#I will get this second chapter done this week (delusional)
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HOLD ME ANYWAY: CHAPTER 12
paige x azzi
Hi guys. I ended up just focusing on this instead of the new fic. I wanted to keep the focus of this chapter just on their date. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
crossposted ao3 here
masterlist here
wc: 6826
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The gym always had a different sound on game-week Thursdays, lighter, sharper, more deliberate. Balls thudded crisply against the hardwood, sneakers cut sharper across the court, and the usual half-lazy warmups carried an edge of focus beneath the noise. But Paige wasn’t really locked in. Not like usual.
She was doing the drills. Hitting the cuts. Smiling at Nika when they ran suicides and she still came in first. But her mind was off-center, drifting somewhere between what if this date is too much and what if it’s not enough.
Azzi didn’t seem distracted. Not visibly. She was locked into her form, her eyes fixed on the rim every time she caught a pass. But Paige noticed the little things, the way Azzi looked away the second their eyes met during water breaks. The slight flush in her cheeks when Coach called for free throws and Paige brushed past her just a little too close.
There was something building between them, slow and unspoken. Everyone could feel it. Especially after Ruby came to breakfast Tuesday. After the way Ruby melted into Paige like she belonged there.
By the time practice wound down and everyone hit the locker room, Paige was practically vibrating with the itch to be close to Azzi again. She showered quickly, threw on a hoodie and sweatpants, and waited just long enough for the room to get noisy, conversations spilling from lockers, KK arguing with Ice about music, Nika yelling about someone stealing her compression tights before she moved.
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Azzi was standing at her locker, her back turned, pulling her hoodie over her head. Hair still damp, earbuds in. Unaware.
Perfect.
Paige moved quietly, slipping through the chaos, and came up behind her like she belonged there, like it was muscle memory now. She slid her arms around Azzi’s waist from behind, slow and steady, palms flat against her stomach, thumbs grazing just beneath the hem of her hoodie. She felt Azzi jolt, then freeze.
“Jesus Paige,” Azzi hissed under her breath, one hand instinctively grabbing Paige’s forearm.
Paige leaned in, her mouth close to Azzi’s ear, her voice low and warm. “Just practicing for later. Gotta make sure I’m in date mode.”
Azzi tilted her head slightly, just enough for Paige to see the edge of her smile. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You’re nervous,” Paige whispered, teasing. “I can feel it.”
Azzi let out a soft laugh, the kind that she always tried to muffle but never quite could. “Shut up.”
“I’m serious,” Paige said, brushing her nose lightly along Azzi’s temple. “You’ve been pretending to ignore me all practice, but I caught you looking. A lot.”
“You’re delusional,” Azzi muttered, but her voice lacked conviction. She leaned back slightly, not enough for anyone to notice, but enough for Paige to feel it, the way she relaxed into her touch.
“Still not telling you where we’re going,” Paige murmured.
Azzi reached back and poked her side. “If this ends with me on a mechanical bull I swear to God”
“Tempting,” Paige grinned, stepping back just a little. “But no. It’s not a rodeo. Just us. Somewhere private. Somewhere good.”
Azzi finally turned around, leaning against the locker with a raised brow. “You practicing for The Bachelor or what?”
Paige shrugged, smug. “I’ve got range.”
From the other side of the room, Nika yelled, “Hey Bueckers, you done flirting or do you need us to clear the room?”
Paige didn’t even look. She just grinned wider. “Don’t worry. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Azzi shook her head, trying and failing to suppress a smile as she pulled her bag over her shoulder. “You’re trouble.”
Paige leaned in one last time, quick, her breath brushing against Azzi’s jaw as she whispered, “And tonight, you’re stuck with me.”
Azzi’s breath caught, barely, but Paige caught it and then she was gone, slipping toward the exit with her heart pounding and her grin too big to hide.
Tonight was going to be everything.
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The late afternoon sun spilled through the dorm window in golden stripes, catching dust motes in the air and painting Paige’s floor with light. It was almost five. The hallway outside buzzed with post-class noise, doors opening, someone shouting about takeout, sneakers squeaking on linoleum but inside, Paige’s room had turned into a war zone of denim, discarded shirts, and Jordan boxes.
Nika was lying diagonally across Paige’s bed, arms folded behind her head like she was observing a fashion show. KK stood by the closet, holding up a cream sweater that Paige had vetoed twenty minutes ago.
“Okay,” KK said. “This is your first real date, right? You can’t wear the same hoodie you wore the day Ruby introduced you to Sparklehorn.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Paige said, half-laughing, half-panicked. She stood in front of the mirror wearing a white button-up, crisp, slightly oversized, and wide-legged black jeans. Her white low Jordans were on the floor nearby, waiting like they knew they were the finishing touch.
Nika tilted her head. “Actually? That shirt’s kinda doing it for me.”
Paige raised an eyebrow. “You hitting on me?”
“I mean, no offense,” Nika said, “but if you don’t ask her to be your girlfriend in that outfit, I might.”
KK nodded, arms crossed. “It’s confident. Clean. Hot but not too try-hard. It says, ‘I might be emotionally available and have good taste in music.’”
“Exactly the vibe I’m going for,” Paige muttered, then sat down on the edge of the bed, running both hands through her hair. “God, why am I nervous?”
“Because you’re gonna ask her to be your girlfriend,” KK said. “Tonight. That’s huge.”
“You love a soft launch,” Nika added. “But this is the hard launch, Bueckers. This is ‘I want you officially’ territory.”
Paige exhaled slowly and nodded. “Yeah. I know.”
KK softened. “You sure about karaoke?”
“I think it’s perfect,” Paige said, her voice steadier now. “It’s dumb and sweet and lowkey. And it’s just us. I’ve got the room reserved, dinner set up. I even made a playlist for the drive.”
Nika blinked. “You made a playlist?”
“She’s gone,” KK said. “Absolutely gone.”
Paige didn’t deny it.
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Fifteen minutes later and across town, Azzi stood barefoot in her bedroom, tan skirt hanging off a velvet hanger, white tank top tucked under her arm. The light in the room was softer now, golden hour bleeding across the walls, Ruby’s toy bin glowing in one corner, Sparklehorn slumped dramatically on her pillow like a chaperone with opinions.
On her phone screen, Caroline and Ines were side-by-side in their dorm, both craning their necks to get a better look.
“Okay,” Ines said, tilting her head. “The tan skirt is perfect. Soft, cute, understated. Wear the tank. Add the gold hoops. Done.”
“I agree,” Caroline said. “You don’t want to overdress. You want to look like you tried… but didn’t try too hard.”
Azzi raised an eyebrow. “You two are exactly the kind of girls I used to roll my eyes at in high school.”
“And yet,” Caroline said sweetly, “you are FaceTiming us for outfit approval.”
Azzi sighed and stepped into the skirt, tucking the tank in as she glanced at herself in the mirror. “I still don’t know where we’re going.”
“That’s part of the charm,” Ines said. “You just have to trust her.”
Azzi smiled to herself, a small, nervous smile. “I do. That’s what scares me.”
The room was quiet for a second before Caroline added gently, “It’s okay to be scared. You’re allowed to want this.”
Azzi’s phone buzzed.
A text from Paige: “On my way”
Azzi stared at the message for a second too long before answering with just: “See you soon.”
When she looked back at the screen, Caroline and Ines were both grinning.
“What?” Azzi asked.
“You smiled,” Ines said. “Like, really smiled.”
Azzi rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the blush from creeping up her cheeks. She walked over to grab her earrings, heart starting to race.
Tonight wasn’t just a date.
It felt like something bigger.
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The knock came just before six. It was soft, deliberate, like whoever was on the other side didn’t want to intrude but couldn’t wait another second. Azzi was still fixing the clasp of her necklace when she heard it. She hadn’t even made it to the hallway before Ruby sprinted past her in socked feet, already shouting, “I get it! I get it!” with Sparklehorn bouncing from one arm like a limp bodyguard.
“Roo...wait, baby, let me..." But it was too late. Ruby had already unlocked the front door with both hands and flung it open like it was a surprise party.
“PAIGEY!”
Azzi rounded the corner just in time to see Ruby launch herself across the threshold, curls flying, eyes wide, and into Paige’s arms like she’d been waiting days, not hours. Paige caught her easily, laughing as she hoisted her up, one hand steady on her back.
“Well hey there, Sparklehorn’s assistant,” Paige said, voice soft as she twirled once on the porch with Ruby clinging tight. “Miss me already?”
“I wanna come,” Ruby said immediately, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes. “Can I come too? Pwease?”
Azzi’s heart caught in her chest. She stepped up behind them, hand gently brushing Ruby’s back. “Baby, this is a special date. Just for me and Paige tonight.”
Ruby’s face scrunched, lower lip trembling in that dramatic little pout she’d perfected since age two. “But she picked me the ‘corn.”
“I know,” Paige said, crouching slightly to be at her eye level, arms still wrapped around her. “And because you’re the best unicorn boss ever, I’m gonna bring you something back. Deal?”
Ruby considered this with the gravity of a world leader. Then nodded, slowly. “With a snack?”
“With a snack,” Paige promised, holding out her pinky.
Ruby locked hers without hesitation. “Okay. But I want pictures too.”
“You got it.”
Azzi stepped forward to scoop her up and kissed her cheek as she did. Ruby hugged Paige one more time over her shoulder before letting go, her arms stretching out like she was being dragged away from Disneyland. “Bye Paigey! Don’t forget the snack!”
Paige chuckled, stepping inside now that the doorway was clear. “I won’t. I promise.”
The hallway was warmly lit, the scent of roasted garlic and something sweet still lingering in the air. Katie appeared from the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel. Tim followed behind, glasses low on his nose and a faint smile already in place.
“Well, this must be Paige,” Katie said, stepping forward with the kind of energy Azzi could never quite compete with. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope,” Paige said with a small, nervous laugh, extending a hand.
Katie took it with both of hers. “The best.”
Tim gave a little wave from behind. “I’m Tim. This one’s old man.”
“Nice to meet you both,” Paige said, standing a little straighter. “Thanks for... letting me steal your daughter for the night.”
Azzi glanced away, a small flush creeping across her cheeks. Paige’s voice had dropped just slightly when she said your daughter, and somehow it had gone straight to the center of her chest.
“She’s earned it,” Katie said, her tone warm but knowing. “It’s been a big week.”
Paige smiled at that. “She deserves something special.”
Azzi couldn’t stop the way her chest expanded with that. Paige wasn’t trying to be impressive, she was just sincere. And it landed like truth every time.
They didn’t linger. Ruby had already moved on to bribing her grandfather for ice cream, and Katie gave Azzi a look that was equal parts go, have fun and don’t overthink it.
Paige stepped back toward the door and held it open without comment. No show, no pretense, just a small gesture that made Azzi’s heart race faster than it should have.
Outside, the evening air was soft and full of early spring, that gentle mix of fading warmth and cooling breeze that made everything feel like a memory already forming. The sky was tinged peach and violet at the edges, just dark enough to hint at the night ahead.
Azzi followed Paige down the walkway toward the car, her fingers brushing the side of her skirt, suddenly very aware of her outfit again. Paige didn’t comment on it, didn’t stare or whistle or say anything performative. But when she glanced over as they reached the passenger side, her mouth twitched into something that looked a lot like damn.
“You look... really good,” Paige said finally, unlocking the door and opening it for her.
Azzi raised a brow as she slid in. “That all you got?”
Paige bent down slightly, resting one arm on the doorframe. “If I say more, I might not be able to drive straight.”
Azzi laughed and buckled her seatbelt, heart pounding. “Fair.”
Paige closed the door and rounded the car, her silhouette carved against the amber sky. When she slid into the driver’s seat, she didn’t say anything for a moment just looked over at Azzi with that steady, blue-eyed calm that always felt like a tether.
“You ready?” she asked, turning the key in the ignition.
Azzi smiled, folding her hands in her lap. “Not even a little.”
Paige grinned. “Good.”
As they pulled out of the driveway, Azzi turned to glance back at the house. The porch light had flicked on. The curtains in the living room swayed slightly where the window had been cracked.
She faced forward again, trying not to overthink.
But it was already happening, her body relaxing, her chest settling into a rhythm she only seemed to find around Paige.
She didn’t know where they were going.
But somehow, that didn’t scare her.
Not tonight.
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They pulled into the parking lot just after sunset. The sky had gone indigo, the last blush of color fading over the horizon, and the building in front of them looked... unremarkable. Brick and glass, a strip mall unit tucked between a nail salon and a dry cleaner, with a glowing sign that read Midnight Mic in bright cursive. Azzi squinted at it, confused.
“This is where we’re going?” she asked as Paige put the car in park.
Paige glanced over with a smirk. “Still trust me?”
Azzi gave a long, theatrical sigh. “Debatable.”
But when Paige got out and jogged around to open her door again, casual, like it wasn’t a big deal, Azzi couldn’t help the little flutter that passed through her chest. She took Paige’s hand as she stepped out and didn’t let go.
Inside, the space was dim and moody, with velvet curtains and neon lights casting soft glows on dark wooden floors. Music pulsed faintly from somewhere deeper in the building, but the front was quiet. A bored-looking host checked them in without much fanfare, and Paige murmured something under her breath that Azzi didn’t catch before they were led down a hallway lined with numbered doors.
At the last one, the host stopped and gestured with a hand. “Private room. You’ve got it until close.”
Paige nodded, then reached for the handle. “Ready?”
Azzi arched a brow. “Should I be?”
Paige just smiled, that open, slightly cocky grin that meant she knew something Azzi didn’t, and pushed the door open.
The space was small but intimate. Walls lined with dark acoustic paneling, a low sectional couch, a mounted screen glowing in standby mode. But what caught Azzi’s breath were the details, the subtle flicker of candlelight along the walls, the table in the corner with a full plated dinner setup for two, and the scattered bouquets of pink and white roses tucked into every empty surface like the whole room had been arranged by feeling.
Azzi stood still in the doorway, taking it in.
Paige stepped behind her, resting a hand gently at her waist. “Too much?”
Azzi shook her head slowly, voice soft. “No. It’s... it’s perfect.”
They sat across from each other at the little table while soft music played over the speakers, something ambient, low, more vibe than melody. The dinner was warm and simple: lemon chicken, roasted vegetables, garlic bread still soft at the center. Azzi didn’t have much appetite, but she ate because Paige had clearly gone to a lot of effort. And every few minutes, she caught Paige watching her with that half-smile, like this was everything she’d hoped for.
Midway through the meal, Paige set down her fork and leaned forward on her elbows. “Can I ask you something kind of personal?”
Azzi swallowed, nodding. “Yeah.”
Paige didn’t look away. “How did you find out you were pregnant?”
The question landed gently, not invasive, just open. Azzi sat back in her chair, exhaling slowly as she traced a finger along the edge of her water glass.
“I was seventeen,” she said, her voice quiet. “There was this guy. We weren’t anything serious. Just... dumb and impulsive and thought we were invincible.”
Paige didn’t interrupt.
“We were careful,” Azzi added. “Or thought we were. But one day I noticed I was late. Not by much. Just enough to make my chest tight every time I checked the calendar.”
She let the silence hold for a moment.
“I took a test in the locker room after practice,” she said, lips twisting into something bittersweet. “In a stall. By myself.”
Paige’s eyes softened.
“I didn’t believe it. I took two more the next morning. When I told him, the guy, he...” Azzi’s throat tightened. “He denied it. Said there was no way. Said I must’ve been sleeping with someone else. And that was the last time we spoke.”
Paige blinked once. “I’m so sorry.”
Azzi shrugged, but it wasn’t careless. Just resigned. “The hardest part wasn’t even him. It was the way everyone else turned on me. People I’d been friends with since middle school suddenly treated me like I was contagious. Like I’d ruined something sacred.”
She looked down at her hands.
“My parents were shocked, obviously. But they didn’t hesitate. They pulled me out of school, helped me finish online. My mom was with me when I gave birth. My dad drove us home. And when UConn reached out... they didn’t blink. They moved across the country for me. For her.”
She looked up again. Paige hadn’t said a word, just listened, eyes steady, hands folded on the table like she was holding the weight of the story alongside her.
“I don’t regret her,” Azzi said. “Not even for a second. But I do regret how alone I felt. How much shame I let other people put on me.”
There was a pause. Paige reached across the table then, not a grand gesture, just her fingers curling gently around Azzi’s.
“You’re incredible,” she said, voice quiet. “Ruby’s lucky as hell. So are your parents. So am I.”
Azzi’s throat went tight again, but she didn’t look away. She didn’t pull back.
Paige smiled, squeezed her hand “Okay,” she said lightly, “before I cry and ruin the moment... it’s time.”
Azzi tilted her head. “Time for what?”
Paige stood slowly, smoothing the front of her shirt with a theatrical flair as she walked toward the karaoke system. Azzi watched her suspiciously from her seat, arms loosely crossed, brow lifted with curiosity. Paige caught her gaze, her smile confident and teasing, eyes sparkling mischievously beneath the soft glow of the candles.
“Alright,” Paige said casually as she picked up the mic and turned back toward Azzi, her voice dipping low with playful intensity. “Absolutely no judgment allowed, I’m stepping way outside my comfort zone here.”
Azzi tilted her head, lips twitching into a teasing smirk. “You literally play basketball in front of sold-out arenas every week.”
Paige paused dramatically, then leaned toward her, eyes narrowing flirtatiously. “Yeah, but those games don’t usually involve me singing.”
Azzi’s mouth parted in amused disbelief as the song title appeared on the screen behind Paige, Floating – Alina Baraz ft. Khalid.
“You wouldn’t,” Azzi murmured softly, already feeling heat rising gently into her cheeks.
Paige held her gaze, eyes warm and daring, mic gripped loosely in her hand. “I absolutely would.”
The slow, dreamy beat filled the room, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and gentle anticipation. Paige took a deliberate step forward, her hips swaying subtly to the rhythm, gaze locked steadily onto Azzi. As the opening notes unfolded, Paige let the melody settle around her, clearly relaxing into the moment.
She raised the mic slowly, her voice soft and velvety as she sang, eyes focused intently on Azzi’s flushed face:
“It’s in the way you see… You know what I need…”
Azzi immediately felt her pulse quicken, her face warming under Paige’s openly adoring gaze. Paige stepped closer, exaggerating each movement slightly, playful yet sincere as her free hand reached out, fingertips brushing lightly over Azzi’s knee, causing her to jump slightly in surprise and laugh breathlessly.
Paige smiled, pleased with Azzi’s reaction, and leaned even closer, voice growing sweeter, more seductive with each line she sang directly to Azzi:
“It’s in the way that you’re holding me, bringing me close… You know that I won’t let go…”
She punctuated the line by gently squeezing Azzi’s hand, drawing a shaky, amused breath from her. Paige pulled back slightly, grinning as Azzi blushed furiously and hid her face behind her palm, embarrassed yet undeniably charmed.
Paige moved smoothly back toward the center of the room, spinning lightly on her heel, turning the mic in her hand with exaggerated flair, channeling some imagined pop-star persona. Her voice lowered, now sultry, intentionally theatrical:
“You’ve got me on repeat… You’ve got me in a dream…”
On the word dream, Paige placed a hand dramatically over her heart, tossing her head back in faux anguish. Azzi couldn’t hold back her laughter, nearly doubled over, eyes bright with amused tears.
“Paige,” she gasped, shaking her head fondly, “you’re ridiculous.”
Paige only winked, undeterred. She held Azzi’s gaze as she slowly approached again, singing with increased confidence, the playful humor softening into something surprisingly sincere:
“I let my worries go soon as you come through the door… Thinking ’bout what it’d be like to be yours…”
On the final word, Paige pointed gently toward Azzi’s chest, eyes sparkling knowingly, letting the sincerity slip through her teasing. Azzi’s smile softened immediately, feeling the shift, the warmth of the moment wrapping around her.
Paige leaned in closer again, free hand lightly brushing Azzi’s shoulder, voice low and velvety as she sang the next lines almost in a whisper, eyes holding Azzi’s:
“Every time you move, you’re looking like you’re dancing… It’s in the way you touch me…”
Her hand traced softly down Azzi’s arm, leaving goosebumps trailing beneath her touch. Azzi drew in a sharp breath, smiling shyly up at her, heart pounding against her ribs.
Paige pulled back with a teasing smile, returning to the playful attitude, twirling dramatically around the room, exaggerating gestures as she continued, voice dipping and rising with playful intensity:
“I don’t know much about love… But I’ll keep on checking my phone to see when you’re home…”
She mimed dramatically checking her phone, glancing at Azzi with exaggerated anticipation, causing Azzi to laugh and shake her head once more, thoroughly charmed and still slightly mortified.
Paige’s voice softened again as she sang the last lines, eyes growing serious, slowing her movements until she was standing just in front of Azzi again, singing now in a tone that felt genuinely earnest:
“We’re one in the same… You got me caught in a daze…”
Azzi’s breath hitched quietly as Paige reached out, gently tracing her thumb along Azzi’s flushed cheek, gaze locked tenderly onto hers as she sang the next line softly, intentionally:
“I love it when you say my name real slow…”
Paige’s eyes dropped briefly to Azzi’s lips, her voice softer now, almost a whisper as she concluded, barely audible beneath the melody:
“All my love is yours, I think that you could have it… Everything you do, I want to do it with you… Don’t ever want to miss you…”
As the song ended, Paige gently lowered the mic, the room slipping into silence, the soft hum of the speakers fading to nothing. She watched Azzi closely, smiling gently, slightly out of breath, her eyes warm with quiet intensity.
Azzi stared back up at her, eyes wide, chest tight with emotion, laughter replaced by a warmth so deep and full she wasn’t sure she’d ever catch her breath again.
Paige finally broke the silence, voice gently teasing but still serious, barely above a whisper. “You still think I’m ridiculous?”
Azzi’s smile softened fully, gaze tender and open. “Definitely,��� she whispered affectionately. “But… it’s my favorite thing about you.”
Paige stepped closer, and quietly closed the remaining distance between them, her hand gently returning to Azzi’s waist, the moment humming warmly between them.
“I was gonna sing ‘Hold Me Down,’” she said, eyes glittering with humor, “but technically I already sang that to you... so I figured I’d try something new.”
Azzi let out a breath of a laugh, eyes wet, smile pulling crooked. “Took you long enough to admit that.”
Paige stepped forward slowly, gently closing the distance between them until there was hardly any room left for the air itself. Her hands found Azzi’s waist first, settling lightly at the curve where the fabric of Azzi’s skirt met bare skin. Her touch was warm, steady, fingertips pressing softly against Azzi’s sides, anchoring her.
Azzi’s breath caught slightly. Her heart felt too big for her chest, a hummingbird trapped beneath her ribs, but she didn’t move. She just stayed still, eyes wide, locked on Paige’s with something like awe. Paige’s voice was soft, low, and so tender it nearly ached when she finally spoke.
“Okay,” she whispered, thumb tracing gentle circles into Azzi’s hip through the thin fabric, “now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself and probably violated every karaoke law…”
Azzi laughed softly, almost breathless, her hand drifting up to rest lightly against Paige’s chest. “I liked it.”
Paige smiled, a slow, gentle curve that was equal parts shy and confident. Her voice grew quieter, just between them now. “Azzi Fudd, the best mum in the world with the best daughter in the world…will you be my girlfriend?”
Azzi’s breath stilled completely, caught in her throat. Her cheeks flushed, heat spreading through her entire body. She blinked once, twice, suddenly overwhelmed by how sincere Paige looked. How real this moment felt. How deeply Paige’s words sank into her chest, leaving her utterly open, vulnerable, yet strangely fearless.
Azzi shook her head slowly, lips pulling into a gentle, amazed smile. Her fingers curled slightly into Paige’s shirt, pulling her just a fraction closer. “You’re so full of it.”
Then, without waiting for another beat, Azzi reached up, cupped Paige’s face between her hands, and kissed her.
It wasn’t cautious or careful. It was deep, sure, and immediately dizzying, Azzi’s lips pressing against Paige’s in a kiss so fully intentional it left no doubt about her answer. Paige made a soft sound, something quiet and breathy, as her grip tightened instinctively on Azzi’s waist, pulling their bodies flush against each other until there was barely room to breathe.
Azzi’s mouth parted, allowing Paige to deepen the kiss, tongues brushing softly, tentative at first, then slowly exploring, tasting, moving together like the whole night had been building to this. Paige’s hand slid further around Azzi’s waist, fingers splayed across the small of her back, anchoring her firmly against her own body. Azzi felt her skin ignite, the heat blossoming wherever Paige touched—warm, electric, perfect.
The kiss softened gradually, slowing, growing gentle again as Paige’s lips brushed once, twice, softly against Azzi’s mouth, a final lingering touch before they reluctantly parted. Paige kept holding her close, breathing unsteady as her forehead came to rest gently against Azzi’s. Their eyes stayed closed for a long moment, just absorbing it, feeling the quiet hum of connection ripple through the silence.
Azzi slowly opened her eyes, her breath coming in soft, shallow pulls. Paige was already looking at her, gaze intense, eyes so warm Azzi felt her heart stumble again. Her hand rested gently on Paige’s chest, feeling the rhythmic beat beneath her fingertips.
“Yes,” Azzi whispered finally, smiling softly into the space between them. Her voice was tender, breathless, and unmistakably sure. “Of course, Paige. I’m already yours. Ruby is already yours”
Paige pulled back slowly, just enough to meet Azzi’s eyes again, her gaze softly tracing the flushed glow spreading across Azzi’s cheeks. Azzi’s breath still came unevenly, her lips parted, slightly swollen, still tingling from Paige’s kiss. She swallowed softly, her eyes lingering on Paige’s mouth before slowly moving upward, meeting Paige’s knowing, gentle smile.
“Come here,” Paige murmured softly, tugging Azzi’s hand gently and guiding her toward the plush couch tucked into the corner. Azzi followed easily, allowing herself to be pulled down into Paige’s side, warmth spreading between them as Paige wrapped an arm securely around her shoulders. Azzi rested her head lightly against Paige’s chest, listening to the soothing rhythm of her heartbeat as it gradually slowed back into a gentle, steady pace.
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The room was quiet now, just soft music still playing faintly in the background, the glow of candlelight washing warmly across the walls, wrapping around them like a gentle blanket. Paige’s fingertips drifted lazily up and down Azzi’s arm, tracing soft, calming circles on her skin, grounding them both in the moment.
Azzi sighed softly, closing her eyes briefly, absorbing the comfort and warmth of Paige’s body next to hers. After a few quiet heartbeats, she tilted her face up toward Paige, chin resting gently on Paige’s chest as she smiled softly.
“What?” Paige asked gently, meeting Azzi’s gaze with a curious, tender look.
Azzi laughed quietly, almost shyly, her eyes lowering for just a moment before flicking back up to Paige’s. “Nothing. It’s just…this feels good.”
Paige’s smile softened, her thumb gently stroking Azzi’s cheek. “Yeah?”
Azzi nodded slowly, eyes lingering softly on Paige’s mouth again, her voice dropping to a gentle whisper, her tone bolder than Paige had ever heard. “Yeah. Too good, maybe. God, Paige, I want you so bad right now.”
Paige’s breath hitched quietly, her heartbeat picking up noticeably beneath Azzi’s ear, her hand pausing for just a second. Her smile turned playfully cautious, eyes sparkling with humor even as her voice dipped lower. “You’re gonna make it really, really hard for me to drive us home if you keep talking like that.”
Azzi laughed softly again, her smile warm, playful. “Sorry,” she murmured gently, her voice lightly teasing, even though they both knew she wasn’t remotely sorry. Her fingers traced slow, delicate patterns over Paige’s chest, feeling Paige’s breath quicken again beneath her fingertips. “I can behave. Probably.”
Paige tilted Azzi’s chin gently upward again, pressing another soft, lingering kiss against her lips, then brushed the tip of her nose lightly against Azzi’s. “Not too much, I hope.”
Azzi laughed again, a quiet, breathless sound, pulling back just enough to cool the heat building between them. She sighed dramatically, leaning her forehead gently against Paige’s shoulder. “You’re trouble.”
Paige chuckled softly, leaning back into the cushions and pulling Azzi tighter against her side. They stayed quiet for a moment, breathing slowly returning to normal, tension still simmering softly beneath their skin. Then Paige tilted her head slightly, her eyes catching Azzi’s again with gentle amusement.
“Okay,” Paige said softly, shifting the tone deliberately lighter to ease the heat gently. “We better cool off a bit. Besides, I did promise Ruby a snack. I’ve gotta keep that promise or she’ll never forgive me.”
Azzi’s eyes immediately softened, her smile widening affectionately at the mention of Ruby. “She’s definitely expecting something impressive.”
Paige laughed lightly, her thumb brushing Azzi’s shoulder as she relaxed further into the cushions. “Yeah? What’s Ruby’s snack of choice these days?”
Azzi smiled fondly, eyes warm with the quiet affection reserved only for her daughter. “Honestly? If you show up with chocolate chip cookies, she’ll probably try to get you to adopt her.”
Paige chuckled softly again, nodding thoughtfully. “Chocolate chip cookies it is.”
She reached for her phone without thinking, unlocking it. “Oh.... and she also said she wanted a picture tonight. Said she’d miss me.”
Azzi’s smile turned quiet and full. “She really likes you, you know.”
Paige’s voice dropped a little. “I really like her too.”
Then she angled the camera, holding Azzi closer. “C’mere. Let’s make her smile.”
They leaned in together, cheeks pressed, cozy and warm, their flushed faces still glowing with the residue of too-long eye contact and all the things they hadn’t said out loud yet. Paige snapped the photo, then another, just in case.
She tilted the screen so Azzi could see. “Think that’ll do?”
Azzi looked at it for a beat longer than necessary. “Yeah,” she said softly. “It’s perfect.”
Paige handed her the phone. “Tell her I said goodnight. And that cookies are incoming.”
Azzi sighed gently, contentedly, leaning comfortably into Paige’s side. “You’re really good at this.”
Paige raised a curious brow. “At what?”
Azzi shrugged gently, eyes meeting Paige’s with quiet sincerity. “Everything. Making Ruby happy. Making me happy. Just…showing up.”
Paige’s chest tightened slightly, her smile tender as she pressed one more gentle kiss to Azzi’s forehead. “Good,” she whispered softly. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”
Azzi smiled again, quietly melting into Paige’s embrace as they stayed curled together, the candlelight flickering softly, music drifting gently around them, neither quite ready to let go of this feeling—warm, full, safe, and quietly promising.
When the time finally came to leave, Paige stood slowly, gently helping Azzi to her feet, keeping their fingers intertwined for as long as possible before slowly letting go.
“Come on,” Paige said softly, smiling warmly down at Azzi. “Let’s go make sure your daughter doesn’t fire me as Sparklehorn’s assistant.”
Azzi laughed, shaking her head affectionately as she took Paige’s offered hand once again, the two of them slipping from the cozy intimacy of the room back into the soft, waiting night.
--------------------
The car was quiet as they drove home, filled only with the soft hum of the engine and the faint strains of music playing from Paige’s carefully crafted playlist. Paige drove one-handed, the other resting gently on Azzi’s thigh, thumb occasionally brushing soft circles against bare skin. Each quiet touch sent a spark dancing up Azzi’s spine, the lingering warmth from their kiss and the sweetness of the night settling comfortably between them.
Azzi watched Paige out of the corner of her eye, warmth blossoming softly in her chest as she admired how Paige’s profile was illuminated gently by passing streetlights, how relaxed and quietly confident she looked, fully herself, fully real. It was hard not to feel a swell of affection for Paige at moments like this. Hard not to feel grateful that Paige was here, quietly holding her steady.
“Hey,” Paige murmured gently, breaking the silence as they neared Azzi’s neighborhood, “we need cookies, right?”
Azzi smiled, softly squeezing Paige’s hand on her thigh. “If we show up empty-handed, Ruby will riot. She takes snacks very seriously.”
Paige chuckled quietly, turning the car smoothly into the dimly-lit parking lot of a small late-night bakery. “Good thing I promised her, then.”
Azzi stayed in the car, watching Paige jog lightly across the lot into the bakery. The neon glow from the bakery window cast soft pink and purple hues onto Paige’s white shirt, illuminating her figure in gentle warmth as she paid at the counter. When Paige returned, she carried a small, neatly-wrapped box of chocolate chip cookies, her expression proud and slightly mischievous.
“You think she’ll approve?” Paige asked lightly, climbing back into the driver’s seat and setting the box carefully between them.
“Are you kidding?” Azzi laughed softly, feeling a gentle swell of affection again. “She’s gonna love you even more now. You might have just raised her expectations permanently.”
Paige smiled, eyes sparkling. “Good. That was the goal.”
--------------------
A few minutes later, Paige parked quietly in front of Azzi’s house. They sat for a moment in gentle silence before Paige reached toward the backseat, carefully retrieving a small bouquet of roses from the karaoke bar.. Azzi raised a curious brow, smiling softly as Paige caught her gaze.
“For Ruby,” Paige explained softly, eyes warm. “She deserves flowers too.”
Azzi’s heart swelled again as she stepped out, the night air cool against her skin. Paige followed closely behind, holding the cookies and bouquet like precious offerings.
Inside, Ruby was curled sleepily on the couch, Sparklehorn tucked protectively under her arm. Her eyes instantly brightened when she saw Paige, small feet kicking excitedly as she scrambled upright.
“Paigey!” Ruby squealed, her voice thick with sleep, curls bouncing wildly as she stretched out her hands eagerly.
Paige knelt beside her, smiling softly as she presented the cookies and roses with exaggerated reverence. “For Sparklehorn’s boss, as promised.”
Ruby gasped dramatically, eyes wide with delight as she hugged the flowers tightly to her chest. “For me?”
“All yours,” Paige said gently, laughing softly at Ruby’s delighted reaction. Azzi’s heart tightened sweetly at the sight, love and gratitude filling her chest.
As Ruby inspected the roses carefully, Azzi moved quietly next to Paige, voice dipping into a playful whisper, eyes mischievous and flirtatious. “You keep bringing home cookies and roses like that, Paige, and I might have to keep you. Maybe you should just stay tonight, finish what we started.”
Paige’s cheeks turned bright pink instantly, eyes widening in playful surprise. She coughed lightly, flustered but clearly amused, whispering back softly, “Az, aren’t you supposed to be the responsible one here?”
Azzi smiled, leaning even closer, voice dropping even lower, teasing warmly against Paige’s ear. “I usually am responsible. But tonight you’ve made it really difficult.”
Paige groaned quietly, covering her face briefly with one hand as her smile widened beneath her fingers. “You think I don’t want to? Trust me, Az...it’s killing me not to...but we both know tonight isn’t the right time.”
Azzi laughed softly, kissing Paige’s flushed cheek gently. “I know. Doesn’t mean I can’t dream about it, though.”
Paige’s quiet laughter was interrupted when Ruby stretched her little arms around Paige’s neck, squeezing tightly, her tiny body warm and trusting. Paige hugged her back gently, eyes closing briefly, cherishing the sweet, simple warmth of Ruby’s embrace.
Ruby pulled back slightly and surprised them both, leaning forward and pressing a soft, innocent kiss to Paige’s cheek. “Night-night, Paigey” Ruby whispered sweetly, voice sleepy and sincere. “Tank you for the presents.”
Paige froze for a heartbeat, eyes instantly misting with tears. She blinked rapidly, quickly looking away, gently touching Ruby’s curls to hide her overwhelming emotion. “Night-night, Roo. Sleep tight, okay?”
Azzi noticed Paige’s sudden emotion, heart squeezing softly as she reached out, gently touching Paige’s shoulder in quiet support. Paige turned slightly, giving Azzi a small, grateful smile before softly clearing her throat and standing slowly.
Azzi walked Paige outside, the porch light casting a gentle golden glow around them. They lingered at the car door, quiet and warm, savoring the intimacy of this soft, unhurried goodbye.
Paige leaned gently against the car, her eyes warm and vulnerable as they gazed at Azzi in quiet wonder. Azzi moved slowly into Paige’s space, arms wrapping comfortably around Paige’s neck, pulling her gently closer.
“Thanks for tonight,” Paige whispered softly, her fingers tracing gentle circles at Azzi’s waist. “For trusting me.”
Azzi’s eyes softened, voice gentle, sincere. “Thanks for making it so easy.”
Paige smiled softly, voice tender, breathless. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? You’re officially my girlfriend now.”
Azzi laughed quietly, shaking her head in playful disbelief, voice softly amazed. “Yeah, wild, right? I kinda love it, though.”
Paige cupped Azzi’s cheek tenderly, her thumb gently brushing her skin before she leaned forward and pressed one last slow, lingering kiss against Azzi’s lips. The kiss was gentle, warm, a sweet promise of all that would come next.
They broke slowly, foreheads pressed gently together for a brief moment, savoring the quiet intimacy of the night. Paige pulled back reluctantly, slowly opening the car door as she whispered softly, “Goodnight, baby. I can say that now, right?”
Azzi let out a low laugh, her voice laced with warmth. “You’d better. Night, Paige... sorry, baby. Drive safe.”
Paige’s smirk deepened as she sank into the driver’s seat. “Mmm. That sounds real good coming from you.”
Azzi leaned in just slightly, eyes locked with hers.
“Then don’t make me take it back.”
She winked, stepping back as the door shut.
Azzi stood quietly on the sidewalk, watching until Paige’s car rounded the corner and disappeared into the night, a small, contented smile lingering softly on her lips. She hugged herself gently, absorbing the sweet, undeniable warmth that Paige left behind.
Tonight had changed everything, and Azzi couldn’t imagine wanting anything else.
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Judge The Cover - Bucky Barnes
Authors Note: Me????? Writing something and then disappearing for months at a time??? WhaAaaTtt? Never. This is the second part to Buy The Book, I hope you enjoy!
Word Count: 3272
Warnings: Concussions?
Requests: OPEN (Working on them. I swear)
Main Masterlist
Previous Chapter : Buy The Book
Next Chapter: ~~
[Thank you for the gif @starscreamloki ]
Enjoy!
The first year you had been published had been a bit of….. Well a mind fuck. There was no other way of describing it.
Your agent had told you not to expect much from it. “These things take time. Try not to get ahead of yourself. It doesn’t mean you failed.” And you had taken those words to heart, you had kept your part time job in the mornings so that you would still have income as you continued to write. But there was no time taken.
Within a week of being publicly released it seemed to launch quicker than anyone thought it would. It took less than 2 weeks of it being out before you realized that the stares you were getting at the supermarket were from readers, all excited to meet you. Face after face, book after book being signed. It was…. Not what you had pictured.
It’s safe to say that you had always thought you would publish something more serious when the time came, nothing with a 6 pack on the cover…..and yet….. The Frost Soldier had his 6 pack on every cover and it was taking the world by storm.
But it was the dreams that came with your writing that drove you nuts. So realistic that you would have to check every window 6 times before going to bed and adding three new deadbolts to your door like you were waiting for him to come get you.
Because for some delusional reason there were moments you swore that he was real…. And there was a part of you that was terrified that you were feeding into the delusions of the man with the sign and it wouldn’t be long until you became the man with the sign…. Or a version of him anyways. The vivid image of you covered in grime and filth as you warned the world of the dangers ahead, beer bottles from your long night littering the sidewalk.
But the realistic dreams fed into the books, and you kept publishing. Every mean glare was written to an ounce of perfection as you recalled his stormy eyes. Every gentle touch was portrayed with a thunderous heartbeat. And people ate it up.
You regret that.
You regret everything.
But anyone who is tied up in the back of a warehouse would tend to regret every single thing they had done so it wasn’t like you were defying cliches here. In fact you were going through the motions of every single stage of grief.
Stage One. Denial.
You had taken to blinking slowly at the figure before you, trying to wake yourself up from the dream you were having so that you could rush to your computer and type it all out. When he didn’t vanish with the slow blinks you simply sped them up, resisting the urge to tap your feet together like you were Dorothy in the wizard of oz.
“You’re not real.” You mutter, throat raw and head pounding as he tilts his head with a raised eyebrow. As if he were judging you. Maybe he was, for how bad your voice sounded or maybe because your first words spoken were challenging his existence. “I must have inhaled drugs. I’m hallucinating. Which is the cause of the headache.”
“I think the cause of the headache would be the concrete you slammed into.” He huffs, crossing his arms over each other and letting the metal one glint in the light above both of you, eyebrows pulling in for a look you can’t recognize. “With the way your skull snapped against the concrete I was worried you wouldn’t even be able to remember your own name.”
There is a spark that immediately lights up in your mind at his words, hearing them move you can practically imagine the way the scene would play out. You’d have him in a set up just like this one with his leading la-
“You’re already thinking of quoting me for that next book, huh?”
That excited spark dies into a bitter taste of wanting to punch him, and your hands pull a bit until they catch at the plastic zip tie he had used to keep you there, biting into the skin as you sneer. “You’re not real.”
A gasp draws from his lips, he stands straight up and begins frantically patting himself down. “I’m not?! Oh my god. I must be a ghost.”
“You’re mocking me.” You laugh, it sounds bitter and cold. “My own dream is mocking me.”
“Am I what you dream about?” The smirk that slides itself across his face makes you blush and sneer in the same go, wanting nothing more than to turn away but not willing to break eye contact before him. When you don’t answer he places a mocking look of hurt on his face, eyebrows pinching together and his eyes full of light. “I’m not?”
“Nope.”
“No?” He chuckles, walking closer a bit and crouching down so that he could look up at you rather than the reverse, the blue of his eyes practically making you shiver. His smirk grows as if he can sense the change in you, but he doesn’t comment on it. Instead you get a simple, “Do you know your name, Doll?”
The nickname sent a stutter through your heart and almost caused your skin to heat up, the anger that began to process managed to speed up that heat until your entire body was flush with it and you bite out “Do you?”
“Do I know your name or do I know my name?”
“You pick.”
“Well… thanks to you oddly enough, I managed to find my name. Which means I know yours.” He smiles, all toothy and proud of himself. “Yes to both.”
“You’re not real.”
“You keep saying that, it’s getting tedious at this point.”
“Fuck. You.”
“I’m sure you would.” His smile widens as he stands back up and strides to the table in the corner where an array of weapons currently sat. “And thanks to you I’m sure half the world would too.”
“No-”
“No? A very quick no at that?” He turns, pretending to look shocked. “Oh my, you might not remember who you are. You don’t remember the novels you’ve written? With my 8 pack on the covers?”
“It was a 6 pack and they weren’t yours.”
“An imitation of mine and they were definitely 8 packs.” He argues back, tilting his head as your mouth opens for the rebuttal until he shrugs and speaks before you get the chance. “Doesn’t matter though, because I’m not real….. Right?”
A slow blink, you can’t seem to look anywhere else as he awaits his answer.
Stage Two. Anger.
“I’M SICK OF THIS!” You yell out, pulling at the ties on your wrists frantically as you scramble to get up. “LET ME OUT!”
“And now she’s mad.”
“YOU DUMB FUCKER! I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL TEAR YOU APART WITH MY BARE TEETH-” Yelling doesn’t seem to be convincing him to let you out, but it feels great, like some of the tension in your body is releasing. “You stupid fuck.”
“Brilliant. Any more words you got for me?”
“Shithead.”
“Coming from the author that managed to find 13 different variations for my pulsating member I expected…..a little more.”
“People are going to be looking for me.”
“You’ve written so many books about me and you think I haven’t already thought of that?” He huffs, looking almost offended as he easily picks up one of the knives on the table, twirling it through his fingers. “Here’s the thing, doll-”
“I’ll break your fucking nose.” You sneer out, the threat empty but the scorn in the tone enough to make him nod slowly.
“I believe that you think you can. And I’m proud of you.”
“Oh you’re such a-”
“But I have a slight problem. You see I didn’t want to do this either…. But your novels have become a thorn in my side.” He pauses then, waiting for you to argue once more, when you don’t he clears his throat and continues. “You see for some reason you have been writing about me….. And your accuracy has hit every nerve of mine that I didn’t even know I had.”
“Including the 6 pack?” You snipe, the thumping in your head fighting off any embarrassment you might have felt, and the annoyed look he gives you as he narrows his eyes has you fighting off a laugh.
“I just need to know where you are getting your information from.”
“My information?” He nods.
“On you?” Another nod.
“You think I’m being fed information on you?”
“How else would you know my every move and all the details of my missions?” You have no clue how to answer any of this. Are you supposed to admit that you have been dreaming of this guy for years? That you see him every night and that’s why you managed to write his every move? Would he even believe you?
“I’m waiting.”
“I have no answer. I haven’t been fed information.” It should be a given, and you were pretty sure you were having a stroke at this entire interaction. “I didn’t know you existed at all. Jameson Boone is a figment of my imagination built off a poster of-”
His eyes spark a bit when you stop short, memory flashing to Redmayne with his detailed drawing as he scared people walking to their classes. Campus Crazy, that was what people had always called him, and yet he had managed to get nearly every detail of Jameson's face down. Not the eyes though. Those were far more striking than anyone could have drawn.
“Poster of? I’m waiting here Edgar Allen Poe.”
“There was a poster, back in college. This guy claimed that his family had been killed by this random person- well you- and he was warning us. Government assassin or something. He called you-”
“The Frost Warrior?”
“No. Jackass.” You snap, narrowing your eyes. “Copyright and all that.”
“Oh?”
“It was….” God your head was pounding, were the lights really that bright? You close your eyes for a second, trying to relieve the pressure from the pounding in your head, cringing a bit.
“You can’t sleep.”
“I’m not trying to sleep.”
“You are.”
“You’re not real.”
“And we are right back to where we started. Sadly.”
Stage Three. Bargaining.
Your head was pounding, your back and wrists beginning to hurt from the chair you were in. You had no clue where your shoes were and honestly you had hated the outfit picked out for you this morning.
Honestly? You were surprised you had fought the waterworks as long as you did.
“Please.” You start, a couple droplets falling from your eyes as your face screws up before you finally give in to the onslaught of tears, tasting the salt of them as your body begins to rock with the sobs. “Please please please.”
“Okay, just take a breath-”
“I’ll do anything. Just please let me go.” You beg, opening your eyes to let the tears fall as he watches you. A mix of disgust and unease written on his face. “Please. Don’t do this.”
“I don’t want to do this.” He murmurs out, and the disgust seems to heighten as his eyes flick to where your wrists are bound to the chair by zip ties, a cringe making it’s way to his face. “But I need to know.”
“I’ll give you anything you want. Please.”
“I just need to know who your informant is, doll.” He sighs out, squatting down so that he is looking up at you and you can no longer avoid his eyes, and then he surprises you by reaching a flesh hand up to wipe his thumb across your cheek. “Is your head hurting?”
You were a wimp to nod your head as more tears fell, so pathetic and yet the second the words passed his lips you found yourself doing just that. Letting his hand rub at your cheek while you try to close your eyes once more.
“Tell ya what…” He starts, making you open your eyes once more. “You tell me what ya know, and I’ll let you go.”
“I don’t have an informant.” You cry out. “Before today this was all fake. I wrote books inspired by the Campus Crazy!”
“The campus crazy?”
“He had a sign, he drew himself of this Winter Soldier character and I was struggling to write this stupid project for school and-” And before you know it the room spins, the lights hurting your head far too much as you lean forward.
The man before you seems to know what’s about to happen as he stands to take a step back right before you empty your stomach on the floor before you.
Stage Four. Depression.
Fine.
You will die here. It would be fine.
Either the frost warrior - no, the winter soldier- would kill you for what you apparently knew, or the embarrassment would take you.
“Sorry.” You blurt, still crying, then in a weird whiplash of anger you follow it with a “Fuck you. Let me go.”
“Oh, she’s feeling it now.”
“I’ll bite your face off.” Truth was you were doing your best to fight another wave of nausea. And the small childish part of you wanted to aim for his boots this time. “I don’t know anything. You are not real.”
“Then we have a slight problem, considering I am very much real and you have the accuracy of a gypsy fortune teller in your writing.”
“You’re not supposed to say gypsy anymore. That’s not cool.”
“Noted. No more gypsy jokes.” He nods, toeing at the concrete beneath him. “Y’know, Stevie once got us tickets to this circus in town and when we went I coughed up 2 dollars for a fortune teller.”
“2 whole american dollars?”
“I’m ignoring that.” He huffs. “But you know what she told me?”
“That you would one day kidnap a poor helpless yet beautiful author who really wants some headache medicine and a donut.”
“She said I would live a long happy life.”
It's quiet for a moment while you blink at him before nodding slowly. “If…. If what I wrote in those books to be true-”
His head tilts, like a cat watching a mouse play before striking.
“Then you would be…. 104 years old…..”
“103.”
“Well….. At least she got the long part right.”
He laughs a bit, his eyes sparking with something as you fight off a giggle yourself before closing your eyes to fight off another wave of nausea.
“Alright. Alright. We have to figure out something here.”
Stage Five. Acceptance.
“We have an issue here.” He huffs out. “Because you claim to not have an informant, but you have managed to out every move and tantrum I have pulled. And I can’t have that if I’m going to continue my task here.”
“I won’t write.” You gasp out, eyes widening at your own words before nodding. “I swear it. I won’t write again. I was already planning on not writing. I won’t.”
He narrows his eyes, watching you.
“I’ll never write. I won’t.”
“That seems like an empty promise.”
“It isn’t.” You shake your head. “I’ll farm in Alaska.”
“Ignoring you being so willing to give up your career, it wasn’t your writing I was worried about.” He huffs. “I mean that was gonna be easy. I’d have just taken part of your ear and promised to come back for the rest if you ever wrote anything else about me.”
“Dick.”
“The problem is, other people want you-”
“Not to brag but I get a lot of swipes on tinder.”
“-For information.”
“That too…. I guess.”
“I was hoping with all the things you’d written that you would have some sort of survival instinct. But instead I found a death prone squirrel.”
“Oh bite me you two pack wannabe.”
“8 pack.”
“So what are we supposed to do?” You sigh. “You’re gonna kill me? You were planning on killing me this entire time, right? But you wanted to find out if you had a mole first!”
“Wasn’t my plan.”
“You are such a bitch. Just do it. Just kill me bro.”
“Bro?”
“And right after you can go fuck yourself.”
“I could just get one of your many fans to do that instead.” He smiles. “You really talk me up.”
“Just. Kill. Me.” You seethe.
“I don’t want to do that. If you shut your trap for a second and let me explain-”
“Blah blah blah blah-”
“Do you know how many government officials are hunting me? How many assassins will be coming for you for information?”
“I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!”
“You do!” He snaps. “You do. And I don’t know what to do with you now. I have things I need to do and you’re a risk.”
“So…..”
“What do we do here?”
Silence fills the room for a moment before a bitter laugh slips past your lips as you blink at him. “You’re asking me?”
“You’re the one with all the answers. What would the frost soldier and his little flame do?”
“Team up to take everyone down.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you saying you want to team up with me?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
“No?”
“God my head hurts.” You whine, turning away from him. “I want to sleep.”
“Okay. What did you have the winter- Sorry- Frost Warrior. What was he gonna do next?”
“I….. I wasn’t gonna write anything next.” You admit. “Everything I wrote didn’t work, and I couldn’t fall asleep without seeing… you and I was so tired of facing you in my dreams. Because you weren’t real.”
“You have no clue where I was going next.” And when the word no nearly passes your lips you stop because you knew it was a lie.
You knew his every move, and you hadn’t even known he was real.
“Alaska.” You sigh. “Jameson Boone was heading to Alaska to find a witness with a lead.”
“And you wanted to go be a farmer…. Let’s make it happen, yeah?”
-
The email is sent from a library computer that took so long to load you might as well have just sent a letter.
Santana.
Sorry for being MIA, I was thinking about our last conversation and the books. I have a lead on an idea. Have been following it, but I am sure you are going to love the next Frost Warrior novel. This lead makes him feel like he’s come to life.
Lost my phone. Luv u.
And even lying to Santana in the email felt wrong, because you knew you would never write another frost warrior novel, BUT you were following a lead in Alaska, even if it was slightly against your will. “If she doesn’t read how fake that sounds she’s stupid.” Jameson Boone huffs, taking the seat next to you with a hat on his head while he glares at the computer. “What is it that made you hate the books you wrote?”
“You?” You smile, knowing he would take the bait and glare. He does, which pleases you to no end when his eyes narrow and he glares.
“Is this how it’s gonna be this entire trip?”
“Probably.”
And you preen at the way his glare deepens before he rattles headache medicine in the bottle before setting it in front of you with a bottle of water and a white container of food from the breakfast restaurant across the library.
“Eat up. We have a bus to Alaska waiting for us, Tolkien.”
-
TAGLIST:::
@vicmc624 @scott-loki-barnes @fanfictionreaderfan @ada728 @queergalpal97 @knowingnothingnoel @maxine-marigold
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Can We Make This Work? (4)
Nanami Kento x POC!Fem Reader x Gojo Satoru (Masterlist) Chapter 4: Trouble in Paradise (Previous) (Next) Summary: Determined to befriend your husband, you tried surprising him. Warnings: Angst
It's been a month since you married Nanami Kento and to say it was blissful would be too kind. The first week or so was nice. After moving into the spare room of his apartment, you tried to get to know your husband, from riding to and from work together to cooking and eating together. You even tried picking up drinking to find more common ground with the man.
However, curses had another idea. By the second week, Yaga increased your workload , forcing you to stay in the field more, drastically cutting your time with Nanami. Which only left you with the morning rides to work which were always quiet since Nanami wasn't much of a morning person. And despite you best efforts, you couldn't fully break Nanami out of his shell.
Your goal wasn't to make the man fall in love with you. You weren't delusional. You knew he didn't want this so actual love was not going to blossom overnight. All you wanted was to be his friend. The world knows that you didn't have any at the moment.
Since being classified, everyone stayed clear of you. It seemed that everyone was either intimidated by you or feared you. Everyone avoided you like the plague, only speaking to you when necessary. You asked Yaga if you had done something, but he shooed you away, almost hesitant to speak on it.
Leaving you to walk on campus, in the city, everywhere alone. You've never felt lonelier. You were all by yourself in a new city with no one to confide in. All you had were curses.
That's why you so badly wanted to befriend Nanami. He was the only person who could possibly understand what you were going through. But it seemed that life had other plans.
That's why today you had a plan. You asked Yaga to leave your lunch open, a request he agreed to out of fear. After completing your morning missions, you asked Ijichi to take you to a bakery in town that you knew was your husband's favorite.
You noticed early on how much Nanami enjoyed food. While trying to get to know him, you had asked him about his favorite places to eat in the city and this bakery was up on his list. Now with his favorite sandwich in hand, you were going to surprise Nanami with lunch.
Your body buzzed in excitement as you walked towards the break room with the bag of goods. Maybe this can be a reoccurring thing. Maybe not everyday, but at least once a week, you giddily thought. Your mouth watered from the smell emitting from the bag. Both your mind and stomach were going to thank you later for this.
As you got closer to the break room, you could hear your husband's voice as well as three other male voices. It seems like they were deep in conversation.
"And then Nanami, he just... wow. Honestly, you really have to teach me how to punch like that," complemented a man. He sounded fairly young and jovial. You heard your husband hum, neither in agreement or disagreement.
"Okay, we get it, Ino! Nanami is super cool. We all should be like him," complained a third voice, one that you easily recognized as the second-year teacher, Kusakabe. You actually tried talking to him the other day, but when he heard you calling his name, he immediately turned around and ran away. It made you chuckle every time you thought about it.
Suddenly a recognizable laugh rang in the air. "This guy... please. That tie offsets any possibility of him being cool." From the laugh alone, you recognized it to be Gojo who you haven't seen since the day of your classification.
With a bag in hand and excitement in your heart, you were just a turn away from entering the break room. However, an interesting question made you pause.
"So Nanami, how's married life going?" asked Kusakabe with food in his mouth. Not going really. I mean we haven't had much time to hang so he's probably going to say--
"Horrible. I honestly don't want to talk about it," your husband admitted. Your chest tightened. You weren't expecting that.
"Really? She seems nice," said Ino in a surprised tone.
"Forget nice! If I was married to that, you would never hear me complain again in my life," shared Kusakabe. "You're just being dramatic. It can't be that--." Before he could finish, something slammed against the table, silencing everyone.
Nanami spat out with utter frustration, "You have absolutely no idea how much this marriage has inconvenienced my life. So don't dare try to say that I should be content just because she isn't a complete monster." You heard him pause to catch his breath.
"I mean marriage isn't easy," feebly added Ino.
"Yeah, but everyone else had a choice," bit back Nanami.
"What's so bad then?" asked Kusakabe.
"Where do I even start. She's always begging for attention. Is constantly asking questions. I can't even get a moment to myself without her popping up, begging to hang out." A deep breath followed. He started up again, slightly calmer. "You know, I used to find great comfort in my home, but now I feel suffocated in it as I know she will be there. I even had to ask Yaga to assign her on more missions so I can have some peace back home."
Hearing enough, you left and made your way back to your office.
-- -- --
I know things weren't ideal, but I didn't think they were that bad, you thought as you cradled your head in your hands. You sat in your office in complete silence to think about what you just heard.
Sure, neither of us wanted this. I mean we're both victims here, right? We could have made it work, no? The sandwiches were getting cold as they sat on your desk.
"Fuck!"
Of course things were never going to work out between you two. You were never going to be his friend and even less his lover. These things would never happen, because that meant that Nanami Kento had to like you, the insufferable foreign sorcerer that forced a man into a marriage that didn't benefit him.
He wasn't the problem, you were. While he opened his home to you, you only brought discomfort and misery to it. This was never going to work. No matter what you did. You will always be the woman that robbed him of his freedom.
"Fuck."
You had to make it up to him. You had to made this work for him. You had to give him back his freedom.
-- -- --
"Hey Gojo, what's with the face? Sense a curse or something?" asked Ino.
"No, it's... it's nothing."
Word Count: 1130
Previous - Masterlist - Next
Author's Notes: Guys, I just realized that I've been spelling Ijichi's name wrong this whole time. I went back and fixed it in the other chapters so if you saw it.... shhhh no you didn't.
Also this is my first time writing angst. When I first thought of this scene, it made my heart hurt, but when I wrote it here, it didn't. And to me good angst is when your chest gets all warm and low key hurts. So I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on it. Obviously I don't think this is like revolutionary or the best angst out there, but I just want to know if this is like decent angst.
Next chapter will all be in Nanami's POV so stay tune!
#nanami x y/n#nanami x reader x gojo#nanami kento x reader#kento nanami x reader#nanami x reader#gojo x y/n#satoru gojo x reader#gojo satoru x reader#gojo x reader#jjk x poc!reader#jjk fanfic#jjk x reader#jjk x fem!reader#jjk angst
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from the first hi to the first i love you, chapter I:
the first time we stayed alone (but in the crowd)
mason mount series

genre: angst, fluff, smut, comedy attempts
warnings: language
word count: 2,7k
a/n: god knows i wanted it to be a one-shot thing, but then i realized how many chapter ideas i got, so i didn't want to rush and make it look like a brief description of each timeline. please, please tell me what you think about it 🤧 all genres and warnings will depend on a chapter!! (the story starts on may, 14th, 2023)
"Babe, I'm really sorry, but they'll eat me alive if I don't finish it in time," your best friend, Sonia, says with pleading eyes, and you pout. You came to London from Manchester to spend your week off with her, but her boss had different plans. "I know, I promised you a fantastic time here, so I've figured things out for tonight."
"How so?" the interest in your voice is genuine.
"I asked Mason to take you out today, so get ready for The National Gallery, the tickets are already boug-"
"Whoa, stop talking so fast – I know you want to confuse me so I will say yes," you place both of your hands on the kitchen table to steady yourself – mentally. Sonia looks closely at you across the table, so you continue. "Firstly, my fantastic time can only be spent with my best friend, not with her husband's friend."
"But you've known each other for around three years," she scowls. "He gave you so many rides."
"When I was with you," you protest. "When your Ricky was with us. And, secondly, The National Gallery? I can admire you, sitting in front of your computer, with the same pleasure."
"No, you’re going with Mason. You need to get out. Besides, he already bought the tickets. When he’s done at the training center, he will pick you up – so you have, like, two hours to get ready."
You sigh. Sonia feels guilty for not being the best entertainer – but you never expected her to be one. Still, she comes up with the weird decision you can’t decline yourself, because then you will be the one who feels guilty. Also, you are pretty sure Mason said yes to her for the same reasons.
Mason is a nice, polite, funny guy with warm doe eyes and a perfect nose. But he is not your friend. You don’t really know how to act around him – partly because you are sure that if not for Ricky, your paths will never cross. He is from a different planet – a planet of fame, interviews on national channels, trips all around the globe, and big money. And you don’t have a rocket to visit this faraway planet.
There is another reason to avoid him like a plague, though.
You have a little – or medium-sized – crush on him and you can’t allow it to gain any control over your brain. Or your heart especially.
"Do you want me to help you with your hair?" Sonia asks you, and you narrow your eyes at her through the bathroom mirror.
"Aren't you supposed to be working?" you huff, wrapping a strand of your hair around the barrel of the curling iron.
"I took a break," she rolls her eyes. "It's like you're getting ready for prom and the school heartthrob is already waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs. I can't miss it."
You shake your head at her giggles. "You're acting like a crazy teenager."
"Then why are you smiling?"
"Because you're funny!" you exclaim. "It's just Mason, and suddenly you're making a big deal out of it."
"But you're finally getting to the next level with him," Sonia raises her eyebrows, and you finally turn to face her, finished with your preparations.
"Yeah, from getting lifts anytime I'm in London to going to museums without even planning and wanting it. Besides, don't forget there is Jacob back in Manchester."
"Yeah," she rolls her eyes for the second time in less than three minutes. "When was the last time you saw him? Two weeks ago? Three? Sounds legit, for sure. Absolutely worthy."
Your weak attempt to disagree is killed with the sound of the intercom, and you're relieved you don't have to come up with delusional excuses to make your (almost) relationship with Jacob look not that bad as it is in reality.
You really like him, and you're so ready to open your heart to him – if you haven't done it already – but the local DJ (and you're wondering why this pathetic fact of him still doesn't give you an ick) is too busy, afraid, or just stupid to commit to anyone.
Or just to you. Or it's you who are just stupid.
"The heartthrob's here!" Sonia yelps, already pressing the button to let Mason in. You've never seen her move that fast. She was the worst at PE in high school.
"Oh dear God," you sigh, while putting on your jacket. Well, it's way easier to act annoyed when your knees are weak because of how nervous you are. You're right, you tell yourself, a very pale version of yourself in the mirror, it's just Mason, the old good lad Mason, and you're just making yourself crazy for nothing. At the end of the day, you really like Mason and don't want your frustration to be projected onto him.
Things with Jacob will get better, and even if Mason isn't your friend, you can still have a good time together tonight. And he can become your friend. And just the thought of it makes your heart swell.
"Hi there," you turn your head toward his gentle voice, always remembering how surprised you were the first time you heard him speak. His voice is so delicate and warm — the exact opposite of how manly he looks.
"Hi," you return his smile, letting him pull you in for a side hug.
"I didn't know you were in London until yesterday," Mason says.
"Yeah, because you weren't on my bingo card," you muse. "But the best event planner ever knows better, I suppose."
"Oh, get out already and let me work and you have fun. And don't come back earlier than after 4 hours. You know the directions, Mason, so take my bestie and go," Sonia taps on the wall next to the front door.
"Never felt more welcomed, bestie," you say, following Mason out of the apartment. And while he's standing in front of the lift, pressing the silver button, you turn to Sonia to whisper, "Text me every two minutes, so he won't think I'm some sort of hermit."
"Constant notifications can kill the vibe," she whispers back.
"What the fuck?" you make your words audible only for her. "That makes no sense."
"Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but the metal carriage is waiting," Mason distracts you, and Sonia takes this opportunity to shut the front door of her apartment. "After you," he gestures for you to step into the lift first, and you can't help but smile at him, entering the cabin.
The doors are closed now, and you're standing extremely close to him so you can smell his cologne – magnetic and just... Delicious.
"I like your perfume," you blurt out. "Is it Tom Ford?"
He hums in agreement, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "You're lucky, I took a shower after training. Just for you."
"How thoughtful," you reply. "But if I'm really lucky today, the universe will spare me from your amazing jokes."
"Nah, you're not that lucky, sorry," and with this, your trip through eighteen floors of the building is over. "Buckle up and let's explore the art. But let me warn you," he places his hand on your shoulder in a secretive manner and whispers in your ear, "The real art is you and me, so be ready – people will stare."
"Are we late?" you ask, and Mason just shrugs, scratching the back of his neck, totally unsure. The doors of the gallery are closed, despite his several attempts to pull and push the door handles.
"It seems to be fate," Mason says with a smile. "So, Starbucks for starters?"
"Just admit you manifested it," you follow him, silently appreciating that he slowed his usual pace for you. "I doubt you ever wanted to go here."
"Yeah, that's why I picked you up at five o'clock – I knew they close at six."
"Really?!"
Mason stops and looks at you in pure disbelief, "Of course not," he huffs. "It was sarcasm," he explains, but can't suppress a giggle escaping his mouth.
"You're so unserious," now it's your turn to huff, but when he places his hand on your lower back while you cross the road at the green light, you're suddenly out of words.
Your skin burns at this spot despite two layers of clothes – not a good sign at all. But the questions that are generated in your head – oh, they're even worse. Why does he do it? To make sure you're matching his pace? Does he want you to be safe? Did Sonia ask him to do so? Do all well-mannered men do it?
Does he like you?
The disgustingly sweet coffee you both ordered at Starbucks helps you get rid of these confusing and unnecessary thoughts. Not for long, unfortunately.
"I can feel my teeth rotting at this moment," Mason moans after taking a sip from his cardboard cup. "But it's so good. Let me taste yours."
You willingly hand him your cup, and he wraps his palm around yours, positioning both of your hands higher – this simple action makes you hold your breath without even realising it.
"Wow, that was easy to get," he laughs and wraps his lips around the straw.
"Drink it already," you roll your eyes. "And I will start praying that you don’t have any contagious diseases."
He makes a face at you, swallowing the coffee like it's fish oil – or something even worse tasting. "You should have warned me – it's terrible. Right now, I'm doing my best not to stick out my tongue in disgust."
"Oh, Mason, you're so brave. Thank you for telling us your story," your hand slides out of his tender grip as you continue to walk. "For the record, mine has one syrup less than yours."
"It's what you call a difference maker."
"Stop it already, I know it's a reference to you on the pitch," you laugh. You genuinely laugh. Mason is effortlessly funny – you knew it already, but today you finally had a chance to experience it to the maximum. And he's witty too – amazing with words, and you really like the way he talks – passionately, but in a calm voice, looking straight in your eyes, following every reaction of yours.
Mason closes the distance between the two of you in one wide step and lowers his head to your level. "By the way, I don't have any diseases," his whisper causes goosebumps all over the skin of your neck and you hum in response. "For the future."
The future and you are divided by a distance, you think, while Mason and you, at least at this moment, are not.
He insisted that you have to sit not across from each other at this fancy restaurant in the heart of London, but next to each other, and you silently agree, not wanting to miss the opportunity to feel him closer. His shoulder brushes yours when he's slicing the steak, and you turn your head to him.
"Did you make the reservation months in advance or did your fame help you sneak in ahead of turn?"
Mason just smiles at you, even though he's not happy that you asked the question while he's chewing and can't respond to your words, and you raise your brow.
"I'm surprised you're not talking with your mouth full," you mock him, and he playfully rolls his eyes.
"I booked it three months in advance," he says as you thankfully nod at the waiter refilling your glass of wine. "Three months ago, I knew that May fourteenth would be marked as our first date on my wall calendar."
"Oh, that infamous Mason's wall calendar with pictures of kittens?" you half expected him to say something along those lines, something bold yet simple, but what you didn't expect was him handing you his fork with a slice of meat on it. The gesture was nice, caring, and... heartwarming?
"Kittens in flower gardens," Mason corrects you as a content smile appears on his features when you take the slice off the fork and into your mouth, chewing slowly.
The food is great, the wine is even better, and your entertainer is one of England's most eligible bachelors. Sometimes life is good.
"It's a shame you can't drink," you whine, holding Mason by his forearms, and he shows his perfect teeth, still not destroyed by the sugary coffee he had, in a wide smile.
"Let's drink when I'm on summer break?" he suggests, his hands rubbing your sides. His chocolate eyes follow yours, and you can't help but get magnetised by his soft gaze. He calls your name softly, feeling that he has to get the needed answer from you. "So, how does it sound?"
"See you on your summer break then," you lightly pat his chest and he laughs.
"What about before? You know I'm all fun even sober."
"Let's see, Mason. It's not like I have a door in my Manchester flat that leads me directly to you."
"It's changeable, though," he says, looking above your head. It feels like he's talking more to himself than to you, but you elaborate anyway.
"Changeable? Mason Mount, are you a constructor of a teleportation machine?" you ask in mock disbelief.
"Maybe so," he plays along, and you laugh. Suddenly, after five glasses of fine wine, everything Mason says sounds even funnier than before.
He wraps his arms around your shoulders, and you mirror his motion, holding onto his waist.
"Thank you for today," your voice is muffled as you mumble into his beige bomber jacket – which smells just so amazing, enveloping you in an aroma cloud. "I really liked it."
"So did I," Mason says, and you're thankful he doesn't reject your clingiest side, never breaking the hug you dragged him into in the first place. "Pinky promise we will go out more?"
"Sure, but I'm done for today," you say. "It's a good thing you didn't drink, though – at least I have you as my personal driver back home."
"Oh, look at you," he imitates an adoring voice. "Making me feel so needed and desired."
"In high demand, yep," you confirm. "Promise me I'm your favorite passenger."
You can feel Mason pulling back from the hug so he can raise his pinky, and you shove off his hand with a smile. The dark-haired man smiles back at you, so sweet and tender – it makes your poor heart beat a hundred times faster.
"Oh my god," Sonia squeezes you in a hug as soon as you get to her apartment. "You look so happy! And... Wait a second, are you drunk?"
"Not drunk, just a little tipsy, that's all, but-"
You tell her everything, trying not to sound too excited, and Sonia, being the best friend ever, asks for every possible and impossible detail. Seizing the opportunity, you ask the same question you asked Mason in the restaurant.
"Does it matter?" Sonia asks in return. "Other things are way more important!"
"No, they're not. What if the only reason we ended up in this restaurant was that he was dumped by someone? Or did he dump someone? And here I am, just a backup plan."
"Oh, shit," Sonia breathes out, and you lift your head, your fingers stopping their random patterns on the soft material of the cushion. Well, you’re anxious now. "You're already thinking about it, aren’t you?"
You roll your eyes as she laughs, but when you stay silent, she goes on. "I’m pretty sure he’s famous and rich enough to get a reservation in four hours max. You had a wonderful evening – all kudos to me – so don’t spoil the aftertaste with your thoughts!"
"Yeah, my thoughts… Completely unnecessary as always," you laugh, raising your hands in defeat.
It was a wonderful evening, and you even want to jokingly think that this evening proves that all "bros before hoes" manifestos can be thrown out of the window, but, in reality, you can’t. Because Mason, as you thought before, is closer to becoming your bro than anything else. But at the end of the day, the distance will divide Mason and you again. You and your long-distance friend.
#mason mount scenarios#mason mount#mason mount scenario#mason mount imagine#mason mount imagines#mason mount fanfic#mason mount fluff#mason mount x reader#mason mount x y/n
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Yandere Portgas D. Ace, 7
Final Chapter 7: Explain
Female reader
Warnings: .:.:. Idk
------------------------------------------------------------
It was hard for Ace to keep himself from murdering anyone. You were right next to him, safe and sound. But there were so many men looking at you. "So Y/n do you enjoy this welcome party?" Thatch asked. "Yes, but some seem to be a bit down." You answered, circling the liquid in your glass. "Oh, it's because of Teach. . . . ." Thatch answered, with a sad frown. "What about him?" You asked, confused. "You haven't told her?" Thatch asked Ace. "Didn't want to worry her," Ace answers, glancing down in his glass. "What's wrong with Teach?" You asked already, having a feeling Ace might be the culprit. Thatch sighed, of course, Ace hadn't told you this could give you an unsafe image of being here.
"He's gone missing, we have no idea if he left on his own, or if it was an accident that might have happened," Thatch explained. "Don't you think it could have been someone?" You asked, glancing at Ace. "I try not to think like that. But if that's the case, the guilty one will be burned." Ace answered, holding up his lightened fist. I guess it's not him. You thought.
The weeks passed, and you did your best to be the perfect woman for Ace. You sat in his room in an armchair he had gotten for you. Ace walked in and then locked the door. Your mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario, the old burn marks he had given you started to itch. Putting away your book, you gave Ace a fake smile. "Is everything alright?" The sweet tone you used made Ace freeze for a second. Then he sighed and sat down on his bed. The silence was that now laid over the room, which made you gulp.
Ace gaze was locked on you. After what felt like hours, he finally spoke. "Do you remember when I told you about my past?" Ace asked. The question caught you off guard. "I do remember. Why?" Ace frowned and then covered his eyes. "That was the first and only time you ever smiled for real, to me. I wanna know what I did so I can do it again. I have barely touched you for these past weeks since you get all that fear in your eyes. I have given you gifts and compliments, but it doesn't make you smile at all. All I get is that fake smile." Ace explained.
You were confused. Did Ace actually care about you in another way? Would he be able to hide or press his obsession away? The things he said are true, after all. He had acted like a real boyfriend. When you didn't answer, Ace continued. "I know what, I have done. I'm not completely delusional. Though I admit I might have been really delusional in the beginning." You looked at Ace's frown. Did he maybe regret what he's done? "What do you mean when you say in the beginning?" You asked changing position.
Ace explained that before he and you left that small little island. You're home. He'd been thinking, dreaming, and, in the end, believing. You were his love and that you love him back. But when he actually started being with you, it felt hollow. And the hard reality hit him. So he tried to ignore it and keep you. "Ace, why did you fall in love with me from the start?" You asked. The question had been there, but you were too afraid to ask. "Do you remember our first encounter?" Ace asked, fidgeting a little with his hat.
After a while of thinking about it, you nooded. "After awhile, you said. "You could be Gold Roger's son, and my love for you still wouldn't change." That sentence changed everything in me since he's my, he's my father." Ace confessed, gritting his teeth. When his eyes scanned you over for any sign of leaving him, the only thing he found was understanding. You looked like someone just gave you all the answers in this very world.
"That explains so much. Both why and a lot from your back story." You mumbled, going through it in your head. "Can I have a second chance, a chance to make us both happy?" Ace asked. Glancing at the mirror, you watched the reflection of both. It was another gift from Ace, one you hadn't asked for. But it was beautiful and really helped you stay sane. In the beginning, Ace burned you. But these past weeks, he's been so nice, kind, and maybe a little bit overprotective. Just like a real boyfriend would.
You didn't want to admit it, but you kinda started to get Stockholm syndrome. He just made it hard to keep on hating him. "Let's try. But I'm gonna need time, so please don't rush me or you."
"The end."
#portgas d. ace#yandere portgas d ace#one piece#fire fist ace#one piece x reader#portgas#portgas d ace#portgas d ace x reader#portgas d ace x y/n#onepiece#one piece ace#yandere portgas d ace x reader#yandere Portgas D Ace 7
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Daggers & Daffodils Chap. 27
Dagur x Reader I'm back!!! And better yet. I am done with my schooling (until I seek higher education). I was stuck writing in-between my equivalent of finals and study sessions, and on top of that I had a last second surgery that basically put me out of commission for a week and kind of out of it, but I have had absolute brain rot over this fictional man. Someone over on my Tumblr said he should be named Dagur the delusional and I've been rolling in my grave ever since. Thank you all for the wait and your support, you all sent wonderful messages and I read every one of them, enjoy the chapter <3
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You stepped back from Dagur's iron grip as he cackled uncontrollably "It took you long enough. And here I was thinking Hiccup tempered you". "You've gone mad" you wheeze out when Dagur's arms squeeze the air out of your lungs in a gripping side hug. "Couldn't have. Always have been" with a dramatic flop the two of you fell to the bed, his arms still wrapped around you.
You laid uncomfortably, staring at the ceiling while Dagur was content to bury his face into your hair. "You know you can yell at me, right?" you caught off guard by Dagur's sudden speech. You huff out your nose, "If I were to start now, then I'd never stop".
"If it means I would get to listen to you for the rest of my life, so be it" his fingers began to play with your hair, twisting it in loops around his index.
"...My father is going to kill you" The bed began to shake as Dagur let out wheezing laughter, different from his usual obnoxious and loud deranged laughter. No. This was unnerving, he was actually trying to reel himself in. Tears brimmed the edges of his eyes as his body shook violently, hissing laughter escaping through gritted teeth. Pupils narrowed, eyes watery, and red, trained on you left you feeling terrified for both your father and brother, "He'd try".
"Where is my Dragon, Dagur?" Suddenly you needed to know where your dragon was. It was clear that whatever was going on with Dagur was getting worse, looks like he isn't one for long distance relationships. Dagur didn't respond, wiping the tears from his eyes and clearing his throat, "You know, the lizard could be a bit more comfortable if you were to answer a few questions. Say... How many riders are at that base of yours". Riders? The edge didn't have any riders. At least not any that were manning the helm in your absence. You certainly weren't going to tell him that. "Drop dead" Dagur's eye twitched, though whether it was from irritation or excitement both confused and terrified you, and you were not curious enough to go through all the trouble that question would certainly entail.
"What did you do to her?" You of course meant Heather, while Silver Tongue was no doubt your priority, you needed to know. While you understood that she was in a vulnerable situation and Dagur was the only family she had left, you would at least think she would come to you first. "It's not dead if that's what you're asking" Dagur rolled his eyes.
"What? No. Heather. Silver Tongue is a boy" Dagur propped himself up with an elbow. "Ha! Silver Tongue? You know if you wanted a silver tongue, I've got one right here" Dagur began to laugh hysterically as you shoved him off the bed glaring at him, "You're disgusting!".
He gave a small shrug, smiling lazily, "eh, a no is a no. But it's always here when you need it". "Well, that's never going to happen" you cross your arms looking down at him. "I have other options too-", "Stop talking!" Dagur entered a coughing fit, laughing and nearly crying at the redness overtaking your features.
"You are the most immature and selfish person I have ever met" you shake your head in disbelief, "I thought we all had it bad with Snotlout but you're something else entirely. Not only are you the absolute maniac I thought you were, who gets off to violence, you're an absolute sadist who enjoys making a fool out of me".
"Hey, I get off to many things about you. Making a fool of you is not one of them" Dagur said slyly. "Unbelievable. And to top things off you can't take anything seriously!" Dagur looked at you, having fully caught his breath "I take you very seriously, love. I just also see that you have a habit of taking things too seriously".
"Being upset at being kidnaped and having my boundaries repeatedly violated is too serious?" you look at him, sarcasm and irritation evident. "First of all, kidnapping is a bit dramatic. And second, if it makes you upset, I'll be more respectful of your boundaries. No more.... risky jokes" He looks over at you and wiggles his eyebrows like a wierdo.
"Want to respect my boundaries? Here's the big one. Don't kidnap me!" Dagur flopped back on the bed, ignoring your attempts to shove him off and away from you. "Y/N, when was the last time you got to make a decision for yourself?" what, what did that have to do with anything.
"Because, from where I'm standing, you were dragged away from Berk to 'catch' me the second I got out of that prison. When was the last time you got a break?" You stayed quiet, "Knowing my brother he's had you jumping from one heroic act to the next".
"Thats our job-" Dagur cut you off, "Not yours! I found you barely able to breathe with your brother no less than an arm's length away. If you don't see what's wrong with that than you need to be away from him much more than I thought".
"Heather was going to kill you. What? Did you want him to let her?" Dagur grew more agitated. "I think I've made it pretty clear that I'm going to kill Hiccup. If he prioritizes saving his murderer over his own sister, then I'm going to have to make it a lot more painful than I first thought".
"He was doing it for Heather, not for you" Dagur though sour, strained to keep himself from screaming. "My sister. Not his. Mine. You can argue all you want about her being your friend. That was a family matter. And he neglected his own in favor of mine.... Then again, I suppose it will be his too soon enough".
"Thats unfair" you felt backed into a corner, you didn't know how you felt about that moment. You had gone so long without having a panic attack and here you were being confronted about it a second time. "What' unfair is that you were put in this situation at all", Dagur's hand wrapped around your forearm, "You don't need to see what happens to your 'friends' when Viggo gets them".
"Viggo?" that was a new name, "You'll meet him soon enough, he's big man Rykee's older brother. Poor thing seems scared of him. Couldn't imagine. Then again, I have a good relationship with my siblings" he laughed making you wonder how serious he was.
"My point is, this is not 'kidnapping'. Hiccup just made you think that it is" you rolled your eyes. "What did you do to Heather?" you gave up on this new conversation Dagur had steered you toward in favor of asking your original question.
"Honestly, nothing" you gave his a look at his obvious lie. "Really. She found me. Told me she had thought it over and realized we were the only family we had left. And blood trumps all, isn't that right?" that didn't sound like Heather.
A loud bell rang from outside, no doubt an alarm system of some sort. "Come on. It seems your friends are a bit over excited" Dagur pulled you up off the bed, "Come? Me too?". "Respectfully, leaving you alone doesn't tend to go well", His hand intertwined with your as he dragged you out the door right behind him.
Well, there went your plan to break out through the window
~~~~~~
End chapter notes:
Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than usual. I realized it had been almost half a year since my last update and really wanted to get something out.
Dagur would choose the bear..... so, he could wrestle it. But he'd choose the bear none the less
@demogorgon-master1
@mj-jabami
@alicee-carter
@amearla
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It Looks As Though You're Letting Go - Chapter 2
Summary: Everyone is born with an arrow on the back of their hand which points to their soulmate at midnight on their eighteenth birthday. After her parents' disastrous marriage and her father's subsequent depression following her mother's death, Nesta realized a soulmate is nothing more than guaranteed heartache and ruination. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she packs up her car and leaves her family and life behind forever. What she doesn't count on, however, is having a soulmate like Cassian, who may be the one to prove to her that a soulmate is what she needs.
Fic Rating: Explicit
Warnings: None
Chapter Word Count: 4514
Based on this prompt
Read on AO3, Fic Masterlist
@nessianweek
Chapter 2
Cassian had returned to work the day after that disastrous dinner, figuring it was best to give Nesta some time to cool off. He supposed he had sort of ambushed her when she was both sleep and food deprived. Based on her sudden temper, he must have hit a sore spot for her. She likely wasn’t used to anyone taking care of her.
Given his own background—living in poverty with his mother while his father ignored Cassian’s very existence until her death forced him to provide a home for his son—he could understand the hesitancy to accept help. He’d give her a couple days to orient herself in her new life and then he’d send her a text. Perhaps he had simply overstepped and moved too quickly.
Not contacting her for two days proved more difficult than he expected, but when forty-eight hours had finally passed, he sent her a text.
C: Hey Nes. Just wanted to say sorry for overstepping. I hope you’re ok.
He held his breath, waiting for her to reply, but after several minutes he set his phone down. She was probably busy. He didn’t really know her work schedule. Maybe she worked the evening shift sometimes.
Several hours later, when his phone pinged during his workout, he hastily dropped his weights and grabbed his phone.
N: It’s fine.
He chuckled.
C: That’s all the response I get? N: What, do you want a medal for apologizing? C: Not a medal, but maybe something more than “it’s fine.” N: Sorry to disappoint, but that’s all you get.
Cassian smiled, waving away the guy who asked if he was done with the weights as he walked over to a bench and sat down.
C: I can see I’m going to have to work hard to get back into your good graces. N: Who said you were in my good graces to begin with? C: I saw you making heart eyes at me.
He could practically hear her snort from here.
N: You’re delusional if you think I look at you with anything but contempt. C: If I had to guess, I’d say contempt is your love language, so I’ll take that as a compliment. N: 🙄 C: 😘
She didn’t respond after that, but Cassian still couldn’t keep the smile off his face. At least she was talking to him again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over the following couple of weeks Cassian and Nesta kept up a steady stream of texts. Cassian tried to force himself to keep from visiting her again, to simply text her, but by the end of the second week, he was itching to see her again. Deciding it was best to warn her he was coming, he shot her a text as he got into his car, not waiting for a response before he headed to her.
When he reached her apartment, he texted that he was there.
N: The door’s unlocked.
He frowned as he walked through the door, locking it behind him, and headed up the stairs. He knocked lightly before entering.
“You really shouldn’t leave your door unlocked—” His reprimand died on his lips when he looked around at the now fully furnished loft. The furniture was all clearly second hand, but also seemed to be good quality.
He looked over at her where she sat at a table drinking something hot from a mug. “You’ve clearly been busy. Where’d you get all this?”
He walked over to sit opposite her as she shrugged. “I figured I might as well put your tip money to good use.”
He chuckled, looking around. “This is definitely more than my tip money.”
“I’m a good waitress.”
His heart skipped a beat at the smirk on her face. God she was beautiful. “I know you are.”
After a beat, she set down her mug. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
He swallowed, feeling his face heat. He couldn’t very well tell her he was desperate to see her. She would probably take it as a sign that their bargain was broken and make him leave.
“Friends hang out.”
She tilted her head. “Are we friends?”
He leaned back in his chair. “I text you more than most of my friends, so yeah, we’re friends.”
She just hmm’d and picked up her mug again. Cassian looked around the room, trying to think of something to say, something to do to keep him here. If he played his cards right, maybe he wouldn’t have to drive home that night. He wasn’t opposed to sleeping on the couch, although it was definitely too short for him to sleep comfortably.
His eyes snagged on a tv. “How about a movie?”
He looked back at her. She gave nothing away as she drank from her mug.
Just when he was about to rescind the suggestion, she shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
He stood. “Great. Any movie in particular you wanna watch?”
“I don’t really care,” she said, taking her mug to the sink.
She was acting so aloof, he didn’t know what to make of it. Had he been reading into their banter? Maybe she hadn’t been flirting back. Maybe he was just a colossal dumb fuck for thinking she was in any way interested in him. After all, she had made it perfectly clear she wanted nothing to do with a soulmate.
He turned on the tv, ignoring the anxious thump of his heart, and scrolled through the movie selection before picking one at random. The couch was only a two-seater and he wasn’t a small guy, but Nesta still managed to lean as far away from him as possible.
He crossed his ankle over his knee, trying to pay attention to the movie and failing miserably. He glanced at Nesta, finding her looking unbothered and bored as she watched the screen.
She turned her head and caught him looking at her. “What?”
Cassian looked back at the tv. “Nothing.”
He could feel her watching him for a few moments before turning back to the movie. He wanted to touch her so badly. He had been thinking of the brush of her skin so often it was a wonder his cock wasn’t chafed.
Knowing he was being neither subtle nor smooth, he put his arm across the back of the couch. His fingers brushed against Nesta’s hair and he grit his teeth to keep from playing with it. He forced himself to keep staring at the screen as he felt the couch shift, waiting for Nesta to tell him to keep his hands to himself. When she said nothing, he exhaled.
By the time the movie was over, Cassian had no idea what it was even about. It had taken all his mental energy not to lean towards Nesta, to hold her hand, to play with her hair. If she hadn’t seemed completely unaffected he might have given in. As it was, however, he didn’t want to risk losing her, so he forced himself to remain still.
They sat in silence as the credits rolled. He didn’t know how to broach the idea of staying the night without it looking like he was expecting something from her.
He turned to suggest another movie when Nesta leaned towards him, her hands on his thigh as she pressed her lips to his. He froze as his mind attempted to catch up with what was happening.
After a second, Nesta pulled away.
“Sorry—”
Before she could say more, Cassian, grabbed the back of her head, pulling her back towards him. He tangled his fingers in her hair, holding back a groan when she opened her mouth and slid her tongue against his. He reached his other hand towards her waist, pulling gently. She swung her leg over his, straddling him and grasping onto his hair.
A voice in the back of his mind worried about whether this was a bad idea, about how Nesta would react given her rules, but he quickly shoved it away as his cock hardened. He groaned as her nails scratched along his scalp. He let go of her hair in favor of sliding his hands along her waist under her shirt.
He thought he might die when she groaned lightly into his mouth as he traced his fingers up her spine. She broke the kiss to inhale when he brushed his knuckles along the side of her breast. He nipped lightly at her lips before kissing his way along her jaw as he gently kneaded her breast. Her sharp inhale emboldened him to kiss his way down the column of her throat, gently leaning her back. He sucked lightly at the juncture between her neck and shoulder, smiling against her skin at her sharp inhale before continuing downward.
When he reached the collar of her t-shirt, she pulled away long enough to yank it off, tossing it to the side. Cassian’s breath was ragged as he looked at her. Nesta was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
He glanced up, finding her watching him with a vulnerable look in her eyes. “You’re so beautiful,” he breathed.
When she visibly relaxed, he returned his gaze to her chest. He reached behind for the clasp of her bra, pausing to wait for Nesta’s nod before he unclasped it and pulled it away.
His throat ran dry and he swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He curled his hands over her shoulders, his thumbs lightly tracing across her collarbones as he bent his head, groaning when he sucked her nipple into his mouth. He swirled his tongue, listening to Nesta’s breaths to discover what she did and didn’t like.
He moved to the next breast, repeating the process as Nesta’s breathing turned to near gasping, her chest heaving as her hips started shifting on his lap. He let go of her breast with a pop, sloppily kissing his way back up her neck to her lips.
She whined in the back of her throat when her nipples brushed against his still-clothed chest. Her hands dropped to his shirt, pulling it up. He pulled away long enough to toss his shirt next to hers before he returned his lips to hers. He would never tire of kissing her, of feeling the slide of her tongue against his. He groaned when she lightly scratched her nails up his spine, shuddering.
Cassian jerked when she rolled her hips sliding over his very hard cock, an inelegant whimper leaving his lips. He felt Nesta smile against his lips and decided he’d whimper as much as she wanted if it made her happy.
He traced a hand along the edge of her pants, dipping his hand into the back of her underwear to squeeze at her ass, pushing her harder against him. Now it was Nesta’s turn to whimper.
He pulled away, both of them breathing hard as he looked between Nesta’s eyes, trying to decide if he should take things further.
Nesta swallowed hard. “Um. You should know I’ve never done this before.”
Cassian stilled. “Ok.” He willed some blood to return to his brain so he could think. “Do you want to stop?”
Nesta shook her head. “No. I just thought that was something you should probably know.”
“Are you sure? Nothing has to happen.” He meant it. Cassian wouldn’t dream of forcing a woman, but more than that, Nesta was his soulmate. This was important. She was important, and he would rather cut his own heart out than have her first time ruined by not being ready.
She smirked. “I know nothing has to happen. I just thought it might be some useful information for you to have.”
He huffed a laugh. “It certainly cements what I plan to do to you.” He brushed a hand along her spine. “With your permission of course.” He looked around. “Maybe we should do this on your bed.”
Nesta raised an eyebrow. “Getting ahead of yourself aren’t you.”
Cassian laughed. “No. You can tell me to stop at any time, no questions ask and no bitching from me. I just figured it might be easier to…move around on the bed.”
He caught the flash of uncertainty in her eyes. “Hey.” He cupped her jaw, willing her to see that he was serious. “I mean it. You can say stop at any time. I don’t expect anything from you.” When she didn’t say anything he added, “We can stop right now, if you want. I don’t want you to feel pressured at all. I can—”
He stopped rambling when Nesta placed a finger on his lips. “Stop talking,” she said. “I want to do this. I just—needed a moment.”
She stood up, walking to the bed at the other end of the loft, hidden behind a folding screen. Cassian followed behind her, his mouth going dry when she shucked off her pants and underwear and sat on the bed, leaning back against her elbows.
When he made no move to get closer, she raised her eyebrows. “Are you going to stare all night?”
He swallowed, his gaze roving over her body. “I just might.”
She sat up and reached for his belt, pulling him towards her. She looked up at him as she unbuckled the belt, sliding it off and tossing it away before slipping the button of his jeans open. His breathing grew shallow when she slid the zipper down, hooking her fingers into the waist of his boxers and sliding his clothes down. He took over when she paused, her eyes growing wide when his cock sprang free.
Kicking his remaining clothes away, he hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her head so that her wide eyes met his. “Remember, nothing has to happen. I want you to promise me you’ll tell me if you don’t like something or if you want to stop.”
She stared at him a moment, the vulnerability behind her eyes tugging at his heart. Just when he was about to grab his clothes and call the whole thing off, she nodded.
He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. “I need to hear the words from your mouth.”
“I promise,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Ok. Lay back.”
She hesitated for a moment before doing as he asked, but propped herself up on her elbows again as he knelt in front of her. “What are you doing?”
He forced himself to look away from her tantalizing flesh and into her eyes. “I want to eat you out…if that’s ok.”
Nesta’s eyes widened before the corner of her mouth lifted and she laid back down. “Go ahead.”
Cassian smiled at her attempt at nonchalance as he lowered his head. He licked a stripe up and swirled his tongue around her clit, feeling immensely satisfied when she sucked in a breath and gripped her comforter with both hands.
He grabbed her legs and threw them over his shoulder to give him better access to her. He tried not to let the fact that this was her first time get into his head. Instead, he listened intently to every noise Nesta made, to the what caused her to gasp, to groan, to bow off the bed.
He slid a finger inside her, groaning against her skin as her heat wrapped around him. He was going to have to go slow to make sure he didn’t hurt her. He pumped in and out, taking his time as she relaxed around him before he curled his finger as he again sucked her clit into his mouth. She bowed off the bed as she orgasmed, her legs wrapping around his ears like a vice as she screamed.
As she pulsed around him, Cassian slid a second finger in, pumping her through the orgasm. He turned his head to kiss the inside of her thigh as her body relaxed around his fingers. She whined when he slid a third finger inside, pumping slowly.
“Does this hurt?” he asked, his voice gruff as he palmed himself to take the edge off.
“No,” Nesta gasped. “It feels amazing.” Her hands scrabbled to grab his hair, tugging him towards her. “Please. I want to kiss you.”
He slid his fingers out, watching her as he licked each one clean before kissing his way up her body. She scooted backwards until she was fully on the bed. When he leaned down to kiss her, his stomach flipped at the sweetness behind it.
He wasn’t sure how long they made out for, him in no hurry, before she wrapped both legs around his back and pulled away just enough to ask if he had a condom.
Cassian swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. “Will you hate me if I say yes?”
Nesta smirked up at him. “Only a little.”
He laughed, pulling back to grab the condom he had stuck in his wallet as a just-in-case, never expecting to use it. He tore the foil wrapper open and rolled the condom quickly up his cock before returning to Nesta.
She opened her arms and wrapped her legs back around him as he settle between them. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, cupping her face with one hand.
“Stop asking me if I want to stop and fuck me already,” was her reply.
He leaned down to kiss her, grasping his cock in one hand to guide it toward her entrance. He caught her gasp between his lips when he slid in slowly. Pulling away, he held himself still, trying to calm his breathing as he gasped out “Tell me if I hurt you.”
He opened his eyes at her hand on his face. “It doesn’t hurt,” she whispered.
He swallowed, pulled out and pushed back in, a little further this time. Nesta’s head tilted up as she groaned, using her heels to push him in even further.
“Fuck!”
His head fell to her collarbone as she chuckled in his ear. “I’m not going to break.”
Cassian pulled out slowly, both of them groaning at the slide as he pushed back in. He continued the slow slide in and out until he was fully seated inside her. He lifted his head from her collarbone, not caring if she could see the utter devastation in his eyes. He had never experienced sex like this. It felt overwhelming, knowing she was his soulmate and he was her first. He wouldn’t have cared if he wasn’t, but to know he was did something strange to his heart.
He leaned down to kiss her again as he started moving, Nesta tilting her hips up to meet him. He groaned against her lips, willing himself to last when the feel of her was driving him out of his mind. He kissed his way along her jaw, sucking her earlobe into his mouth and biting gently. She bowed against him, whining softly. He brushed his hands along her shoulders, leaning on his elbows. Her hands fell to either side of her head, and he trailed his fingers from her elbow down her wrist, threading his fingers into her.
He pulled back, staring down at her. Her wide eyes stared back at him, the moment so intimate, it felt as if his soul was being knit to hers. She bit her lip as he snapped his hips harder, now sliding easily in and out.
Eventually, he knew he wasn’t lasting much longer and he desperately wanted her to come on his cock. He pulled away to sit back on his knees, trailing his thumb along her jaw and over her lips, pushing it inside for her to suck on. She swirled her tongue around it, sucking gently until he pulled it back out and began swirling it around her clit, one hand on her hip as he resumed snapping his hips.
Nesta threw an arm over her eyes as she started gasping, her knees tightening around his hips. He picked up the pace of both his finger and his cock, all but pounding into her as he twirled his finger around her clit. When she opened her mouth in a silent scream, her legs shaking around him as she pulsed around his cock, he grabbed both her hips, his own orgasm rushing through him. He pumped a few more times before collapsing on top of Nesta, barely remembering to throw his arms out so he didn’t crush her.
She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him to her as they both gasped.
“That was—”
“Yeah.” He leaned his head against her collarbone, trying to gather himself back together after what could only be described as a life-altering experience.
When he felt like he had some semblance of control over his emotions, he pulled away and gently tugged Nesta to her feet. He pulled back the covers of her bed, sliding in and pulling her down next to him. He tucked her into his side, his legs twining with hers as her head rested against his bicep.
It was on the tip of his tongue to say something stupid, like I love you. He just barely restrained himself with the reminder that they’d technically only been talking for a few weeks and Nesta likely wouldn’t respond well to a hastily murmured love confession.
Neither of them seemed to know what to say, or perhaps neither of them wanted to break the spell between them. After several minutes, Nesta’s breathing evened out, and Cassian allowed himself to relax, drifting away shortly afterward.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nesta woke the next morning momentarily confused about why there was someone else in her bed. She looked up and the night before came crashing back to her, making her toes curl.
She wondered if sex was always like that or if Cassian was just really good at it. Her face was mushed into his chest as Cassian had both arms wrapped around her, hugging her close in his sleep. She basked in the feel of his arms around her for several minutes before the reality of her situation crashed into her.
She closed her eyes, dread dropping like a stone in her stomach. She was going to have to end it. Block his number. Tell him to leave.
Tears pricked at her eyes, angry at herself for letting it get so far. She had known the minute she agreed to be friends with him that it was a bad idea, but she was so lonely out here with no friends or family, and Cassian was so sweet to her. She had known in her heart that sleeping with him would mean she’d have to break it off, but she had wanted him to be her first. She wanted at least one good memory before he hated her forever.
A small voice in the back of her head told her she didn’t have to do it. She could just take her chances with her soulmate, take the risk that things wouldn’t turn out badly.
She quashed it. She couldn’t afford to take the risk. She had made up her mind years ago, and she had to hold firm. She could not let herself be that vulnerable, to take the risk that she and Cassian wouldn’t fight every day of their lives together like her parents, that she wouldn’t end up a heartbroken shell like her father.
No. It was better that she end it now and keep the previous night as a fond memory.
“Cassian.” She started to pull away but his arms tightened on her as he groaned in his sleep. She pushed against him. “Cassian,” she said louder.
His arms relaxed as he blinked open his eyes. She swallowed at the open happiness there, hating herself for being the one to take it away. “You have to go.”
Cassian’s arms dropped from her entirely as he frowned. “What?”
Her heart thumped in her chest as she forced herself to look at him with steel in her expression. “This was a mistake.”
The color drained from Cassian’s face as he sat up. “What?”
She rolled over, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and pressing her lips together, willing herself to keep it together. She looked around. Her clothes were strewn in a trail across her apartment. Without looking back at him, she walked over to her pants and pulled them on.
“You broke my rules.”
There was silence as she grabbed her shirt and pulled it over her head, turning to cross her arms and stare at him with what she hoped was a stern expression.
“I broke your rules?”
She nodded. “I said no kissing, and I think we can agree that we did a lot more than that.”
She averted her gaze when he scrambled out of the bed, reaching her in two strides.
“You kissed me first,” he reminded her.
She couldn’t stop her wince in time. “And it was a mistake.”
“How can you say that?” he breathed. She couldn’t help but look at him, her heart breaking at the utter devastation in her eyes. She forced herself to continue.
“Because it was. We never should have done anything. This just proves that we can’t work as friends.” She squared her shoulders. “I think it’s best we end things now.”
“You don’t mean that,” he said, his voice hollow.
“I do.”
“Nesta, I don’t know what happened to make you want to avoid a soulmate, but—”
“Get out.” She pressed her lips together hard in what she hoped looked like anger, willing the tears pricking in her eyes to go away.
Cassian froze at her tone, imbued with as much frostiness as she could muster. “Nesta,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion, “Please, lets talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” She pointed towards her door. “Go.”
“Nesta—”
“Go!”
Cassian flinched and then nodded, turning to put his clothes back on, his shoulders tight. Nesta willed herself to uphold her cold exterior, to not give in and tell him she was sorry. When he was dressed, she walked to the door, opening it and gesturing for him to move through.
He stopped at the door. “I’ll text you later?”
Nesta swallowed and shook her head. “We can’t do that anymore. I’m blocking your number as soon as you leave.”
His already pale expression grew paler. “You can’t mean that.”
She forced herself to look directly at him. “We’re done. I don’t want to see you or hear from you ever again.”
Before he could respond, she shut the door in his face, locking it to prevent him from coming back in. She expected him to bang on her door, but she was greeted with silence. She didn’t know which was worse, that he didn’t fight back or that she wanted him to.
When she heard him plodding down the steps, she walked to her bed, flopping back down on it. She grabbed her phone, the screen blurring in front of her as she navigated to Cassian’s number and hit block.
Tossing her phone aside, she curled up, hugging her knees to her chest as the tears fell silently down her face.
________________________________
A/N: This was brutal. This is the worst of the angst (although there is still more to come...just not as brutal.) I'll be updating again on Monday so stay tuned.
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Secrets: Best Left Untold? (Chapter 17) - Etrian Odyssey Untold 2 Fanfiction
AN: I really need to stop skipping forward to write future scenes XD Anyway, hope you enjoy reading~
Ao3 | Wattpad | Inkitt | FFNet
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Chapter 17:
Fafnir idly twisted a strand of Flavio’s soft, dark hair around his finger. Curled up against his chest, Flavio slept soundly, nestled under the blankets of his bed. All the stress of the last week had finally been released and he collapsed into his arms and willingly sunk into bed when Fafnir urged him to lay down to get some rest.
Flavio…he was so tired. So stressed. More than he realised himself.
Keeping up a happy front. Diligently working at the restaurant without a single complaint. Smiling. Laughing. Joking. Pretending to be ok.
All the while dealing with unwanted flowers, notes, letters, and threats – and Fafnir had been oblivious the entire time.
That was what infuriated him the most.
How could he have been so blind?
He was frustrated at Flavio for hiding everything for so long, keeping all his fears and stress to himself, but he was pissed at himself. They had been together since childhood. He knew Flavio inside and out. He should have known earlier. He should have picked up on the warning signs. He should have done something.
But he hadn’t.
He also found himself annoyed at how he was constantly pulled away from Flavio during the past week. Constantly sent on errands, shoved out the back to sort through stock even though it was not remotely necessary.
It was wrong to be angry at Regina and Arianna, with the former clearly playing matchmaker for the latter, and at the restaurant for keeping him and Flavio apart, he knew that. But there was still some resentment there. If he had not been kept away from Flavio, he may have picked up on his distress sooner. And he could have done something about it.
That was what he liked to tell himself at least.
Could he have saved the restaurant? Highly unlikely. Anyone deranged enough to burn down a building because of rejection was clearly an unhinged individual. If they had not done it last night, they may have done it sooner, with far more devastating consequences.
Or done something else. Something far more drastic. Something bare not worth thinking about.
But the bastard escalated things. They had drawn in the attention of not only Fafnir, but the rest of their companions plus the Grand Duchy.
Flavio shifted in his sleep, his brow furrowing with discomfort. Fafnir immediately tightened his arms around him, drawing him closer, a motion that brought Flavio comfort in his dreams. He relaxed and snuggled against Fafnir’s chest, falling back into a peaceful slumber.
Unfortunately, that arsonist from last night was not the only one Fafnir had to be worried about.
They were clearly the one stalking Flavio, true. The unwanted gift flowers, notes that turned threatening, and finally admitting to the arson of the restaurant for ‘his’ sake. Whoever they were, they were the definition of a stalker.
The other two, Flavio was hesitant to label of stalkers. That was hardly a surprise. He was likely in denial about the first guy for a couple of days. Until the knife incident.
But, in Fafnir’s mind, they were also stalkers. Just because they had different motives did not mean they were not stalkers.
The second appeared to be a conspiracy theorist of sorts. If his ramblings about that Mandelson that wandered about High Lagaard not being the same as the one that stood for the photo found in Stickleback Bar was to be believed. They could be nothing more than ramblings of a delusional crackhead, but Fafnir would take his claims that Flavio’s life was in danger seriously. For they were true, regardless of where he believed they came from.
As for Mandelson himself, he was a little more complex. Fafnir remembered that name. Met him once, found him obnoxious. Seemed to know a little too much about their guild, about the restaurant, about Flavio in general. Flavio did not believe that he was involved with the previous two stalkers, but Fafnir was unwilling to rule out the possibility.
There were too many coincidences. The first note starting with ‘beloved wife’, his obvious hatred toward the restaurant, only for the restaurant to be the target of an arson.
The three individuals had to be involved with one another. Conspiracy Theorist was because of Mandelson, and Mandelson was somehow related to the stalker turned arsonist.
Fafnir sighed and gently slipped his fingers through Flavio’s hair.
Flavio truly was too selfless for his own good. Always putting others first. Always putting Fafnir’s needs before his own.
In a way, Fafnir was to blame for Flavio’s reluctance to come forward to ask for help. He terrified him, back in Ginnungagap. To the point that he was petrified of losing him again, to cause him unnecessary stress. As if the smallest inconvenience would cause him to disappear again.
All he wanted was to make Flavio happy.
All that Flavio wanted was to make happy memories with him.
And he would. Fafnir would ensure it. He was not about to allow anyone to hurt Flavio, to take his future away from him. Away from them. Fafnir did not care who he had to fight. Three different stalkers or that so-called ancient evil residing withing Ginnungagap. It did not matter.
He made a promise to himself that he was going to show Flavio how much he meant to him, and he was going to keep it.
Fafnir kept his arms around Flavio, idly running his fingers through his hair until the light in the room began to darken. He did not want to move and he especially did not want to leave Flavio alone, but he needed to head to the hospital to escort Arianna back to the inn.
The three stalkers had kept their attention focused entirely on Flavio, but as things began to escalate, he could not afford to have his guild separated. For any reason.
“Flavio.” Fafnir gently began to urge Flavio from his slumber.
“Hmm,” Flavio murmured cutely as he started to stir, nuzzling his cheek against Fafnir’s chest, unwilling to wake just yet.
Flavio truly needed his sleep; it was clear that he had not slept well during the last week. But Fafnir was most certainly not going to leave Flavio asleep and alone, and vulnerable in his room.
Fafnir tightened his arms around Flavio and sat up, bringing his sleeping beauty with him. Flavio furrowed his brow and murmured something incoherent. His eyes soon flickered opened, however, and he gazed sleepily at him. It took a few moments for the fog to lift, and when it did, realisation flickered across Flavio’s face.
A sigh escaped his lips and he leaned forward, thumping his forehead against Fafnir’s shoulder. “You know everything.”
“I do.”
“What happens now?”
Fafnir rested his hand against the back of Flavio’s head and entangled his fingers through his hair. “First, I need to pick Arianna up from the hospital, then I need to tell everyone what has been happening.”
He felt Flavio tense against him. His hands moved up to grasp at the front of his shirt, his fingers twisting around the material tightly. It was one of his fears come true; he was causing trouble for others.
Of course, to Fafnir, he was doing no such thing. But in Flavio’s mind, he was. There were sure to be a lot of unnecessary apologies from him in the future. Fafnir better be prepared to counter them with words of reassurance.
“There is no other way, is there?” Flavio asked quietly.
“You’re not causing any trouble,” Fafnir quickly returned. “We’ll deal with this, Flavio.”
Flavio sighed and turned his head to the side, his forehead resting against Fafnir’s chin. “I just want it to be over with. I just want to make happy memories with you. I want to experience Christmas with you. I just want…”
Fafnir wrapped him up in his arms, holding him tightly. “And you will. We will.”
Flavio did not respond immediately. He took a few moments, simply resting against Fafnir, finding comforting in his arms. After a short while, he uttered another sigh as he lifted his head up and looked at him. “Alright.”
Fafnir cupped the side of Flavio’s face. “Lock your door, barricade it like you have been doing. I’ll be right next door, but I’ll return soon.”
All Flavio could muster was a small nod of his head, and it took all of Fafnir’s strength to pull away from him. After all that he had learnt, every protective cell in his body wanted to stay as close to Flavio as possible, to never have him out of his sight for longer than a few seconds, if at all.
But he needed to bring the others into the fold, alert them to their situation. And he needed to respect Flavio’s wishes not to be in on the conversation. So, just one more time they needed to part. After that, he was all but gluing himself to Flavio’s side and only the most extreme of circumstances were to pull them apart again.
Fafnir paused by the desk to pick up the drawer that held all the evidence and gathered everything he needed to explain the situation to the others. He would keep things short and to the point.
Flavio followed him to the door. As Fafnir stepped out into the hallway, Flavio leaned against the door tiredly. “I’m officially under your protective custody now, huh?”
“You better believe it.”
That finally brought a small smile to Flavio’s lips. “You know, I had wanted to spend more time with you. I guess I should have been more specific as to how.”
Fafnir lifted a hand to brush his fingers against Flavio’s cheek. “I’ll take whatever excuse I can.”
Finally, a small chuckle. “Alright. Don’t take long, ok?”
“I’ll be back soon,” Fafnir promised.
Flavio nodded his head again and stepped back from the door. He silently closed it and Fafnir stood still, waiting for the lock to be engaged. When he heard the telling click, he turned away himself, heading for his own room to place the evidence away. He would call for Bertrand and Chloe later; he would pick Arianna up first. He did not want to risk her walking through the streets alone.
He made doubly sure that his room was locked before he headed down into the foyer. Yet, as he moved to the exit, he was startled when the doors opened in front of him and a certain purple-haired princess stepped in.
“Arianna?”
Arianna smiled politely, seemingly have anticipated his surprise. “Sir Fafnir.”
“What are you-?”
“I decided to return on my own,” she explained as she attempted to close the door to keep the cold afternoon air out. “It appeared that Sir Flavio needed you more.”
While Fafnir was not pleased that Arianna walked back to the inn by herself, he was relieved that he did not have to wander too far from Flavio. “You have no idea how much.”
Arianna tilted her head questioningly to the side. “Hm?”
Fafnir motioned toward the stairs with a wave of his hand. “Come. There’s something I need to speak with you and the others about. It’s very important.”
Wordlessly, though her curiosity obviously piqued, Arianna followed Fafnir up the stairs. He paused outside of his room to unlock the door and motioned Arianna to step inside before he moved to knock on Bertrand’s door, his room just across the hall from his.
“Bertrand? I need you and Chloe to stepped into my room for a bit. We need to talk.”
He waited for a response, unsure if the two occupants were still in the room. They could have wandered down stairs during the hours since he had last seen them. But a moment later he heard the latch on the lock unfasten. He stepped back when the door opened, and a certain blond-haired protector and pink-haired war magus appeared.
Fafnir simple tilted his head toward his room, motioning for the two to follow him. The two stepped inside before him and he made the motion to close the door behind him.
Arianna looked around the room before she tilted her head to the side. “Is Sir Flavio not joining us?”
Fafnir shook his head as he closed the door. “This is about Flavio.”
Bertrand released a huff in the form of a sigh as he folded his arms across his chest. “I figured there was something up with the kid.”
“Have any of you noticed anything in particular?” Fafnir asked, looking at his guildmates each in turn.
Chloe fiddled with her glasses. “I haven’t noticed anything, just that he kept working hard as the restaurant’s waiter.”
“The kid has always been skinny, but he’s been more haggard looking lately,” Bertrand revealed. “Not to mentioned washed out.”
Arianna nodded her head. “Yes. And he is most upset about what happened to the restaurant.”
Bertrand arched an eyebrow as he gave Fafnir a pointed look. “I take it there’s something else?”
“There is.”
Fafnir turned to his desk where the drawer sat and just like Flavio had with him hours ago, he pulled out the folded cards that came with the flowers, and began to explain to the others the fear that Flavio had endured on his own.
He received a series of reactions; shock, disbelief, exasperation, guilt. Emotions that Fafnir went through himself. His was exponentially stronger, however, mixed with anger, concern, and protectiveness.
Bertrand uttered a loud, exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of his noise. “Should have realised something was up. A survivalist that is both self-efficient and selfless? Never a good combination.”
He was not wrong about that. Fafnir could never emphasize enough just how selfless Flavio could be.
Bertrand dropped his arm to fold it across his chest once more. “How long has he been keeping this a secret?”
“A week.”
Arianna released a loud gasp and her hands flew up to cover her mouth. “A week…? D-during the week of…?”
Fafnir nodded. “Yeah. During the entire week of celebrations.”
Arianna grew pale and her eyes widened. She took a half step backwards and her eyes darted off to the side. A realisation had occurred to her and it was devastating. One that Fafnir himself had come to himself.
One he did not like, either. Of course, he held no ill will toward Arianna nor Regina. But, perhaps, if he were not forced into those matchmaking scenarios, maybe, just maybe, he could have seen something was bothering Flavio sooner.
“So,” Bertrand began. “We gotta deal with a stalker, huh?”
Fafnir placed the notes onto the desk and turned back to the drawer. “There appears to be more than one.”
“Huh?”
Fafnir fished out the letters and handed them to Bertrand. “Someone else has decided to get involved.”
A deep crease appeared in Bertrand’s brow as he began to read through the short letters. He appeared momentarily confused before his brow smoothed out and his gaze shifted to look out into the distance, remembering something.
“So, that was the guy’s name, huh?” he muttered under his breath. He shook his head a second after and turned his attention back to Fafnir. “But what does this guy have to do with this?”
“According to Flavio, and from what the guy said to him, Flavio looks like his recently deceased wife,” Fafnir explained plainly. “And from what Cass says, he’s right.”
Bertrand scowled and handed back the letters. “That’s his excuse, huh?”
“Appears so.” Fafnir shook his head. “Flavio admits that the guy keeps popping up wherever he goes.”
“So, that means we have three guys we need to worry about,” Bertrant stated before he shook his head with a sigh. “I knew the kid was popular, but this is a bit much. He doesn’t do things by halves, does he?”
Fafnir placed the letters next to the notes. He decided to leave the knife within the drawer as everything he had revealed so far was shocking enough. However, it was the next note he had yet to reveal that was the most concerning. And it was the potential reactions to said item that Flavio feared the most.
“That’s not the worst of it,” Fafnir said as he pulled out the final folded card. “This is why Flavio is so gutted about the restaurant.”
He unfurled the note and presented it toward the others. They had to huddled around, leaning forward to read it. The words written on the white piece of cardboard were short, to the point. But they were important. And everyone soon understood their significance.
They went through a series of powerful emotions within a matter of seconds. Disbelief, realisation, and devastation.
Bertrand dragged a hand over his face. “God damn it. So, it was arson.”
Fafnir nodded his head grimly and dropped the note onto the table. “Flavio blames himself. He’s absolutely gutted about what happened. Not able to eat, not able to sleep properly. It took me ages to convince him that it wasn’t his fault.”
“We’re obviously dealing with an unhinged individual here,” Bertrand stated.
“Yeah. Delivering flowers to burning down a building is quite a step.”
Bertrand folded his arms tightly across his chest, an intense scowl on his face. “Yeah. It’s possible, if we had interfered earlier, than this flower guy would have amped up his violence earlier, too. It’s clear that he, or they, or whoever the hell they are, have no problem jumping straight into violence. They could have targeted the restaurant while it was full, in the middle of dinner rush. They could have done something else. Something far more drastic.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Fafnir roughly ran a hand through his hair. “Flavio was hoping that after a couple of silent rejections they would take the hint and leave. But that obviously didn’t happen.”
Flavio was too naïve sometimes.
“What are you going to do?” Bertrand suddenly asked him. “Are you going to move into his room or have Flavio move into yours?”
Fafnir held his kind in thought. “I’m still debating that. If I move into his, I have a higher chance of meeting this ‘admirer’ of his. But if he moves into mine, he’ll likely be safer.”
“For a while.”
“True. And this stalker might target other rooms.”
That left him with just one option.
Fafnir turned toward his desk and scooped up the letters and notes, placing them back into the drawer. And then started to gather up his own belongings.
“It’s probably best that I move into Flavio’s room. I better start packing.”
#etrian odyssey#etrian odyssey untold 2#fanfiction#fafnir/flavio#flavio#fafnir#secrets: best left untold?
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oh the one specific thing i do need to free from my brain immediately tho is the end of the main story which. ok i have done my best in the course of reading this fic not to just summarize plot points because like who cares lmfao but here i will do so just to stop thinking about it
tw mania and unreality and also injury i guess? and also spoilers for the end of the fic if Literally Anybody Cares
so basically like its the final chapters of the fic, theyve set up this big elaborate plan that absolutely everybody is involved w to beat the condesce and then like a week before everything is supposed to happen sollux goes manic and like fully delusional and is convinced that he is completely essential to the functioning of this plan and that its destined to work out and he cant lose
and of course everybody is like "you absolutely cannot come with to do this plan anymore" so he goes to another character and basically gets him to mind control every single person who cares about sollux to compel him to attend
so like its the day of the plan, he's there to do his part, everybody is freaking out bc now he's a massive liability in this huge plan, and of course he immediately goes off the rails because he's convinced he knows better than everybody else and basically gets in a situation where he's alone and fighting the psiionic who essentially eyeball lasers him to death and like the very second before he gets obliterated he has a brief moment of clarity like "oh i wasnt right i wasnt destined to win this fight i was just delusional and now im going to die" and then basically everybody finds his like mangled corpse
and like of course he lives because of shenanigans or whatever but it was upsetting!!! it was upsetting just like on its face, and it was upsetting to read like this very detailed second person account of mania and it was upsetting in the context of a story that has entirely been about how sollux doesn't always have to be the one to sacrifice himself. to just at the last minute have to throw out every lesson he learned to this effect for like 800,000 words prior or whatever and in the end he's not even coherent enough to remember it and it gets him killed. like what the fuck!!! and im not saying this is like. a failing on him or whatever like i get that sometimes its like that but like jesus christ!! anyway.
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Can I have a self aware au like player gets into an accident which resulted in her/them getting memory loss about certain parts in her/their life and completely forgets about twisted wonderland so she doesn't/they don't open the game for like a week and a half and when they get curious about this strange game in her/their phone, she opens the game and starts remembering things ofc including her/their beloved favorite character, and so (name) starts telling them about everything that has happened and apologizes for not opening the game for a long time. So how would Lilia, Vil, Leona, Malleus react to all this new information about their dear player?
If the characters are too much you don't have to do Leona and Malleus (p.s you're literally my favorite twisted wonderland author thank you for writing and just existing in general (◕ᴗ◕✿), remember to take breaks and stay hydrated and yo don't have to accept this request no pressure <3 )
Aww thank you so much. This is so sweet! I have to take accident part out bc it could be triggering to some but hmm... let's say that you had completely forgotten about TWST for some reason.
Self-aware au
I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!
WARNINGS: Yandere themes, obsessive behavior, possessive behavior, unhealthy mindset, delusional
Lilia Vanrouge/Vil Schoenheit-Remebering Twisted Wonderland
You heard from a friend about the game Twisted Wonderland
It sounded familiar
Too familiar
Even after seeing the icon on your screen you still couldn't remember where you had seen it before
And why the heck were parts of the story already unlockedd without you playing through the chapters before them??!
Then it hit you
TWST!
Right!
How could you have ever forgotten it??!
So many hours simply grinding and getting angry because your level was sometimes too low to proceed...
Apologizing to the screen you almost felt embarresed
There was no way this had any impact (besides taking away some of the guilt off your consciousness)
If only you knew that a certain someone was listening to you...
Of course it's the little shi... the charming young general (this is all for comedic purpose I am not hating on Lilia)
How long had he waited for this moment?
After you left suddenly one day nothing was the same
The days felt even duller than before, the flow of time agonizing slower
Lilia felt like someone had ripped out his soul and left his body like a shell left to rot away
It felt like millions of years had passed yet the fact that his old schoolmates were still here disproved this
When you started to apologize he felt touched
He never wanted you to feel bad for leaving, just wanting you to return
You nearly made him cry because he was so touched
The great overseer being sad because they weren't there all this time
How touching and...
What absolute nonsense
He should be the one bowing down, apologizing for being so inattentive which would lead to your leave
Don't expect him to let you wander away again
There is a nice cozy room in his home just for you...
He was devastated when you were gone
All this time he thought that he had disappointed you
Vil sees himself as one of those that are a example for the pursuit of your perfection
This makes him believe that his performance was so disappointing that you left
But... now you are back?
What had he done to deserve the honor of a second chance?
And how did he look??! Hair not properly brushed, makeup smudged and so many more flaws...
To you it seems like everything is as you left it but behind that screen there is a desperate man
Your apologies just enter one ear and leave the other
He is in such a state of mind that he can't think of a different possibility
After all, if the flaw wasn't with him then he could never correct it
So his mind makes things up so he can cope with your disappearance better
Vil goes now to even greater extremes to gain your favour
He knows that he is not capable of handling such situation again
So just look at him, only him! You are only allowed to see perfect things and even if he is still far away from your standard, he is closer than anyone else to it!
#yandere twst#yandere twisted wonderland#yandere twisted wonderland x reader#yandere twst x reader#self aware au#yandere lilia x reader#yandere lilia vanrouge#yandere vil#yandere vil schoenheit#tw: yandere#tw: obsessive behavior#tw: possessive behavior#tw: unhealthy mindset#tw: delusional
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Death by Exposure
Written for the Phic Phight Prompts: At first Danny had been worried sick that Wes had figured out that he was Phantom, but when no one believed him it had sort of become funny. Still, after the anti-ecto act, and the GIW, and his own parents very public very violently vitriolic screeds against ghosts, Danny had to wonder what he'd ever done to Wes that the guy would risk exposing Danny to all that. (from @hpwotters-blog, or at least I think that's you're tumblr.), Wes Weston wakes up to find an injured Phantom on the fire escape. (from @half-deadmagicperson), With how much time he spends on basketball and his delusional conspiracy theories, no one would ever suspect that Wes Weston has another secret hobby… (from @kadziduo), And Wes has been spending more and more time around Fenton and Co. lately - hey! he’s only trying to get some much-needed evidence against them, not trying to get all buddy-buddy with them. And anyway, they’re an entirely annoying bunch, so he wholeheartedly blames them for the fact that he’s currently being monologued at by the ghost holding him hostage. (from @a-closet-emo)
Chapter 5: Exposed
AO3 Link
[Warnings death mentions and kidnapping]
Much to both boys' surprise, Wes and Danny bonded during the remaining days of spring break. Even after Danny was fully healed and could go home, they hung out together. Wes even helped him in a ghost fight once or twice. When Sam and Tucker got back from their respective trips, they were dumbfounded.
"Danny, this is definitely just another ploy to gather evidence that you're Phantom," Sam pointed out. "I know you're not the brightest bulb, but even you have to see that."
"First of all, rude. And second of all, I showed up on his fire escape, bleeding out, and he patched me up," Danny told her. He'd already told her twice before. "I really don't think he's all that eager to expose me anymore. For now, at least."
"And how long is that gonna last?" Tucker asked. "How do you know he'll still feel that way tomorrow? Or next week?"
"I rarely ever say this, but Tucker's right," Sam said, crossing her arms. "Your parents and the Guys in White have created a propaganda machine that's constantly pumping out new anti-ghost sentiments. Wes may have resisted so far, but for how much longer?"
"Will you two just trust me?" Danny pleaded. "Ever since he figured out I'm Phantom, Wes has learned a lot more about ghosts than your average Amity Parker. He knows as well as we do that the Guys in White are lying about ghosts being non-sentient. And you're right, he still wants people to know I'm Phantom, but you were also right a couple months ago when you said he didn't want me to get hurt. Do you remember that?"
"We do trust you, Danny," Tucker said. "We just don't understand why you'd trust Wes, unless you're like, being overshadowed, or you lost your mind or something."
"Is that it?" Sam asked. "Have you gone completely insane? Next thing you're gonna tell us is that you've started thinking of Vlad as a father figure."
"Ew," Danny cringed. "It's nothing like that. I just think maybe we misjudged Wes a little bit."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Sam scoffed.
"Great, 'cause he's having lunch with us on Monday, when school starts back up again."
"WHAT?"
Sam and Tucker were none too pleased when Wes joined them in the cafeteria, just like Danny had said he would. But he didn't go on his usual tangent about Danny's secret identity, and, "How am I the only one seeing this? Wake up!" Even when Danny openly mentioned something that happened while fighting ghosts as Phantom, Wes kept it confined to their table.
He did ask a lot of questions about ghosts, though, and every time Danny answered them, Sam and Tucker would give him a look like he'd just sold Fenton Works for a handful of beans.
"What are you doing?" Sam hissed in his ear. "He's going to use this information to expose you!"
"Eventually, maybe, but relax," Danny muttered back. "He's changing his tack, okay? He wants to prove ghosts are sentient first and get the anti-ecto acts repealed."
"Oh, sure, that's a totally attainable goal for a high school student." She rolled her eyes. "Do you really believe he's going to do that?"
"I don't know, but he seems to," Danny told her with a shrug.
"I know you guys are talking about me," Wes said. "If you won't say it to my face, don't say it at all. Put up or shut up."
"Sam says she has no faith in you," Danny told him, and she gasped and punched him in the shoulder. "Ow!"
"That's fair," Wes said. "She's gonna eat those words, though."
"I'd like to see you make me!" she sneered.
"I'd like to see that, too," Tucker piped up cheerfully. "It's always fun to watch Sam eat her words. Those words better be vegan, am I right?"
Danny laughed before saying, "actually, I think words are technically an animal product, since they come from humans. Guess Sam may have to go off her diet." The two of them busted up while Sam scowled, and Wes looked confused for a moment before chuckling awkwardly, just so he wouldn't be left out.
Wes continued to spend more time with the three of them. He could often be found taking notes on things they said about ghosts for his new conspiracy theory about the G.I.W. covering up the fact that ghosts are sentient in order to enact the legal genocide of an intelligent species.
"What are you doing hanging out with that loser so often?" Dash asked derisively as he caught the ball Wes sent his way and passed it to Josh. Wes had just told him that he was meeting Danny and his friends once basketball practice was over. Dash faked a gag for dramatic effect.
"Lay off, dude, I'm gathering evidence," Wes said. The whole school still thought Wes was obsessed with his 'Fenton is Phantom' theory, and he didn't have enough evidence to start spreading his new theory yet, so he used that as his cover. It was harder than he thought to prove that ghosts were genuinely sentient when the commonly held belief was that they were pretending to be sentient, for God only knew what reason. "If I spend time around them, they'll eventually slip up and give me everything I need."
"Dude, you're off your nut if you're still trying to prove your stupid theory," Dash said with a snort. "He's not Phantom. Just admit you're crushing on him and stop making excuses."
"I am not crushing on Danny Fenton!" Wes snapped, insulted by the insinuation, one that was made far too often for Wes' liking. "Fenton's a complete dumbass, a liar, and an asshole. I'm gay, not stupid. I would never be attracted to someone like that."
"Uh-huh, sure." Dash clearly didn't believe it. Wes just sighed and stopped arguing, knowing it would be useless if he did. Nobody ever believed anything Wes said, so that was hardly new. It was annoying though.
When basketball practice ended, he headed to Fenton's house. Sam, Danny, and Tucker were all going to teach Wes how to play Doomed, which promised to be an... interesting experience.
Wes had never really played any video games before. He'd tried out a few at an arcade once, years ago. Kyle got to pick where they had their party on odd numbered years, so they went to one for their eleventh birthday. Wes hadn't lasted more than five minutes on any of the games there, and it ranked among the worst birthday parties he'd ever had for the pure frustration. He got back at Kyle for their twelfth though, when Wes got to choose the place and they had their birthday party at a bird sanctuary.
He knocked on the door when he arrived, and Danny answered it and immediately ushered Wes up to his room before his parents could intercept and trap Wes in a one-sided conversation about ghosts. Well, actually, with Wes there might've been some audience participation.
After an hour, Wes had made a character and approximately nine thousand derisive comments about video games, but he hadn't even managed to beat the first level. The other three were extremely amused.
"I told you I'm not good at video games," he reminded them, having to shout to be heard over their uproarious laughter as he repeatedly ran his character into a wall... again. "I told you all, like, a dozen times, but you insisted!" Even Sam had, which had surprised Wes, because she didn't seem like the gamer type. "I don't have the finger reflexes and shit."
"You spend all day behind a camera!" Tucker pointed out, panting with laughter. "How do you not have finger reflexes?"
"It's different reflexes!"
"You know what, Wes, maybe you should stick to bird watching," Danny said, patting his shoulder with fake sympathy.
"I didn't want to play in the first pla—"
"Bird watching?!" Tucker shouted, interrupting him. "You're shitting me right now."
"No, I saw his bird watching journal," Danny said. "It's intensely nerdy." Wes shot to his feet to chew him out for exposing his shameful secret, but whatever he said, it couldn't be heard over Sam's witch-like cackle.
In the end, Wes couldn't help getting dragged in, and started laughing himself. Even as he said, "Fuck you guys," he was smiling.
They took a break from gaming when Danny's parents left to check out a ghostly disturbance that Tucker had called in a fake tip about. The four of them headed downstairs to the lab to give Wes a tour.
"If he's going to hang out with us, he needs to at least know how the ghost portal works," Danny insisted, though Sam and Tucker grumbled complaints the whole way down the stairs. "Let me show you." Danny gave him a demonstration of how he returned ghosts from the thermos into the Ghost Zone, and how to know when the portal was just closed, and when it was actually sealed.
"This is pretty cool, actually," Wes said. He'd heard about the portal, of course, the Doctors Fenton could hardly shut up about it, but looking at it was a different story, "seeing another dimension."
Danny snorted. "Careful, Wes," he warned lightly. "That's the same thing I said, right before I died in it." Wes stopped cold.
"You what?"
"Oh... I guess I forgot that for all your yelling, you don't actually know how I became half ghost, do you?" Danny's smiled turned pained. "Yeah. The portal didn't work at first, and Sam and Tucker convinced me to check out the inside. It uh... kinda turned on while I was in there and...." Danny trailed off for a moment, swallowing and furrowing his eyebrows, as though he was remembering something deeply unpleasant. "Well, short version is it kinda killed me, kinda didn't, and that's why I am the way that I am."
"Just so you know, Wes," Sam said darkly, "It's super rude to ask a ghost how they died."
"It's okay, Sam," Danny told her, pulling himself together. "I'm the one who brought it up."
Wes refrained from making a biting comment about how he wasn't the one who'd goaded Danny to his death to begin with. It seemed like it would be in poor taste, given the setting and present company. Danny clearly didn't like thinking about it. Instead, Wes pointed out a huge object against one wall, covered in a tarp, and asked what it was.
Danny jumped on the subject change and tore the tarp away to reveal the Specter Speeder, and told Wes all about how it worked. "Maybe some other time, we'll take you with us on one of our trips into the Ghost Zone," Danny offered.
"Really? That would be awesome!"
Sam and Tucker groaned. They still weren't fully on board with Wes spending more time around them, and it wasn't like Wes wanted to get all buddy-buddy with them either. If anyone brought it up, he'd tell them the same thing he told Dash. He was gathering evidence against them, nothing more. They were all annoying, anyway.
Wes left when it was starting to get dark out. All told, despite monumentally sucking at Doomed, he'd gathered a lot of good information on ghosts and ectology when he was in the lab, and he could definitely use it to support his theory. As soon as he stepped off the front porch, something grabbed him out of nowhere, and he was flying away.
"What the?!" Wes struggled, but it was no use. He looked up to see his kidnapper, the ghost of some kind of medieval nobleman or something, wearing fine purple and black robes and a bitter expression on his blue face. "Fan-fucking-tastic." Wes pouted and crossed his arms. Of course something like this would happen. This is what he got for befriending Danny Fenton.
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#phic phight#phic phight 2023#fic#things i wrote#death by exposure#danny fenton#wes weston#sam manson#tucker foley#dp#danny phantom
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Lo ep 231// spoilers
Sighs buckle up buttercup bc this is gonna be looong
I knew about the proposal well before this episode, gonna say a week or two in advance.
Now I knew this chapter would be bad, nay— terrible
But I didn’t think it’d be as terrible if not worse than I thought it was. This is far far worse than the previous ep retconning Demeter’s character as a whole. While writing in going back and forth through the ep to break it all down , so I can gather my thoughts properly, stay on topic and not derail from the subject matter
Okay
Here we go:
The chapter starts off with an ominous logo change (eye roll) indicating it’s gonna “ different from past chapters. Spoiler alert it’s not. just a repeat of what our two protagonists have been doing from the get go
-Persephone laments about how she thought she was special bc of how overprotective her mother was of her, that she did her best ruling the mortal realm, making her own choices and that she’ll never be able to fulfill the expectations or live the life her mother wanted for her.
(Something we didn’t see her show any concern for while on Olympus)
She goes on to say she knows how her mother is treating her isn’t right, yet all she wanted to do is please her, to have that constant praise, and that had this been anyone else she would’ve put them in their place.
-I don’t like the chains used in this panel as symbolism bc it’s far from what we’ve seen of Demeter in previous eps. It’s stated from the beginning Demeter is overprotective, her controlling paranoid behavior clearly stems from generational trauma, seeing her mother eaten, her sister cut in half. Her explaining her theory of fertility goddesses, which was later proved CORRECT! Btw! Her putting Persephone into the TGoEM to keep her safe from gods that could use her for their own personal gain. This holds no weight, only to persuade the audience how bad mother Demeter is from Persephone’s perspective it doesn’t hold up
Second, Persephone had no problem turning minthe into plant for rightfully ratting her out about mass genocide. She had no problem bullying an ex classmate from college, who had no choice but be nice to her bc of his job as a customer service representative.
The only ppl Persephone “puts in their place” are ones that can’t fight back, no Kronos doesn’t count.
-Now I just wanna say standing up to an overprotective, controlling parent isn’t easy. I have two myself it’s hard setting boundaries I’m not dismissing that. It’s a struggle. Especially when it’s someone who raised and cared for you, yet constantly told you they know what’s best for you instead of you yourself.
But Persephone is a 30 yr old woman, who’s had next to no character development. So why should we expect that? Before and After the trial arc she’s done nothing but act like a spoiled brat. Helplessly running to hades to solve her problems and shield her from the consequences of her own actions.
Not once thinking of her mother, forgetting her completely after the big fight with Kronos and not bothering to ask about her further when Zeus tells her she’s fine.
Persephone is nothing more than a selfish brat who cares only for herself, bullying others and seeking entitlement she hasn’t earned.
-she goes on to say how could someone she holds in such high reguard hold contempt for her choices.
In context, mind you, Demeter is against her relationship with Hades. A man she knew only for four fucking weeks, didn’t see for 10yrs who she’s living with! Four weeks! She’s known this guy! They had one date. Only one! Not even rebuilding their friendship or catching up they just jump into being a couple.
It’s valid that her mother wouldn’t approve this! And just makes Persephone look like a delusional idiot. Honey you don’t know this guy. He tricked and manipulated you into a relationship. You were the other woman. You were the home wrecker. You knew he was in a relationship and pursued him anyway. And he pursued you! You’re mother is concerned for your well being.
-We’re supposed to see Demeter as this controlling evil parent when in reality she’s a concerned mother. Those of us who are critical with this comic see right through the shallow narrative and attempt to get the audience to side with our protagonist and see Demeter as a manipulative hag who only wants full and total control of her daughter. But this is flawed this is a retcon. This backfired.
The only reason we see the emotional manipulation is bc it was thrown in as a plot device and excuse for rs to use for her poor writing and mislead us into thinking this is how Demeter’s always been. When it came out Of nowhere. We’ve never seen her this way up until now. This trauma is used as a connivence. Like the SA was used to make hades look better, the emotional manipulation was used to make Demeter look bad.
And as someone who’s experienced this with their own parents I am disgusted with the way it was used in this story. I hate it. When the fast pass first came out there was no trigger warning at the beginning of the previous episode! That was only added AFTER it became public bc so many readers told Rachel under instagram post. This is something she shouldn’t need to be told! And the fact that it triggered so many ppl is infuriating! I myself had a hard time reading it, and had to control my breathing bc I was getting g so worked up and that was AFTER the public post of the comic!
RS only uses trauma as plot devices with no resolution. Only to demonize and up lift characters.Point blank period.
Demeter says ruling the underworld would be too much for Persephone and points out the tree she grew there, the same tree that awakened frigging Kronos.
She’s right. Ruling the mortal realm was too much for her. So much so Persephone was struggling, draining herself with her powers just to keep up with her moms work. But she did work and work hard. Not as hard as she thought she was as confirmed in previous episodes with Zeus failing her and the previous one her mother pointing out all the unfinished work and damage.
Hades called that tree a gift, but it was that very tree that led to his and many other gods laying dormant for 10yrs!! Peres wasn’t responsible with her powers on Olympus and in the underworld coddled by hades. Since her return, he doesn’t want her to work! It seems as well intentioned bc she “worked SO hard in the mortal realm” but it’s not. This is a man who wants to keep a woman under his thumb. She was supposed to work! That was the point of her punishment and she couldn’t even do that right.
She isn’t fit to rule a kingdom, shes bullying lower class citizens and is okay staying at home without questioning her partner!
Okay I don’t wanna derail too much so now I’ll talk about the proposal. My god the proposal!!!
This was god awful! So awful.
Nothing about this was empowering, uplifting or romantic. It was manipulative, shallow, self indulgent, conceited and self absorbed. It’s safe to say Hades has become one of my least favorite characters. And it’s not hard to see why.
He goes on to say being from the beginning of time and space deem Persephone worthy of ruling the underworld, a clear jab at Demeter (what a prick that Hades).
-he goes on this long annoying self absorbed tangent. Putting Persephone on this ridiculously high pedestal while lamenting about himself. Me me me! You did this for ME. You made ME feel this way, IM so lucky to have you. It’s all about him. Persephone isn’t her own person in his eyes. It’s all about how she is WITH HIM!. She’s HIS savior, shes nothing more than HIS queen, not a queen HIS queen.
It’s so possessive and demeaning and gross.
This is right after/during her emotional roller coster with her mom!!! Who just emotionally manipulated her not one episode ago! And he’s doing it with this proposal! In front of dozens of ppl and her mother!
But bc he’s her partner and he “loves” her it’s okay. It’s framed as sentimental when it’s no different from the emotional manipulation we just saw! He’s scumbag, talking advantage of an emotionally vulnerable person abs it’s framed as good! Its terrible.
And finally we see her hands turn pink again from the wedding ring. Another jab at Demeter. I guess to symbolize her freedom?? But to me ? It undoes all the hard work that came with them. Persephone’s green hands I guess were meant to symbolize her trying to be like her mother, but to me it showed the one good thing about her character. It showed she had to WORK for her powers. She had to work hard to maintain them. She had to get off her butt and figure out her way of doing things.
Her hands turning pink isn’t a flex it’s a representation that she’d rather be pampered and coddled by a partner. Reaping the benefits of slave labor and live a life of luxury instead of nature.
It’s not romantic running from an overprotective parent only thrust yourself into a marriage To a person you’ve barely known. This wasn’t sweet or sentimental. This was rushed, sloppy, shallow and manipulative.
What I wanted out of this chapter?
Persephone to stand up to her mother even if they didn’t meet a middle ground, for her to voice her opinion, put her foot down and say her choices were her own.
Instead? We once again get white knight Hades making this whole thing about himself. And Persephone letting him. Demeter is jabbed at, demonized and made a villain. Hades is praised despite doing the same emotionally abusive tactic.
This was absolute garbage. And we’re well past disappointment. No depth. No substance just trash.
#lo critical#critical lo#lore olympus spoilers#lore Olympus 231#me ramblings#lo persephone#lo hades#lo Demeter#lo eris#long post#shakes head#it’s getting worse and worse at this point#lore Olympus#WEBTOON
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02 || head up in the clouds
series ; in love with love (with you) description ; you’re a romantic. jungkook? jungkook is not.
chapter 02 ; head up in the clouds prev || next
word count ; 3.6k
tags ; high school bullying references, otherwise it’s just fluff i think, pls go to masterlist for more / general tags
picking up jisoo from the airport is always a two-person effort. not that jungkook wouldn’t go with you to begin with, since he’s every bit jisoo’s friend that you are, but mostly it’s because jisoo always packs for a decade when she’s only here for a month.
“jisoo!” you squeal, running straight into her arms as she immediately releases the three suitcases (that she’s somehow wheeling by herself) to hug you back, jumping around like a bunch of high school girls. jungkook heaves a sigh when he goes chasing after one of the suitcases that started rolling away, snatching it before it can get too far.
“hi,” she beams past her scarf. out of your small group of friends, jisoo went the farthest, landing a job on the other side of the country. her eyes sparkle to see you and jungkook, laughing amusedly when jungkook finally makes his way back to the two of you.
“why do you always pack like you’re moving back?” jungkook complains, but you can see the fondness in his eyes, happy to have jisoo back on your side of the coast.
“baby koo,” jisoo coos, tiptoeing to ruffle his hair. jungkook is oddly respectful about his elders or whatever - or maybe his tiny crush on her back when he was fourteen still lends him a soft spot for jisoo - either way, he lets her mess him up, only sighing quietly with a small curve to his lips.
“you just don’t understand what a lady’s got to pack,” jisoo quips when she’s done thoroughly ruining the state of his hair. “a month is a long time, you know.”
“don’t your parents have a laundry machine in their house?” he squints at her, but she smiles prettily back, and he just grabs the handle of a second suitcase, clicking his mouth shut, knowing he won’t win this one.
you take jisoo’s third suitcase, jisoo hooking her arm into the crook of your elbow, dragging you along. jungkook follows slowly behind, and you let jisoo pull you, not realizing she’s tugging you till you’re just out of earshot from jungkook.
“so? have you and jungkook become hate-fuck-buddies yet?” she asks casually. you nearly choke, stumbling over your feet, only jisoo’s grasp on your arm keeping you upright.
“what in god’s name are you talking about?”
jisoo cackles loudly. “it’s cuffing season,” she sings, letting go of you to twirl around. “i know you’re a sucker for a good romance.”
the smile she has on her face is positively evil. you shake your head with a wide grin - only jisoo could get away with talking like this. if it were the boys - oh you’d knock them out in a heartbeat, decade-long friendship be damned.
“you’re fucking delusional,” you laugh. “it’s jungkook.”
“it’s me, what?” jungkook tugs the handle of the suitcase you’re holding, yanking you backwards. you realize you were just about to walk straight past his car, his eyebrows shooting upwards when he looks at you.
“nothing,” you respond, a little too quickly. he’s packed two of the suitcases into his trunk, and is hauling the third one into the backseat. he rests one arm on the open door of his car, looking unconvinced by your answer. you bite the inside of your cheek.
“i was just asking if you two are getting along any better,” jisoo saves you, winking at you while jungkook still has his eyes on you.
“hey,” he says defensively, shutting the car door. “i gave her hot chocolate like last week.”
“it was supposed to be coffee for jaehyun,” you remind him, and he shuts his mouth. you think you imagine it, the light flush of pink across jungkook’s cheeks, but he’s turned around already, climbing into his car.
“come on, get in,” he grumbles. “troublemaking tag team.”
jisoo giggles. she urges you to the front seat - “i brought the suitcases, i sit with the suitcases,” - but you catch the usual mischievous twinkle in her eyes. there’s something underlying it that isn’t typically there, and it makes you feel off-kilter as you slide into the front passenger seat. but jisoo throws her arms around you from the backseat, singing loudly to whatever jungkook’s got playing on the radio, and you forget about it, letting her serenade the three of you back home.
.
.
.
you lean back in your seat, watching as jungkook yet again bowls a perfect strike. hoseok whoops loudly in his seat - even though his score is positively abysmal in comparison - as jungkook returns to your table, grinning widely.
it was jisoo’s pick, to come bowling and catch up with hoseok and yoongi. jungkook and jisoo have few things in common, but their uncanny skill in bowling is one of them. you figure that’s what lent to jungkook’s baby crush on jisoo years ago - well, that and jisoo has been stupid pretty since she was born, and jungkook has always had an eye for the pretty ones.
you tense in surprise when you feel yoongi lean closer to you from his spot on your left. “this can’t be fair,” he murmurs into your ear, giving you a knowing look as jungkook plops down next to hoseok, enjoying hoseok’s obnoxious encouragement. you chuckle, missing his warmth immediately as yoongi pats his hands on his thighs and stands up to take his turn.
you know he leaned in close only so you could hear him over the loud music in the alley, but you can’t deny the way your heart pounds in your chest at what felt like a secret conversation between the two of you. yoongi’s terribly handsome - adorable as he concentrates carefully - and particularly so when he almost bowls a gutter ball, save for the lucky pin he managed to clip on the end. you wince for him.
“that’s okay,” hoseok hollers. “just knock ‘em out in the next shot!”
“that’s absolutely not happening,” jisoo snickers, as yoongi lands his fourth gutter ball of the night.
“want me to teach you, hyung?” jungkook teases when yoongi makes his way back, yoongi narrowing his eyes at the younger.
“just try it,” yoongi clips back, one hand coming to swipe at the back of jungkook’s head playfully. jisoo gets up to take her shot and you think that yoongi will sit beside hoseok, but then he comes back to you, collapsing beside you, head leaning back against the seat. you can’t help but giggle at the defeated look on his face, and his head lolls over to look at you, eyebrows arched.
“what’s so funny, kid?”
you bite your lip. “oh, nothing,” you shrug innocently, but yoongi has known you since you were eight, so he narrows his eyes at the spark in your eyes. “i was just wondering if you wanted me to ask for kid rails.”
he makes a low noise, nose scrunching in offense. “i don’t see you doing any better,” he retorts, eyes looking pointedly at your near identical scores. the only person with a score impossibly lower than either of you is your brother’s, bordering on zero.
you pout, and it makes yoongi chuckle. “we can be in the losers’ lane together,” he reassures. “you, me, and - “ he pauses, like he’s considering something. hoseok happily bowls a gutter ball and yoongi winces, nodding. “yeah, never mind. hobi is in a league of his own.”
you laugh, a soft, affectionate sound, shy and enamoured. jungkook glances up right at that moment, eyes shifting over the way your knee brushes against yoongi’s, then flicking up to the way you lean towards yoongi instinctively. your eyes shine when you look at him, and it’s only the dark toned lighting of the bowling alley coloring everyone shades of red and purple hiding the blush jungkook’s certain is scattered across your cheeks right now.
he bites his cheek. his eyebrows shoot up when you laugh louder at something yoongi says, your hand reaching out to press against yoongi’s arm for a brief minute. something in jungkook’s chest tightens at the sight, how you hold onto yoongi’s every word like he single-handedly carries the moon and the stars.
when you get up to take your turn, jungkook hops out of his seat, coming up behind you. you glance at him, confused. “it’s my turn.”
“i know,” a crooked grin forms on his face. “you need all the help you can get.”
the way you look at jungkook is the complete opposite of the way you look at yoongi. your eye twitches in annoyance, and you shove a cackling jungkook out of your way, taking your time to select a bowling ball.
“that one’s too heavy,” jungkook’s voice comes from right next to your ear, head hovering over your shoulder. on pure instinct you elbow him in the stomach, but jungkook just snickers. he doesn’t even budge an inch, just laughs louder when you pick up the ball and find that he’s right and have to put it back down.
“this one,” he points helpfully to a neon green ball, and he looks so genuinely earnest that the glare you’d whipped around to give him falls off your face, replaced with a hesitant look.
he beams at you, gesturing for you to try. he’s right, because of course he is, but he’s giving you one of his rare (well, rare for you, not so much anyone else) full blown smiles, all bunny teeth and bright eyes, so you don’t say anything, just quirk your lips upwards in return. you heft the ball up and head towards the lane, launching it awkwardly down.
to jungkook’s credit, you do actually manage to strike down a few pins. barely. you turn back to see jungkook rubbing the back of his neck, head tilted downwards, but he’s not hiding nearly enough to cover the way he’s biting his lip hard to hold back a laugh.
“don’t laugh,” you warn, and it has jungkook biting down harder, eyes lit up in amusement. “i’m not kidding jeon, if you laugh, i’m dropping one of these on you.”
“i’m not laughing,” he says entirely unconvincingly, raising his hands defensively. he points to a pretty blue and pink swirled ball. “try,” he clears his throat, needing a minute to swallow down chuckles. “try that one this time.”
you narrow your eyes at him but snatch the ball up anyway. you can hear him letting out quiet snickers when you step away, but you ignore him to try and line up your shot, taking a deep breath before swinging. the ball veers slightly to the right, but then it slides back closer to the center and knocks down all pins but two. you can hear hoseok cheering in the background, but you’re too busy running back to jungkook, mouth open in a happy laugh, throwing your arms around his neck in your excitement. you hear him grunt in surprise, hands briefly catching your waist to steady you before he realizes what he’s doing and tears his hands off to hover instead of actually holding you.
you don’t care. quite frankly, you don’t even notice, too busy yelling in his ear did you see that jungkook did you see that’s like the highest score i’ve gotten all night-
you feel the rumble of his laughter, and his hands slowly lower to rest on your waist again. with his touch so cautious and light, you realize all of a sudden that you’re wrapped around him, and over his shoulder you can see jisoo grinning widely. immediately you rip yourself away, taking a couple steps backwards for good measure.
“uh,” you say intelligently. you feel flustered, body having already memorized the warmth of jungkook’s, the way he felt solid against you, his fingers feather light on your waist. jungkook doesn’t notice your embarrassment, tilting his head at you and offering a small smile.
“would you look at that,” he teases. “maybe you can bowl, after all.”
he brushes past you to take his turn, leaving you to shake off the feeling of having quite literally just thrown yourself at jungkook. you catch sight of the buzzer for your food going off and quickly snatch it off the table, “i’ll go get it.”
you hop up the stairs and over to the bar, sliding the buzzer to the waitstaff. they slide a tray over to you, and you’re about to grab it and head back to the table when a voice stops you. “y/n?”
you turn your head. the feeling that hits you is instant, dread latching its claws into you. “oh my god, it is you,” hyejin laughs, oblivious to the way you tense. “look nayeon, it’s jisoo’s little pet.” the smile she wears feels sickening.
beside her, nayeon giggles into her hand, and you breathe out an uncomfortable chuckle, forcing a smile onto your face. “hi hyejin,” you greet, hands tightening slightly on your tray. you don’t want to stick around for conversation.
jisoo was popular in high school. the kind of person that made everyone want to follow her around, like she had an invisible crown adorned at all times. her charisma had only increased as she got older, something that didn’t particularly bother you - because to you, jisoo was just jisoo. silly and kind and prone to singing loudly in cars.
but to others, she was elegant. intelligent, poised, charming. you still remember how stark a difference it’d made in high school - a girl, two years your older, friends with the silly little dreamer. you were the childish one. foolish. naive. jisoo’s charity case.
hyejin and nayeon were the kind of girls who were always trying to befriend jisoo, but jisoo saw right through them. she refused to give them the time of day, but that didn’t stop them from trying no matter how clear jisoo tried to be.
“well,” you clear your throat. “i have friends waiting for me so-”
“aw, c’mon, y/n-ie,” hyejin puts a hand around your wrist to stop you. “catch up with us a little. still following jisoo around these days?” hyejin laughs, the sound grating on your ears. “you were so cute. like a lost puppy.”
you don’t like the way her lips curl around your name, and you despise the condescension you can hear slip through when she talks about your friendship with jisoo. you’re more than enough years away from college, never mind high school; you don’t need to put up with this bullshit anymore. but somehow hyejin still makes you feel small, feel stupid, like they were right about you being jisoo’s charity case and not her friend.
“you still chasing yoongi around?” she purses her lips, smacking them together. “you did always have your head up in the clouds.”
why can’t you speak up? why do you shrink around these girls who don’t really know anything about you? you know, you know - they’re just like this because they’re jealous, jealous that jisoo liked you, jealous that yoongi took care of you, jealous that taehyung and jimin and jungkook were friends with you. you were the outlier, the loser, just hoseok’s kid sister who got taken in by the popular kids like a stray dog. because to them it’s unfathomable that guys like taehyung and jimin and jungkook could want to be around a dork like you, who proudly paraded around your love of rom-coms and books and all things related to love. who wore your heart on your sleeve, tripping over yourself just to get to your popular brother’s best friend.
“hey tell me,” hyejin’s hand shifts from your wrist to your upper arm, drawing you ever so slightly closer to her. the touch burns. “are you still friends with taehyung, too?”
you clench your jaw. you want to rip her arm off, tell her off, tell her if she wants to fuck taehyung then she can keep fucking dreaming. but before you can, there’s someone else tearing her hand off you forcibly, so rough that even you flinch and stumble backwards into a hard chest, those same hands coming to rest gently but firmly just below your shoulders, steadying you.
“does it matter?”
it’s jungkook’s voice that comes from behind you. he’s close enough still that you can feel his warmth, suddenly starkly aware of how broad he is, the way he towers over all of you. when you turn to look at him, your eyes widen, shocked by the cold expression he wears as he glares at hyejin and nayeon.
“oh, kookie,” nayeon gasps.
“don’t call me that,” he snaps immediately, and she jerks backwards like he’s slapped her. “you didn’t have the right to in high school and you still don’t now.”
you’ve never seen jungkook like this before. jungkook is playful, generally cheerful, a little annoying (a lot annoying), but nonetheless - an easy-going guy. he didn’t get riled up like you do, in fact, he was always the one that did the riling up. but he looks angry now - dark eyes threatening in a way you’ve never seen them before.
“we were just talking, kook,” hyejin smiles sweetly. “just catching up with y/n.”
“do you think i’m stupid?” he asks dryly. he shifts himself so that he’s slightly in front of you, hands shoved into his pockets. “i told you not to call me that name. and i’m pretty sure i also told you never to speak to y/n again. it might’ve been a couple years but i don’t think you’re going senile that fast, are you?”
you stare at him, shocked. you knew at some point your sophomore year hyejin and nayeon finally stopped bothering you, even the quiet sneers behind your back muting into nothing, but you figured they’d just grown tired of you, and probably gave up on being jisoo’s friend, too. you never once thought jungkook was involved, but the way he rotates his jaw in annoyance now, stance protective in front of you - you wonder exactly what kind of hand he must’ve had in it.
hyejin takes a step back, huffing out a laugh. “wow, jungkook,” she smirks but even you can tell it’s a sad excuse for a brave act. “you really don’t change.”
he stares down at her, unforgivingly. “neither have you,” he says lowly. “guess i was right about you peaking in high school.”
with that, he grabs the tray, glancing to you. your heart does a surprised flip in your chest at the way his eyes scan over you, like he’s searching for any place where you might be hurt. when he’s satisfied, he nods. “let’s go,” his tone much gentler with you. he nods his head forward, and you obey, heading back towards the steps down to the bowling lanes with him following close behind you.
you want to say thanks. you want to ask so many questions - what did he tell nayeon and hyejin in high school? why did hyejin say he hasn’t changed? why did he come get you?
but when you look at him, you can feel his anger still rolling off him in waves. it scares you a little - you know he won’t lash out at you but his jaw is set tight, shoulders stiff. his lips are pressed into a fine line even as he sets the food down before throwing himself back onto the seats, glaring at empty space.
you reach out before you even realize what you’re doing. your fingers brush his knee when you sit beside him, and then there he is again, stormy expression clearing when he looks at you, eyes bright. he flashes a grin at you, those bunny teeth poking out again.
“ready to keep getting your ass kicked?” he quips, and yeah, he’s definitely back, back to being annoying jungkook with mischievous lights in his eyes, but still, you can see something burning behind them, a low fire that he’s keeping contained. for you.
you open your mouth to respond, to say anything to acknowledge what he’d done for you, but he cocks his head challengingly, and you swallow your words down, figuring he just doesn’t want to talk about it.
the fingers you have resting on his knee shift to grip him tightly, tossing his leg as hard as you can, your whole body scooting next to him to shove him over so you can reach the fries. “bite me, jungkook.”
“well if you insist,” he grins cheekily, and you roll your eyes.
truth is, jungkook does want to say more. he wants to ask if you’re okay, if those girls said anything that might’ve bruised old wounds. you always smiled brightly and happily - content with your own little world, of daydreams and fairytales and romance. your scowls were saved only for jungkook, because boy did he love to watch the way your nose scrunched and eyebrows furrowed as he teased you. but he hated it when you withdrew into yourself, curling into your shell, hated it when you made yourself small because of other people.
but it’s not his place to ask. he knows you better than you think, knows that if you want him - if you need him - you would come find him. he’s tried, before, to reach you first, but you’ve always shut him out, leaving him stuck with the image of scalding but terribly sad eyes, too many versions of which he’s seen over the years but can never seem to forget.
when you smile at him, his heart does a funny thing in his chest. he decides it’s relief, relief that you don’t look too affected by old high school bullies, relief that your shoulders keep bumping into his as the two of you bicker over french fries and onion rings. it’s relief because it’s all the different ways that you’re telling him you’re okay, without having to say it out loud.
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#jungkook x you#jungkook x reader#jungkook x yn#jungkook x y/n#jungkook#series: ilwl#i meant to post this yesterday but i didnt have time :( but it's here today!!
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Trigger Warnings: sweary sweary language, bullying
Word count: 12,550
Chapters seven & eight

nine
“You know, that woman is so delusional sometimes.”
I looked at Geri, and then followed her gaze towards Lorraine who was ushering children into the hut for the start of the late kid’s club.
I grunted. “I can think of many, many more words than delusional to describe her.”
“Does one begin with a ‘C’ and end in a ‘T’?”
“Number one on the list actually.”
Geri sniggered. “I thought so.”
“She’s just rude and entitled and needs a smack round the face.”
“Violence is never the answer, Floss.” She teased, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“It should be.”
We watched as Lorraine made her way over to the car park from the hut, me with a much more unwelcoming demeanour than Geri. She kept her distance from me, as she should, but she made such a big deal out of it, feigning a look of terror in order to gain some sympathy from the other parents. I couldn’t tell you what she needed sympathy for, but I’m sure she was going to make it about the little explosion I had the week after Easter.
Debbie rubbed her shoulder as Lorraine passed her by, and everyone kept asking her if she was okay.
“You’ve got to be joking me.” I scoffed.
“You gotta give it to her - she puts on a good show.” Geri muttered, still watching her.
“I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I know you haven’t. She’s up to something.”
Lorraine made it to her car and rummaged around inside the boot for a moment, but quickly locked it back up. Then she started walking towards us.
“Oh no,” Geri said, barely audible.
I squared my shoulders. I didn’t know what she wanted but I was ready for whatever nonsense she was about to come out with.
“Florence,” She started, holding a piece of paper in her hand. She was facing away from the other parents now, so her expression was completely different from the look of terror she’d been acting on seconds before. “This is your final bill.”
My brows furrowed. “What?”
“The final payment you owe me for the morning child care.”
I narrowed my gaze. I knew I was all paid up. I paid in advance, not post-term and I always had done. “I don’t think so.”
She was glaring at me. “I think I know how much you’ve paid, Florence. And it’s not enough.”
“Are you seriously trying to embarrass me in front of the other parents?”
“Not at all, it never even crossed my mind.” Her voice and her face didn’t match.
“Really?” I retorted. “This isn’t just a big show to get the other parents on side and make you feel better about yourself?”
“You sound ridiculous, Florence. How else am I supposed to tell you?”
“In an email? Or on the phone, in a text, literally any other way.”
“I like to tell people in person.” She shrugged.
I snatched the bill from her. “I have paid this and I am going to prove it to you.”
“Well, you have until the end of the week.”
“I’ll do it whenever I fucking like, thank you very much.”
The other waiting parents were muttering between one another now. I knew I probably hadn’t shown myself in a very good light, but I didn’t care. The woman was evil and needed to be knocked down a peg. Or ten.
Lorraine finally stalked off, and the first thing I did was make sure the other parents knew I wasn’t pissing around. Silently. I glared at them.
“What a cunt.” Geri mumbled.
I didn’t say another word until Ruby appeared, with Oscar right behind her.
“Hi Mummy!” She shouted.
“Hi, baby.” I cooed, and stroked a hand over her hair. “Hi, Oscar.”
“Hello Ruby’s mum.”
“How we doing - did we have a good day at school?”
“It was okay. We don’t really like Mondays because we have to do P.E.”
“Oh wow, she’s definitely your child.” Geri laughed.
I smirked. “Shush you.” I said, and turned back to the children. “Are you ready to go? I need to make sure Oscar gets fed before his daddy comes to get him.”
“Yep! We’re ready!”
“You’re looking after the dentist’s kid?” Geri whispered.
“Yeah. Because we can’t send them to the morning club anymore I need to get some time back, and so does Harry. So on Mondays I look after Oscar and on Wednesdays and Thursdays Harry looks after Ruby.”
“Right…” Geri looked suspicious. “I thought you were scared of the dentist?”
I wasn’t sure if she was generalising or if she meant the new sexy dentist specifically. “I am.” It was still true either way. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I loaded the kids up into the car and drove home. The first thing I did inside was turn the oven on, and then I helped Ruby change into some play clothes before I let her and Oscar run riot in the garden before dinner.
Geri’s comment about hating P.E had amused me somewhat, because Ruby actually loved being active when it was all on her terms. As soon as someone else told her she had to do exercise she wasn’t interested. Perhaps because the word ‘exercise’ implied it was more a chore.
I dipped in and out of the garden, keeping an eye on both them and their dinner. Oscar seemed to be such a calm child in comparison to Ruby, who never stopped talking or moving. Oscar simply sat there and did whatever she told him to.
The children ate their dinner quickly, eager to get back outside and play. I gave them choc ices for dessert to cool down, but as per usual they seemed to get more of it around their faces than actually in their mouths. I made sure Oscar wasn’t covered in chocolate by the time his dad came to collect him.
Harry knocked on the door at just gone six o’clock. He was still in his scrubs, head to toe, hair a little scruffy, and for the first time I noticed a stubble on him.
He smiled as soon as he saw me, eyes again drawn to the t-shirt I was wearing. He cocked his head, smirking. “Is it?”
I looked down at myself and laughed when I realised which t-shirt I was wearing. It was grey with the words ‘THIS IS MY DOG WALKING T-SHIRT’ printed on the front. “By the weekend it will be.”
“Getting a dog-,”
I shushed him, panicked. I looked over my shoulder and then pulled the door closed behind me, taking a step outside.
“Ruby doesn’t know yet.” I whispered.
“Oh shit,” he laughed, “sorry.”
“It’s fine. She’s been banging on about it for months but I’ve never agreed to it in words to her.”
“I see. I’m sure she’ll be over the moon.”
“Bloody better be, he’s cost me an arm and a leg.”
Harry continued to smile at me, but I didn’t know what else to say. I felt like an obscure statue in a local park.
“How has Oscar been anyway?”
“Oh right, yeah.” I’m an idiot. “He’s been an angel, actually. He’s so calm.”
I opened the front door again and took a step inside. “Oscar, your dad is here!”
“He is a very placid child.” Harry agreed, hands now shoved into the pockets of his scrubs.
I didn’t know what placid meant. I pretended to. “Yeah, Ruby just orders him around and he does it. Feel like I maybe need to tell her to reel it in.”
“No, she’s fine.” Harry shook his head. “I think he likes it, he’s just happy to have a friend.”
That comment stirred me a little. Did he not have any friends before?
I realised it was rude of me to make Harry wait outside, and I was sure Oscar hadn't heard me. “Let me just go and get him - they’re in the garden. Come in,”
“Oh, thank you.”
I left Harry there while I went out to the garden to find the children. They were still playing, completely oblivious to the world around them.
“Oscar, your daddy is here to take you home.”
“Oh,” Ruby said with a sad pout.
Oscar was already standing and had started making his way towards the house.
“You still get to see him tomorrow, Rubes.” I reminded her.
“I know but it was fun having him here.” She whined, following Oscar.
“And you get to do it again next week. And you’re going to Oscar’s house on Wednesday and Thursday. So you will have lots of occasions like this to come, won’t you?”
She huffed at me. “Yes.”
“Yes. Exactly.”
Harry was still waiting in the hallway, barely having moved. “Hey, little man.” He grinned at the sight of his child.
“Hi, daddy.” Oscar smiled up to him.
“D’you have a good time?”
“I did.”
“Good lad. Say thank you to Ruby and her mum for looking after you, then.”
“Thank you Ruby, thank you Ruby’s mum.”
He was so cute I wanted to burst. “You’re very welcome.”
“Bye Oscar!” Ruby shouted. “Bye Harry!”
“Bye, Ruby.” Harry chuckled. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
We waited for them to reach their car before I closed the door and locked us in. Ruby was standing in the middle of the hall as if she suddenly didn’t know what to do with herself.
“Ready for a bath, poppet?”
She hummed, the sound disconnected.
“Come on then.”
I helped Ruby bathe, though she didn’t play like she normally would. She let me wash her hair and scrub her down, and then she got out. I wrapped her up in a towel and dried her off, plaited her hair and tucked her into bed. A minute later she was asleep.

My house had been turned into a bombsite for Ruby’s party. Not that it was the definition of pristine on a normal day, but even for a small party with close family and a few friends, my mother decided to bring an overkill of food and drink and decorations. I left her to it.
Zara and Mickey had come, with Geri, her husband Owen and Milly. Mum and Dad had been there for hours, Frank and Diane with them. The only people we were waiting for now were Oscar and his dad, and Ruby’s other friend Scarlett.
I knew I was rubbish at hosting but I couldn’t ask Mum and Dad to host a birthday party after everything else they were doing for us, so I bit the bullet, pulled my big girl trousers up and just got on with it. Dad actually ended up answering the door more than I did. I just tried to make sure everyone had enough to drink to keep hydrated before the food came out.
Harry turned up with Oscar just as Mum was arranging all the food on the table. Of course they were the only people I actually answered the door to.
“Hello, welcome!” I tried to put on my best happy and excited voice, even though I was sure I sounded constipated.
“Hi, thank you.” Harry smiled, nudging Oscar in first. “Go on, mate.”
“Everyone is in the garden, you’re just in time for food.”
I walked through the house after them to make sure they went the right way, not that there was much room to get lost in my modest little home.
As soon as Oscar spotted the other children he was off like a shot, leaving Harry and I alone. I felt awkward and didn’t know what to say.
“Decorations are cool.” Harry commented as he gazed around the garden.
I grimaced to myself because I actually hated them. My Colombian mother had set the garden up like a Hawaiian luau (make it make sense!), with inflatable palm trees and flamingos, palm leaf bunting, lei headbands, wristbands and garlands. My dining table looked like a giant hay bale, and there were paper pineapples in every direction but I didn’t know why.
“My mother is to thank for this. I was just gonna give her a tiara and a sash.”
Harry looked at me with a smirk. “The ones she’s wearing now?”
I nodded. “Yep. Drink?”
“Love one.”
I helped Harry find a non-alcoholic beverage, sourcing one for myself too.
Mum had gone all out on the Colombian niceties, including Lulada - a smoothie-like drink which was notoriously hard to come by in this country.
“Floss,” she hurried over to me with a tray of cholados, “¿Puedes volver a ponerlos en el congelador? Se derretirán antes de que nadie se los coma.” She asked me to put them back in the freezer before they melted.
“Sí,” I took the tray from her, “las sacaré en 30 minutos más o menos.” I said I’d bring them back out in about half an hour.
“Gracias, mí querida.” Thank you, my darling. She kissed my cheek before I disappeared inside.
I stored them in the freezer in the top drawer and told myself to keep an eye on when everyone was finished with the savoury food before I brought them back again.
Back outside, I grabbed a plate and called for Ruby to come and get something to eat. Oscar was already with his daddy next to me looking over the spread with confused expressions.
“Florence?”
I looked at Harry when he spoke my name.
“Sorry, Floss.” He was obviously getting irritated having to correct himself all the time. “Er, what is everything?”
I bit back a flattered smile. It wasn’t very often I was the one someone went to for information. “Yeah, it’s all Colombian, but it’s actually more normal than it looks. So, the deep-fried things are empanadas, done the Colombian way, with chicken and potato fillings. Next to that in the weird-looking green leaf bags are tamales. They’ve got chicken, pork and peas in them, and the leaf around the outside is a plantain leaf which you can eat. And the bread is pan de bono which is cheese and yuca bread. So, it’s cheesy bread but made with yuca starch, and they are bangin’ when they’re still warm.”
Harry laughed, “Alright.”
“The pitta-looking things are arepas - Mum usually fills them with pulled pork and tomato, and they’ve been grilled on the barbecue. All this meat,” I gestured vaguely to the wide selection of charred meats, “is what we call carne a la llanera, so it’s been slow cooked on a barbecue on, like a tall round spit, and you have it with the steamed potatoes and guacamole. The two big pots are ajiaco and cazuela de mariscos, which are chicken and potato soup and a seafood soup.
“Then for desserts you’ve got cocadas which are like coconut cookies, and obleas which are wafer sandwiches with fruit, nuts, cream and chocolate. I’ve also just put cholados in the freezer which are frozen fruit cups - like a frappe but not.”
“Wow.” Harry nodded, smiling, “okay. Thank you.”
“Any time.” I smiled back.
I filled my plate up and made sure Ruby had done hers, and then went to sit with Geri and Zara while I ate.
“Floss, do you ever regret jilting the dentist?”
I snapped my head in Zara’s direction, glaring at her. “Shut up.” I made sure said dentist wasn’t paying attention before I continued. “No I don’t.”
“Really? You seem to get on so well, it must play on you a little bit.”
“No, it doesn’t. I am fine.”
“So, there’s nothing there?” Geri’s question was inquisitive. “No… flirting or anything like that?”
“We literally just look after each other’s children sometimes. Not that deep.”
The pair of them narrowed their eyes at me. “We shall see.”
I ignored them and carried on eating.
The party continued for a few hours, with Ruby opening her gifts while everyone was still there and the cholados finally being served because I definitely forgot. I disappeared for a little while because I was concerned about the state of the kitchen, but Ruby was left in good hands.
I heard so much while I was in the kitchen. There wasn’t an abundance of couples at this child’s birthday, but 3 out of 4 managed to have an argument in the living room without realising I was only in the room next door.
Zara and Mickey were first, although it was more like bickering than an actual argument. Mickey wanted to leave early for something and Zara kept saying no. I wasn’t necessarily offended that he wanted to leave early. He wasn’t too great friends with anyone here and he didn’t have any children to appreciate a children’s party.
The arguments only really got intense when Geri and Owen started digging at one another.
“Where are you going?” Geri hissed.
I didn’t know whether I should keep going with my tidying or stop entirely so they weren’t interrupted.
“I’m going home, Geri.” Owen said, not concerned with whispering.
“Why? You can’t just leave without saying anything - people will find it strange.”
“People in this village find everything strange if it’s not entirely to their view of normal.”
“I know this. Look at what Floss has had to put up with recently.”
“Floss brings most of her own troubles on herself.”
Ouch.
“Don’t be so archaic, Owen. That’s not fair and you know it.” Geri’s voice came much harsher than before. “You said you wanted to keep up appearances for Milly’s sake, and you leaving in the middle of a party because you’re pissed off with me is not what I would consider keeping up appearances.”
“I just can’t do it. I can’t go around behaving like we’re still happy and in love or whatever when you don’t want me anymore.”
“I still care about you! I’ll always care about you - that doesn’t just go away!”
“Not enough to stay with me!”
“You can’t keep me forced in a marriage this way, Owen!”
“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you fucking married me!”
I’d heard way more than I should’ve, but I couldn’t start making noises now, one of them might kill me. I bit my lip and continued standing still in the middle of the room in silence. I had a wet pan in my hands and it was dripping onto the floor. I started drying it with a tea towel as quietly as possible.
After a painful period of silence, Geri finally sighed. “Go home, then. I’ll make up some shitty excuse as to why you’ve fucked off without saying anything.”
“Maybe you should tell everyone the truth. We are in this stupid mess because of you in the first place.”
“I wouldn’t want to deny you the pleasure of telling everyone yourself how evil I am.”
“I will never take any pleasure in telling people that my wife is leaving me. Especially not for a woman. It’s embarrassing.”
“You’re only embarrassed because it emasculates you. Get your head out your arse.”
A second later the front door slammed, and I flinched. I heard Geri’s footsteps disappear back outside. I went back to cleaning up my kitchen with tense shoulders and tinnitus.
Frank and Diane were next, although I had no interest as to what they were arguing about, nor did I care whether they could hear me or not. I did the washing up as loudly as I pleased.
Whatever the two of them were arguing about didn’t last very long, and Diane went back to the garden to enjoy the remainder of Ruby’s afternoon. Frank, however, obviously couldn’t help himself.
The door creaked when he opened it. “What’re you hiding in here for, Florence?”
“I’m not hiding.” I retorted, refusing to look at him.
Frank made a sceptical sound, but I knew it was a farce. The man’s entire life was a farce. He started picking at the leftover food on the counter. “This is all lovely but I do miss a good sausage roll and pork pie.”
I took a deep breath. “Bring your own next time, then.”
“Oh, no - I could never insult your mother like that.”
“But you’ll do it behind her back?”
I could feel Frank’s eyes burning the back of my head. “I’m just saying… We English people like to eat English food.”
I’d paused in doing the washing up, too angry to speak. I clenched my fist around the sponge, dishwater pouring out of it over my pruning hand.
“I don’t mean to offend you, Florence.”
“Really?” I scoffed. “Because you’re doing an excellent job of it.”
“Don’t be like that.”
I threw the sponge into the sink and turned a glare on him. “In future, if you don’t like the food my mother pours herself into for hours on end, don’t fucking come.”
He shushed me, that smarmy look on his face again, and he placed his hands on my waist.
I felt sick.
“Calm down, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just airing my thoughts. I love Daniela’s food - always have.”
“Please take your hands off me.”
“Florence, come on,”
“Floss.” I corrected him through gritted teeth, trying to move away from him.
He laughed at me. “What’s got you so wound up today, aye?” He started stroking my sides.
“Lo juro por Dios, si no me quitas las manos de encima te castro.” I threatened to cut his dick off if he didn’t stop touching me.
Someone cleared their throat and knocked on the kitchen door. Frank took a frantic step back, and I could feel my face burning.
Harry was standing just outside the door, with Oscar and Ruby playing just behind him. He looked a little pale in the face, expression unreadable. “Sorry to interrupt,”
“No, no,” Frank raised his hands, “you’re fine, young man. I was just heading back out anyway - you carry on.”
I couldn’t help but notice the subtle glare on Harry’s face as he watched Frank leave the room. I was already gawking at him when he met my gaze again.
“I, um, just wanted to let you know that we’re gonna head off, if you don’t mind?”
“Oh,” I shook my head, “of course not. Um, did you both have a good time?”
“I did.” Harry smiled, though it wasn’t quite as genuine as I’d seen before. “Oscar, have you had a good time?”
Oscar stopped whatever it was he was doing with Ruby and peered up at me. “Yes, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” I smiled back at him.
Harry stroked a hand over his son’s floppy curls. “Ready to go?”
Oscar silently nodded.
Ruby and I walked the dentist and his son to the door and waited for them to safely get into their car and drive off, waving at them the whole time like those Chinese cat statues with the funny arms.
“Having a good day, poppet?”
Ruby stood right in front of me, her head craned to look up at me with the biggest smile. “Yes, thank you, Mummy.”
“Good girl. We’ll have a nice day tomorrow as well, just me, you and niñera y abuelo, sí?”
“¡Sí!” She shouted back, and opened her arms wide.
I giggled, leaning down to pick her up around her middle. She clung to me like a koala did a tree - her arms around my shoulders and her legs hooked behind my back. I pecked her nose and her cheek, and she did the same right back to me.
“Te amo, Mamá.” I love you, Mummy.
I hummed loudly with the proudest grin on my face. I loved hearing her speak Spanish. “Yo también te amo, querida.” I love you too, darling.

Early on Sunday morning, I pulled everything for the puppy’s arrival out of the shed in the back garden and set it up in the living room. Dad was already on his way back from Wisbech with the puppy in tow, apparently fast asleep in the front passenger seat.
I’d bought a penn for him because I couldn’t have him running riot around the whole house in the middle of the night, and I wasn’t particularly keen on having him in bed with me or Ruby.
I had to be as quiet as possible because I desperately didn’t want Ruby to wake up before Dad arrived with him, otherwise it would ruin the whole surprise. I made sure everything was ready for the dog, and then I started decorating the living room with more age appropriate decorations than the lual nonsense from yesterday. I’d bought a big pink foil balloon shaped like a number 6 yesterday before her party, and I was pleased to see it had managed to last overnight.
Mum and Dad turned up just after 8 o’clock, which was lucky because I was starting to worry Ruby would’ve been awake 2 hours before, but I hadn’t heard a peep from her.
I made sure the door didn’t make a sound when it opened, and Dad had the puppy on a short lead so there was no chance of him going on a mad rampage through the house before I got Ruby out of bed. He was keen to look around, so Dad walked him around the house for a bit to get him familiar with his new home. After ten minutes of mooching, I sat with him on the floor to calm him down a little.
“There’s that handsome young man I remember seeing!” I whispered, stroking over his head over and over while he licked up my arms. “You are so beautiful, Ruby’s going to be such a happy little girl today.”
The dog flailed around in my lap, ferociously wagging his tail and grunting with all his excitement.
“Can you do me a favour, mister?” I still spoke to the dog, stroking my hands down the length of his little body in the hopes it would settle him. “I need to go and get Ruby so she can come and meet you, but you need to be really good and really patient while I do. Can you do that?”
The dog ruffed, and I started to get antsy.
“I’m gonna take that as a yes!”
I pecked the top of his head a couple of times, and left him with Dad again while I stood up and brushed myself off.
“Shall I make her some breakfast, Floss?” My mum asked, clearly itching to get in the kitchen.
“She wanted some of the leftover obleas - it’s all in the fridge.”
Daniela nodded. “I’ll get them out and ready - make it look nice and pretty for her.”
I lifted my head slightly, biting away a smirk. “Alright.”
I made my way upstairs, lightly knocking on her bedroom door as I peeked my head in.
Ruby lifted her head up, eyes struggling to open and mouth formed in a little ‘o’.
“Buenos dias, cumpleañera.” I said in my quietest voice.
“Buenos dias, Mummy.” She grinned in a gravelly whisper.
I sat on the edge of her bed, smiling at her pretty little face. I wiped the corners of her eyes where sleep had collected, and then stroked the back of my finger against her soft cheek. “Must’ve needed that sleep, it’s nearly 9 o’clock.”
She nodded, rubbing at her own eyes. “I was tired.”
“Shall we get you some breakfast, then? Grandma and Grandad are waiting downstairs, I think they’re hungry.”
“Okay.”
I helped Ruby out of bed and downstairs, letting her go first. As soon as she walked into the living room, she saw the puppy waiting for her. He was sitting like an angel, and either Mum or Dad had wrapped a ginormous blue bow around him.
Ruby squealed, and the dog yapped excitedly, running straight for her out of Dad’s grip. He leapt into her lap, licking her face and trying to crawl all over her. I’d never seen such joy on her face and it almost brought me to tears. Dad was laughing and Mum kept repeating, “Que preciosa,” how precious and, “Hermosa,” beautiful over and over again.
Eventually the dog got so excited that he started running between everyone else for attention as well, and I did have to say it was joyous to watch.
Ruby immediately came to me once she was able to, and wrapped her arms tightly around me. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“It’s not just me - Grandma and Grandad helped get him too. He’s from all of us.”
She kept saying thank you as she skipped around the room to each of us. “I’m so happy! He’s exactly what I wanted!”
Thank God. I felt like a physical weight had been lifted off me.
“After we’ve all had some breakfast we can take him for a walk.” Dad said, stroking over her hair. “Hopefully it’ll wear him out a bit.”
“Okay!” Ruby grinned.
Seeing my baby that happy was overwhelming. I knew that in that moment, no matter what stress that animal might cause me ever the next few months while he adjusted, it would be worth it to see Ruby constantly delighted like that.

ten
We drove out to the Sherborne Park Estate at around lunchtime, parked up, and began walking. We started easy, far enough that Bongo would exert some energy for when we stopped to eat, but not so much that we’d be carrying him around for the rest of the day.
We walked through the centre of the park first, through the woods and around to the village. In the village we had lunch in the local and always popular tea room, charging up ready for the rest of the afternoon. From the village we did a huge loop, walking east all the way to River Windrush and then following it along to the Watermeadows, and finally back down to the car park through the common and Picardy Copse.
It was a beautiful day for a walk like that, and a beautiful day to celebrate my baby’s birthday with her new best friend.
Bongo was incredibly well-behaved for such a young puppy. People stopped constantly to give him attention, and he lapped it up like any good boy would. He never barked, he never jumped, he never bit, he never growled. He just basked in his new life of being the most popular dog around. In the car on the way back he stretched across the backseat, with his chin resting on Ruby’s knee and his paws poking into my thigh.
I was overly conscious about our nighttime routine with him. While he was so young I wanted him to stay in his penn because I’d read horror stories about sofas being destroyed and fridges being raided. I was desperate for that not to happen.
“Mummy, can he sleep with me in my bed tonight?” Ruby asked in the evening just before I was about to put her to bed. She was sitting at the end of the sofa with the dog in her lap, stroking over the top of his head.
“We need to get him used to his cage, muffin. If we let him sleep wherever he wants to he won’t be disciplined when he’s older and he’ll be too big for that.”
“Oh,” she pouted, a devastated sigh leaving her. She never argued any further.
I went up with her, resting my head on the side of her bed while she talked herself to sleep. Bongo had decided to join us but I wouldn’t let him on the bed, so he sat next to me, ferociously wagging his tail. Once Ruby was safely off, I took the puppy back downstairs with me.
“You’ve had a long day, haven’t you, mate?” I chuckled as he stretched out next me, his chin on my thigh. I stroked him from his head to his back over and over.
I watched TV for a little while longer, but I was tired too and eventually decided to go up early.
I ushered Bongo into the penn, gave him a couple of chin scratches and a peck on the head, and then dropped some biscuits into his bed. Obviously he ate the treats without question, and I made my escape.
Just as I reached the bottom of the stairs, he started whimpering. I stalled, guilted but the sound. My chest tightened and I tried not to turn back to him to give him the attention he wanted. I was out of sight so he didn’t know that I’d stopped, and I waited to see if he would calm down.
I knew the longer I waited listening to him the more likely I would be to give in to him, so I marched upstairs and pretended I hadn’t heard it. I readied for bed and tucked myself in, dozy as soon as my head hit the pillow.
It was quiet. All I could hear was the wind whistling through the houses from the field. I didn’t hear a car, I didn’t hear a conversation, and I didn’t hear the puppy downstairs.
Until he barked.
When he started barking, it wasn’t fully formed. It was like those little yappy things you hear on dogs that are smaller than cats. But it was still loud, and I was scared Ruby would wake.
I whined and sat up, throwing the covers off me. I hurried back downstairs while making as little noise as I possibly could, and sat on my knees in front of the puppy before he could make another sound.
I shushed him, stroking over the top of his head where he sat upright in his bed. He licked my face and hands, like it was some kind of bribe for me to stay with him. I was stupid but I wasn’t that stupid.
I waited with him for ten minutes before I tried again, because I could barely keep my eyes open, but all the events from my original attempt repeated themselves. Bongo started crying as soon as I was out of sight, and two minutes after he started barking.
“Fuck sake,” I muttered, and marched my way back downstairs.
I stood in front of him with my arms folded and a scowl on my face. “Right, let’s get one thing straight, mister. I am in charge of this house, not you. You stay down here at nighttime and you go to sleep like a good boy, and I go to bed upstairs like a normal human being. Got it?”
He stared at me, completely silent.
“Good. Now, I’m going to bed, and you will stay here quietly.”
I turned around and opened the latch on the penn. In the next second, Bongo had shot out and was on his way to the stairs.
“Oh, you little shitbag.” I said through gritted teeth.
When I found him he was charging excitedly from the landing, into my room and back again. Once he spotted me, he ran back into the bedroom and jumped onto my bed. He padded his way around it for a while and then plonked himself down in the middle of the two pillows.
I dragged a hand down my face and tried not to squeal.
Crawling onto the bed, I shooed him away with my hand and hiss-like noises. He growled playfully and ran to the end of the bed, and I took my opportunity to settle back down. Bongo curled up right next to me only seconds later.
Once again, as I was close to drifting off, I was interrupted by something else.
“Mummy!” Ruby shouted in a whisper from the doorway.
“Ruby, go back to bed.” I said without even opening my eyes.
“You said Bongo had to stay downstairs!” She argued, climbing up onto my bed. “You lied, you just wanted him all for yourself!”
“That’s not true.” I shook my head against my pillow, eyes still shut. “He was barking and escaped.”
“I think you should let me sleep in here with you to say sorry for lying to me.”
I rolled onto my back, utterly bewildered. She was smarter than me, that was for sure. “Fine, but you have to go to sleep, Ruby. You can’t stay awake all night and play with the dog - he needs to learn a routine and you need to keep yours.”
She hummed thoughtfully, over-exaggerating with it in that way that children do, and then grinned. “Okay.”
She crawled under the covers on the empty side of the bed and settled right down. “Night night, Mummy.”
“Buenas noches, querida.”

In the morning I took Ruby to school and she got upset because she couldn’t take Bongo with her. It must’ve been frustrating for her - I could understand where she was coming from. Yesterday all she’d done was spend time with her puppy, it was all the world revolved around, and now she was being dragged back down to Earth. All it took for her to calm was the reminder that he’d be waiting for her when she finished, and it was our day to look after Oscar. She ran off towards the school gates, nearly face-planting on her way there.
“Now that is a handsome boy.” Zara said once she arrived at the garage, abandoning her things in the middle of the floor and dropping to her knees in front of the puppy.
I watched with a small smile as Bongo made himself familiar with the new face and his new surroundings, tentatively lifting his muzzle up towards Zara and sniffing her before he decided she was acceptable.
“What was she calling him again?”
“Bongo.” I said, and zipped up my coveralls.
“Great name. How did something so smart come out of you - your child is a genius?”
I shook my head. “No idea. Must be something from her Dad. Tea?”
“Go on, then.”
I slipped out of the office to the kitchenette at the back of the garage and made a round of tea for us. I drank it while I was going through the pile of forms for cars that needed to be fixed. There was a lot.
“Did you notice anything weird between Geri and Owen on Saturday?” Zara asked, perching on the edge of the desk. She took forms from me as I handed them to her - jobs that she could easily do.
“Nope.” I lied.
Of course I hadn’t forgotten about the argument they’d had in the living room while I was pretending not to be in the near vicinity in the kitchen. But Geri’s issues with her husband were none of my business, and I didn’t intend to find it out without her telling me on her own accord.
“They were behaving so weirdly, I swear. He wouldn’t look at her.”
“Maybe they’d just had an argument.” I shrugged.
“Me and Mickey had had an argument, but we didn’t just not talk to each other. And Owen left without saying anything. Not a chance in hell did he leave early because he was sick. He was slurping down those frozen things that your mum puts alcohol in like nobody’s business.”
“Cholados.” I reminded her. “I think you’re reading too much into it, Z.”
“I’m gonna ask her.” She decided in that instance. “Was she at the school this morning?”
“I didn’t see her, but I don’t in the mornings very often.”
Zara wandered off with her job forms in hand, leaving me to feel more concerned than I had over the weekend. I appreciated that Zara was probably just trying to be a good friend, but I knew what Geri was like, and I knew that she didn’t like other people poking into her business. If what Owen had said was true and she was leaving him, that was something she needed to come to us with, not the other way around.
Later on Zara told me that Geri had replied to her text, but she’d said nothing was wrong and she and Owen were fine. I told her to leave everything alone after that.

That evening I was curious as to what would happen with Bongo. I couldn’t have him stay in bed with me again - it disrupted Ruby’s bedtime routine.
I decided to stay up as late as possible, putting him in his cage before I went up but staying up with him for a little while longer. He did curl up in his bed after a while of sitting and staring at me, and I turned the TV right down so I could hear his breathing.
It took a bit longer than I’d have liked, but I remained patient. He kept standing up, circling a few times on the spot and then plonking back down again. He did this maybe ten times before he finally nodded off. I listened to him snoozing for another hour before I took myself to bed.
I was glad when I got to the stairs and he didn’t cry, and more so when I got into bed and fell asleep, and was not awoken by the sound of his barks downstairs.
I don’t know what time it was when I woke up and needed the toilet, but I hadn’t heard a peep out of him. I decided to look in on Ruby to make sure she was alright before I used the bathroom.
I tried not to lose my temper when I saw that at some point she’d woken up, gone downstairs, and brought the puppy upstairs to sleep with her. He was curled up next to her by her feet, snoring away. I knocked my forehead against the doorframe.
I couldn’t wake them up now. I’d have a barking dog and an upset child.
That morning, I made sure she knew she wasn’t to do it again.
“But he was crying, Mummy!” She insisted, a little scowl on her face. “I didn’t want him to be alone and I didn’t want him to wake you up.”
“Ruby, he has got to get into a routine with us, we can’t just let him all over the house because he cries at night - he needs discipline.”
“It was just last night, I promise! I won’t let him with me again.”
I knew at that point all I could do was take her word for it.

On Tuesday afternoon I was ready for a fight. I’d prepared all of my receipts from sending Ruby to that awful morning club, and was just waiting to pounce on Lorraine. I took Bongo out of the car and let him drag me by the lead. Geri was standing alone, which I found odd at first considering Harry was also waiting, but then I realised he was being heckled by three other mums. I didn’t know what he was saying but it couldn’t have been as funny as Debbie was making it out to be.
“What’s going on there?” I asked, tightening Bongo’s lead as I stood next to Geri.
She leant down with a smile to pet the animal, greeting him with the same cooed, “Hi, gorgeous boy,” as she did yesterday. “Just pointless flirting. I was talking to him to begin with, and then one of the mums I don’t know joined us and started asking about molars and flossing. But she was flirting so I gave up and left.”
I snorted. “Sounds painful.”
“It was really weird, I won’t lie. Like, I know he’s a dentist, but I don’t think talking about molars in a flirtatious way is going to get the bloke to like you.”
“What even are molars?”
Geri turned to me with a frown. “They’re… teeth, Floss.”
“Oh.” Was all I said.
I looked in the direction of the dentist. He was wearing scrubs on his bottoms again and a plain white t-shirt, one arm folded across his front and supporting the other, rubbing his hand into his stubbly cheek. He also didn’t say a single word, while Debbie didn’t look like she was ever going to shut up.
In the next second he glanced in my general direction, meeting my gaze. He lifted his hand away from his face by way of a wave. I didn’t know what to do, then. I’d been caught staring. I forced a smile, but looked back to the gate.
“Why are you so afraid of that man?” Geri asked. I wasn’t looking at her but I was sure she was smirking.
“I’m not afraid of him.” I lied.
“Floss, you couldn’t be more terrified of him if you tried. I know he’s a dentist, but he’s harmless.”
“Dunno what you mean.”
Seconds later, Bongo suddenly got excited, weaving through my legs and away from me.
“Hey,” I said, following where he was trying to run off to as I gripped his lead tighter, “stay here, please.”
It turned out Harry had excused himself from conversation about general dentistry to come and speak to us. Or the dog, I wasn’t sure.
“Hello,” He said immediately to the puppy, crouching down to give him some fuss, “hello.”
I watched, stunned and frozen in my place while the dentist gave the dog his full attention for a solid minute, stroking and cooing included. I couldn’t not watch - it would be almost rude not to. A good-looking man in scrubs and a cute puppy fawning over one another? They made whole calendars with this kind of content.
Geri nudged me, and I finally looked away to find that everyone else was watching him too. I felt under pressure.
Harry finally stood to his full height and smiled at me. “Y’alright?”
I nodded tightly. “Yep, you?”
“I’m fine.” He shrugged. “Much better for seeing this good boy.”
Bongo was still fighting for his attention with hand licks and standing on his back legs while pawing up Harry’s front.
We waited in silence for the children to appear, with me staring ahead and trying not to draw attention to myself, Geri picking her nails, and Harry still playing with the dog.
Then, I spotted Lorraine across the car park talking to one of the dads, and I forgot about everything else around me. “Excuse me,” I muttered.
From where she was standing it looked like she might have been trying to avoid me, but she had a fat chance of that happening. As soon as she noticed I was coming, her initial expression was shock, and then she squared herself off.
Bongo was trotting alongside me and stopped when I did. Then he did something I didn’t expect - he looked up at the woman I was ready to fight with, and immediately growled.
Interesting!
“Come to pay the money you owe me, Florence?” Lorraine goaded.
“No. How many months in total was Ruby coming to you?” I demanded.
She scoffed at me. “I don’t know.”
“Considering you’re asking me for more money, do you not perhaps think you should know?”
Lorraine opened her mouth, but never actually said anything.
“How many months?” I repeated.
“I don’t know!”
“Then go and find out!”
Her expression fell, mouth parted. Then, in a snap movement, she shook her head and marched away, scowling. I watched her as she yomped across the car park, muttering away to herself.
The dad she was talking to before gave me a judgemental look. I glared at him when I turned away.
“I have never seen you like that before.” Geri said, eyes wide but quite obviously entertained by my little outburst.
Harry snorted. “I have.”
Bongo was fussing around my legs, little squeaks coming out of him. I sighed and bent down to pick him up. He licked my cheek and then pushed his head into it.
“I’m sorry, but I am not going to be bullied by that ridiculous woman. I don’t care what she’s told the other parents and whether they believe her, she’s a cunt.”
I waited and waited for Lorraine, or Ruby, to appear from the school. Something was obviously keeping the children back but we hadn’t been told anything about it if that was the case. Sometimes they held these emergency assemblies and sent us an email about it an hour before the end of the day. If they had sent one, I hadn’t seen it.
Lorraine finally came back, cheeks pink and her shoulders slumped. She didn’t usually look so miserable. She made her way straight over to me, but she was obviously conscious of the other parents watching. I put Bongo back on the floor, and he’d already begun growling at her.
“22 months.” She said, barely audible.
“Sorry?”
“22 months.” She repeated, much clearer, followed by a defeated huff.
“Right.” I shoved my pile of bank statements into her chest and folded my arms. “Count them.”
She looked at the receipts and then at me. “What?”
“They’re all there, highlighted to make it easier for you. So I want you to count them.”
People were starting to whisper and it was irritating me. I knew we were a spectacle for the bored parents of this sleepy village, but I wanted them to see that no matter how stupid I made myself look, I wasn’t going to let other people get away with it.
Lorraine stood and counted every highlighted transaction on the papers in front of her. She held her breath at the end, the paper crumpling in her hands, and then she counted them again.
“Well?”
She swallowed. “22. There’s 22 here.”
“I thought so.” I said, snatching the paper back from her. “Thank you very much.”
“It was an honest mistake, Floss.”
“I don’t care if it was an honest mistake.” I said, folding my arms. “You were pissed off that I went mad at you in the car park, and you found the first thing you could to try and make me look bad in front of all of these people like some kind of dumb revenge. You knew exactly what you were doing, whether the error was genuine or not. Did you really think that as someone who runs her own company I wouldn’t know how to handle my fucking finances?
“I’m so sick of this fucking nonsense with you. You fucked up by trying to hide the fact that your son is a bully, and that you enabled him. Whispering shit to him about my life so that he could use it against my child. And then I called you out on it and you got angry, so you bitched about me to the other parents and then tried to embarrass me in front of them. Do you know how petty that is?”
Lorraine swallowed, “I’m sorry.”
“I know I am not the smartest person in this village. I know people think I’m crazy, but I don’t care. I have never cared what people think of me as a person. However I will not accept someone taking their dislike for me and trying to make me look like a bad parent, because I know that is one thing I’m good at.”
“Mummy!”
At the sound of Ruby’s call I took a deep breath and searched for her. She was running towards us, finally, and my face broke into a smile.
“Hola, querida,” I said, crouching down to accept the hug she always gave me.
Ruby choosing to hug me first over the dog helped me emphasise my point to Lorraine without me even having to.
When I stood up again, Lorraine had already gone.
“¿Vamos a casa de la abuela?” Are we going to Grandma’s?
I stood back at her fully formed question, laughing. “Who taught you that?!”
“Someone came in today to teach us some Spanish! I asked at the end of the day so I could say it to you.”
I shook my head with a smile. “That’s… okay. Well, did you know the most out of everyone else?”
“Yeah! No one else knew any Spanish.”
“Well, there we go. Did you learn any other phrases?”
“Hay una serpiente en mi bota.”
I narrowed my gaze and remembered one of the kids in her class was mad about Toy Story. I snorted. “Of course.”
“What does that mean?” Geri asked.
“There’s a snake in my boot.”
Harry giggled.
Geri smirked and looked down at Ruby. “Hugo?”
She nodded with a big grin.
“Alright, let’s get going. Grandma will be dying to hear about Spanish classes.” I put my free hand to Ruby’s back. “Say bye to everyone.”
“Bye everyone!”

eleven
On Wednesday when I got to the garage there was already someone waiting on the forecourt outside. I didn’t recognise him as local, and he was leaning against the side of his blue Lamborghini Huracan with his arms folded and a pair of sunglasses on that looked too big for his face.
I parked in my usual place out of the way of everything else and stepped out of the car, feeling much less glamorous than he looked.
“Good morning,” I said to him with an expectant expression, but went straight to the garage door to unlock it.
He seemed taken back by my genuine greeting. He looked at his watch and then back at me. “Are you always this tardy?”
I frowned. “I don’t know what that means.”
The strange man pushed away from his car and made his way towards me. Meanwhile, I tussled with the garage door until it finally gave in.
“Are you always this late?”
I looked at him, offended by his question. Up this close I noticed things I couldn’t see before. He was an older man but not old, maybe in his late thirties or early forties. I only guessed this from the salt and pepper hairs around his ears. He had a very square face, but in a kind of attractive way, and when he took his glasses off I found a very blue pair of eyes. He was dressed smartly, in a white dress shirt not buttoned all the way up, and black tailored suit trousers. He looked exactly like the type of person who would drive a blue Lamborghini.
Before I could respond to his rude question, he made a comment that confused me.
“Wow.” He said, taking a step back when I tried to stand straighter.
“What?” I asked with a furrowed brow, but moved towards the buttons on the side of the doorway to finish opening the garage door. It was loud while I did, too loud to hear a man speak.
The stranger’s gaze flicked between me and the ascending garage door, trying not to express his amusement.
I waited for him to finally say what was so… wow, trying not to appear as irritated as I was.
“You’re very beautiful.”
I blinked at him. I couldn’t see how that had anything to do with me being late. “What’s your point?”
Now he looked confused. “I… don’t have a point.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay,” I said around my exhale, and turned away from him to get Bongo out of the car. He was sitting in the window when I reappeared with a cocked head, and it was quite cute.
“How long will it take to sort the car?” The weird man asked, following me as I walked Bongo through to the office.
“Well, I’d need to know what’s wrong with it first.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it, it just needs a service.”
“Right,” I rolled my eyes, but he couldn’t see me do it. I settled Bongo down in his bed and then found a form for the customer to fill out. “It usually takes a few hours.”
“So I’ll have it back soon? Like, today soon?”
I stared at him blankly, and looked out into the crammed garage, and then back to him. “Not today, no.”
“Why not?”
“Because all those cars in the garage have actual things wrong with them and they’ve been waiting longer.”
“I can pay you more to prioritise it. Money is no issue.”
Must be nice.
I gave him another perplexed stare. “If you’re so keen to get it done, why didn’t you take it to an actual Lamborghini garage?”
“Because a friend recommended you. And the Lamborghini garage charges an arm and a leg for a service.”
“You’ve literally just said money isn’t an issue.”
He took a moment, unsure what to say, but his bemused smirk said it all. “Alright, fair enough. But you were recommended to me and I’d really like it to be done today. Please.”
“No.” I shook my head, handing him the form on a clipboard.
“Why not? I’ll literally pay you double whatever you would normally charge.”
“I won’t be bought. Sorry.”
“Oh, come on.” He laughed in a kind of pained way. “These other people won’t know.”
“These other people can’t afford to pay me double. That Nissan has been there for three days, and you can sod off if you think I’m not going to start on it right away because you’re too impatient to wait.”
He pressed his lips together tightly. “What’s your name?”
“Floss.”
He tipped his head. “Floss, as in the dental stuff?”
“No, Floss as in Florence.”
He was obviously confused but he was still smirking. “Well, Floss. You drive a hard bargain. Is there anything I can do to convince you otherwise?”
“No.”
“Really? My son is looking to become a mechanic, I could get him to come and help you. Maybe if it works out you could give him a job.”
“If your son is looking to become a mechanic, maybe you should get him to service your car.”
He laughed again, like he was in agony, towards the ceiling. “Come on, Floss. What’s a man gotta do to get his car serviced around here?”
“Wait.” I said, and folded my arms. “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but we could talk about this all day and it won’t change anything, and I’ve already wasted too much time talking about it. You either leave it here, or you don’t. Your choice.”
The man looked at me for a while, and he was obviously fighting with himself. “You know it’s not very often I don’t get my own way.”
“I believe you.”
He sighed and started filling the form out, but he was enjoying himself. “You know, I quite like the idea of having my car looked at by you. And on the plus side of leaving it here, I get to come back and see that pretty face of yours again.”
I took the form from him when he handed it to me, and hooked the clipboard under my arm. “Do you need a courtesy car?”
He bit away a smile. “I might do.”
“Is that a ye-,”
“-Morning!” Zara announced herself. She was carrying a small brown paper bag and a two-slot tray with coffees on the top.
I lifted my head at her as she passed, and she wasn’t shy in eyeing up the man standing in front of me.
“Don’t worry about the courtesy car.” He said rather quickly. “Just give me a call when you’re done with her.”
“Okay.”
I was admittedly relieved to see him go, and my tense posture dropped once he finally left the garage.
Zara came to stand next to me, chewing on a croissant. “Who was he?”
“Some minted Lambo owner.” I said, looking at the information on the form. Darren was his name. He looked like a Darren.
“He was sexy.”
“He was annoying.”
“Yeah, but he was sexy.”
I grunted at her and turned away.
“What did he want?”
“A service.”
Zara’s laugh was dirty. “You could give him a right good service if you tried hard enough. And he’d enjoy it.”
I paused, narrowing my gaze at her. “You’re not talking about the car, are you?”
“No I’m bloody not, he was delicious. Let me tell you, if I was single I’d-,”
“-You don’t need to tell me, Z. Leave some for the imagination.”
I wandered into the office and left Darren’s form on the bottom of our to-do pile. Or rather, on the bottom of Zara’s to-do pile, since she usually did the service jobs.
“Cheers for the coffee.”
“My pleasure. I was running late so it was the least I could do.”

I spent the rest of the day stressed at how much work I had to do, and found myself late collecting Ruby from the dentist’s house again. He must’ve thought I was utterly useless.
I had no idea what I looked like marching across the pebbles up to the front door, but at that point in the day I didn’t really care. I knocked twice and then folded my arms.
It took Harry barely a minute to come and answer. He swung the door open, an easy smile on his face again and in a pair of bright green jogging bottoms and a white t-shirt. “Hi,” he started, and then he frowned at the sight of me, “are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I’ve just had a busy day.” I shrugged, trying not to make a big deal out of it.
Harry pressed his lips together, still frowning at me like he was debating something. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, it’s alright. Honestly. I really just need to get Ruby home and fed.”
He studied me for a little bit longer. “I don’t mind if you want to have a little bitch, Floss. ‘M all ears.” He flicked behind his right ear with a little smile.
I bit away my own. “I appreciate that, but-,”
“-Mummy!”
Ruby appeared behind Harry in the hallway, a big grin on her face, and she sped out to me to give me a hug.
“Hola, querida.” I said as I hugged her back. I picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my shoulders. She was warm and it felt wonderful around me. “¿Cómo estás?”
She looked at me with a hum, playing with my hair in the ponytail I had it in. “Soy bueno.”
“Buena.” I reminded her. “You’re a lady.”
“Ruby,” Harry said, and we both looked back his way. Oscar was standing by his legs with a little smile on his face. “Do you and your mum want to stay for dinner?”
Ruby gasped and looked at me, eyes bright and warm. “Can we, Mummy? Please, please, please?”
“Er…” I was lost for words.
“Please?” She begged.
I looked back at Harry, who had a smug grin on his face, probably because he knew I didn’t have a way of saying no.
“Mummy, please?”
I sighed and put her back on her feet. “I guess we can, yeah.”
“Yay!” Ruby squealed, and started jumping up and down. “Can I go and get Bongo?”
Shit, I’d forgotten about the dog.
I met Harry’s gaze again. “I’ve got a blanket he can sit on.” He offered.
“Oh, are you sure? I’ve got one in my car if you’d prefer?”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”
I gave Ruby the key to the car so she could go and retrieve her puppy, watching carefully to make sure there wasn’t an accident where he ran off or accidentally tripped her over. She ran straight into the house with him and Oscar, leaving the key with me. I locked the car from where I stood.
“That was really naughty of you.” I said to Harry as he took a step back to let me in.
He laughed, cheeks a little rosy. “What? It was Oscar’s idea - blame him.”
I toed my shoes off by the front door and followed the dentist through to the kitchen in the next room.
Even though the house looked big from the outside, inside it was still very much like a cottage, with low ceilings and exposed beams. The kitchen was open plan with a dining room, spread from the front to the back of the house, the counters overlooking the garden, and then a four-seater breakfast table in the front window, with a cushioned bench.
In the next room was the lounge, where the children had toys spread out everywhere, of which Bongo was animatedly sniffing.
“Ruby, you keep a close eye on him.” I warned her, “And don’t let him get on any of the furniture, alright?”
“Okay!” She agreed, but I wasn’t convinced she’d actually listened to a word I said.
Harry put a large woollen blanket on the floor by the back door, folded up multiple times so that it was comfortable enough for him. “That alright?”
“More than alright, thank you.”
“What do you want for dinner, kids? Takeaway?”
“Yeah!” They screamed in unison.
I gave Harry a bemused frown. “Where are you gonna get a takeaway from in Bibury?”
“The Catherine Wheel.”
“They don’t deliver…”
He smirked. “They do to me. What would you like, Ruby?”
I watched with fascination as Harry took the children’s orders, and then he nodded me back into the kitchen and told me to make myself comfortable. I gingerly sat at the dining table, not comfortable at all.
He moved around his kitchen with ease. It was like watching a practised dance as he found glasses out of cupboards and bottles out of racks. His arms were everywhere and his legs swanned around. His back muscles rippled with every slight movement and it was embarrassing how closely I watched his every move. I was so fascinated by him I didn’t realise what he was doing until he screwed the top back on the wine bottle.
“Harry, I can’t have a drink.” I shook my head as he presented me with a glass of red wine.
“Why not?”
“It’s a school night, and I have to drive home.”
He shrugged, and sat in the chair next to mine. “It’s only one - you’ll be fine.”
I set my jaw, but I tried not to give away just how frustrated I was. Today was not the day for this. I didn’t need to get hot under the collar over this man after my horrendous day.
“What happened at work?”
I stared at him, noting the relaxed posture he held. He was sitting, but in a rather laid-back way, literally. He’d sunk into the chair, legs stretched under the table, and his right hand was resting on the base of his wine glass.
I tried to make myself as small as possible. “It was just busy - it has been all week. But things just kept coming and kept coming. I’m only one person.”
“Haven’t you got, um,” he scratched his face as he tried to remember, “Zara there with you?”
“I do, but she’s not a mechanic.”
“Oh. What does she do, then?”
“Literally everything else. Services, anything cosmetic, if you know what I mean?” He nodded, so I carried on. “If someone needs a temporary car she’ll handle it. Basically anything that doesn’t involve fixing a car, she does. But at the moment there’s a lot of cars that need fixing.”
“I see.” He nodded again. “Well, I’m sorry you’ve had a shit day.”
I shrugged. “It might not have been so bad if I hadn’t started off the day talking to some utter prick.”
Harry tapped the table. “Tell me more.”
I rolled my eyes. “He was rich. Like, richie-rich. Turned up in a bright blue Lamborghini Huracan and asked why I was late.” I scoffed. “Then when he actually looked at me he was… well, I guess he was flirting with me, and it was odd. Then he wanted to pay extra for me to get the service done faster and I told him no, and he got really funny about it.”
“Funny how?”
“He said he had a son who was training to be a mechanic and tried to get me to hire him to help.”
“That’s weird.”
“I know.”
“Also, Lamborghini garages have services where you can drop your car off and get it serviced there and then.”
“That’s what I said!” I nearly shouted. “But he didn’t want to pay for it, which was ridiculous because he was offering to pay me double the price for the service just to get it done quicker.”
“I mean… from an income point of view, that might not have been a terrible thing.”
“Harry, I’ve got cars sitting in that garage that have been there nearly a week because I haven’t had time to get to them. I’m not going to pander to a spoilt rich man just because he couldn’t be bothered to wait.”
“Alright, I guess I kind of see your point. What was the outcome?”
I grimaced. “He left it with me because he said at least he got to see me again, or something.”
Harry giggled. “God loves a trier.”
“He was a cock.”
“How do you manage to attract these weird men all the time?”
“Dunno, but it might explain why I’m sat here with you.”
The dentist’s mouth fell, and he brought his hand to his chest. “Ouch.”
I took a drink from the glass Harry had poured for me, and I had to admit it was an incredibly satisfying feeling. It made me feel warm inside. Still on the tail end of the comment about weird men, I thought about what Harry had seen on Saturday with Frank.
“I’m not having an affair with Frank, by the way.”
Harry’s head craned back a bit, eyes wide and with a tight smile. “What a statement to make.”
“Oh,” I smacked my face into my palm.
“I don’t even think I know who Frank is, but I’m glad we cleared that up, Floss.” He was laughing, breath around his wine glass making it sing a little as he took a sip.
“No, because I know you saw something on Saturday, and I don’t want you to think-,”
“-Oh, that bloke!” Harry sat forward, patting the table again. “I was going to mention something after but I didn’t want to make you more uncomfortable, which it was obvious you were, by the way.”
“Well, I wasn’t sure how it looked from an outside point of view.”
“You looked like you wanted to murder the man, Florence.”
I screwed my face up, feeling hot. “I did.”
“What did you say to him?”
“What do you mean?”
Harry swallowed another sip of wine. “I heard you say something to him in Spanish.”
“Oh,” I laughed but it was nervous, “I think I said I’d chop his dick off if he didn’t stop touching me.”
Harry nodded with a smile. “Nice. Can he speak Spanish?”
“Not as far as I’m aware. But he’d spent 5 minutes bitching about the fact that my mum only ever made Colombian food when we have a party. Speaking to him in a language he didn’t understand made me feel kind of…”
“Powerful?”
“Yeah? I guess?”
“Well, I’ll tell you it makes you superior to him, that’s for sure.”
I smiled at the table, and I knew I was blushing - I could feel it in my cheeks. “When I was little my mum always used to say she hated that man, and still does now, but I didn’t really know why. And then as I got older it started making sense. Now I hate him more than my mum does.”
“Who even is he?”
“One of Dad’s friends. His wife is also really good friends with my mum, but she’s fuckin’ blind. I think my mum told her once that Frank is a nonce, but it didn’t go down very well.”
Harry's laughter was like barking. “Did she really call him a nonce?”
“Something like that. I don’t think she realised the real meaning of the word at the time.”
“That’s funny. I do like your mum.”
I was nodding around a smile. “Most people do. She’s so Latin in so many ways, like she’s fiery and a bit loud, and very opinionated. But she’s also really… nice? Like a really good kind of nice. Kind, gentle… you know.”
“I do. My mum is the same. Just not Latin.”
That made me giggle for some reason. “You don’t think about how important it is to have a good motherly figure in your life until you’re older, do you?”
Harry took a deep breath and looked towards the living room. “No, you don’t.”
I realised then that he was probably thinking about Oscar and the lack of someone like that in his life. “Oh shit, I’m sorry.”
He looked at me with a frown. “About what?”
“That stupid comment I just made, I didn’t mean to-,”
“-Jesus, Floss.” He shook his head, laughing breathily. “You don’t need to apologise. We moved down here for a reason - I miss my mum but Oscar needed to form that relationship with his other grandparents too, and I couldn’t do that where I was before.”
I watched him for a moment, but he didn’t seem upset. “Do you miss home?”
He pursed his lips. “Sometimes. I think it was a shock to the system at first, but I maybe kinda prefer it here.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! It’s so quiet, the school is good. Well, apart from the bullying incident, but it is good everywhere else. The people are nice, excluding Lorraine. I like it here.”
“That felt like a very small list.”
“I’m serious! I can’t explain it, but it’s just… it’s lovely here. And Oscar is happy and that’s all that matters.”
I took a deep breath. “Well, I can’t argue with that.”
“Would you ever consider moving for Ruby?”
“I’d do anything for Ruby.” I said without hesitation. “I mean, we have everything here that we need - my parents are here, I grew up here and I wouldn’t want to pull her away from that, but if I needed to for whatever reason then I definitely would.
“I actually sometimes think about going to Colombia or one of the other countries down there, but my mother hated it so I’m not entirely convinced it would be any good for us.”
“I don’t know anything about Colombia so I couldn’t say, but I imagine uprooting her life like that might not be best. To move to a new town or city is one thing, but to move to a completely different country is entirely another.”
I smirked. “They your words of wisdom, are they?”
Harry laughed. “Absolutely. Although it was more observation than wisdom.”
I wished he wouldn’t use big words like that.
When the food arrived Harry asked the children to come and sit with us, apparently not keen on Oscar eating in the living room. I hadn’t ever thought about a rule like that - Ruby and I just always ate together at the kitchen table.
After we finished eating I also asked for a pint of water and necked the whole thing for sobriety purposes, not that I was drunk. Ruby thanked Harry and Oscar for having us before even I did, and then we drove home.
Even though I was exhausted we still had to take Bongo for a walk. Ruby could barely keep her eyes open and I ended up carrying her half way around. We called it a night and I promised Bongo a longer walk in the morning before work.

Chapters twelve, thirteen & fourteen
#harry styles#harry styles imagine#harry styles imagines#harry styles fic#harry styles fanfic#harry styles fanfiction#harry styles writing#harry styles smut#harry styles fluff#harry styles angst imagine
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A Court of Flames and Sorrow || Eris Vanserra || Chapter 3
Synopsis: Lynette Vesper. Daughter of Winter and Night. Lover of a problematic red head who used to be engaged to her best friend.
Series Masterlist
Taglist: @baebeepeach @marigold-morelli
A/N: Sorry that this is a few days past my usual Thursday update, this week has been hectic. Next chapter should be up on Thursday.
***
“Welcome back, Eris,” The High Lord said in a bored tone. “It’s been what--five centuries since you last set foot in here?”
Lynette couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. He was here, really here, and Rhysand knew. Didn’t bother to warn anyone. Her eyes went to Mor, who was staring at Rhysand with so much hurt and betrayal. He knew what Eris’ presence would do to Mor, knew the memories that it would stir up, and brought him here regardless.
Eris took the last seat at the table, right next to Keir, right in front of Lynette. He didn’t bother to look at anyone else except Rhys when he responded. “It has indeed been awhile.” Then he decided to spare Lyn a glance to which she responded to with a glare. He just smirked in return. Smug bastard.
“You once wanted to build ties to Autumn, Keir,” Rhysand said, setting down his goblet of wine, arms leaning on the table. “Well, here’s your chance. Eris is willing to offer you a formal alliance--in exchange for your services in this war.”
Keir leaned back in his chair, contemplated it for a second then spoke again. “It is not enough.”
Eris snorted, pouring himself his own goblet of wine. “I’d forgotten why I was so relieved when our bargain fell apart the last time.”
A warning look was sent in his direction but he just ignored it as he drank from his goblet.
“What is it that you want, then, Keir?” Rhys purred.
“I want out. I want space. I want my people free of this mountain.” Keir simply said.
“You have every comfort,” Feyre snapped. “And yet it is not enough?”
Keir seemed to have ignored the High Lady’s comment, not even bothering to look in her direction as he spoke to Rhysand.
“You have been keeping secrets, High Lord,” he started, that sickening grin coming back onto his face, hands resting over the deep gashes in the table. “I always wondered--where all of you went when you weren’t here. Hybern answered that question at last--thanks to that attack on … what is its name? Velaris. Yes. On Velaris. The City of Starlight.”
Lynette felt Mor go rigid. Dangerously still, silently praying that the next words would not dare be uttered.
“I want access to the city, for me, and my court.”
“No.” Mor said.
Of course that’d be what he wanted. To spread the cruelty and hatred of the Court of Nightmares to one of the only truly good places in Prythian.
Lynette stared at Rhysand, waiting for him to laugh in Keir’s face, to tell him that he was delusional. But he didn’t. “There would be conditions.”
She couldn’t believe him. Was this meeting a joke?
Mor gaped at Rhys. Azriel laid a comforting hand on top of Mor’s but she had just snatched it away, curling into herself. Eris let out a soft chuckle that earned him another glare. He was testing Lynette’s patience.
“I want unrestricted access.” Eris wasn’t the only one testing her patience. Keir was still in first place.
“You will not get it,” at least Rhysand had not lost all common sense. “There will be limited stays, limited numbers allowed in. To be decided later.”
Keir finally looked at Mor, smiled at the hurt and anger.
“Done.” He said, not breaking eye contact with her while saying it.
“There is one more thing, one more request.” Feyre added.
“Oh?” Keir asked, eyebrow raised as he side-eyed the High Lady.
Lynette had tuned them out as they continued their conversation. She was staring at Eris, again. Watching as he sipped the wine from his goblet. Watching as his mouth slightly parted when the goblet started to near. Watching as he licked the leftover wine from his lips. Watching as he dipped his head down ever so slightly just so he could catch her eyes. Watching as he smirked at her. She glared in response.
Was this going to be her existence now? Now that both of them were aware of the dreaded bond that connected them. Go off on her emissary duties only to see him once every few years and lose her mind. That’s what it felt like, like she had lost all sense cause of that deep pull.
Her ears finally decided to work again once she saw his mouth start to move, but the words weren’t directed at her, and oddly that stung. “You look well, Mor.”
“You don’t speak to her.” Azriel said, moving closer to the table, slightly positioning himself between Mor and Eris. She realized that Keir was no longer there as well, only one unwanted figure remained in the room now.
“I see you’re still holding a grudge.” Eris responded, that signature smirk not wavering for a second.
“This arrangement, Eris,” Rhysand started, “relies solely upon you keeping your mouth shut.”
A small, breathy laugh escaped his lips, “And haven’t I done an excellent job? Not even my father suspected when I left tonight.”
“How did this come about?” The High Lady asked.
The fiery redhead sent her an amused look. “You didn’t think that I knew your shadowsinger would come sniffing around to see if I had told my father about your … powers? Especially after my brothers so mysteriously forgot about them, too. I knew it was a matter of time before one of you arrived to take care of my memory as well.” Eris tapped the side of his head as he mentioned memory. “ Too bad for you, I learned a thing or two about daemati. Too bad for my brothers that I never bothered to teach them.”
Lyn had never had much contact with the Autumn Court, but she was surprised to hear about how smart Eris was in comparison to his brothers. She had met Lucien, and Lucien seemed well educated but did lack some common sense when it came to family, he learned the hard way. Apparently none of the other brothers learned much either.
Eris picked up his goblet once again, making eye contact with Lynette as he took a sip. He looked away from her and carried on with the conversation.
“Of course I didn’t tell my father. Why waste that sort of information on the bastard? His answer would be to hunt you down and kill you--not realizing not much shit we’re in with Hybern and that you might be the key to stopping it.”
“So he plans to join us, then.” The High Lord said.
“Not if he learns about your little secret.” Eris smirked.
Mor sent a cold glare in his direction. “So what’s the asking price, Eris?” the blonde demanded, leaning away from Azriel and instead onto the table. “Another little bride for you to torture?”
He seemed to hesitate, and she noticed the small shift in his eyes. “I don’t know who fed you those lies to begin with, Morrigan.” Eris said, attempting to keep calm at the touchy subject. “Likely the bastards you surround yourself with.” A sneer was thrown in Azriel’s direction, then his eyes locked onto the emissary once again. “Although I wouldn’t mind Lynette’s hand in marriage if that’s what you’re offering up?”
It was like he had a death wish. He knew better than to tease Mor about Lyn.
Mor was quick to react and threw her arm in front of Lynette, not caring that her emotions were on full display.
“You never have any evidence to the contrary. Certainly not when you left me in those woods.” Mor snarled, deciding to not comment on Lynette, her body language being enough of a response.
“There were forces at work that you have never considered,” Eris stated coldly. “And I am not going to waste my breath explaining them to you. Believe what you want about me.”
“You hunted me down like an animal.” Feyre seethed out in anger. “I think we’ll choose to believe the worst.”
“I was given an order. And sent to do it with two of my … brothers.” He said.
“And what of the brother you hunted down alongside me? The one whose lover you helped execute before his eyes.”
That last line hit its mark. A hand slammed down on the table and Eris shot the High Lady a burning look. “You know nothing about what happened that day. Nothing.” He seethed out through gritted teeth, holding himself back.
The room went silent. No one knowing where they should look. The heir who looked like he was about to pounce if the wrong thing was said or the High Lady who held her head high who acted like she was invincible.
“Indulge me.”
The staring match continued between the two, tension thick enough that it could be cut with a knife.
“How do you think he made it to the Spring border,” he said quietly. “I wasn’t there--when they did it. Ask him. I refused. It was the first and only time I have denied my father anything. He punished me. And by the time I got free … They were going to kill him, too. I made sure they didn’t. Made sure Tamlin got word--anonymously--to get the hell over to his own border.”
Lynette knew what had happened after that, had heard the stories from her own connections in the Spring Court. Three of the brothers followed him to the border, only one came back.
“Not all of us were so lucky in our friends and family as you, Rhysand.” Eris said boredly, the cold mask back up after letting a small bit of vulnerability out.
“It would seem so.”
“What is the asking price?” Feyre repeated.
“The same thing I told Azriel when I found him snooping through my father’s woods yesterday.” He said, not even looking up as he picked at his nails.
Lynette felt Mor push herself against the emissary’s shoulder. She could barely see the expression her friend had but she knew it must’ve been one of pain. Azriel couldn’t even look at anyone when he stated what Eris wanted. “When the time comes … we are to support Eris’ bid to take the throne.”
“The request still stands, Rhysand, to just kill my father and be done with it. I can pledge troops right now.” Eris said, a glint in his eyes at the thought of finally being rid of his tyrannical father.
“Tempting, but too messy,” Rhys said, still pondering the thought. “Beron sided with us in the War. Hopefully he’ll sway that way again.”
“He will.” Eris promised. “And will remain blissfully unaware of Feyre’s … gifts.”
“Promise Keir nothing you care about.” The High Lord waved a hand in dismissal and Eris rose from his seat.
“We’ll see.” Eris said and just frowned in Mor’s direction. “I’m surprised you still can’t control yourself around him. You had every emotion written right on that pretty face of yours.”
“Watch it.” Azriel snarled out in warning.
The Autumn Heir just smiled as he looked between the two. “I wouldn’t have touched you,” he spoke again to Mor. “But when you fucked that other bastard--” he got cut off as Rhysand and Feyre snarled at him. “I knew why you did it.” An almost sympathetic look graced his face, or was it pity, all emotions besides smug confidence and annoyance looked foreign on his face so one really couldn’t tell what he truly felt at the moment. “So I gave you your freedom, ending the betrothal in no uncertain terms.”
“And what happened next?” Azriel glared up at the High Fae male, disgust and rage evident on his face as he remembered finding Mor’s broken body in the woods.
“There are few things I regret. That is one of them. But … perhaps one day, now that we are allies, I shall tell you why. What it cost me.”
“I don’t give a shit,” Mor said quietly, just wanting the meeting to be over with. Lynette could tell as she could see Mor’s hands under the table, balled into fists, knuckles turning white. She silently grabbed one hand and forced her to unclench it, nervous that her friend might cut her hands with her nails on accident. Mor pulled herself away though, her chair skidding back a foot as she basically jumped out of her seat and pointed at the door. “Get out.”
Eris gave a mocking bow to all. “See you at the meeting in twelve days.”
He turned away and started to leave when Rhysand stopped him. “Wait. I’d like Lynette to go with you.”
“You can’t be serious.” Mor groaned and turned away from the table, walking towards the balcony on the other side of the room.
“Just to make sure you keep your word. We’ll play it off as a long overdue visit, we need to start up trade again anyway.” Rhys shrugged.
“I don’t require a babysitter.”
“I’d beg to differ.” Azriel muttered under his breath, causing another glare to be thrown at him.
“It is not up for debate. Lynette will pay a visit to the Autumn Court.”
She met his widened eyes with fear. She had no choice, she wouldn’t be able to run from it anymore. She couldn’t tell her High Lord no, this was for the safety of her court.
“Of course. A visit has been long overdue.” Lynette said, smiling and nodding her head in acceptance.
“I don’t like this.” Mor said, storming back over to the table, glaring at Rhysand.
“It doesn’t matter what you like, I am emissary of the Night Court. It is my job.” Lyn said, standing up from seat and walking over to Eris. Her breath hitching as she got closer, she prayed no one was listening too closely to her breathing. “Shall we go?”
He looked her up and down for a second, not truly believing that she accepted it so quickly. Eris expected her to fight back, knowing enough about her that she was not one to go quietly. Maybe she actually wanted to be around him. At least, that’s what he hoped.
“Yes.” he finally said and offered her his arm to take. She softly held on as he led them out of the room.
***
She had assumed that he’d winnow them back to the Autumn Court as soon as they left the council room. Isn’t that why he had offered her his arm? For the convenience of winnowing to the same place in the court? Apparently not since they still walked the halls of Hewn City. She could hear the murmuring as they passed residences. It was quite a sight, the Heir of Autumn paraded the Emissary of the Night Court around her own home.
That was until they ended up in another empty hallway leading to an even lower level of the mountain. Lynette silently wondered how Eris was handling his visit here after finally being freed from Amarantha’s reign Under The Mountain. What horrors had he seen over those 49 years? Rhysand could barely speak of it. Eris probably didn’t have it as bad as Rhysand, he didn’t whore himself out for his court, but he still witnessed atrocious acts while there she had no doubt. Now he was in the court that Amarantha modeled hers after. Lyn felt bad for Eris, she oddly wanted to comfort him.
He flinched away from her and looked down at her in shock. Lynette stood confused as to what caused the reaction until she realized she had sent waves of comfort down the bond. She then felt a wave of emotion coming at her, a calming feeling that said I’m okay. She didn’t understand how it worked, how she even sent those comforting waves in the first place, but at least she got an answer to her unasked question. He’s okay.
“We need to talk.” Eris suddenly said and pulled her into the first empty room. A large study that must’ve been for one of the many Lords in the court. Eris dropped his hands from her arm and ran his hands through his hair, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before turning to look at Lynette again.
“You know, don't you?” He asked, eyes burning into the back of her skull.
Lyn observed the large desk in the middle of the room, fixating on the small nick nacks and stationary, preferring to focus on that instead of the conversation. “Know what?” she said coldly, play dumb, regretting sending that comforting feeling down the bond.
“You’re not an idiot, Lynette. Stop acting like one.” Eris hissed at her, not having the patience to delay the conversation even more. He had waited 49 years for this, he wasn’t going to wait a second more.
“I’ve known for centuries.”
That took him by surprise. Eris had already anticipated this conversation going in a million different horrible directions, this was not one of them, this one made him feel betrayed. His mate. The person made for him, the one that was supposed to be his equal, had known of the bond and had not said a word.
Lynette dared to look behind her, sitting on top of the desk now and staring emotionless as Eris looked at her with hurt in his eyes and a slack jaw. He quickly shook it off. She watched as he swallowed hard and turned away from her, facing one of the many bookcases in the room. The silence engulfed them for the next few minutes, she just stared at his back, watched as he regulated his breath and ran his hands down the spines of the books on the shelf.
“And to think I actually wanted you.” He scoffed as he pushed himself away from the bookcase, turning to look at her once more.
“You never wanted me.” Lynette rolled her eyes at his comment. She must’ve annoyed him even more because he stalked over to her, standing in front of her and leaned down, having arms on either side of her with hands resting behind her.
He eyed her features, attempting to find any tell that she was joking. “I can’t tell if you’re serious or not.” He slammed his hands on the desk making her jump slightly causing him to back away from her. “Never wanted you? What insanity you speak of.” He laughed, shaking his head back and forth. “I wanted you before that damned bond snapped into place.”
“Then you only wanted me to hurt Mor, why else would you want me? You know how close I am to her.” It was Lynette’s turn to scoff.
“You forget that you are also one of the most desirable ladies in all of Prythian. Ties to Winter and Night and crazy powerful. The true question is who wouldn’t want you?” Eris stated. “I wanted you because you are exquisitely terrifying, beautiful, smart, cunning, and powerful beyond measure. What more would a future High Lord want? You’d be the smart choice for anyone to marry.”
Lynette knew that already, she had denied multiple proposals over the years from men in power who just wanted her as a political alliance. She was tired of hearing of it, tired of being treated as if she was just a pawn. Only being seen as a tie to two courts. Two birds, one stone. That was what she was seen as. She was done being a pawn.
Lynette standing up captured his attention, especially as she walked towards him. Face to face, she looked up at him causing his breath to hitch at the sight of her so close. Then she was gone, having ripped open the door to the left of him and started a fast pace down the halls.
***
He stared at her for what felt like hours, it honestly could’ve been. Eris decided to approach her though, to risk the wrath of Lynette Vesper was a risk worth taking. “You knew before me and never said anything.” That’s all he could say to her, still questioning how she had hid it for so long and no one had figured out what she was hiding. But who would have honestly guessed that her mate was her best friend’s enemy?
Lynette let out a sarcastic laugh and snapped her head towards him. “Why would I?” She fully faced him now, a dark look grazing her features. “My best friend was betrothed to you, sold to you. You should know the rest, how she hated it so much that she did anything to get out of it.” Lyn mindlessly took step after step towards him, the despicable, handsome, red head who she hated more than life but still wanted to reach out to him. “Her father tortured her and then dumped her on your doorstep and you just left her there.”
“I couldn’t help her, I wanted to help her, but I couldn’t without damning her to a worse life.” He seethed out, taking a step towards her.
“Say I believe that bullshit for a second, what makes you think I’d even want to be with you? Be anywhere near your court? We may all seem blind but we know, we know what goes on there! How Beron abuses his power, abuses you, your brothers, your mother! What makes you think I’d subject myself to that?” She stepped even closer, face to face, barely any room left between them now. “Be another pawn? Like hell!” She seethed into that gorgeous face that sneered down at her.
Eris grabbed her face and finally smashed his lips into hers, breaking down all the tension but building up a new one as he slammed her back into the wall that she was leaning into just a minute ago. Her hands running up his chest, up his face, and then finally tangling into his hair, pulling him even closer. Small gasps of air was the only sound that echoed throughout the dark hallway now, anyone able to walk in and spot the two of them viscously making out against the wall, hands found in places that they shouldn't have been. He finally pulled away and looked down at her once again, gently holding and caressing her face in his hands as he whispered to her, “You’ll never be a pawn.”
She wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that she wouldn’t be used if she decided to be with him. It just wasn’t reality, at least not at the moment with how the Autumn Court was run. He knew that too, but he was going to change that, was going to kill his father and change the Autumn Court for the better once he was High Lord.
Lynette pushed him back. They were still in the hallway where anyone could see them. “It doesn’t matter.” She said, eyes closed and head leaning back against the wall. “We can’t do anything.”
“Can’t or won’t?” He barked back at her, anger and disappointment evident in his eyes. “We’re mates, we can do anything we want and no one can say anything against it.”
She clapped her hand over his mouth. “Keep your voice down.” Lynette hissed out through gritted teeth.
Eris just threw her hand away from his face and took a step closer to her. “What? Don’t want people to know you’re mated to me? Cause that’s what we are, Lynette. We’re mates!” He was acting irrational and knew it but was growing tired of watching her deny the bond.
“I only care if one person finds out and I don’t know where she is right now.” She stated, eyes narrowing at Eris.
“Then let’s go somewhere that we can continue this conversation, privately.” Eris smirked down at her, grabbed her arm and winnowed them out of the Night Court.
#a court of flames and sorrow#acotar#acowar#eris vanserra#a court of thorns and roses#a court of wings and ruin#acomaf#eris acotar#eris vanserra x reader#eris vanserra x oc#eris x reader#eris x oc
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10 Years (Jungkook x Reader) (10 Seconds Part 3)
Pairing: Jungkook x Reader
Word Count: 14.4k
Warnings: 18+, Yandere, Stalking, Obsession, Manipulation, Murder, scenes of Domestic Abuse, Mentions of Past Trauma, Mentions of Past Domestic Abuse, Mentions of Torture (not depicted), Cult Like Activity, Forced Relationships, Smut, Blood (lots of it), Fear, Contraception
I do not condone the acts displayed in this story nor do I believe any members of BTS would actually engage in this type of behavior. This is simply written for entertainment purposes and should not be taken as a reflection of my own values, opinions, or morals.
Preview: He was made for sunset, his skin was practically glowing in the golden filter of light. You had never wished more in your life that he hadn’t met you the way he did. The more time you spent with him the more you wondered what it would have been like if he had talked to you that first day of classes. Would he have still gone this far? Those were dangerous thoughts to be thinking, but when he was this gentle with you it was hard to stop the prick of tears at the corners of your eyes. He confused you so much, and you knew what this was. Acting can sometimes feel more real than it truly is.
A/N: SURPRISE! HAPPY HALLOWEEN BABIES! Just for you, here is part three! I spent a whole week dedicating hours to write it so I could have a treat ready for you this Halloween! To date, this is my favorite chapter and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!
Read Part Here (1) // Read Part Here (2) // Read Part Here (4)
You had pissed him off, that much was obvious. His fingers were still curled into the fabric of your underwear, one flex away from ripping them off. His jaw was tense and his cheeks hallowed in irritation as he fixed you with his intense glare. Jungkook was many things to you, the number one being your source of immeasurable fear. In that moment though, your glare was just as harsh; you were just as angry as he was but for far different reasons.
You were angry, but you also weren’t stupid. You knew that this could go one of two ways. You could fight back and piss him off further resulting in another punishment or him taking you anyways. Or you could play his game.
For once, you thanked God that you were such a fucking crybaby because letting all your pent up feelings out was going to be good for what you were going to do next. Your lips trembled as your eyes watered, brimming with tears that threatened to wet your flushed cheeks. You clenched your eyes shut as a choked cry left your lips, your hand coming up to harshly smack his chest.
“You don’t really love me!” You cried, trying to roll onto your side and away from him while curling your hands into your near naked chest.
There was a pause of silence between the two of you, his confusion palpable. You pulled your legs free from him and curled up into a ball, loud sobs leaving your chest that sounded more animal than human. As your cries grew louder he finally snapped out of shock, his hands desperately reaching for you as you shrunk away from his touch.
“Baby, baby!” He called, his voice sounding more hurt each time you rejected him; shrinking into yourself further. “Of course I love you, how couldn’t I?”
“No!” You yelled, sounding more like a petulant child than a scorned lover. “All you want is to use me, you don’t care about me!” You cried dramatically, turning onto your stomach so you could bury your face in your forearms.
It was like all of the events you had endured were becoming fuel for you, each horrible thing he had done to you spurring tears upon tears to help your performance. You would make him believe you, you had to if it would buy you some time.
“That’s not true! I love you more than anything, I just wanted to show you how much I love you, baby.” He said, his hands sliding over your waist and under your stomach to turn you over to face him. Your eyes remained clenched shut as he rolled you over, your face wet and hot from the tantrum you had thrown. You almost had him, you could feel him walking straight into your trap. You had him right where you wanted him.
“You don’t care,” You sobbed, shaking your head. “You only want to have sex with me. You don’t even care about what I want.” You sniffled, bringing your shaking hands up to cover your tear streaked face.
“Fuck, that’s far from the truth. Please tell me what you want, baby. Please, I’ll do anything for you.” He whispered, his much lager hands gently curling around your smaller wrists and prying them from your face so he could catch a glimpse of you.
Your heart pounded harder at his words, your first thoughts heading towards your freedom. But you quickly stunted that thought, you knew when he said “anything” he meant “anything but that.” You would have to make do with what you had, and your first mission was to keep yourself untouched by him.
He brought your hand up to his face, pressing light kisses to each finger as soft pleas fell from his lips. He really was at your mercy, intoxicated by your scent, touch, and doe eyes. All it took was a few tears to have him like this for you. But you still knew better, you knew there was a beast lurking beneath the surface of those innocent round eyes and bunny-like smiles. You wouldn’t be fooled by him.
“I-” You began, a hiccup breaking your voice. “I want to save myself for marriage, I always have.” You said, forcing yourself to remain still as he ceased pressing kisses to your knuckles only stopping to raise your hand to cup the smooth flesh of his cheek. His eyes fluttered shut as leaned into your palm, breathing in your scent just by your pulse.
“So, you’re my good girl then? No one else has touched you?” He asked, long lashes still grazing the dips beneath his eyes.
You nodded in affirmation only to realize he still couldn’t see you. “Yes, no one has.” You agreed.
A sigh of relief had him falling limp against you, removing your hand from his cheek so he could press a kiss to the center of your palm. His demeanor had shifted so quickly even you were surprised. He gently looped his arms beneath your waist and dragged the two of you up into a sitting position, sliding you onto his lap with ease and pressing your chest to his own. It was horrifyingly intimate, the feeling of his bare chest flush against your barely clothed one. He was warm and strong and would have been comforting had the circumstances been different.
That was something you thought often: had the circumstances been different. But they weren’t. Jungkook was as selfish as he was lonely, and because of that he was delusional and overbearing. Sometimes his presence closed in so tightly on your own you felt as if you couldn’t get a single breath in. And because of that, you longed to be miles away from him. He was suffocating you so slowly and ever so painfully.
His fingers wove themselves into your hair, guiding you to rest your head on his shoulder as he held you close. “I'll wait for you, and only for you.”
Hook, line, and sinker.
He held you to his chest for a while and nothing was said between the two of you. There was only the steady rise and fall of your chests against one another while his fingers carded through your hair. Your eyes had fluttered shut yet your body was still tense, you couldn’t deny how good it felt to be touched in this way. But you knew you could never fully let your guard down around him, he was far too unpredictable. But all that time spent with him had been in your favor, now you knew what made him tick. And you were going to exploit that.
Jungkook pulled you away from his body, his eyes tracing your face. He gently cupped your face in his hands and pressed a delicate kiss, so light it was barely there, to your lips. You could feel him sigh against your lower lip before he reluctantly pulled away. He had to prove to you now that he wasn’t solely after your body, although that was an added benefit for him. He could wait, just for a little while longer.
He leaned over the side of the bed and scooped up his previously abandoned shirt, guiding your arms through the sleeves and pulling the collar down over your head. He couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of your head popping up and out of the shirt, your figure drowning in his clothes. His eyes strayed, following where the hem of his shirt laid at the tops of your thighs. You were so tempting, it was no wonder you thought he was only after your body.
Before he could get too distracted he leaned over you and yanked the chain of the lamp, effectively drowning the two of you in a deep pool of darkness. You froze for a moment, your heart thudding as you lost sight of him and what he was doing. You couldn’t see him, but you could still definitely feel him. His strong arms had already curled around your waist, yanking you down on top of him. You yelped in fear as you once more collided with his chest. The man was like a fucking brick wall. You could feel the ginger brush of his fingers around your wrist, guiding your hand to rest on his bare chest as he tucked your head into the crook of his neck. You were sure if anyone were to walk in you would look like lovers. How far from the truth they would be.
You were shaking now, the reality of what has almost happened finding you in the seclusion of the dark. But you had to remind yourself, you had outsmarted him this time. You were finally beginning to understand the game: fake it til you make it. If you could play along for long enough then you could find your way out of here. And you were more determined than ever.
“You cold, baby?” Jungkook asked, breaking the silence first. He must have felt you shaking.
You nodded in response, trying to play off what you were actually feeling. Fear. Jungkook grasped the edge of the blanket and pulled it up higher, pressing the two of you together beneath the warmth of the covers. You closed your eyes once more, and this time you tried to pretend he was someone else. Anyone else. It was much harder than anticipated, you knew his scent, his touch, and his form. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t get rid of him.
But you would try.
You could feel sleep coming for you, the crash of emotions you had survived finally taking their toll on you once more.
You had made it 10 days, how much longer would you have to last?
“Baby,” Jungkook hummed, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I love you.”
Long enough to escape, that was for sure.
~~~~~~~
The next day, things already seemed to be so different. To say you were surprised was an understatement. The ten days of hell you had endured with Jungkook could have been a dream for all you knew. He still was the same way you remembered him to be, clingy, whiny, and overbearingly affectionate. But for the duration of that day, nothing he did had the same sexual undertone you had dealt with for the past ten days.
You were relieved, it seemed like you were finally getting a hold of your horrible situation. Well, for now at least. Jungkook was going to be far easier to fool than his father. And you couldn’t lie, his father terrified you to no end. He had trained Jungkook’s mother into absolute obedience with his unrelenting and ruthless nature. You were sure that if anyone was going to be able to spot your fakery from a mile away, it was going to be him without a doubt. So you had one choice, you were going to have to sell it good.
And that meant having to do things you really didn’t want to do.
Very quickly, you found yourself taking on the role of a traditional housewife. Jungkook had made it clear before that that was something he didn’t expect from you. All he wanted was you, or so he claimed. He said that he liked doing things together, he didn’t want you being forced into the traditional role you never truly wanted. But you knew what his father expected, and if you were going to win this game you were going to have to sacrifice a few of your pieces.
And you also knew that if you could keep this charade up for long enough, you could fool them all. It was only a matter of time, and you were willing to give up a few days, weeks, or months to find your freedom again. And if that meant making meals with Jungkook’s mother, cleaning the house, and folding fucking laundry you would do it all with a smile.
Days were passing faster and melting into weeks, and at this point you couldn’t really tell how long you had been missing. You wondered if your family was looking for you, if your friends missed you, or if everyone assumed you were dead in a ditch at this point, your flesh melting away and returning to the earth from which it came from. Sometimes, you even wondered if that would have been better. To have been discarded and left to disappear if it meant you didn’t have to pretend to be something you weren’t and if it meant that you wouldn’t have to live in fear of being punished for a misstep or cower under the sharp glare of Jungkook’s father. But you were determined, fucking terrified but so determined to make it out of this alive.
The call of your name pulled you from the lull of your thoughts. You shook your head to clear you from your daze. Your hands were plunged under warm soapy water, a plate held in your motionless hands.
“There you are, I thought I lost you for a moment.” Jungkook’s mother giggled, her small hands delicately drying the plate in her grasp.
You gave her a gentle smile in response, lifting the plate from the water and giving it one more rinse before handing it over to her. There was one upside to this endeavor, you had someone you could call a friend. You liked her, it was hard not to with all of the time you spent together. Her warm, motherly nature was comforting in a place like this. And it made you miss your own mom even more.
“Jungkook seems happier lately.” She mused, gazing out of the window above the sink. You followed her line of sight, seeing Jungkook and his father outside on the back deck with the red flare of a cigarette tucked between his father’s lips.
She wasn’t wrong, ever since you had started playing along he seemed more relaxed, happier even. Even now a smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he listened to whatever his father was saying. But you could tell he wasn’t really listening, his eyes had that far off look to them like he was somewhere else entirely.
“I guess I have you to thank for that,” She said softly, setting down the freshly dried plate to turn and look at you. “I’ve never seen him so happy before. Jungkook was always a quiet child, he kept to himself for the most part. But you bring out parts of him I rarely got to see.” She smiled.
Yeah, the depraved parts are what you brought out. You let out a gentle sigh, welcoming the faux smile you had grown accustomed to to settle on your lips. “I wish we could have met on different terms.”
That wasn’t a total lie.
“I know, sweetie. The first couple years are always the hardest.” She replied, lightly resting her hands on the tops of your shoulders with a tender smile. “It just takes some time for people like us, outsiders, to get used to their way of life.”
This wasn’t the first time she had told you this and it most definitely wouldn’t be the last. Sometimes you forgot she wasn’t just a mother, she was a person who has been brainwashed so meticulously you had no doubt all of the work that had been done on her had no way of coming unraveled. And you would be damned if you were going to let that happen to you too. You liked her a lot, and she liked you too. But you had no doubt in your mind that if it came down to it, she would never help you escape. Most likely, she would turn you over to her husband and son. You couldn’t trust anyone, not even the person who had once been like you.
“I hope so.” You lied through your smile, gently squeezing her wrist in affirmation. Ever since you had stopped crying, it had become easier to lie.
The sliding glass door off of the kitchen slid open with a click, the scent of cigarette smoke wafting into the kitchen. Jungkook’s father stood in the doorframe, peering into the kitchen and settling his gaze on you and his wife. He fixed you with a stern look, the look in his eyes practically freezing you to your spot like a deer in headlights.
The only ones you were fooling were Jungkook and his mother. That much was obvious.
“Baby!” Jungkook called, his bunny smile and doe eyes catching your attention from behind his father's shoulder where he was standing on the porch.
He looked so relaxed compared to the first few weeks you had spent with him. Had you already lulled him into the belief that you were finally becoming compliant to his demands? You couldn’t be too sure. He was leaned back against the deck fencing, his elbows propped up behind him on the top of the fence. His one leg was a little stretched out in front of the other one as he looked at you, the golden cast of the setting sun bathing his lithe form. He looked like any other normal guy on vacation at the lake: a pair of ripped jeans tucked into thick boots and an open flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Your eyes lingered over the tattoos that decorated his arm, he really would have been any girl’s dream guy. It was a shame that he had to warp that into a nightmare.
Jungkook’s smile widened eagerly as he motioned for you to join him. Outside.
Your heart began to flutter in your chest, it felt like the wings of a hummingbird thrumming in anticipation as the latch of its cage was lifted. You tried your best to calm yourself, you remembered what happened the last time you had fled into the woods, it had only taken mere moments for him to find you once again. You had not a doubt in your mind that Jungkook knew these forests better than anyone. You couldn’t run, not just yet. You hadn’t fooled everyone. You were sure that a better opportunity would arise.
You took a calming breath and quickly dried your hands off before approaching the door. Jungkook’s father remained in the doorframe, his presence casting a shadow over you. He scared you far more than Jungkook did, and for the first time in your life you were willing to run into the arms of your captor if it meant he would keep you out of the way of his father’s wrath. That was the one thing you were sure of when it came down to it - Jungkook would protect you if he was in love with you like he claimed to be.
Your head was bowed low, your eyes fixed to your bare feet and the tile beneath them. You looked like a rabbit - you remained still like it would stop the curious predator from approaching.
“Don’t try anything if you know what’s good for you.” He whispered lowly, his voice was gravelly and deep in his chest. The smell of smoke wafted under your nose as he stepped to the side, allowing you access to the deck. You flinched from his sudden movement before hurriedly rushing past him and outside.
The fleeting sun felt so good against your skin, your chest heaved as you took in a deep inhale of the fresh air. It felt like layers of clothes and weights had been removed from your body and the oppressive weight of Jungkook’s father’s stare was confined to the inside of the lake house. This was the freest you had felt in weeks, or what had most likely turned into months. Time was escaping you faster and faster every day.
You jolted in surprise, your eyes fluttering open as Jungkook’s fingers grazed the smooth skin of your hand. You hadn’t heard him approach in your moment of euphoria. He looked down at you with a gentle smile and a gleam to his chocolate brown eyes. He was made for sunset, his skin was practically glowing in the golden filter of light. You had never wished more in your life that he hadn’t met you the way he did. The more time you spent with him the more you wondered what it would have been like if he had talked to you that first day of classes. Would he have still gone this far? Those were dangerous thoughts to be thinking, but when he was this gentle with you it was hard to stop the prick of tears at the corners of your eyes. He confused you so much, and you knew what this was. Acting can sometimes feel more real than it truly is. The last thing you wanted was to fall victim to Stockholm syndrome. And you knew you weren’t, he still made you uncomfortable and he had done awful things to you. Thoughts like those could override any one of his sweet, innocent looks. For now. If you didn’t act faster, time would grasp you in it’s clutches.
Jungkook raised his hand to cup your face, his thumb gently stroking the flesh of your cheek as his other hand came to rest on your waist. He looked at you like you were the center of the universe, like nothing else mattered to him anymore. His touch was warm but his gaze was uncomfortable. You didn’t want him to look at you like that, like he was in love with you. Not after everything he had done.
But you also couldn’t deny that there was a part of you that understood him. His father was fucking horrible and he had you, his wife, and his son all under his thumb. Jungkook and his mother were captives just as much as you were. That was the only sympathy you had ever felt for him.
Jungkook’s eyes had slid shut, his large hand encircling your wrist and raising your open palm to his lips to press a light kiss to the center of your hand. That was something he had started doing, but you never dared to ask him about it. You had assumed it was his way of keeping himself together, like he was taking a small hit instead of drowning himself in ecstacy. It was like he was pacing himself with you.
“Walk with me?” He whispered, his eyes slid closed as he breathed in your scent, the two of you encompassed by the light of the setting sun.
“Okay.” You answered softly, trying to keep your legs cemented to where they were before they took flight and had you fleeing the lake house once again.
Jungkook smiled at you again, his fingers hastily lacing yours with his own. His tight grip would be enough to keep you grounded for now.
He led you down the steps until your feet met the soft grass once more. The cuts to your feet had healed and the feeling of the grass between your toes was soothing and comforting. Jungkook’s grip was loosening and allowing him to gently tug you in the direction of the lake. You had only seen it from the windows of the house and just barely when it was illuminated by the moon that night you had tried to flee for the first time. You pushed down the thoughts of escape as your pace began to match his, your hands hanging between the two of you and swaying gently as you approached the little beach at the edge of the large, blue lake.
Your eyebrows began to knit together in confusion as you caught sight of the full stretch of the beach. There looked to be a little porch that began on the grass and stretched over the sandy beach. It had a wooden terrace stretching overtop decorated with fairy lights and was exposed to the sky above. You could see there was a thin air mattress set on top of the deck area covered in various pillows and blankets with a cooler set aside. It was insanely intimate and bordered on romantic. Had he set this up for the two of you?
You shivered in discomfort, unsure of what to do. Maybe you should suggest walking down by the water, you really didn’t want to go over to that “love nest.”
“Arms out.” Jungkook suddenly said, sliding in front of you. You looked at him in confusion until he set his hands on your arms and raised them up by your sides. He wordlessly slid the flannel off his shoulders and began to help you slip the sleeves onto your bare arms. He thought you were cold again. At least you could use that as an excuse during your ploy.
The shirt was big on you which was no surprise at this point. All of his clothes were baggy on you, most of them were baggy on him too. You looked like a child who had gotten into their parents closet. But the look in Jungkook’s eyes spoke volumes. It was a possessive thing, he liked seeing you in his clothes, he liked it when his scent lingered on you. He liked that he had you where he wanted you. Little did he know, you had him where you wanted him as well.
Once he was done fixing his shirt around you he smoothed the collar down and sent a smile your way. “Come on.”
Jungkook tried to walk forward, your grip on his hand stopping him short. He pivoted on his heel, the sand kicking up slightly. “Baby? What’s wrong?”
Your teeth sunk into the flesh of your lower lip as your eyes focused on the sight of a little crab crawling quickly across the surface of the sand. “Can we go over there?” You asked, jerking your head in the direction of the lake.
Jungkook turned, his dark eyes settling on the waves rushing over the shallow drop off of sand. “Hm, not today. It’s pretty cold, I don’t want you to get sick sweetheart.”
“I won't,” You tried once more, your eyes wide and pleading. “Jungkook-”
“We’ll go tomorrow.” He cut you off, his eyes boring into your own. He didn’t have to say anything for you to know that this wasn’t up for debate. If he wanted to do something that badly, he was going to do it. He gave your hand a firm tug and pulled you into him, his arm coming up to wrap around your shoulders and tuck you into his side.
You didn’t look at him as you walked, your eyes fixed to the sight of your toes turning over the sand as you walked. But you could feel his stare burning into the side of your head like it always was. Every time you thought just maybe he couldn’t be that bad, he reminded you quickly of what your situation was like. He has the final say in everything, whether he agreed or disagreed with you.
The two of you stepped up onto the little wooden terrace, Jungkook taking a seat on the mattress and pulling you down in between his legs allowing your back to lean up against his chest. He wrapped his arms around your shoulders and set his chin on the top of your head. The sun was just beginning to sink below the horizon of the lake casting an ethereal glow over the water.
You were glad you didn’t miss this sight, you supposed. It was probably the most uplifting thing you had seen in a long while. It wouldn’t be long now before the sun disappeared and it would be dark across the lake. Already the lights strung up above you seemed to be growing stronger as the sun faded away.
You could feel Jungkook’s hand coming up to play with your hair, his touch the most delicate it had ever been. It was so gentle that if you closed your eyes you could pretend it was just the wind ruffling your hair. He spoke your name softly, the hand that had occupied your tresses caressed the length of your arm and settled on the top of your hand. Your brows knitted together in confusion as you felt his other hand flip yours over and settle something in the center of your palm. It was smooth, cold, and metallic to the touch with hard edges.
You dropped your chin and searched for whatever it was he had just given you. He laughed softly, cupping your palm shut so that you couldn’t see.
“Ask me.” He simply said, his eyes aglow with mischief.
“Let me see.” You said, trying to pry your fingers open beneath his hold. It was no use.
“Try again, maybe a little nicer this time.” He teased.
You huffed in frustration, already over whatever he was up too. “Jungkook, give me back my hand, please.” You said, adding more emphasis than needed on the “please.”
He chuckled low in his chest and released his grip on your hand. Without thinking you uncurled your fingers and looked at what he had given you. On sight you felt a wave of nausea roll through your stomach, your heart dropping in your chest.
Sitting delicately on the smooth skin of your palm was an engagement ring.
You couldn’t move, you were frozen in absolute fear. The only thing you could feel was the violent thudding of your heart in your chest and the beginnings of a cold sweat on your neck. You had either played your part too well, or Jungkook was more than aware of what you had been doing. You couldn’t rule out his father either, he was just as likely as having a hand in this.
“I’ve waited for ten years to ask you to marry me, and I can’t imagine a better time than now to finally ask you.”
You were spiralling, you could feel the beginnings of a panic attack coming. Your vision was focusing and unfocusing, the sound of your rapid heartbeats pounding in your eardrums. Were you having a heart attack? It felt like you were having a heart attack. You felt like you couldn’t breathe, like your lungs were swelling and cutting off any oxygen that tried to slip into your mouth.
But there was one thing you could focus on, he said ten years. That math didn’t make sense, when the two of you had first met in highschool and that was only four years ago.
“Ten years?” You echoed, the panic clear in your voice. How many more secrets was he harboring?
He hummed in response, his slender fingers picking up the diamond embedded ring from your grasp. You hadn’t realized how tightly you had been holding it until he took it from you, the diamond had made little incisions in your palm that were running with specks of blood.
“I first met you when we were freshmen, but I first saw you when we were little.” He reminisced, a far off look in his eyes as he toyed with the ring. “I just caught a glimpse of you, but that was enough. You were wearing a white sundress and the cutest little butterfly sandals. I remember I asked my mom if you were an angel. She told me no, but I told her that I was going to marry you anyways because you were so pretty. And I kept my promise, didn’t I?
You could feel yourself fading faster than the sun, you were so confused and panicked your body was on the brink of shutting down. You could feel the burn of bile rising up your throat as he lifted your left hand and gently slid the ring down your ring finger.
“You don’t have to say yes, but you can’t say no.” He whispered against the shell of your ear. “That’s how it works in my family.”
~~~~~~~
You don’t remember much of what happened before you passed out, but you did wake up wrapped in Jungkook’s arms in his bed under the blankets. And that goddamn ring was still on your finger. And if things weren’t already bad enough, then they were bound to get worse. You were getting “married” in only a few days.
To say that was jarring didn’t even cover half of what you were feeling. Not only was Jungkook trying to keep you bound to him in every way possible, but it was going to happen and fast. You tried to calm yourself by remembering whatever ceremony you were going to go through would not be legally binding. You wouldn’t actually be married in the eyes of the law. The two of you would have to get a marriage license and have it approved with witnesses, and there was no way you wouldn’t get help if you were dragged to a courthouse. Jungkook was persistant but he wasn’t stupid. This would be purely symbolic, and nothing more. But that thought did not drive away your stress or the butterflies in your stomach.
And of course your short days full of trying on various dresses and hairstyles did not help one bit. Jungkook’s mom was excited, her face aglow with pure happiness as she chose dresses on your behalf and made even more decisions regarding the ceremony on your behalf. Apparently, that was tradition. The “outsider” was rarely involved in situations like these, the mother in law and the prospective spouse took care of everything. You were too sick to your stomach to do anything, no matter what you said you knew that Jungkook wouldn’t listen to you. He had waited ten years to propose he said, there was nothing that would stop him from finally getting what he wanted. And once the two of you were “married” you were out of excuses to deny his advances. You were so fucked.
Maybe you should have ran into the woods again when he had taken you out of the house. You should have just thrown caution to the wind and tried again. No, Jungkook would have caught you. You knew that. Maybe it would have been better to lay yourself in the lake and float away into nothingness. But you knew, no matter what you did or where you went Jungkook would follow you to the ends of the earth. He was inescapable, and the thought of that left you with an intense feeling of claustrophobia. Much like the prey you were, he would hunt you down and corner you with no possibilities of escape before going in for the kill.
It still wasn’t time to run yet, you had convinced yourself of that. Now really would be the worst time to flee with the influx of members of Jungkook’s family arriving for the “wedding” that was to take place. Just the thought of that word had your stomach churning in unease.
His family was much larger than you expected and, to your horror, they all were just like him. Every single one of them knew about your predicament, and in fact amongst them were people like you who had been dragged into this life. Amongst the supposed wedding party were kidnappers and victims who were all coming to celebrate another successful hunt and capture of a prize.
It only took five days to gather everyone and everything for the ceremony. It had all been rushed in order to get you to this point where you were once again in the room you had first woken in when Jungkook had taken you. Or, as his mother liked to call it, the bridal suite. The room itself hadn’t changed though, the walls were still that off white color, the barred windows still surrounded my lacy, gauze curtains, and the bedspread was still baby pink, white, and frilly. The only difference was the wedding gown hanging from a hook on the bedroom door.
You ran your fingers through your freshly washed hair, knotting the tresses in your hold and tugging in anxiety. Your leg was bouncing rapidly, how had it gotten to this point? How were you supposed to go out there and do this? You couldn’t. Not when you were about to be surrounded by kidnappers and their pets kept closely to their side.
A knock to the door had you rocking back in surprise, your head jerking up to see who was there. The door remained shut and silence followed suit. You looked on in curiosity until a voice called your name through the door.
“Are you decent, sweetheart?” It was Mrs. Jeon.
“Yes.” You replied, your voice cracking. The shower you had just taken wasn’t enough to hide all of the crying you had been doing all morning. But at least you didn’t have to see Jungkook, that was one upside. He refused to come near you until the ceremony, he was a firm believer that it was bad luck to see you beforehand.
You were grateful.
You heard the click of the lock being undone before you saw the door swing open and Mrs. Jeon pocket the key she held in her hand. She looked happy, far more excited than you had anticipated. She was already done up for the ceremony, a formal dress laid over her figure and her hair twisted into an updo. She was naturally pretty and you could see what resemblance she had to her son. It sent a chill down your spine.
Not much was said between the two of you as she ushered you over to the vanity, gently gripping the tops of your shoulders and guiding you down onto the stool. Her work was done quietly and delicately. And you were so out of it, you didn’t pay much attention. Your eyes were dull and unfocused, staring into the mirror but not processing what you were seeing in the slightest.
“Sweetheart, what I’m going to tell you will be very important so I need you to listen closely.” She hummed, her hands fluttering around your face as she began to lightly apply makeup. “Have you ever been to a wedding?”
Your eyes fluttered closed as she gently applied eyeshadow to your lids. “Yes.”
“Good, then you already know what to expect. But, there are going to be some changes.” She said, tilting your head back with a feather light touch. “During the ceremony, don’t say anything.”
“What?” You asked, your face tensing in confusion. You felt her hands gently tap your cheeks, a silent way of signaling you needed to relax the muscles of your face.
“Jungkook will take care of everything, vows and all. You just need to be there as he does so.” She explained. That made sense in some twisted way. If no part of the ceremony involved you talking, then you couldn’t exactly say no. “The objections will be left out as well.”
How ironic.
“Other than that, things will go exactly how you expect them too. As long as you do your part, everything will be just fine.” She smiled as you opened your eyes once more.
You felt her hands lightly smoothe your freshly styled hair, a fond look gracing her kind features. You felt a strange connection to her, you supposed it had to do with your shared experiences. She was taking on the role of a twisted mentor, imparting some of her “wisdom” onto you to help you as best she could.
The part you were most scared of came next, the dress. You tried your best not to look at yourself as the chiffon and lace slid smoothly over your bare skin. It was cool to the touch, light and airy unlike most dresses you had seen brides wear. By all rights it was stunning, you only wished you didn’t have to wear it if it meant that you would be walking down the aisle towards a man you never dreamt of being yours.
You wore no veil, and for that you were thankful. You couldn’t stand the thought of Jungkook having to lift it from your face like you had seen done before time and time again. Instead, a halo of white carnations and fabric butterflies graced the crown of your head. They were real, their scent fresh and welcoming. A part of you ached at the thought of them withering away, their stems having been sliced apart. They were beautiful, but would only be that way for a fraction of time.
You seated yourself on the edge of the bed, your bare feet gently grazing the silk of the comforter. Your heart was pounding wildly, this was a different type of fear you had never felt before. It was the anxiety of having to provide a performance for all of Jungkook’s family and the knowledge that you couldn’t run.
Mrs. Jeon knelt down to the floor, a soft groan falling from her painted lips as she felt the ache in her knees. She reached a slender arm out underneath the bed, retrieving a white box tied closed with a satin ribbon. You looked on in curiosity as she carefully untied the bow and set the ribbon on the mattress.
“I wore these, Jungkook’s grandmother wore them, and the women before her.” She explained as she tugged the lid of the box free.
Upon seeing what laid inside the box, tears immediately began to prick at the corners of your eyes, your heart pounding wildly against your ribcage. Your shaky hand came up to cup your mouth to stifle any cries that attempted to escape. Held between the soft hands of your captor’s mother was a set of leg cuffs, each cuff meant to be sealed around your ankles that were held together by a length of chain that would prevent you from taking the strides you would need to run. They were treating you like a prisoner.
“I-I can’t put those on,” You choked, “Please, please don’t make me do it.” You sobbed, shuffling away from her as best you could.
“Oh, sweetie.” She cooed, setting them back down into the box and bringing you into her motherly embrace. “It’s only for a short while, I promise they’ll be off by your first dance. And they’re not as heavy as they look and no one will see them under your dress.”
“I don’t want to.” You sniffled as her fingers gently tapped away the tears in an attempt to stop your makeup from running.
“I know, neither did I.” She sighed, pressing a kiss to your hair. “Jungkook thought you didn’t need them but my husband thought it would be for the best.”
You froze at what she said. His father wanted this.
“He’s a man of tradition for sure.” She giggled, rubbing your shoulders in an attempt to relax you. “It’ll be quicker than you think, trust me.”
There was no room for debate, you had learned that quickly with the Jeon family. They always got their way and never took no for an answer. You experienced that first hand. So, all you could do was close your eyes, clench your fists, and tense your jaw as she snapped the cold metal cuffs around each of your ankles.
“See? Not so bad.” She hummed before taking your hand and helping you to stand. “Everyone is waiting on us, it’s best we don’t keep them waiting any longer.”
She guided you out of the room, the sound of the chain connecting your anklets dragging over the wood of the floor sent a cringe to your face. They were loud. From what you knew, the ceremony was to take place outside right in the fringe of the forest. At least there would be grass and maybe then they wouldn’t be as distracting or cacophonous as they were now. At least that was what you hoped, it was like if you pretended they weren’t there maybe they would actually disappear.
You didn’t make it far before you felt that familiar, sharp glare digging into you. His father was already here.
“Now, since your father won’t be able to give you away we’re going to. Isn’t that nice?” Mrs. Jeon smiled, a sharp contrast to the stoic face of her husband.
The thought of having to wrap your arm around his own nauseated you more than anything. Being with Jungkook was like heaven compared to his father. You feared his hold and gaze to the point that you craved Jungkook’s touch. Anything was better than having to be that close to a man so evil.
You didn’t respond, fear having paralyzed your throat. It didn’t matter what you said, it was going to happen anyways. That much you knew to be true.
The three of you linked arms, you in the middle of the parents of your kidnapper. Mrs. Jeon held your left arm gently, rubbing soothing circles into the flesh of your forearm. Mr. Jeon gripped you tightly, his hold unrelenting and harboring a warning. You wouldn’t be surprised if once he released you his fingerprints would be left behind as purple marks to your skin.
As the three of you began to walk and exit the lake house, your inescapability became far more apparent. You could see the large crowd of people waiting for you, their eyes burning into you. From the large group, everyone was lining the aisle with their arms linked like they were creating a chain of people in preparation for you. With a horrifying realization you came to understand what they were doing. They were forming a wall on either side of you, creating a tunnel to walk through that would prevent you from escaping.
They had planned everything out perfectly, years of trial and error and countless “weddings” allowing them to perfect their formula. They knew what they were doing and had no intention of letting you go. They were all sick every single one of them.
And what was most likely the most upsetting sight was the children in the group, even they
joined in on the human paper chain. They were little blank slates, perfect models that were trained from day one on what their way of life would be. You couldn’t help but see Jungkook reflected in their gaze. In your mind you could picture him as a small boy, large brown doe eyes watching a bound bride floating down the aisle in her white dress. It was no wonder he was so fucked up, and evidently those children would grow up just like he did.
This was the first time you thought about fixing Jungkook, as you were walking through the tunnel of people, white petals crushing beneath your feet, and the drag of the chain between your legs like a snake slithering through grass. This was the first time you had even considered that to be a possibility.
Your head lifted as the thought entered your mind, your gaze flicking around until it settled on him at the end of the aisle under an arch of moss and carnations. He was dressed nicely, but not in a tux like many grooms had been. He wore dress pants, held up by a set of suspenders over his shoulders. The top few buttons of his shirt had been left undone and exposed some of the smooth, tan flesh hiding beneath the fabric. He had also rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, his arm of tattoos proudly on display. He looked relaxed despite the excited smile that lit up his face and the gleam of adoration in those dark eyes. Even you couldn’t deny how attractive he looked like that.
A firm squeeze to your arm had your teeth sinking into your lip as the three of you ceased walking, Jungkook mere steps away from you. This was the first time you wanted to run towards him instead of away from him because it meant you would be able to escape his father.
“Behave.” His father whispered just beside your ear, his voice deep in his chest and laced with warning.
Without another word, his hand slipped down your wrist and guided your hand into his sons. And just like that, he and his wife turned and took their seat. And you could finally breathe again. For now.
Jungkook was smiling at you, that familiar bunny like grin gracing his lips. His hands cradled your own, holding them between the two of you. You were sure he thought all of his dreams were coming true. He tense his fingers, giving your hands a firm squeeze of excitement. You had never seen him happier.
You could see an older gentleman beneath the makeshift altar, you assumed he was there to “officiate” the proceedings. You couldn’t help but zone out, the sight before you was distracting. The makeshift wedding his family had created would have been something out of a dream had this all been voluntary on your part. Forest weddings had always appeared to be so beautiful, and now that you were here you couldn’t help but agree. Strands of green moss formed a canopy above the wedding party, delicate vines of white flowers hanging from above and all around you. The aisle you had walked down had been made of moss, grass, ferns, and flat stones littered with white flowers and petals.
It was absolutely breathtaking, and you knew once the sun went down and the fairy lights flickered to life it would be even more stunning.
You were suddenly snapped out of your daze as you felt Jungkook's hand cup the side of your face before leaning down to you and pressing his lips tightly to your own.
You had missed the entire thing.
You could vaguely hear the cheers of his family behind you as he held you close, kissing you surprisingly hard in front of his entire family. You could feel your stomach tightening in anxiety and your face flushing with heat in embarrassment. You felt him pull back for a moment, hot air brushing over your lips before he reconnected with you again, and again, and again until you grasped the fabric of his shirt and pulled him away.
He smiled at you in satisfaction as his tongue darted out to wet his lower lip. He was showing off, letting everyone know that you were his and that there was nothing you could do about.
Your heart was in your stomach, the dread piling up as you felt him tugging you back down the aisle. He giggled as you almost tripped, his strides too long for you to keep up with when your gate was impaired by the length of chain connecting your ankles. Without a word he turned and scooped you up in his arms, ironically carrying you bridal style back towards the lake house where the “reception” was to be held.
You turned your head to look over his shoulder, your eyes widening as you watched his family rushing after the two of you in what could have very well been a stampede. Your eyes lingered on a few of the people coming after you, it wasn’t hard to see who was an “outsider” like you. They had that same hopeless hollowness to their eyes, their will having dried up a long time ago. You could feel your heartbeat quickening as you caught sight of one woman. She walked quickly, trying to keep up with the man beside her as she adjusted the infant in her arms. She looked tired and depressed beneath her layer of makeup. You could see the strain of her smile smooth away when her eyes connected with yours. You could see the message she was sending you clear as day without saying a word.
“I’m sorry.”
~~~~~~~
The reception was the most normal part of the wedding and something you were more familiar with. The only change was instead of the garter removal, your leg cuffs were removed. There was a part of you that was glad you were spared the mortifying experience of watching Jungkook’s head disappear under the chiffon of your skirt and feeling his lips drag across the length of your leg as his teeth pulled the garter free from you.
Although, the leg cuffs were just as horrible and embarrassing. You were certain if you didn’t calm yourself down you would be throwing up all over the pristine white dress you wore. You could visualize the pure horror that would spread across Mrs. Jeon’s face.
You were sure that that wouldn’t be the first time something like that had happened though. But tonight you had been doing your very best to hide your disdain for everyone there, you still had a part to play regardless of the situation you had been put in. You didn’t have to look happy, you just had to hide your fear to the best of your ability.
That was easier said than done.
It was when Jungkook left you alone with his sister that your facade began to crumble away.
“Jimin, Taehyung!” He yelled, his eyes lighting up as he darted away from the table you were seated at in excitement. You watched him race across the room to the two men he had called for, locking them into a tight embrace.
Your legs twitched, the thought of fleeing always at the back of your mind. Now would be the worst time of all times, who wouldn’t be able to see the only one dressed all in white sprinting into the woods. The last thing you wanted to do was start a hunting trip.
The soft delicate call of your name reminded you that you were still in company. The empty seat that Jungkook once occupied has been filled by the slender form of his sister. She looked just like him, but softer and feminine. She had a gentle smile fixed to her lips that reminded you exactly of her mother. There was not a single bit of her father in her, genetic wise.
“It’s nice to meet you,” She grinned. “All of these years Jungkook wouldn’t shut up about you and he only lets me meet you once you’re getting married, that little punk.”
You bit your lip before you could spit anything back. You could feel the blood leave your face as she spoke. It always disturbed you when you remembered for just how long Jungkook had been waiting for you, watching you, longing for you.
“Hell, he was the first person I introduced to my boyfriend.” She said with a roll of her eyes, “I mean of course I couldn’t take him on my own, he was much too heavy for just me alone.”
Your heart stilled as you slowly turned your head to face her. “Too heavy?” You echoed, hoping she didn’t mean what you thought she did.
“Mhmm, the first time I saw him was at the gym. He was just so much bigger than me I knew I couldn’t take him home on my own. So, I called Jungkook. He made things so much easier, he really is such a good brother to me.” She said with a fond smile, her eyes seeming to glaze as she reminisced.
All this time, you had assumed it was only the men of the family that partook in the kidnappings. But no, it was anyone who was an “insider.” Anyone who was born into the family. That explained how Jungkook had made no mistakes when he took you, he had practice with someone much bigger than you were. You quickly reached for your glass of wine, chugging back as much of it as you could to calm yourself before you slipped into another attack.
“He’s right over there,” She sighed, nodding in his direction. “Jackson and I have been together for about six months now, he’s a tough one to train that's for sure.”
You followed her gaze, your eyes settling on the man that stood mere inches away from her father. He was undeniably handsome, but you could still see the fear etched deep into his face as he stood next to Mr. Jeon. You were confused why he was still there, he was strong so he had to be capable of escape. In fact, you were sure he could take down Jungkook’s father quite easily. That was of course until you realized what his handicap was. You were confused for a moment, it looked like he was wearing a choker perhaps. But, upon further inspection you realized what it was. A collar.
Jungkook’s sister hummed to herself, setting her clutch down on the table next to you before she undid it and pulled out a small remote. “It’s harder for women like us in this family. Subduing guys like Jackson isn’t easy. But one controlled shock works wonders.” She laughed, a sadistic smile curling into her mouth as she stroked the remote.
So, that was the part of her father she inherited.
You could see the horror on Jackson’s face as his dark eyes connected with the remote she held between her dainty fingers. Without her even saying a word he was rushing to her side in fear of her even thinking about pressing a single button on that remote.
You were light headed, the sudden realization of just how horrible this family was allowed the glass of wine to slip from your fingers, the dark red liquid spilling over some of the white carnations that rested in front of you decorating them in jagged, red stripes.
“Baby?” Jungkook’s voice called to you, and for the first time that word was comforting to your ears. In comparison to his sister, you had lucked out when it came to the Jeon siblings.
You sent him a strained smile as you lifted the stem of the wine glass and set it back up right. Your gaze lingered on the stained carnations, a sour thought entering your mind as you realized their purity had been stained, and no amount of cleansing would ever get it back.
“Don’t worry, Jungkook. Your wife and I are going to be best friends.” His sister smiled as her hand curled around Jackson’s.
The two of you looked at one another momentarily, and in his eyes you saw a mutual message.
“Please, help me.”
~~~~~~~
You didn’t know how much more you could take, that was for sure. Everyone there was beyond messed up and sent your heart racing just at the sight of them. You were relieved when the crowd began to drain, leaving only a few people loitering around as the night dragged on.
You had tackled so much in one day, but you knew there was still more to come.
As the last people headed to their cars, Jungkook’s mother grabbed you by your hand and led you into the house, leaving Jungkook and his father and his two friends outside.
You stumbled after her in confusion, shaken up by the pace she had set. She led you back into what had originally been your room and shut the door tightly behind the two of you. She leaned against it with a gentle smile to her face, but you could see something else in her eyes. She was concerned.
“I wanted to give you your wedding present here.” She said softly, crossing the room to the dresser pushed up against the wall.
“I don’t need any presents.” You replied, your teeth gnawing at your lower lip in stress as you thought of what was to come. You knew you couldn’t hold Jungkook back any longer now that you had run out of excuses.
“I think you’ll need this one.” She said, her voice cracking as she slid her hand behind the dresser and pulled something free. She hid the gift behind her back in both hands as she made her way back to you in complete silence.
Without a word, she raised your hand palm facing the ceiling and set a container in your hand. On sight you immediately recognized what it was.
It was birth control.
“What?” You whispered in pure shock, popping it open to make sure it actually was what it appeared to be.
You raised your head and your eyes connected with hers. She wore no smile like you had seen her with so many times. Her face looked tired and her eyes were clearer than you had ever seen them before. For a moment, she seemed normal. She seemed to be just like you. No words passed between the two of you, all you needed was to see the expression you had witnessed twice earlier that day.
“I’m sorry.”
“Please, help me.”
And now, “I understand.”
The four of you were all the same, people who were suffering and couldn’t escape. She understood better than anyone what you were going through, and she wasn’t as broken as she had originally let on. Some of the original her was still there, a soft ember of a fire that had been snuffed out years ago.
No words passed between the two of you, none needed to be.
~~~~~~~
You heard Jungkook enter before you saw him, your back facing him as you were settled on the edge of the bed. You could feel the bed dip as he climbed on, crawling over to you until his arms could wrap around your waist and his chin could rest on your shoulder. You could smell the wine on his breath as he chuckled.
“Hello, Mrs. Jeon.” He mumbled, pressing his face into the juncture of your neck and shoulder with a hum.
A chill ran down your spine at his words, they were foreign to you, they just didn’t seem right because you knew them to be false. He raised his head, his hand coming up to cradle your jaw and turn your head to face him. His fingers lightly stroked the skin of your cheek as he leaned in uncomfortably close. You could tell he was buzzed, a lazy smile stretching across his face as his eyes traced every curve and detail of your face. He looked positively enamored.
Without any warning he leaned forward and pressed his lips to your own for a moment before pulling back for a breath and leaning in again, and again, and again.
“I love you.” He whispered against the shape of your lips, his fingers gingerly stroking your cheek as his chest shook with each inhale. It seemed like he could never get used to the feeling of your lips, so warm, soft and wet. How could he not be intoxicated by you?
His tongue gently stroked your lower lip, a whine breaking free from his throat as you kept your lips together, refusing to let him in. Instead of growing frustrated, he let out a soft sigh and pressed another brief kiss to the corner of your mouth, laying a trail of kisses down your cheek and jaw before settling on your neck.
You clenched your jaw, your fingers twisting into his shirt as he began to leave hot, open mouthed kiss to the sensitive skin of your neck, low groans bubbling in his chest from the mere taste of your skin. You could tell how needy he was from the way he harshly sucked purple bruises into your neck, his tongue swiping over each fresh mark with a sweet moan at the end.
“Love you so, so, so much.” He whispered, his fingers trailing behind your back to pluck at the tiny pearl buttons holding your dress together. You tensed up, but you didn’t push him away. He didn’t stop his assault on your neck as you felt each button springing free, the front of your dress becoming looser and looser with each motion.
A soft gasp escaped your lips at one particularly harder suck to your throat causing Jungkook to shudder against you as he heard your light cry. He pressed his forehead against your own for a moment, collecting himself while his hands still tried to unloop the back of your dress.
“I wanted you the moment I saw you walking towards me, you looked so perfect, so beautiful. Just like an angel.” He said, his voice shaking as his lips trembled. “I’ve been waiting all day to have you like this, and it was worth the wait.”
His fingers trailed up the exposed skin of your back, goosebumps raising in their wake. He gently traced the lace of your straps before pulling them down, shimming the delicate fabric free from your torso. His breath caught in chest at the first sight of your bare breasts, the cut of the dress in the back being too low to allow you to wear a bra.
“Oh, fuck.” He groaned, the tips of his fingers ever so lightly tracing the tops of your breasts. He was pacing himself for your sake, but it was becoming harder and harder for him to keep a hold of himself, especially with the ever present tightening of his pants at the back of his mind.
He suddenly pressed his lips back to yours once again, this time more frantically and harder than before. His hands came up to your shoulders, pushing you back down into the mattress beneath you. He was breathing much heavier now, unwilling to part from your lips as he tried to roll the fabric of your dress down your hips without leaving you.
He groaned in frustration against your mouth, pulling back to roughly pull the dress down your body and toss it over his shoulder into the recesses of the room. He sat on his knees, towering above you and staring down at you with a carnal look in his eyes. He hastily began removing his own shirt, his irritation growing as he struggled with each button in his haste.
With a final grunt, he pulled his shirt free and tossed it to join your discarded dress. You froze as your eyes trailed over his naked torso, your heart thundering as your eyes settled on his chest. A fresh clear wrap was sealed against his chest over his heart. You could feel your body tense up as you took in the new ink that had been etched into his skin. He had tattooed your name on his chest.
Jungkook looked back at you in confusion, unsure as to what caused the look of pure fear to seep into the once passive and smooth features of your face. He followed your line of sight ending on the new piece he had.
“Do you like it?” He suddenly smiled.
“I got it as my gift to you. You’ll always be right here,” He said, interlacing your fingers once more and resting your joined hands on top of his heart. “I’ll always love you, my good girl.”
All you could do was clench your eyes shut, it was your only way of taking yourself out of this situation. You could feel his bare chest press against yours, his long fingers tracing over every curve of your body as he shook in excitement. How long he had waited for this moment. To have you in every way possible.
“It’s alright, I know what to do.” He whispered as you jolted from the feeling of his hand grazing the hem of your underwear, “Let me take care of you, sweet girl.”
You shuddered as he slid them down your legs, another article of clothing that was meant to join the floor. You were tensed up tight, your legs clenched shut in anxiety as you felt his gaze burn into every feature of your naked body.
“So perfect,” He hummed, “So beautiful.” He cooed, resting his head on your chest as he rubbed slow circles in your thigh, each stroke sending him closer and closer to the juncture of your thighs.
“Jungkook!” You cried as you felt him force your legs open in one strong pull.
“Relax, sweetheart. I don’t want to hurt you.” He replied before quickly reaching down and stroking the length of your untouched cored. You shrieked at the unfamiliar feeling, clamping your legs closed around his intruding hand.
“Come on, baby.” He said, coaxing your legs open. “I need to get you ready.”
All you could do was lean your head back into the pillows, squeezing your eyes shut and clenching your jaw as he continued, his fingers ever so lightly coming up to rub firm circles into your clit. You choked a moan back, thighs trembling as you tried your best not to snap them shut once more.
“So good for me,” He cooed, sucking hickies into the hollow of your collar bone as he pressed his fingers down harder, your hips jerking instinctively up towards the pressure. “So pretty, my wife. Mine.”
He was unrelenting, his tight grip on you sure to reappear as bruises tomorrow morning. He didn’t allow you to hide your desperate whines or shocked gasps from him as he continued to pleasure you, the feeling sending tingles straight from your core all throughout your body. As much as you didn’t want to be with Junhkook, you could admit you were happy he at least knew what a clit was and made this a lot less horrible for you.
You winced at the feeling of his finger gently prodding at your entrance, a thin layer of wetness coating his finger as he pushed in. You jerked and tensed your muscles at the foreign feeling, trying to pull back and away.
“Relax. I need to stretch you out.” He said firmly before leaning down and wrapping his lips around one of your sensitive nipples, your tight walls relaxing at the new feeling. And, without warning, he slipped his finger in and began to stroke deep inside you, parts that your own fingers would not be capable of reaching.
“Fuck!” You cried, tossing your head back as he quickly found that part that made you feel incredibly hot.
“That’s my good girl, fuck.” He groaned into your blushing skin as he thrusted his finger in, grazing that spot that made a new wave of wetness come gushing out.
“Jungkook!” You groaned, your hand coming between the two of you to lay limply at his chest as you twitched in pleasure.
He groaned in response, sucking the hardened peak of your chest harder as he continued pumping his fingers, slowly pressing in a second. You whine at the stretch, shaking as you felt his hips begin rutting against your leg, his mouth popping free from you as a needy whimper leaves his throat.
“I need you so bad, baby.” He whined into your skin, choked groans shaking his chest as he quickened the pace of his hips against your leg and the pace of his fingers strumming against your walls.
He easily, and embarrassingly, slid his fingers free from your heat, a string of your desire following his retreating digits. Without saying anything he quickly brought his fingers to his mouth and began to suck them clean with enthusiasm, his body shaking like he was in ecstasy just from the mere taste.
“So fucking sweet.” He moaned, his hands frantically grasping the hem of his pants, shuffling them and his underwear down in one motion.
You could feel the heat rising to your face at the sight of him, your eyes falling shut once more as your thighs fell closed. He was fucking huge and you didn’t think you could take him. That didn’t really matter now though, did it?
His hands slid down your hips, rubbing small circles in the hallows before he gripped each leg and forced them open and around his slender waist. You kept your eyes clenched shut as you felt him reach in between the two of you, the head of his length brushing against your slick entrance. You were tensing again, anxious for what was to come. You were sure it was going to hurt. You felt his hips push forward and the head of dick just barely slip in as you bared down in fear.
A soft groan escaped him, his head dropping to your throat. “Baby, you gotta relax for me.”
You whined in response, your body still wound up tight. You could feel him sigh into your throat before his hand lightly caressed your leg and made its way back to your core, his fingers returning to rubbing those firm circles into your throbbing clit. Almost immediately, your walls began to flutter around nothing at the sensual touch, your lips parting as you trembled in pleasure. And, before you knew it, he forced himself all the way in in one motion. A sharp cry left your mouth as you flung your arms around his neck, tears pricking in your eyes at the sudden flash of pain that invaded your senses.
Jungkook was shaking above you, his eyes screwed shut in pure ecstasy as he forced his hips to remain still.
Your teeth sunk into your bottom lip so hard you could taste your own blood on your tongue. You groaned in discomfort, your cheeks feeling wet as a few tears escaped. You felt incredibly full, so full that it hurt.
Jungkook’s eyes fluttered open, and upon seeing the tears streaked down your face he quickly tried to calm you. “It’s okay sweetheart, it’s okay.” He whispered, pressing kisses to each streak of tears.
“Doing so well for me,” He cooed, his fingers quickly circling around your clit once more to work you through your discomfort with pleasure. “Such a good girl.”
As soon as he felt you begin to relax around him, your hips jerking up into his touch, he began to pull his hips back and slowly slide back in at a frustratingly slow pace. His jaw clenched as he kept himself under control, restraining himself from abandoning all restraint and just railing you like he wanted to.
But, once he felt your hips rolling up into his with that sweet whine of your voice he couldn’t help himself. Before you knew it, his hands were laced with your own and pinned down to the mattress, his pace quickening as higher, breathy moans left his chest, his lips leaving hot, wet, kisses to your neck before he rose his head and connected your lips again.
You moaned into his mouth, surprising yourself at the sounds you were making. His tongue rolled over your lips and without restraint you parted your lips for him. A deep groan left his mouth as he curled his tongue against your own and pumped his length deep into you with a smooth pace. The only sounds filling the room were choked moans and the slap of skin against skin.
You were already getting closer, the prepping he had done earlier bringing you to this point, the knot in your stomach tightening with each brush of the head of his dick against that spot deep inside you. Your legs tightened around his waist, your fingers gripping his own tightly as he filled you so good. Your walls were clamping down tightly around him, the feeling just far better than you had expected it to be.
You could do this, you could use this to your advantage.
One particularly hard thrust had you crying out against the wet, puffy flesh of his lips. You were sure tomorrow both of you would look like a wreck. Jungkook freed his hand from yours, returning to the soft bundle of nerves that begged for his touch. You cried out at the feeling of his length thrusting in and out of your wet core and his dexterous fingers rubbing firmly into you.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He rambled, snapping into you harder and harder as he felt your warm walls begin to tremble around him. You were going to cum, he could tell.
“Come on, sweetheart. Show me how good I was, cum all over my cock for me like the good girl I know you are.” He panted into the shell of ear, pressing down harder and fucking into your pliant body faster than before, drawing sharp cries of pleasure from you that you couldn’t keep in any longer.
“Cum for me, please cum for me.” He was practically begging you, you could feel his length twitch inside of you. He was on the edge just like you were, but he wanted you to let go before he did.
And you did. With a loud cry your back arched, pressing your chest up into his own as you wrapped your legs tightly around his waist. Pleasure shot straight from your core and all throughout every nerve of your body, your walls fluttering helplessly around him. You could feel his thrusts become less paced and more frantic, his eyes clenched shut as he chased his release. And the feeling of you tightening so painfully around him was enough to do him in. With a loud moan he sunk his teeth into your shoulder, his hips working himself into you as he came in spurts, your body flinching at the unfamiliar feeling as you tried to catch your breath.
He whined as he continued to come, filling you up with each pump of his cock. His hips were shuddering with each thrust until he finally fell limp against you.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” He mumbled, pressing lazy, wet kisses to your already marked up skin. He still hadn’t removed himself from you and you twitched still from the aftershocks of your orgasm. You feel his cum and his cock still inside you, like he was trying to stop any of it from dripping out.
“I love you, baby.”
~~~~~~~
When you woke up the next day you were incredibly sore and wrapped up in Jungkook’s embrace. You were sweating, you noticed. Even in his sleep his grip was unrelenting, strong, and inescapable.
You had hoped after the wedding his parent’s would have finally left, but that was far from the truth. They were still there, and each week you waited for them to come and tell you and Jungkook that they were ready to go home. You wanted them to leave, but another part of you was still deeply worried for his mother. Her behavior had returned to what you knew, she smiled often, she gushed over her husband, and she coddled her son. There was no sight of the woman you had seen the night of your wedding.
The only reminder you had of your encounter, was the birth control stashed safely behind the dresser in the room that was never used. You snuck in there every day at the same time to take them in secret.
When your period came a few short weeks after your wedding, Jungkook was visibly upset. He didn’t say anything but you knew what he was thinking. He was hoping the various times you had sex between the wedding and your period would have you fall pregnant. He pouted about it, but simply remarked that the two of you would have to try more. He took care of you, bringing you chocolate snacks, heating pads, and plenty of cuddling. Although you never asked for that last part.
You thought you were going to be safe, that this was the one thing you could get away with this time. It only took a few weeks for everything to fall apart.
You were in the shower when the shouting started. You paused for a moment, tilting your head in the direction of the bathroom door. It was a male who was shouting, but over the sound of the water you couldn’t tell who it was. It was the loud shattering that spurred you into action. In seconds you turned the water off and frantically dried your body, throwing on a hoodie and some sweatpants.
You swung the door open and walked and quietly as you could down the hallway. The yelling was coming from the kitchen. You pressed yourself against the wall and peered into the room.
It was Jungkook’s father screaming at his mother. It looked like she had been making dinner, various pots settled on the stove as well as a kettle. There were ceramic shards littering the floor, you could only assume a plate had been thrown.
“Don’t you fucking lie to me, you are the only person in this house who could have done this!” He screamed, slamming down a container onto the counter causing his wife to flinch back in fear.
It was your birth control.
“You really thought I wouldn’t figure it out? It was a little strange that she was going in there every day at the same time wasn’t it?” He asked, his voice deathly calm. His wife didn’t respond, her gaze pinned to the floor.
“Fucking answer me!” He screamed, whipping another plate at the wall right beside her head and shattering it into pieces.
“It was strange.” She echoed, her eyes glazing over.
“Don’t play games with me, I know damn well she didn’t get them, Jungkook didn’t, and neither did I. If you want your punishment to be easier than tell me the goddamn truth right now.” He snapped.
She was already gone, her mind somewhere else as he screamed at her. You couldn’t stop the torrent of tears from rushing down your face as you witnessed her shutting herself off. Years of toture had made her good at dissociating.
The first hit is what broke you. Without thinking you ran right in between the two of them, wrapping your arms around her as the two of you fell to the ground, cries of pain bursting from your mouth at each hit you endured. He was ruthless, his anger quickly being directed at you. Each punch and kick to your body bringing new blossoms of pain. You stayed firm, your body wrapping around hers to stop the torrent of attacks from reaching her. You could do it for her.
You felt fingers weave into your hair, pulling you sharply to the ground and causing you to cry out. You struggled as he began to drag you away from Jungkook’s mother by your wet tresses, he was heading to the deck. You had no doubt in your mind he was going to take you outside, torture you, murder you, and dipose of you.
“Jungkook!” You screamed, thrashing around desperately. “Jungkook! Help!”
You never called out to him for help, never. And that was why he came so quickly. The minute he entered the kitchen his demeanor completely flipped. His eyes settled on his mother, her body laid limp to the floor as she gazed off into nothing. And then he found you, your body being dragged and his father's hand knotted in your hair with marks littering your face. He suddenly reminded you of the Jungkook that took you the first night. His eyes were pitch black and the anger was bubbling just under the surface.
Your head fell as his father released your hair and you quickly began to scoot back and away from him. You settled yourself in the corner, lifted Jungkook’s mother into your embrace and held her tight.
As soon as the two of you were safe, he snapped. He grabbed his father by the neck and threw him to the ground, the two of them devolving into a writhing mass of punches and kicks. You could see instantly that Jungkook was going to win, there were no doubts in your mind about that. He had his father pinned quickly and was beating the ever loving shit out of him.
“How fucking dare you!” He was yelling, his face red as he repeatedly laid into him, each hit becoming more brutal than the one before. “How dare you hit my wife! My mother! Fuck you!” He screamed, letting out every ounce of rage he had been holding in.
You could hear the kettle begin to whistle in the background, the pitch slowly rising as your pulse thrummed strongly. You couldn’t take your eyes away from the sight before you, you didn’t know if Jungkook was going to be able to calm down. He was enraged.
His father was laying still underneath him, his face bloodied and the only sign of him being alive the rise and fall of his chest. Jungkook finally stopped, sniffing as he rolled off of his father, his knuckles split and covered in blood. But he had stopped far too soon. His father suddenly lurched, dragging him to the ground and wrapping his hands tightly around his son’s throat.
You watched in shock, Jungkook’s body squirming as he tried to escape, his eyes darting around to try and find you. And, for some reason you don’t exactly know, you reached onto the counter, wrapped your fingers around a knife and slid it across the floor into his waiting hand.
You snapped your eyes shut as you began to hear the loud grunts of pain from his father each time the knife struck his body. You held Jungkook’s mother close, your hands covering her eyes so there would be no chance of her seeing. The kettle was whistling painfully loud, your heart beating violently as you listened to what was happening.
And soon, silence fell over the room. You opened your eyes and watched as Jungkook pushed the lifeless corpse of his father to the floor. He rolled over and looked at you, his face, neck, and hands coated in thick, wet, blood. He was shaking as he came down from his adrenaline high. He dropped the knife from his grip, tears suddenly pouring from his doe eyes as he crawled across the floor to you and his mother.
Loud, pained sobs wracked his chest as he threw himself at you, crying into your neck as he held you tightly.The scent of blood was thick in the air, the sticky, crimson fluid staining your skin as he gripped you tightly to him. He was inconsolable, sobbing like a child as he refused to let you move.
There was a corpse in the room, copious amounts of blood, Jungkook, you, and his mother.
You raised your hand and gently began to stroke his hair, curling your arms around his shaking, blood soaked body. You lightly pressed a kiss to the top of his head in an attempt to soothe him, rocking him back and forth.
“It’s okay, Jungkook. It’s okay.”
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