiled as you set a plate of pancakes in front of him. “You’re the best, Tiff.”

“I’m surprised that worked to be honest but you’re welcome anyway”, you replied, unable to tell him that this was the first and last time you had done something like this.

“You’re kidding, I totally bought the learning group and I really wish I had something like that.”

“When are your exams?”

“Way too soon”, he tried to get around the question. “And yours?”

“Starting the Tuesday after this one”, you explained and moved your shoulders because they started cramping and hurting only at the thought.

“‘M sorry about that”, Roger told you and got up to step behind the chair you were sitting on. You wanted to turn around to see what he’d do but then he put his big, warm hands on your shoulders and started massaging them softly. It made you forget where you were for a moment and you closed your eyes to let yourself fall into his grip, humming as the sharp, stress-infused pain finally went away.

“Thank you so much”, you whispered softly as he finished and could hear him chuckle behind you.

“Anytime, love.”

I’d like to tag @blondecarfucker because your support is literally why you’re looking at this right now and I truly hope you like it! If anyone has any thoughts or comments, don’t hesitate to let me know.

xoxo

#roger taylor x reader #roger taylor #ben hardy x reader #ben hardy #roger taylor x you #roger taylor fluff #roger taylor fanfic #fanfiction #ben hardy x you #ben hardy fluff #ben hardy fanfic #queen fanfiction #bohemian rhapsody #bohrap fanfiction

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rainbows-fanfics · 6 years ago

Text

Two Dearest Friends (Chapter 10)

Summary:

Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, meets Sally, a ragdoll created by Dr. Finklestein. A friendship blossoms between them as he introduces her to the world outside of her tower. Sally is falling for him as their relationship grows into something more, and Jack finds the same is happening to him.

A story where the Christmas incident never happens, and Jack and Sally find their happiness on their own.

Pairings: Jack Skellington/Sally

At 6 A.M., when the pumpkin sun begins to rise over the horizon of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington is already awake. But he has yet to overcome the first challenge of the morning: getting out of bed. His thin figure is still wrapped underneath the blankets, staring at the ceiling wordlessly. He must've been doing this for about an hour or so, though he lost track of the time long ago. It was rare for him to be sluggish in the morning. But after what happened last night, there isn't any reason for him to just jump out of bed. All he can think about is snapping at his old friend. His old, old friend, who knew him ever since he was a child...the same man who watched him become King. A man he shared many fond memories with, and once considered him as some sort of father figure. The same man he threatened just last night. He was in a fit of frustration. It pained him to hear Sally cry again, but it was difficult realizing who to put the blame on. He was hoping Finklestein would gradually learn to treat her better after he realized she kept leaving, but it was the exact opposite. He defaulted to restricting her with him; enough to the point where she snapped. He felt bad for her - he really did. And he wanted nothing more than to make sure she was safe. But why was he feeling so awful? The screeching of his doorknob interrupts his thoughts, as well as the loud scream that accompanies it. "JACK!" He - quite literally - jumps out of bed and rushes over to his closet, struggling to peel off his night gown and put on his undershirt. He slips on his pants, then digs through his drawer to find his bat bat bow tie. He puts on his suit last and hurries down the stairs, still buttoning it up, before swinging the door open. He finds the Mayor on his front porch, his hand clutching the doorbell. His arms are full of papers and his face is visibly sluggish, the bags under his eyes unusually low and his mouth completely dry. He sees him and sighs in relief, but then groans and clutches at his forehead. "Mayor, you look absolutely pleasant! What's the matter?" "Can you believe I forgot today's date until an hour ago?" He rubs his free hand along the side of his face slowly. "That, and I've got a wonderful hangover...I shouldn't have let myself go last night..." "Come in." The skeleton ushers him inside right away. "I'll make those Worm's Guts you like." "--But we have to get going! We're already behind; Halloween is now officially 30 days away, and I-" Jack sits him down on his couch before he can protest any further. He disappears into the kitchen to fetch him a glass of water, which he hands to him. The Mayor makes himself comfortable in the den while the skeleton shuffles back into the kitchen to prepare their breakfast. While the faucet runs, he thinks some more about last night and a troubled frown finds its way onto his skull. He distracts himself again by cooking, and when the time comes to let it heat, he enters his den and finds the Mayor petting Zero with a gloomy feature expressed on his face. "I'm surprised you even got out of bed, Mayor." He comments, sitting in the chair across from him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, really." He rests the side of his conical head on one of Jack's decorative pillows. "Halloween is more important than anything. And so is the town! What would they do without me?" "With all due respect, my friend, your health matters more." He grabs the empty glass to refill it in the kitchen. "-And I'm sure everyone will understand if you take a day for yourself. I can handle everything in your absence." He comes back and sets the water on his coffee table. It takes a few minutes for the words to register in the Mayor's head, but when they strike him, he sits up attentively on the couch. "--But, Jack, that's a lot of work! We have several things to approve, and among that, I have a lot on my plate today for the town!" The skeleton notices the papers on the table and grabs them to flip through. He finds hundreds of things on their to-do list alone, and even more on his colleague's personal documents. His friend is right - getting through these by himself would be a literal nightmare, and will most likely take up his whole day. As if the thoughts he's been dealing with from last night weren't enough, he'd have the stress of Halloween planning and town managing. Well, more than he already does. He attends to much of this alone, but the Mayor's personal affairs would eat into extra time. "I can manage all this," He says very convincingly, more to himself than anyone. "Why don't you take the day off and tomorrow we can catch up?" "Are...are you sure-" Jack remembers about their food in the other room and throws down the papers to dart back into the kitchen. He prepares a couple of plates and brings them back, offering the Mayor the one with most of the breakfast. He happily takes it and begins to gorge down the meal, an obvious sign to him that he hasn't eaten this whole morning. Jack doesn't say anything as he takes a seat and chews on one of the cooked worms, his mind overwhelmed with thoughts of Dr. Finklestein and Sally. "This is horribly delightful!" The Mayor compliments. His colleague thanks him by bowing his skull and the politician momentarily sets down his plate. "I also wanted to thank you for bringing me home last night. You seemed upset, and I just wanted to apologize for getting so carried away. I hadn't meant-" "-It's not you, Mayor. Not at all." He twirls the worms around with his fork. "Something else just came up that night." "Oh! Is it something you'd like to talk about? I knew there was something wrong...you always have this look about you."

He stops chewing and looks up, a little anxious that he let his troubles show on his features. That's the exact opposite of what he wanted. He swallows his portion down a little hard and decides to finish his breakfast there, discarding his plate to the side and trying to piece his words together carefully. "No, I'm fine. Really. Let's...let's just focus on getting everything done." He avoids his gaze and reaches for his cup. "Is there anything I should be aware of for today?" His face switches, but he answers anyway. "Well, Dr. Finklestein keeps calling the Town Hall asking for his marriage certificate. His calls to our department have gotten more aggressive lately. But the problem is, I can't remember what happened to the darned thing!" "I haven't the faintest idea, either." He lies. "Tell them to ignore Fink. Say he's getting senile or...something." His forehead begins to sweat, and he wipes it with the end of his sleeve. "I stopped by his place awhile ago and things seemed really hostile there. I just wanted to talk about his project this year, but instead I got swept into the middle of an argument. It was so stressful!" "Oh?" "Yes! Sally asked me about pumpkins and I was more than happy to answer her, but the two of them got into quite the fight. She must have been feeling awful after that, and I sent her my condolences. She seemed very upset." He fails to gather his thoughts. "Yes, I don't believe they're on good terms right now..." "Well, that's a relief." His face switches and he finishes the rest of his breakfast. "For a moment, I thought they weren't doing so well." He slaps his bony hand on his skull, realizing his mistake. "No, Mayor, I - never mind." Their conversation ends there, Jack cleaning up their mess from the their meal and offering his friend to stay for the afternoon. He doesn't think it's a good idea for him to try the stairs again - he looked exhausted just from the first time. And he wouldn't want him to trip or hurt himself on the way down. The Mayor accepts and decides to get some rest in one of his guest bedrooms, thanking him once more for taking over. But when the skeleton leaves his house and has to bring the abundance of paperwork over to the Town Hall, he can already feel the pressure squeezing against his bones. ------------ "Sally, please, just listen to me. This is very important." In the sitting room of Finklestein's tower, the ragdoll huffs and looks away from her creator. She is sitting on the edge of the couch, as far away from him as possible. She stubbornly crosses her arms and shuts her eyes. She can understand why the Doctor insists on interrogating her, but she isn't entitled to answer his questions. She has the right to refuse - that itself was made very obvious just last night. And the first thing he wanted in the morning was to ask her to come down so they could "talk". But in his mind, "talking" meant getting answers as to what happened last night with her and Jack. Which she is refusing to give him. She isn't scared of him anymore. After she saw him tremble beneath Jack, she couldn't find a reason to be. She loved him more than she did the Doctor, and he outranked him in a number of ways. If he did something out of line, then she would just tell Jack, and that was what the he did not want. She feels more "free", in a way. Now that she has a reason not to listen to his every command and be the overworked housewife he wants. Finklestein emits a growl but holds it back. "I just want to know what you said to him," He says calmly. "I don't have to tell you." He rubs his temples in annoyance. "I swear, it's as if someone has brainwashed you. You've never acted like this before." She remains silent, only glancing back at him once. He taps his gloved finger on the table with impatience. He isn't sure how long he can stay collected like this. He's on a thin barrier of just snapping and locking her up again, but that would be very unscrupulous after the promise he made to the King just last night... "You and I both know what Jack said. But that does NOT excuse you from answering me when I ask you something. You are still under my possession." Seeing her lack of reaction, he adds, "-We both know how often Skellington visits here, do we not?" Her posture loosens. He may not come here often, but what did that matter? She can just...visit his house! Or find him at the graveyard! She turns to give him a sour look and finds the Doctor wearing a smile. It unsettles her seeing him so confident. As if she no longer has the upper hand. Her arms begin to tremble. "I can get to you faster than you can get to him. Do you realize that now?" Her eyes widen. "Now, I am going to ask you again. What did you say to him last night?" Finklestein's smile grows as he notices she's beginning to break. He had to show he was in charge again. He isn't going to have any of her attitude anymore. He doesn't favor "talks" and refuses to sit here like a doll and play house with her. He needs to be in absolute control at all times - so she can no longer get these rebellious ideas... "I just showed him my dress." This response isn't enough. "Don't play dumb with me, girl! I know you told him more than that! If you tell me now, your punishment will be lifted." She shuts her mouth and turns away. He's decided he's had enough and snaps his fingers, summoning Igor from the laboratory. Sally looks over but doesn't have the chance to react, because as soon as he's in the room, the hunchbacked assistant rushes toward her and grabs her wrist. She falls out of the seat as he begins to drag her on the ground. She squeaks in pain. Now she really is being treated like a ragdoll! When she sees his Laboratory coming into view, fear swells in her fingertips. A cold sensation runs through her body as they get closer. She looks at Finklestein with true fear in her eyes this time. It never meant anything good when she was brought to the lab. She intends for her voice to sound threatening, but it comes out in small squeaks instead. "What are you going to do to me!?" He clacks his tongue. "It's simple, my dear. I'm going to fix your brain." "You-You wouldn't!" "Clearly there is something wrong with it. You are not fulfilling what I have created you for. Therefore, I will fix it so you will show no disobedience." If he 'fixes' her brain now...she can forget all about Jack! He would turn her into the slave he really wants. She doesn't care how horrible her life is now - she doesn't want to be in a world where she and Jack are no longer friends. A reality where she can no longer remember him is the worst thing she can ever imagine. She wants to keep their memories fondly and continue loving him because it's the only thing that makes her happy. If the Doctor takes that away now, she'll be kissing her freedom goodbye once and for all... She gives out the last of her dignity and desperately calls out to him. "Wait, wait! Stop! I'll do everything you want! I promise!" "Are you sure?" He pushes. "Because if you make that promise to me, Sally, then I have every right to punish you if you break it." "Yes, yes, of course, Doctor...just, please...let me go..." He studies her for a moment or two. She attempts to hide the fear in her eyes. She's been trying so hard to be strong and finally stand up to him...only to succumb to his power again. She has never felt so pathetic in all her life. He finally flicks his wrist in her direction. "Igor, let go of her." The assistant lets go of her dress and stands back. She rubs the side of her thigh and slowly stands. Her legs wobble and she holds onto the nearest wall for support. Just from her posture can Finklestein notice how pathetic she must be feeling. It doesn't make him feel pleasant, but he's at least satisfied that things turned out in his favor once more. He wheels over until he's only an inch away from her. "The first thing I want you to do is to stop sneaking out," He says. "And especially not to see that Skellington anymore. You hear me?" She knows that's impossible, but nods anyway. "-I'll be in the Laboratory today. I expect my lunch to be ready at its usual time." She watches as his figure disappears into the lab. When she's alone, she looks at the ground sadly. She can still feel the tight grip of Igor's small hands on her, and the image of the Laboratory getting closer second by second refuses to leave her mind. Neither can the cold feeling enveloping in her stomach, and the fear still settling on her spine. She feels herself weaken and sits down on the couch again as to not lose her strength and fall to the floor. The world around her starts to spin, and she rests her head on the armrest as to steady her vision. When she raises her head, her gaze rests outside the nearest window. She finds Halloween Town in all its glory, as well as the Manor that overshadows it. The longer she stares, the more she can feel her skin starting to warm. She takes a few steady breaths, thinking of the tall man beyond those windows, and feels strangely calmer. She knows then that this promise she made was superficial - she needs to be outside, to be with Jack....to be happy and free. And if she gets in trouble with the Doctor, then that's a punishment worth facing so long as she can be with the man she loves. She's going to have to wait until his guard is down, and then she can make her move. ------------------- The fifth day of October is much less stressful. Tedious, yes, but at this point the planning is going at a regular, much slower rate. The first few days are especially rigorous considering everything requires Jack's full attention. The first day was overwhelming in every aspect, having to take charge of every little detail, but the fifth day, however....that is his relief point. He always has to be meticulous with the Halloween planning. The biggest thing that always needs his attention is the positioning for their annual song. Say, if one monster was unhappy with how something went, then a whole process of changing their lines and configuring their timing was necessary. The person going through and finding these compromises to fit their preferences was him, of course. Then Jack would later have to approve the changes so they can accommodate his citizens, and then he'd have to restart the whole process again if anyone else requests a change as well. And then there is Halloween entirely! The Pumpkin King is the only one who has authority to change the holiday every year. What they chose for the holiday previously is used again, and he has to go and approve all the ideas, decorations, costumes, and practically everything else once more every year. While that was being done, he also has to take a look at the hundreds of suggestions for Halloween that year and fit the ideas he approves into the holiday properly. Then there comes the matter of finding how to fit those in, what needed to be changed, and if it was good enough to be reused again for the next Halloween. Needless to say, the skeleton has a lot on his mind. He checks off the last thing on the list before sitting back in his chair with a long sigh. The sound of his pencil falling startles the Mayor, who had been sitting elsewhere this whole time. He feels much better compared to his hangover the first day, and has been particularly optimistic with the process. He's always excited to plan for Halloween, and sometimes Jack feels like he can't quite match the enthusiasm as he once did... His voice, very quietly, rings from the room. "Jack?" He opens an eye socket, finding the shorter man approaching his desk. "-Yes?" "I just wanted to thank you. For taking over for me that day and, well, helping me with the Corpse Family earlier today. I'm relieved to say that we are done with everything for today!" Relief washes over him, finally calming his nerves and relaxing his bones. He rubs the side of his skull and looks around the room, realizing he hasn't looked up from his desk until now. "What time is it? 8? 9?" "2 P.M." "You're kidding?" "We got done early!" He rounds his table to pat him on the back cheerfully. "I suppose this means we'll have time off tomorrow!" He smiles very softly, his mind filled with ideas with what he can do with this extra time. "Thank you, Mayor. I should start heading home before it gets too late." He bids his shorter coworker goodbye and waves to the other folk sitting in the rooms he passes. It relieves him to know these people are getting less work than he is. That is why the Pumpkin King does so much, after all. So only the citizens will worry more about the scaring than the working... He slips through the front doors easily and finds the town populated as it usually is. He boldly decides to head straight through, mentally praying no one will stop him. He successfully gets to the side before he notices he bumped into someone. He turns around to blurt out an apology before recognizing the very familiar red hair atop their head. Sally.

#long post #the nightmare before christmas #two dearest friends #fanfiction #jack skellington #jack and sally #disney #tnbc #jack x sally #the mayor of halloween town

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paradisobound · 6 years ago

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I Want It, I Got It: Chapter 14

Summary: Phil Lester was a worker for the BBC in London. Working in the advertising department, he was content being alongside his friend and fellow coworker PJ during every shift. However, the BBC is temporarily being used as a film set for a new movie staring Hollywood ‘It’ star, Daniel Howell. Being stuck as an extra on the set, Phil finds it’s hard to ignore the famous star. And maybe, just maybe, Dan finds it hard to ignore Phil as well.

Word Count: 2.4k (this chapter)

Warnings: Occasional swearing and sexual themes

Rating: Explicit

Updates will be every Sunday at 1pm EST

**MASTERLIST | READ ON AO3**

A/N: I split this chapter into two parts so this part 1 and part 2 will be either sometime this week or next Sunday!

Phil wants to set himself a reminder to never book a flight as early as 6am ever again. He makes it to Gatwick with bleary eyes and a small bag haphazardly packed with a set of clothes for overnight.

He boards his plane and then when he lands, he throws the strap of his bag on his shoulder and walks through the airport to find his mum waiting for him where she always does.

When he sees her, he gives her a big hug and then steps back with a smile. “You look tired dear.” She comments, rubbing his arm. “Did you sleep well last night?”

Phil doesn’t want to tell her that no, he didn’t really sleep because he Skyped with Dan until he fell asleep. He also wasn’t going to mention to her how he and Dan have been slowly progressing past the friend stage and he’s getting to the point where he can hardly imagine not knowing what Dan is doing and whether or not they can speak.

“Just pre-flight jitters.” Phil says with a forced half-smile.

His mum gave him a knowing glance. “I know how you feel about flights, dear.” She said, pulling her hand away from his arm. “But let’s get going now. Your father insisted on staying back and making breakfast for when we get back.”

Phil followed his mum out of the tiny airport to the carpark and got into the car with her, tossing his small bag into the backseat before climbing in the front. The Isle of Man was small and he enjoyed having his parents living here now because even if he only went for a few days, it still felt like a holiday.

“How is the BBC?” His mum asks as they head onto the main road towards his parents house.

“Normal.” Phil says. “I’m working on making a new website for the BBC Radio 1. Like, not an entirely new website but a new webpage. That’s taken up a big portion of my time.”

“How is PJ?” His mum then asks. He’s actually surprised that she’s gotten his name right. The last time, she called him Peter. He still doesn’t know how she ever got Peter from PJ but he still laughs about it.

“He’s good.” Phil says. “I actually just went out for drinks with him a few nights ago.”

“How about him and Sophie?”

“Mum…” Phil says with a laugh. “I’m not PJ.”

“I know,” She says with her own chuckle. “But you know how your mum likes to gossip.”

“How can I forget?” Phil says.

His mum reaches over and smacks his arm gently and Phil laughs. They pull into his parents driveway and it’s exactly like how Phil remembered it. The same cozy little cottage on an old road with the same stone fence around it. The same pink and red flowers bridged the outside and the same weather grey stone shone on the outside.

Phil honestly likes this house better than the house he grew up in outside of Manchester and his dream is to retire to such a little community like this.

“Come on, Philip, grab you bag! Your father is waiting and you know how he can be a bit impatient.”

Phil steps out of the car and opens the backdoor, grabbing out his small bag from the seat. He puts the strap on his shoulder again and follows him mum inside the small doorway into the kitchen.

His father is sitting at the table with his newspaper in his hand and Phil has to chuckle at how typical this setting was for him. He remembers being a teenager and waiting up to see his dad sitting at the table with his newspaper.

“Hello Phil!” His father chimes in. “How was your flight?”

“It was fine.” Phil answers, his answer automatic. He always responds the same way. Maybe it has to do with the awkwardness he still feels around his dad. He’s not sure.

“Well, that’s good.” His dad answers. “Your brother is arriving in a few hours for the weekend too with Cornelia. You’ll have to sleep on the couch tonight since they called dibs on the guest room.”

Phil feels himself groan. He shouldn’t groan. It was quite childish. But he also wasn’t feeling like sleeping on the couch with no privacy tonight. He was looking forward to spending a few hours on Skype with Dan and he can’t do that if he’s on the couch.

“When did Martyn decide he wanted to come this weekend too?” Phil asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I wanted to spend the weekend with my boys.” His mum chimes in, leaning up on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.

“Why does he get the bedroom though?” Phil asks, his voice verging on a whine.

“Because he and Cornelia can’t fit on the couch like you can, dear.” His mum says. “Oh, pip up. It’s only one night. I’m sure you can survive on the couch.”

Phil wants to stomp his foot to put on a fake tantrum but he instead just rolls his eyes playfully and looks down at his dad. “What did you make for breakfast?”

“There is some sausage and eggs on the counter if you want.” He responds, folding his paper and setting it on the table. “Your mum and I figured we could take you and Martyn and Corn on a walk this afternoon. The weather is supposed to be lovely.”

Phil nods and walks over to the counter, grabbing a couple pieces of sausage and putting them on an empty plate. He begins to snack on them when his mum walks over next to him and steps close to him. “So tell us about Daniel.”

Phil chokes and sputters, forcing down the bite he had just taken as he coughs. He sets down his plate and goes to the refrigerator and pulls out a bottle of juice. He grabs a cup from the cupboard and pours a small glass, taking a sip of it to still his coughing. He was trying to avoid this question and this conversation but it’s clear he wasn’t getting out of it.

“It’s not polite to ignore your mother.” His mum presses, her eyebrow choked as she stands at the counter.

“I don’t have much to say.” Phil answers. “What do you want to know?”

“Well, how did you and Daniel meet?” She said. “Let’s begin with that.”

“We met through the BBC.” Phil says, trying to remain as vague as possible.

His mum waited patiently for him to continue and he cocked his eyebrow up. She tapped her fingers on the counter.

“How did you meet at the BBC?” She pressed further.

“His film was being filmed there.” Phil says. “The offices were shut down for it.”

“What was the film?”

Phil shrugged. He actually doesn’t know the name of the film. He’s never really bothered to ask Dan much about it. He’s never really thought about asking Dan about it actually. It always skipped his mind when he was speaking to Dan.

Talking about his film was normally the last of their thoughts.

“Well, when did you and Dan become friends then?” She continued.

Phil was well ready for this conversation to end already even though it barely began. “He came up to me in the BBC the one day and we exchanged contact information. Then we just started talking.”

“He’s cute.”

“Mum…”

“Well, I’m just being honest, dear.” She says, her lips curved into a smile.

“We’re not dating.” Phil says. The more and more he says it, the more and more he feels like a broken record. He and Dan really aren’t dating. And in complete honesty, he’s not quite sure if they’re friends right now. They are obviously friends but recently, they’ve been slowly bridging that gap between friendship and a relationship.

He blushes slightly as he thinks about the night before and how Dan had looked, shirtless and comfortable on his bed in Los Angeles. Dan had asked him if it was okay that he was shirtless and of course Phil said it was. But he couldn’t help staring at Dan the entire time.

“You’re blushing, hun.” His mum comments, her hand coming up and pinching his cheek.

Phil yips out a little noise before he jerks away and his mum chuckles. His cheeks flush even redder yet and he just smiles at her as he shakes his head and takes his bag into the living room. He sets it down beside the couch and checks his phone, something he hasn’t done since this morning.

He has a couple messages from Dan and reading them makes him smile.

Dan: I’ll have you know that I still cant sleep

Dan: Thanks

Phil let out a chuckle and began to type out his own message back.

Phil: Not my fault :P

Phil exited from his messages app and opened Twitter. He’d slowly been getting accustomed to Twitter and other social media. His Instagram has remained pretty tame despite having a bunch of people follow him and also his profile suddenly get verified. His Twitter got verified as well which was a shock to say the least.

Going on Twitter and YouTube for the first time was a bit of a shock but Dan helped him through it on Skype the night he finally looked.

“If you never do it,” Dan had said, “Then you’ll never see the support that you got for the video.”

And Dan had been correct. He had gained a massive fanbase already and that was a big deal. He really did want to pick up YouTube more like he had when he was still in university.

He even tweeted out that he wanted to do a Q+A and he had gotten a ton of questions already that he was eager to film when he got back to London tomorrow night.

Dan had convinced him to do the Q+A and he even suggested filming things in LA and sending them to Phil but Phil told him that wasn’t necessary. The next time Dan came to London, they could film many more videos together.

“I see that you have begun doing YouTube again.”

Phil looks up from his phone to see his mum stood in the doorway now, making her way into the living room.

“Oh yeah.” Phil says. “I wanted to get back into it. I think it’s going well.”

“It’s nice that Dan was in the video with you.” She says, sitting down next to him on the sofa.

“It was his idea.” Phil admits. “I told him about how I did YouTube and he thought that it would be a good idea to do a video.”

His mum nods and Phil knows that she is waiting to say something. So he waits…with a baited breath, until his mum finally speaks. “I worry,” She begins. “I worry that Daniel isn’t good for you.”

Phil turns his head and looks at her. “What do you mean?”

“He’s a big named celebrity, Phil.” She says, her voice serious. “He might not be looking for the same things that you are.”

Phil feels his stomach knot and his chest tighten. He felt like this was a middle school talk, not one he should be having at 32 years old.

“And I’m not saying this because I believe that Dan’s intentions with you are bad. But you have to remember his lifestyle.” She continues. “I don’t want you mixed up into that lifestyle if you’re not ready.”

“It’s not about that.” Phil says, because it’s really not. “Dan doesn’t even like the lifestyle.”

“Oh?”

Phil nods. “He gets overwhelmed by it.” He says. “I don’t think he’s ever admitted it to me or even to himself but I think he just enjoys doing the movies and the acting. I don’t think he enjoys the publicity that comes with it. Like, everywhere you look, his photo or name is plastered somewhere.”

His mum suddenly bends down to the coffee table and rifles through some of the crumpled magazines until she finds whatever she was looking for and hands it to him. He looks at it and he’s not sure what she’s getting at until she’s suddenly grabbing it from him again and opening to a dog-eared page.

DANIEL HOWELL’S NEW YOUTUBE VIDEO. WHO IS THE MAN BEHIND THE VIDEO?

It was an entire article about his video with Dan that he never knew existed. His face was plastered in this magazine, without his consent. And here is Dan’s face as well…just covering the page with this 200 word article about the video.

He felt sick. His hands began to shake and he felt clammy.

How many other articles has he been the subject of that he never knew?

“Where did you get this?” He asked, his voice tense.

“Your father saw the magazine in the store when he picked up his newspaper. It was just meant for me because you know that I enjoy reading those gossipy tabloids every once an a while. I stumbled upon it and saved the page.” She said. “This is mostly why I wanted you to come here this weekend. I thought we could discuss this and what you’re getting into.”

“I didn’t consent to this article.” Phil says, his voice trembling.

“I know, dear. I know.” She comforts. “Does Dan go through this a lot?”

He nods. Yeah, Dan does go through this a lot. He’s seen the moment Dan’s face falls when he sees an article written about himself that he didn’t even know.

“Maybe we should hire someone.” His mum continued. “Maybe we could hire someone to speak on your―”

“I’m not going to do that.” Phil says. “I’ll just talk to Dan.”

“But how much can Dan really do, sweetie? He seems just as powerless as you.”

Phil feels like he could cry. His eyes suddenly feel full and his cheeks feel hot. He struggled to hold them back but he does. He sniffles once and hands his mum back the magazine, not bothering to read it.

“I’m sorry, sweetie.”

He doesn’t say anything. He just sits in silence as his stomach knots and twists. She eventually gets up without a word and a few moments later, he hears the front door shut and he realizes she’s probably gone to wait at the airport for Martyn and Cornelia.

He sits back on the couch and shuts his eyes. Maybe he can catch a nap before she gets back.

#phan #phanfic #phanfiction #au #famous!dan #moviestar!dan #normal!phil #princesslexi763fics

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chronicfangirling · 6 years ago

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At that place (2 of 2)

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader (feat. Yoongi x OC, one-sided Jin x OC) Genre: Fluff/Angst, long-distance relationships, pining exes, idol problems, double/triple dates, GIRLFRIENDS (please appreciate female friendships more) Words: 9119 Requested by: Anon

Can i request a jungkookie scenario based on their song i like it pt. 2? A fluffy ending pleaseeeee or whatever you decide. Thank you. ❤

A/N: Writer’s block defeated! Better late than never?

pt1. | pt.2

You woke up to Saren putting the final touches to a complete breakfast spread. After weeks of having to make do with toast and jam and whatever you can scrounge in the pantry, you blinked, almost certain that it was a mirage. Stacks of fluffy buttermilk pancakes, strawberries in sweet cream, sunny side-up eggs, seared sausages, fragrant steamed rice… you've been dreaming of eating all those things again. Saren took a platter of perfectly crisped, thick-cut bacon from the counter and waved it in invitation. You pounced, grabbing a strip of bacon in each hand, and biting them alternately.

Mayu returned from her jog, the morning paper in hand. With purposeful strides, she sat down on the table across you and said proudly: "You're back, my dear."

"Yes." Saren nodded, tugging at a lock of hair framing her face, smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry for being pathetic."

"You were pretty pathetic," Mayu agreed. "But it happens to everyone. Though this loser stint of yours has made Y/N has swear off toast for the rest of her life, it seems."

The older women looked at you and you shook your head in a panic. "No, no--I'm fine!" You were well aware that the way you clutched at fistfuls of bacon undermined those words, but you didn't want her to think that you were obliging her to make breakfast. "I like toast with jam and butter... and also, I'm glad you're feeling better." The last part sounded like an afterthought, but it was true that her uncharacteristic behavior had been concerning.

"Well, don't worry, because those loser days are over," Saren declared. "I'm giving up on Kim Seokjin."

You scrunched your nose thinking, that it wasn't as if they had a relationship anyway, but you caught those less-than-kind thoughts. Just because there wasn't a relationship, doesn't mean her feelings weren't real. They were simply unrequited.

"Good!" Mayu raised her mug of chai latte and clinked it with Saren's coffee. "I didn't like seeing you exert so much effort for that stuck-up pretty boy anyway!"

Saren shook her head. "For once, I tried my best, and I have no regrets. I used to never take chances when it came to love because I was too scared of being rejected. Rejection does hurt... but it's bearable, you know? It was a lot worse, not knowing what it would be like and being terrified to make any moves."

"I guess an old dog can learn new tricks after all, if our sempai could learn this in her ripe old age," Mayu teased, dodging when Saren threw a bit of pancake at her. You laughed, but didn't join in the ribbing--you had only known them for a few months, and weren't comfortable enough yet to do so. Still, this house had been a good place to take refuge in after your heartbreak and you hoped you would soon reach that level of camaraderie with them.

"Seriously though, I feel a lot braver now." Saren said. "And when another chance, another possible love comes along, I won't even hesitate--I'll try again."

"What?" You dropped a sunny side-up egg on your lap and winced; thankfully not breaking it. Gingerly poking at it, you muttered: "You'd still try again?"

Saren slipped a spatula under the egg and transferred it to a saucer with the yolk intact. "Of course, Y/N. What's there to life but to keep trying?"

Mayu made a face as you retrieved the formerly fallen egg and started digging into it. "But..." You frowned at Saren. "You got your heart broken! What if that happens again?"

"Then it happens," she said, taking an egg for herself and putting it on top of a bowl of rice, then sitting beside Mayu. "It's worth the possibility of finally finding love, isn't it?"

You watched her sprinkle soy sauce on her egg before mashing it into the rice. "Wasn't it Einstein who said 'insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?'"

Saren shifted to lecturer mode, her voice deepening from its usual tone. "First of all, nobody's sure if this quote was actually misattributed to Einstein, although he does have a stronger claim to it than the other candidates. Secondly, this quote should be taken within the context of the scientific method, wherein controlled variables will naturally result in the same set of results. And lastly..." she reached across the table to pat your head, though she was shorter than you and had to strain. "Love isn't exactly rational, our dear baby."

"Sempai!" Mayu cried with exaggerated fervor. "You've truly had an enlightenment." She laughed while Saren whined about her cool moment being ruined.

"'Baby...'" you murmured, patting where she had patted your head. It was strange, but not entirely unpleasant, for you to be showered with this kind of affection, when most of your life, you hadn't gotten so much. Just like your ex-boyfriend Jeon Jungkook, Kim Seokjin was probably too accustomed to receiving so much love that he didn't appreciate it anymore, but for you...

You smiled at your roommates--Mayu was trying to feed Saren strawberries in apology, but Saren continued pouting. You didn't think it would be easy to do, this trying again thing, but you would at least have to think about it.

***

"Jungkook..." You stared at your ex-boyfriend, flanked by his older group members, as they stood at your porch. Yoongi wasn't a surprise, but even Seokjin had come with them again. Before you could stop yourself, you had already smoothed your hands over your hair, which was thrown in a messy bun--you didn't expect to be seeing him today--or on any day--after all.

"Hi... we have a lot of schedules in Tokyo so we're staying for a while." He gave you a small wave but made no move to step forward.

Yoongi side-stepped him and asked: "Is Mayu at home?"

"Yeah... umm, come in." You belatedly waved them into the living room. Mayu peered over her books and color-coded notes covering the coffee table and gasped in surprised delight at the sight of her boyfriend, gathering all her review materials and dumping them on the beanbag in the corner, which was already littered with Saren's novels. She tucked herself under his waiting arm as she led him to the loveseat. "I didn't know you're coming over."

"Surprise?" he shrugged, a pleased grin plastered on his face.

At that moment, Saren skipped in the living room, her long lace skirt whirling around her, her prized silver tea caddy engraved with cherry blossoms nestled in her hands. "Our baby, do you want chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies with tea..?" She froze when she saw the guys, nearly dropping the tea caddy.

"Ah... you look nice," Seokjin mumbled, looking a little taken aback. After all, Saren had been taking extra care of her appearance, saying that pretty dresses and makeup can be like armor for women, especially after having been hurt. As you tugged self-consciously at the large black hoodie you had thrown over your worn yet comfy gray leggings while your visiting ex was in designer clothing, you had to consider that her idea had some merits.

"T-Thanks," Saren stammered in response, looking a lot more taken aback herself. "Umm, we were about to have tea, would you like some too... you guys?"

"Both," you said. "For the cookies."

"Yes, please." Seokjin replied. Yoongi nodded.

"If it's not too much trouble," Jungkook added.

"I'll help you," Mayu offered. "Y/N, you stay here with the guests."

"Me..?" You looked round at the 'guests': Yoongi who was pouting that his girlfriend had disentangled herself from his arms, Seokjin who was smiling shamelessly as if he weren't responsible for the current awkwardness... and Jungkook, who gazed at you with wide, innocent eyes. "I'm helping too!" You dashed after your roommates into the kitchen.

"Ah, but it's rude to leave your guests unattended," Saren remarked, as she measured delicate leaves into the teapot and arranged the cups on the tray while waiting for the water to boil.

"They're not my 'guests,' they're Mayu's guest and his companions," you retorted, leaning against the counter and not being very helpful.

"One of my guest's so-called companions is your ex-boyfriend, who doesn't seem to be happy about being an ex at all." Mayu pointed out. She was preparing a separate pot with dark, roasted leaves.

"Yah..." you pouted at your roommates. "It's not like that!"

"Look at our baby acting cute," Saren giggled.

"I wasn't!" you denied. But you caught yourself pouting again, so you set your lips in a straight line. For all the good that did--Saren still giggled as if she thought you were a precocious child. "And I thought we're giving up on trying to chase after relationships that don't mean anything."

"That's just me and Seokjin." Saren shrugged and moved on to pulling out sheets of freshly-baked cookies from the oven, plating some and setting the rest on the cooling rack. "That was just me, one-sidedly hoping... but there was nothing there."

"You and Jungkook on the other hand..." Mayu cocked her head at you. "There's still something there."

You silently watched your roommates brew the tea, and you could've let that thread of conversation die... but something compelled you to talk about it. "I just... don't want to misunderstand... that I mean something when I'm nothing." When their heads turned toward you, you dropped your gaze on your white-knuckled hands grasping the kitchen counter.

"You're not like me." Saren said. "You mean something."

"Hey! Just because you didn't mean anything to Kim Seokjin doesn't mean you can't mean something to someone else." Mayu turned from Saren to you. "And if you don't want to be with Jungkook, then that might be for the best. But don't use what happened to Saren and Seokjin as an excuse to deny your real feelings... nor the possibility of Jungkook's."

"I... I..." Stuttering, you tried--and failed--to make a coherent protest.

Mayu and Saren exchanged looks, the former shook her head with a chuckle and the latter smiled at you and squeezed your hand. "Well... think about what you want, alright?" Saren took the tray with the two tea pots, leaving you with the plates of cookies, but she waited for Mayu to lead the way back to the living room. For all her apparent calm, your roommate still wasn't completely confident to face the man who had thoroughly rejected her after all. Yet she took the seat before Seokjin, looking like the picture of poise as she poured tea into the cups, despite the slight tremor of her hands. "Here you go," she presented the first cup to Seokjin, as the oldest one among the guests. "This is a very special tea variety."

Emulating her, you took the seat before Jungkook and handed him a cup as well. "Y/N... thanks," he took the cup from you, starting as your fingers accidentally brushed against his, as if the simple contact had affected him as much as it always affected you.

"You should try it too, Yoongs, though I got you hojicha as well, you don't exactly have a subtle palate," Mayu teased, offering a cup of the dark tea to her boyfriend and settling in the loveseat with him.

He smirked, but his sharp eyes had softened as he gazed at her over the cup. "You know my tastes well."

"What a pretty, vivid color," Seokjin observed, swirling the cup. His eyes widened as he brought the cup closer to his lips. "And so fragrant!"

"It is so." Saren nodded, taking her own cup of tea.

Seokjin took a sip and sighed in wonder. "This is different from all green tea that I've had before."

"It's gyokuro," Saren explained. "It develops its special flavor and aroma by growing covered in the shade."

"I see. It blooms in the shade unobserved and then surprises you with its loveliness, how dangerous." He smiled at her, a little too charmingly, and you couldn't help but think, *how dangerous.*

Saren dropped her gaze to her cup and Mayu sneered at him. "I'm sure you didn't come here to talk about tea."

Saren gaped at her best friend's thinly-veiled hostility, but quickly recovered. "Obviously, Seokjin came here to accompany Yoongi who wanted to visit you."

At her words, Yoongi choked on his tea. "That's kinda cute," Mayu chuckled.

Turning red, he cried: "This wasn't my idea!"

"A grown man shouldn't play hard to get," Saren tutted.

You snickered, but Jungkook blinked at you with those clear, round eyes. "It really wasn't Yoongi's idea."

"Ah, I was the one who said we should come over." Seokjin set down his empty cup and raised a hand.

"Why?!" Mayu blurted out.

"What man wouldn't want to be in the company of such lovely ladies..?" Seokjin declared in his typical flirty manner, but he caught himself and looked round; at Mayu, who glared at him; at Saren, who blinked at him in disbelief; and at you, who winced. *Acting like this was what made Saren misunderstand... it wasn't just her fault.* Yoongi sighed under his breath and Jungkook reflected your own wince.

But then Saren laughed, with a feigned shudder. "How greasy! How can you guys live with this guy?" she asked Yoongi and Jungkook, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Doesn't it get embarrassing?"

The tension dissipated with Yoongi smirking and Jungkook nodding emphatically. "He's seriously so embarrassing!" Jungkook stressed.

"Yah!" Seokjin protested. "What do you mean by 'greasy,' and 'embarrassing?' I'm totally charming and a point of pride for our group!"

"There he goes again, ugh!" Jungkook shuddered.

"Have some shame for the younger ones," Saren teased.

"Well, if she's going to be like that..." Mayu shook her head, smiling wryly. "Seokjin, don't embarrass my boyfriend, he has a way cooler image than you," she chided, but her tone was jesting, her animosity calmed when she saw how her best friend had responded in such a lighthearted manner.

"So aside from being embarrassed by this shameless one, what have you guys been doing?" Saren asked.

"I want to know too," Mayu said. "Yoongi never talks about work."

"I do tell you about work, but I don't want to talk too much about it." He wrinkled his nose.

"Since I'm your girlfriend, you should talk to me about it more."

"Since you're my girlfriend, I'd rather talk to you about other things." His arm draped around her shoulder and pulled her closer. "Like how you're doing or your own work. I find you very interesting after all." Mayu elbowed him lightly, her cheeks flushed.

"Well, isn't he greasy too sometimes?" Seokjin griped.

"Oh hush, it's cute." Saren said.

Seokjin and Yoongi talked about their current schedules in Tokyo at your roommates' request, while you listened idly and drank tea. It took a while for you to realize that Jungkook was watching you in silence.

"What?" you whispered, not wanting to interrupt your friends' conversation.

"Nothing..." He smiled tentatively. "It's just... I thought you didn't like tea."

You gaped at him, surprised that he had even noticed. To hide your shock, you refilled your cup and blew away the steam. "I didn't before. But Saren and Mayu drink it all the time, so I got used to it."

"Even on cold days, you wouldn't drink it, you'd rather drink cola or even iced water," he mused.

"Well, I guess I've changed." You were nearing panic with how your heart started thudding in your ears, so you grabbed a peanut butter cookie and pushed the whole thing in your mouth so you wouldn't have to talk.

"But... you still like peanut butter cookies as much as chocolate chip cookies, and you still stuff your mouth with food when you're nervous." He chuckled as your purposeful chewing slowed. "Even if some things changed, I still want to believe that you're the Y/N that I know... from the happiest times of my life."

"That's..." You nearly choked on your cookie, searching for a retort, but this wasn't the cocky, international Kpop star Jungkook who couldn't seem to care less about your break-up. In fact, this was more like that shy golden boy who seemed unaware of his own sparkle. The same one you fell in love with...

The Super Mario theme pierced through the heavy air and Seokjin answered his phone. Mayu and Yoongi rolled their eyes at the childish ringtone and Saren merely smiled. "Hey, Dongwook. I thought we wouldn't be needed for two hours? Ah, okay..."

"I guess that's our cue..." Yoongi mumbled.

Mayu gave him a smile that looked rather tight, but she also gave him a tender kiss. "Call soon."

"We'll meet again soon." he promised, squeezing her hand.

"Good luck with today's schedule," Saren said to all of them, with no particular attention to Seokjin. She cleared the tea set and plates into the tray and started to head to the kitchen.

"Oh--thanks for the the tea and the cookies!" Seokjin called after her.

She looked back over her shoulder and started to say something, but instead pressed her lips together and nodded politely. At another time, she would be overzealous about asking Seokjin's opinion and pressing homemade food as affection, but it looked like she was serious about keeping her distance.

"Umm, hey, Saren--!" Jungkook's cry stopped her in her tracks again. "Umm, well... is it okay..." he smiled sheepishly. "To have some of the cookies?"

"Yes!" Seokjin chimed in. "They were good."

She laughed lightly and winked at you. "You're going to have to ask Y/N about that, since I made them for her." Handily foisting the guys on you, she carried the dishes back to the kitchen.

Jungkook shook his head at you, "Y/N, you don't have to--"

You shook your head in turn. "Just wait here... for the cookies." You went into the kitchen, all but pushing Saren from the sink to do the washing.

"Are you sure this is okay?" you asked Saren as you washed the tea set and she set aside the cooled cookies into separate jars and into a box for the guys. "Aren't you even a little angry at Seokjin for rejecting you?"

"I am angry," she confessed. "Even though I realize that the same way I couldn't help like him, he couldn't help not like me, it still makes me angry."

"So why would you welcome him into our home again?"

"Because to welcome him into our home means to welcome Yoongi and Jungkook into our home... means to support Mayu and you."

You finished the washing and faced her. "Mayu maybe, but me...?"

Saren smiled knowingly at you. "In any case, it's better for everyone that I don't hold a grudge against Kim Seokjin. Who knows, we may even become friends one day."

"Friends..." you mumbled. After Jungkook had broken your heart, being friends was the last thing you had wanted to do. You had only wanted to make him regret everything.

You returned to the living room and handed the box of cookies to Jungkook, who said: "Y/N... thanks. I... I'll see you...?"

"I... yeah, I guess." You shrugged, turning away. But when you heard his retreating footsteps, you looked over your shoulder to watch him get in the car driven by Dongwook and ride away with his colleagues.

The next day, you saw Mayu sneer then chuckle as she checked her SNS. You saw a selfie of Seokjin holding a paper cup of green tea latte and wearing a smile for his fans, and Yoongi's obscure post with a tumbler of konacha and cup ramen, and knew which post drew those respective reactions. Jungkook didn't make a post, but he did text you.

JJK: "I understand now why you like peanut butter cookies. The subtly sweet, slightly salty, crunchy cookies are good too, in a different way. I guess things don't always have to be soft and saccharine to be nice." Y/N: ":)"

You had agonized over how to respond, but ended up with a blandly smiling emoji. You found yourself disappointed when he had no follow-up messages--you understood that your response wasn't very inviting, but you hadn't wanted to come across as desperate and over-eager... much like before...

Back when you were a couple, you were the one who had tried, maybe not your best, but at least you had tried. Why was it that you were still the one with so many regrets?

***

(One week before the breakup)

Your calls went unanswered once, twice--maybe five times--that by the time that Jungkook picked up the phone, you screamed: "Who's that girl in that picture?"

You heard him hiss "hush!" and hurried footsteps--the background sounds of their upcoming song, his groupmates' chatter, and staffers calling them to lunch died down after a door slammed. "What picture?" he mumbled, his voice reverberating in a way that made you think he had shut himself in a closet.

"The one on your SNS!"

"I didn't upload any pictures."

"Are you really going to pretend not to know about it?" you demanded.

"Y/N..." he sighed. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"That girl--" you spat, "--tagged you in a pic looking all cozy! I'm not allowed to post pictures with you or to tag you, but it's fine when she does it, is that it?"

You heard him sigh deeply. "You know what, I'm tired. I was working--"

"So hanging out with girls in parties is working now?"

"You know going to those things is also part of our job!" He actually raised his voice at you, and you were taken aback. Perhaps he realized it, because his tone returned to normal. "She's the daughter of one of the company directors... it doesn't mean anything."

"She keeps showing you off to everybody! She obviously wants it to mean something!"

"It's not like that--"

"I don't know if you're stupidly innocent or you're so sly that you can act like you are!" You knew that you were starting to sound like the unhinged jealous girlfriend, so you bit your lip to prevent more accusations from spilling and took a noisy breath. "That girl's after you. So many girls are... and I... I can't even do anything to stop them!"

Instead of comforting you, Jungkook protested: "You're not supposed to do anything to stop them! You're supposed to trust me."

"Trust you? When you go around hanging out with other girls when they're daughters of directors?"

"... And what do you mean by that?" His tone was stiff, as if his jaw was clenched.

"I don't mean anything. Did you really do something suspicious for that to mean something?" you sneered, with grating disingenuousness.

"Y/N... I'm tired and you're angry. I'm going to hang up now before we both say something we regret."

"Jungkook!" you screamed. "Jeon Jungkook, don't you dare hang up. Or else--"

His voice was barely above a whisper, but cutting just the same. "Or else, what?"

"... Or else I'm going to break up with you!"

"Do whatever you want," he muttered. "That's all you keep doing anyway."

"What? That's not true... Jungkook! Jungkook!"

You never wanted to breakup, but you didn't really have a choice... At that point, Jungkook just seemed to be waiting for you to do it anyway. You had pettily thought that breaking up through text would cause him the most pain of all. But you found out that the only thing more painful than a "Let's break up" text message was to get a mere "Ok" in response.

***

You looked round at the three idols standing on your porch again. "You're all here. Again."

"It's like you don't want to see us, Y/N." Seokjin pouted, clutching his chest in mock hurt.

"It's not that, it's just..." It's just that I'm wondering why I'm seeing Jungkook a lot more now than when he was actually my boyfriend... "Come in," you said, suppressing a sigh as you stepped aside and let them through the door.

Mayu had been waiting for her boyfriend in the living room this time. She stood up and walked over to him, but kept herself at arm's length, a teasing grin playing on her lips. "Yoongi."

He raised an eyebrow at her and didn't reach for her either. "Mayu."

For a few seconds, they stared each other down in their weird tsun-tsun face-off game. He cracked first, looping an arm around her waist to draw her into a slow, passionate kiss. Your face burned and you glanced away, only to meet an equally flushed Jungkook's eyes. Both of you coughed and turned away from each other, and you could've sworn you saw Jungkook swallow hard.

To dissipate the tension, you called out: "Saren, Saren--umm, could you help me make tea?"

"But Y/N, we just had lunch--" Saren paused when she saw the guys taking seats in the living room, nodding at each of them. Her glance didn't even linger too long upon Seokjin. "Of course. I'll be right back." She waved you off when you made a move to follow her.

"We shouldn't let her do all the work," you murmured.

Mayu, who had disentangled herself from Yoongi to glance at Saren, shook her head and whispered to you: "Easier for her than to stay here. in awkwardness."

Saren returned with tea, several slices of Camembert cheesecake for the guys and buttery shortbread cookies. "I feel bad that you had to go through the trouble," Seokjin said, even as he ooh-ed over the cheesecake.

"I guess he's not so shameless after all," Mayu murmured.

"It wasn't much," Saren said. She handed him a box from the tray. "By the way, you said you wanted some of that gyokuro, so I got a box for you when I went to the tea shop to restock."

"Thank you! You're so thoughtful, I'm indebted to you." His eyes crinkled as he smiled, and her smile was melancholic as she dropped her gaze away, her cheeks pink.

"I take it back." Mayu muttered, leaning back on the loveseat that she shared with Yoongi as usual.

Yoongi rubbed her arm soothingly. "So there's a reason why we're here..."

"Oh, it wasn't because you missed me?" she gasped in mock outrage.

"It's related to that, babe." His hand caressed her arm lazily now, with more sensuous movements. "We've been nominated in this event... what's it called?"

"Gold Disc awards," Jungkook supplied helpfully.

Both Mayu and Saren gape at that. "You've heard of it?" Seokjin asked. Saren nodded.

"You impress me more and more, you know?" Mayu patted Yoongi's cheek and he smiled a giggly gummy smile, practically nuzzling against her hand.

"We're having an after-party at the Sky Lounge. You're coming." His declaration was followed by a far less confident question: "Umm... right?" You nearly snorted over how whipped he was.

"Of course," she agreed. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Jungkook took a deep breath and his next words tumbled out in a rush: "You too--Y/Nyoucangoright?"

"Umm, what?" you asked, though you had heard him. You had... but you weren't sure that you heard him right.

"Could you... come too?" he bit his lip, his endearing bunny teeth peeking through.

"Me?" You blinked at him. It was unprecedented, for you to come along to one of his fancy work events--you hardly got to go to any events with him, period. But he was looking at you with such wide eyes, that it almost seemed that he sincerely wanted you to come. "I, umm--are you going?" You turned to Saren in desperation.

Her grip tightened around her tea cup, and you realized she wasn't sure if she was part of that invitation and then you weren't sure either. You felt like kicking yourself. "Y/N... I... I don't think I'm supposed--"

"Oh, but it will be fun!" Seokjin interjected. "We hired a sushi chef and a tempura chef, and an open bar with wine from five different countries."

"I see... I may have to work then though, so... I'll have to check. Excuse me." She smiled politely and collected the empty dishes on the tray and took them to the kitchen before heading upstairs. By the time she returned, Dongwook had come back for Seokjin.

"Well, I'm off now, I just dropped by to say hi and give the invitation," Seokjin said.

"Before going on prowl for the girls of Tokyo, huh?" Mayu snorted, her words having a little more bite than mere teasing. It seemed to you that she could never fully forgive the man for rejecting her best friend, even as she deigned to have him around as one of her boyfriend's colleagues and friends.

Seokjin chuckled wordlessly and didn't deny the accusation. He looked at Saren and noticed that she was carrying her purse and had a light coat over her dress. "Oh, are you going somewhere?"

She nodded. "Yes... I need to go to work for a while."

"Teacher, it's not even your work day!" Dongwook cried. "You should take a rest, go on some dates--you look pretty enough to go on a date right now!"

She giggled uneasily. "Maybe some other time."

"I'll introduce you to some guys," Dongwook offered eagerly. Mayu raised an intrigued eyebrow at you and you dropped your mouth open in exaggerated shock.

"Thank you for the consideration," Saren said, without agreeing, and walked ahead.

"Yah, which guys do you know besides us... and other idols..." Seokjin frowned.

"Well, she seems to like idols." Dongwook grinned and cupped his mouth to whisper to Seokjin, but all of you could hear him. "If it all goes well, you don't have to be burdened anymore, right Seokjin?"

"Huh?!" Seokjin's brows furrowed even more.

But the junior manager had run after Saren then: "Teacher, wait up! We'll drop you off at work!" Seokjin followed them, shaking his head uncertainly.

"Well, A for effort, Dongwook." Mayu smirked. "Idols make such terrible romantic prospects though," Mayu remarked, drawing an offended grumble from her own idol boyfriend. She slung her arms around his neck and winked at him. "Of course, there are exceptions..."

It didn't go unnoticed to you, Jungkook's silent, stricken gasp at Mayu's words. But you didn't have much time to dwell on it, as Mayu and Yoongi started playing a movie and invited both of you to join them.

After an afternoon of hanging out with Jungkook and your mutual friends--which was remarkable in that it felt unremarkable, as if you were getting used to it--you spent the evening revising a paper for school, and then you were getting ready for bed. You had already switched off the main light and switched on your night light when your phone rang. It was Jungkook. You composed yourself, sat on the edge of your bed, and answered: "Hello?"

"I'm sorry," he said.

"... Eh?" You wrinkled your nose. "For what?"

"For having been a terrible boyfriend back then."

You hesitated. "You weren't.... terrible, per se..."

"If I wasn't, then why did we break up?"

You had no answer to that question.

"I didn't mean to make you miserable."

"But I wasn't."

"Huh?"

"I wasn't..." You had only said that out of an instinct to be polite, but repeating the words, you realize now that they were true. You had become increasingly frustrated towards the end of the relationship, and that frustration was still fresh in your mind when your paths crossed again, and you couldn't help but treat him with hostility. But your relationship wasn't what made you miserable, it was how it ended. The fact that it ended. Now that your anger over the breakup had dissipated, but you could be honest... you had never regretted having been with Jeon Jungkook.

"Really? But..."

"Even when I couldn't hold your hand, it was nice to walk beside you. Even when I couldn't post pictures with you, I liked taking pictures with you."

"I--I liked those things too!"

"I'm so glad to hear that. Because for me, even when it wasn't always good, there were still moments to be happy about. It seemed like a miracle, that the person I like had agreed to be with me, you know?" you chuckled, more to yourself. "That's why sometimes, just knowing in my heart that I was the one who was with you, even though the world would never know... it made me happy. That Jeon Jungkook was with me... more often than not, it was enough."

"Y/N..." His breath sounded ragged over the phone and you were glad that he couldn't see you cover your nose as it started to get runny while your eyes started to get wet. "There's something I should--" A firm voice in the background cut him off, calling for him and the other members of his group.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye..."

"But Y/N--"

"You've worked hard, Jungkookie," you sighed. "You've always worked hard..."

***

Saren may not have been active on SNS any longer, however she still had friends who were. As soon as you opened your feed, out popped a picture uploaded by the guys' junior manager, Dongwook, wherein he tagged Saren. It was from their academy's cultural exchange festival; Saren had pulled out the big guns--a furisode kimono patterned with cherry blossoms--and Dongwook had captured her in blooming glory. You would've suspected that they were getting suspiciously close, but you knew that Dongwook was now dating another one of Saren's students, thanks to her earnest matchmaking. Dongwook had been completely unsubtle about returning the favor and seemed intent to sell your roommate to any eligible men of his acquaintance. Judging from the reactions to the picture, he was doing well on that front. "Liked by Jaehyung, Mark, Myungsoo.... who are these guys?"

"This is quality." You grinned and liked the picture. It was then that you noticed the tag that said: "You and JJK liked this." You frowned as you clicked it, starting to overthink why your ex-boyfriend was going around liking your very single roommate's picture, only to be distracted when you saw that among the reactions was a '<3' from Seokjinnie.

You made a beeline for Saren, who was curled in the bean bag in the living room, nestled in her books littering the cushion. "Guess who--not just liked, but hearted--your picture?"

Saren looked up at you questioningly, and you could clearly see that she had no clue what you were talking about--she was too transparent to hide her emotions. Far be it from you to pick at a wound that seemed to be healing slowly, but surely, you said: "It's me, I did, your picture was amazing, and the way you looked in that kimono was just... wow, amazing!"

Saren's hand hovered over her phone--and to your relief--she stopped and gave you a wry smile. "Alright, what do you want? Is there something in particular you want for dinner?"

"Nothing, can't I give my sempai a compliment?" You shrugged. "But... doesn't mentaiko pasta sound super good right now?"

"Doesn't it?" she enthused. "You know I'm glad you like it, since Mayu hates it but there are days when I crave it. She'll have to make do with the leftover gyudon from last night." Saren skipped to the kitchen without checking her SNS.

Your sigh of relief turned into a yelp, when your phone vibrated in your hand. You checked the screen and your heartbeat started accelerating when you saw Jungkook's name. "Umm..."

"Hey, Y/N."

"Hi."

"How are you doing?"

"Good..." You tucked your hair behind your ear, as if he could see you.

"I see. That's... good." You could almost see him messing up his hair in the way that he did whenever he was nervous.

As if... I'm just projecting... "Yeah... um, how about you?"

"Good. Busy, but good. We had a lot to do in Korea, that's why we haven't been to Tokyo in a while."

"Okay... I mean, that's expected. You guys being busy."

"Yeah..." The other end of the line fell into total silence, as if he had stopped pacing.

"So... why did you call?" Lest he think you were telling him not to call, you quickly added: "I mean, is there any particular reason...?"

"Yeah, actually I'm calling about that event. You know... the after-party?"

"What about it?"

"Just wanted to ask if you were coming..."

"Yeah... you guys invited all three of us, right?" You bit your lip. "Unless you don't want me to come--"

"I want you to come!" He yelled. He seemed to realize this, because his next words came out in a whisper. "It's just that you never did say if you could come, you know..."

"Oh... sorry." You untucked and retucked your hair behind your ear and sat primly on the couch. "That's bad form isn't it? Not confirming promptly."

"That's fine, that's fine," he said. "As long as you're coming."

"I am."

"Well... we don't have free time before the event, so I'll see you there."

"See you."

When the call ended, you sighed. How nice it would've been if you could've been this way while you were a couple--Jungkook bringing you to places and having him act like he actually wanted you there. But now all you were is an awkward failed couple tangled by your friends' relationships.

***

(Twelve months before the breakup)

It all started during a trip to Tokyo with your camera club. It was through the club that you met him, and you were certain that you could do nothing more but nurse a crush on him from afar, but it was the shining Jeon Jungkook himself who came to you. He was sweet and talented and humble, and despite his shyness, he was always friendly towards you, asking about your photography projects and drawing you out of your own shy shell. It was impossible--it would be a miracle that one such as Jeon Jungkook would return your feelings--but the way he acted made you feel that it was a possibility.

"W-Would you like to come with me?" you asked him as he slung his camera bag on his shoulder. "I know a nice place to take photos..."

"I was planning to go to Akihabara--"

"Believe me, this is better!" you insisted. You almost grabbed his hand, but managed to stop yourself and snatch at the strap of his camera bag instead.

"W-Wait, Y/N!" He nearly tumbled as you pulled him to the sidewalk, but he allowed himself to be pushed into the taxi you flagged down and went with you.

When the taxi stopped, you flung open the door and tugged him to alight after you. He nearly tripped, but he froze in a half crouch when he took in the sight before the two of you. "Wha... is--is that Tokyo Tower?"

You nodded.

"But... I've never seen it look like this before!" he marveled.

"They call this the Diamond Veil...it's a special style of illumination," you explained.

"It's like a nighttime rainbow..." his whisper trailed off into an awed sigh.

"We could get closer but I thought you might find this point more interesting." You tucked your hair behind your ear and lowered your gaze, too shy to risk meeting his eyes. "You... wanted to do long exposure for this project, didn't you? You can see the trails of the cars and the images of the people passing by..."

"You're right, this is a great spot for what I want." From the corner of your eye, you could see him unpack his tripod and set up his camera. "This view... it's so perfect to share with someone special."

"That's why I brought you here..." you mumbled, half to yourself.

"Huh?" Jungkook looked up from his viewfinder and turned to you.

You started--you never expected him to hear you! But Jungkook was looking at you now... And he was here with you now, sharing this special view. So you confessed: "That's why I brought you here! Jeon Jungkook, I--I like you!"

"Huuuh?!--" he gasped, but his breath of disbelief caught as you pulled at his hoodie to kiss him. Your heartbeat thundered in your ears, and your held breath burned in your lungs, but his soft, sweet lips calmed you, and when you pulled away, it was slow and deliberate, gazing into his eyes for an answer.

"Y/N..." He stared down at you, his lips still parted in surprise.

You realize then that he hasn't said anything in encouragement, nor even agreement, and you started to step away. "Sorry--!"

He didn't say anything then, no confessions nor declarations, but his arms wrapped around your waist as he pulled you closer and kissed you. And that was how you found yourself with the shining Jeon Jungkook as your boyfriend. A boyfriend who often seemed more trouble than his weight in gold.

***

"I'm glad you talked me into coming along," Saren told Mayu. "It was worth it just to see this..." She gave you a sidelong glance, her eyes wide and bright.

"What?" You patted your hair, feigning unawareness at how good you looked with your braided updo and black halter-neck mini-dress.

The three of you were seated on the plush leather seats of a sleek black car sent by the guys. It was probably just Yoongi sending the car to take his girlfriend to the event, but the suited chaffeur had also looked for you and Saren, and Mayu had linked her arms with both of you... And now the three of you were on the way to the event.

"Our baby cleans up well, doesn't she?" Mayu winked at you.

"Hey!" you cried. "That's implying that I'm normally a mess!"

"What she means is that you're exceptionally pretty tonight." Saren clutched your arm and smiled up at you.

"Thank you..." you murmured. "Umm... you're really pretty too..." With a dainty floral headband in her wavy hair and blush-pink, chiffon gown, your roommate reminded you of a fairy.

"How about me?" Mayu grinned.

"You already know you look sexy," you grumbled. Mayu's wine-hued gown had a plunging V-neck and clung to her slim figure, and more importantly, she oozed confidence in it. "Yoongi's going to drool all over the club."

"Not as much as Jungkook," she snickered. You frowned, but before you could protest, the car stopped in front of the club and the chauffeur opened the door to allow the three of you alight. Mayu walked to the front desk, and said: "We're going to the party."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "May I see your invitations?"

"We don't have them," Mayu explained. "But we should be on the guest list."

"Sure." She rolled her eyes and nodded at the bouncer.

You had cowered back and Saren squeezed your arm tightly, but Mayu merely held up a finger at the imposing man. "Hold that thought, mister." She placed a call on her cellphone. "Well, hello to you too, sweetheart. I'm actually outside right now, and you wouldn't have been kept waiting if we had an actual physical invitation--I told you it would be troublesome."

In less than a minute, Yoongi had rushed out of the club, shouting: "Let her in!" Regaining his composure, he sauntered up towards her. "And... the others too," he added belatedly.

"So thoughtful," Saren quipped and you laughed.

"Y/N, is something wrong?" Jungkook stood at the doorway, looking out of breath. "I heard Yoongi..."

You shook your head and smiled in what you hoped was an assuring manner. When he gawked at you, you didn't know if you had failed at being assuring, or your look was having the intended effect on him.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..." The woman at the front desk bowed repeatedly, face twisted in contrition. Mayu gave her a small smile and nodded at Yoongi.

"You're not angry?" he asked.

Mayu shrugged. "She was just doing her job."

"You're so... reasonable, you know that?" he gushed, looking positively besotted. His smile turned cat-like as he looked her over admiringly, in *that* clingy gown.

"You guys should've told me they were here!" Seokjin took one long look at Saren and a short breath. "You're beautiful." Somehow you could tell that this wasn't one of his meaningless compliments--he gazed at her with wonder, as if seeing her for the first time.

"Thank you." She smiled, her cheeks pink and graced by that elusive dimple.

"You... you have a dimple." He still sounded breathless. "I-I never noticed. How..?"

"Yeah... it doesn't appear often."

"That's so cute." His eyes turned into crescent moons and his voice cracked as he giggled.

You frowned. Seokjin is acting... weird...

"Save some of your compliments for the rest of the ladies here," Saren teased. She walked past, waving at Dongwook the manager, and completely failing to notice the arm that Seokjin offered. He appeared startled, but followed after her.

"You know that you're so hot, right?" Yoongi smirked at Mayu as he offered his arm.

"I do... but you should always tell me, anyway." She took his arm, and to your surprise, he kissed her with no regard for the fact that they were in public, before leading her to your table at the VIP area.

You were about to follow, but Jungkook all but blocked your path. "You--!" He took a deep breath. "You look... really good."

"Umm, thanks," you muttered. "You too." There was never a time that Jeon Jungkook didn't look good, but with him wearing a classic black suit, it was definitely worth mentioning.

He mumbled what sounded like thanks and presented his arm almost at your face. Awkwardly, you took it, and you saw him gulp as he adjusted it to a more natural angle.

When the two of you reached the table, Dongwook was standing between a familiar man and Saren, making them shake hands. Standing behind her, Seokjin crossed his arms over his broad chest, a rare frown on his face. "Nice to meet you," she said, her voice getting softer, something she did when faced by someone attractive, you know by now.

"It's good to finally meet you," the familiar-looking man said. You were quite sure he was an idol, or at least some kind of celebrity. "Dongwook has talked a lot about you."

"Oh no..." Saren bit her lip when she realized that she had muttered that out loud. "I mean--what kind of things?"

Laughing, he winked in response, and Saren flushed--either in embarrassment or something else.

"Ladies, this is Park Jaehyung. His band has promotions in Japan right now." Dongwook gestured at the man who nodded at you and Mayu politely, then turned back to Saren. "And these are Mayu and Y/N, but you don't have to shake hands with them because they're not available for dating, unlike my teacher--"

"Dongwook!" Saren cried.

Dongwook clapped a hand over his mouth. "Oops--I mean..."

"Dongwook?" Mayu prompted.

"Yes?"

"Shush." At Mayu's command, he nodded obediently. She nudged Saren forward, and your eldest roommate glared at her.

Jaehyung looked round at the rest of you, his eyes catching ever-so-slightly on Seokjin, and said: "Well... I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening."

Saren looked ever-so-slightly disappointed, but inclined her head. Seokjin sent him off with a cheerful wave and invited her to sit; she took the seat beside Seokjin, but you saw her eyes linger upon Jaehyung's retreating back--and him looking over his shoulder in turn.

Jungkook all but deposited you into the seat next to Saren and sat beside you, squaring his shoulders as he set his elbows on his knees--you couldn't help but feel that he was boxing you in the table. The gesture annoyed you less than it should've. Jungkook popped open a bottle of champagne and poured it into flutes--and in a breach of protocol, offered the first one to you. His older groupmates didn't call him out on it, however; Seokjin led a toast and Yoongi ignored the champagne in favor of beer.

"I love this song," Saren commented, swaying slightly to the music.

"It's very romantic to dance to," Seokjin pointed out. She glanced towards Jaehyung; who was also swaying to the song.

Seokjin held out his hand, about to continue what he had meant to say, but Saren had turned to you and Mayu questioningly. "Hey, do you think...?"

Mayu winked at her. "A wise woman once said: 'What's there to life but to keep trying?'"

Despite Seokjin raising a puzzled eyebrow at both of you, you encouraged Saren with a single word. "Go."

Saren beamed at both of you. "May I take some of this?" Saren seized one of the chilled champagne bottles by the neck. When no one protested, she poured two flutes, excused herself and walked towards the bar. Seokjin's eyes widened, and he squared his broad shoulders as if every muscle in his body had tensed.

Despite her straight-backed posture and purposeful steps, you had seen her hands shaking and uncertainty in her wide eyes. You could all see her offer a flute to Jaehyung and when he shook his head, she nodded and turned to leave. Seokjin relaxed in his seat. But Jaehyung picked the flutes out of her hands, set them on the counter, and took her by the hand, leading her to the dance floor.

"They look good together," Mayu commented.

Both you and Yoongi nodded in agreement, but Jungkook shrugged. "They're alright..." He gave Seokjin a sidelong glance.

"Was she always this lovely?" Seokjin mumbled.

"Of course," Mayu huffed, startling him as if he hadn't meant to pose that question aloud.

"Of course she was, huh..." Seokjin gazed at the dancing couple and you saw him swallow hard. The song wound down to the last few lines, and he stood up and adjusted his suit before starting to walk towards her.

"Seokjin-oppa!" A simpering girl clung to his arm--she could've been any one of the many girls that hung around Seokjin, you couldn't tell them apart. "Are you busy?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say a word, Mayu cut in: "He isn't."

"Yay! Let's dance!" She dragged him with her, ignoring his stammered protests. His neck craned as he tried to glimpse Saren, but she was too preoccupied with Jaehyung, who raised a finger and smiled shyly, obviously asking her to another dance.

Yoongi's brows were drawn in concern. "Seokjin is..."

"Well, he's busy dancing. We should dance too." Mayu grabbed both his hands and Yoongi allowed himself to be led to the dance floor, even as he protested that he didn't slow dance.

To cover the awkwardness of being left alone with Jungkook, you reached for the wine bottle to pour yourself another drink. But he snatched both bottle and glass from you, before he stood up and bowed. "May I have this dance?"

"Yes... " you replied.

In the one year that you were Jeon Jungkook's girlfriend, you had never been his official date to any events, you had certainly never worn a fancy dress and danced with him in a trendy club... you couldn't even hold his hand in public. And yet right now, you were doing all those things, and Jeon Jungkook was looking at you in a way that, if he had only looked at you that way before, would've prevented any sort of breakup from happening in the first place.

"You really are beautiful, you know?" he said.

"T-Thanks..." You caught yourself before you could stutter more and tried to continue the conversation: "Mayu helped me pick this dress. And she also did my make-up, you know I'm hopeless with that--"

"You look really good today, but I meant... you're beautiful all the time," he clarified.

"Jungkook..."

"You know, Seokjin found it to be such a turnoff, the way Saren earnestly pursued him. Whether it's because he's tired of that reaction from women, or because he has some old-fashioned ideas about relationships--it repelled him." He shook his head. "And I thought it was so pitiful, to be rejected even as you put your whole heart on the line as she did."

You dropped your gaze, feeling those words hit a little too close to home.

"But I was wrong."

You looked up.

"What's truly pitiful is to not value that sincerity, isn't it? To throw away that sincerity gifted to you, or to never be sincere in turn." His voice gained strength... and certainty. "I played it safe all this time, never letting you know how much I felt for you, nor how much power those feelings gave you over me. I didn't want to be that pitiful person who'll only get dumped after being so sincere."

"Jungkook--"

"Even if you should reject me, I want you to know, sincerely, that I love you. I never stopped loving you. And that was my biggest mistake--not showing how much I loved you." He cupped your cheeks and planted a soft kiss upon your forehead. Your eyes fluttered shut as you relished the warmth of his lips. All too suddenly, that warmth was gone, his arms had released you, and when you opened your eyes, Jungkook was bowing to you and leaving the dance floor.

You gawked after him, frozen within the turmoil of emotions he left in his wake. Anger was the easiest to process--how dare he do this? How dare he make you responsible for what happens to your relationship again? Whether it was becoming a couple or breaking up, why did it always have to fall upon you to make the move?

So what? A tiny voice whispered in your heart. Is that so important? More important than being honest about your own feelings?

You looked around as you walked to your table: Saren was sitting at the bar with Jaehyung, both of them all smiles and laughter as they posed for selfies; Mayu was wrapped in Yoongi's arms, still swaying to another romantic song, and Seokjin was sitting at the table and sipping wine in silence, seemingly oblivious to the usual admirers thronged around him. "Hi... do you know where Jungkook went?" you asked.

"No..." he stared at you for a few moments, looking like he wanted to tell you something. Before you could ask him what it was, your phone vibrated, alerting you to SNS posts that you might be interested in. Yoongi's and Mayu's separate posts were pictures of their own hands, each wearing one of a couple ring set. Saren didn't post anything, but was tagged in a cute selfie with one Park Jaehyung. And Jeon Jungkook...

JJK: "If we could meet at that place and begin again..."

You gazed out the wide windows, at the illuminated tower, as colorful as a nighttime rainbow.

Seokjin started to speak. "Y/N, do you think--"

You pocketed your phone. "Sorry Seokjin, there's somewhere I have to be. If you'll excuse me..."

Rather than his usual bright and charming smile, the curve of his lips was subtle and wistful. "Of course. You should go while you still can." His gaze darted from the SNS app on his own phone, to the bar.

"Sorry," you repeated, returning his faint smile.

Aggressively flagging down a taxi as soon as you exited the club, you plead with the driver: "Shiba Park--please hurry!"

You didn't want to be like Seokjin, throwing away that chance for love only to second-guess it too late.

While I still can... as long as I can... I'll go to you, Jeon Jungkook.

***

You found him at the tree-lined avenue with the clear, perfect view of Tokyo Tower. You were sure your footsteps were loud in the stilettos that you were unused to walking in, but Jungkook didn't realize your presence as you approached him from behind until you had taken his hand. "Y/N...?" he murmured, before he had even glanced down at you.

"Let's do it."

"Huh...?"

"Us. Let's begin again."

He beamed at you with shining eyes and nodded. You both turned to the tower, and moments later, the lights switched off.

"I'm glad," he said. "Doesn't that mean that we'll finally be together forever?"

"No." Jungkook's head snapped back to stare at you and you smiled at the worried look on his face. "That's mere superstition. We won't be together forever after watching Tokyo Tower's lights shut down. But we'll be together forever because we love each other and we'll make it work this time... won't we?"

"We will." he promised, squeezing your hand.

***

(Four weeks after the new beginning)

Sprawled on top of the covers of your made bed, you scrolled through your phone.

Sarensaku is in a relationship.

"Omo... aren't you going a little fast, sempai?" you chuckled as you clicked *'Like.'* "But I'm glad... that Jaehyung's a good guy." Then you continued scrolling.

IshiiMayu checked in Hanazono Onsen. YoonGi posted a status: "Hot springs are the best for relaxing."

"A hot springs trip together, that's going even faster!" You clicked 'Like' for both posts.

Seokjinnie posted a photo: "#hanakotoba"

It was a photo of a pond, covered with pink lotus blooms. You tilted your head, surprised that he didn't post a selfie and searched for the meaning of lotus blooms in your browser.

"'Being far away from the one you love,' huh... Why did you stay in Korea for your break then, stupid old man?" you sighed, clicking 'Like' for sympathy. "But even in Tokyo… it will be too far."

You were about to put away your phone when it buzzed with a message.

JJK: "Guess where I am?" Y/N: "Aren't you supposed to be boarding?" JJK: "Nope... I managed to snag an earlier flight." Y/N: "Do you mean... " JJK: "I can see it now. I'll wait for you there. At that place. ;)"

"No way, what a stressful surprise!" you cried. But you hopped off your bed in excitement and quickly pulled on your prepared outfit of a cute knitted sweater and a pair of skinny jeans that fitted you just right and fluffed out your hair as you flagged down a cab to take you to Shiba Park.

As he promised, Jungkook was already waiting for you there, standing in the central walkway. Even in his oversized hoodie and facemask, you could recognize him.

Jumping up and down, he waved at you with both hands. "Y/N!" he called.

You giggled at the sight of him--he looked like a big kid. "Hey!" you couldn't call out his name in public, but you waved back, matching his enthusiasm.

He met you halfway and shamelessly ducked to peck you on the lips. You pouted up at him, teasing: "What, you can't even steal a proper kiss?"

Pulling you into his arms, he kissed you deeply, making you tingle all over. When he released you, you blinked at him, speechless. He smirked with pride, and before you could slap his arm in retaliation, he grabbed your hand and started walking.

With his free hand, he snatched off his mask and flicked his hood down, exposing his face.

"Ah.. " you started to point that out, but he pulled you closer. The other people in the park started whispering and pointing, trying to be subtle, but they were obviously noticing him walking with you. "Kookie, I know you don't get mobbed here unlike in other places, but they--they're going to know... about us--"

"Let them," he declared, grinning. "I want them to."

"But... is it really okay?" you asked.

"Sure--just take responsibility." He waved his phone at you.

You reached for your own phone and found the notification of a relationship--with JJK's profile that had just been made public.

You pressed 'Confirm.'

Y/N is in a relationship with JJK.

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