#Jin-ah is worried for her brother | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rosethornewrites · 5 months ago

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Fic: this body yet survives, ch. 17

Relationship: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn

Tags: No War AU, Recovery, Trauma, Dissociation, Courtship, Courting Rituals, Near Death Experiences, Attempted Murder, Eventual Happy Ending, Panic Attacks, Vomiting, Siblings, Protective Siblings, Soup, Triggers, Protective Lan WangJi, Protective Lán Qǐrén, Yúnmèng Siblings Dynamics, Bad Parent Yú Zǐyuān, POV Third Person, POV Lan WangJi, reference to poisoning, reference to assassination, Reference to chronic illness, reference to infanticide, Depression, Minor Injuries, Painting, Gift Giving, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn Has a Fear of Dogs, Good Sibling Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín, Good Sibling Jiāng Yànlí, BAMF Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jealous Su She | Su Minshan, Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian Protection Squad

Summary: Birthdays and brotherhoods.

Notes: See end.

Parts 1 & 2

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

AO3 link

——————

Wei Ying’s birthday celebration was low-key, celebrated with Wen Ning, Wen Qing, and Nie Huaisang, who had bullied his brother until he was allowed to visit the Cloud Recesses for it under the care of a steward of the sect. The Nie heir showed up as they ate a late lunch and insisted on eating with them, even pulling out packages of food he’d purchased in town to supplement the lunch Jiang Yanli made.

Nie Huaisang pouted when he learned that Wei Ying was swearing brotherhood again with someone not him, and was only appeased by the offer to swear brotherhood with him as well.

It was appropriate, as the numerology of a two person brotherhood was “easy,” and Lan Wangji imagined such a brotherhood would be easy for Wei Ying. Similarly, a three-person brotherhood with the Wens was apt, with one aspect of the numerology being “health,” given Wen Qing was Wei Ying’s doctor.

A four-person brotherhood was unlucky, sounding like and associated with death, and out of the question.

Off and on all afternoon while they all visited, Jiang Yanli cooked up a feast to serve for dinner. Wei Ying successfully ate his longevity noodles without breaking them. The time passed quickly, with Wei Ying contributing to the conversations and even initiating them, so much more comfortable around people than he had been, and this was blessedly a good day.

By hai shi he was falling asleep, used to the Lan schedule now, and the Wens excused themselves, leaving a gift of copies of rare books on talismans from the Wen library.

“Unc—Uncle thought you might… might enjoy them,” Wen Ning said, clearly happy with Wei Ying’s enthused response.

“No other library in the jianghu has these books,” Wen Qing added. “He fully expects that you’ll build on these to create worthwhile talismans. Write a book yourself—you have the talent.”

Wei Ying could only blush at her kind words, if delivered brusquely.

“Ah, Qing-jie, I knew you liked me!”

“You grow on people like mold,” she sniffed, rolling her eyes, and Wei Ying laughed.

Nie Huaisang gave more art supplies, including some gold leaf paint he picked up in Lanling.

“I want to commission you more, once you finish Wen-zongzhu’s. I still use the fan you painted for me,” he added, brandishing the fan proudly. “Oh, I wonder if the Nie library has books on talismans? I should ask Dage!”

“Most sects do,” Wei Ying said, his voice a bit distant.

The Jiang had only had his contributions, Lan Wangji had learned, which had been sent with him to Gusu. And now Yunmeng had none.

Lan Wangji worried he might close off, but he shook off the dark emotions quickly as Jiang Yanli pushed a segment of orange into his hand, knowing the smell and taste would help.

“I have some fruit we can enjoy,” she said, distracting everyone effectively as Jiang Wanyin brought in a tray.

Nie Huaisang demurred and excused himself. Jiang Yanli and Lan Wangji kept fruit on Wei Ying’s plate until he protested that he was full.

He had handled having guests well, and Lan Wangji was proud of his fortitude, knowing only weeks ago, with all the stress, he may not have been able to endure. He would still sometimes struggle, but Lan Wangji would be there to help him when he needed it.

After they left, Lan Wangji gifted Wei Ying the blanket he had commissioned, the topside embroidered with panels of the seasons, topped by mountains and clouds, with romantic symbols like a pair of mandarin ducks, butterflies, and two dragons, as well as auspicious ones meant to show how he saw Wei Ying, including a tiger for his bravery and the Four Plants of Virtue. The blanket contained replaceable sachets scented orange and cinnamon so he might feel safe as well as warm. It was also large enough for their marital bed, a reminder that made Lan Wangji’s ears hot with a mixture of anticipation and excitement at his own audacity.

“I’ll use it tonight, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said softly after examining the scene. “It smells so good.”

“It’s beautiful, Wangji,” Jiang Yanli added, wrapping it around Wei Ying’s shoulders.

He was permitted to hug Wei Ying under the keen eyes of their chaperones before Jiang Wanyin shooed him out, citing his brother’s exhaustion.

Lan Wangji dreamt of holding him that night, just holding him close so he would feel safe and warm.

The next day they learned the disciples sent out found the hole-riddled body of Su She, which they took to Caiyi for a pauper’s burial, though the Cloud Recesses was closer—the man had backtracked for an attempt at revenge. The disciples had decided collectively (and correctly) that he should not be interred in the Lan compound after his transgressions. They had performed “Inquiry” to be sure his spirit didn’t linger; it didn’t, Su She being mediocre even at resentment.

Lan Wangji was relieved—the curse had no additional culprit, only a known actor. Wei Ying just sighed and shook his head, but he was clearly relieved not to have to worry about the vicious little man any longer. None of his co-conspirators were found with him, so he likely acted alone. Scouts found that the others had split up and largely already left Gusu, one already joining a remote temple to serve Guanyin, a good outcome out of a bad situation.

The news was balanced out by the swearing of brotherhood, first with the Wen siblings, and then with Nie Huaisang. They all skipped the banquet, but the kitchen insisted on sending a small one to the Jiang guest house to give Jiang Yanli a break from cooking. She was embarrassed, and insisted she didn’t need one, but it was good for her to be able to rest.

They provided more than simply Lan fare, having brought dishes from Qishan and Qinghe into the banquet, and Lan Wangji noticed Wei Ying stuck to those dishes, particularly enthused by a spicy soup dish Wen Qing identified as hulatang and a Qinghe specialty with braised chestnuts and pork. Also included were hot dry noodles popular in Yunmeng, among other dishes from that area.

He wondered if Jiang Yanli would teach him to prepare his favorites, as he had no desire to make Wei Ying eat what he did not enjoy, and resolved to ask her.

The beginning of the meal was silent, and involved tasting the various dishes, from mutton-stuffed baozi to yangrou paomo to pearl meatballs. Sweeter dishes included rose mirror cakes, tofu jelly, and red date soft candy. The spread was incredible in its array of flavors, and Lan Wangji found himself deviating from the traditional Lan fare in favor of some of them. It didn’t take too long for conversation to pick up as they ate.

Nie Huaisang made sure to point out that Wei Ying was his didi based on age.

“After all, it was my third time at the lectures and only your first when we met,” he said jovially.

“You just want me to call you Gege, Nie-xiong.”

“Of course!” he said, without shame. “And you get an extra gege with Dage! He really respects you.”

They were wonderfully distracted, speaking of happier days past, of the summer of their adolescence that had brought them together. Had brought Wei Ying into Lan Wangji’s life, tearing through his boundaries with his beautiful smile.

Again, Wei Ying handled having guests well, though he looked apologetically relieved when the Wen siblings excused themselves early, citing their plan to begin their travels back to Nightless City the next morning.

“I’m happy you came to celebrate with me, Didi,” Wei Ying said. “I didn’t expect you at all!”

“Shu… Shushu asked that it b-be kept secret in case I could… couldn’t.”

Nie Huaisang stayed only a bit longer, and Lan Wangji didn’t miss the surreptitious passing of a qiankun pouch, which undoubtedly contained more spring books.

“I’m so glad you look well; much better than my last visit,” the Nie heir said, patting Wei Ying’s arm. “I can’t stay longer—Meng Yao is my escort and he’s Dage’s right-hand man, so we need to get back to Qinghe.”

Wei Ying smiled at him, the pouch disappearing into his robes.

“I’m glad you came, Sang-ge, and I’m glad I can call you ge now.”

“Me too, Didi. You deserve more family, and now you almost have us in all the major sects,” he replied with a smile. “Except the Lan, but your future husband is here.”

He excused himself to return to his guest quarters.

“You do deserve more family, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli echoed after his departure. “More people to support you.”

Lan Wangji stayed until shortly before hai shi, when Wei Ying was visibly drooping from the busy and emotional day.

They saw their visitors off at the front gate the next day, and the next several weeks were spent in peace. The family held a small private celebration for Jiang Wanyin’s birthday, and Lan Wangji gifted him stationery to write with, including new, decent-quality brushes. Xiongzhang and Shufu gifted him a weiqi set and a book about historical sect leaders, respectively. Wei Ying found a book involving lotus farming at the Caiyi bookseller during one of their trips, and gifted that without reading it, unsure whether it was a guide, novel, or book of poetry—Jiang Wanyin hid it away in a qiankun bag immediately for Wei Ying’s comfort, and would only find out when he returned to Lotus Pier.

“It doesn’t matter—if it’s about lotuses you need to read it,” Wei Ying said. “You’ll be sect leader, after all.”

The auger provided Shufu with a list of auspicious dates, and one was chosen for after the new year, the soonest available. Lan Wangji was more excited than he could properly express—not only would Wei Ying be his husband, joining him in the Jingshi permanently, but he would be safer with the title of Lan-er-furen. It was title Lan Qiren had mentioned could be altered as it had not been used in more than a generation, but Wei Ying had insisted upon it happily and proclaimed he would fulfill the appropriate role with its associated responsibilities.

Lan Wangji’s ears were hot for quite some time at the implied sexual connotation, which Wei Ying didn’t seem to know he had made.

Wedding invitations were written, with the hiccup that it was not possible to avoid inviting Jiang Fengmian for political reasons, though Yu Ziyuan’s ban from the Cloud Recesses would stand. Lan Wangji knew it was because he was a high-ranking member of the Lan clan and thus his marriage was considered a major event, and he hated it.

“You don’t have to serve him tea,” Wei Ying said softly, trying to soothe him, he was so good. “He will just be a guest and we don’t have to talk to him. Lan-xiansheng can examine whatever gift he gives before it reaches us.”

He would serve tea to the Jiang siblings, and to the tablets of Wei Ying’s parents, and Wei Ying would serve Xiongzhang and Shufu, as well as his parents’ tablets. That was acceptable.

Wei Ying otherwise spent much of his time painting or working on talismans, going back to the quiet productivity he’d displayed consistently since he’d started to truly heal, and the four of them spent many quiet afternoons in his workshop. At times he tutored disciples in sword forms, always happy to teach any who asked. Jiang Wanyin, Shufu told him, had suggested over tea that Wei Ying would be an effective archery instructor, something he was considering asking of him after the wedding.

The relative quietude was only interrupted by his siblings taking him to the most renowned clothier in Caiyi to commission wedding robes—far less harrowing an event, considering. His siblings were being very secretive about them, even to Wei Ying.

“They won’t tell me anything about them,” Wei Ying groused over tea with Lan Tayi, who clearly found the whole thing amusing. “I’m to wear a blindfold when we get to fittings, even!”

In truth, Lan Wangji had heard only of the custom of the couple being unable to see each other’s robes prior to the wedding, not that oneself couldn’t see their own robes. He wondered if the Jiang siblings wanted Wei Ying to be as surprised by his appearance as he would be, perhaps to heighten the joy of the wedding.

When he said as much, Wei Ying smiled at the idea, and Lan Wangji honestly didn’t think they could possibly make him more beautiful than he already was.

Nearing the winter festival, Wei Ying had a breakthrough with the talismans Madam Jin had commissioned, completing one that lit up red when two people who were related held it when it was activated, and black when they were unrelated.

“Red for good fortune, black for neutrality,” he clarified when he demonstrated the talisman using the Jiang siblings and then Lan Zhan and Xiongzhang. “It would light up a dimmer red if Xiansheng held it with one of you, too.”

He was still working on one that would find relatives in the first place, hoping to modify the talisman he and Lan Tayi had created to reveal Su She.

“They would have to be very close by, and I guess that would be up to Jin-furen to arrange. It’d be easier if I could make something like a compass, but that wouldn’t work for blood… energy would be easier to detect that way…”

He presented the talisman to Jin Zixuan upon his next visit to Jiang Yanli and explained its use.

“Muqin has a list of people to verify already, so she’ll be very happy to have this talisman,” Jin Zixuan said with a smile.

Wei Ying looked a little surprised by the Jin heir’s happiness, and he clarified:

“I’ve always wished for siblings; I was jealous that everyone else seemed to have them but me. I don’t know that it will go well, but I want to try to do right by them.”

Jiang Yanli looked at him with love in her expression, clearly pleased with his desire to be a devoted brother. From what Lan Wangji had seen, she valued such devotion, and it certainly implied the sort of husband and father he would ultimately become.

Jin Zixuan blushed a bit under her gaze, but continued.

“I would have been happy to swear brotherhood with both of you, but you’ll be my jiuzimen soon enough. It’s good that you have ties to all the major clans, Wei Wuxian. You have more stability in terms of reputation and prestige.”

Lan Wangji understood he was referring to the rumors his father was a servant rather than a disciple, completely ignoring that Baoshan Sanren was his grandmaster through his mother. The jianghu gentry liked to tear down those with what they deemed inferior blood, despite the fact that Wei Wuxian was one of the most promising cultivators of their generation.

“You… really? Even though I punched you?” Wei Ying asked, baffled.

“I’ve said before that I deserved it,” Jin Zixuan said, flushing. “You’re the brother of my beloved’s heart, and you were defending her honor.”

Wei Ying rubbed his finger against his nose, a nervous habit, then nodded.

“I guess you’ll be my jiefu too, then, not just Jiang Cheng’s,” Wei Ying said with a smile, before changing the subject by explaining how he had come up with the talisman.

Most of the explanation clearly went over Jin Zixuan’s head, but he nodded along and asked pertinent, if rudimentary, questions.

They enjoyed a quiet meal thanks to Jiang Yanli before Jin Zixuan left for Lanling, promising that payment would be forthcoming, something that left Wei Ying looking perplexed.

“It’s weird to have people paying for my talismans,” he murmured as they walked back to the Jiang guest quarters. “I always just gave mine to Jiang… to Jiang-zongzhu.”

“I don’t think A-Die ever sold your talismans like the Lan have—he just put them in the library,” Jiang Yanli said after a minute. “Unless you trained disciples to use them, they simply sat on a shelf.”

“They should have been used and sold, and you should’ve gotten a percentage,” Jiang Wanyin said, his voice strained. “But Muqin…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but such a thing would have incensed Yu-furen and made Wei Ying even more of a target. For some reason, his success in anything was reason for her to punish him, he’d told Lan Wangji once.

“He sent them with Shufu when Wei Ying came to the Cloud Recesses,” Lan Wangji said. “They should be among the qiankun bags from Lotus Cove.”

“A-Xian should find them and let Lan-xiansheng help decide what to do with them, then,” Jiang Yanli said, taking Wei Ying’s arm in her own. “Xianxian will be a wealthy man.”

“Xianxian is only three,” he said, leaning against her like a child. “Xianxian doesn't know what to do with that much money.”

Shufu had shown him the summary of his earnings over tea the day before, and it had shocked him.

“Use it on what you want,” Jiang Wanyin said. “Spoil yourself. Buy all the books and trinkets you want, eat all the food you want, wear nice clothes.”

“Even with that, it’s a lot,” Wei Ying protested. “Just what Jin-furen is paying… And she insisted on the price, not me!”

He seemed overwhelmed, and Lan Wangji knew it was because he never had much money—the Jiang had paid for anything he picked up at market, but he wasn’t a spendthrift. Likely if he had been there would have been consequences.

“It’s a lot,” he said again. “How does one go from the streets to riches? If you told me back then…”

He let the thought trail off as they reached the guest house. Jiang Wanyin made tea while Jiang Yanli put together plates of snacks.

“You will eventually decide what to spend your money on,” Lan Wangji said as they sat together at the table, discreetly holding hands underneath.

“Knowing him, it’ll be food for street kids,” Jiang Wanyin commented as he set a tray with the teapot and cups on the table.

Wei Ying startled a little, then tapped his nose as he thought. It was clear Jiang Wanyin had suggested something that appealed to him.

“An orphanage,” he said finally, his voice a whisper. “Something to help street kids. Shelter and food. Safety.”

He paused, silent for a moment as though seeking the right words.

“A future.”

“Oh, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli breathed as she surged forward to embrace him. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

Lan Wangji’s heart ached for him, for his selflessness and beautiful desire to make the world a better place. This was the boy he’d fallen in love with.

“I will help. We will speak to Shufu. He will help, too. It is a righteous project.”

He squeezed Wei Ying’s hand under the table and received a return squeeze. He would support his husband in anything he wished to accomplish, for the rest of their lives.

—————

So this is 17 chapters just like “the thing with feathers,” which is funny. I intend to write a follow-up fic with the wedding at some point, but this is nearly the end of the series. Please feel free to check out my other fics while you wait.

I’m doing somewhat better health-wise. Healed from the gallbladder removal and infection, anyway. Still fatigued, but at least I’m writing.

a-die = dad

didi = younger brother

furen = madam

ge = older brother

hai shi = 9-11pm

hulatang = spicy/hot pepper soup

jiefu = elder sister’s husband

jiuzimen = plural of jiuzi, meaning wife’s younger brother

muqin = mother (formal)

shushu = uncle

xiansheng = teacher

xiong = brother

xiongzhang = older brother

yangrou paomo = flatbread soaked in mutton broth

zongzhu = sect leader

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manawari · 1 year ago

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Man. . . Or a monster?

Sung Jin-woo believed he was cursed.

When he was born, the doctors had freaked out because his cells were different from what they were supposed to be. They said that several of his cells were black. Frightened, Kyung-hye held her son close to her chest and pleaded for the doctors to not take her child away from her if they wished to study him. The doctors respected her wish and hoped that everything would turn out fine, especially for her baby.

. . . But it did not.

As Jin-woo grew, he had these. . . Powers. Black smoke, or aura, always overflowed from his hands and other times his eyes would glow purple in the middle of darkness, but returned to their original color when there was light. Kyung-hye and Ill-hwang even caught his shadow moving by itself when he was immobile. Their son's inhumane condition worried them terribly. Jin-woo had to stay indoors and was forbidden to play with other kids and must stay close to his parents. They had to explain everything to their son to make him understand and little three-year-old Jin-woo nodded, already knowing that it was for his own good.

Countless of supposed childhood moments were torn away from him.

Jin-woo found joy through the stories his father told him after coming back from raiding a dungeon, his own toys, and spent time with his parents to fill the gaps in his heart. Then, he would lean on the window of his room to stare at the clouds, wondering what it could've been if he was 'normal' and his parents wouldn't have to worry about anything.

When his sister was born, Jin-woo was happy. He was no longer alone. He finally got someone to play with and look after. So when Kyung-hye got home from the hospital and hunkered down to her son's height, Jin-woo had the brightest smile on his face as he made his way closer, he reached his hand out to touch Jin-ah's cheek, but then—

She cried.

Jin-woo flinched and instantly took a step back. He looked over to his hand and he saw his shadowy aura flushing out from his palm. He turned back to his sister, who was now being comforted by Kyung-hye. Ill-hwang rubbed his back and reassured him that it was not his fault, though Jin-woo utterly felt like he was responsible for his sister's frightened tears. . . He blamed himself.

He tried not to approach his sister no matter how badly he wanted to. He wanted to hold her the same way his parents did. He wanted to make her laugh just like any big brother would. In the end, it was only up to Jin-ah to go to him and it took every ounce of his willpower to keep his hands to himself, in fear that he might hurt her if he lay even a tip of his finger.

"Here, wear these, son." Ill-hwang handed him a pair of black leather gloves. "I asked a mage I know to make these for you. They are enchanted with a very strong mana to shield your shadows."

Jin-woo took the gloves and tugged them to his wrist. His eyes widened. His hands, which always radiated darkness, were now gone. For the first time in his life, his joy was beyond everything he had ever felt, he no longer had the fear of hurting his sister and that he could now play with her.

"Jin-ah!" Jin-woo called his sister and crouched down on his knees and extended his arms out. "Come here!"

Kyung-hye had an awaiting hand in case her daughter trip on her feet. Jin-ah toddled with her small arms sprawled out as she made her way toward her brother, her mouth was stretched into a broad smile that showed bits of her teeth, but due to her excitement, she had gone off balance.

Jin-woo caught her just in time.

Jin-ah giggled and raised her hands on the boy who was holding her. "Oppa!"

Ill-hwang looked at his wife, whose eyes were glistening with tears. He went over her and pulled her to his chest, allowing her to sniffle while wrapping her arms around him. Kyung-hye kissed his cheek in gratitude for giving such a wonderful gift to their son.

Jin-woo and Jin-ah had become inseparable. They would play around in the house and Jin-woo would be the one to tuck his sister to bed. His days grew happier. Even though he hadn't gotten the kind of childhood most kids would have, Jin-woo was content that he was able to live without being afraid of his powers and act like he didn't have one at all.

He tried to ignore it. He tried to be a normal boy and resisted every affect it did to him for neglecting the overwhelming sensations in his veins.

And that was until something happened.

A piercing scream made Ill-hwang and Kyung-hye burst out their bedroom and frantically opened their son's room. In there, Jin-woo was standing on his bed, panic-stricken written over his face as tears incessantly flushed down from his eyes, and his hands had gone bare. On the other side of his room was an accumulation of shadows moving in a circle. Ominous sounds of wind whispered from the darkness.

Ill-hwang immediately rushed toward his son and gathered him in his arms while Kyung-hye picked up the discarded gloves from the floor to put them back in Jin-woo's hands. The magic of the fabric kicked in and the large shadow disappeared. Ill-hwang sighed, and all that was left was his child's aching cry as he gripped on his shirt.

"I didn't take them off on purpose! My hands were getting itchy and I couldn't sleep!" Jin-woo sobbed. "I'm so sorry, dad!"

"Shhh. . . " Ill-hwang brushed his son's hair with his hand and wiped away the tears streaming on Jin-woo's cheeks. "It's okay, son. Your mother and I forgive you. You just lost control and we will figure it out, okay?"

"We love you, sweetie," Kyung-hye whispered and planted a kiss on his forehead. "So much."

Jin-woo learned two things: his mother said the truth and his father lied.

They didn't figure it out. Jin-woo remained under his roof and had ended up being homeschooled via virtual call with his tutor to keep him safe from the outside world and that he would not be harmed by the obstacles. He was hidden from the true reality and was forced to live in his version of reality. Secluded, succumbed with fear, and endured his powers— no, curse.

Jin-woo was cursed since the day he was born and if he was staying true to himself, not even the affection from his parents or even his sister were enough to reassure him that he was not worthless.

He cried himself to sleep once.

However, he could not help but feel like someone was comforting him in the middle of his darkened room. It was almost as if it was the shadows that were soothing him. Their touch was cold like the breezy air and they were whispering words he could not discern, rather it seemed they were just ghosts, but deep inside of his heart, he understood.

Could he be a child born out of darkness?

Was he truly even a human?

Jin-woo hated his curse so much that he didn't realize he had become one. He was a shadow of the outside world. Time moved in silence for him, like yesterday he was that young boy struggling to grasp on the threads of his children, but now, he grew into his teenage years nary a single memory of being with his peers to cherish.

Jin-ah always entertained the dinner table with her stories that had happened in her school. She rambled on doing various of fun activities with her friends and her upcoming plans with them. Jin-woo could only listen, as he couldn't relate and didn't have stories of his own to share to his family. He maintained a neutral expression and forced a smile to mask his pain at the fact that he never got to have a life as happy as Jin-ah's.

In this world, humans could awaken as hunters to fight in dungeons. They were known as heroes of humanity who protected the innocents from monsters who were lurking behind the gates. So when Jin-woo got his awakening. . . That was how his life took the biggest twist.

"Jin-ah! Did you pack all of your things? Here, give me your uniform. I'll iron them so they'll be good as new tomorrow."

"Okay, mom!"

"Be sure to stay safe out there, okay? If something bad happens on the field trip, run away from it as much as you can and stay with the adults."

"I'm not a baby anymore, mom. I know what I should do or what I should not do."

"I know. But I am your mother, and I will never stop worrying about you—"

*clatter*

Kyung-hye and Jin-ah both whipped their heads and saw pieces of shattered plates and thrown tablespoons across the grown. They gasped. Jin-woo had his knees on the ground and his hands were clutching on his hair, gritting his teeth to conceal his voice, his whole body was quivering while a purple aura surrounded him, and shadows were crumpling beneath him.

"Jin-woo!"

"Oppa!"

The mother and daughter rushed toward him, but Jin-woo held out his gloved hand to stop them. He grunted.

"No. . . D— don't— don't come any closer!" He let out, shutting his eyes in pain. "Please! Get. . . Get out of here!"

"Oppa, what is happening?" Jin-ah clutched on her mother's arm, widening her eyes in panic.

"I'm— I'm alright! Just get out of here and— GAH!" Jin-woo screamed in agony. He slammed his fist on the floor and everything shook.

Kyung-hye began tearing up. "Jin-woo. . . Son, please tell me what is going on. Should I call your father to hurry?"

"I can't take it anymore!"

And just like that, everything changed. His eyes lost their color and was replaced with blackness and his pupils lit in purple. The shadow underneath him scattered throughout the house and the lights began to flicker in disruption. Kyung-hye held her daughter to her chest as they watched the chaos unfold. Part of Kyung-hye wanted to run, but she couldn't bear to leave her eldest child alone.

A large part of the ceiling collapsed next to them. Jin-ah shrieked. Kyung-hye took a few steps back and heard the door burst open. It was her husband. She stared at Ill-hwang with tearful eyes and the hunter rushed to his family's side, only to witness that the situation had gotten worse.

Jin-woo had got his awakening earlier, which was something that must not be ignored, so Ill-hwang had had taken another hour to come home just to prepare some things for his son if he had to become a hunter. But he did not anticipated that this would be the scene he would come home to. Ill-hwang made his way closer to his son and reached out his hand.

"Son—"

Something grabbed his neck. Kyung-hye and Jin-ah shrieked together. Jin-woo got up and turned around, eyes glowing amidst the darkness exuding from his body, utterly losing control of himself and his curse taking over ever inch of him. He— was no longer himself. No speck of emotion was traced in his eyes, only darkness that took in a form of a human, stealing his soul to posses the body itself.

"Jin-woo, stop!"

"Let go of our dad, please!"

"Dear!"

Ill-hwang croaked, facing his son, who had a tight grip on his neck from his shadows. He couldn't stand a chance against him. His strength as a hunter were not enough to escape from the powerful forces that had been engraved on his son since the beginning.

"I'm very sorry, my son. . . " His voice strangled as his lungs slowly stopped producing oxygen. "My Jin-woo."

Was Jin-woo still able to hear his father? Well. . .

No, he wasn't.

Jin-woo felt like he was floating in a sea of black. He couldn't see a single thing. But all he knew was that he had never felt so much power in his veins, it was the strong urge that he had the world in his hands — to crush, to destroy, to swallow in darkness.

However, he couldn't move his body. It was like he was frozen in abyss. He could not tell if he was floating or sinking deeper, and deeper, to an endless hole that he had fallen into after collapsing on his knees. He remembered his mother and younger sister staring at him in shock, holding each other close, and him screaming for them to—

Mom! Jin-ah! His eyes snap wide.

Jin-woo forced his body to move, but everything stayed immobile, so it took all of his willpower to break the invincible barrier and he squeezed his eyes shut to let out a scream.

Finally, he regained his control over his body.

However, the next time he opened his eyes, he saw the entire house had crumbled. Smoke wafted from the debris of his home. Jin-woo looked down and saw the body of his father, laying on the ground in front of him, his eyes widened and his heart raced before he cupped his hands around Ill-hwang's head, trying to shake him awake.

"D— dad!" He screamed.

Jin-woo pressed two fingers on a certain spot on his father's neck. There was no pulse. His breath hyperventilated and placed his ear on where the heart was located — there was no heartbeat. Tears quickly beaded on his eyes. Jin-woo looked up and caught two bodies underneath of a thick rubble, he gently lowered his father down then rushed toward them.

No. . .

His mother had his sister wrapped in her embrace and her chin on top of Jin-ah's head. There were dried tears staining his sister's cheek. The hand that was supposed to reach out for them began to shake at the sight. Just like his family, Jin-woo felt like he couldn't breathe, his world was shrinking and spinning, his weight brought him on the ground.

His father. His mother. His little sister. . .

They were dead.

It's all my fault. . . Jin-woo gritted his teeth as more tears came out at the crushing pain that was about to burst his heart into pieces, like a stone shattering all glass walls at once. He screamed so loud that he had grown deaf of his own voice.

Look, oppa! I made you a drawing!

You have my genes, son, therefore you aren't weak.

You make me proud every day, Jin-woo.

I have the best brother ever! Just don't tell him that I said that—

Cursed or not, your mother and I will never stop loving you, Jin-woo.

I can't ask for a better son. . .

The most important people in his life had been ripped away in one night.

Sirens soon arrived in the scene and people rushed out of their vehicles to inspect the situation. Jin-woo sat immobile on his knees as lights flashed around the damaged area, grazing over every rubble, but he didn't bat an eye. He had his eyes glued on the ground next to the lifeless bodies of his family.

"Sir? Can I ask you a question?"

"Just take me," he said, surrendering himself in a heartbeat. "Lock me up."

The officer said nothing.

Jin-woo knew he deserved to pay for his actions. Not only did he destroyed the home that protected him, he also killed the people he loved with all his heart.

He must pay for the cost of his sins and let himself rot in sorrow.

So, he was cuffed around his wrists and got sent to prison. He was the only person in the scene, therefore it was obvious who was behind everything, and he even admitted that he killed his family after awakening. He was a murderer. A monster. His family died because of him.

And happiness had died along with them.

News spread fast and stretched throughout the world. News of a new hunter who killed his own family in cold blood and wrecked his whole house. People gasped in horror. The deceased members were a highschool student, a formidable hunter, and a sweet woman, and their killer was their eldest son.

Jin-woo spent two years in prison. Two years of loneliness because all the other criminals had become terrified and didn't wish to share a cell with him. And in those two years, he missed a lot of important holidays, but he didn't think there was any use of celebrating them. He had no reason to smile or appreciate anything in his life, not when he ruined everything.

Several more months passed, someone came to visit him for the first time since he had been locked behind the bars. The guards brought him to the visiting area where a man was waiting for him in one of the available desks; Jin-woo flashed a puzzled look and had to be nudged to take a seat in front of the visitor.

"Hello, Mr. Sung. I am Woo Jin-chul of the Korean Hunters Association." The man introduced himself. "Your father spoke a lot about you when he said that you've received your awakening."

"My father's dead. There is nothing I can do for you." Jin-woo answered bluntly.

"Is that how you treat your visitor after two years of not speaking to anyone?"

"They are all afraid of me," said Jin-woo. "Get out."

"I am here to get you out. Although, I was supposed to meet you two years back, but I thought you might need some time to grieve." Jin-chul explained. He continued talking when Jin-woo growled at him. "Your father told me that you had potential of becoming a great hunter, and since that was the last words he had spoken to me, I decided to honor him by allowing you to live your life."

"Don't make me laugh!" Jin-woo glared. "Live my life? I stopped living my life and had no desires to keep on going!"

Jin-chul sighed and remove his sunglasses. "Mr. Sung, are you going to stay like this because you've lost everything?"

"Why should I? I'm a—"

"Murderer, I know. I can tell that Hunter Ill-hwang loved his son so much, and I don't quite understand why you had done such a thing, but call it as a second chance." Jin-chul said. "I've already prepared a guild for you to work with, so just wait for your release in some day of this week."

Jin-woo was silent.

Not once he imagined seeing the outside world because he had long accepted that he would spend the rest of his life in prison until his last breath. He was no worthy being to keep on existing under the sun. But here he was, someone who knew his father decided to emancipate him to honor the deceased hunter.

But what else could he do? He had no options to refuse.

Three days later, a police officer came and announced that he was being released. Jin-woo was escorted outside of the establishment and was given a duffle bag with a note on top — it was an address to an apartment and some important contact numbers listed in. He sighed and went to his new accomodation.

Jin-woo wore a black mask on his face and a cap to conceal his identity from the public. Fortunately, the apartment the association had prepared for him didn't include many residents, so entering felt like he was walking inside of an old building. But that was better than to have people look at him like a murderer he was.

When he got settled and set his new clothes on the cabinet, Jin-woo found something on the bottom of the duffle bag. It was a dagger. Another note was attached on it on the back that said it was a weapon Ill-hwang had asked for the blacksmith just for him. Something pinched his heart. His chest ached upon what he just discovered.

"I'm sorry. . . " Jin-woo sobbed and tucked the dagger close to his chest. "I'm so sorry, dad—"

Mom, Jin-ah. . . His heart throbbed.

He was alone. He had nobody.

The following day came and he was standing in the vicinity of a gate the association had sent him to, and it was also where he would meet his guild master. The Hunters Guild. He knew it was one of the most famous hunting guilds in the country. Jin-woo didn't know if the association had chosen that guild out of pity for him or that no other parties would accept him.

Someone cleared his throat from behind. Jin-woo turned around and saw a hunter.

"Are you perhaps Sung Jin-woo?" He asked.

Jin-woo pulled off his mask and cap. "Yes."

"Good. I am Choi Jong-in, the guild master of the Hunters Guild." The hunter said. "Do you have a weapon?"

Jin-woo nodded and brought his backpack to his front and pulled the zipper open to grab his dagger, wrapped in a thick covering, and presented it to his guild master. Jong-in nodded.

"I hope you know how to use it. If you are not sure, just stay in the back. And one more thing— masks and hats are not allowed in the gate." Jong-in walked past him and made his way to the portal. "Good luck, Mr. Sung."

Jin-woo knew how to fight with a bladed weapon. He had watched tutorials and read books from the ancient times that featured fearsome warriors wielding their sharp weapons at their enemies. But to hold an actual weapon itself felt strange and anew — it did put a quite a weight on his hand, yet seemed easy to swing.

So, he headed inside of the gate and was greeted by the sight of hunters clashing against the vicious wolves. There were mages, healers, tanks, and hunters with different weapons. He could see Jong-in through the crowd, whirling his flames at the larger canines, burning them into ashes.

Then, something appeared from the corner of his eye. A wolf was about to pounce on him when the next thing he knew, his hand had whipped the dagger against the monster, thus spilling its blood on the ground and he thrusted his blade forward to finish its life. Yes, he knew that the neck had vital parts for a quick death, he learned that from one of the books he read.

Another one lunged forward, but Jin-woo immediately stabbed his dagger through its skull. His heart pounded in the adrenaline rush. He was really a hunter now. . . How it could've been if his family was still alive to this day?

But then, he had been engrossed to fighting that he had somewhat forgotten there were people who knew him.

"Is that the man who once appeared in the TV?"

"Who? You mean the awakened hunter who killed his whole family?"

"Wait— did Guild Master Choi really recruited him?"

"I heard that his father was a good hunter. How can he kill such a man?"

"I can't believe a murderer is working with us. . . "

Their words had punctured holes into Jin-woo's soul. So much that his focus had dwindled away and didn't notice a monster was charging at him, only then to latch its razor fangs on his arm before he could even realize.

"Ack!" Jin-woo yelped in pain and still managed to plunge his dagger into the wolf to kill it in retaliation.

He got through the whole fight with a bleeding arm. Not a single healer had dared to come to his aid. Regardless, he kept on fighting and stabbing his dagger against the creatures attacking him. He still had the enchanted gloves on his hands to conceal his cursed powers, he had never taken them off even when he was alone.

He kept going.

Being a hunter meant fighting for his life.

It was never the easiest job.

Afterward, the dungeon was finally cleared. When Jong-in found the blood oozing from his arm, he immediately called for a healer to tend it, making a remark that the newbie hadn't been too careful in his first day. The healer that was assigned to him looked quite wary as she placed her hands over the wound to stop the blood from flushing out of his skin, but Jin-woo just didn't flash her a glance, putting on a void expression as he stared across the vicinity.

"He managed to kill his whole family, but he doesn't know how to be careful. Such an idiot." He heard one of the hunters say while they were passing by.

Jin-woo scratched his nails against his lap. Seemed like there were people who condemned him so much. No, he should not be affected by it, they were not wrong and he deserved those words to hear anyway.

When the healer was done, she practically scrambled away from him. Jin-woo got up and reached to his backpack to pull out the thick wrap to cover his dagger after wiping the blood off with the fabric. He saw his reflection on the steel edge, the lifeless trace of the person he used to be and now had become someone so foreign to him.

"Uh, hi there?" A feminine voice approached him.

Jin-woo turned over and saw a woman, clad in a red armor and short blonde hair. Her sword clung on the side of her hip by a holster. He just blinked at her.

"You're the new hunter, right?" She said and offered her hand. "I'm Cha Hae-in! The vice master of this guild."

Jin-woo looked away and threw his backpack over his shoulder, holding it by the handle loop. He began to walk away from the hunter.

"Eh? I'm just trying to welcome you!" Hae-in called out.

"Ignore him, Ms. Cha. Don't you know who he is? He won't talk to people unless he's going to kill them."

Damn right, I am. Jin-woo thought and briefly shut his eyes, penting up his anger. I'm a murderer.

He didn't care if the hunter was being genuine. He didn't have time to make new connections because of who he was. His sister was the closest person he had to a friend. But she was gone now. . . Thanks to him. Jin-ah could've been in college, finishing her teen years happy and entering the world of being a young adult full of hope.

If Jin-woo would've just learned how to control of his curse. . . The present would've been different.

But how? There hadn't been a single existing hunter who had skills of darkness like his. Jin-woo had to spend his whole life hidden behind the walls where he was protected and so did the rest of the people who were not ready to face the power of shadows from a mere child.

Jin-woo kept a single lampshade on to light up his whole apartment as he made himself coffee from the small amount of products he had purchased as his first salary as a hunter. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough for him to get through the day until he received his next paycheck. He leaned on the window and stared at the starless sky, empty of everything he usually see back then, only dark blue and vague misty clouds that floated softly above.

"I miss you," he said in an airy whisper that was like an echo from his mind, "and I'm sorry."

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"Is everyone ready?"

"Yes, guild master!"

"Good then," Jong-in nodded his head. "Let's— oh, there is the newbie!"

Everyone turned their eyes to him.

"I apologize for being late, Mr. Choi," said Jin-woo and set his bag on a safe place before bringing up his dagger.

Jong-in sighed and nudged his glasses up. "Just don't do it again. The next time this happens, I'll decrease your paycheck by ten percent."

"Will do."

Jin-woo walked behind the group of hunters, keeping a meager distance between them because they knew they would get uncomfortable and he would hear another round of mutters directed to him.

"Hey!"

Well maybe except for this one.

Jin-woo turned his head and met Hae-in, who was heading to his side. Just like yesterday, he ignored her.

"How have you been?"

"Focus on the hunt, with all due respect, Ms. Cha. There is no time for chatting." Jin-woo said to her.

"Are you always this cold? I'm just trying to set some good connections in the guild." Hae-in replied. "I was quite surprised when Jong-in said that the association will recommend us to recruit you."

"Surprised to work with a murderer?"

She widened her eyes. "What? That's not—"

"The monsters are coming. The tanks might be needing you to be on their side, Ms. Cha." Jin-woo reminded her and walked to the other side of the dungeon near the darkest spot, checking if there might be monsters lurking. But another thing as to why he moved positions, to avoid the vice master.

Cha Hae-in was rather. . . Too bright for him.

One thing Jin-woo knew was that she was a formidable hunter. She knew her sword like it was part of herself. Her aura would glow yellow once she summoned her powers. He'd seen some hunters in awe of her as they fought monsters, and besides Jong-in, Hae-in was confident in her strength that she was able to take down larger beasts on her own.

And another thing he knew about her was how constant she kept approaching him and trying to make a conversation, which he immensely avoided her whenever he saw her heading toward him. Hae-in was friendly, kind, and cared for her fellow hunters. But he refused to let her be close to him. If anything, he found her annoying as she never stopped saying a word to him.

"Hey, Jin-woo!"

"No."

"Are you hurt? Want me to call a healer for you?"

"Nevermind."

"You've been fighting well. Do you want to fight behind the tanks this time?"

"I'm already good with my position."

"Are you heading home? Some of the hunters are having dinner together. You should come with them!"

Every. Single. Day.

Jin-woo didn't come to raid a dungeon because he needed a 'friend'. He just needed something to live now that he was out of prison. He didn't care if Hae-in was being genuine or just acting out of pity for him, the heart he had had been buried alongside his family, forever shattered and enveloped with darkness.

He was unworthy to be loved.

As soon as the raid was over, Jin-woo shoved his dagger into his backpack and sling it over his shoulders. He didn't flash anyone in his guild a glance as he quickly walked away from the area, trying to get far as he could to get back to his apartment or else—

"Hunter Sung! You—"

"Which part of 'leave me alone' do you not understand?!" Jin-woo yelled as he whirled around to face her. "Whatever you are about to say, I don't care, so just shut up!"

Hae-in fell silent. Then, her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pressed tightly before shoving something to his chest, enough to cause him to abruptly step back. It was his jacket.

"You left it because you were in such a hurry," she glared. "Sorry, I didn't know that friendliness is annoying for you, Jin-woo. I understand that you are being like that because you've been behind the bars for two years, but that doesn't mean you can be a jerk around people who try to say hi to you. If that's the case, I won't bother you next time."

With that, she stalked away.

Jin-woo was left astounded on the spot. But then, he sighed and turned around to continue walking.

True to her word, Hae-in didn't dare to step close to him. Whenever Jin-woo arrived, she would treat him as if he was a mere ghost and walked past him without a word, only an empty expression which was a stark contrast to the face he was used to seeing. Part of him started to feel bad. But could he do? Jin-woo got what he wanted and that was being left alone.

Until one time, he had some food with him on his way to work. He had forgotten to restock his cupboards since he had headed straight to bed after coming home. He took a sip on his coffee while he held a pork gimbap on his free hand, the other hunters were gearing for conquering the blue gate in the construction site they had been called upon, then he spotted a sword propped against the empty bench. He knew who was exactly it belonged to.

He left the gimbap next to it.

Hopefully, she would accept his indirect apology even though she had no idea to whom it was from.

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"Brother!"

He turned around and saw Jin-ah, waving her hand at him. She wore the widest smile on her face. Jin-woo felt his mouth stretch into a smile of its own and rushed across the place to crash her into a hug, her laughter sang on his ears.

"Jin-ah. . . " He murmured. "You're still bere."

"Of course! I'm always here." Jin-ah said. "Always haunting you for the rest of your life."

Jin-woo widened his eyes. "W— what?"

Suddenly, everything turned into black. Jin-woo turned his head to both sides and looked back to his sister, who had also changed. Instead of the joyful girl he knew and cared for, blood was streaming down from Jin-ah's head, streaking past the scars in her cheeks, and her whole body was covered in ashes. Her eyes became dark.

"Monster!" She yelled. "How could you do this, Jin-woo?! I was supposed to have a field trip! Why did you take my life?!"

"J— Jin-ah. . . " He fell speechless.

"Son. . . " A new voice appeared. It was his mother, looking pained and had the same situation as his sister. "Where did I go wrong? I raised you well, took care of you, and protected you. Why did you have to kill your own mother?"

"M— mom. . . I— I didn't mean—"

"MONSTER!"

"I should've just given you up!"

"You've destroyed my future!"

"What kind of son are you?!"

Jin-woo backed away, but Kyung-hye and Jin-ah kept nearing him. His heart raced rapidly. He couldn't turn his body around, as if he had been blocked by an invincible barrier that forced him to only face his mother and sister.

Then, he bumped against something.

"Son?" It was his father. Jin-woo managed to turn around and was met with the kind smile on Ill-hwang's face. "Are you okay?"

For once, he felt relieved. "Dad! I—"

*kieuk!*

Jin-woo was suddenly brought on the ground on his knees. An inky black hand grasped on his neck tightly, preventing him from uttering another word, then he parted his mouth in a silent strangled plea.

Ill-hwang stared viciously at him and watched him suffer under his hand. "Do you feel it? That was how you killed me when I was trying to help you. You are useless. Why do you even have powers when you can't even control it by yourself?"

Jin-woo let out a single tear from his eye.

"Die, Jin-woo. You are supposed to be the one who died. Not us."

"I wish I shouldn't have been born so I won't have you as a brother!"

"Ungrateful demon!"

"You are not my child!"

"JUST DIE!"

"NOBODY WILL LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ARE!"

"NO!" Jin-woo bolted up straight from his bed. His hand latched up to his chest, grasping on his shirt, and could almost hear his heart beating into echoes. He looked over to his lamp, which had been kept on all night. His whole face was drenched with sweat.

He rushed to the bathroom to rinse his face with the cold and running water on the sink. He scrubbed his palms against his face and splattered some more water before turning up to the mirror. His eyes were slightly stained in red and he could make out the remnants of his nightmare; the faces of his dead family, their agony, and the words that were ten times sharper than swords.

It took a single sob from him to break down once again. He relied his weight on the sink as he wept.

It was the worst nightmare he ever had. When he was incarcerated, he had seen his family's dead bodies in front of him and how he must've killed them. But now. . . It was them, yelling and blaming him for murdering them in cold blood.

He was a monster.

His mother had given birth to a good-for-nothing.

They would never forgive him. . .

Jin-woo found himself in the convenience store, scrolling through the fridge in search of a drink that might soothe him. He still had his mask and cap on. It had been an instinct of his to secure his facial identity when heading outside. People still talked about him in the streets. And as for the hunters, they avoided him like a plague and whispered nasty words about him amongst themselves.

Sometimes, he wondered. . . What was even the use of living for him anyway?

He reached his hand inside to grab a can of beer from the shelf, he could never get drunk anyway, and closed the shelf to make his journey to the cashier, but only then to face someone who was very familiar.

"Hae-in?" He spoke.

The hunter blinked. "Jin-woo?"

" . . . "

A few moments later, they sat on an empty bench. Jin-woo sipped on his beer while Hae-in had her iced coffee. He almost couldn't remember what he said to her after hearing his name from her mouth, all he knew was that he offered to buy her drink and Hae-in hadn't left his side as he looked for somewhere to sit.

"I'm sorry," he began. "I shouldn't have been so rude to you when all you did was to be kind to me unlike everyone else."

"It's okay. There's no use if I hold it as a grudge against you." Hae-in said.

"But. . . Aren't you afraid?"

"Of what?"

"That I'm a murderer. The man who ruthlessly killed his own family." Jin-woo said. "Haven't you thought of anything that I might hurt you?"

"Well. . . Can you?"

Jin-woo didn't answer. He looked down on his drink. "I. . . I don't know. To be honest— I didn't mean to kill my family. I've lost control and the next thing I knew, all of them were dead and I was the only one standing. My mom, dad, and my little sister. . . I didn't mean to kill them." A teardrop touched his lap.

"Jin-woo. . . " Hae-in frowned. She reached her hand out to his shoulder, but hesitated. "If you didn't mean to kill them, then why did you admit to the police that you murdered your family ruthlessly?"

"I said it to atone for what I have done. And even if I lived my days in prison for two years, and some more if the association hadn't come for me, it wouldn't be enough." Jin-woo wiped his tears with his sleeve. "Am I that damaged of a person?"

Hae-in's bottom lip quivered. "I don't believe you are damaged. You just need to be healed, Jin-woo."

"How? Every night in my dreams, I see their faces. Looking at them made me feel like I won't die from a beast or old age, but regrets."

"Hearing your words, I know you didn't mean to kill them. You loved your family so much. And I'm sure they forgive you." She told him.

Jin-woo hung his head low. This time, he felt her touch on his shoulder. He resisted every urge to sob as he continued talking. "I never stopped imagining what it could've been if they were still alive. I— I couldn't remember what was it like to see my mother's smile, or hear my sister's laugh, and the face of my own father."

"It's okay, Jin-woo. . . " Hae-in murmured and scooted closer. "It takes time, but I hope you won't be afraid to let new people in. I'm sure your family wouldn't like it to see you alone."

"Nobody likes to have a monster in their life, Hae-in."

"I don't think you are a monster. You may be cold, but you are not a monster." She said. "You're just broken and had stayed like that for a long time, and I can see there is still that speck of hope in you, Jin-woo. Don't be afraid to smile and be happy."

Jin-woo glanced at her. "You think so? But everyone—"

"No, I don't care," Hae-in shook her head and looked at him in determination. "I don't care of what people think about you and that will not affect me either. They don't know how you truly feel. You need someone by your side — someone who will be there for you and not let you suffer alone."

"Will you?" Jin-woo spoke without a thought. But, he did not regret it. His heart wanted her to be that 'someone'.

The corners of Hae-in's mouth tugged into a soft smile. "Of course."

And since that moment, the gradual change in Jin-woo's life began.

Back then, Jin-woo thought she was an annoying who liked to pester him. But now, Jin-woo was starting to see her in a new light.

Once he arrived in his guild, he would catch her glance across the hunters. Hae-in waved at him with that bright smile of hers. Jin-woo paused, it took a few seconds for him to let out a smile, and once he did, he was actually smiling. Hae-in chuckled and went back to reading the papers in her hand. Meanwhile, Jin-woo took a moment to register what he had done. . . For the first time since forever, he smiled and it felt different when he practiced it in front of the mirror.

Perhaps he was just forcing himself to smile, but upon seeing Hae-in, he let his smile come naturally.

Hae-in would approach him and strike a conversation, and this time, Jin-woo would respond to her kindly and answered her questions instead of driving her away. They shared a small talk before heading inside of the gate and after conquering the dungeon, they would take a moment to converse with each other.

Other hunters gave them side-glances and whispered something to the rest. Why was the vice master with the murderer? Why was the monster smiling? Why were they talking to each other as if they were friends?

Why?

Jin-woo hadn't met anyone outside of his family, let alone having a friend for himself. He had built so many walls around him and Hae-in managed to break each of them down slowly. She would text him when he was in his apartment, and those messages taking the rest of the night until one of them fell asleep, and other times, she'd buy him a drink if they were meeting up.

He found himself being fond of her smile.

Her sweet laugh. Her flustered expressions. The way her eyes glisten whenever she saw something she liked. Jin-woo was fond of it all.

Having Hae-in around had been the best thing ever to occur in his life. His nightmares slowly stopped, thus leaving him with empty swevens, and that was enough for him. He would close his eyes and the next thing he woke up to was the sunshine from his window. He wondered if this was what it felt being alive for real, not sinking into melancholy; although there were times he still got haunted, he had something to hold on to.

Cha Hae-in.

The strongest hunter he had ever met, the kindest heart he had ever known, he pondered if it was normal to wish for someone to stay forever.

With her, he had forgotten about his curse. And with her, he could be a normal human who was not tainted by his past and demons.

"I've never realized how big the moon is now. It's beautiful." Hae-in mused, staring at the heavenly sphere across thousands of miles away from the ground.

Jin-woo hadn't seen anything like it. The night was indeed alive and full of wonders. Everything was at peace. He was in the park, sitting on the same bench as Hae-in, and was staring at the sky, glimpsing at the countless of stars that glimmered the night's serene beauty. Since nobody else was around, due to the time being close to midnight, Jin-woo thought he should remove his disguise and let the light wind caress his face.

"I used to see these things in images when I was a kid. It felt surreal to see them for real." Jin-woo said.

Hae-in raised an insiqutive eyebrow. "Why so?"

"Let's just say that I had to be kept indoors to keep myself safe. I wasn't allowed to meet my own peers and spent my education through online. I haven't seen the sun all the time, let alone the moon itself." Jin-woo let out a sigh. "It. . . It has something to do with the incident too."

"I still won't judge you for it, you know?" Hae-in reminded him.

He nodded. "I know. It's just that I'm not ready to tell you everything. Sorry."

"I understand. Take all the time you need and when you do, I'll listen with all ears and heart." Hae-in smiled. "Opening up isn't the easiest task, especially for you, so it takes patience."

He smiled back. "Thank you, Hae-in." So much.

They fell in silence after that. Jin-woo realized how big the world was, and that he was just a tiny human in the eyes of the stars. His mother once told him that the stars were also the human souls who had passed away and that they would appear in the night to watch over their loved ones, he wondered if his family was among the stars right now, watching him over even though he felt he did not deserve to.

He never stopped apologizing to them.

Their answers were the words he would never get, so he had no clue if he was forgive for his actions. Ill-hwang, Kyung-hye, and Jin-ah — the names he would always remember.

He was snapped out of his daze when he felt a weight on his shoulder. It was Hae-in, who had leaned her head on him, and she had her eyes on their hands, she raised hers and lightly traced his gloved hand with her fingertips.

"Can I hold your hand, Jin-woo?" She asked.

"Okay," he flipped his hand and welcomed her touch. He intertwined their fingers together. He noticed how slender her hand was compared to him, it made him become afraid of hurting her even more.

"Sometimes, I wonder what it feels like to truly hold your hands," spoke Hae-in. "Are they warm? Are they rough? Or are they smooth? Do you hide scars beneath your gloves? I wish to feel them."

One day, Hae-in. He promised to her. I will tell you everything.

In the middle of his chaos, in the middle of his black and white of a world, there was Hae-in. To be willing to open his heart out to her and reveal his true soul without contemplating if she would accept him for who he was or not, Jin-woo wondered what kind of deity to send her to a monster such as him.

Cursed. Miserable. Lonely.

He did not deserve her.

What was that feeling? Love? The kind of one he saw in his parents, how he would catch them embracing each other, those exchanged smiles, the laughter, and the way his father planted his kisses on his mother's forehead. . . He would like to experience it too.

To love, to cherish, and to hold. He was a broken man wanting to love.

Fate had never been in his favor, but would it give him a chance? Just this once, he'd ask for something and never again, let him heal and mend himself to be the person who had lost all hope, but now found anew and he would not waste it.

. . . Fate said no.

If Jin-woo had the worst mistake in his life, it wasn't killing his family, rather— it was underestimating his curse.

He had relied on his gloves for too long and too much that his powers would soon beg for release and since he wasn't giving it, the most horrible moment in his life had repeated.

He lost control.

The upper section of the apartment exploded vastly. There was no need to call for the association to send help when the whole city had felt the ominous wave and the slight earthquake. Hunters of all guilds had rushed to the location and rescuers had attended for the residents who had managed to get out safely.

Large clouds clustered into one. Darkness spread throughout them and the sky had turned dim. Hunters raced inside and creatures pounced at them, but these were not the usual ones they saw in dungeon, the creatures were dark and shone in purple and red tones. There were knights and even large ants. They managed to slaughter the shadow-like beasts, but some seemed to regenerate after a few minutes.

In the top of the damaged building, a hunter was possessed by his own powers. His eyes were glowing purple than ever. Due to such a long time of confinement and resisting, the shadows were endlessly storming out of his body as if he was a container they had been kept for too long.

Was he still aware of what was going on? Would he be able to snap out of being possessed?

Then, someone finally came.

It was Hae-in, who had made her way through all the shadow monsters that were attacking in the stairs and floors. Her sword was right on her grip. But her eyes, which were in aghast to what she was seeing in front of her.

"Jin-woo!" She called for his name. It was futile. But, she must save him from the abyss that was shrouding his whole body.

Unfortunately, something came out and Hae-in managed to catch it and drew her sword just before the weapon could touch her. The knight, whose sword was bigger than hers and hoarded a power that was superior to her own, deepened its weight on the weapon to try to push her down. But Hae-in was not giving up. She dragged her sword aside to bring along with it and was about to lunge another attack when a lightning strike of pain flamed out a strong agony.

Hae-in yelped at the pain in her shoulder, who was bleeding down her arm. She stared at the knight and glared. There was no way that she would back down, not when she needed to save someone before it was too late.

"Stop!" Jin-woo finally burst a yell. He continued to force himself to move his body to regain control over his consciousness.

He must not let the same thing happen twice. His family died because of him, and he wouldn't allow himself take another person's life. Not Hae-in.

After fighting against the powerful force, Jin-woo finally broke out and felt the shadows were in his hands for control. He looked up and saw the shadow knight, who was still fighting the hunter. He reached his hand out and the knight's sword paused in the air.

"Don't. Touch. HER!" He seethed and curled his hand into a tight fist.

The shadow knight disappeared.

Jin-woo got down and rushed toward Hae-in. Even if he could control his body once again, the curse was still raging. However, he chose to check on the most important person in his life, so he pulled her into his arms and buried his face on her neck while his hand cradled the back of her head.

"I'm so sorry, Hae-in, I'm so sorry!" He practically begged.

Hae-in wrapped her arms around him, evading her wound. "It's okay, Jin-woo. I forgive you."

"I'm sorry you had to find everything out like this. . . "

"We'll talk about this later, okay? We must focus on putting an end to this first." Hae-in said and looked at the thick cloud. "You know how to do it, right?"

Jin-woo turned over his shoulder to the cloud his powers had created upon. Now that he has gained control, he felt a plethora of sensations throughout his veins, and he exactly knew what each meant. The shadow monsters were still infesting the whole building, he could sense all of them being alive, clashing with the hunters.

If he did not make a move in any moment, everything would turn into ruins. Hundreds of people would die in his hand. During his incarceration, he asked himself— am I a human or a monster?

The answer was that he had a soul for a monster and a heart for a human.

It had taken him so long to gain control. . .

"I. . . I think I know." Jin-woo said. He looked behind and saw Hae-in's hopeful face. His heart ached at the decision that he was about to make. "But I won't make it to another day."

Hae-in's face fell and she looked at him in shock. "Don't tell me. . . "

"I'm not going to die. I just think that this is something I must do, and if I stay longer, I will just keep destroying everything." The Earth's mana would not be able to hold his. Jin-woo realized what he needed to know just now. He was too powerful to be in a place like Earth, considering how unable he was. "My family died because of me, the darkness inside of me since the day I was born, and I was too weak. And I still am. At least, this is something I can do to atone for the mess I've caused."

If he could not erase the conflict, then he must disappear with the conflict.

Tears began to glimmer in Hae-in's eyes. She stepped closer to him. As always, she was not afraid, even after finding out who he truly was. Jin-woo let her hand move to his neck, a vague memory of a nightmare appeared in the back of his mind, but her touch was tender.

"What are you going to do, Jin-woo?" She asked him.

"Go to some place I should've gone to a long time ago, just like in my dreams. All this time, I treated these things as a curse, not knowing how capable I would be if I paid attention rather than be an ignorant. I wasn't cursed, I was born with powers." Jin-woo said. He looked down on his hands, seeing how torn his gloves had become, so he removed them to let them drop on the ground and offered them to her. "Give me your hands."

Hae-in did what she was told. Her hands met his bare ones. Her skin felt even softer.

"How do you feel? Are my hands warm? Are they rough? Or are they smooth?" He smiled at her.

"They. . . " Hae-in dipped her head and let out a sob. She pressed herself to his chest, clutching on his shirt as she drenched the fabric with her tears.

Jin-woo wrapped his arms around her. He caught the wound in her arm that was still bleeding, so he placed his hand over it and shone over the wound to heal it. Hae-in was vulnerable in his embrace, crying that made his heart shatter.

"Please tell me this isn't goodbye," she murmured.

His throat clogged. Jin-woo had to swallow to keep his voice intact. "We'll meet again. I promise you that. You mean so much to me that it makes it hard for me to let you go — you are the only one I ever have."

Hae-in pulled away, facing him with eyes stained with tears. Jin-woo cupped his hands around her face, smiling amidst his crushing heart.

"I wish I should've been a normal person so I can love you the way you deserve," he said, wiping her tears with his thumb.

Hae-in sniffled. "Normal or not, I still accept you regardless, Jin-woo."

"Thank you," his eyes could no longer hold his tears as they began to pour down, "for being with me, no matter how damaged I am, and being the one who showed me that it's not too late for me to smile. You are my speck of hope, Hae-in."

"I love you," Hae-in sobbed as Jin-woo inched his face closer, bumping their noses.

"You are the closest thing I have to home," he murmured and raised his head to press his lips on her forehead. "I hope to return the love you've given me one day."

He wanted to tell her he loved her. He wanted to say those three words as well. But he knew it was not the right time to reciprocate.

Jin-woo pulled away and took a few steps back, stretching his arms a little, then summoned all the shadows back to him. The ground rumbled. His eyes glowed in its purple color and soon, he was lifted in the air in his powers, heading toward the giant cloud of darkness.

His dark pupils appeared, eyeing Hae-in, who never left her spot as tears continued to streak her eyes. His lips curled into a small smile. No matter how much he wanted to remain and allow himself to love her completely, he didn't think he was enough to do such a thing. She found him when he was in his colorless world, she gave him a new light to hold on and proved that he could be better, so that was what he about to do.

Learn to control his powers, get stronger, and most of all, heal from the mistakes he had done — for Hae-in, his father, his mother, and his sister.

I promise, Hae-in. He promised. I will become a better person once we meet again.

Sung Jin-woo disappeared from the surface of the earth without a single trace.

#poor jin-woo:'(#i am feeling angsty and evil today #solo leveling #sung jin woo #cha hae in #jinhae #rei scribbles

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grandwretch · 5 months ago

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you know I would usually complain about Jin Ho and Jin Ah ending up together to be unnecessary "happy endings mean marriage" but Solo Levelling is unique in that I really believe that Jin Woo and Jin Ho being brothers in law really fits the themes of the story. Jin Woo only really wanted a family that was safe and someone he could trust in 100%, and Jin Ho was the first person to give him that kind of back up, even though Jin Woo was already strong enough to take care of himself. And then after Jin Woo saved him out of love for Jin Ho, it was Jin Ho's dad that agreed to take care of Jin Woo's family so that Jin Woo could go into war w/o having to worry-- the very kind of back up that Jin Woo has always craved. When you add that to the fact that he's always craved a father figure and literally any positive male presence in his life (I mean look at his level of attachment to any older male who doesn't go out of their way to hurt him) I honestly think Jin Ho and his dad being officially and legally a part of Jin Woo's family has more meaning than any other relationship. They give him the relief that having a father or a brother would have given him.

Also it's unbearably sweet that the guild they named after Jin Ah ends up being led by her brother and her husband. Jin Ho didn't even know her when it was named, but he ended up loving her just as much. 🥺

#shut up az #solo leveling #ignoring Cha hae in tbh like #I don't even know where to begin #she doesn't feel like a real character. tbh.

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a-ranting-blogorsomething · 8 months ago

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a ff idea that i got at 3 AM

okay if i write it okay i may turn it into a proper book but so far just a glimpse,

a yoongi ff, he is a warrior and female lead is the youngest princess, king and queen died and crown prince is the one and only kim seokjin who is famous af because he is changing the monarch with new innovative ways which seems completely futuristic and old people set in their ways hate him and tries to manipulate him but his right hand man kim namjoon is just as savage and breaths fire, so an UNSTOPPABLE TEAM. anyways onto the story - part 1

playlist song - So high school, Alchemy - taylor swift.

I woke up with the sound of jimin practically screaming and going back and forth like all the worries of the world are on his shoulders.

"your highness please wake up we have tons of things to do!!!! we are going to be LATE!"

"oh my god!! for fucks sake relax, im up, and we are only going to meet jinnie for breakfast."

"He is the king, Im nervous..."

"Take deep breaths okay?"

"okay and dont curse your highness."

"i won't in front of other people as long as you stop calling me that i swear to god chim we have been together since babies, call me Lizzie."

"alright, just go get ready the maids have kept everything, your bath is ready and -"

"I got this chim go, you do what you want."

ughhh he really needs to chill, jimin, tae ad I have known each other since we were kids and they are my personal helpers, but more than that we are best friends, i can share absolutely anything with them well with tae, jimin is more like a mother, he always worries 24/7 and how everything could go wrong and how i should make good choices.

As i got ready and opened my door and their they were, My best friends, as I sling my arms on their shoulders, tae laughed while chim glared. as to silently saying thats not what royals do.

I can practically hear his voice in my head.

And we link arms and went to the royal dinning hall for breakfast. and we arrived to see a pretty entertaining site,

we see Kim Seokjin, the future king of this empire teaching the royal chefs how to cook that particular food to perfection as he calls, the jin way, while they are scared to death.

"Yes now you flip this when its that color, you dont add the salt before, it gets all crazy and-"

"Oh hey !! lizzie! tae and chim how are you ? Ah havn't seen you in ages with all the work that I'm surrounded by, I have got tons of gossip I need to tell you !"

we sat down and had the most amazing breakfast, obviously because it was supervised by my brother. while jin told us everyhting that happened to that old bastard who tried to manipulate him into doing something horrible and how he exposed so much of secrets that his wife left him with his kids and with all the estate and money which jin helped her getting and now he is alone with nothing. Classic.

chim is just there sitting absolutely horrified and tae and I are so freaking proud. after breakfast we met joon for tea until they both went to their office because they are planning something big, I am excited they are so amazing, ever since jinnie went to become the crown prince and handling everything he has done so much and his morals remain the same, helping everyone in need without being apologetic and never backing down, he deserves to be the king of this empire and i just know he is so loved by all the people.

and now its the time for the best part of day,

watching warriors practice,

tae, chim and I have this time in our day where from this window in the library you get the perfect view of the field where the royal warriors train and do practise fights, My personal favourite, general min yoongi, he trains the warriors, the first in line in every war, the most strangest and bravest warrior, every war he led, we never lost, also one of the best friends of my brother.

from 1 to 3 they fight and practice in the sun sometimes without shirts, where we three just die.

"This is the best time of the day, the sun is hitting perfectly on my future husband's chest" sighs tae.

"I know right"

"what which one was yours again tae?" asked chim

"The fiercest and new warrior jeon."

"Oh yea he has got the best upper body." i couldnt help but exclaim.

"ya! you got yours dont look at MINE!"

"What ? Im just appreciating beauty and dont worry I only got love for yoongi"

"both of you are wrong the crown prince have the best shoulders." whispered chim. but we heard and couldnt help but stare at him in bewilderment.

"W-What? I - I'm just saying...."

we spend the whole afternoon watching from the window and went down to "only drink tea" while sitting just beside where they were taking a break from the hard practice.

"oh my god oh my god oh my god!!!!!!! did THE jeon jungkook just looked at me and SMILED !!" tae exclaimed

"oh my god i think i saw that too!!!! he totally likes you tae!!"

i said while we hugged each other in our delusions.

"you guys support each others delusions way to much its not healthy."

"thats what friend ship is chim ."

"yea we should support yours too, jin thinks your are cute too!"

"YA WHEN TF DID I SAID THAT !!!"

chim screamed a little too loud as the warriors turned to look at us for real this time, while he sank in his seat with red cheeks in embaressment. while tae and I were trying to stifle our laughs.

after sometime we were just about to go inside when general jeon came out of nowhwere, and greeted us and asked me if he could take to tae, I agreed instantly as tae was uncharacteristically quiet with complete red face, they talked and chim and I tried to listen what was going on and I heard a clearing of a throat.

"Your highness"

"shut up chim I'm trying to listen !!"

i felt a tap on my shoulder and saw chim looking at me and I looked behind him and saw general yoongi LOOKING AT ME!! he called me !!

"Oh oh . um... .. general min."

"i dont think its nice to listen like this, others private conversations , your highness."

"oh no its fine tae is my friend."

"ah your highness i remembered something i need to go" jimin bowed an practically ran away.

"nice evening right ? general min"

"Yea its pretty nice we had a great practice"

"yea i saw......I -I mean i barely noticed but like you know I um I was coming down and i saw a glimpse of you know the swords and yea.."

"oh yea ohkay." said yoongi okay i might be delusional but i think he is shy,

sjbifbvwqyficnyugqwvqkwghf chjsc bkjsubveiyrfbvwjkfblkbfwebuvidsucbsdh vblsbvoleblejhfbvlejbljewnvwyu efe fefue gfuyagfoui

ITS SO FUCKIng cute IMMA DIE!!!

While we had an awkward af good bye i went and reunited with chim as we wait for tae in my room so we could ask him what was all of that.

#ff #ffbts #btsff #bts army #bts jimin #bts jungkook #bangtan #namjoon #yoongi #bangtan sonyeondan #yoongi ff #fanfiction #taekook #vmin #bts ffs #taehyung #bts ff recs

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mama-ghostie-61542 · 18 days ago

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Third Time's the Charm

Chapter Four

Anie Pov

Yoongi suddenly stopped, “I am a horrible host. Would you like to sit? A drink, perhaps?”

I snorted. “Yes, please. Although, I don’t drink anymore. I gave it up when I realized I liked the numb too much, same with smoking weed.”

“Wow. Ok, so I think I have some juice, but it might be bad.”

“Coffee is fine, Darlin’.”

He smiled and nodded, “Now, that I can do,” before rushing off into his tiny kitchen and chattering about how my brothers were going to be so mad at him. A few minutes later, he carried in two mugs of steaming bean juice, “Black with four sugars, right?”

“How do you know that?”

“The telepathy, Mama. Sometimes, I could smell your sweet, strong coffee,” he said before he went over to the bank of windows and flipped a switch. The whirring of gears heralded the transformation of the windows into a balcony, allowing the coolness of the night in, while sheltering the hard wood from the rain. Afterwards, he went back into the kitchen, continuing to chatter, “I know you smoke, so I’m getting you a dish of water to put it out in. That way, neither of us catches a fine,” he said as he placed a plant stand on the balcony and sat the small dish on it.

“How,” I asked.

He chuckled, “Ya smoke too much, Pip,” as he settled down on the opposite end of sofa.

Meanwhile….

In that café, Jackson Wang sat back and sighed. Standing, he walked over to Jimin and Jin, settling in Yoongi’s vacated seat.

“Hey, Guys. Do ya think it worked?”

Jin snorted, “It better have. I get so tired of them both acting like they are dying but refusing to talk to each other.”

“Thanks, Blade,” Jimin smiled sadly. “Sorry it came to this, and we had to use Sis’s business as part of the ruse.”

Jackson smiled softly, “Don’t worry about it, Moose. I just hope they work their stuff out. It’s hard on Joon that they aren’t talking. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard on Danny, too; but it seems worse with Joon.”

“Yeah,” Jimin agreed. “Their first life, Sis was carrying when she and Watcher were caught as they were traveling to Dad’s and put in the Empresses stockade. To hear Dad tell it, he got her out in time for her to lose the baby. That baby was Joon. It hit Sis hard. It was almost a year before she could talk about him without wailing in grief. During this time, Hawk had been imprisoned by the Empress. It took him 18 months to get away.”

“That bitch tore the hell out of his back. It looked like it had been torn to ribbons and scarred over, like that one image of the slave man.”

Jackson winced as the memory of seeing the picture of the old man with the whip scars on his back came to mind. “Yikes.”

Jin nodded. “She beat him because he couldn’t,” Jin paused and shuddered. “Perform in privacy.”

Jackson and Jimin looked like they were going to hurl. However, Jackson croaked out, “So she beat him because he couldn’t get it up?”

Jimin shook his head, “Wouldn’t for her. Told me later, when she would demand he, ah, service her, he would think of their old house matron during training and let things go as they would. One night there was a big storm, and he was in a shoddy stockade. He broke out, ran all the way home. It was over 170 miles away.”

Jin took over from there. “She was in our tiny village, waiting for him to come collect her. Sis trained every day she could. I will never forget the commotion from the training ground as he stepped into her circle. We all thought she was gonna kill him, but she just dropped that bronze sword and crumpled to the ground, bawling. He was skinny as a rail, but he got down in the dirt with her and held on. I don’t know what he was whispering to her, but I do know that she had been strong for entirely too long and they needed that. That’s when she told him about the baby.”

“Elm, do you remember when he threatened to tie her to a tree so she couldn’t take a job the Elders had sent for her?”

“She was so mad,” Jin smiled, his soft eyes tinged with sadness. “Moose, do you remember the night we emptied the horse trough on them?”

“What,” Jackson queried as his eyes got wide.

Jimin started laughing, “Oh yeah. They were having a huge fight, it was about to come to blows when Jin, Swan, Pearl, and I hefted up a stone horse trough and dumped the contents on them.”

Jin was chuckling, “It got them to calm down, though. I remember the both of them sputtering like a couple of drowned rats.”

“I hope they aren’t fighting now,” Jimin sighed.

“Why,” asked Jackson.

“Cause if they fight, they will level half of Seoul and leave the other half a smoldering ruin,” Jin sighed. “Then we may have to call for backup.”

“Who would be the backup,” asked Wang.

“Watcher, Swan, Pearl, and Ata. They are the only folks to get her to calm down when she’s pissed at him.”

Jin nodded, “Usually it takes an awful lot to make her mad, but with that much history between them, I’m a bit scared if he does push her buttons.”

#original writing #my writing #soul connection #soulmate #twin flame #past life fic #astral projection #fanfic #bts fic #yoongi fic #min yoongi #min suga #yoongi x oc #yoongi

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sunhalf · 5 months ago

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@hourdive : “ there, ” cheng xiaoshi smiles as he hands xixi back her little pink cat plush ( or was it a bear? he couldn’t tell, but he won’t admit that ), “ good as new! and the fluffiness stayed in tact too. ” that smile turns into a proud grin as he leans over, “ whattya say to big brother cheng xiaoshi~? ”

"Ah...!" It's a small sound, hands reaching out and to grasp her toy the moment it's offered back to her. It's a precious gift, and one of the last pieces she has left of a time before everything got very - bad, or even - worse. She takes the plush and hugs it tightly to her chest, giggling something fragile and relieved. She'd been so worried, when the poor kitty got hurt. She was afraid nobody could fix it. Sometimes hurt things can't get fixed, and that's scary.

Cheng Xiaoshi is good at all sorts of things, though. Girls are supposed to be good at fixing this kind of stuff, not boys — that was what Papa said, at least, before he ( ... ) — but Qiao Ling says that kind of thinking is wrong, so Tianxi doesn't second - guess the gift. Just smiles and crushes the toy close to her chest.

Her eyes raise, lips parting, still smiling — smiling — smiling — until the other's words process. Big brother Cheng Xiaoshi. Her expression stills, smile frozen to her face, stuck like old glue. Big brother? It's dangerous to let men know you don't like what they said. Keep smiling. Cheng Xiaoshi is like a big brother. A lot like her big brother was, when they were little, before the hurting got even - worse. Doting and careful and kind. He teaches her a lot. Cheng Xiaoshi is ike a big brother. Does that mean that Cheng Xiaoshi is a little like —— Tianchen?

She doesn't like that thought. Pink eyes widen and pink head ducks, burying in the plush as if to hide. Her hands shake. She loves Tianchen, who made her kill people. She loves Tianchen, who protected her from Qian Jin — but she only had to be protected from Qian Jin because Tianchen handed the both of them back to another father who hated them. She loves Tianchen, who — who ———

It's not a very grown - up thing, to be angry that he abandoned her when she was the one to tell him to.

She wants a family that doesn't hurt or use her. She wants a big brother that doesn't hurt or use her. But every family she's ever had has done just that. She can't picture a family that doesn't. She doesn't want Cheng Xiaoshi, who's so kind, to be like Tianchen was. She isn't sure if any other kind of big brother exists.

Would it be bad, if she said that? No one here has ever tried to hit her — or Qiao Ling, which had been her greatest fear, and she'd watched how the boys treated her with suspicion and terror heavy in her gut — or yelled at her or told her she's bad. Would she get in trouble? Is it safe to risk saying the bad things? She's seen Qiao Ling's memories, and she knows Qiao Ling has never been afraid of either of them. Let alone Cheng Xiaoshi. All of Qiao Ling's memories of him were warm and sweet and full of grief.

Her head doesn't raise, but her hands do. It's a little clumsy, the thank you she signs. They stay raised, hesitating. She doesn't know how to ask him to promise he'll be a good brother. She can't live without a good brother.

#answered.#tianxi : main verse.#:')#u: sends me this cute ask #me: [imagining the absolute angst i am about to unleash upon u] hehehehehehhehehehehe #abuse /

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crystalsnow95z · 2 years ago

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Time for another request. Namjoon was spared from my last food poisoning story but he isn't safe this time and it hits him hard.

Warning: vom!t that's all. Let's get into the story. Feel free to make any suggestions

"Can we stop to get something to eat before the interview? I'm starving hyung.." Taehyung looks at Namjoon with big puppy dog eyes. "I haven't gotten to eat today.."

Namjoon checks the time. "We only got an hour before the interview, are you sure you can't wait?"

"I can wait.." Taehyung says with a pout.

"We can stop somewhere on the way, can't we, Namjoonie-hyung? He won't be able to focus if he's hungry and my stomach is growling, too." Jimin suggests gently.

"Alright, we can stop somewhere, but we have to make it quick. There's a burger place nearby. I'll ask staff if they could get us some." Namjoon gives in to his younger brothers.

"You hardly ate, are you feeling okay?" Jin asks taking the last bite of his burger.

"I'm fine, I'm just not really hungry." Namjoon states. "I ate a lot last night, I'll be fine."

"We're leaving in five minutes." A staff member says knocking on the door.

"Okay!" Namjoon calls to them. "Lunch time is over, it's time to clean up." He orders the others, helping them clean up.

Taehyung shoves a few more fries in his mouth while Namjoon tries to put it away. "You're going to gain weight if you keep eating like that."

"Hobi-hyung, he's picking on me..." Taehyung playfully whines with a fake cry going to the closest big brother, making J-hope giggle, hugging Taehyung close.

"He's been working hard, he'll be okay." J-hope kisses Taehyung on the top of the head lovingly. "Let's get going."

"Namjoon..she asked you a question.." Yoongi gently nudges Namjoon with his elbow whispering.

Namjoon couldn't focus on the interview, his stomach screaming in pain. (Maybe i should've eaten with the others...) He tried to discreetly rub his stomach to try to ease the pain.

"Namjoon-ah.." Yoongi speaks a little louder, Namjoon looks at Yoongi who gestures at the interviewer holding the mic to him.

Namjoon quickly looks at the woman standing in front of him, bowing deeply. "{I'm sorry, but could you repeat the question..}"

"{I asked how many countries you are visiting for on your tour. I know there are three different cities you are visiting in the US.}" The woman repeats.

"{We are going to five other countries after we leave the US..}" Namjoon answers.

"{We are going to Brazil next, then Germany.}" Yoongi draws the attention away from Namjoon.

He feels someone grab his hand, looking down to see Taehyungs slender fingers wrap around.

"Hyung you're shaking.." Taehyung whispers. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be okay. Focus on the reporter...we don't want to be rude.." Namjoon gives his hand a squeeze leaning a bit against him.

J-hope glares at their translator, motioning for them to translate. Jin moves in front of him, blocking him from the reporters view to stop her from asking him anymore questions.

The interview went smoothly thanks to the members handling the situation. Namjoon cheered loudly when the members cheered, even though he wasn't concentrating on the conversation. (I have to keep smiling.. I don't want to worry, army..)

J-hope tucks his arm in the crook of Namjoons elbow, the group moving quickly to get him away from all the camera flashes.

Namjoon finally lets his smile drop when they enter the waiting room. His voice comes out small only being heard by J-hope."I think I'm going to throw up.." As soon as he spoke, a wet burp escaped him. Namjoon covers his mouth, trying to hold in the bile thar rose up his throat. Jin helps him into a chair, "Jungukk get the wastebin."

Jungkook quickly looks for a waste bin, bringing it to Namjoon. "Here, hyung."

Namjoon holds it close to his chest, his dinner from last night coming back up again. It comes out in violent heaves, leaving him feeling weak and dizzy. Anytime he tried to gasp to get air, his stomach stopped him, adding more mostly digested food into the bin. The acid tang burned his throat, making him cough.

"Poor Joon.. he's really sick.." Jin keeps his hands firmly on Namjoon's shoulders to keep him from falling forward, feeling him trembling. "He can't perform tonight.."

"We will have to have someone cover his parts or-"

"No..no I can do it.. it's just two songs.." Namjoon interrupts J-hope, shakily sitting up, trying to catch his breath.

"Namjoonie, are you sure? You shouldn't push yourself." J-hope looks at him with worried eyes.

"Yes, I'm feeling better now.. I can do it.." Namjoon places the trash bin on the floor.

Jimin hands Namjoon a tissue box. "I don't think you should perform. You don't look like you're feeling better.."

"I can do it.." Namjoon tried so sound more confident than he felt, trying his best to wipe the sweat and vomit from his face. (My right side hurts every time I breathe.. I need to get my breathing under control..)

"I'll trust you.. but try to take it easy when you perform. You should sit and perform instead of dancing."J-hope says, rubbing his back.

"I'm okay. Really." Namjoon insisted. "It's probably just because I didn't eat today.. I'll eat right after the performance.." (I don't want to disappoint army..)

J-hope hugs him from behind. "You're so stubborn. If you really think you can do it I won't stop you, but I'll At least get them to put a chair on stage just in case, but if you throw up again before we go on I'm pulling you from the performance. I'm serious."

The boys quickly got their makeup touched up before going into the audience to watch the others perform. Namjoon puts on a face mask to try to hide his face, and Taehyung takes a hat from his bag putting it on him.

"They'll have to style my hair again.."

"I'll apologize to them. I just don't want the camera to focus on you.." Taehyung takes Namjoon by the hand putting him in the middle of him and Jin.

They didn't get to sit for long before the group was called on stage to accept an award announcing them as the winner. Yoongi puts a hand on his shoulder as they walk. They give the award to Namjoon and try to pass him the mic, but J-hope reaches for it instead.

"AAMMMIII..." He yells into the mic, drawing the attention to himself. Jin and Jungkook stand to block Namjoon from view, and Yoongi speaks next, trying to mimic the speech Namjoon was reciting to himself in the car.

Namjoon leans his chin on Jin, a wave of vertigo blurring his vision. Jungkook takes Namjoon's hand, leading him off the stage. Namjoon nearly tripped going down the steps, Jin steadying him."It's okay if you can't perform. You don't have to do this. You can hardly handle the steps.."

"I just tripped. I'm okay." Namjoon tells him. (If I keep repeating myself, maybe it'll come true..)

They win three more awards before the performance, the members playing keep away with their leader any time they tried to make him speak. Their performance was next and they went into the green room to get their in ears and mics.

(We're doing the beginning of save me..then switching to I'm fine...) Namjoon let out a dry chuckle at the irony of the situation.

"What's so funny?" Jungkook asks.

"The songs we choose.." Namjoon answers.

"Are you sure you don't want to sit this one out?" J-hope asks again, his voice thick with worry not finding the situation humorous. "It's okay to rest if you have to. Army doesn't want us pushing too hard. If we explain.."

Namjoon shakes his head. "I can do it." (At least.. I hope I can..) His stomach felt a little better, but the medicine the staff gave him was not doing much to help with the nauseous feeling that washed over him as soon as he went under the hot stage lights.

His body moved on instinct, running to his position and getting in sync with the other members. The sound of Army chanting their names gave him strength, but he the jumping made the pain in his stomach return with a vengeance. When he layed down for Jimin's verse he was afraid he wouldn't be able to get back up again, but he forced himself back up, fear washing over him when he remembered he was going to be center for his rap verse.

The members couldn't stop looking in his direction, and when his rap part came he came a second too late, having to do it off beat.

He stopped to try to get back on track, and when he did he heard thousands of voices singing his part with him. Army had joined in with him. Their voices gave him the adrenalin he needed, coming back strong to finish his part.

(I can do this.. we're halfway through.. I just need to hold out a little longer..)He couldn't jump as high as the other members, getting off sync because his feet hit the ground too early. (Sh*t..i can't do this...)Namjoon couldn't help but wrap a hand around his sour stomach when another painful cramp hit, the stress getting to him. (It's J-hope's verse now...) He was glad to stop moving a moment, but when it was his turn to jerk back up he stumbled into J-hope.

J-hope steadied him, helping him back into position, continuing the choreography. Namjoon tries to do the same, but he couldn't focus. His body remembered the steps for him.

"Let me lift V instead." He hears Yoongi whisper, gently nudging him to go into his position.

It took a moment to process what he was saying before it clicked. (Yoongi already had to lift Taehyung once..) it was too late to make any more changes, Yoongi already in position to lift Taehyung.

The two rappers struggled to switch back to the original positions, almost colliding into each other.(Now Yoongi made a mistake because of me. I can't mess up anymore..) Namjoon pushed through the last thirty seconds of the song, feeling his body swaying at the end. He tried to close his eyes to wait for the dizziness to pass, but his knees buckled. Jin quickly grabbed him by the shoulders. J-hope and Jin help him off the stage, moving quickly to get him away from the crowd, going into the green room. "I'm sorry..I did so bad..." Namjoon felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes. "I'm gonna throw up..."

Taehyung quickly grabs the waste bin, putting it in front of Namjoon. "You did great for being so sick."

"You did the best you could. I can't believe you actually made it through the whole performance.." J-hope rubs his back as he gets sick. Namjoon had nothing left his his stomach, only acid coming up, making him gag more at the awful taste.

"Don't worry about it. All you can do is give it everything you got. You did that and more." Jin tries to comfort Namjoon, rubbing his tensed shoulders.

"I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have performed.. I should've listened." Namjoon sobbed, burying his face in his hands, then quickly looking up again. "Yoongi-yah.. are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Just focus on yourself." Yoongi tried to sound strong, but pain laced his voice, rubbing his shoulder.

"That was quick thinking Yoongi-hyung. I feel stupid for not realizing that would be an issue. I should've done it instead." J-hope praises Yoongi, causing him to blush lightly.

"I was the closest one that could do it so I just followed my instinct. I didn't want him or Taehyung getting hurt." Yoongi dismisses the praise.

"Thanks, Yoongi-hyung.." Namjoon says softly.

Jungkook wipes Namjoon's tears, handing him a water bottle. "Please don't cry hyung. You're going to make me cry.."

Namjoon looks up at the mankae, his eyes already shining with unshed tears. "I'm sorry. I'm fine now.."

"Let's get you home." Jin helps Namjoon get the mic pack and inears off. "I'll make you some jook. You need to eat something."

"I don't think I can eat.." Namjoon responds honestly, taking a small sip of water to try to get rid of the taste in his mouth.

"You have to try at least a little for me. Please at least try.. Okay?" Jin begs

"hyung..." Namjoon's stomach churns at just the thought of food, causing him to gag more bile coming up, cursing under his breath. His eyes water as his stomach tightens, painfully vomiting.

Jin looks around at the others, everyone getting ready to help Namjoon get home, forming a circle like the body guards.

Fans flash photos of the boys while they get to the car, screaming for the boys to try to get their attention. Namjoon struggles just to keep walking forward, the adrenalin that kept him going gone. The six boys form a bubble around him, blocking him from view, them waving wildly and flashing hearts. The body guards are extra protective as well, making sure no one steps a single foot over the ropes.

Jin keeps one hand discreetly around Namjoon's waist to be sure he doesn't fall, and yoongi keeps hold of Namjoon's clammy hand, holding it tight.

"Love you army!" J-hope and Taehyung yell cheerfully over the crowd, bowing and making hearts as Jin and Yoongi help Namjoon into the car, moving him by the window.

"Thank you, army. Love you!" Jungkook joins in making a heart over his head.

The seven boys make it in the car safely, Taehyung and Jungkook waving out the window before rolling it up again.

"It's finally over." Namjoon sighs in relief, leaning his head on Jin.

"You're really warm, Joon.." Jin sucks in air through his teeth, running a hand across Namjoon's forehead into his hair. "You're still sweating, too."

"I'll take a bath when we get back. I don't think I could stand long enough for a shower.." Namjoon closes his eyes tightly, the movement of the car being too much for his stomach to handle. "Please.. stop the car.."

When the driver tries to switch lanes to pull over, the bile already rose up his throat, all color leaving his face.

"It can't wait. Roll down the window!" J-hope orders, Jin rolling down the window and helping Namjoon move to stick his head out. Namjoon gets sick all over the car door, body trembling violently.

"We need to get him to a hospital.. he's going to need an IV at this rate.." Jin says sounding panicked, rubbing Namjoon's back. "Please, take us to a hospital.." He asks the driver.

When they arrive at the hospital Namjoon couldn't walk, needing to sit in a wheelchair as he waits, a nurse gives him a pink bin in case he had to get sick again, and to Namjoon's horror, his stomach tightened, causing him to heave, more sick coming out.

"{Please. No flim. No photo. No post.}" Jin pleads with the people around them in English, taking off his jacket to cover up Namjoon from view.

Security had to usher people away but that didn't stop them from trying to get as much footage as they could before being pushed away.

The hospital is quick to get them in a private room. Jin helps Namjoon onto the bed then helping him undress to put on the gown. The nurse knocks on the door, Jin peeking through the crack before letting her in.

"{Hello I'm Miss. Maple, I'm going to be your nurse today, do you understand?}" She speaks slowly.

"{I'm fluent in English..}" Namjoon explains to her, voice shaking.

Jin held Namjoon's hand as he spoke with the nurse, rubbing his thumb across his knuckles. "It's okay if you need to cry." He whispers. "She'll understand."

Namjoon shakes his head, elbowing Jin softly, not letting his emotions out until she leaves the room to get an IV bag.

"It's going to be everywhere.." Namjoon whimpers, hot tears rolling down his cheeks.

"No it won't. I'll make sure of it even if I have to report every video myself." Jin tells him. "The company will handle it. The other members are already on it too. We will get this taken care of. You just focus on getting better." Jin wipes the tears from Namjoon's face, pulling a small pack of tissues from his bag. "You got snot all over your face." Jin tuts, cleaning up his nose. "It's not that big of a deal. Everyone gets sick."

"I'm sorry Hyung.." Namjoon sniffles, trying to stop.

"Don't be. It's not your fault. Just try to rest some while we wait for the nurse. You look exhausted." Jin gives him a soft kiss on the forehead.

Namjoon went back to the hotel after two IV bags, the doctor confirming it's just food poisoning. Namjoon felt safer at the hotel where the other members were not wanting to spend a night alone in the hospital.

To his surprise when Jin lead him back to his room to rest for the night, the other five members were in his room.

"Namjoonie-hyung!" Jungkook was the first to go greet him, hugging him lightly. "Are you feeling any better?"

"A little..what are you doing in here..?" Namjoon asks

"I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until I saw you in person, and the others felt the same." Taehyung answers, taking his turn to hug onto Namjoon.

"I want to show you something!" J-hope says, pulling up something on his laptop. When Namjoon went over to see what he was talking about he saw it was Twitter. He was trending all over Twitter, but he didn't see a single clip of him getting sick. Twitter was flooded with get well messages and praise.

"All the platforms are like this. The company put out a warning about filming our private moments, but it looks like Army has your back, too. If the clips are out there, they are getting reported so fast I haven't seen them." J-hope gets up, hugging Namjoon. "You have no reason to worry. Everyone understands."

Relief washes over Namjoon, sighing in relief.

"Now that you're feeling better mentally, let's work on physically. You need to rest, but first, could you at least eat this banana or some applesauce? Just something small so you have something in your stomach..?" Jimin asks with worry plastered on his face. "I read it's good for when you've been throwing up."

"Alright.. I'll try, but after you guys need to get to bed. You look dead on your feet." Namjoon peels the banana open, taking a bite to appease the young vocalist.

Namjoon lays in bed, regretting his decision to please Jimin, but he wasn't worried about being sick anymore.

(They all handled the situation so well.. I'm so proud to be a part of this team, and army.. They were quick to defend me..)

Namjoon rushes to go throw up again, just barely having the strength to sit up. As he throws up the mush that was once a banana, another wave of dizziness makes it hard to stay sitting up.

When starts falling, he feels an arm stop him. "I got you.." J-hope coos. "It's okay.."

"I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to wake you.."Namjoon apologizes.

J-hope tuts his tongue at him. "Stop being sorry. I'd much rather you wake me up than you suffer alone.. I love you Namjoon. I don't mind losing sleep to take care of you. If any of us were worried about you waking us up we would've just went to our hotel rooms. Let's get you back to bed, okay. Hyung could you help?"

Namjoon looks up to see who he's talking to, Jin leaning down to help him up. He leads him back to his bed that the three youngest members took over, Taehyung holding out his arms to Namjoon.

Namjoon wasn't usually the cuddly type, but with how awful he was feeling he felt needy for human contact, feeling comforted by the warmth of his old roommate's body and his steady heart beat as he lays on his chest.

"Don't get used to this Tae.." Namjoon says with a yawn.

"I won't.. I love you Namjoonie-hyung..I hope you get better soon..." Taehyung rubs Namjoon's stomach, whispering softly.

Namjoon falls asleep quickly after murmuring a soft, 'I love you..' Back to him, finally falling into the deep sleep he desperately needed.

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youmarin · 1 year ago

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"The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" rant.

*Spoilers below*

Gotta get it off my chest. Mostly bc I hurt for Kim Moo Young .

I read the series summary and I was like, "Mmm okaaay there's gonna be trauma here." To be honest I didn't think grandly of him during the first episodes. Actually I didn't know what to think of Kim Moo Young. A very goodlooking mf who's a loner. He grew in an orphanage after the incident and well he seemed to care for the nuns there but that was it. He didn't let anyone close or felt anything for anyone (the closest thing before things developed was that coworker of his but even they didn't appear too close to be called friends? idk).

Until he overheard that conversation between Seung Ah and Jang Woo Sang, he didn't seem to do stuff that would make him go out of his way. He seemed to be looking to entertain himself even at the cost of other people's well being. That was because he normally was numb minded. He didn't understand people's behaviour, like for example, why people "had" to do things they didn't really want to do. So when he taunted Seung Ah (even though it must've been uncomfortable. I felt like that watching it), I thought, "He's being quite an asshole, but maybe that's his way to try and help her step up for herself?". Think about it, things are never as easy as just saying it. She thought she couldn't get herself out of that situation but Moo Young didn't see things like that. He saw things differently. And so he was like, "If you don't wanna do it then don't." Simple as that.

Seung Ah fell for Moo Young because of that. And I don't think she really loved him either. She was clinging to him to escape her own life, one that was mostly decided for her and that she didn't want. (Plus they've "known" each other for like 2 months. C'mon.)

Still at this point, Moo Youngs motivations regarding Seung Ah were obviously messed up. "I wanted to know what drives a rich girl.", the whole bunch of lies, working up people for the fun of it. I wasn't a fan. He really gave an uneasy feeling (and with that face too. I was like, "Damn he's so fine but something's really wrong with him. Can't say I like him but I don't unlike him" lmao). And all that game got two people killed (which of course he didn't plan on it to end like that, and it was her fiancé, speeding and being drunk off his ass that didn't even bother to press the breaks before they crashed. ). But feeling nothing over it? Something's up up there in his head.

Same with Lim Yu Ri. He keeps her from ending her life and she catches feelings (he collects broken girls and broken girls love him 💀). He learns she's on a tough spot with another girl who's extorting her. And he intervenes again and helps someone who's also clearly not in her right mind to commit murder. Moo Young stands and watches. And then goes and cleans it up. ( 🚩❗)

Seung-Ah's and Jeong Mi Yeon's death were not his doing. Directly. But he did stuff that lead to that end. And still, no remorse, no guilt. Nothing. Again, technically he didn't do it so why would he feel those? But well, any other person would, wouldn’t they?

It's understandable and logical for Jin Gook to be a worried brother and not want Jin Kang near him. Oh but wait! Jin Gook might know the guy! From way back when he was a little boy! He's aware of the great possibility that Moo Young might be actually the son of a criminal he accidentally shot to death more than twenty years ago. And that Jin Kang and Moo Young's pasts are linked. But Jin Gook is scared for Jin Kang and more scared for himself to face the past and burst the bubble he's been trying to keep for so long (though it's still eating him alive).

Unfortunately for him, Jin Kang falls in love with Moo Young and for her, Moo Young decides to try an be a good person and stop acting as he had been until then. With her help.

"Promise me you'll be a good person." "Then teach me."

And he starts getting curious again about the past he'd forgotten about thanks to (funny, huh) the car crash he was in with Seung Ah and Jang Woo Sang. And what does Jin Gook decides to do? Stab. the. guy. A police officer. Oh and after calling Moo Young a murderer, a devil and everything he could come up with. Talking big when he had also killed someone (be it an accident, that the person was a murderer and that he might've ended up sentenced with death anyway, it doesn't take away that he killed someone).

And then everyone at the station being normal about it?? "Oh there was no report." Nobody investigated shit. Tak So Jung saw the footage and still did shit about it. But that also lead to Moo Young seeking the doctor (the doctor who let go an amnesic 7 year old boy from a hospital alone to who knows where with nobody to take care of him. Just relying on chance, "Maybe it'll be better". Like some sort of study subject.).

More questions were brought to Moo Young. The only thing the doctor could tell him was that his father fell to his death. But he knew that wasn't it because every time that the memory came he saw and heard a gun fired. So he goes to where they say his father died, finds his house (that scene when he's inside the house and the memories come back full force that he falls to the ground. Ok, kill me now that was so intense.) And he finds out that his girlfriend's brother is his father's killer. Now, how can he tell her that?

He goes back, he's angry, he has to know the rest. He breaks into Jin Gook and Jin Kang's house. Finds an old missing child poster with his picture in it. Then he reaches out for help with Jang Woo Sang's older sister (from the people he got tangled with in the beginning and that Jin Kang had stopped him from getting involved with again. And Jin Kang had told him that those people were capable of anything. Honestly didn't get that woman's deal. She was really a bitch who loved nobody and loved toying with people. Girl, get a life won't you. Mind your business.) He asks for a gun and breaks in again into their house. When Jin Gook arrives he sees Moo Young's shoes in the entryway. And he admits that he shot his father. Moo Young asks why and tells him he ruined his childhood and family. But was he really going to shoot him? I don't know. I really want to believe he wouldn’t shoot him. Because Jin Gook is important to Jin Kang. And I know he said a couple of times "You're just you to me." Which basically I translate to "The hell with your brother." (plus he stabbed him. I have resentment over that lol. Like, what was the reason?).

But I'm glad we didn't see that happen (for Moo Young. The grudge again 💀). Later he finds out that the story he had made around his drawing, the sole clue he was left with for a long time was actually not true. His dad, who he thought had in a moment searched for him, was not a police officer (that was Jin Gook, in fact), it was a murderer. A murderer who killed his mom and two others (when I heard about the other two people that's when I realized, "Ok those are Jin Kang's parents" and the idea that popped into my head when Tak So Jung told Jin Gook "If that's the boy you were searching they can't be together.", that Jin Kang and Moo Young were siblings, was wrong. But they scared me for a sec. with that. I was like, "Hell nah I love SIG but what's up with his dramas always having smthn (the age gaps in Café Minamdang and High School King of Savvy? Mostly the Minamdang one. Don't get me wrong I still loved the shows but there was that fact that eek! Aand now incest? Pls no. And thank GOD it wasn't. Phew 😬😅😂)

Continuing, Moo Young feels disgusted (for someone who barely felt anything now he feels this great love for Jin Kang and is so troubled with all the things he's found out, and the things still left for him to know) and that it now makes sense his way of being. The Dr. tells him his past and his father's doing have nothing to do with him and that he's an example of that.

"You're just you."

The "I love you" text. She knew he was in pain.

"Are you really ok with who I am?" "I want to be born again." 🥺💔

"To be born again you have to live in a warm house. A warm house smells like warm rice."

And when she got burnt and he was so worried and it brought another piece of the puzzle of his memory. He and Jin Kang had been together all along.

(Also that scene of them comparing their scars? I was not okay.💔) "They look like a map. And we followed that map to get here."

But he got it wrong and believed they were siblings (also bc of that lying bitch of Jang Woo Sang's sister. Honestly I didn't think he'd believe her. He always was so "Don't trust people, people are nothing." So clever, used to lie and play around like that that I thought he'll ask for proof or something. But that was how he remembered it and well the bitch hadn't lied to him until that point so oh well) and couldn't tell Jin Kang because he loved her. But not the way a brother loves a sister. And how could he tell her that yes, your dad is the same as mine, a murderer who killed our mom and two more people. And even when he found out that thankfully they were not siblings he still didn't want Jin Gook to tell her anything because still the truth wasn't much better. His father killed her parents.

And then Kim Moo Young commited murder trying to protect Jin Kang when he didn't have to.

"I killed someone when I felt human the most."

Jin Kang unable to believe it and breaking down saying he couldn’t have done it, that he couldn’t even stand seeing a bird or a fish hurt. Because she knew him better than anyone. He truly was sensitive.

How Moo Young hugged Jin Gook (See that? No need for hurting him more, man.) Left him a note. Signed with his real name. 💔

"When I met Jin Kang I was able to breathe again." 😭

And when she pointed a gun to her forehead his façade vanished.

"Go back."

"To where? You've been there from the start."

The fucking ending. She made him admit that he wanted to live right before that mf came in and shot her first, that being the last thing he saw, breaking his heart one last time before he was shot and died too.

How she didn't get to say "I love you" back. He only got to say it while he was dying and she just texted it to him. And it was probably the first time he remembered ever saying it to someone. Like when Jin Kang asked him if he had ever really liked someone and he said, "you."

How in the beginning he was the one who looked over and treasured Jing Kang but no one looked over him for so long until she came around again years later without remembering him and finally showed him love.

(And how it was her voice now that woke him up from the nightmare/memory.)

I hated that they always kept Jin Kang in the dark. Like, tell her something pls. Enlighten the woman too. She died and never got to know the mess that made Moo Young break up with her. She missed so much. Trying to protect her that much ended bad.

How different would've been things maybe if Moo Young also had had someone like Jin Kang did. (?)

If Jin Gook had told them everything!!! Instead of being so against them. Moo Young made mistakes but he then tried (and it really showed in his eyes how he instantly regretted it when Jin Gook treated him like that. Because he wasn't doing it for him, he was doing it for Jin Kang.). And Jin Gook was always like, "You can start afresh" (even though he always carried his grief and regret but still, he tried to believe that but apparently that didn't apply to Moo Young or wtf).

Loved, loved, loved the scene when they first slept together, how full of love and how they couldn't help their laughter because of how happy they were at that momemt. All the times she squished his face. So cute hahah. And when he carried her inside his house. How she helped him make his house a home. He didn't even have a single glass because, what was the need for those things? He's the only one who's ever there.

And that scene when he's looking at the night sky and cries and Jin Kang appears there. "How didn't I know? There are so many beautiful things in the world." And then the shot shows him lying there alone. I don't have a heart anymore, this show stepped on it and shattered it. 💔 It was so sad but such a beautiful scene.

When she told her smthn like, I hope you always have things like plants to water and food you have to eat before it spoils and that those stuff cling to you and all that. For him to keep living and enjoying the simple things. Things that in the end they didn't have the chance to live for. 🥺🥲

Other stuff that ended me:

"You planted love in her heart". "I don't believe it but I hope it's true."

"You protected her with your tiny body." "Now I feel proud of my big, ugly scar." (And this got me thinking how he protected her back then and then she did the same and took the bullet for him. But in the end both got burned and both were shot 💔💔💔)

And the songs "Lost", "Star". Loved them. And "Hidden Memory" (again, that whole scene).

Anyways, great name. I have puffy eyes thanks to this drama. The smile left me eyes.

I'll edit this if something else comes up in my head later but I had to write all these so I can process what I just finished watching yesterday evening.

#the smile has left your eyes #tshlye #kim moo young #yoo jin kang #seo in guk #jung so min #park sung woong #yoo jin gook #hundred million stars from the sky #kang sun ho #han jung yoon #kdrama

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lilmeowzsworld · 11 months ago

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My Forbidden Desire

Teaser

pairing: jung hoseok x oc

summary: Kim Kyungmi's first day of college ends up being eventful as she discovers her brothers have been keeping a secret from her. Now, she has to juggle the responsibilities of a student and a sister of the Charmed Trio and live up to the family name. On top of that, romance is blossoming between her and a student she's paired with to help do an assignment.

trigger warning: none

a/n: This fanfic is a inspired by the original "Charmed" show from 1998. While I will copy some elements from the show, I will still try to work my way around them and make it as original as possible. All the credit goes to the rightful creator and I do not intend to claim any of the elements I use in this fanfic from the show as my own.

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As Seokjin's car pulled up to the bustling campus of the Korea University, Kyungmi's excitement mingled with nervousness. Seokjin and she stepped out of the car, collecting their bags with the essentials they needed for the day. Kyungmi took in the scene of students mingling with each other and pilling out of the building. Beside her, Seokjin offered a comforting smile, his hand resting on her shoulder. „Everything will be alright, you'll do amazing,“ Seokjin's voice was filled with confidence and pride for his little sister.

Kyungmi returned the smile, suddenly wrapping her arms around her brother. „Thanks, Jin oppa,“ Seokjin sighed with a smile as he patted her head lovingly.

As they made their way toward the entrance of the building, Kyungmi's heart skipped a beat when she spotted her best friend waiting for her near the entrance. His familiar smile filled her with a sense of warmth and reassurance, easing the last traces of nerves from her mind. Kyungmi said goodbye to her brother before she rushed over to greet Jimin.

„Jimin-ah!“ Kyungmi exclaimed, breaking into a grin.

Jimin's smile widened as he enveloped her in a hug, his arms wrapping around her. „Hey, Mi!“ Suddenly, Jimin tensed in her hold and Kyungmi noticed. Jimin frowned when he felt something different about her, something present within her. Something that wasn't there last night when he had visited her at her home. Kyungmi pulled away from Jimin and looked at him, asking if he was alright.

His gazed lowered from her eyes to the silver pendant hanging around her neck. It wasn't something she had on her before, he would know as she shared everything with him, and vice versa. Well, he didn't share everything. Jimin knew what that sensation within Kyungmi he was feeling was, and now he was sure it had something to do with the pendant. A flicker of recognition crossed Jimin's features as he realized the significance of the pendant – the pice of jewlery that had held her powers hidden.

„Jimin-ah, are you alright?“ Jimin picked up on Kyungmi's worry and he quickly masked his true feeling with a small smile.

„I'm fine,“ he replied. „Just got lost in thought for a moment.“

Despite Jimin's reassuring words, Kyungmi knew there was more to it than he was letting in on. She knew him enough to recognize when something was bothering him, and this time, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her. Something having to do with herself and the pendant he had been staring at. She wanted to press further, to uncover the secret he's hiding, but she also knew that he would tell her when he felt comfortable with it. So, Kyungmi nodded and forced a smile onto her face. „Alright then,“ she said, her voice gentle. „Let's head to class, shall we?“

#bts #bts seokjin #bts namjoon #bts jimin #bts yoongi #bts jungkook #bts taehyung #bts hosoek #bts fanfic #bts fantasy au #charmed 1998 #the power of three #hoseok x oc #bts jung hoseok #jung hoseok #hoseok fanfic #bts fluff #bts angst

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lyriaent-kpopimagine · 1 year ago

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𝑰 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑨𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆

[Areumdaun! cheongchunui Han jang~] The loud singing appeared from the darkness of the bedroom. Her alarm ringing.

[“Oh gosh! That scared me” Narae exclaimed.

“Is that your alarm?” asked Code Kunst.

“Yes it is,” Jangmi sheepishly answered, “I want to wake up right away, so I used a loud song”

“Do you like Day6?” Key asked.

“Yes. I’m a big fan of them.”]

“Dolce-ah~, Latte-ah~” A voice from underneath the pile of blankets called out. The pitter-pattering of footsteps was heard before her bedroom door opened, revealing her beloved babies. Hopping on the bed, they are quick to the awaiting arms of Jangmi.

[“So cute.” Key exclaimed.]

Sitting up and stretching, Jangmi got out of bed and exited her bedroom; finally showing the world her bare, morning face. Rubbing her eyes, and covering her yawn, she goes to the kitchen to feed her darling babies.

[“Wow! You look so pretty in the morning.”

“That’s what you look like without makeup?”]

Feeding her dogs, she walked back to her bedroom to freshen up. The sound of water pouring and music starts to drift out of her room. Meanwhile her dogs have just finished eating when the sound of the front door being unlocked caught their attention.

[“Who is it? Who’s there?” Narae asked.”]

The camera panned and showed two males coming in, face covered by a question mark, each holding a paper bag filled with flowers. Dolce and Latte went to guard her bedroom door, sitting in front of it. “Dolce-ah~, Latte-ah~” the mysterious figure cooed. “Are you doing a good job of protecting our princess?”

The question mark is lifted off their faces, revealing Jin-young and Tae-young of FATE.

[“Ah, It’s her older brothers” a collective sound of understanding was heard around the studio]

[“Hello~” Jangmi bowed, sitting behind her on her couch was Wilson the bear, sad idly. “Today, I have a free day from work, so I am spending with my older brothers.”]

Getting right to work, Jin-young and Tae-young placed the flowers on the table. A cake was pulled out from one of the bags and placed on the table. Setting up the cake and flowers as quickly as they could, they fashioned the flowers prettily.

[“Hello,” both Jin-young and Tae-young bowed in greeting.

‘Why are you setting up the table with all those flowers?’

“We couldn’t celebrate the release of her newest album when it came out, so we decided to surprise her today.” Jin-young explained, gesturing with his hands.

‘Were you nervous that she would be outside? You guys looked worried when coming in.’

“It wasn’t that we were nervous, but we just wanted to make sure Dolce and Latte wouldn’t bark.” Tae-young answered.]

[“My siblings wouldn't do this for me”]

Hearing the door open, they both got ready to surprise Jangmi. Stepping outside, Jangmi wasn’t prepared to see her brothers in her dining room; holding big bouquets of roses and carnations in different shades of pink and red.

“Hwa-young-ah~ Congratulations!” Both Jin-young and Tae-young shouted.

“Oppa! What are all these?” Jangmi asked, as she was led towards her dining table.

“To celebrate your new album,” Jin-young replied, patting her head. Looking up at both her older brothers, eyes twinkling in appreciation, she hugged both of them. “Jin-oppa, Tae-oppa, Thank you very much. I really love it.”

[“Wow, is this how you guys really are?” Key asked.

“You aren’t faking it for the camera?” Kian84 questioned

“The three of us are really this close. Even from a young age we were always close with each other.” Jangmi replied]

They all sat down and enjoyed the cake, which was strawberry short-cake, her favorite.

Sitting in the passenger seat of Jin-young’s car, Jangmi played around with the music, finally settling on Day6. “Aish, you and your love of Day6” Tae-young said, rolling his eyes. Turning around, she pokes him. “You can’t say anything you shawol.”

“But I can say something,” Jin-young pipes up, keeping his eyes on the road. This causes both Jangmi and Tae-young to look at him. “I’m friends with both of them, it feels weird when you keep gushing about how cool they are.”

“Yes, yes,” Jangmi and Tae-young replied at the sametime, looking at each other.

[“Oh, Tae-young is a fan of Shinee?” Hyunmoo asks

“Yes he is.”]

Arriving at the restaurant, they all got out of the car. “Jin-oppa! Tell Tae-oppa to stop poking me.” Jangmi clinged to Jin-young. Internally sighing, he told Tae-young to stop bothering Jangmi.

“Hyung~, she kept bothering me first.” Tae-young retaliated, clinging to Jin-young’s other arm. Not being able to hold back, he let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Both of you, stop annoying each other please. If you keep at it, I will go to the restaurant and leave you here until you both promise to stop annoying each other.”

“Yes.” Both of them promised.

[“It looked like kids being scolded by their mom.” Kian84 commented.]

Inside, once seated, they started to look at the menu. Calling the waiter, Jin-young starts ordering. Soon the food starts arriving; both Jin-young and Tae-young start grilling the pork bellies and pork loin. When the stew arrived, Jangmi portioned it into bowls and gave her older brothers their stew. Before giving some pork belly to Jangmi, Tae-young cuts the fat off and gives her a plateful of pork belly.

[“Eh! Why is he cutting the fat off?“ Narea asked.

“That’s the best part of pork belly.” Hyunmoo sighed.

“Actually, if I eat too much pork fat, my tummy ends up feeling sick.” Jangmi explained.

“Really?” Narae asked, surprised, “How much can you eat then?”

“Last time, one, two slices before my stomach hurt.” Jangmi gestured.

“Wow, I can’t imagine that.” Hyunmoo said, shaking his head.]

When they were all finished with their meal, Jin-young went to pay, whilst Jangmi and Tae-young shared looks at each other. When Jin-young returned, he was met with a gleeful looking Jangmi and Tae-young, holding a paper bag and box respectively. “Oppa/Hyung, since you’ve always taken such great care of us, we wanted to appreciate our thanks.”

Receiving the gifts with thankfulness, he opens them. In the paper bag were films for a film camera; and in the box was a Canon AE-1. placing the gifts down, he gave hugs to his younger siblings. “Thank you so much guys.”

Jangmi, not wanting Tae-young to feel left out, had prepared a gift for him. “Tae-oppa, I have something for you too.” She hands him the paper bag. Inside was the book he had been meaning to find. Grateful he hugs his little sister.

[“Today, although it started unexpectedly, I had a great time hanging out with my older brothers. It was nice to be with my family again, especially since our parents live far from us.” Jangmi expressed. “Even with our busy schedules, we always like to spend some time hanging out, catching up. I had a really great day. Jin-oppa, Tae-oppa, I love you.”]

[“It was fun hanging out with our younger sister again after a while. Since we are all idols, it’s sometimes hard to even talk with each other if not by calling. So we are thankful to be able to have fun with her today. Hwa-young-ah we love you.”]

#jangmi//🌷#kpop female oc #kpop soloist oc #oc kpop soloist #kpop imagines #oc kpop idol #relationships//🌷#family//🌷#tae-young//🌷#jin-young//🌷#I live alone imagine #variety//🌷

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cxhl0e · 2 years ago

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Hello a little One Shot on Gerard/ Gayul will not hurt 👀

Gerard / Gayul x Reader

(This One Shot and an excerpt from one of my fanfiction, which I translated for you )

Night had fallen, T/p and the others got out of the hospital quite late.

Gerard decide to invite you T/p to sleep at his place, and as long as T/p's house is quite far away, and then his brother is spending the week with their grandparents.

They walk in silence, T/p looks straight ahead with a lost gaze, she thinks about a lot of things, but nothing specific, apart from something in particular...

Broccoli broke the silence.

Gerard - Say Y/p, would you like me to treat you? View that you didn't want in the hospital.

T/p - If you don't mind *Smiling at him*

Before Gerard treated her, he offered her something to drink.

Which she didn't refuse.

While Gerard goes to get some dressings and bandages, T/p has a drink before getting up to go see what's in the living room.

Y/p - Cute... *She said looking at a picture of Gerard as a child*

Gerard comes back with everything, he puts it on the table and invites T/p to sit down.

He squatted up T/p's sleeve where the badly healed wounds had reopened because of Dongha.

He disinfects, and puts on some bandages and a bandage.

Y/p the gaze do with such concentration, it was the right time, once he was done.

Gerard announces that he's finished, he raises his head at the same T/p lowers his head to put his lips against Gerard's lips.

She recovers.

Y/p - I love you, Jin... *Smiling at him*

Gerard remains motionless trying to understand what happened, behind his bangs, his eyes were wide open and he was getting more and more red.

Which made T/p laugh.

T/p - Hahahahaha! Gayul come down to earth, please!

Gerard - Huh? Ah! Oh ! Sorry ! What I was absolutely not expecting!

Y/p - Don't worry... Gerard, what the-

Before she finishes her sentence, Gerard gives her a kiss on the cheek from T/p.

Gerard - Y/p... I love you too... *He said embarrassed*

T/p - Aaaaah... I was so scared that it wasn't mutual...

Gerard - Sorry to have scared you.

T/p - Don't worry, besides you could have kissed, you know?

Gerard - Yeah, I know, but I was afraid... that you- well there you go- you know- hm...

She kisses him again, and presses her forehead against Gerard's.

T/p - For a simple kiss, you have my consent.

Gerard kisses her again, which becomes a passionate kiss.

#weak hero #weak hero class 1 #weak hero x reader #Gayul Jin #Spotify

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breitweisergallery · 2 years ago

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the sequel to the idol gaon au

5 Idols Who Were in Drug-Related Scandals

4. Bae Woo-Sung from Minotaur

Bae Woo-sung, the main vocalist of boy group Minotaur, was charged with possession, consumption, and intent to sell narcotics in March 2019, as first released to the public by a press release by FH Entertainment. According to the release, Seoul Central District Court had learned of Bae working with four other people over a 14-month span to distribute narcotics. His sentence refers to an estimated total of 729 offences in that 14-month span.

At the time of the trial, Judge Kang Yohan sentenced him to serve fourteen years in prison, However, in a press release on October 5th, Judge Kang Yohan announced an error had been found in the paperwork relating to Bae Woo-sung’s case, and with such a clerical error, the ruling will be overturned and Bae Woo-sung will be released from prison. He will have served a total of seven years of his sentence upon release.

Whether or not Bae will return to his group is unclear as FH Entertainment has yet to release a statement. His little brother, Bae Woo-jin of Alt-R posted a message to his SNS welcoming his brother home.

There are few things that make Kim Gaon nervous. If asked, he would say that the thought of disappointing his fans, his friends, and himself, is the only thing to make him nervous enough to need to wipe sweaty palms subtly on the thighs of his dark jeans.

There are very few things that make him properly nervous; sitting in the silence of the private room rented for eight hours in the back of their favourite restaurant brings back the butterflies in his stomach that he thought he had managed to subdue that morning.

Yohan had spent close to twenty minutes talking down the nerves that left Gaon unable to sleep the night before, a worried look on his face and his fingers threading gently through the dark roots and fading purple hair, touching Gaon’s cheeks lightly with his fingertips.

Never mind the embarrassment Gaon felt at keeping Yohan awake all night with his worrying.

They’ve been together eighteen months and it still surprises Gaon when Yohan breaks from his usual to be more human, more vulnerable. Whether it means staying awake to comfort Gaon through a panic attack or sudden tears, reading aloud to him in the quiet of the study, or pretending to put up a fight only to cave when Gaon asks him to bring home a second cat to keep Kkomi company. It surprises Gaon every time, to see the way Yohan looks boyishly young at times, shy at others, seeking comfort and affection the same way Gaon himself does.

Yohan’s ability to calm the worst of emotions does little to help Gaon as he glances down at his phone and fidgets with the places where his case has cracked but not quite broken yet. To his side, even without looking, he knows Woojin is starting to get anxious, fidgeting as well.

The door slides open and Gaon nearly launches to his feet, head shooting up. Both he and Woojin let out identical sighs when the face that greets them is not Woosung, but rather the other person to whom the invitation had been sent out. “He’s late?”

“You’d think prison would’ve fixed his punctuality,” Gaon snorts.

“How’d that work for you?” Hwang Junseok, leader of Alt-R’s former brother group MAX, sinks down into a seat opposite Gaon. His feet nudge against Gaon’s and Junseok gives him a wry grin.

“Can’t say it fixed any punctuality problems, but I get laid now.” Gaon shrugs and pretends he doesn’t catch Junseok’s jaw slackening.

“So it’s true? You and Judge Kang?” Junseok asks. Woojin sighs, a little louder, and scrubs his hand over his face. “Shut up, Woojin-ah, no one gossips with me anymore.”

“Should’ve admitted you stole that shit ‘stead of me. Maybe you’d have a boyfriend then,” Gaon adds on, a grin threatening to break the barrier of nerves digging its heels into his stomach.

“Though I’d hate to have to be the one to tell Eunbi you cheated on her with Kang Yohan of all people,” Junseok says.

“I think she’d get it. She was raving, last time she was backstage with us.” Woojin hits him, and even as Gaon rubs his chest, pouting, a softness warms his heart at the slight roll of Woojin’s eyes but the smile tugging at the corners of his lips regardless.

It had taken time, but they’d gotten there. Many late nights spent in a practice room, talking to each other had finally solved the rift between them, with Woojin’s guilt eating away at him and Gaon’s own uncertainty as to where they stood.

“Leave Eunbi out of this, you bastards,” Woojin says, shaking his head. “Ah, someone text him and tell him if he’s not here in ten minutes, I’m leaving.”

“Seven years and you still haven’t learned any patience, little brother?” The door slides open and the three of them at the table stumble to their feet.

Bae Woosung looks barely any different from the last day Gaon saw him. Hair cut short and styled spiky, tattooed freckles visible on his bare face, and a simple pair of stud earrings in his lobes. Junseok, the closest to the door, gets to him first and pulls him into a tight hug. Woojin follows after; Gaon lingers behind, giving them a moment.

“Would’ve thought you’d’ve learned to be on time,” Woojin mutters. Woosung laughs and, barely taller than his brother, lifts up onto his tiptoes to tuck his chin onto Woojin’s head, punching his arm at the same time.

“Absolutely not. Can’t teach an old dog new tricks and all that shit.”

Gaon melts into the hug when Woosung gets to him, holding onto him just as tightly. It takes Gaon a moment to even remember the time he spent in jail. It’s barely a drop in water compared to the near-decade Woosung had spent, and yet Woosung looks good. Like time has barely passed. “Let’s eat, shall we?” Woosung says and, finally, they sink down into their seats and it’s like time hasn’t passed.

“Are they letting you back into the group?” Woojin asks after close to thirty minutes have passed. Woosung takes a minute to finish chewing before he answers.

“Unsure, still. Ray Junie’s fighting with the company about it. Gaon had it lucky, just getting his offer from a different company. Which, speaking of, are the rest of you still at Play?”

“We all switched over to Saram about two months after hyung did,” Woojin says, shaking his head.

“I’m still at Play,” Junseok says, tapping the table with a sigh. “We’d be a harder sell. We’re a bigger group.”

“With one of the three ‘vocal prodigies’ of third generation,” Woosung tosses back at him with a shrug. “Yah, Woojin-ah. Pour me another drink.”

“They want us to compete in that show that’s coming up. Legacy, or whatever.” Gaon and Woojin make quiet noises of understanding. Woosung stares blankly at Junseok.

“Hey, Hwang Junseok. I just got out of prison. Cut me some slack. Fill me in.”

“Six surviving third generation groups compete for the title of ‘legacy group.’ They just ran it with six girl groups last year,” Gaon says. He himself had missed it, working at the courthouse. “They’re running it with boy groups this year. They contacted Play about MAX competing?”

“They said they want us, because then they can get you,” Junseok says shortly. Gaon blinks, unable to come up with a response to that.

It’s true, he realises after a moment. If MAX were going to compete, then Alt-R would likely follow right after them. The rivalry between the groups had been playful but strong, debuting only a year apart and in the same company. And Gaon and Junseok were known to be close.

“If we were offered, and I re-joined the group, we’d kick both of your asses,” Woosung says through a mouthful of food.

“Bullshit. You’re out of the game, Woosung-ah,” Gaon laughs. Junseok grins. Woosung kicks him under the table. Gaon’s tension eases the longer they spend in the room, drinking and eating and laughing. Gaon is tipsy by the time they hit the third hour, exchanging stories and sharing gossip like no time has passed, like they’re just four friends in their trainee dorms again.

Woosung’s phone is the first to ring, a several-year-old girl group song playing cheerfully from his pocket. “Ah, fuck me, hang on,” he mutters. “Ray June-ah?”

Gaon’s phone rings seconds later, laid flat on the table so Kang Elijah can be seen. “Elij-ah?” Junseok squints, leaning across the table to look. “Who-?”

“Yohan’s niece. Elijah?” Gaon answers the phone, turning away from the table. “Is everything okay?”

“Yohan isn’t home, and he’s not answering his phone.” Elijah’s voice is shaky, worried, and Gaon sobers immediately.

“Did he have any meetings on the calendar?” Gaon asks. He can hear the negative in her voice before she even says a full word. “I’ll try to get a hold of him, and I’ll come home, okay? Elijah? Wait in the study for me, and don’t open the door for anyone except for K.”

“You gotta go?” Junseok asks. Woojin pushes his chair out.

“I haven’t had a drink. I’ll drive. Let’s go. Hyung, let’s go.” Woojin grabs Woosung’s wrist, directing him towards the door. Woosung slips into the backseat next to Junseok, while Gaon takes the passenger’s seat and directs Woojin to the house.

It takes them almost forty minutes to get the house, an impressively short amount of time given Woojin had been careful not to speed for most of the drive, incredibly aware of having three not-sober passengers.

Gaon rushes up the driveway, the other three following behind him. He rushes through typing the code into the door and hurries into the study, pulling Elijah into a hug immediately. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’m here, Elijah,” Gaon murmurs. Her body shakes against his in silent sobs, as she clings to him and cries.

“Gaon-ah,” Woosung says. Gaon looks up.

Woosung and Woojin are both hesitating at the doorway to the study, while Junseok cranes his head, wandering the room and looking around.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Gaon says quietly. “Or, if you want to go home, I won’t stop you. Woojin-ah, if you want to drive,” he gestures with one hand, still holding Elijah with the other; — “just be safe on the roads.”

“We’ll stay with you,” Woojin says softly. Elijah sniffles.

“Woojinie’s here with me, Elijah, if you want to meet him officially,” Gaon murmurs. Without raising her head from his shoulder, Elijah hits him in the side. “Ow- ah. Fair.”

“I like you already, Elijah,” Woojin says, sitting down in one of the armchairs. Woosung follows his lead and, like Junseok, cranes his head to look around the room. “So this is where Kang Yohan lives, hm?”

“Shut up,” Gaon retorts with no real heat behind his words. “Or, at least, be helpful and text the others. Elijah, have you heard from K?” She shakes her head no.

#the devil judge #took talks #fic stuffs #kang yohan #악마판사 #kim gaon #gahan #the devil judge fanfiction #gaon x yohan

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