#I'm sorry I implied someone with trauma can lie like why are you so caught up with that like im sorry the nurse cared?

[sweetandslumber]

LITREALLY why are you still at this😭😭 Swear you just love yapping at me at this point You think I'm an embarrassment? Fine I will never see you , you dont know me you are in online presence whose words mean nothing to me for real💆🏾‍♀️. I'm not expecting respect from some online stranger like??. Be rude all you want I don't care its I don't need any convincing but if you wanna reblog and throw more insults just know theyre falling on deaf ears😘

Now go back to your pedo fetish supporting mutual.

pro choicers will be like "this woman got arrested for having a miscarrige look what pro lifers have caused" When in reality said woman is actually being arrested for abuse of a corpse because funnily enough the law actually sees the unborn as people so if you have a miscarrige and decide to bury that child in your garden or flush them down the toilet without telling the authorities you will obviously get in trouble

[truths33k3r4]

How would you say Lotus’ relationship is growing with the brothers?

I'M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG FOR ME TO RESPOND TO-

I was on vacation and away from my precious computer with all my lovely files and sketches on it, so I had to wait till I got home to answer-

ANYWAYS! To your question!

Ooooh hehe this is gonna be another long one~ STRAP IN HAHA!

(Before I begin I'm going to give a little warning, because this is, technically, discussing spoilers of my story! You have been warned!)

(TW- mention of ptsd, needles, medical phobias, implied experimentation, trauma)

Lotus begins her time with the brothers pretty... rough. She's hurt, afraid, and continually fighting to keep control of her emotions and ptsd. She attempts (at first) to cover this up by speaking with more confidence than she truly has. She's blunt with her words, never allowing someone to misunderstand her. But her honesty becomes troublesome as Mikey becomes more curious about what happened to her. He constantly asks questions, and in order to keep from scarring the younger turtle, she vigilantly censors and blurs her answers.

It helps that Mikey has been in the Medbay so many times himself. Many of Lotus' triggers lie in that medicinal room, and Mikey quickly learns this. It doesn't quite make sense to him at first why she's so scared. He's been sat down on that exam table more times than he can count, but any time fear tried to show its ugly mug, the love and gentleness of his oldest brother's care pushed it back into the shadows.

To Lotus, Mikey looks and acts about the same age as she might be, so she feels a natural sibling comradery with him. It takes some time for her to finally open up to him, (again, for fear that she will legit BREAK THIS POOR BOY), but his gentle encouragement eventually pulls the last brick of her crumbling walls loose.

~

Lotus and Don share many similarities: Their lack of patience for any kind of stupidity, their shared mentality of logic over emotion, and especially~ the reason of their work ethic.

Don is the only brother who has a "human" job. He works in IT, helping customers with their computers, files, softwares, etc. He has put this large responsibility of a full-time, remote job on his shoulders so he can be of more use to his family. Sure, he takes care of the various leaks and loose screws (his brothers) around their home, but it never feels like it's enough. God gave him a brain- so he better put it to good use! Like a rusted piece of an engine, you're only so useful for so long, and can easily be replaced if a better substitute comes along.

Lotus, (after recovering enough to stand and walk on her own again), quickly tries to find a chore she can do for the family that took her in. They went out of their way to take her into their home; giving her a bed to sleep in, real food to eat, and a warmth in her heart she never dreamed of feeling.

Their grace will never be wasted on her.

After finding that she was still too weak to do most of the chores around the lair, she defeatedly went to Don for advice on what she could do. They brainstormed for some time. Don would click and clack on his computer, jotting down all the possible choices for her, until one in particular caught Lotus' attention.

BAKING.

With his thorough understanding of chemistry, as well as years of watching and helping Splinter as a child, Don was the perfect teacher for her. After his shift ended, he and Gliss, (his nickname for Lotus), went into the kitchen and baked an array of strudels, croissants, cakes, and many other delectable treats. Don would even sneak a few pastries from their load of "stale" baked goods from the bakery down the street, to use as reference for techniques on folding, braiding, and so forth. They would also get some good ninja practice in while fending off Don's thieving brothers from their sweet treats.

(Here's some old concept art of a later scene of Don and Lo on the rooftops) :)

~

Lotus and Raph don't always see eye to eye. In fact- they fight. A lot. Like Don, Lotus is also extremely similar to her fiery brother. Their boldness and tempers mix violently, creating a flaming whirlwind of spite and annoyance in a matter of seconds. Neither will usually back down, often leaving that particular responsibility to someone else. Their arguments can range from a long and low-flickering rivalry, to a raging inferno that will swallow both of them up if not stopped.

However, the worst of enemies can also become the closest of friends.

When Lotus begins having horrible side affects of her treatments, (or lack thereof), she vigilantly tries to keep her sickness hidden. (She can NOT be a burden to the family that took her in- not EVER) Raph is one of the first, (alongside Leo), who catches on to what she's keeping hidden from them. When all is revealed, and arguments begin, Lotus finally breaks about her guilt of being a burden to her the family. Raph recognizes this guilt as the same in his own heart from years of being an enemy of one of his brothers. This connection of weakness bonds the two.

Over time, they learn to respect the other's opinions and feelings, no matter if they make sense or not. The specific Bible verse "A fool uttereth all his words, but a wise man keepeth them in" is continually referenced by their brothers on the road to their relationship's recovery.

Curt replies and snide remarks become clarifications and encouragement.

Competition becomes humility.

Rivalry becomes tenderness.

Eventually, Lotus is often found chilling alongside Raph in Don's office while the freckled brother works. Lotus loves to watch Raph sketch in his notebook, and Raph soon learns to allow the subtle scrutiny, so long as he gets to spend time with his sis and twin. Their passion and creativity blend into something beautiful when they come together to create a very important mural.

(More concept art- and also something else the two share.. A fear of needles. :( )

~

Lotus and Leo's relationship begins pretty badly at first.

After the dreaded surgery gone wrong, Leo becomes more nervous and hesitant around Lo. His guilt of what went wrong during the surgery being his fault drives him to be extra cautious around her, trying not to bring up anything that will trigger her in any sort of way.

Lotus both appreciates it and hates it. She loves his care for her, but she despises being coddled in any kind of way. She isn't some delicate flower that will blow away with one sneeze. She also becomes more hesitant to be near him, (not just because he works in that awful room), always choosing to hang out with Mikey or the twins.

Leo can't blame her.

When Lotus begins having tense side affects to her treatments in the labs, Leo and Raph combine forces to get her to tell them when she's sick. "I'm fine" is no longer a liable answer to how she was feeling. Nope- they demanded descriptive and thorough answers.

The road of Lotus' recovery is a long and tedious one.

Every second spent in the Medbay filled Lotus' heart with the paralyzing chill of her past. And despite previously forgiving Leo for the surgery gone wrong, she still had a stubborn spark of distrust in her heart towards him. Especially when he treated her.

But after an exhausting few months, she slowly grows stronger and healthier. Her Medbay visits become less frequent, (much to her delight), and her independence finally is given the chance to bloom. Leo still catches himself coddling her, but always cuts himself off and dismisses his oldest brother protective instincts.

Over time Leo introduces her to one of his favorite past times~ puzzles while listening to music. Something simple, that didn't require too much brain work, and also could be done sitting down. It was the perfect mental getaway for the leader; Something so calm and relaxing that he could do to recover from a mission or a stressful day in the Medbay. (And of course he could organize every single puzzle piece and not get flack for it, because that is LITERALLY HOW you do a puzzle, and it is NOT WRONG to enjoy the organization process of shapes and colors~)

So whenever they weren't training, or off saving the small world of New York, Lotus and Leo would sit and hum to various soundtracks, while placing and organizing the puzzle pieces.

Okay, that's all I have for now! :) I have been writing this for two hours now heheh XD

Thanks for the question, Anon!!

To God be the glory!

~ Melissa

[angellesword]

YOUR EYES TELL | JJK (08)

Summary: You live in a world where people see in black and white. The solution to finally see the colors? It's simple. You need to meet your soulmate and look at him in the eyes, but what if the person bound to you is already contented with the monochromatic world? What if...Jeongguk, your soulmate, is already in love with someone else?

Alternatively:

"A future without you is a world without color."

Genre: soulmate au, e2l, slow burn, angst, fluff, roommate au

Pairing: Artist!Jungkook x Lawyer!Reader

Word Count: 3.6k

Series: CHAPTER 7 | CHAPTER 9

warnings: unrealistic court happenings i am not a lawyer ok mention of physical abuse, drinking problems, child trauma, mental illness, and infidelity. I want to build a whole new world in this fic that’s why i also didn’t research about divorce trials I’m sorry. OC is kind of annoying/disappointing in this chapter (?) or not (?) Young Choi Soobin of TXT is the kid in this chapter’s moodboard

Jeongguk was the ex-boyfriend Red was talking about.

You figured this out when you were at Seokjin's party. Frankly, the way your soulmate was looking at Red was already a giveaway, but then you had to confirm it yourself.

The only way to do that was to either confront Jeongguk or your assistant.

You chose neither and it was because you were afraid to hear what they would or wouldn't say. This being said, you resorted to your last option.

"Come on..." It was hard to sit on the floor when you're wearing a damn long dress, but this didn't stop you from rummaging through Red's personal things.

It's the middle of the night. You left Jeongguk at your apartment right after he reached his high.

You just wanted to teach him a lesson for being a brat. He was always so rude to you and you honestly thought that he was just in denial��that soon enough, he would realize that you two were really destined to be together.

Apparently, that wasn't going to happen.

You went to your office at one in the morning just to find something that would verify your speculation. You got what you wanted. The photograph of Jeongguk kissing your assistant confirmed it.

Your tears fell.

You didn't know why you felt betrayed. It wasn't like they wanted this. They hadn't done anything wrong. Fate was just cruel. Why didn't you meet Jeongguk first? You couldn't blame him for falling in love with Red—she was sweet, beautiful, and smart. Anyone would definitely like her, so you had no choice but to swallow the lump in your throat and accept this.

You just had to pretend like everything was alright.

It wasn't.

The divorce trial was near and there were still so many things you had to fix. Work was seriously draining the hell out of you and it wasn't like Jeongguk was helping. He was actually adding up to the stress you were feeling.

Jeongguk was giving you the silent treatment and no—it wasn't the type of silence you were used to. Before Seokjin's party, your soulmate was quiet, but not really. He would occasionally huff to let you know that he was annoyed at you. He would also stamp his feet and slam the door just to spite you.

You didn't mind. You knew he was just being a brat; however, things were different now.

After the night of Seokjin's party, Jeongguk changed. He was eerily silent, always avoiding eye contact with you.

You tried talking to him. Regrettably, you were only greeted by stillness.

"You want pizza, Gukkie?"

Nothing.

"Have you watched the latest episode of Start-up?"

Still nothing.

"Did you have a good sleep?"

Nope. Nothing. Nada.

"Wanna make out on the couch?"

Jeongguk's head jolted to your direction. His eyes were wide, cheeks turning crimson because of your bold statement.

"Hey!" You giggled, clearly happy with his reaction. "You finally looked at me!"

Jeongguk shook his head and then he went straight to his room.

You were unbelievable.

You pouted your lips, giving up. You had a feeling that he would come around.

He did. Days later, Jeongguk surprised you when he stood right in front of the door of your apartment. He was blocking your way out.

"Gukkie, I'm going to be late." You sighed. He reminded you of Miri, your cat that's always trying to stop you from leaving.

"You can't leave." His jaw clenched.

You let out a breath once again.

"Don't do this please. Mr. Kim needs me,"

The trial was happening today. You needed to run down a few things with your client before you go to the court room.

"You just don't get it, do you?" Jeongguk folded his arms over his chest.

You stared at him.

"I don't get what?" It was hard to keep your composure when the thing you had been trying to avoid for so long was being rubbed in your face. You knew exactly what Jeongguk was implying.

"—that you want me to drop this case because you want Red all to yourself?"

Jeongguk froze. What was the point of staying silent when you always knew what was running inside his head?

You just always knew.

"You don't have to pretend that you care about Soobin's well-being. I have enough people doing just that," you slightly pushed Jeongguk to the side so that you could pass through the door.

Ah, people.

They're all the same, always trying to conceal their self-interest by pretending that they care for others.

You liked Jeongguk—actually; you were convinced you loved him. He was your soulmate after all, but sometimes love wasn't enough to just give into what he wanted.

This wasn't about your relationship. This was about Soobin's welfare. He's just a child. You were a lawyer who swore an oath to protect the oppressed and incapable. You were their voice.

It sounded cheesy, but this was the type of person you aspired to be. The world was already dark, it wouldn't hurt to be someone's light.

Jeongguk didn't understand your reasons. It was evident when he showed up in court to watch you defend Kim Seokjin.

At first, you thought your eyes were failing you. Was he really here? Was he really the man at the back of the room wearing that big hoodie?

It was him. The familiar scowl on his face said so. Jeongguk was the only person who looked at you like you had offended his whole family.

"All rise!"

You turned to your client upon hearing the bailiff's demand.

"It's going to be alright," assured by you.

Seokjin smiled. He was looking at Red instead of you. He needed the comfort of his soulmate.

Red grinned back. She wasn't worried. She trusted you. She was certain you would succeed. Soobin wasn't going to be taken away from his father.

The first few minutes of the trial went smooth. You had your story straight and with the way the judge was nodding; you instantly knew she was in favor of your side.

Unfortunately, things started to go ugly during the cross-examination of witnesses.

Jung Hoseok was the first one to take the stand. He was the expert witness.

"You are the marriage counselor of Mr. and Mrs. Kim for months now, right?"

"Yes." Hoseok answered the opposing counsel. It was weird seeing him this serious. Your friend was always grinning, but you told him to try to keep a neutral face. This way, the judge and the jury wouldn't know if he was caught off guard by the question of the other side's attorney.

"Mr. Jung, is it true that marriage counselors rarely suggest divorce to their clients?"

"Depends—" Hoseok bit his tongue. You told him to simply answer yes or no. Be responsive to the question and never explain. "I mean, yes."

"And yet here we are..." Ms. Choi, the opposing attorney, shrugged her shoulders.

"Objection!" You stood up. "Relevance?"

You didn't understand why Ms. Choi asked that question to Hoseok when she's just shrugging it off now.

"Sustained." The judge felt the same way.

Ms. Choi raised her hand as if surrendering.

"My bad. I'm just curious, you know? If Mr. Jung is indeed an effective counselor, then why did he suggest that the Kim couple push through the divorce?"

Ms. Choi was furrowing her brow at Hoseok.

"Isn't that true, Counselor Jung? You told Mrs. Kim that it's better to end her marriage with Mr. Kim?"

"Yes." The expert witness answered truthfully.

The opposing side's attorney smiled mockingly.

"It's because you feared for Mrs. Kim's safety, right?"

"What?" Jung Hoseok was lost.

"Come on, Mr. Jung you know exactly what I am talking about! You found out that Mr. Kim is an alcoholic and you are scared that he might harm Mrs. Kim and Soobin, right?" Ms. Choi pointed at the five year old kid who was busy coloring books in the far corner of the room. He was with Seokjin's mother.

"Objection, Your Honor! Compound question!" You glared at Ms. Choi.

"Sustained." The judge clenched her jaw. "Ms. Choi, separate your questions. You are misleading the jury..."

Ms. Choi was flustered, yet she still held her head high. She knew she had the upper hand here.

"Is Mr. Kim alcoholic, Mr. Jung?" She tried again.

Hoseok cleared his throat.

"He had a history of abusing alcohol years ago."

"And you know this because you're also a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, correct?"

"Yes..."

"And Mr. Kim Seokjin also told you about his issue with regard to alcohol abuse?"

"Yes." Hoseok swallowed hard.

There were papers that could attest to Hoseok's claim. This was a win for Mrs. Kim. You could see her growing sarcastic smile that was directed at Red.

You inhaled deeply.

"Mr. Jung, can you please tell us the rate of patients going through alcohol relapse?"

"Uh, it's sixty to ninety percent after the first year of treatment," answered by Hoseok.

"I see. How long has it been since Mr. Kim sobered up?"

"As far as I know, it has been three years."

"Huh." Ms. Choi crossed her arms. "So is there a possibility that Mr. Kim would experience an alcohol relapse?"

"Yes."

"What's the statistical probability, Mr. Jung?"

"About fifty percent high." Hoseok looked dejected. He wanted to help Seokjin win the case, but he couldn't lie.

"I see." Ms. Choi was smiling as if she had already won the case.

"Can you tell us now the effects of experiencing an alcohol relapse? Or a slip?"

Hoseok's palms were sweating. Slip was one episode of drinking alcohol after trying to stay sober. Relapse, on the other hand, was the return to unhealthy behavior. Slip wasn't always followed by a relapse.

Hoseok also explained that there were different stages of relapse. Emotional relapse could cause suppression of emotions, becoming more isolated, trying to blame other people, and aggression, especially when they were confronted. There's also mental and physical relapse which included glamorizing alcohol and compulsive desires to drink.

"No further questions, Your Honor." The corner of Ms. Choi's mouth turned up upon realizing that the jury was in favor of their side now.

You had to step up your game.

The next witness was Son Chae-young. She was Soobin's babysitter. Chae-young had been living with the Kims ever since Soobin was born. She's a witness testifying against Seokjin.

Chae-young cleared her throat when your eyes landed on her. She already felt uncomfortable because of the way you were looking at her.

The way you stand up—shoulder down, neck long—was intimidating.

"You have a really nice necklace, Ms. Son."

Chae-young flinched upon hearing your compliment. She was confused. Mrs. Kim and Attorney Choi told her that you were scary, this was evident by the way you present yourself, but then...the way your eyes light up made her feel at ease. Your voice was soft too.

"Ah...thanks," regardless of your sweet persona, Chae-young still couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Why were you looking at her as if she was important? As if you were here to protect and not cross-examine her?

"Is it from Cartier?"

"Yes!" The babysitter beamed at you as she touched her pretty jewelry.

You smiled warmly at her.

"Did you buy it yourself?"

"Objection! Relevance?" The opposing lawyer clenched her fist. She was shaking, causing you to smile bigger. Guess she knew what was coming to her, huh?

"I'm getting there, Your Honor," said by you. Your expression screamed confidence that the judge was compelled to believe you.

"Overruled."

You continued.

"So...Ms. Son, did you buy that necklace? Or is it a gift?"

"Uh..." Chae-young's lips trembled. She was looking at Mrs. Kim, as if she was asking for her boss' help. "I-I bought it for myself..."

"I see." You nodded. Humoring her. "Do you have any other job aside from babysitting Kim Soobin?"

The nanny shook her head.

"N-No. I'm a full-time nanny of Mrs. Kim's son." Chae-young's lips were still shaking; her eyes were quivering as well.

"Hm, interesting..." You went closer to the witness. "That means you're earning what? Two hundred fifty dollars a month?"

"Objection, Your Honor! I still can't see the relevance of this!" Ms. Choi was losing her mind.

You turned to glare at her.

"Can’t you really see the relevance of this or are you just scared?"

You heard the judge's hit the gavel; she was calling your attention.

"Get to the point right now." The judge demanded at you. It was this or your statement was going to be sustained.

"I am merely establishing my point, Your Honor." Your voice was rough. "The necklace Ms. Son is wearing is worth four thousand three hundred dollars. I know because I have the same necklace and it took me, a lawyer, months!" You paused for a while just to emphasize the word months, "to buy it."

You turned to Chae-young when the judge remained silent.

"So tell me, Ms. Son, how can a full-time nanny like you who's earning minimum wage buy that kind of luxurious jewelry? Huh?" You were standing too close to the witness so Attorney Choi used this as an opportunity to object.

"Your Honor, she is badgering the witness!"

"Overruled." But the judge wasn't having any of it. "Answer the question, Ms. Son."

"I'm sorry!" The nanny's face twisted in fear. "Mrs. Kim bought it for me—"

"It's a gift!" Mrs. Kim blurted out, unable to contain her anger anymore. God. She hated you. "I bought it for her last month! It's my birthday gift for her!"

You smirked. Attorney Choi was panicking. She was caressing Mrs. Kim's hand, telling her to calm down.

Sadly, Mrs. Kim could not be stopped.

"Why am I explaining to you when you have no right to question my intention! It's my money so I get to decide what to do with it!"

She was yelling at you and it almost made you laugh. Why was she so defensive?

"May I remind you that you are a married woman, Mrs. Kim? You have to consider your husband's decision when it comes to spending that amount of money." You said this while glancing at the jury.

Base on their expressions, you knew that they agreed with you. This was a win on your side. One of the valid reasons of Seokjin for wanting a divorce was this. Mrs. Kim didn't know how to manage their assets.

You weren't done, though. You had to discredit the witness. You had to win the jury's side in all aspects.

"And you said you bought it last month for Ms. Son's birthday?" You shook your head, focusing your eyes at the nanny.

"Tell us, Ms. Son, when is your birthday?"

Mrs. Kim's face became pale upon hearing your question.

"January seventeen...”

You turned your attention back to Mrs. Kim again.

"Your birthday present is many months late, Mrs. Kim. Either that or you're just lying to hide the fact that you gave Ms. Son the necklace in exchange of testifying against your husband—"

"Objection—"Attorney Choi tried to stop you, but you cut her off too.

"Isn't that right, Ms. Son? You are bribed by your boss to say that you always see Mr. Kim Seokjin drinking alcohol—"

"Your Honor—" The opposing attorney was losing control, her objections were drowning because of how loud your voice was.

"Mrs. Kim wants you to lie! To say that her husband isn't a good father! That he isn't a good influence to Soobin!"

"Yes!"

You stopped trying to pressure Chae-young because it already worked. She admitted the truth.

"Mrs. Kim bribed me!" The babysitter sobbed, looking at you like you were the Lord and she was a sinner.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I-I can't say no, please...please...I need this job!"

"You bitch!" Mrs. Kim abruptly stood up. She wanted to attack you; fortunately the security officers were able to stop her.

The jury was surprised to see Mrs. Kim's violent reaction. You, on the other hand, didn't even flinch.

You were used to this kind of scene. Besides, you couldn't get sidetracked. You still needed to prove your point.

And so you faced the jury.

"Is this the kind of person that you want to raise a sweet, innocent five year-old kid?"

One of the members of the jury clutched her chest. She was affected by what you had said. Truthfully, they were almost decided to grant the sole custody to Mrs. Kim; however, upon seeing the latter's behavior, the jury was having second thoughts now.

"Just look at her!" You pointed at Mrs. Kim who was still seething with rage.

"She constrained an adult! Imagine the bad things she could force Soobin to do! Mrs. Kim is a manipulator!" You raised your voice dramatically.

"My actions are nothing compared to what that asshole is doing!" Mrs. Kim screamed as she angrily pointed at her husband.

She was crying.

Kim Seokjin was quiet. He was shocked by your responses. He didn't expect you to be this bold. You were different from the lawyer he thought he knew.

You didn't have any limit. You didn't know when to stop just to prove a point.

"He's teaching my son that it's okay to be unfaithful to your wife! Jury, please!" Mrs. Kim was desperate. "Don't let him come near my son! He's a drunken bastard!"

The judge was hitting the gavel again. There were too much drama and unnecessary comments from Mrs. Kim.

You shook your head. You couldn't stop now. The jury was undecided. They changed their minds from time to time. You could see sympathy in their eyes as they looked at the wife.

"Mr. Kim Seokjin is sober! You should be ashamed of yourself, Mrs. Kim! You keep blaming your husband when you're the reason why he turned alcoholic in the first place—"

"Objection, Your Honor!" Attorney Choi glared at you. "The attorney is assuming facts!"

You disagreed before the judge could say sustained.

"Am I?" You smirked at the judge before turning to your table to get your evidence.

Seokjin looked at you nervously.

"Please tell me you're not doing what I think you're doing," groaned by your client.

You were blinded by your role as a lawyer, so you ignored Seokjin's plea.

"Don't do this..."

Seokjin was already too late.

"I have here the evidence that will prove that Mrs. Kim is the reason why her husband turned alcoholic."

You brought out the printed photos of Seokjin's beaten up face. Bruises, cuts, and other physical injuries were seen.

The jury gasped. Attorney Choi was groaning as she told the judge that these photos were not entered into evidence.

You were playing dirty, but so were they. Ms. Choi told you that they wouldn't bring Mr. Kim's sobriety issue in this court. She lied.

"These pictures are given to me by Mrs. Kim Sunghee, Seokjin's mother." You glanced at your client's mother.

"She knows that her son's wife was assaulting him. Seokjin didn't want to feel his wife's punches so he resorted to drinking the pain away. Mr. Kim just wants to be numb."

"N-No..." Your client's tears streamed down his cheeks. He was calling your name, begging you to stop.

It felt like everyone was begging you to stop; even Sunghee was shaking her head.

It was wrong. This was a mistake. Seokjin's mother realized this when Soobin began to cry. He was silently crying at first, but when the little boy saw the photos in your hand, he started hyperventilating.

"Appa!" Soobin's eyes dilated. He could barely breathe.

Mrs. Kim stood up to attend to her son.

"Soobin!" Mrs. Kim was wailing.

Things were becoming messy.

You didn't understand what was happening, so you just stood there.

"Appa! A-Appa is hurting!" Soobin was losing it; his eyes were rolling in the back of his head.

"Call 911!" Red shouted.

The noise was deafening.

You still didn't get what was happening.

Seokjin went near you.

"I told you not to do it!" He shouted, snatching the photos away from your shaky hands.

"This isn't about me or my wife!" Seokjin continued to scream at you.

You were stunned.

Your client was blaming you.

This is your fault! Seokjin said.

You were wrong. You didn't have to bring out these photos because apparently, Soobin knew.

He witnessed how his mom used to beat up his father.

The poor kid was traumatized.

He had to get some help.

His parents thought he had recovered.

It had been years.

The thing about trauma was, it never went away. It was there—silently sleeping and waiting for that one thing that would trigger it.

You triggered Soobin.

"I-I didn't know..." Your voice was low as you stated your excuse.

No one wanted to hear your lame excuse, not even Jeongguk.

You looked at your soulmate once.

You looked at him desperately.

You looked at him hoping that he would understand—like he would comfort you.

He would never.

Jeongguk had this look in his eyes, the kind of feeling that expressed disappointment.

Jeongguk was disappointed in you.

It was clear because right now, he was shaking his head as if you had done the most horrifying thing in the world.

He shook his head before leaving you all alone.

No one wanted to be with you.

You were a disgrace.

[lily00nies]

CHAPTER 2: A CATFISH

Pairing: Kim Taehyung x Jeon Jungkook

Contents: high school au, romance, fluff, angst, smut, enemies to lovers, fake relationship, implied/referenced sexual assault, trauma,

Word Count: 1.1k

Summary: It was well known that Taehyung was handsome, a heartthrob. The girls wanted him and the guys wanted to be him. He was so lovable and always emitting positive vibes, but when he returns to school after an unknown incident, everyone can tell that he's different in some way.

In spite of his efforts to maintain the same facade as last year, he ended up lying about aspects of his life for the sake of covering up the past.

“Yeah you’re right, I was just with my boyfriend all summer.”

[Chapter Index]

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Taehyung's face flushed even more when he heard those words, ‘my boyfriend?’. For a moment, he was convinced, but he knew it was just a ruse. But he must go ahead with his plan.

“Listen Jungkook, this might sound weird, but-”

As Taehyung stepped closer to him, he was pushed by people walking on the sidewalk from behind. It was unexpected, but before he could trip over and fall on his face, Jungkook had already caught him. Jungkook held him by the arms and looked down at him. While facing the man, Taehyung realized the position they were in, he then backed away quickly from him.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

“No, it’s fine, but are you okay?” Jungkook asked, and it was obvious he was worried, but Taehyung just thought he messed everything up. He couldn't look at Jungkook any more.

Taehynug nodded before walking to the side of the sidewalk where there weren't as many people and waved the man over. Jungkook obliged, and went over to where Taehyung was, still concerned for the younger.

“I know this is going to sound…weird, but please don’t be freaked out or something.”

Jungkook chuckled before shaking his head, “C’mon don’t be so worried. I can take it.”

Taehyung's stomach clenched in pain and a wave of nausea enveloped him as he thought of his whole plan going to pieces after telling Jungkook the truth. Initially, he thought it wouldn't be this difficult, but his body had other ideas.

He avoided eye contact with the male and looked up at his forehead instead, "So I need a favor...I guess you can call it that."

"A favor?"

As Taehyung pondered what to say, he relaxed his body back and forth while nodding his head slowly.

"Yeah. Long story short, I lied to my friend and now he thinks I'm dating someone....if you can, can you maybe go along with this whole…..facade?"

For a moment, he followed Jungkook's gaze and bore the expression he was portraying. While he could not completely understand what the male was thinking, he felt better knowing that he got that off his chest. It made him feel less like a liar.

"Why did you have to lie?" Jungkook asked out of curiosity.

Taehyung crossed his arms, "It’s none of your business, really."

Looking back at what he said, he felt that it came out wrong and a little too sassy. Originally he didn't intend to sound so defensive, but when he thought about his past decision to lie to Jimin, he felt that it was childish.

“J-just, please." Taehyung pleaded. At that moment, he couldn't bear to look at Jungkook. Following the cars as they passed by alongside him, he kept his eyes on the side of the road.

"What do I get out of this?"

"What do you mean?"

“What I mean is that I need something in return for going along with this silly plan.”

Jungkook's expression was one of unimpressed surprise when Taehyung saw him looking up at him. As he leaned back against the light pole that was fixed to the ground of the sidewalk he was on, his arms were crossed on top of his chest. Standing there, he looked at Taehyung for an answer.

Taking a step back, Taehyung pondered, “Wasn’t the money that I paid for this “date” enough?”

His comment was met with a chuckle and a shake of the head from Jungkook.

“Of course not. I don’t usually do these things when I go on these dates. Faking a relationship with someone I don’t know is extra pay. So, what’s it gonna be?”

Jungkook's tone was intimidating, and he quickly changed from the warm and kind man he had met just moments before to someone cold and intimidating.

Taehyung thought for a moment, “How much?”

Rather shrugging, Jungkook replied, "$30."

Astonished, Taehyung exclaimed, "$30!" and stared at Jungkook, waiting for him to explain it was a joke or that he was not expecting that much money out of him. Ultimately, Taehyung consigned himself to looking at each other, sighing in defeat.

"Fine, I-I'll Venmo you the money after.”

Jungkook perched a smile, however it was obvious to Taehyung that it was anything but genuine. Taehyung was interrupted by a loud scream from behind him before he could say anything else.

"Taehyungie!"

Immediately he could tell that it was Jimin and looked over at Jungkook before turning around, "Please don't mess this up for me." He whispered. Taehyung could see Jimin running over to both of them, bumping into other people as he did so. Suddenly, Jungkook grabbed hold of his shoulder and pulled him back so that they were standing next to each other. In surprise, Taehyung jumped when he wrapped his arm around his waist. Jungkook leaned in closer to Taehyung's ear and whispered back, "I should say the same for you. You're so stiff so loosen up and act like you love me."

“`Seeing how you really are, I think that would be difficult.”

Jungkook snickered in response before rolling his eyes. Taehyung followed suit, and before he knew it, Jimin was standing before him looking at the two of them with sparkles in his eyes.

"Hey J-"

"You guys look so good together." Jimin interjected, "You're making me jealous."

Taehyung could only laugh nervously before Jungkook stepped into the conversation.

"You must be Taehyung's friend?” Jimin immediately nodded and grabbed a hold of Jungkook's hand before shaking it. "Yes, yes I am! And you must be…"

"Jeon Jungkook."

“Right! Tae has told me all about you."

Jungkook chuckled and looked over at Taehyung who only kept his head low, “Did he really?”

It was only Taehyung who could look at his feet, feeling embarrassed and a little bit uncomfortable, and felt Jungkook's arm tighten around his waist. It was an odd feeling though, because he felt butterflies in his stomach. However, he didn't know why he felt that way. Jungkook, of course, is a beautiful man, anybody can see that. Despite this, Taehyung can tell that Jungkook is really a douchebag.

"H-how about we talk more about this inside!” He explained.

Though he wasn't fully aware of what he was getting himself into, he did know that if he continued this facade, it would be a long ride. Perhaps it would have been better to tell Jimin the truth, or perhaps say that he and Jungkook broke up a few days later. There were so many scenarios he could imagine in his mind, but all that mattered was making sure he got through this date with the man who is totally different from his profile.

'He totally catfished me...'

[prettyvintageafternoon]

@sweetandslumber

Also, I didn't miss those hashtags from your latest reblog, so I'm gonna respond to those.

Here's a screenshot of what you wrote:

"#I'm sorry I implied someone with trauma can lie like why are you so caught up with like im sorry the nurse cared?"

Two issues with this.

1. You didn't just say people with trauma can lie. That is not what's being disputed here. You implied that Brittany Watts could have lied. Big difference. You were talking about one particular person and you were wrong about what you said. Brittany didn't lie about anything. She had a miscarriage in her home, went to the hospital and then a nurse called the police on her. Brittany did not do anything wrong. You, someone who claims to care about black woman and black babies, we're intentionally trying to cast doubt on this lady's experience.

2. You, as a fellow black woman, saying that a nurse "cared" and that's why she called the authorities on this lady, who came to the hospital because she was hemorrhaghing from a miscarriage is insane. You're more willing to defend a medical professional after she called the police on a black patient for something she couldn't control. That's the argument you're going with. Yet, in the same breath, you say that Brittany Watts shouldn't have been arrested. Which is it?

"#Thinking Brittany shouldn't have been arrested while also agreeing that her home should have been inspected to ensure she wasn't keeping a five month old miscarries baby at home is normal"

Um...no. Saying someone shouldn't have been arrested for "abuse of a corpse" after miscarrying, but also saying their home should be inspected to ensure they aren't keeping biohazardous fetal remains is not normal. Unless you plan to check the toilet of every woman who has miscarried at home - which is common since pregnancy loss happens to as many as 1 in 4 women in the United States, you don't have a coherent argument.

And if you do plan to investigate the large amount of women who miscarry away from the hospital, what is the protocol for women who miscarry into public toilets - which everyone can use? I imagine there are women who are impoverished, especially those who engage in prostitution to survive, who also experience unplanned pregnancies and miscarry. Should the police interrogate them if they miscarry in a motel or airport bathroom?

Some women like to bury their miscarried fetuses on their properties for personal and/or religious purposes. Do you support having authorities, who have found out that a woman had a miscarriage, come into her home and demand to know where she buried her fetus?

There is no federal standard for burying miscarried fetal remains, because of the legal precedent that can be set as a result. There also is no legal line separating abortion from miscarriage, nor is there a medical difference between a miscarriage and an abortion - as some women have to take abortion medication to safely finish a miscarriage so that the fetus doesn't break down inside of them and make them sick. They have to remove all the decomposing contents from their uterus.

People like you do not take these things into account when suggest things like "inspections of people's homes" after they have a miscarriage.

pro choicers will be like "this woman got arrested for having a miscarrige look what pro lifers have caused" When in reality said woman is actually being arrested for abuse of a corpse because funnily enough the law actually sees the unborn as people so if you have a miscarrige and decide to bury that child in your garden or flush them down the toilet without telling the authorities you will obviously get in trouble