#Jun got hit by the similarities HARD

[beneathtreemomo]

I made relationship charts for Jun and my other main Yu Yu Hakusho OCs! I'll probably make one with Kurama as well once I actually draw him (both Youko Kurama and Shuichi Kurama, because they have slightly different dynamics with him)

First, we have The Soulmates, aka Jun and Atsuro:

Next up-- The Star-Crossed/ Tragic Lovers, Jun and Souji:

Finally, there's "It's Complicated" feat. Jun and Yuen:

Some notes:

Jun is supposed to be 173 for all of them I just screwed up because I didn't have a ballpark height for him in mind until I was making these charts (I'm still not sure how tall I want him to be tbh)

Each chart is based off a lot of different factors, all boiling down to "how does Jun interact with these points in comparison to THIS person, specifically" and "what is Jun's mental state like at these points in time"

Atsuro's awkward level is less awkward more dense

Jun's jealousy on his chart with Souji is because, while he's really not a jealous person, he's overly aware of the fact he thinks Souji would be much happier with another human, rather than the traumatized demon his family has been put in charge of watching for over 200 years at this point.

Jun and Yuen's relationship is rather complicated (but the source for why is, hopefully, rather obvious). The chart isn't necessarily romantic in their case-- except for the fact Yuen mistakes the source of his jealousy as romantic jealousy. His "jealousy" readings are also shaded a bit strangely to show that he's slowly becoming less jealous now that he knows the truth.

The question marks in Jun and Yuen's chart mean that they're not really sure what they're feeling. Jun knows, without a doubt, he's not jealous of people trying to get close to Yuen or vice versa, but there's a part of him that's jealous over something, though he's not entirely sure what it is.

In that same vein, Yuen's trying to figure out why he feels the way he does about Jun and comes to the wrong conclusion that he's crushing on Jun, so his "horny" levels are him going "I mean, he is really pretty and mysterious and I maybe kind of want to sleep with him idk but I can't stop looking at him and my friends always joke about it so maybe??? I just want him to look at me." Like, he's 80% sure he's not horny but he also can't deny Jun is gorgeous and he's always looking at him and he wants to be looked at in return so fucking bad--

(Of course, that was when he was eighteen, early 20s. Now he's just confused whether or not he really wants to entertain the idea of sleeping with Jun even though they've figured out he is not, in fact, in love with him.)

[sillygoofyqueer]

I'M BACK WITH MORE ANGST

(but first of all!!! i loove that characterization of wei qingwei, the pirate-dad-peak lord; i can see him being the only peak lord/person who is allowed to casually fix stray feathers on shen qingqiu's wings, because he never makes a big deal out of it or acts like he's made of glass. he fixes it like he fixes someone's hair or clothes, which is a bit of normalcy shen qingqiu is probably desperate for)

so i was thinking: water prison. the whole jin lan city debacle goes roughly the same, only of course with the added accusations of sqq having been an untrustworthy, scheming demon all along and the accusations being a bit more dire. public opinion turns against him badly and he gets hauled off. the old palace master would probably go all in on his demonic heritage and accuse him of a slew of other things too, and then demand his wings be clipped because he'll "escape otherwise". it's not great but shen qingqiu doesn't use his wings to fly that often, and he'll molt soon anyway so he agrees with the conditions (if only to soothe things over). but then ofc in private they do whatever they want and the old palace master changes clipping to pinioning, which is significantly worse, very painful, and cripples him (bonus points if the little palace mistress comes to the prison with her whip and gets a few hits in too cus his wings are drenched and hurt and difficult to maneuver<3).

i do think in this case luo binghe doesn't visit bc if he already got furious at the little palace mistress for using her whip, he wouldn't accept his shizun's wings being mutilated (however, if binghe does come it would be a similar kind of frustrating miscommunication as in canon, and when binghe gets furious when he sees shen qingqiu it's not at sqq but at the state of him, but sqq doesn't know that, and reacts in fear and self-preservation (moving away, tucking his wings tight and close to his body, eyes flashing pale blue (like a crow's!!)), which of course makes it worse; maybe binghe assumes that shen qingqiu thinks this was his idea, which he would NEVER).

when gongyi xiao (love this good boy<3) comes by ofc he's horrified to see the state of shen qingqiu's wings (clumps of blood-slick feathers on the floor, one wing clearly shorter than the other, ripped clothes and bruises), and just like in canon he immediately goes to free him bc it's unacceptable and vile, and maaaybe he jumps to the conclusion that binghe must have done this to him to punish him. with the last of his strength sqq transforms into his full crow form, which is easier to smuggle out of the prison bc gongyi xiao can bundle him up in his robes (for extra drama binghe can be like "shizun will let gongyi xiao swaddle him in his robes and hold him but not binghe??🥺🥺😡😡" "binghe please don't say it like that")

*Gripping the sides of my coffin as I force myself into a sitting position and yes, I do look as - if not MORE - fit than Tianlang-jun in that one illustration (you know the one I mean)* Hey.

This angst just hit me incredibly hard in the stomach and that's why I've been ill so...it's ALL YOUR FAULT (kidding, kidding). Anywhosles, Gongyi Xiao is precious and of course he would smuggle crow Shen Qingqiu out of the prison the moment he sees the mutilation of the poor guy's wings. If he believes Binghe did it? Another reason to dislike the guy that practically stole everything from him (I love this precious guy and he deserves better in canon 😔). He has heard so much about the peak lord grieving the loss of his disciple, and Luo Binghe repays him by practically destroying his wings?? Shameful :(

From the Zhuzhi-lang angle, imagine he's in snake form, going to find the fit guy dilf half demon cultivator that saved his life and helped him out when he should have killed him, and finding a Huan Hua Palace disciple holding a brutalised crow with overly intelligent eyes. It's not hard to jump to the conclusion that the Huan Hua disciple has either caused or helped cause these injuries upon Shen Qingqiu, and is possibly even about to kill him. Keep in mind that all Zhuzhi-lang knows is that Shen Qingqiu has been taken into custody by Huan Hua, held within the Water Prison with his wings to be clipped, multiple accusations thrown his way linked to him being a demon, and that it's the snake boi's job to save him because Shen Qingqiu saved him that one time. What would you do in that situation? Because Zhuzhi-lang attacks with no remorse. Does Gongyi Xiao die?? The real question is if I could bear the poor guy dying twice just for doing the right thing...

The miscommunication between Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu always makes me want to die because just ONE CONVERSATION WOULD FIX EVERYTHING. But that's also why it's so silly and good and I love it. The idea that Shen Qingqiu believes that Luo Binghe is the reason why his wings are so fucked up could go deeper with the idea of, back when Luo Binghe was a disciple, he was practically the only disciple that was ever allowed to touch the man's wings, and he always seemed very upset when the other peak lords got to help Shen Qingqiu with his feathers - jealous of them, in reality, but the man thought that maybe he was jealous of how Shen Qingqiu was treated despite being a demon (it was a tidgy bit of the reason). So, when Shen Qingqiu is in the Water Prison, Binghe's first order of business could be perceived as: "you want to be treated as a pathetic human? I can help with that" and ruins one of Shen Qingqiu's defining features of a demon, making him vulnerable and weak - which is how Bingge felt humans were, and how Shen Qingqiu thinks Binghe views humans. So. Angst. Yay.

[clownprincehoeshi]

Parallel Hearts - Chapter 9

Synopsis: Never in your wildest dreams you imagined that you’ll meet your ult bias. Maybe you finally have your shot at love and happiness. Or not.

Pairing: fem reader x idol Jungkook fem reader x idol Mingyu fem reader x idol Hoshi

Genre: Fluff, Smut, Angst

Warnings: Kissing-Nudity-Sex 18+-Harrassment-Stalking-Death mentions-Cheating

Word count: 5681

Previous chapter

Masterlist

Rebloging is important and much apreciated. Leave your comments, oppinions, ideas, whatever you like. My inbox in open. Kpop writers, let’s be moots?

If you didn’t know before what you were feeling for Soonyoung, now you kind of do. That hug told you a lot. You had feelings for him, and these stupid feelings started creeping up here and there, without you realising.

You don’t know when it started or why. Maybe because he had such a soft and kind personality? Maybe because he was cute and fluffy like a teddy bear? And every time he smiled at you it made your day better?

You managed to pick yourself up and got that salad done. You all sat around the table outside, food and drinks all out and ready. You thought to taste some wine. Afterall, you were in a village filled with winery.

Being not such a big fan of wine meant you were not used to drink it so just one glass turned you into a talking smiley human.

It’s fine, you were among friends. Hana and Jun knew you very well. Then there was Vernon that would never judge or laugh at you. Joshua was completely drunk by now and Soonyoung seemed tipsy too, cheeks all red.

Now, maybe Seungkwan was the type to crack up some jokes, but he was too busy having fun.

Seungkwan: Ok, I have a proporsi…proprosi…porpo…shit. Let me try again. Pro po sit ion. There! Tonight is a night for deep conversations. We are among friends and I don’t know about you, but I would love to hear some touching stories and ideal from each of you. And maybe someone even has questions.

Joshua: I love this, Kwanie.

Seungkwan: Since I came up with the idea, I’ll start. I want to know what was the hardest moment of your life and what did you do to make it better.

Hana: Wow, that’s some deep shit there. The hardest moment for me was when my grandmother died. She practically raised me and I will never forget her. And I think you never heal from something like that, but with time, things get a little better and you cry less.

You try to show her some support by rubbing her back. You know the feeling of loosing someone close like that. It happened when you were in your home country few years back. You still think about that friend every single day. So yeah, it’s something that will always hurt.

Seungkwan: Ok, my hardest moment it’s similar. Everyone knows about my best friend and what happened. So….yeah, that was…really hard. I still struggle with the pain sometimes, but I have really good friends around me and my family. I know I am loved and it makes me feel safe.

Joshua: Yaaaah, this conversation while drunk hits different. Me next!! I think for me it was when I moved from the States. I didn’t know the language, the people, the culture. I was just a church boy that found himself in a foreign place. What about you, Hosh?

Hoshi: Ummm, there have been a few times when I had a really hard time. I can say that it’s hard to put one in front of the other because the contexts were very different. But for me, there were two moments. First one was when we first got hate from the public and antis. We were just kids and we didn’t deserve that much hate. I mean why would people be so mean? There is room for everybody. To tell us that we will never succeed. It made my blood boil. But we showed them. Look where we are now, there is no higher than this.

Vernon: And the second one?

Some of the guys were already prepared for what he was going to say, they knew it will be about his ex.

Hoshi: I mean…you know. Do I have to say it?

Seungkwan: Some of us don’t know, so yes. Not me, though, I know EVERYTHING!

Hoshi: It was when my at the time girlfriend cheated on me with one of my favourite idols. Caught them in bed. Something like that traumatises you for life. Really. I still have nightmares about it and I’m afraid of starting a new relationship. I think I better stay single.

Jun: Hosh, we talked about this before. You can’t expect that every future partner will act like that. For example, did you ever cheat?

Hoshi: No.

Jun: Then, Y/N here that was cheated on by an ex should think all guys cheat and never get involved with a guy again?

Hoshi: Someone cheated on you?

Hana: Yeah, silly. Your friend Mingyu.

Hoshi: I am sure he didn’t.

Hana: How can you know?

Hoshi: He’s one of the most genuine guys I know and I trust him, he would not lie to us.

Y/N: It doesn’t matter now, and yes, I have been cheated on, but by a guy you don’t know. It’s all in the past.

Hoshi: I want to know.

Joshua: Tell us, Y/N, we won’t judge. It’s a safe space and it stays between us.

Y/N: Sooo, I was 21 and we were together since I was 18. He was my first love, we met in college. I thought he was such a kind person, until I started to pay attention to the things my friends were telling me. I was just so blinded by love that I couldn’t see the big red flags. Turned out in our last year together he started a new relationship with a girl who used to be his best friend’s girlfriend.

Vernon: Shiiiieeeet, that’s so fucked up.

Y/N: And the way I found out it made me sick. We used to live together and when I got back to our shared apartment from a weekend of taking care of my sister, because she got very sick. I found long black hairs everywhere. All over the bedroom floor, in the toilet, even inside of one of my fucking t shirts. He gave her my t shirt, guys! My favourite t shirt with the picture of my dog on it.

Hoshi: Where does this guy lives?

Jun: What’s his name?

Y/N: It obviously still hurts knowing I was so disrespected and humiliated. Of course it still plays with my head whenever I meet someone new. So you can understand why I just couldn’t believe Mingyu and get back together. Yeah, maybe he didn’t cheat, maybe it was a trap for us to brake up, but for me, having such low trust, it’s a deal braker. The moment the guy I’m with makes me cry and hurtlike that and feel unsecure about our relationship, it’s done.

Seungkwan: Oh, now things are starting to make sense. I think you two could share your experience, since it’s similar. I never knew how is to be cheated on.

He said, pointing to Hoshi while looking at you.

Y/N: Jun, tell us yours.

Jun: It’s like Shua hyung. Leaving home for a foreign country. Man, it was so hard to communicate with the guys. They were very good to me though and I really feel loved. So all hardship paid off in the end.

Everyone looking at Vernon, waiting.

Vernon: Oh. My turn. For me, it’s not a specific moment that happened and that’s that. It’s something that keeps on happening and I find myself having the hardest times when it does. It’s when I see members having a tough time, whether they are sick, or exhausted, or just sad and depressed. Their mood is affecting me a lot and it’s really hard to help when it happens. Because you never know what are the right words or the right actions, you know.

Everyone looking at Vernon with heart eyes and nodding, like he said something amazing. Which he did, Vernon is a pretty mature and knowledgeable guy. We love him, we admire him and we need to protect him, ok?

Y/N: Noni, I feel really bad about all those weird ass fan calls you are getting. I wish I would slap some sense into those fans, you don’t deserve that.

Seungkwan: Remember when Mingyu just hang up to a fan that told him to show her his abs? That’s what we should do every time someone is rude or out of line like that.

Y/N: Yeeesss!!!!! And you should hire me as your bodyguard and I’ll slap some bitches.

Joshua: Really? That’s how much you love us?

In your drunken state, you didn’t realise that the next second you looked right into Soonyoung’s eyes while replying “yes”to Joshua.

When he blushed red, you realised what you did and moved your eyes from him.

Shit shit shit!

Hana: Juniiii! Did you know that I had the biggest crush on you?

You were just having a sip from your glass and hearing her, you spit that all out. Luckily, in the air and on yourself, not on someone else. You rushed to the bathroom, took your shirt off and tried to wash it as quick as you could.

Stupid wine! I knew I shouldn’t drink it.

You think you did a pretty decent job with getting the stains out and now you have to get out of the downstairs bathroom to go up to your bedroom and find a new shirt to wear.

Hurrying out the bathroom door into the hallway, your drunk mind had no time to intercept the person in front of you and you crashed right into them.

The crash was so fast and silly and it threw both of you to the floor, whining.

Y/N: Ooooowww, my butt!!!

Hoshi: What about mine? Don’t you watch where you’re going?

Y/N: Me? What about you? Were you going to enter the bathroom while I was still inside?

Hoshi: I didn’t know you were in there.

Y/N: What if I was naked?

Hoshi: Why would you be naked?

Y/N: Taking a shower is supposed to happen naked.

Hoshi: Well you are half naked.

Y/N: Uh?

And you look down. You’re indeed half naked, only shorts and a bra on. You forgot all about the wet shirt you had in your hand that went flying somewhere on the floor.

Y/N: Like you’re not enjoying the view. Huh!

Hoshi: Am not!

Y/N: You are, look how you’re still starring.

Hoshi: Not my fault, I’m just a guy and you’re…

Y/N: I’m what?

He gets up faster than Flash and walks past you, right into the bathroom.

Y/N: I’m what? I’m what?

Hoshi: Shut uuuup!

He panicked because he was this close to tell you “you’re beautiful”

Because why would you tell a woman she’s beautiful, she doesn’t need to know. Keep your feelings to yourself, make her wait. Let her wonder. Wait a while, let her think, let her want you. Let her find another guy, get married. Maybe then it’s the right time to tell her. right?

You’re such an idiot! He tells himself. For almost blowing up his cover or for not telling you? He’s not sure. Just like he’s not sure what to do about what he feels towards you.

Now he’s sitting on the bathroom door, back leaned on the door, mouth open and eyes wide. He thinks he needs to stop drinking. How is he supposed to manage this week with you around? Why did he come here? He could have stayed back at the hotel with the other guys.

15 minutes later he gets out and walks outside. Nobody’s there. He hears music on the beach so he starts walking slowly, passing the trees and bushes in his way.

All of you were dancing in the sand, under the Moon. The sea was calm and the breeze nice. He felt happy, so in that moment he decided that what’s done is done and he will try to enjoy the next few days, even if it will become harder and harder for him.

He joined in into your little dancing circle.

Of course, you needed to tease him now.

Y/N: Now Kwon Soonyoung, we know we’re mere peasants compared to your dancing skills, please don’t make us feel bad.

Hoshi: Ha! I’m not a meanie like you, would never do that.

Y/N: Oh, I’m a meanie now?

In a fraction of a second you take his bottle of water he was holding in his hand and you run towards the water. He starts running after you.

Hoshi: Yaaaahh!! Give me that? I need to get sober!

Y/N: Why? You’re more easy drunk.

You stop few steps into the water and turn to him.

Hoshi: Easy? I’m not easy!

Y/N: Yeah you are. If DK was here you would be kissy kissy.

Hoshi: Well that’s because it’s our thing when we drink. My lips are not cheap, you know. I don’t just kiss anyone.

You start putting your lips, making kissing faces.

Y/N: Who will you kiss tonight? Seungkwan? I know you like to get him angry and he would hate that.

He starts pacing to your direction, his eyes mad and face serious. He grabs your chin with one hand and plants a kiss right on your lips. A small, quick kiss. Didn’t really feel like a peck, because it was wet, hard and longer than one.

With his other hand he grabs his bottle then he turns around and walks to the others.

Hoshi: Is this answering your question?

And he left you there. Pouty and upset. Shocked. He left you with your thought. There is nothing to say to that, he left you speechless for the first time. Well, it’s the first time that he knows of.

He stops somewhere a few meters in his way and turns to you, almost like waiting for an answer. He had no idea where this courage came from. He really kissed you.

Hoshi: Tiger got you tongue?

He crosses his arms before his chest and looks at you, still waiting. He thinks you’re so cute flustered like that.

Then you start moving and walk to him.

Y/N: Why did you do that?

Hoshi: What did I do?

Y/N: This is not a game, Soonyoung. After that conversation we just had one hour ago? You pull this? You can’t just kiss me then act like nothing happened.

Hoshi: I needed to shut you up somehow, you kept being mean to me.

Y/N: So what, now you’re going to kiss me anytime I tease you?

Hoshi: I don’t know.

Y/N: Do you like me, or something? Because it’s giving crush.

Hoshi: Pfff, as if. It was just a peck and I got the reaction I wanted. Look at you all flustered.

You shake your head and walk away. You hear his footsteps in the back, this time he’s quiet.

You don’t stop walking, telling goodnight to the group and heading to your room.

Seungkwan: Ya, Hoshi! What did you do?

Hoshi: Nothing, I was just messing with her a little.

You go straight into the shower, taking a cold one and all you can think about, all you can see and feel is that kiss. Stupid Soonyoung!!!

You get into bed and minutes later Hana comes and lays next to you, pulling one leg over yours.

Hana: Pooks, what happened?

Y/N: Stupid Soonyoung kissed me.

Hana: Wha..when? why?

Y/N: When we were in the water. I was teasing him about kissing the guys when he’s drunk so I guess he took it as a challenge? I don’t know.

Hana: Didn’t you hit his nut sack again?

Y/N: Nah, I was just speechless and I was standing there like a fool. Then I scolded him for doing that and left.

Hana: What did he say?

Y/N: He was acting like it was nothing. Really, I don’t get this guy.

Hana: You think he was trying to get back at you for that kiss in front of Mingyu and JK?

Y/N: You know…that didn’t even cross my mind. But you might be onto something. Still, after the conversation we had, he goes and kisses me?

Hana: Well, babe, you’re both single and adults. Nobody is cheating anybody. But I have the best idea ever.

Y/N: Oh no, here comes the worst idea ever.

Hana: No, I’m serious, it’s so good you will think I’m the smartest person. Here it goes. What if.

Y/N: Yeah?

Hana: What if? And bare with me here. What if you play his game, but better.

Y/N: What the hell does that mean?

Hana: I feel like he’s playing here, wanting to see your reactions. Beat him at his own game. Play it, do crazy shit to get a reaction out of him, flirt. Like, heavy flirting. You know what I mean.

Y/N: Hana, you know I kinda like him, right?

Hana: So what?

Y/N: Like, I don’t want to hurt my own feelings. You know, starting to like him more from all the flirting and he rejects me.

Hana: Pleaaaase, it will be so fun. I promise, boo! If you want, I can give you the ideas on what exactly to do. He won’t know what it hit him. Look at me! If he isn’t in love after I’m done with him, you can do whatever you want, I will be your personal servant for the whole year.

Y/N: I will do it only because I don’t lose at games. You’re on, Kwon Hoshi!

At least you could sleep now, knowing he’s been challenging you with that kiss and you’re going to get back at him.

Next morning the plan was in motion. Hana helped you pick the sexiest swim suit and you wore it for breakfast, with just a thin unbuttoned shirt over it. He hasn’t seen you like this ever.

And when he lays eyes on you  while you’re coming down the stairs it all feels in slowmotion. Your long golden hair shining when you walked in front of the window right into the sunshine. A light breeze was blowing your shirt away, revealing your spectacular tanned body.

He thought you looked like a goddess. Walking slowly and sensual towards the kitchen, his eyes went to your thighs. Magnificent, he thought. He wanted to be squeezed by them. They looked so soft.

Eyes going up to your perfect waist that he wanted to grip and never let go, to your breasts that were barely covered by the swim suit bra. If he was never a boob guy, now he was. Your neck sensual and long. If only he could put his hand around it while thrusting into you.

And don’t even get him started with your lips. He loved them. So plump, soft and sweet. Now that he felt them he wanted more.

You reached the kitchen table where he was sitting and his mouth almost drooling, opened wide, made you chuckle.

Y/N: Soonyoung, are you feeling ok? Too much Sun for you here? What can I do to make you feel better?

You put your hand on his thigh and look at him with a cute pout.

He snaps out of it like your hand burned his leg.

Hoshi: Sorry, I just had too much to drink last night and I’m not feelings super.

Y/N: Did you eat yet? Want me to make you something?

Hoshi: I ate what Shua hyung made earlier.

Then you pat his head and leaned in a little to push your breasts together right in his face.

Y/N: Ok Soonyoungie, just tell me if you need anything.

All the guys were looking at each other lost, was clear you were teasing Hoshi and honestly, it was funny to them.

After you had something to eat, you saw the group outside around the pool and you signaled Hana that you’re going for another attack.

Hana: Girl! Already, a second attack? You trying to finish the poor boy?

Y/N: He started it, I’m going to finish it.

And like that you walked outside, slowly, moving your hips from side to side like a tease. You knew you will leave collateral damage in your path but it was war. You’re not weak.

Walking to stand in front of him on the other side of the pool, you drop your shirt and slowly sitting on the edge, dipping your feet in the water. At some point you lean forward to get some in your hands and splash it over your chest.

Droplets of cold water dropping down your sunbathed body, running down down to your belly and further into your bikinis.

Hoshi gulps loud, he fears the whole planet heard it. His throat feels dry like he just chewed a cactus and swallowed it.

He starts coughing agresively.

Noticing this and knowing it’s because of you, you raise the stakes. You look at Hana and nod and she immediately brings over some oil for tanning.

Since he drank some water to calm himself down, you took advantage and started to pour oil all over your barely covered body, massaging slowly and sensualy.

The worst thing for Hoshi was not that, but the way you locked your eyes with his while massaging yourself with the oil.

Jun knew already what was coming, Josh was quietly waiting, looking between you two, feeling the tension. Vernon was somewhere on a daybed sleeping. Again. Seungkwan was waiting for the drama like hot bread and Hana was trying not to die laughing.

You knew your acting skills were at a high level, in a funny way. But now you were trying to be more or the sexy side of acting.

So after you put oil all over your front side, you were pretending you couldn’t reach your back side so you grabed your little oil bottle and came to Hoshi.

Hoshi: Soonyoungie, help please?

Looking up at you with the bambiest eyes that ever bambied, he stopped breathing.

Hoshi: What?

You grabbed his hand to pull him up and he was just like a rag in your hold. He was just so weak and complient. He stood up and you handed him your oil.

He took without questioning any further; you turned your back to him.

He was like a lost puppy waiting for instructions.

Y/N: Come on, Soonie, the Sun will burn my skin. Are you scared?

Hoshi: Scared? Of what?

Y/N: I don’t know, you tell me.

 As soon as he heard scared, his competitive side came to life and he started to rub the fuck out of that oil on your body. When he finished with your back, he went down on your butt, being not very gentle with it.

You got a soft moan out of your mouth, could not figure out if it just happened or it was planned. You’ll tell your friends later it was planned 100%.

When he heard your little moan, he rolled his eyes so hard he could feel them on the back of his head. He felt tormented and tortured.

He felt getting hard under his shorts. He had half a brain to keep his oversized t shirt on, hiding his shameful hardon. He felt like a perv.

Then he had to kneel behind you to rub your legs too.  Just some 30 minutes ago he was thinking how would those thighs feel.

Well I’m dead already. Stop being such a pussy, you know she’s doing this on purpose. Keep your head up! No! Bad idea! Not right now, dummy, there’s that unbelievable ass up there. Keep your eyes to the ground and finish this quick. Mingyu, you idiot.

Hoshi: I need to wash the oil off my hands.

And he sprints to the bathroom upstairs where he can be sure nobody will bother him for the new minutes. The guy was beyond turned on. He hadn’t had sex in a few good months, they were on tour, he hasn’t  even had a passing friend with benefits since he can’t even remember.

Then it was this..thing he felt for you. Was it just lust? Just a horny guy who needs it bad?

As soon as he entered his bathroom, he locked the door, threw his clothes off, got under the cold shower and took care of that impossibly hard cock he had in his hand.

Thinking about how that hand also just touched your ass, your legs. Oh, he felt like such a big perv again. But he admitted he was weak for you.

He wasn’t usually like this. He was always drawn to feelings then came the lust and sex. He always needed some sort of connection with his partners to feel the need for sex.

But this? Now? He couldn’t describe, it felt animalistic almost. His hand up and down his thick leaking cock started to become faster and faster. He really needed to cum and calm himself down.

He thought this was the best orgasm ever, even better than when he had sex. What is he doing with his life? That’s not right.

You splayed yourself over a towel next to the pool. Hana was next to you, whispering in your ear about Hoshi.

Hana: I could bet that he went to jerk himself off. I just know it.

Joshua: Y/N, that with Soonyoung was fucking hilarious. Please do it again, I love watching him flustered.

Soonyoung appeared after a short while. He needed a cold cold shower too. He gave you a look, shaking his head, almost like wanting to say “you’re not playing fair, but it’s on”

He maybe be weak sometimes but he’s a fighter. He never gives up.

That same day at night it was time for your third and final attack of the day.

You baked some cake with chocolate and brought it to everyone to taste. The chocolate easily melted on the fingers when you took the small piece of cake with your hand.

You didn’t bring any utensils, exactly for this reason. Damn, Hana is such a menace sometimes, she has such crazy good ideas.

You hoped everyone will take the cake with their hands and it is like you suspected. You offered one to Hoshi, with a cute innocent smile on your face. If only he knew.

As soon as you saw his fingers covered in chocolate, you made a worried face.

Y/N: Oh no, you’ve gotten a bit dirty. Let me help.

And when you took his thumb and put it in your mouth to suck all that chocolate off, his legs melted. He forgot his own name.

With a shocked face he asked: What are you doing?

Y/N: Helping you clean up.

Hoshi: Aish, this girl.

He started smirking and pretending to scold you.

Hoshi: I had no idea you wanted me this much.

Y/N: I don’t, though. And I am not trying to do anything.

He leans closer to your face, locks ayes with you and runs his thumb over your lower lip, then puts it in his mouth.

Hoshi: You left some chocolate here. You’re welcome!

So he’s hitting back. Good, I would feel bad for having a weak opponent. I might like him even more now.

It went out like this the whole week. You did something, he did something. Every time you both got flustered. Your friends were getting tired of it, seeing the obvious tension between you too. And it was more of a sexual tension.

You two looked at each other like you wanted nothing more than to spend the next 24 hours in bed.

The last night before you had to go back in Barcelona, you decided to have a serious talk to him, because you felt overwhelmed. You felt like your heart would explode.

You knew it, you were in love. You didn’t want to be, you wanted to erase every single little feeling.

You were all walking to your wooden cabin in the woods where you spend the last 3 days. It was a narrow street that took to your place. Planning to hold him back to talk, you grabbed his wrist and just gave him a look.

He understood what you wanted and he took your hand telling you to follow him. He took you to a little hill where there was a big swing where you two sat, under a big jacaranda tree.

You both sat there in silence for a while, just enjoying the moment, knowing it doesn’t come often.

Hoshi: What am I going to do with you, huh?

Y/N: What’s that supposed to mean? Am I insufferable? You hate me yet?

Hoshi: Is that what you were trying? To make me hate you?

Y/N: Of course not.

Hoshi: Be honest. What were you trying to do?

Y/N: Ummm, getting back at you for that kiss.

Hoshi: I see, I see. So if I gave you a real proper kiss, you would try to stab be whenever you see me?

You giggle and push your shoulder into his.

Y/N: Soonyoungie, come oon.

He starts acting cute, calling you Y/Nie and touching your nose with his finger.

You stare at each other one minute too much.

Hoshi: What are we doing?

Y/N: I don’t know. You just annoy me so much.

Hoshi: Am I?

You nod, smiling cutely.

Hoshi: I thought I was one of your favourite people.

Y/N: My God, Soonie, what made you think that?

Hoshi: Hmm, you calling me those cute nicknames, for example. We have been teasing each other for months. And I am pretty sure we have gotten close. You know, it’s like my friendship with Kwan. It’s a love-hate relationship.

Y/N: Friendship.

You repeat.

 You look up at the night sky. He puts his hand over your hand that is placed on the bench of the swing. He smiles. You get up, not looking at him.

Y/N: We should head to the cabin, we’re leaving early in the morning.

He gets up too and grabs your wrists, standing so close.

Hoshi: You wanted to talk but you are not saying anything. Why do you keep running away when we’re having a serious conversation?

Y/N: Serious about what?

Hoshi: Our feelings. Don’t act like a little brat now, you know what I’m talking about and I think you owe me some answers.

Y/N: It’s not like you had some answers for me.

Hoshi: Did I hear any questions and I refused to answer?

Y/N: I… guess not.

Hoshi: So then stop being a brat and ask me. I’ll answer.

Y/N: Don’t treat me like I’m a baby, I’m just one year younger than you!

He pouts and cups your face with both his hands.

Hoshi: I like it when you get feisty and angry. Now you say something you like about me.

Y/N: I like…your silly jokes nobody laughs at, but you. I secretly find them so funny but I keep my laughter inside.

Hoshi: Wow, that’s mean. I like how you lose yourself in thoughts, it feels like you’re thinking about 1000 things all at once.

Y/N: I like how you’re actually really soft on the inside, even when you scream like a loonatic to make people think you’re dangerous.

Hoshi: Hey, I am dangerous!

Y/N: Not in the way you think you are.

Hoshi: Oh? Then In what way?

He gets even closer this time, his hands now falling from your face.

Y/N: You know, I can’t seem to figure out if you’re trying to kiss me or kill me, since you had your hands cupping my face for the last 5 minutes.

Hoshi: First your answer, then mine.

Y/N: You’re dangerous in the way you make girls fall for you for being too cute. Should be illegal.

Hoshi: Oh?

Y/N: Your answer?

 But he doesn’t answer. His hands fall on your neck, his thumbs rubbing your cheeks lovingly. His nose touching yours, his plush lips hovering over yours. You can feel his warm body glued to yours. It’s like you can feel his heartbeat. Or is it yours?

You don’t want to close your eyes, you want to see him. Those eyes that tricked you into falling in love again. Why did it have to be him? Why not a complete stranger? A random guy you met at work, on tour, even a tourist, a friend of a friend.

You whisper over his lips: What are you doing?

Hoshi: I really really really want to kiss you right now.

He said it.

You won’t go for the kiss and it seems he’s delaying the moment. He might still be playing with you. He might not even like you like that.

So you pull away just when his lips slightly touched yours.

Y/N: I can’t.

He looked at you with sad eyes, trying to understand what he did wrong.

Hoshi: Did I mess it up?

Y/N: No, I just can’t and shouldn’t.

Hoshi: Will you tell me why? Apart from the reason I already know about the past and not trusting men anymore? I won’t be a jackass and say that I’m different. All I can tell you is that I like you. I can’t tell you what the future will bring, if we are good for each other or not. Shit, I am scared too. I’ve never felt like this and I have absolutely no idea how to manage everything I am feeling.

Y/N: Soonyoung. I am so scared about everything. I don’t want a failed relationship anymore. I just want to be THAT someone to somebody, you know, not someone who’s left aside just in case the grass is greener on the other side. I don’t wanna feel like a second choice. I want to be wanted, completely, loved.

Hoshi: I want to give all that to you if you’ll let me.

Y/N: I don’t think I can, I’m sorry. Please, just let me go to my room.

He lets go of you and watches you slowly get further and further away. He just stands there, eyes filling with tears ready to burn his cheeks. Should  just give up? Is this the Universe telling me we would not work together? Why do I feel such a strong pull towards her then? Man, this sucks. Now what?

[maleyanderecafe]

ok so I'm on your blog a lot, and I wandered across this one manwha the other day and I think??? its got some male yandere stuff it?? like his older brother is platonically one as far as I can tell, and this other guy I'm 90% is literally stalking-him obsessed even though he bullies him at school. Honestly, it's been a pretty good read so far in my opinion, it's called "Comes in Threes"

Phew, Comes in Threes is one of those BL webcomics that starts out very comedic and then punches you in the gut with drama and then everything falling apart while still maintaining the comedic tone. I was pretty caught off guard by the sudden angst that happened actually. There are two yanderes, one that is mentioned is the main character's brother and the other is one of the male leads of the story, though it's not fully known the reason for why he fell so hard for him or why he did all these horrible things to him.

The story starts off with Joon jacking off to his crush Jong-oh, before going to a meeting he's missed. There he also sees another mischievous friend of his, Seong ah-in. The story then goes into a more comedic tone, with the three of the in a group when they go on a trip, with Joon continuously pining over Jong-oh while Seong ah-in keeps butting in. During this time, Joon gets molested during the camp, though he can't seem to find out who did it. Their relationship progresses with Jong-oh inviting Joon to go gym together, though is once distraught to see Seong ah-in there as well. Eventually they study together, and Jung-oh accidentally catches Joon jacking off when trying to return and get his phone, which makes things very awkward between them. At some point, Jong-oh gets drunk and kisses Joon, and confesses his feelings to Seong ah-in, much to his dismay.

We get a backstory about why Joon dislikes Seong ah-in so much, seeing that the two were best friends during high school. He hangs around with Joon a lot, but he also seems to have a different side to him, as we see in the current day as well. We see that Jun's dad runs a restaurant that sells pig feet that Joon and his older brother help out in. He ends up bringing food to Seong ah-in's house for a delivery, noticing the marble floor that he has. Soon after though, his life goes down the drain as one scathing review about their service and finding a bug in their food causes the restaurant to get shut down, forcing Jun's father to go take a job in construction to keep his family afloat. Not soon after, Joon's father ends up in a fatal accident, forcing Joon's older brother Chan to take care of Joon. After looking at the photo of the review that indirectly caused his father's death, Joon notices that it's the same marble flooring that he say at Seong ah-in's place, directly linking it to him. He's outraged and confronts Seong ah-in about the truth, but he does not respond clearly, leading him to hitting Seong ah-in, forcing both of them to go to the principal's office. Soon after, Chang joins the army after dropping out of school to take care of Joon.

Back in the present, Seong ah-in drags Joon to an amusement park date and confesses his feeling to Joon atop the ferris wheel to which Joon rejects harshly. He ends up getting a call and runs into Jong-oh, who drives him to the hospital to see his brother, who has been injured. After this, it seems that Chang ends up quitting the military and staying with Joon to take care of him. After Chang reassures his brother that he will be okay, Joon goes to his part time job, which leads to Jong-oh confessing to him and the two of them dating. Joon ends up picking up Chang from the hospital, and we see just how overprotective and possessive Chang is with his brother, wanting to see his new boyfriend, even sleeping together in the same bed (no, not having sex, thankfully). Joon and Jong-oh get more and more close together, being all lovey dovey like a couple, at least until one of his friends asks about a similar situation where she isn't sure about where her relationship stands, with Joon realizing that his situation with Jong-oh is similar.

At some point, Seong ah-in ends up inviting Joon over to talk about what really happened with the photo, clarifying that it actually was another one of their friends who did it, even explaining that he dished out revenge for him as well. Joon is still not really happy with Seong ah in given that he still is a dick and bully him, even telling him that Jong-oh actually is in love with Seong ah-in and even raping him.

Chang gets worried that his brother doesn't return for the night and ends up calling Jong-oh, who also has no idea where he is. After meeting up with Jong-oh the next day and reassuring him (and Chang), but things suddenly turn sour when Jong-oh admits to Joon that he does have a crush on Seong ah-in, and that Seong ah-in forced him to do a lot of things like molest him in his sleep, put trash in his locker amongst other things, which he only did because he liked Jong-oh. This pisses Joon off, and leaves Jong-oh to hang out with Seong ah-in, who attempts to kiss Jong-oh, even though Seong ah-in refuses. We get to see a backstory about the two's relationship, with the two of them being childhood friends. Seong ah-in comes from a rich abusive family, and with Seong ah-in being as haughty as he was before. In one instance, he tries to get Jong-oh to steal something from his step father as revenge for him beating Seong ah-in, but Jong-oh refuses, leading to Seong ah-in getting beat. Jong-oh tries to apologize, though Seong ah-in initially refuses.

Meanwhile, Joon hangs out with his brother, still pissed at Jong-oh and we see Chang become extremely overprotective of him, trying to get him to not leave the house, to refuses to spend time with his friends and trying to break it off with Jong-oh. We get a backstory on Chang's point of view from when he first saw Joon as a baby. Initially he didn't like the idea of having another sibling, but we see him slowly warm up to him. Tragedy strikes as Joon and Chang's mother dies, causing Chang to lash out at Joon, telling him that he no longer wants to be brothers with him. After his father comes home, Chang realizes his mistake as Joon has run from home and spends a long time looking for him. Eventually he is able to find him again, which leads to him promising to always look after him. The story currently is at the point where Jong-oh has admitted that while he did like Seong ah-in, he wants to be with Joon.

I was really caught off guard by the sudden change in tone, but at the same time, there were always little hints that this was always the case, especially when it comes with Seong ah-in, who is constantly acting shady. I do like that it's able to balance between both comedy and the more dramatic/angsty parts of the story though, since that can be pretty hard to pull off. I actually quite like the backstory for Joon and Chang though, especially since a lot of it just seems like pretty unfortunate circumstances that kept piling on top of each other and that their father actually does seem like a really good dad really makes it more difficult for them when he did suddenly die. It also explains pretty well why Chang is so overprotective over Joon, even if he is going about it the wrong way.

Chang as a yandere is pretty understandable due to his backstory. He's had a pretty tragic life due to the various circumstances of losing both of his parents, and had to raise his younger brother, and we see that he clings pretty heavily onto the past when they were younger, even calling it "the best days of his life." The timing of his injury seems a little odd to me, considering after this, he simply accepts his fate of being rejected by the military without any hesitation, almost seemingly as it was planned. It makes me wonder why he chose now to come back because while I know part of it was because he was trying to provide for Joon, his severe overprotective nature makes it hard for me to believe he would willingly stay away from him for so long. Chang is kind of on the borderline of some incest stuff, even besides just sleeping with each other in the same bed, he does also touch (?) Joon's lips in a suggestive matter. I really hope that this story doesn't make Chang go the incest route though because it honestly does have a better setup as a platonic yandere. Besides being generally overprotective, he's really possessive over him, trying to get him to not spend time with his other friends, guilt tripping him by having meals together and trying to "recreate when they were younger" and in the recent chapters, very lightly trying to confine Joon to the house. Part of it does benefit Joon as... well the two other people, Seong ah-in and Jong-oh can be pretty shady, but he obviously shouldn't really be going about it this way. Still, I do like how the backstory is able to make a reasonable and understandable reason for why Chang acts this way.

Seong ah-in on the other hand is a bit more confusing as a yandere, mostly at least in the bullying aspect. To me, at least, it is a bit strange when yanderes end up bullying the person they like, unless it's either for a manipulation tactic or if it's sort of a way to release some anger about their love for them (like a reluctant yandere), but Seong ah-in seems pretty clear that he does have feelings for Joon, and says so as much in two of the scenes. Currently, it's not really clear why he made Jong-oh molest and stuff trash in Joon's locker, and also why he did try to kiss him afterwards so that Jong-oh could get his reward of getting his crush. It's probably some sort of manipulation tactic, seeing that Seong ah-in is pretty sly, even when he was younger. He does follow Joon a lot though, butting into pretty much everything when it comes with Joon and Jong-oh and even suggesting a threesome (?) between them, which I feel like is not something yanderes tend to agree to (given then loyalty to one person kind of deal). He does also give various types of gifts to Joon (going on the amusement park rides with him and in high school buying him a ton of food) and clearly teases him more than anyone else. Even taking the blame for making Joon's resteraunt close and seeking revenge for the real culprit. As a yandere, his actions are rather confusing, so I'm not really a 100% he is one, at least as of writing this ask.

Overall though, I think it's a pretty good BL series. There are some things that seem to jump out of nowhere and some general BL shinnanigans, but I think the humor and story make it very worthwhile to read.

[tomato-fendo-writes]

Fun Fax: OLM Chap 15

its been almost a year now, but it still stings and its hard not to think about my sensei whenever i write training or sparring sessions. practically growing up in that dojo, i know ive had similar moments like Jin had crying over his mother, only my sensei was a far kinder man than Kazuya lol, and never would have driven me to that level of frustration. still, it was cathartic in a way to write Jin trying to keep it together only to cry in that "dojo," felt like a snapshot of the past

in the original version, what prompted Jin to take the plunge and make positive physical contact wasn't what we have here. after Kaz's "fury at her death" line, it was Jin thinking back to a convo he had with Lee about Kaz DEFINITELY caring about Jun, but Jin not seeing much of that at all, it doesnt hit for real until he hears it from the horse's mouth. BUT, i really didnt like referring to an event we dont see and it always felt bad, so we got the final version instead lol

Jin's music tastes are based on the brief listen we got in Bloodline, being like EDM and such, but i have a lot of different tastes picked out for him in my head. largely my own, no lie, but consolidated to a few genres primarily. one of them being vocaloid because a beta made the joke and it’s seared into my brain now

people who have been here from the start or browsed my fic art tag may recognize the hurdle of affection in this chapter, as THIS ART was planned to make it into the fic itself from the start! only i didnt have the full context of the scene when i drew it, i may want to tackle it again now for fun lol

the amount of time it took Jin to get a REAL hit in on Kazuya was fought like a feral bear, could not decide until practically publishing the chapter. at one point it was within 6 months, another almost 2 years, and i was wracking my brain the whole time lol. still not quite happy with the final decision

the final bit with Jin landing that hit was written AGES ago, very very early in development for this fic lol. so glad to finally have it out there

[hyenahunt]

Saga: Epilogue - 1

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Characters: Jin, Jun

Proofreading: 310mc (JP) & hyenahunt (ENG)

Translation: kotofucius

Jin: I’d risen from my grave by mistake, but you've struck me dead once more.

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Location: Reverse Live Stage

Jin: “♪~♪~♪”

Jun: “~…♪”

(GODDAMN! This is so freakin' hard! I’m going at full throttle to kick Sagami Jin's ass, y’know~!?)

(I’m baring my fangs and howling at him, with every intent to strike him dead!)

(But thanks to that damn video that just played, the audience just sees me as some kinda huge starstruck fan of his…)

(And every time I lunge at him, they just start squealing!)

(I can hear 'em now… “Oh, he loves him so much!” “He looks so happy getting to sing with his idol!” “Congrats on your dream coming true!”)

(Couldja not look so fondly at a scene like this~!? I mean, c'mon!)

(Damn it all! Well yeah, my dream did come true, but it's a world away from what you guys think it is!)

(So don’t look at me like that, I'm begging ya~ Why the hell did things turn out like this!?)

Jin: …Sacchan. You’ve gotta focus~ Both your singing and dancing aren't looking too hot. You doing okay? Getting tired?

Jun: 'Scuse me? “Sacchan”? Don'tcha go acting like we're friends, Sagami Jin!

Jin: Well, you’re always calling me by my full name too… And that feels so dead-serious that it's kinda scary…

I’d be a lil' more comfortable if you could ease up and just call me something like Jin-san.

Jun: Haha! Well, if it bothers you so much then I’m just gonna keep calling you Sagami Jin~!

So if you’re giving me an annoying nickname in return just to get back at me, I guess I can't really complain, huh~?

Jin: Hmm, not quite… Calling you Sazanami just makes me think of your dad, see.

And since our names are kinda similar, saying your first name feels like saying my own… so I thought I'd try a nickname.

Jun: Seriously? We’re nowhere close enough to be using nicknames! You better keep in mind that video was edited and nowhere near close to reality!

So if you'd kindly not confuse the two then I'd really appreciate it! You’ve always been and always will be my most resented foe, got that~!?

Jin: I do get it. It's only natural that you hate me — It's what I deserve considering all the people I trampled over just to climb to the top.

Among them were parents who had mouths to feed, along with innocent people who had done nothing wrong… Really, I always knew a day like this would come.

That's why I chose to run away back then, disgusted with the yakuza-like business I was doing.

Jun: ……

Jin: Y’know, Sacchan… I’m kinda confused, too. I thought that even if you were to hit me or kill me, I had no right to protest.

Jin: But take a look. When I actually surrender to fate and face you, our audience cheers in delight.

And it's not 'cause they’re thirsting for violence, no. Nobody wishes to see that.

And well, showing people things they don’t want to see — Is that really what an idol does?

I don’t think it is. No… in fact, that's what my kids taught me. I’m supposed to be the teacher, but I just keep learning new things from them.

I wish I could’ve learned all this much, much sooner. That’s why I’m passing it down to you, while you still have your whole life ahead of you.

'Course, I know it's nowhere near enough to make up for all the pain I caused you and your dad…

Jun: ……

Jin: …That video… truly opened my eyes. It made me really understand the atrocity of the things I’d done.

And what I'd done… was destroy a family and ruin a child’s life.

Join us for Project-Saga, the revival of legendary idols, they said… I let myself get taken in by such a drunken plan, see…

Even I ended up giving in to the fun, and I let it guide me here as if it were all a nice little dream.

But of course, that wasn’t right. You reminded me that I no longer deserve to be an idol.

Jin: I’d risen from my grave by mistake, but you've struck me dead once more.

Won’t you make do with that? If I’m such a condemnable eyesore in your eyes, then I’ll disappear for you. If you want me to beg for forgiveness, then I’ll beg 'til you’re satisfied.

Even if I offered up my life, I still can’t possibly make up for the peaceful family and happy childhood I stole from you.

But it’s all I have, so I’ll offer it all up to you.

So just… Don’t lay a finger on my students. They’re innocent.

No — I'd like you to also forget your hatred and live on happily, with a smile. What must I do for that?

I may be a teacher, but I don't know a thing, so won't you teach me…? What must I do to atone?

Jun: …What must you do, huh?

Haha. Honestly, I’m already plenty satisfied, just from getting to see that look on your face and hearing you say those words.

Hell, from that very moment in SS when you were the one rooting for me from the audience —

You could say that already helped to save me.

Nah, actually… Being found and taken in by Ohii-san…

And becoming an idol great enough to stand on the same stage as you…

That must’ve already been all that I needed. For a wild stray that had lived by scavenging carrion to survive, it's plenty more than enough of a reward… You could say it was my salvation.

[ ☆ ]

✦✦✦✦

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[2amtoday-blog]

Xiaomi's 2023, Lu Weibing's 3 problems

At that time, Xiaomi was full of ambition: the growth rate of overseas markets increased rapidly, and even accounted for half of the total sales of Xiaomi mobile phones. Xiaomi also started the road to high-end branding in 2019: the Xiaomi CC9 Pro released that year won the first overall score for smartphone cameras released by the camera evaluation agency DXO for the first time. Xiaomi’s excitement is hard to hide ——The words DXO No.1 lined up with lights in the Xiaomi Science and Technology Park building are also the epitome of the era when domestic smartphone manufacturers generally "impacted high-end" in that year. This year, Lei Jun began to recruit a number of former executives of mobile phone manufacturers from the outside world for Xiaomi. In this lineup dubbed the "Avengers" by the outside world: not only the former Lenovo Vice President Chang Cheng, but also Yang from Meizu Miao Lei, co-founder of Nubia, Wang Xiaoyan, founder of Xiaojiao mobile phone, and Lu Weibing, who was originally the president of Gionee. But at that time, no one could have imagined that Lu Weibing became the president of Xiaomi Group in less than three years, and he was also the fastest-promoted executive in Xiaomi's history. No one would have imagined that in 2022, three years later, Xiaomi would face a difficult test in terms of impacting high-end sales and maintaining sales growth. Some former Xiaomi people used the trough period encountered by Xiaomi in 2016 to describe the current situation. —— Both revenue and profit have declined, the impact on the high-end has not yet been completed, and the basic low-end machine business has been greatly squeezed by competitors. Perhaps Lu Weibing is the one who "received orders in danger". The Difficult Road to Hitting the High End Hitting the high end is the most important part of the Xiaomi Group's strategy today: Lei Jun once shouted the slogan "Comprehensively benchmarking iPhone in terms of product and experience" when Mi 12 was released, even at the Mi 13 conference that has just passed less than a month ago. , Lei Jun also shouted the slogan of "impacting high-end" dozens of times. Among Xiaomi fans, there is a proper term: "Mi Chonggao Key Year", which is used to complain about Xiaomi's publicity, and every year is the keynote of "hitting the high-end key year". "Critical year" may be just a marketing concept, but if you really want to complete the high-end transformation of the brand, it is almost a test of a mobile phone manufacturer's all-round service: the part closest to the user and the most perceived by the user may be the after-sales service . Starting in 2021, the core product in Xiaomi's high-end strategy, the flagship mobile phone of the year - Xiaomi 11 series, users began to report problems such as "serious fever", "Wi-Fi unavailable" and more serious "unable to turn on". The number of cases has grown rapidly, and it has quickly evolved from a small word-of-mouth storm to a storm that Xiaomi did not expect. In this regard, Xiaomi's solution is that "users with doubts" can apply for half-year extended warranty service by themselves. At the same time, the channel for users to directly replace the problem with a new one is closed, and only the maintenance by replacing the main board is supported. These handling measures, which seemed controversial even at the time, have laid the groundwork for a year-long problem. In December last year, a reporter from the power plant consulted the person in charge of Xiaomi’s after-sales repair center on this matter, and the explanation he got was that “various problems caused by the motherboard (due to) the follow-up have been completely resolved”, but at least a number of Xiaomi 11 users appeared Situations where a similar problem reoccurs after replacing the motherboard. Since Mi 11 is Mi 11's flagship model that will be launched in 2021, by mid-2022, most purchasers will have passed the one-year warranty period, and there is no real feasible large-scale solution to this problem. There are various ways to deal with the same problem offline. A series of operations eventually led to problems such as Wi-Fi/deadlines caused by motherboard problems on Mi 11, which will once again focus on the network in 2022. In 2022 alone, the topic of "Xiaomi 11 has repeatedly exploded quality problems" has appeared on Weibo hot searches three times, and there have even been news of collective rights protection by Xiaomi 11 users many times. caused great damage. This incident lasted for a year and even affected the subsequent release of Xiaomi Mi 12/13. Nowadays, when searching for related topics on Weibo, you can even see feedback from many users on this issue recently. Mi 11 hit the high-end and finally retreated. It taught Xiaomi a heavy lesson in the road to high-end branding. Cost-effective products", the quality control of mobile phones and the perfection of the after-sales system directly determine whether a brand can support high-end evaluation dimensions. Just from the new actions of Xiaomi in the field of mobile phone photography in 2022: the new machine will stop sending for testing DXO camera ratings, and it will be co-branded with Leica. It is not difficult to see that Xiaomi will make strategic adjustments for the high-end brand in 2022. In the press conference after the release of the 22Q3 financial report, Wang Xiang, then the president of Xiaomi, emphasized to reporters that Xiaomi would not use short-term results to judge whether Xiaomi’s high-end success was successful. "We have strategic patience and do not expect to completely win the high-end market through one or two products." Brand premiumization is a protracted battle, and now Xiaomi is finally acknowledging it. Sales slump in desperate need of rescue On November 23, 2022, Xiaomi's 22Q3 financial report will be released. In the third quarter of 2022, Xiaomi’s revenue was 70.474 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 9.7%; adjusted net profit was 2.117 billion yuan, a sharp decline of 59.1% year-on-year. Its business segments also showed a downward trend: Xiaomi’s smartphone business revenue was 42.5 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 11.1%; Internet of Things and consumer products revenue was 19.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 9%; Internet service revenue was 7.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease 3.7%; other income was 1.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 6.6%. Compared with the data of the overall business, the change in smartphone sales may be more intuitive to explain the problem: in the third quarter of this year, Xiaomi’s global smartphone market shipments were 40.2 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 8.4%. Adjusted net profit was RMB 2.117 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 59.1%. As Wang Xiang said, Xiaomi will not collapse because of the failure of a high-end model, nor will it rise overnight because of the success of a high-end flagship, but now Xiaomi's real core competitiveness is still led by Redmi Inexpensive models. In fact, the current situation of Xiaomi can even accept the failure of a few more flagship mobile phones to hit the high-end, but it cannot accept the basic market-the status quo of the high-cost model market being eroded by other mobile phone brands. Nowadays, when analyzing the resistance encountered by Xiaomi's impact on high-end, many people will quote Xiaomi's classic 1999 pricing, trying to explain that it was Xiaomi's cost-effective models and even the entire brand positioning that made today's Xiaomi brand high-end strategy even more bumpy. But these arguments are easy to forget the fact that Xiaomi would not even be where it is today if it hadn’t been for Xiaomi’s early adoption of the cost-effective strategy to quickly narrow the gap with international giants such as Samsung in the market. For today's Xiaomi, apart from Lei Jun's slogan of "impact high-end", another more pragmatic question is: how to regain the low-end machine market that belongs to Xiaomi? Lei Jun builds cars, "newcomers" enter the battle For Lei Jun himself, building cars has become a top priority at the moment. The first engineering vehicle has passed a number of production tests in early October last year, and there were even rumors of a coupe model near the Xiaomi Technology Park earlier this month. test car. Lei Jun has also held Weibo polls many times, seeking what price range netizens think is the most suitable for Xiaomi's first car. Perhaps for Lei Jun himself, he can still be the product manager and engineer at the forefront; but for today's Xiaomi, there is still a long way to go before the mass production of cars is profitable. According to the plan, it should have been Xiaomi’s mobile phone business that continued to infuse blood into the car-making business to help it get through the most difficult start-up stage: According to the data disclosed in Xiaomi’s financial report, Xiaomi’s investment in the car-making business in 2022 from the first three quarters was 425 million, 611 million and 829 million yuan, and the speed of burning money is increasing rapidly. "The Power Plant" has previously reported that Xiaomi's progress is significantly slower than expected, and the pressure on Xiaomi's mobile phone business is increasing. Lei Jun directly leads the team in the car, and the mobile phone business that is at stake needs a person who can stabilize the morale of the army and be able to take on this important task. At this time, Xiaomi's choice will not only determine the next high-end road of Xiaomi products, but also directly affect to overall sales. At the end of December, the 61-year-old Xiaomi president Wang Xiang retired. He is another veteran who left Xiaomi after Li Wanqiang, Huang Jiangji, Zhou Guangping, and Cui Baoqiu. At the same time, the other two co-founders of Xiaomi - Hong Fenghe, the soul of the MIUI operating system, and Wang Chuan, who led the Xiaomi TV business to achieve the No. 1 market share, will also withdraw from the front line of business this year. Among the eight co-founders of Xiaomi, only Lei Jun is still on the front line. The old man faded out one after another, and Lu Weibing took over the No. 1 position of Xiaomi. Now he is only 47 years old and is currently the youngest partner of Xiaomi. Lei Jun also stated in an internal letter to all employees: "The series of news shared today is a milestone for Xiaomi." "This declares that Xiaomi's management has achieved a smooth handover iteration and is ready for continued development in the future." Even though Lu Weibing was the president of Gionee before joining Xiaomi, in the eyes of some Xiaomi people, he is still a "newcomer" who joined Xiaomi in 2019. The too fast "triple jump" promotion also made some people think that he can There are still doubts about whether Xiaomi can stand up for the first batch of posts before the car is launched. A former Xiaomi employee believes that Lu Weibing is a person with real business capabilities. He once brought three Redmi models into the list of the top ten best-selling smartphones in the world, which made many who doubted his ability have to look up. But there are still some people who believe that Lu Weibing's success in Redmi is more based on the fact that Redmi itself still focuses on the route of high cost performance + low price. No one can guarantee that Lu Weibing will lead the price in 4000-7000 The sales volume of the Xiaomi flagship series at the price of RMB 100,000 yuan has reached a new level. The arguments of these ex-Xiaomi employees are: the Redmi Note 7 series, which really started the rapid growth of the Redmi brand and sold more than 15 million units in just six months, was released only eight days after Lu Weibing took over Redmi, so the most important The definition of product and brand strategy is hardly credited to Lu Weibing. In addition to the sales volume, the most important achievement when introducing Lu Weibing in the past - helping Xiaomi to connect online and offline sales channels, under the trend of weak sales in the overall market this year, it has become the part that drags down Xiaomi as a whole. In the third quarter of 2022, the revenue of Xiaomi's smartphone business line fell by 11.1% year-on-year, which was the largest decline among Xiaomi's three major business lines. Analysis agency Counterpoint reported that Xiaomi’s lack of online and offline channels relative to OPPO and vivo has affected its sales. But in any case, Xiaomi at this time has already started a change in the management organization of the first and second generations in the throes: a younger team of professional managers headed by Lu Weibing has begun to take over the heavy responsibilities. In the new year, the two completely different stories of Xiaomi's "high-end brand" and "stabilizing the basic sales volume" will be written by Lu Weibing. Read the full article

[writer-k-pop]

Secret Weapon

와, 고잉 스태프들은 정말 세게칠 줄 알아. Woah, the Going staff really know how to hit hard.

Description: In a moment of great genius, the producers of Going Seventeen tell the members that Insomnia Zero is happening for the third time (much to Woozi’s dismay). Same rules as the second season except this time, the production team has a secret weapon: you. Warnings: Second hand embarrassment?  Genre: FLUFF! Idol!Jeonghan X Fem!Reader Word Count: 1.4k Note: I know they did a smaller third segment already but this idea began before the collab with MMTG. Anywho enjoy!

Seventeen Masterlist | Masterlists

“Season three?” Woozi stands in between the bed and the mats with his hands on his hips and his head hung low. “I swore it wouldn’t happen.”

“And yet, here it is.” Hoshi smiled and clapped him on the shoulder as the others made their way on set. 

As they all get seated and comfortable, you watch them from behind the line of cameras with sunglasses and a beanie covering your identity. You easily find the one you were specifically here for. 

Jeonghan waits for the PD’s to tell them the rules of the episode that has become many Carat’s and Cubic’s favorite episode. His eyes pause on you for a split second and you fear that he’ll call you out and the plan will be ruined. But there’s no recognition on his face and he turns his attention to the members around him.

The rules are very similar as last time. PD’s against Seventeen. Three lowest heart beat ranges get to go home. If the production crew’s representative gets first place, that department gets to go home. 

Some members have fear in their eyes while others have pure mischief in theirs, specifically Jeonghan. 

The filming goes as planned. The boys rip into Seungcheol about the things he does behind the scenes. 

As Jeonghan prepares to attempt to sleep, the PD announces a slight change.

He sits, waiting for the PD to explain the change.

“We have a secret weapon.” The PD says, “Since you have twelve people to try and make our crew member laugh, we needed someone on our side. So, we’ve brought in someone special to help with it.”

You walk into the view of the camera and smile and wave. “Hi boys.” 

Jeonghan sits stunned on the mattress before a nervous laugh erupts from his throat. 

“Isn’t this going overboard?” He asks but you shake your head and make your way over to where the rest of the boys are sitting. 

“Jeonghan hyung is nervous!” Dino points out and laughs happily.

“I’m not nervous!” Jeonghan says defensively and readjusts the blankets. “Everyone should be nervous. Who knows what kind of stories she’s got on you.”

“Thank goodness, I already went.” Seungcheol breathes out a sigh of relief with a hand over his heart. The comment earns him a smack from Jun. 

“Jeonghan, your heartbeat’s too fast.” The PD says and everyone cracks up.

Jeonghan hangs his head low before asking, “How can you expect my heartbeat to slow down when my girlfriend is about to embarrass me?”

“I would never embarrass you!” You tell him but he immediately gives you a look. “I would never majorly embarrass you.” You correct yourself with a sheepish smile.

“Jeonghan, deep breaths.” Seungcheol says and acts out deep breathing.

Eventually, Jeonghan gets his heartbeat down to a good enough level for the crew and his time starts. He lays back and a bright spotlight shines on the bed while all the other lighting dims.

“Do we have any stories about Jeonghan hyung?” Hoshi asks to the group. 

“Well, there’s the underwear incident.” Dino mentions and Dokyeom bursts into laughter.

“Tell it, tell it, tell it.” Dokyeom says between breaths.

"For his birthday, I gave him a silly pair of underwear.” Dino says, “It had like cherries all over it. He said he really liked them and that he’d wear them often. But then, a few months later, I was raiding through his closet for a sweater and I found the underwear, still in the package, shoved under a pile of old clothes, in the corner of the closet!” He finishes with frustration. “You said you would wear them! And the excuse you gave was not even good!”

“What did he say? What did he say?” Hoshi looks at Dino.

“He said he was saving it for a special occasion.” Dino stares at Jeonghan, “But in those few months there were SO many special occasions!” 

Jeonghan presses his lips together to keep from laughing while everyone laughs at the story.

“(y/n), you got any stories?” Mingyu asks when they’ve quieted down. 

“Of course, I do.” You reply and launch into the story you’ve been dying to tell since it happened. “So, I had been having a stressful week and I guess Jeonghan wanted to help me out. He decided to clean the house for me while I was out at work.”

“Hyung? Cleaning?” Seungkwan repeats, “You’re lying.”

“No, I’m being serious!” You retort, “He had slept over and I needed to go to work so I left him in bed and went to work. Spent the day stressed and was looking forward to coming home and relaxing with my boyfriend and a movie.” With gestures to accompany the story, you mimic opening a door, “I opened the door and I nearly had a heart attack.”

“Why, why?” Dokyeom asked, gripping your arm.

Seungcheol chuckles and covers his mouth. “Oh, I know this story. Jeonghan told me.”

“Woah, this must’ve been seriously embarrassing.” Seungkwan comments. 

“Keep going.” Wonwoo encourages you. 

“I get home, and I swear to god, there’s laundry drying on every possible surface. The drying rack, the chairs, the back of the couch.” You continue, replaying the scene in my mind. “The dishes were cleaned, the floor was swept, and Jeonghan was in a different room vacuuming away so he didn’t hear me enter. But I was looking over the laundry and I noticed a pink shirt that I had never seen before.” 

Jeonghan’s eyes squeeze tighter to keep from responding. 

“I picked it up and it was wayyyy too big to be mine so I figured it was Jeonghan’s. But then I realized it was his favorite sweater that I bought him for Christmas. The only problem? When I bought it, it was white. Like white white.” You keep telling the story with giggles and laughter erupting from all around you. “I looked around further and saw my collection of red clothes that I always wash separately and a lot of those clothes were brand new.”

“Oh no! Hyung!” Mingyu exclaims, “You never mix those kinds of clothes!”

“Not the red clothing!” Vernon reacts in his own over the top way, hands in the air and face contorted into despair. 

“But the biggest turn of events?” You continue over the laughter, “Jeonghan didn’t even notice the staining. I asked him about it and he didn’t even realize it was his sweater that he had put into the wash with my clothes!” You finish while laughing, toppling into Dokyeom who is probably laughing harder than anyone in the room.

Jeonghan is laying on the mattress, struggling to keep calm. His face is turning red and his lips curl in laughter that is kept absolutely silent. 

“So did you buy him a new sweater?” The8 wonders, tapping your shoulder. 

“Of course I did!” You exclaim, holding up your hands for added emphasis, “With his credit card.”

With the last comment, the whole group loses any and all composure. Even Jeonghan’s chest is now shaking with his laughter but yet, not a sound has escaped his mouth. As per the rules if he doesn’t want to get eliminated. 

“Look at Jeonghan hyung.” Seungkwan says through immense laughter. “His face is so red.”

“Woah, the Going staff really know how to hit hard.” Woozi comments, pointing a finger at the staffs. 

The bell rings and the lights turn back on, signaling the end of Jeonghan’s turn. 

“Hey, (y/n).” He rises, pointing a finger at you. “Why would you tell that story?” He squeezes to sit next to you, “There were so many other less embarrassing stories, why did you choose that one?” He leans in closer before tackling you to the floor with tickles that prevent you from responding.

“Sua hyung, your turn.” Jun pushes the older over towards the sleeping mattress. 

Jeonghan finally lets up and helps you sit up but keeps an arm wrapped around your waist securely.

As Joshua settles under the blanket, Jeonghan leans down and whispers in your ear. “You did bring stories about the others, right? I’m not the only one you’re targeting.”

You giggle, “Oh, I’m getting all of you back for the countless times you’ve let something about me slip on VLives.” 

“Good lord, save us all.” Jeonghan jokes and the lights dim down.

“I want to know what story (y/n) has first.” Wonwoo says, nudging your shoulder.

“Oh, I have plenty of stories about all of you.” You smirk. “But Joshua first.”

Joshua raises his hands in a prayer gesture but it’s a fickle attempt to get mercy.

With their attention on you, you begin the story you have about Joshua. 

“It was a random Wednesday…”

[jeongwife]

first i wanna say ur blog is one of my top faves omfg ur writing always hits the spot 😩🦋💓

anyway i was going thru ur masterlist and i noticed there is an unfortunate lack of junhui asks </3 so might i request ur thoughts on soft giggly morning sex?

i'm imagining reader gets in the shower and he pokes his head thru the door like "me too? :]" and it starts really cute like shampooing each other's hair and making it stand up in funny shapes but then escalates to u going at it and just,, laughing and having fun with it 😞

thanks for indulging in my domestic!junhui agenda courtesy of my nonstop china line brainrot </3

hihi!!!! thank you so much for all the love 🥺🥺 THIS SCENARIO THOUGH OMG ;-; i kinda got carried away with this bc i am a sucker for domesticity 💗 i hope you like this hehe

imagine the hot water cascading down as you shower to get ready for work when you hear the turning of the bathroom door knob, sticking you head out of the shower curtains to see jun peeking inside in a similar manner, sheepish grin on his face as he asks if he can join.

at your nod, he happily enters the bathroom, and you go back to showering as you hear the sound of his pyjamas hitting ground before the curtain is pulled back and he steps into the shower behind you. while this definitely isn’t your first time seeing each other naked, there’s still a sense of bashfulness when he presses soft kisses to your bare shoulder, murmuring a sleepy “good morning, baby” against your skin.

he insists on helping you shampoo your hair, giggling at the moan that involuntarily slips past your lips as his fingertips soothingly massage your scalp, careful not to get the foamy lather in your eyes. his laughter doesn’t cease as his fingers mould your hair into a large spike atop your head.

you can’t help but join in when you catch your reflection in the shower head, immediately reaching for the shampoo so you can do the same to him. jun smiles at how you bite your lower lip in concentration as you work the floral shampoo into his hair, soon creating a smaller, twisted spike on his head.

he places a dollop of foam on the tip of your nose, earning a feigned, scandalised gasp from you before you return the favour and draw a stripe on his cheek. this turns into a competition where the two of you smear as many bubbles as you can on each other, your hushed giggles echoing off the tiles of the bathroom while the water continues raining down on the both of you, gently washing off the suds.

your playful fight ends with you pressed against the cold wall of the shower as jun kisses you softly, one of his hands grabbing your thighs to hook it around his waist while he grinds his hardening cock against your core.

“j-junnie, now?” you gasp out in between his kisses as you clutch his broad shoulders for support, to which he nods. “now, want you so bad, baby,” he confirms, eyes clouded with both lust and affection as he leans in to kiss you again, moaning into your mouth when one of your hands slide down between your bodies to wrap around his cock and slowly pump him to full hardness.

jun giggles at your whine when he rubs soft circles on your clit with his thumb as his index and middle fingers drag along your slit to collect the slickness dribbling out of you, experimentally dipping inside your entrance to tease you, earning breathy whimpers from you as you beg him to hurry up.

his soft hair tickles your neck as he places more feathery kisses there, smiling against your skin at the giggles that escape your parted lips as he finally guides the thick head of his cock to your soaked folds. when he starts slowly thrusting into your pussy, you bring a hand to cup the side of his face, encouraging him to look at you.

“i love you,” you say sweetly as he groans from the almost innocent twinkle in your eyes, droplets of water catching onto your lashes as you gaze at him through them. his cock twitches inside your snug walls and his hips surge forward, pushing the tip of his cock into your sweet spot as your lips part in a silent moan.

he watches your face contort with pleasure with a grin as he tightens his hold on the thigh wrapped around his waist, pecking your lips while he picks up the pace to chase your orgasms.

“i love you too, baby.”

nonnie…i think you just gave me junrot…now i can’t stop thinking about him calling me bǎo bèi omg what have you done 😞💗 — admin lily <3

[ah-ga-seven]

Sneaky Link III (M)

[series masterlist]

[Pairing]: Fem! Reader x Choi Yeonjun ft. second male lead Juyeon.

[Synopsis]: The story picks up after having met Yeonjun through a mutual acquaintance. You quickly bonded over your similarities and basically fell for him on the spot. As your relationship progressed you found out that you weren’t the only woman in his life, but no matter how hard you tried, leaving him was harder than you thought.

[Idol Cameos]: Aespa’s Karina, The Boyz’s Juyeon, Ateez’s Wooyoung, special guest: Odi. 

[Genre]: Smut (w/Yeonjun), Angst, Fluff, College!AU, Romance, Infidelity, Toxic!Jun.

[Word count]: 11.5k

[Warning]: Mature content and heavy smut (skippable) I put headings at the start and end of it. Extreme toxicity, mentions of cheating (not on the reader), being the side chick, emotional manipulation, and heavy drinking and violence!

[Disclaimer]: If anyone ever treats you like this, run. I am in no shape or form trying to romanticize this behavior or imply that Yeonjun is like this nor am I shipping him with other idols or assuming anyones sexuality. Please remember that it’s fiction. ��LISTEN TO THE SNEAKY LINK PLAYLIST HERE ❗️

“We need to talk,” Wooyoung says as he rudely tries to pull you out of Juyeon’s lap.

It earned him a confused puppy look from Juyeon and an annoyed scowl from yourself because you knew exactly why you ‘needed to talk.’  

He pursed his lips into a thin line, widening his eyes at you which basically meant that he was losing his patience so you reluctantly got up. “It won’t take long.” You tell Juyeon to excuse yourself as you got pulled to the kitchen once again but by Wooyoung this time.

“…What was that a few minutes ago with Yeonjun?”

You sigh, avoiding eye contact as you look at your own hands on the countertop. “Nothing.”

You look up from your hands and into the living room to try and spot either him or Karina but they were nowhere to be found. Really? Could they be fucking somewhere now too?

“Y/n…you looked upset. And he had his hand on your back as if he was trying to intimidate you. I’m just trying to check if he’s out of line for something.”

Oh…Wooyoung. You know he means well but…

Your thoughts are interrupted when you hear a door slam so fucking loud, it could be heard over the blaring music.

Your eyes travel to where the thud was coming from with an alarmed facial expression but when you saw Karina, furiously stomping into the kitchen while looking around with fire spewing from her dark orbs you knew you were dead meat.

You didn’t know why or how, but the nauseating feeling in the pit of your stomach returned, sensing that something was really wrong right now.  

“…What’s with her?” Wooyoung says raising an eyebrow in confusion. The sound of his voice made her head snap into the direction where the two of you were standing and that’s…when you made eye contact.

Oh…no.

Without second thought or warning, Karina leaped over to you with big strides. You just stood frozen on your feet, not knowing what was to come and after that everything happened way too fast.

You were hit in the face with full force, adrenaline pumping through your veins to mask the painful sensation that was yet to come while your heart thumbed out of your chest.

“YOU FUCKING BITCH!” She yelled at the top of her lungs as she tried to hit you again but by now, Wooyoung stood between the two of you angry as ever. Juyeon had caught you from behind since he had run over after seeing the whole ordeal unfold from his comfy chair.

You couldn’t quite see anything as you covered your face with your hands, blood gushing out of your nose by now as two strong arms snaked around Karina’s waist to hold her back from doing more damage.

It was Yeonjun.

“KARINA STOP IT. NOW,” he yelled.

“Shit.” Juyeon tried to cover you as he stood before you. All of the arguing becoming white noise while you got lightheaded.  

Juyeon quickly ripped off a piece of paper towel and tilted your head back, he took your hand and guided it to your nose to pinch it with the paper towel to stop the bleeding. Luckily, he knew exactly what to do because God knows you didn’t.

What happened in those few short minutes that they were gone? Did she find out? Did Yeonjun confess? And how does she know it’s you?  

No one was asking any questions. Too busy with keeping Karina from hurting you even more all while trying to keep you from fainting.

You wanted to hit her back; you really did. But honestly, you deserved to be hit in the face…multiple times.

“GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE,” Wooyoung yelled at Karina. He was seeing white, absolutely seething at what just happened because he didn’t know why, and by now Mirae had emerged to help you sit down on a bar stool as well.

“LET ME GO SO I CAN KILL THAT BITCH” Karina yelled out once again, still getting held back by a majorly distressed Yeonjun who’s attention had been on you more than on her.  

All hell broke loose, people were watching, taking out their phones to film while happy trap music still blared through the speakers as a very unfitting soundtrack to your misery.  

You sat down on a bar stool, avoiding both Karina and Yeonjun’s gaze with the help of Juyeon standing in front of you.

He noticed your drop in energy and pulled you close to him, not caring that his white sweater might get blood stains on it as he sweetly shielded you from the public eye.  

He quickly shot Karina a venomous glare, not understanding what the fuck just went down. “What is wrong with you?” he asks her, genuinely disgusted and confused by her temper tantrum.

You closed your eyes at him coming to your defense, realizing how fucked up it really is.

“What’s wrong with me?” Karina scoffed, blowing her disheveled hair out of her face.  

“She f-”  Karina got interrupted as Wooyoung took a threatening step closer to her. “Bitch shut up and get out of my house.”

Yeonjun was completely torn between making sure you were okay and staying by Karina’s side. He felt horrible that Karina hit you. Though he never mentioned your name to her, she wasn’t as stupid as she looked.  

Clearly.

“Let’s go.” He said pulling at her wrist, but she aggressively yanked her arm out of his hold, giving him a look of sadness laced with distrust and pain.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She choked up as she looked into his eyes, and that’s when everyone realized what was going on.

You closed your eyes in defeat. Talk about a public humiliation…

Juyeon’s tight hold on you loosened, Wooyoung looked from Yeonjun to you with wide eyes and Mirae just bit her lip in anxiousness at this whole thing unraveling to be the worst night of your life.

Juyeon sighed. “Let’s get you upstairs.” He helped you up, and all you could do was look at him with a big, confused, yet thankful stare.

Wow, this is the last thing you expected. He tilted your head back again as he led you to the hallway. “Keep applying pressure, it might be broken.” He commented calmly, and you just did as you were told, your mind not being able to think for itself.  

Karina stormed off, leaving Yeonjun glued to the kitchen floor. People were starting to mind their own business again with a view remaining stares here and there.  

Does he go after her? Or you?

“…Yeonjun honey…what did you do?” Wooyoung asks clicking his tongue while crossing his arms over his chest, giving his friend a judgmental look up and down.

“…I played with fire.”

“Here, lie down.” Juyeon says as he laid you down on Wooyoung’s bed.

As you lie there you can’t help but think of the fact that not even half an hour ago he laid you down on the same bed, under entirely different circumstances. He got up, walking back downstairs quickly to do god knows what and you were left in the room with Mirae, who sat down beside you which made the mattress dip a little.  

Since the adrenaline had subsided, you started to feel pain which made you wince as your head hit the pillow a little too hard for your comfort.

“Fuck..y/n…this is a full on shitshow.”

You tried looking at Mirae with your head still tilted and the paper towel on your nose as it blocked half of your vision. “Tell me about it.” Your voice sounded somewhat like Squidward’s and it made the two of you chuckle out loud.

“I’m surprised you didn’t hit her back.” Mirae pouts as she caressed your head.

“I deserved to be hit.” You huff, trying to sit up on Wooyoungs bed. Your mind started to trail off to Yeonjun, questioning how all of this happened and where he was at, but your thoughts were quickly interrupted by Mirae.

“Well…if its broken maybe you can get that nose job you wanted.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at her dumb attempt to cheer you up with her dark humor and that’s when Juyeon returned. “What are you doing, I told you to lay down.” He says sternly as he got back with a bag of frozen peas in his hold. “They didn’t have ice cubes, it’s the best I could do.”

You smiled at him faintly, taking the bag from him to put it against your throbbing nose.  

“Thank you…you didn’t have to.”

He didn’t respond however as he looked from you to Mirae. Mirae got up off the bed swiftly to make space for him, ready to give the two of you some privacy. It was odd, all of it. You didn’t know if Juyeon was mad or sad, or that he got what was happening at all.

“I’m…gonna go downstairs…see if I can check on Woo.” She announces hastily as she walked towards the bedroom door. Juyeon gave her a faint yet friendly smile and you both nod at her as she left.

When the door closed the air got thick, you didn’t know where to start. You were looking into Juyeon’s equally dark pupils to try and guess what he was feeling but his gaze was fixated on something else. Your nose.  He slowly let go of the bag of frozen peas to assess your nose as gently as he could. “Well, at least it stopped bleeding and I don’t think it’s broken either, it’s going to swell up a lot if you don’t keep it iced so try to do it three times a day. Oh and avoid hot showers and excessive physical activity, it could re-open the broken blood vessels,” he rambled.

Suddenly you remember he’s a medical student which is probably the reason why he’s helping you…it’s because he’s supposed to.

“Juyeon I-” you start but he quickly put the bag of peas on your nose again to stop you from talking. “Let’s not get into it right now.” He countered, shutting you right up.

Shit.  

He smiled to himself bitterly. “I really thought we had something going here.”

“Juyeon…we do, I mean it. We do.”

“So how long then?”

You couldn’t bring yourself to lie to him again, knowing he deserved better than that. “…A few months…until recently.”

He scoffed, nodding to himself. He really thought you were different. That he had finally found someone worth opening up to, but he now knows it was nothing like that to you.

“I hope you had your fun.”  

Your eyes widen, taking the frozen peas off of your nose once again but right before you wanted to speak up to somehow defend yourself, the door opened with a dramatic swing.

“I tried to stop him.” Wooyoung spoke as Yeonjun emerged from behind him. “But he’s annoyingly persistent,” he said rolling his eyes.

Yeonjun ignored both Wooyoung and Juyeon, walking over to you to crouch down beside the bed. “Shit y/n.” he tilted your head so he could assess the damage by grabbing your chin lightly. “I’m so sorry this happened. She suddenly jolted out of the room and next thing I know she hit you.”

Juyeon didn’t know what the fuck was happening right now, but he wasn’t having any of it. “Don’t you have a girlfriend to run after?” he huffs, keeping his eyes on Yeonjun

“There’s nothing to run after. Stay out of it.”  That comment had Wooyoung’s eyebrows raising, Juyeon’s fists balling and your eyes popping out of your skull at Yeonjun’s bluntness.

What did he just say? Nothing to run after?

It’s not like 4 years of his relationship just went to shit or anything.

“Don’t talk to him like that.” You say coming to Juyeon’s defence, taking his hand off of your face. “What the fuck happened?”

Yeonjun wanted to open his mouth to speak but then he realized there were two pairs of eyes on him that didn’t need to know his business. “…Could we get some privacy?”  

Juyeon got up without a word and your eyes darted to his in distress. “Give me a chance to explain.”

“I’d rather not.” He stoically replies, handing you the bag of by now thawed peas. “Remember what I said. Ice it.”  

Even in a situation like this he still set aside his personal feelings to make sure you’re taken care of. It made you want to get punched in the face again because even though he deserves better, you weren’t sure if you could let Juyeon go this easily.  

“Juyeon, wait.” Your calling out of his name was of no use. He ignored you, somehow leaving you behind with a heavy heart and an empty head.

Wooyoung’s eyes followed Juyeons’s figure out of the room. Sighing and shaking his head in disapproval before he left to go after him as well, closing the door behind him loudly.

“…Damn…your little boy toy is upset.” Yeonjun comments insensitively, looking back at you to see an unexpected scowl on your face as you looked at him.

“Yeonjun, shut the fuck up. Why are you even here, you should’ve gone after her, not me.”

“She’s not the one that got hit in the face.”

“No, she got stabbed in the heart instead.”

He stayed quiet, letting your words sink in. So he decided to avert the conversation by explaining what happened.  

“We fought and I impulsively told her the truth after she asked me if I was cheating on her.”

“She asked you?”

“Yes but…she wouldn’t have done that if she didn’t already have her suspicions about us.” He carefully laced his fingers through your hair so you’d look at him. He pouted, seeing the redness around your nose bridge as the area was starting to swell.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, you keep saying that, but I’m half of the reason I’m in this mess.”

“Then it’s only fair you punch me in the face too.” he jokes, inching his face closer while tilting his head so you’d have full access to ruin his chiseled features. You roll your eyes and push away his face instead with a bitter scoff.  

You couldn’t help but laugh, hating how he was able to make you forget about how fucked up the situation you were in really was. You looked in each others’ eyes a little too lovingly as silence consumed the room, so before he could lean in to kiss you, you spoke up.  

“Yeonjun you should’ve gone after her.”

He sighed in annoyance. “Don’t you think that I would have if I wanted to?” y/n don’t you get it. I don’t…” he paused to think of a less insensitive way to put it but when he couldn’t think of a way to do so he just gave in and voiced his deepest truths. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt freer than I do now that she knows. Even if it cost you your cute little nose.” He softly booped your nose with his finger, trying to get you to cheer up and it kind of worked, until your smile faded. 

You felt the cold bag of peas still in your hands, looking down at it with furrowed brows as you started thinking of Juyeon and the way you hurt him because of how selfish you were.

“Did I hurt you?” Yeonjun noticed your saddened facial expression. You shook your head, still looking at your hands, and that’s when it clicked to him.

“…You started to really like him, didn’t you?”

You look up at Yeonjun’s face. Finding it weird how you were talking about a guy you were romantically involved with, with him; whom you are also romantically involved with.  

“I just…I hate that I hurt his feelings,” you admit.

Yeonjun nodded to himself, taking the bag out of your hands so he could lace his long, slender fingers through your own as he sighed.

“I hated seeing you with him. I guess it’s funny because…that’s exactly how you must have felt every time you saw me with Karina.” He scoffed, realizing that he confessed his jealousy.

“Just know that…I can only let you go if you tell me to.” He continued.

“What does that mean?” you look up at him again to try and understand, and that’s when he bit his lip, needing a second to collect his thoughts before he could voice them to you.

“What I’m trying to say is, that even though you deserve someone like Juyeon, who has his shit together, comes from a good family and is literally studying to become a doctor.” He paused to roll his eyes. “I selfishly want you to choose me because, what we have…no one can measure up to you y/n. It took that tool for me to realize that.”

‘That tool?” you say cocking a brow.

“Stop coming to his defense while I’m pouring my heart out here. It’s not nice.” He pouted.

You chuckled. Realizing how the tables have turned. Days ago, you wanted to be his first choice, to be the only woman he looked at. The number of times he had hurt your feelings was more painful than the other, but you couldn’t help but apprehend the irony of it all.

“I understand if you want nothing to do with me after this whole thing, and I’ll give you time to figure out what you want. But I hope that that’s me. Because I…I actually want to show you what it’s like to be loved by me. Wholeheartedly.”

Loved? By him?

If what he has shown you up to now was only a preview, then it must be worth being punched in the face for.  

You can’t help but think of Karina, and how your affair ruined her future with the only man she loved ‘wholeheartedly,’ while he was sharing the space in his heart with you. You had only been around for a small six months while she has shared her whole life with him.  

3,5 of those years were filled with memories of a good and healthy relationship with a great man, but that was before he met you.

You stayed silent, not knowing what to say, your mind going into overdrive at his confession in the middle of what was supposed to be the biggest crisis in his life. You didn’t understand how he could shut out all of those years of meaningful memories so easily. He didn’t even have the decency to go after her to explain what has been going on for months now. Which was the least Karina deserved for the purpose of closure.  

It clicked to you that he didn’t communicate with her. He didn’t talk to her the way he talked to you. And maybe if he did, none of this would have happened. If he would have just voiced the concerns he had about their relationship from the start, all of this could have been prevented, and he would have never pursued you the way he did. But Karina always had some type of authority over him. He never dared to criticize her because she’s the reason he was able to live his life the way he did. With a scholarship at a good school with great friends, it was all thanks to her, so he just lived a lie by pretending to be in love.

It was the same of lack love, communication and honesty that got you to the biggest turning point in the timeline of your fucked up relationship with Yeonjun. He was going to have to choose, but it was clear that the choice was already made. And it wasn’t the choice you were expecting.

“…What’s on your mind?” He asks, sweetly putting a stray piece of your hair behind your ear.

“…How ironic this is.” You admit, looking into his eyes once again as they peered into yours with anticipation. “How so?”

“Cause all this time, all I wanted was you, but you told me you didn’t care about me like that.”

“Well…clearly, I was wrong. I guess I was just lying to protect whatever was left to save with Karina but…now I know for sure that there’s nothing left for me with her anymore.”  

“Yeonjun…I don’t know. I can’t think straight.”

“I know, and I’m not asking you to know right away. I just wanted you to know how I feel before it’s too late. You’ve been way too patient with me all this time. So, the least I can do is be patient with you too. Right?”

You nodded, looking at your hands out of shyness which made him smile at you warmheartedly, petting your hair before planting a sweet kiss on your cheek.

 “Let’s get you home.”

Yeonjun took you to your place and took care of you like you were a child. It was weird. It was a completely new sensation for him to be so caring towards you and you didn’t know how to feel. Still overwhelmed with what happened at the party.

He basically tucked you in and left so he wouldn’t burden you with his presence, figuring that you needed space to think and wrap your head around all of these new events, accompanied with the guilt in your gut towards Juyeon. You were glad he left you alone with your thoughts, because thinking was the exact thing you needed to start doing right now.

It was all too much of a train wreck. You’d have to explain all of this to Wooyoung tomorrow, apologize for ruining his Birthday party and tell Mirae about what Yeonjun had told you in Wooyoung’s bedroom.

No matter how messed up it was, you couldn’t help but feel warm inside because of the fact that Yeonjun went to check on you and not Karina. It’s what you always wanted, but now that you have the security of Yeonjun’s genuine feelings for you, you suddenly don’t know what to do.

Not when this many people had to get hurt because of it. Because of you.  

The truth of the matter was that both Juyeon and Karina deserved better. For all you know Karina was never mean to you. She was nice, considerate, and tried to befriend you the minute she met you, but you didn’t let her.

You didn’t let her because you were sharing a man. A man that she planned a future with, and the same man she lost because he started to fall for you instead. You just went with it because you were selfish and completely entranced by his charms in combination with the fond look in his gaze every time he laid eyes on you. It was all just too unfair.

Honestly, if someone from the future would’ve told you this is what your life would come to a year ago you’d laugh at them and tell them to not be so ridiculous. 

You’d never fall for a taken man.

You’d never be that attached to someone to throw away all of your beliefs and morals, yet here you were. Lying in bed with a swollen nose, living with the consequences of your actions while everyone saw you as a homewrecker of the power couple in town.

And it wasn’t even your fault, because you tried to walk away plenty of times; but how could you when all you felt for him was genuine. No matter how painful it was to be the other woman, the way he made you feel was worth it. Because when you were together, he’d treat you like you were his whole world. Even if you weren’t the only one.

You tossed and turned all night, not being able to sleep because of the throbbing pain in your nose accompanied by the emotional tornado in your head. You had class in the morning and were not looking forward to explaining to your friends and teachers how you ended up with a bruised face, so you decided to call in sick at 8 AM, ready to get out of bed since your thoughts had been suffocating you all night.

Still tired and sleep-deprived, you make your way to your kitchen, remembering Juyeon’s words about icing the area. You retrieve a random ice pack from the tiny freezer compartment in your fridge and put it to your nose as you rummage through your drawers for some painkillers, however your actions got interrupted by the sound of your phone buzzing against the wooden surface of your dinner table.

You mindlessly retrieve it, but when you see who texted you, you instantly drop the ice pack to text him back with both hands.

[Juyeon, 8.04 AM]: Something about the way I left didn’t sit right with me.  

[Juyeon, 8.04 AM]: I want to hear your side of the story. Is it ok if I come over after my classes?

You couldn’t believe what you were seeing right now. The fact that he cared enough to still talk to you after last night was a complete mystery to you. Why did he keep giving you chances you didn’t deserve?

What is it about you that Juyeon couldn’t seem to let go of?

[Y/N, 8:06 AM]: Yes, of course.  

[Y/N, 8:06 AM]: I’m home all day so you can drop by whenever.

[Juyeon, 8.06 AM]: Ok. I’ll see you in the afternoon then.

You left him on read, not knowing what else to say to him under these circumstances. You really thought he’d break of any and every form of contact with you by now, but instead of unfollowing and blocking you, he was the first one to reach out to you when you were planning to do that yourself.

Juyeon seemed to be a straightforward and ‘lets just get it over with’ type of person, which was nice, because you’d just overthink every step you’d have to take in order to try to talk to him again.

You decided to clean up your place and take a shower while you waited for him. Remembering not to turn the water temperature too high just like Juyeon told you. You color corrected the shit out of your nose to try and conceal the damage but it could still seep through a little. It looked decent enough though, and the swelling wasn’t even as bad as you thought it’d be.  

You sigh, thinking about Yeonjun and Karina and the inevitable conversation they had to have. You knew it wasn’t your place, although you couldn’t help but be curious about how that played out. Yeonjun basically confirmed that he’s ready to let go of her permanently and give whatever the two of you had a chance, but things weren’t as black and white as they seemed.  

You knew the universe wasn’t going to make it that easy for you.

This wasn’t a modern fairytale-like one of those romance movies you’d mindlessly watch on a Sunday night where the happy endings were predictable. This was real life, and nothing about this whole situation you put yourself in was sweet, sappy nor cliché.

You were on your phone, scrolling through Tiktok until you saw a few text notifications pop up.

[Yeonjun, 12:32 PM]: Hey, how are you feeling?

[Yeonjun, 12:32 PM]: Do you need me to come over and bring you food, maybe some Advil?  

[Y/N, 12:33 PM]: I’m ok, and I’m fine thanks lmao. It’s not as bad as I thought it’d be.

[Yeonjun: 12:33 PM]: Hmm, okay. Well, tell me if you change your mind. I’m about to stop by Karina’s. I owe her multiple apologies and closure.

[Y/N, 12:35 PM]: Closure?

[Yeonjun, 12:35 PM]: Yes baby, I told you.  

[Yeonjun, 12:35 PM]: It’s you. It’s been you from the moment I met you. I realize that now.

You yeet your phone away on your couch out of utter disbelief and anxiety. It’s like cupid had possessed Yeonjun to start treating you the way you always wished he would, but now that it was happening it was just…fucking insane. You realize you can’t just leave him on read, deciding to send him a corny ass emoji because you didn’t know how to reply to him.

This new dynamic would take some time getting used to, and just as you forgot all about the fact that Juyeon would be coming over, your doorbell rang.

You jolt up from your couch as your heart started to beat uncontrollably fast. You quickly make your way to your front door, straightening out your clothes before you opened it slowly, and there he was. Lee Juyeon, as beautiful and put together as always.

He looked at you a little puzzled, and you didn’t really know how to greet him either, so you just stepped aside to make room for him. “Please, come in.”

Yeonjun was already in Karina’s dorm building, taking the elevator up to her place unannounced because he figured that it’d be better that way. He arrived after her roommate Giselle, let him in without suspicion. He guessed Karina didn’t tell her yet because she wasn’t hostile towards him and basically told him to make himself at home before she left to go to her afternoon class.

He knew Karina’s schedule by heart, not because he was that interested in where she was at all times but because knowing her schedule made it easier for him to sneak around with you in the past.  

It was sick, and he knows that. But it did come in handy right now to keep the element of surprise.  

She arrived shortly after him. He was sitting on her bed, lost in thought about how this conversation was going to play out, thinking of everything he wanted to confess to and talk to her about, but his thoughts got interrupted as he heard a key twist the lock to her front door.

He sighed, straightening out his posture while rubbing his temples to then lean his elbows on his thighs as he looked down at his hands. He was nervously picking at his cuticles until he heard her bedroom door creak open.

Karina completely froze up when she saw him. She was running around all day on autopilot. Ignoring the gaping hole in her chest where her love and trust for Yeonjun used to be, but now that she had laid eyes on him again, she was reminded by the feeling of how her heart got ripped out of her chest last night.

“…What are you doing here.” Her voice sounded hoarse, almost inaudible but it made Yeonjun look up, finally laying eyes on her.

“We need to talk Karina.” He started carefully.

“I…I’m not ready.”

He sighed, looking at her with sadness and pity. He hated how much he hurt her because she didn’t deserve any of it. But he can’t help the way he feels about you. He can’t help the fact that they had been growing apart for years, and he can’t help but be honest with her right now, because it was the least she deserved from him.

“I understand. And I get it if you never want to see me again, but I…I want you to know that I’m sorry.” He spoke as softly and slowly as he could. Trying to minimize the heartache because he really didn’t want this conversation to turn into yet another yelling match.

She looked at him with watery eyes and a trembling lip. Somehow, she wanted this all to be a sick joke, but the fact that he was apologizing and validating that her feelings of anger and sadness were correct, she broke.

She turned around so he wouldn’t see her cry, though it didn’t take long before she felt two arms snake around her waist to hold her from behind as she buried her face in her own hands. “I don’t understand.” She managed to get out between sobs. “W-why…why did you do it. I thought you loved me.”  

She turned around to face him so she could look in his eyes and was met with the sight of his own watery orbs. He was biting his lower lip to control his emotions and loosened his hold on her. “Karina, I don’t know what to tell you because I honestly don’t know how it happened either…it just did…”

“It was a one-time thing, right?” She desperately tried to search for ways to keep lying to herself, but when he stayed silent she knew enough.

“How long…”

He let go of her, taking a step back to brace himself for the eruption of their biggest argument yet. “Around six months.”  

Her reaction was one he didn’t expect. Her whole body went cold, shivers running down her spine to hear what she hoped was far from the truth. Her already heavy breathing intensified, and it was starting to sound like a full-fledged panic attack.

“Karina. Breathe.” He held her at an arms-length but she aggressively rejected his touch. “Was I that horrible to you?” she raised her voice. “With everything I’ve done for you, your whole fucking life I cared for you. I was there through all of it, the pain from when your mom left, the hardships you went through because of it. You’d be fucking lost without me Yeonjun! And this is how you thank me? By cheating on me with the first whore who was ready to jump your bones despite the fact that you had a girlfriend!?”  

He winced at her words, getting angry at the fact that Karina called you a fucking whore. Even though her anger was justified, he couldn’t quite handle it. “…Don’t call her that.” He mumbled under his breath, though it was loud and clear enough for Karina to hear.

“Are you defending her!?”

“She didn’t know I was cuffed, I deceived her for months.”

Karina looked at Yeonjun in utter disbelief. Not believing all of these fucking revelations coming at her all at once. “The man that’s standing in front of me right now is not the man I fell in love with.”

He swallowed harshly, wondering if this was the right thing for him to say in a moment where all the blame is on him, but he couldn’t help it. Wanting to rip off the band-aid as quickly as humanly possible. “That’s the whole point, Karina. People grow apart, even us.”

“No. no we’re not.”

He scoffed. Why was she not letting him break up with her? What woman in their right mind would want to stay with someone who has lied and cheated on them for half a year? It’s not like he was up for boyfriend of the year either. He had detached himself emotionally way before he started to sleep with you, so why would Karina want to keep herself in a relationship where she was treated like shit, and then some.  

“Karina how could you still want me after everything I’ve done to you? How could you ever look at me again and not see someone who hurt you!?”

“We can go to therapy. All couples go through shit like this at some point and I don’t want to throw away my life with you. What are six months compared to our whole lives together.”  

She was rambling, trying to find ways to save her relationship. Save her future and her heart.

She couldn’t take losing him. But he wasn’t even trying to get her to stay his and she knew that. By now, Yeonjun was just looking at her like she was crazy, and maybe she was. She was crazy for him.

“You deserve better,” he tried.

“Then be better!” She pleaded, leaping forward to take his hands but he didn’t let her touch him.

“I can’t.”

Karina blinked twice to confirm if she heard him right, desperation getting the better of her as tears started to stream down her face again.

“WHY NOT YEONJUN!? WHY. I DON’T UNDERSTA-”

“BECAUSE I LOVE HER.” He shouted out without thinking. Taking a deep breath to calm himself down. He bit the inside of his cheek, realizing what he had just said. Because it was true. “I love her Karina. I’m sorry.”  

She looked at him even more broken than before. She had hoped that whatever the two of you had going on was based on meaningless sex and an escape from reality. But hearing this changed everything.

He was choosing you over her.  

She wiped her tears away with her sleeves. Taking a deep breath as she straightened out her posture. She turned around to open her bedroom door, stepping aside to make way. “Get out.” Her voice was icy. The person in front of him right now was nothing like the girl that was breaking down in front of him just seconds ago.  

Yeonjun looked at her a little puzzled. The sudden change in her demeanor scaring him. This conversation was nowhere near over to him, and he knew that it would have to be continued some other time. This was not the outcome he had hoped for, and certainly not the type of closure he wanted for the both of them.

But it was no use. What’s done is done, and there’s no turning back now.

He sighed, picking up his jacket from her desk as he walked out, stopping in his tracks to look at her one last time. “For what it’s worth. I’m really sorry.”

Karina closed the door as he left, letting herself fall on her bedroom floor completely numb and hollowed out. She bitterly looked at the picture frame of her and Yeonjun on her nightstand with tears in her eyes.

It was a photo of them as kids. They were about 4 and 5 years old, holding hands at the playground. The photo was ironically taken by his mother, which reminded her of something as shock overtook her features.

She sat up, her breathing stabilizing as she got herself up from the floor to rummage through her desks’ drawers, trying to find the letter she was looking for.

It didn’t take long before she found it, inspecting the envelope to see the letter she stole from his mailbox years ago before he could see.

Her eyes scanned the senders’ address, reading the words written on the envelope out loud to herself, realizing that their story wasn’t over yet.

“To Yeonjun, from Mom.”  

“So…you didn’t know he was dating Karina?”

You shook your head. “No. I was way in too deep when I found out and…I don’t know. It was hard to leave.”  

You had been talking to Juyeon for the past 20 minutes, trying to get him to understand your point of view as honestly as you could. You had apologized for the nth’ time by now, but he didn’t seem to care for your apologies. He only wanted to know facts of the timeline of your relationship with Yeonjun, so he could fully comprehend everything and judge the situation objectively.

“What a dick.” Juyeon huffed. “I’m sorry he played you like that. It must’ve been hard to see him with her.”

You looked up at him with big eyes, unable to grasp why he was being so understanding and considerate towards your feelings.

“It’s funny because we’re not even dating. We went out to dinner once and were just starting to get to know each other so I feel like I can’t really be mad at you, but I guess I started to like you more than I thought I would,” he admitted without a filter.

Juyeon was the only man in your life right now that always voiced what he was feeling to you without dancing around the subject. It was a quality you wished Yeonjun had, cause maybe if he did you wouldn’t be in this chaos chapter.

“…I like you too…I really do, and I feel terrible for lying to you,” you say insecurely avoiding eye contact with him, which he noticed.  

“You don’t owe me anything since we just only started to hang out with each other but it’s…bothering me less now that I know that you didn’t willingly throw yourself at a taken man.”

You scoff, agreeing with his point of view but it still felt wrong to play the victim card. “I still decided to stay when I found out.”

Juyeon looked at you with sadness. He hated how much your relationship with Yeonjun seemed to have damaged you in ways he wasn’t able to fully comprehend. So he decided to offer physical consolation in the form of holding your hand, hoping that he wasn’t overstepping by doing so. “Y/n…you were lured into a trap that closed the second you got in. It’s not your fault for having feelings or getting attached to someone, it’s what makes you human. No one’s perfect.”

Your pupils start to shake as you look into his eyes. Dumbfounded by his wisdom and the way he was able to comfort you so easily. “You’re close to perfect,” you blurt out, making him laugh at your bluntness. It’s one of the things he liked so much about you.

He was hoping that he wasn’t making a mistake by offering you a second chance, wishing that you’d take it with both hands to see where this thing could go.

“No, I’m not. I’m really gullible and naïve. So much to the point where I want to give you a second chance.” He half-joked as he put an arm around you, moving your hair out of your face with his other hand so he could see your flustered face a little better.

“You’re willing to do that?”  

“…Yes, but this time, if you want to, let’s take it slow. I think we both need time to think and you have a lot going on, especially with you know who.”

Juyeon refused to name-drop Yeonjun because any and all respect he had for him was long gone at this point. “I want to make sure you are okay before you jump into something new. So, let’s stay friends for now, and if we’re meant to be…it’ll be.” He nonchalantly shrugged, leaving you speechless once again at how mature this man was.

“I’d love that.” You nudge his shoulder. “Pal.” You giggled at the nickname you gave him, which made Juyeon's lips curl up into a sweet smile. This was the first time he heard your laugh since he had arrived, and it made him feel giddy inside.

Fuck. What were you doing to him? Silence consumed the room as he yearningly stares into your eyes. You looked back at him with dilated pupils, waiting for him to inch his face closer to yours when you caught his gaze moving down to your lips.

He laced his long and slender fingers through your hair, kissing you ever so gently, almost as if you were more fragile than glass. You started to kiss him back, and that’s when he pulled away slightly, smiling against your lips while resting his forehead on yours.

“I think it’s best if I leave now,” he whispered as he let go of you. All you could do was nod in agreement, still dazed by the fact that he kissed you just seconds ago.

You followed him to your front door, trying to wrap your mind around what had just happened and how incredibly sweet he was to you when the only thing you deserved from his was a verbal beating.

He put on his varsity jacket, turning around to see you stand there with big and insecure eyes as you looked up at him. He melted at the sight, opening his arms for you so he could hug you goodbye.

“Let’s keep in touch okay? Text me if you need anything,” he mumbled into the hug and you just nodded in his hold, not wanting to let go for some reason.

He smiled, letting go of you first to twist the doorknob so he could leave.

“Bye y/n.”

“…Bye Juyeon.”  

Yeonjun had called you to tell you about his conversation with Karina right after Juyeon left that day. The fact that he told you that she was in denial and wanted to work on their relationship was no surprise to you. Though they hadn’t talked since, Yeonjun told you how silence from Karina’s end never leads to anything good, so he told you to keep an eye out in case she’d try to contact you.  

For some reason, you felt like Yeonjun was leaving out important details to their conversation, but quite frankly, it was none of your business. And you were way too busy with regular classes and dance classes to care.

He tried coming over with dinner, wanting to see you and be with you but your head was so full that you declined the offer. Though he understood, Yeonjun couldn’t help but think that you were avoiding him out of anxiousness - which you were - nevertheless you hadn’t stopped thinking nor talking to him since.  

A few days passed on automatic pilot like that. Your nose went back to normal, you picked up your neglected studies and hung out with Mirae and Wooyoung as well. Of course, you had filled them in on all the tea from start to finish, which made Wooyoung see Yeonjun in a whole different light.

“How are you holding up?” Wooyoung asks as he hands you your coffee to go from the small pop-up next to your University.  

It was early as fuck, so you desperately needed the caffeine. “Fine. Nervous. I don’t know. I’m seeing Yeonjun again after school.”

Wooyoung scrunched his nose up, squinting his eyes at you as he clicked his tongue. “Why?”

“Because we need to talk about what happened and see…see what it means for us.” You hesitated to add the last part, but you were done with lying about anything related to Yeonjun. That shit was over with.

Wooyoung scoffed a little too loud, catching stares from fellow students as they made their way to the main lecture hall. “You can’t be serious right? You got punched in the face for a man, and now you’re telling me you’re going back to that same man…”

“It’s not that black and white.”

“No, it was black and blue.” He sassily remarks as he booped your nose. You laugh, swatting his hand away. “It’s different this time.” you timidly explain.

“How so?” He asks while cocking a brow, obviously not believing a word you’re saying and you don’t blame him, because if you were in Wooyoung’s shoes, you would’ve been overprotective too.

“It just is Woo, trust me.”

And different it was. Because for the first time in forever you didn’t have to look over your shoulder as you entered Yeonjun’s apartment building. For the first time you could just ring the doorbell instead of texting him that you were here, and for the first time nothing was a secret anymore.

You take a deep breath to prepare yourself and not even a second later the door opened, but it wasn’t Yeonjun in the door opening.

Soobin stood in the doorway, immediately letting you in. “…Thought I’d never see you here again,” he says as he followed you from the hallway into the living room.

“Yeonjun hyung isn’t home yet, he had class till five.”  He casually explained, walking towards the couch to sit back down.

You nodded understandingly, awkwardly looking around the living room until you saw a spikey-looking thing run across the hard wooden floor. You yelled out of shock, jumping up on the couch to protect yourself.

‘WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!?” you shout, clutching your heart as it sank to your stomach out of fear.

“That’s Odi.” Soobin retorts, quickly running after the animal to pick it up.

“Odi!?”  

“My hedgehog.” He opened his hands to show you with a smile, but you just took a step back as you were still standing on top of the couch.  

You give him a look of complete confusion, and that’s when the two of you burst out into laughter together.

Yeonjun had also arrived and took off his shoes in the hallway, hearing loud laughter coming from the living room. When he opened the door and saw you standing on top of the couch with Soobin holding his pet, he couldn’t help but crack a smile at the interaction.

“Oh. You’re home. Good.” You say getting back down from the couch, making a wide curve around Soobin and his spikey little friend to greet Yeonjun.

He opened his arms for you, hugging you as he kissed your temple. “What did I walk into?” he chuckled letting his hand glide down the small of your back.

Soobin sighed, putting Odi back in his cage before turning his attention back on you. “Y/n just met our pet.”

“Your pet, I wanted a cat.” Yeonjun declares rolling his eyes.

“Well, we have joined custody now so shut up and deal with it,” Soobin replied, also rolling his eyes.

You giggle at their married couple-like banter, walking over to Soobin and the suddenly cute-looking animal again. “You can pet him it’s fine.”

“I can? Won’t it hurt?”

“Nah…it’s cool.” Soobin said, proudly lifting Odi out of his cage again to show you.

Your conversation with Soobin became background noise as Yeonjun stared at the two of you warmly from afar. He looked at your smile, took in the sound of your laughter, and loved that you were finally getting along with his best friend.  

Karina and Soobin were never close, something he never understood.

“I heard you got punched in the face.” Soobin teases as he sat back down on the couch while you were busy trying to entertain Odi. “Yeah, wanna know what it’s like. I remember it clearly.”

“Haa, I’m good. Sorry I asked.” Soobin says throwing his hands up as a sign of truce.

You chuckled, looking at Yeonjun again whom you catch staring at you. He snapped back to reality, approaching the two of you as he sat down on the couch as well.

“At least she knows now right? That’s something good?” Soobin questions, taking the animal from your hold again. It was weird that you were speaking about this whole situation so casually when neither you nor Yeonjun had really figured anything out yet.

You bite your lip, looking at Soobin a little funny. “I really expected you to be on her side of it all.”

“There are no sides. I honestly…never really liked her like that. She was really controlling and if Yeonjun hyung was happy enough with her then he wouldn’t have cheated. No offense. Of course, that doesn’t justify that, Yeonjun’s a dick.”

You raise an eyebrow at Soobin’s words but Yeonjun just cleared his throat. “Stop talking about me like I’m not in the room.” he says scratching his head awkwardly.  

“No. Wait. This is like the first real conversation I’ve ever had with you, aside from that one time you threatened me in the supermarket of course.” You smirk as you look at Soobin again, but Soobin widened his eyes at you.

Yeonjun froze, shooting Soobin a venomous glare. “You what!?”

“…Hey…I’ll be in my room…I’ll give you guys some privacy,” He says as he scrambled to grab his phone and Odi’s cage, quickly walking out of the living room and into his bedroom to then clumsily close the door with his foot.

It made you giggle as you slouched in your seat, putting your attention back on Yeonjun who looked at you with a questioning gaze. “Was that a joke?”

“No. It was harmless, don’t worry about it. He just cares about you.” You patted his thigh to calm him down, finding it cute how worked up he got. Again, it was a new sensation for him to openly show you that he cared about you.

He fell uncharacteristically quiet, sinking back in thought as he reminisced about Karina and the way things ended with her. He felt bad for moving on so easily with you. It felt like you were always part of this household given the way you bickered with Soobin like old friends, but less was true.  

Weirdly enough, he felt more guilty about being with you now than when he was sneaking around with you behind her back because this time, Karina knew, and actually got hurt.

“What’s on your mind?” you ask as you move closer to him, you put your legs over his and move his dark hair out of his face, tugging at his chin so he’d look at you.  

“It’s gonna sound fucking stupid.”

“Try me.”

“I feel bad to be happy with you now that she knows.”  

Your playful smile faded, suddenly feeling like the other woman again. “I’m sorry.” You tried to remove your legs from his lap, wanting to create some distance but he didn’t let you.

“Hey no. It’s not like that I promise. I made my choice. I just…hate that I had to hurt her to do so. I think that’s why I didn’t want to tell her the truth for so long. She doesn’t deserve any of this. Neither do you.”  

“...Then why did you.” You try, wanting a genuine explanation of what was so god damn special about you that it was worth risking his life-long friendship and four-year relationship for.

“Because I fell for you. You’re all I ever wanted.” He laced his fingers through your hair, wanting you to look at him as he confessed once again. Something he’s been doing a lot of lately.

The butterflies in your stomach returned as you watched the corners of his mouth curl up into a charming smile. “I can’t apologize enough you know that.” He says as he leans his head back on the couch.

“I’m sorry I dragged you down with me, but I really, truly hope that…when you’re ready, you’d want to give this thing a real shot. With me,” he continues as he played with your fingers.

You sighed, not knowing what to say. You were met at a crossroads where both Juyeon and Yeonjun were holding out their hands for you to follow, and you were going to have to make a choice before both of them pulled their hands away.

“You don’t have to choose right away.” Yeonjun says to fill the silence, his words perfectly matching the thoughts in your head. “Just know that I’m not going anywhere.” He placed a sweet kiss on your forehead, and you don’t know why but you got the sudden urge to hug him, so you did.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, burying your face in his chest to hold him as close as possible. He was taken aback by the action, his body lagging like his brain, which meant that it took a few seconds for him to realize that he had to hug you back by snaking his arms around your waist.

He rubbed your back with comforting strokes, nuzzling his face in your hair to breathe you in completely so he could relish the moment.  

He understood how insecure you were about your relationship with him. How could you look past the fact that he cheated on his own partner to be with you? It was fifty shades of fucked up, but he had to show you how much he cared for you somehow.  

He let go of you to steal a quick kiss from your lips, moving your hair out of your face so he could look at you better. “Let me show you how serious I am about you.”

He got up with one swift motion with you still in his arms and carried you out of the living room bridal style, clumsily closing his bedroom with his foot.  

(smut ahead)

You giggled when he set you down on his bed, playfully slapping his chest as he got rid of his own shirt. Your hand glided from his chest to his abs as he unbuckled his belt in a rush. You missed seeing him like this. It had been way too long since he had touched you, meaning you were entirely too horny and touch-deprived to think straight.

You got rid of your own top as he pulled his pants down, revealing his length to you in no time. God how you missed that dick.

“Turn around for me.” He coos while sweetly caressing your cheek with his thumb, and without second thought you do as you’re told. You lay down on your back, letting your head rest on the edge of the mattress with your face below his crotch. You looked up at him from your upside-down position, opening your mouth so he could guide himself past your lips.

You knew exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it, making him groan in approval when you started to pump him slowly as he slid his cock into your mouth.

“Fuck angel. Just like that.” He slowly started to rock his hips forward. Using one of his hands to grab you by your neck as he slowly and steadily fucked your throat, going a little deeper with each thrust because he knew you could take it. “Always such a good girl for me. Fuck,” he compliments, enjoying the delicious feeling of his tip hitting the back of your throat with every snap of his hips.

You hummed in approval, taking him like a champ as his pace got more ragged, but by now it was getting hard to breathe. He noticed your lack of being able to catch your breath soon enough, pulling out quickly so he could turn you back around, getting rid of your trousers in return so you could compose yourself in the mean time.

He came back up to hungrily kiss your lips to make sure you were good, just to slide back down again so he could eat you out.  

He was gentle at first, letting you get used to his teasing, but his kitten-licks soon turned into a full-on make out session down there, making you moan and mewl as you felt overstimulation creep up on you.

He looked at your face contort as he heard you moan his name, grabbing fistfuls of his hair to let him know that he was doing the right thing. He smiled against your core, wanting nothing more than to feel you come undone on his cock, so he pulled away from you, which made you look down at him in bewilderment. “Not yet baby.” He mused as he situated himself between your legs to fuck you missionary.  

He tapped the side of your thigh to signal to you that he wanted your legs on his shoulders just so he could fuck you deeper, so you quickly complied. Wanting nothing more than to feel him stretch you out the way only he could.  

It was funny to you in the moment, you had this mutual understanding of what both of you wanted with simple taps and stares, but when you felt him slide inside of your tightness your mind went completely foggy.

The two of you went at it for so long that you lost track of time.  

He was ruining you with your face down and your ass up by now, plunging in and out of you with long and deep strokes as you reached your third orgasm. If it wasn’t for your stamina’s as dancers you’d be tapping out by now, but there was something different in the way he fucked you this time.

He was being vulnerable, passionate yet rough, and to summarize the feeling, it was just the way you loved it and then some. This might have been the best sex you’ve had with him or better yet, it was the best sex you’ve had in your life, period.

He announced that he was close, which prompted you to take a new position so he could bust his load into your mouth without having to ask. He smirked as he pumped himself a few more times, throwing his head back as he came on your tongue with loud grunts and heavy breaths.

He looked down at you to see you swallow his cum with dark eyes. It might sound delirious, but it somehow made him feel proud. He smirked down at you, tugging at your chin to leave a sloppy kiss on your lips. “That’s my baby.”  

(end of smut)

An hour later you were still naked, situated on his chest as you talked about the fact that you had to get going soon. You had class early in the morning, and no matter how much you wanted to stay, you knew you couldn’t. “That’s cute.” You say as you play with the beaded bracelet on his wrist. He lifted his arm up so he could assess it, taking it off to put it on your wrist instead. “Here, keep it.”  

You give him a funny look, but he ignored it with a smile, fumbling with your fingers to amuse himself.

“You know…I can finally take you out on a real date,” he realizes as he drew figures on your bare back, thinking about the ways he was finally able to spoil you from now on.

You look up at him, propping yourself up on your elbow. “I like sushi.”

He chuckled with a nod, placing a soft kiss on your forehead. “Got it.”  

You reluctantly got out of the bed, making Yeonjun whine as he tried to pull you back in, but you didn’t let him. “Ah, come onnn.” You whine back. “Let me go.” 

He sat up, kissing a trail from your lower arm to your shoulder as you tried to escape his touch. “Yeonjun…come on.” You whine once again, and this time he let go with smiles and giggles. It was disgustingly cute. And everything you wanted. “Fine. But I’m taking you out for dinner tomorrow night. No debate. Wear that red dress you wore a while back. I loved that shit.” He says as he licks his lips, already thinking about ways he could take it off of you later that night.

You roll your eyes, putting your top back on. “Okay.” You mindlessly agree, making a boyish smile creep up on his features as you continued to dress yourself.

He also got up to put his boxers back on so he could walk you to the front door. “Cool, then…it’s a date?” he asks for confirmation and when you smiled at him with a shy nod, his eyes lit up.

“Yes, Yeonjun. It’s a date.”

You arrived at your apartment, completely love-struck and giddy inside. It felt like you were 15 again, excited and happy about a boy you kissed and somehow you were completely fine with it.

For the first time since you met Yeonjun you were finally taking steps in the right direction.

You look at the clock to see that it was 8 PM already, you didn’t have dinner yet, so you just decided to order take-out for convenience. After tidying up your place, your doorbell rang, so you mindlessly opened the door with cash in your hands but when you saw who was standing in front of you, your heart nearly fell out of your fucking ass.

“…Karina?”

“…Hey. Can I come in?” She calmly asked, staring into what seemed like your soul.

“…I...Uhm…”  you stutter.

NO? Of course not.  

“Yes…come in,”  you say as you awkwardly step aside.

She walked in, looking around your place since it was the first time she stepped in here. To her surprise, it looked neat. She had painted this picture of you being a monster living in some type of ghetto ass apartment just so she could ease her own mind but less was true.

She put her purse down on your dinner table and crossed her arms which made you take a deep breath, giving her a puzzled look. “…Why are you here?”  you set the money you had in your hands aside on your countertop and that’s when she spotted Yeonjun’s bracelet on your wrist.  

It made her stop in her tracks, biting her lip as the urge to punch you in your face was creeping up on her again, but she had to keep her cool. She came here with a reason.  

One you weren’t going to like.

“You were with him?” she asked, but you ignored her question, raising your eyebrow.

“How do you even know where I live…”  

Karina shrugged, not wanting to tell you that she has used her parents’ resources to find out everything about you.  

“I came to ask you to leave Yeonjun alone.” She says as she cuts to the chase.

You can’t help but scoff, crossing your arms as you start to fumble with the beads of Yeonjun’s bracelet. “…Which part of him not wanting you anymore did you not understand?”

Karina bit her lip, suppressing her anger because she knew that if she exploded, it would drive Yeonjun even further away from her than he already was.

“You need to let him go y/n. I promise you, it’s better that way.”

“Karina…leave my fucking house. Please.” You roll your eyes and turn around, not wanting her to give you any more of your time.

“No,” she says as she took a step closer to you. “I found his mother.”  

Your heart stopped, and so did time. You turn around to stare at her for what must’ve been a few seconds, though it felt like minutes.

“You…what?”

She swallowed harshly, crossing her arms over her chest again. “His mother lives in England now. She teaches arts at some community college and hasn’t moved around since she arrived.” She explains like it was yesterday's news.

“…How do you-”

You were interrupted as she kept talking. “As you might know, my parents own major shares in the Uni he attends. They pulled some strings, and we might be able to do a study abroad there, so he can find his mom and get the closure he needs. But you. You’re the one that’s keeping him here. He won’t go with me as long as you’re in the picture.”

You let her words sink in. Completely overwhelmed with all of this information.

“How do you know Karina?” you tried once again. Not knowing what else to ask her except for the most pressing question of all.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that he shouldn’t have to choose between you and a potential relationship with his own mother. So, leave him, while you can, It’s what’s best for him.”

You couldn’t believe your ears. The fucking audacity this took from her was on a whole other level. This isn’t what’s best for him. It’s what is best for her. And suddenly you realized something.

“…You said she hadn’t moved since she arrived…did you know? All along? And you didn’t tell him!?” you were raising your voice at her at this point, but she looked at you unfazed and unimpressed. She knew she had the upper hand here, even in your own home.  

“I did. But that doesn’t matter.”

Wow. The last piece of leverage she had on him was his mother. She never told him about the letter because she was scared he might have left her to find his mom in the UK. But now, the only way for him to find her was if he went with Karina himself.

“Soobin was right. You’re fucking sick.” You say as you squint your eyes at her. Trying to control the rage that was boiling in the pit of your empty stomach.

“Maybe. But at least I’m not a homewrecker.”

She left you in shambles as she retrieved her purse from your dinner table again. This was a much quicker visit than she had anticipated.  

“If you care about him the way you say you do, you wouldn’t let him choose between you and his own mother, right?”  

Your eyes started to spew fire at her words, turning around to open the door. “Get the fuck out.”

“Sure, y/n. Whatever you want.” She rolled her eyes, making her way out of your home with confidence.  

She stopped in her tracks when she got to eye level with you.  “End it now. Or don’t and live with the fact that your half assed relationship would be the reason he’d miss out on closure or even a relationship with his mother. Your call.”

She left without another word and you slam the door behind her. You wanted to scream, not believing what just happened to you, and that right after you thought you were finally getting somewhere with Yeonjun.

Your phone buzzed in your pocket and you retrieve it, but when you see his name on your display with the messages attached to it your eyes started to fill with tears.

It was a voice note.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow night. I made a reservation at 7. So be ready at 6.30 alright?”  

“Oh and, I know it’s fucking stupid to say it over text like this but I’m serious about you y/n. I know you’re probably sick of these dumb-ass confessions but…I haven’t felt this hopelessly in love in a while and I can’t wait to show you with actions instead of words. I’m all in, Remember that.” He stayed silent for a while, but what he said next was something you never imagined him to say.

“Goodnight baby. I love you,”  

Part IV

[seventeenlovesthree]

Hi.

:D

You already know what's coming.

Gimme Daisuke and Sora (:

Byeeeeeeeee

Hehe, gotta stimulate my creative writing skills a bit here, just you wait. <3

Send me two names among the following 12 and I’ll write a short analysis post about them:

Taichi Yagami | Yamato Ishida | Sora Takenouchi | Koushirou Izumi | Mimi Tachikawa | Jyou Kidou | Takeru Takaishi | Hikari Yagami | Daisuke Motomiya | Miyako Inoue | Iori Hida | Ken Ichijouji

Whether canon provides input on them or not:

As pointed out in the Iora analysis post before, Sora, unfortunately, doesn't get too many opportunities to bond with the 02 Chosen Children on her own, as her main focus point among them is obviously Miyako. So basically, we only have two instances to work with: First of all, when Taichi reveals that Daisuke turned out to be one of the new Chosen Children, Sora is among the first to react to the news, asking whether it's the same Daisuke they went together to football club with. So it is already established that they must have known each other before. Again, unfortunately, that's about everything we really get about them here, because we don't see them interact with or react to each other. 

The second instance is the Revolmon/Starmon episode, in which the gang (minus Takeru and Hikari) travels to the Digital World to save Piyomon - again, it's mainly Sora and Miyako who interact with each other, but there are a few minor instances that at least hint at them being comfortable and trustful around each other. For example, when Sora suggests that they can't wait for Takeru and Hikari to join them and should travel to the Digital World right away, Daisuke agrees immediately - which is actually unusual for him, since he normally probably would have insisted on waiting for Hikari at least. So we can assume that it's important to him to help his senpai, whom he probably also looks up to from back in the day in football club. During the episode, they're framed next to each other very consistently, when drinking milk, when being held hostage, etc. and they also share some nice "annoyed faces" at their "enemy". Last but not least, we get the shot above - Daisuke and Raidramon got hit by an attack and fall to the ground, just to be caught by Miyako/Sora and Hawkmon/Piyomon respectively. Sora's protective nature is still intact as we can see - so while this is not a lot material, we can at least assume there is groundwork for a mutually protective bond between the two. Let's get to the creative writing part, shall we...

Whether I think why and how they’d work:

Again, while it is somewhat hard to tell how these two would interact in different scenarios, I'd like to think of them as having a lot of respect for one another - as pointed out, it seems plausible to me that he'd look up to her in a similar way as to Taichi, whom he always adored and admired, probably even aspired to be like him to some degree. Watching his two senpais being absolute aces, I couldn't see him arguing with Sora the same way he does with Jun or Miyako, but he may actually put her on a (tiny) pedestal (similarly to how he does it with Hikari, who, obviously, is also linked to Taichi). In turn, Sora may have quite the soft spot for Daisuke trying as hard as he does - especially because she should be able to empathize with his self-doubts of not feeling good enough. She's also familiar with guys who have big mouths - so she'd also know how to deal with him in case his emotions would get the best of him to keep him in check.

Which is actually something I could see him doing for her too - at least once they're a tad bit older, because during teenager years, it's sometimes difficult not to spout out things you probably didn't mean to. But thanks to his relationship with Ken, it's easy to see that he can see through other people's insecurities with utmost sincerity and openness once he knows someone well enough - or rather, WANTS to know them better. Sora is pretty closed off in terms of her own feelings and needs - we can see that the other guys have quite the hard time getting through to her, because they too, are closed off to some degree. So taking someone who slowly but steadily overcame his own self-doubts for the sake of his own happiness, Daisuke could actually be a great person to help her open up. Making her understand that going for her own dreams and wishes may be difficult at first glance, she may step on a few toes because of it, maybe even face consequences here and there - but it's not impossible. And if 02 taught us anything - Daisuke would always encourage others to strive for the life they want to live. He can be a bit naive at times and may not find the most... Sensitive words in each and every situation, but he goes for what he believes in and he's blunt about it. Which is exactly what Sora could need in order to get in touch with herself better.

Overall, these two are pretty passionate about the things and people they care about. They also have a certain hot-headedness about themselves as a result, they both can get angry if people don't value them accordingly, making them feel underestimated, so it is possible that they could clash here and there - but when I look at them, I could see a lot of softness too, if they manage to be open with one another. In the end, Daisuke is growing into his own person, he may be the heir of Courage and Friendship - but he is neither Taichi nor Yamato and maybe, just maybe, that could be a great romantic match for Sora as well.

I could see them being silly together, I could see him asking her for a little football match to cheer her up or for a round of ramen when she's stuck with her exhibitions. I could see her wanting to give him confidence boosts in return as well, helping with the decorations of his restaurant or she might even design his own restaurant brand of work clothes - and he, being also very similar to Mimi regarding his bluntness, would be absolutely in awe of everything she creates and be also very vocal about it.

Whether I’d prefer them as platonic or romantic ship:

Well, thanks to @dutchforstrangers, one could say that these two may or may not be a little bit of guilty pleasure, hehe. Granted, I'll always live for Taiora and Daiken going to football matches together as a double date - but based on everything I've talked about above, I cannot deny that the perceived respect I can potentially sense between Daisuke and Sora is something that can be pretty intriguing. Because canon didn't give us a lot to work with, we gotta make it work in other ways, right? I know I keep mentioning how characters "can be good" for one another, especially those with underlying self-worth issues... But all these characters are very dear to my heart and have a lot of potential... So whether you see this as being Daisuke just looking up to his senpai and Sora respecting him, or them ending up in a mutually supportive and honest romantic relationship - feel free to come to us to talk about it. ;)

[bangtangalicious]

the glow up | kth (4)

pairing: taehyung x reader

summary: after going off to college, you & your best friend committed to working out. a year later, the results show, and you cant wait for your hot hometown friends to see you. now all you wanna do is wild out and have lots of sex, and enjoy it without feeling insecure

genre: smut, childhoodfriends!au weightloss!au (is that a thing) friends-to-lovers!au

word count: 2.2k

warnings: tittie sucking, fingering (dubcon bc jungkook is an ass), misogyny/sexism, public sex (locker room), creampie, unprotected sex, slight slut shaming, body image issues (please remember that there is no ideal body type and every body is beautiful)

part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7                                                    masterlist

“Hey y/n” You were startled at his use of your name as opposed to his endearing princess. He was dressed nicely in a black hoodie with his glasses on, but his expression was tense.

“Tae” You acknowledge him as you got into the passenger seat. You really really liked his car now. “Listen, you don’t have to be sorry about anything”

“No, I really do though. I could have just shut up and let you and Jimin have your happy ending” He huffed, “We both know it’ll ultimately work out that way anyway, I just added drama and I’m sorry”

You wondered exactly when Taehyung got so mature, or if he had always been this way and you just never noticed.

“Anyways…I hope its okay, but I invited Hobi and Jungkook to lunch with us” Your face dropped slightly, and he noticed. You hated that he was being awkward. You wanted to feel all the amazing things you had the other day all over again. Taehyung was a drug. You had a hit and now you wanted more.

“Tae…” You whispered, grabbing his hand and bringing it to your chest. His jaw clenched as he made contact with your heaving breast. “Please” You made pleading eyes at him allowing him to squeeze your tit slowly.

“Hood of the car. Now” He exhaled sternly. You did ask requested, finding yourself in a similar position, back over the headlights, legs wide open, licking your lips in anticipation.

“Sit up” He ordered as he pulled you towards him so that he was standing in between your legs. He pulled down your shirt color until he had access to your clothed breast, moving your bra cup aside and allowing his mouth to trail kisses from your neck—“Mmm you smell good”—to your collar—finally kissing your nipple.

He looked up at you with lust shot eyes as he flicked his tongue across before enveloping it into his mouth. He sucked like a baby, moaning into you, the vibrations from his deep voice stimulating you even more. It was a sigh to behold, as he gripped your hips to hold you against him and sucked you.

You cried out, breathing heavily with the way his tongue was splashing around in circles causing waves of heat to come over you. You liked the ways his lips felt around your nipple, and the way his tongue drew circles around it-you took note. So I’m into this. Huh. You were very aware of how damp your underwear was getting, as yoou ran hyour hands through his hair, clenching as you tilted your head back and moaned.

“You’re fucking delicious princess” He remarked, breaking away finally to admire how he had made you swollen. He ran his thumb over his work, giving one last pinch, making you squirm before he fixed your clothing, “But…we’ll have time for this later. Let’s get going” His eyes had a playful glimmer as he winked at you, riled up and unsatisfied.

Fucking tease.

You arrived at a small urban cafe in the more happening part of town. Hobi and Jungkook were already at a table outside, with tall mimosas in front of them. Jungkook had on flashy sunglasses but lowered them as he saw you approaching, giving you a flirty look and smirking slightly as he watched you walk. Taehyung pulled a chair out for you and you took a seat by Jungkook after giving Hobi a quick back hug.

“Cute outfit y/n. I love the baggy look” Hobi commented. Your face reddened, realizing it was probably really obvious you were wearing Jimin’s clothes.

“She looks hot as fuck.” Jungkook thirsted, shamelessly glancing at your breasts were faintly imprinting against the fabric. He downed the last of his drink.

As you guys shared a meal, you enjoyed conversing openly with Hobi and Jungkook about their sex lives. You appreciated how open and candid they were as you continued to attempt to understand your own desires more.

“Y/n how does it feel to be part of that crowd now” Hobi asked. You tilted your head in confusion. “You know...now that you’re the sexiest girl in town I bet everyone’s been making moves.”

“Yeah I’ve definitely been getting a lot more attention from guys. Shows how fucking shallow half of them are”

“You girls are all hoes though so it doesn’t really matter. Why else would you try so hard to look sexy, yanno? Like I could be hooking up with the same girl and no one else but I still wouldn’t date her because she’s probably gonna dip for the next best dick she can get.” Jungkook added. Taehyung rolled his eyes and kicked him under the table “Hey, I’m just being honest. Why else would you go through a glow up phase? We all did it at some point, we were like yeah I wanna get laid so I better bulk up”

“No Jungkook that’s what you did” Hobi chuckled. “Hot girls aren’t all hoes, and hot guys aren’t just hot so they can get laid. I don’t agree with that. But I do think that everyone needs to fuck around a bit before they settle into a serious relationship or anything. I think it’s healthy when people go around for a bit and then finally are like, yeah okay I’ve seen what’s out there so I can say for certain what I want” Hobi commented, changing the topic. He delved into some details of a recent relationship of his but unfortunately his words did not register with you as you suddenly felt a hand slipping under the waistline of your sweats.

You knew it had to be Jungkook, Taehyung would never touch you without asking. You mouth formed an O as his hand traced along your aroused folds, still wet from Taehyung’s quick tit suck earlier. You gulped, straining to keep your mouth shut as Hobi continued on. You glanced at Taehyung who was observing you very carefully, clearly aware of what was likely going on.

Jungkook slid a finger into your cunt and it sucked it in welcomingly. You bit your lip as he slowly retracted it, allowing you to hear the faint squelching of your tender muscle. 

He repeated his motions, causing you to move forward until you were barely hanging on the edge of the chair. You gripped the table tightly, knuckles whitening with the pressure. You wouldn’t dare look at Jungkook, knowing that seeing his face would probably send you over the edge.

He pumped his fingers in and out and you couldn’t help but feel a strange mixture of dread and enjoyment. Yes you were horny, Taehyung had ensured that, so being fingered felt great. But a ball turned in your stomach at the unwanted intrusion from your friend. Were these guys really like this to all the “attractive” girls they hang out with? Do they just constantly flirt and grope them? Ugh.

Taehyung pursed his lips tightly before he finally snapped. “Fucking Christ, just go ahead and fuck right here why don’t you” He folded his arms over his chest, shooting both of you a disappointed glare.

Jungkook slowly pulled his finger out of you and put it straight into his mouth,  and you finally made eye contact with him as he licked your arousal off of himself. 

“Y/n we’re leaving. God Jungkook did you even get consent you prick?” Taehyung spat at him. You got up and Jungkook slapped your ass playfully.

“She’s one of the hot girls now, might as well treat her like one. Text me babe” He sent an air kiss your way and you shuddered slightly. Taehyung gently took your wrist and led you away.

It was later that evening. Your heart was pounding, and a slight sense of dizziness overcame you as you sped the treadmill up even faster. Taehyung had agreed to accompany you to the gym and you had been sprinting as fast as you could for almost half an hour trying to blow off steam from the events that had happened at lunch. 

Jungkook’s words stuck with you, and in a fucked up way you felt like he was trying to prove a point. You felt the air in your lungs escape as your chest tightened. You were overdoing it. You knew that, but you wanted to feel numb. Wanted to feel the bliss of the aftermath of a super intense workout.

Your mind wandered to the biggest issue on your plate. Jimin. You wanted more than anything to go to him. To tell him what happened and get his advice. But you messed that up, and now you were no longer sure if it was worth messing it up. You had never been so conflicted in your life. Your bones screamed at you that your pace was getting too much, pain shooting up to your knees as you pounded your feet with every step. 

Talk about running away from your problems.

“Y/n!” Taehyung came over from where he had been doing weights and turned off the treadmill, bringing you to a rapid halt. You panted, sweat soaking you head to toe. Taehyung grabbed your arm to help you stay standing as you began to sway side to side with lightheadedness. You could see black spots paint your vision. He wrapped his arm around you and helped you walk into the locker room where luckily there was no one.

“I don’t wanna feel it Tae…I don’t wanna feel anything. This is all too much. I am so fucking confused. I miss Jimin, and what Jungkook did today I…” You held back a sob, “He’s right. This is what I want isn’t it? So why do I hate it so much. All you guys do whatever you want to these girls you usually get with and sexualize them so much and I’m just not used to it but that’s what I wanted right?”

Taehyung sighed, stroking your back, “Look princess…Jungkook and I aren’t the greatest people. After getting to college, you know how it is, we kinda all became fuckboys. The people we hang out with literally breathe to get off. Everyone fucks everyone else. And I’m no saint at all. I fuck around even more than Jungkook does, albeit I’m a bit more respectful about it, but it’s all the same game to us. I understand that this is all new for you but…I just want you to know that for me, I’m not treating you any differently because of this weight loss thing. I promise. They way I fuck you, the way I treat you…I would have done it just the same a year ago.”

“You say that but”

“I’ve wanted to have sex with you for years okay. I knew you before all of this fucking hook-up culture. I wanted you because I liked you. I still like you, even though we rarely see each other anymore. Not just because of your body. It happened now because you initiated it. I don’t know how else to get it through your head. And by God, what the fuck were you just doing? Were you trying to make yourself pass out? Why would you run that fast?”

“I just needed to relieve some stress okay”

“Then let me help you” His voice was husky and low. Time slowed down as Taehyung carefully leaned closer to you. He trailed his fingers down your sides and around the waist of your shorts, tugging the fabric ever so subtly. He remained still, breathing heavily with a heartbeat drowning out everything. “You can say no. Any time. Even if you realize later that you don’t want to do this anymore you can stop me. I won’t ever get mad and I won’t ever judge you” His voice was quivering before he grabbed your waist and pressed himself up close to you. “Do you want this princess? Can I take care of you?”

You nodded your head as Taehyung leaned down and kissed you while gently pushing you back against the lockers. He quickly pulled off your tanktop, not minding the sweat as he inhaled sharply. He lifted you so you could wrap your legs around him and began to slowly rock his body against yours.

He moaned into you mouth as he felt the impact of your bodies colliding. He spread your legs out wider and began to grind against you faster. You held back screams as he grabbed your breasts. Taehyung licked his lips and kissed you harshly, biting down your lips before mumbling “You’re so fucking hot princess”

“Taehyung” You finally moaned, giving him all the motivation he needed to grind faster. He slipped his hands under your sports bra and began to caress you. You cursed in pleasure.

Suddenly the two of you heard footsteps coming into the locker room. Taehyung allowed you to slide down as he quickly backed away. He took your hand and led you to a far corner of the room before sitting on the locker room bench and pulling your body down on his lap. You looked at him with concern, but Taehyung ignored it completely.

“Tae...you make me feel so fucking good”

“Yeah?” He grinned

“Aren’t we going to get caught?”

“I don’t care” He quickly tugged down your shorts as well as his own revealing his thick cock, with precum budding furiously at the tip, aching to be released. He helped you lower yourself onto him before he gripped your hips and began bouncing you up and down his length.

“Scream my name” He demanded, whispering darkly into your ear “you’re doing so good”

You whimpered, “Taehyung” you cried out as you felt yourself peaking, “Taehyung oh my god don’t stop,” You begged. He was shaking you so violently that you finally were pushed over the edge. 

You screamed his name louder than you meant to, feeling Taehyung smile against your neck. He let you get up off of him while he fixed his shorts. He was still aroused, but he didn’t mind. He just wanted you to feel good.

“Is everything okay we heard screaming?” One of the gym staff members walked in just as you had managed to get decent.

“Yes sir, everything is fine! She just saw a spider, poor thing” Taehyung pulled you back into him so you could feel his still hard cock against your asscheek  as the staff member nodded and left.

You waited until the footsteps seemed more far off. You turned around and couldn’t suppress your big smile as you made eye contact with Taehyung, who also grinned widely. He grabbed your waist and began to undress you again quickly.

“Hey that’s not fair. I wanna see your shirt off too” You pouted. Taehyung smirked, obeying you and pulling it off effortlessly. You traced the muscles on his chest that formed a perfect 11.

“Like what you see?”

“Jimin has a six pack soooo” You teased as you tugged on his waistline, helping him slide off his shorts again. Your eyes scanned him as he became naked and you licked your lips, “Yeah…” You met his eyes and giggled, “I like what I see”

“Yeah you better” He teased before attacking you with kisses again.

Taehyung slid back inside of your tight pussy while maintaining eye contact with you. He began sucking your neck playfully. He watched you carefully as he began to move in and out of you slowly, picking up the pace as he saw your positive reaction. Taehyung nuzzled his face into your breasts. 

“You’ve been waiting for this all day haven’t you” You teased.

“Yeah and what if I have” His voice was raspy, full of lust. The sound send chills down your spine and turned you on more. Taehyung could tell. “Oh you like that huh?” He continued to talk in that voice, grinning as he trailed kisses back up to your mouth.

Taehyung shifted you so your back was on the bench. He spread your legs and entered you slowly. You tilted your head back and just took it all in. After some pumping Taehyung lowered himself closer to your body and looked at you deeply.

“You close?” You asked him sincerely. Taehyung nodded, moaning slightly into your shoulder. You were unsure what to do to help him at that point, your orgasm earlier leaving you too spent for another one. So you decided to just tease him. “What was it that they say in pornos...oh right. You’re doing so good baby” You felt Taehyung’s hips buckle at your words, “Will you please cum for me? God you’re sooooo hot mmm, just like that” You played your most seductive voice and Taehyung knew you were messing around but it still turned him on. 

He kissed you chastely, hands grabbing your ass tightly as he came. He cursed under his breath & eventually fell into your lap in exhaustion.

<------previous                                                                   next-------->

A/N: im tired man idk

taglist: (lmk if you wanna be added!!) @honeyspillings @hollowtree10

[dangermousie]

Case File Compendium 81

Yes, I am staying on this ride as long as Chinese government allows.

This was a very intense chapter.

1. I found it interesting that as uncontrolled as He Yu gets, he still protects XQC’s privacy. Look at that angry kiss in the rain - He Yu still angles the umbrella so the driver won’t see him kissing XQC. It’s rather interesting - it’s part possessiveness (you can see HY as some sort of ancient emperor, locking his fave deep in the palace far away from anyone’s eyes) but part instinctive knowing how far he can push. I don’t mean to keep making 2ha parallels (because despite certain similarities, they are very different novels though they have more in common than Yuwu does with either of them), but it makes me think how even at his worst and most unhinged, Taxian Jun never let anyone know that Chu Fei was Chu Wanning, he never let anyone know he took CWN as his concubine. He was open about enmity and torture (hell, he made public execution of CWN part of his crowning ceremony!) but he kept the relationship utterly hidden - even during the wedding, he put a veil on him so nobody could see.

2. When XQC slapped him hard and HY said he has another cheek to slap - yikes. He Yu lives for a strong reaction - any strong reaction - from XQC. But he only gets negative ones because of how their relationship went so off track (and it’s so interesting to me that he got a strong reaction because in the last chapter he used the lines he did during the club night. Because XQC was reminded but also because to him it feels as if it’s being exposed in public.) @momoliee is absolutely correct that this relationship is mutually toxic but honestly even with that, I think that they are both better off having it because even anger and suffering and yearning and whatever else is better than being perpetually numb and perpetually alone, though I totally get if someone thinks otherwise.

3. In a much earlier chapter, when HY sees XQC again after two weeks, it says “something collapsed with a rumbling boom inside He Yu’s head” and this sentence is so apt - XQC totals everything HY thinks he wants and he is - both in destroying any control HY has, his own understanding of his sexuality, but also the wall of isolation around him. HY thinks of XQC as an addiction and in a way he’s right - he needs him to live despite all logic. And that is why he acts wilder and wilder trying to get attention - he cannot live without it. And he instinctively understands that only negative feeling can break through to XQC (why? that is so interesting to me.)

4. When HY kisses him, it feels to him like his head is buzzing and electricity is coursing through him. It utterly overwhelms him and brings him to life (that is why there is image of warmth and even heat whenever he’s with XQC; even in freezing downpour.) You know, I see why it can only be HY for XQC? Only HY is persistent enough, desperate enough, consumed enough to keep persisting after being hit by a wall of indifference and repulsion over and over.

5. But still, when XQC says that he spent all this time caring for him and now he feels that he’s wasted all this precious time on a dog - I get why he says that and he has every right to say this but ouch ouch ouch.

6. You know, it’s such a displacement - HY is displacing his lust for blood/violence by lust for XQC. I love it. It would be healthier honestly than the OG yearning for violence, at least if it was mutual. And you know I find it interesting how lust and violence entwine for HY - I mean XQC bites him hard enough to draw blood and he likes it. (Also, it’s clear young XQC had a huge capacity for violence which he suppressed utterly, but I think we see glimpses of it with HY.) But also - HY is right - he uses hate as a connection to living because what else does he have? He’d prefer to use love but he doesn’t have it (and I am not saying he deserves love from XQC after what he’s done, not at all) - so he needs to feel something at least. In a way, it makes me think of XQC and how I honestly think even negative emotions he’s feeling now are better than the nothingness he’s felt for years, even if he doesn’t realize it himself.

7. When XQC thinks if he had a knife, he’d carve out HY’s heart - it is such a strong emotion - it’s a terrible way to be dragged out to the land of the living - but it still IS a way and I am loving salvation through damnation theme so much (and I also wonder WHY he feels so strongly around HY in this scene - in earlier scenes it was pure loathing but maybe I am delusional - it reads as something more here; as if he blames him also for evoking strong feelings. I am not saying he’s in love or anywhere near that, mind you. But more that he wants to lash out for HY making him feel ANY emotions.)

8. His feelings for XQC give HY flare ups but they also heal him (like when he finds out CM left.) I love the notion of love being both a curse and something to save you.

[krreader]

dal | enemies to lovers.

pairing: kim taehyung x idol!reader ; ari x kim namjoon ; miya x jung hoseok fandom: dal ; bts  warnings: big hit girl group member!reader ; sex ; language genre: smut word count: 2k+ other: for more DAL content, please check out the DAL masterlist

summary: you wouldn’t break like your members. not even for a kim taehyung.

a/n: diamond maknae has jk and yoongi, dal will have taehyung and whoever else you decide ehehe. in all seriousness, though, thank you for the request and I hope you wanted the other members to have the whole enemies to lovers thing as well, not just the reader. even though the focus is still the reader, obviously!

Despite you and Bangtan being from the same company and despite you all now having a fantastic relationship... it wasn't always this way.

Every now and again, you'd still joke about why the dynamic between your two groups was so shitty at first, with you four claiming that it was because they were afraid that someone might throw them off their throne, whereas they claim, it was because you girls were way too overconfident.

Whatever it really was in the end, whether that or something else, your groups didn't like each other much. It was a constant battle of who's better. A battle, that you girls had to fight twice as hard due to their already existing fanbase and yours still growing.

Nevertheless, you four held your ground. And that was the first step of gaining BTS' approval.

“They actually work hard, you know?” Hoseok was the first to ever say these words out loud when Bangtan was having dinner one night.

“Mhm, I think we all know why you out of all of us says that, hyung,” Jimin shoved a spoon full of rice in his mouth, munching on it with a smirk while the rest of the boys were left with confused faces. Hoseok just lowered his head until they could see nothing but his forehead.

“No, we don't,” Taehyung said, “Why do we think that?”

“Do you want to confess, hyung? Or do you want to keep this a secret for a little while longer?”

Well, putting him on the spot like that wasn't exactly 'keeping it a secret'. Hoseok didn't say anything, but he did lean back, a little more confidently and raised his eyebrows at Jimin as to say: “Fine. Spill the tea.”

“Hoseokie hyung has been giving... dancing lessons to Miya. Private dancing lessons. If you guys know what I mean.”

And then a round full of “WHAT?!” and “SHUT UP!” and “NO WAY”'s were shouted into the room.

It was bound to happen eventually.

Even Bang PD had said something like: “Listen... I know that your two groups will probably spend a lot of time together and because of your age and your similar interests... things could... escalate. Do whatever you want to do, but I don't want to find out and neither should the rest of the company. Don't get pregnant and don't let anyone ever find out, then what you do is your business,” to Ari and Namjoon at a meeting for both groups one day.

Funny, that he'd say that to the two of them, since they were the ones that fucked each other first.

“Oh, come on,” you crossed your arms in front of your chest when you walked into Ari's room one day and found Namjoon lying in her bed, “You've got to be kidding me.”

“Fucking knock,” she jumped out of the bed, put on a bathrobe and pushed you out of the room, closing the door behind her, “You didn't see anything, okay?”

“I saw too much, actually,” but hey, good for her. That size wasn't easy to come by these days.

“I mean... don't tell the others, okay? It's not serious, I just need to let off steam and he's the same.”

“How long has this been going on for?”

“I don't know.. a few weeks? What does it matter anyways?”

“It matters, because a friends with benefits relationship that goes on for a long time might evolve into something more. What if you fall for him?”

She snorted that day and told you that it'd never happen.

But when you walked out of the kitchen one day and saw her kiss him goodbye at the door with that lovey-dovey smile, you knew that it had already happened. And from the way he didn't want to let her go, you doubted that it was one-sided.

“You'll forever be my baby sister, right?” you asked Jun one night when you were feeling lonely due to Ari being with Namjoon again and Miya having “gone to dance practice”. At one in the morning.

She wasn't exactly being sneaky here. You just didn't know who it was that she was seeing.

“Of course, I will be,” she snuggled against you and grinned, “Why are you so sad today?”

“Ah, I don't know. When we were announced and had that tension with BTS, it felt like we pushed ourselves to be better, you know? But now it feels like we're starting to lose that goal with Ari and Miya already having gone over to the dark side.”

“The dark side?” Jun sat up and let out a snort, “I think you should finally let go of that hate towards the guys, you know?”

“It's not hate. It's just... competition. Wanting to be better than them.”

“You know, I think the best way at becoming better than them is to learn from them.”

“When did you become so wise?” you furrowed your eyebrows, pulled a pillow into your arms and hugged it tightly. But within seconds, you sat up straight and looked at her with wide eyes, “Oh no... not you too.”

Jun let out a chuckle and got up, “They're really not so bad, (Y/N). Just put some effort into it. You'll be fine, I promise.”

Great.

So now all three of your band members had formed an alliance with one member of BTS. And whether they were just 'passing time' with each other or were actually in a relationship with them didn't matter here. What mattered was that they were no longer enemies.

Only you were left to defend your group.

“Aw, don't you have any friends that will have lunch with you?” Taehyung chuckled as he sat down in front of you, “Then I'll sacrifice myself and eat with you.”

“You're here on your own too, so right back at you,” you narrowed your eyes at him, shoving a piece of kimchi in your mouth.

He looked at you for a second with a half grin, then he started laughing and nodded, “Fair enough.”

“Don't you have to work or something? Thought the world famous BTS never stopped working.”

“Ah, don't be jealous, love. You'll get there in fifteen years, too.”

Taehyung was the worst thorn in your eye for sure. The one that you wanted to slap 90% of the time and the other 10 you caught yourself having thoughts that you really didn't want to have. Not when you fought for your ‘independence’ from BTS for so long.

But hey... he was fucking handsome. No denying here.

“You think I'm jealous of you?” you snorted and got up, “Please, don't flatter yourself.”

You returned your plates and then wanted to make your way back to the studio. Only that once you were in the elevator, someone squeezed in just in time.

“You literally just sat down to eat. What do you want?”

“I asked them to pack it up for me,” Taehyung grinned happily, “Want to hang out?”

“Wh..- Seriously, are you that lonely?”

“Yeah, that's why I want to spend time with you. You're the loneliest person I know.”

“I'm not lonely,” you snorted and crossed your arms in front of your chest, “I have quite a lot of friends. And... lovers.”

Not sure why you felt like you had to add – and make up – that last part, but it unfortunately didn't go over well. Because Taehyung instantly started laughing, way more than was natural.

“Oh, you don't believe me?” you challenged, instantly standing up straighter and taking a step towards him.

It shut him up, but only because he straightened his back too and licked his lips with a smirk.

“Not in the slightest. But hey... convince me of your talents, if you really want to.”

And that was the issue between your dynamic with him. Neither of you wanted to back down and lose to the other.

So you took another step towards him, your boobs now touching his chest and looking daringly into his eyes.

“Like you're worthy of that.”

“I will be,” he leaned down, until his lips were right beside your ear, “If you let me.”

He thought he had you then... but that's why he liked you so much. Because he didn't have you. Not even in the slightest. You just snorted and walked out of the elevator when the doors opened again and he was left there smirking with too tight pants.

“Oh, isn't this just wonderful, we're having a party,” you said with a sarcastic smile as you walked into your apartment that was filled with not just your members, but BTS members as well, “I guess I wasn't invited. Despite me living here.”

“Don't be such a downer,” Ari said with a heavy sigh, getting up and handing you a drink, “Just sit down and talk to them. Please.”

“No, thank you. I'll just take my leave and wait in my room until everyone is gone.”

Jun got up and wanted to convince you to stay, but you were already on your way and Ari stopped her, shaking her head.

“Just give her time. She'll come around. We all did.”

You were so ready to fall into your bed and sleep, trying to ignore the laughing coming from the living room. 

But when you closed the door to your bedroom behind you, you instantly jumped in shock when you heard a male voice coming from your bed.

“Oh, how fortunate for me. This is your room?”

When you turned around, you found Taehyung literally chilling in your bed, one arm behind his head, shoes off and legs crossed, while the other hand held the remote control and browsed through your Netflix.

“You know, I see a pattern here... a lot of PG18 movies.”

“Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

“Why? I don't want to go over there. They're all making out and being lovey-dovey and it's annoying me,” he sat up and pursued his lips, “Besides. You're way more fun than your members. No offense.”

“Offense taken. They're very funny, actually, now get out,” you tried to pull him out of the bed, but he was stronger than you and pulled you into the bed with him instead.

“Oops.”

He smirked at you while you were now lying on top of him. And suddenly you realized what a game he was playing.

That time in the elevator. It started a war between you two of who could break the other one sooner. Sexually speaking.

Oh, if only you hadn’t mentioned those damned non-existant lovers.

In your mind, you already considered yourself the loser. But on the outside? No way.

“Your lip balm is pressing against my leg.”

He let out a laugh, “Even a lip balm can satisfy the driest lips in the world.”

Oh, that fucker.

“But see, when your lips are already moist because of that newer lip balm that you're using, you don't need the older model.”

“Hm, I understand,” he pushed himself up, both of you now sitting, you still on his lap, “But what if I tell you that it's not actually a lip balm, but a lip gloss?”

“I never liked lip glosses. They're very thin... too little product inside to satisfy my needs.”

Taehyung's grin grew larger by the second and even you had a hard time containing yours now.

“You just need to find the right lip gloss then. One that is thick, holds a lot of product and makes your lips wetter than they've ever been... for hours and hours and hours...”

“Is that a promise?” you looked down to his lips, losing that battle on the outside as well now.

“It's a vow, baby girl.”

And there it was.

The battle was over in less than five minutes.

The two of you made out, got rid of your clothes and Taehyung fucked you better than anyone else ever had, with you literally having to bite into your pillow so that you wouldn't scream.

And when Bangtan wanted to leave an hour later and realized that Taehyung was not with them anymore, they and your band members searched the entire apartment, only to stop in front of your door and hear you... unfortunately.

“Oh god,” Jin grimaced and walked away instantly, your youngest band members doing the same.

But Ari stayed for a moment longer and even considered walking in just to give you a thumbs up.

If only Namjoon hadn't stopped her.

That would have been hilarious.

[songofclarity]

The way I see some discussions and mentions of Nie Dad’s death, they give the impression that Wen RuoHan killed him in the same manner Meng Yao killed those Nie cultivators in the Sun Palace: by savagely cutting him open and letting him bleed out across the floor while Nie MingJue could only stand there and helplessly watch.

And like, symbolically, I can see the similarities of teenage Nie MingJue having to just stand there and watch his dad rage himself to death in his sickbed, but what happened between Wen RuoHan and Nie Dad, and the Wen Sect and Nie Sect, is much more complicated and far less direct.

There are reasons Nie MingJue’s resentment is quoted as being about his father’s death and not, directly, at Wen RuoHan.

Three key points:

First, neither the Nie nor the Wen could ever possibly agree about who started the conflict or how it ended. Was Nie Dad truly the arrogant type who would be so prideful as to mock Wen RuoHan for enjoying something or did Wen RuoHan try to teach a lesson to someone who was the innocent victim of some guest cultivator’s malice? The guest cultivator played them both by setting up a lose-lose situation.

Second, Wen RuoHan did not and does not know about the saber spirit. Nie Dad was stuck in a sickbed for six months which shows there was plenty of time to heal him. Do the Qinghe Nie just not take care of their people? The Wen Sect love getting into other people’s business and they have fantastic doctors. Did the Nie Sect reject help when it was offered due to the secrecy of Nie Dad’s underlying condition? This Sounds Like a You Problem if the Nie Sect just let Nie Dad languish and die. It’s no wonder Nie MingJue would resent his father’s death if there was nothing in-house they could do to help him and the Nie Sect refused to seek outside help--especially for reasons of Sect pride.

Third, Nie Dad’s death, namely how Nie Dad handled being injured and the six months leading up to his death, was a horrific reality check for the Nie Sect and the consequences of their saber cultivation. Wen RuoHan did not lay hands on Nie Dad or attack him in any manner, and yet one indirect hit shattered what tenuous hold Nie Dad had on his temperament. How fragile and vulnerable the Qinghe Nie must have felt! Wen RuoHan found their fatal flaw by a complete accident! It’s easier for the Nie Sect to blame the Wen Sect when there is nothing they can do about changing their cultivation methods without completely changing the Nie Sect as they know it. Change is hard. Blame is easy. Anger is easy. Resentment is easy.

Keep in mind this conflict was not started by Wen RuoHan. I cannot emphasize that point enough. This conflict began when a guest cultivator heard the innocuous question, “What do you think of this saber of mine?” (ch. 49, ERS) and started naming names.

Wen RuoHan smacked Nie Dad's saber because he was told Nie Dad was arrogant, boastful, and condescending. He was told Nie Dad was a dirty liar who would compliment Wen RuoHan’s saber to his face and talk shit about it behind his back (or in his heart, which is kind of worse, actually).

[The guest cultivator,] "[Sect Leader Nie is] awfully arrogant, always boasting about how his prized saber is absolutely unrivaled, and how even in a hundred years no sword has been able [to be] compared to his. No matter how good one's saber was, he definitely won't admit it, and even if he did admit it out loud, he won't admit it in his heart." [Ch. 49, ERS]

Is this a true account of Nie Dad’s character or is it a complete fabrication in order to throw him under the bus? We’re never told. But Wen RuoHan is told that Nie Dad will not be telling him the truth about how he feels, so Wen RuoHan can’t even talk to Nie Dad about it in order to clear the air if he so wanted. The guest cultivator has put Wen RuoHan and Nie Dad in a lose-lose situation. The conflict has immediately degraded to petty passive aggressive revenge.

Wen RuoHan decides to test the waters. Or, perhaps, he will teach Nie Dad a lesson in humility.

[Wen RuoHan,] "Are you sure about that? Well, I want to see." (Ch. 49, ERS)

Wen RuoHan requests Nie Dad’s presence. He holds the saber and compliments that it’s a very good saber. Then he does one of three things: he tests the saber’s strength for himself, teaches Nie Dad a lesson about having too much pride, or both.

Wen RuoHan smacking the saber, trying to break it, is a good way to humble a man whose pride comes from having the so-called greatest saber. Maybe when that saber breaks Nie Dad won't be such an arrogant asshole anymore. The guest cultivator noted that the saber was a point of pride for Nie Dad. Take it away, and maybe he’ll be more humble from now on.

The saber should probably have broken when slapped several times, but it didn't, because it was indeed a good saber.

Wen RuoHan hands the saber back and that is the end of Wen RuoHan’s involvement with Nie Dad and the Nie Sect.

(Keep in mind that we hear about Wen RuoHan leaving his house ONE time in canon, and that was to fight Nie MingJue at Yangquan during the Sunshot Campaign. Wen RuoHan and the Wen never go after the Qinghe Nie again until after the Sunshot Campaign begins.)

Nie Dad leaves the Sun Palace without noticing anything wrong with his saber. He finds the encounter with Wen RuoHan strange, but he leaves it at that.

The Sect Leader of the greatest saber cultivation sect didn't know his own saber had somehow been damaged! How embarrassing for him when he went on a night hunt days later and it broke and he got severely injured!

And that's it. Now Nie Dad's saber isn't the greatest saber anymore. Wen RuoHan taught Nie Dad a lesson, purposefully or not, and Nie Dad is still very much alive. Cultivators aren't down with their injuries for very long. It took Qingheng-jun a month to die from his critical injuries. By comparison, the core-less Jiang Cheng recovered from his broken ribs in just 3 days and the core-less Wei WuXian healed from an abdomen wound in a week. Six months for Nie Dad, a capable cultivator with likely a powerful golden core, is a long time! Unlike Qingheng-jun, he arguably was at least in a stable if disabled condition if he lasted six months.

Lesson learned and he'll be fine.

But Nie Dad isn't fine. He stews in his anger, his embarrassment, his resentment. He lets his fury engulf him. He can't heal from his injuries because all he wants to do, let’s say, is rage and yell and fume about that fucking Wen RuoHan who played a dirty trick!

(And if he did rage as such, perhaps there is some hearty arrogance in him that he thought himself and his saber untouchable, that he didn’t even give it a second look after Wen RuoHan was involved.)

It's not clearly stated if Nie Dad died from his injuries or by qi deviation, but considering the extent Nie MingJue and his sworn brothers go to in order to avoid a qi deviation AND Nie MingJue’s own feelings with how his father died, it's highly probable that Nie Dad died from qi deviation. And, like I said, if a cultivator doesn't die immediately from their wound, and if the wound doesn’t even put them in a critical condition, they heal just nicely.

But Nie Dad dies. It’s interesting to note the description of Nie MingJue’s trauma:

The thing in Nie MingJue's life that he loathed and regretted the most was the death of his father...

After Sect Leader Nie was brought back [from the night hunt where his saber broke], he couldn't make peace with such an event no matter what, and his injuries didn't heal either. Having fallen ill for half a year, he finally left the world, from either the anger or the illness. The reason why Nie MingJue, along with the entire Qinghe Nie Sect, detested the Qishan Wen Sect with such intensity was due to this. (ch. 49, ERS)

Although the Wens become the target of Nie hatred in the wake of Nie Dad’s death, Nie MingJue isn’t loathing them specifically. It’s not Wen RuoHan he hates, but rather the death of his father. The nuance here is important. He loathes those six months where Nie Dad could not get better and refused to get better when he picked his anger over healing. Those six months where he would have lashed out and shouted at his innocent children--just like Nie MingJue would, years later, shout and lash out at his brothers.

The death of Nie Dad showed the very worst side of the Qinghe Nie Sect and the effects of their saber cultivation. And all Nie MingJue, just a teenager at the time, could do was stand there and watch it all unfold. What a nightmare. It’s no wonder he accepted help from the Song of Clarity when he did, especially when Lan XiChen and Jin GuangYao were amping up the risk. it really just highlights the outrageous betrayal by Jin GuangYao, who knew all of this about Nie MingJue and the Nie Sect and still did what he did, using intimate knowledge to slowly murder Nie MingJue for his own gain.

Not even Wen RuoHan was that cruel.

Because all the while Wen RuoHan is not aware of the saber spirit or Nie Dad’s high risk of qi deviations. Nobody outside the Nie Sect knows about the saber spirits. Outside the Nie Sect, saber spirits aren't a real thing that someone could reasonably plan for. Hell, even Nie HuaiSang went over twenty years not knowing about the saber spirits and he lived with them!

So there is no possible way Wen RuoHan could have suspected pulling a punk ass, petty stunt to humble Nie Dad would exacerbate this supernatural disease that would anger Nie Dad to death.

This isn’t to say that Wen RuoHan is innocent. He very much chose to call Nie Dad over and made the decision on his own to smack the saber. But fate took over after that. The saber didn’t have to break and it didn’t have to break at such a dangerous moment.

Wen RuoHan’s actions did not seek Nie Dad’s death--because if he wanted Nie Dad dead, he would have killed him. (Who could have stopped him? No one.) Having policies that cause injury but not necessarily death are kind of Wen RuoHan’s thing though. (That’s an analysis for another time.) Suffice to say, no one can learn their lesson if they’re dead. Indoctrination camps and supervisory offices require living, breathing people to teach and be supervised. Wen RuoHan never sought to take over the world, only to correct the obvious flaws in the world around him. Correcting Nie Dad’s arrogance and pride was such an attempt.

And the Nie Sect secrecy shot the Nie in the foot in the end. They were angry with Wen RuoHan and the Wen Sect for causing Nie Dad's death by causing his injuries by damaging the saber, but of course Wen RuoHan and the Wens would never agree with this under the known circumstances. And with them being Wens, of course they aren’t going to take the blame and no one else is powerful enough to force them. This whole situation is especially Not Their Fault from their point of view.

Nie Dad was in bed for six months without critical injuries.

Maybe the Nie Sect should have had gotten better doctors.

(And I can perfectly imagine the Wen Sect, always throwing their weight around, actually offering to send their doctors, arguably the best doctors in the cultivation world, and the Nie Sect refusing because what ailed Nie Dad was not something the Nie Sect wanted to share. Nie MingJue allowing his sworn brothers to help him shows he learned from the experience of his father’s death, but I digress.)

We know all of this to be true because Wen RuoHan, years later at the start of the Sunshot Campaign, speaks of the Nie Sect as a place where people die in part because of their personality type and in part because the Nie Sect itself fails to care for them:

...the Qinghe Nie Sect's sect leader [Nie MingJue] was so stiff that he'd easily snap in half--soon afterward, no need for others to move and he'd die in his own people's hands sooner or later... (ch. 61, ERS)

And considering what we know about the saber spirits, this is a pretty good deduction when Wen RuoHan is missing the saber spirit cornerstone. The Nie Sect has a cultivation tradition that kills them. Obviously it’s in the hands of their own people that they die, having picked up this cultivation style. Wen RuoHan also accurately determines that personality, such as Nie MingJue being inflexible, contributes to that death. It is the build-up of anger and resentment that eventually pushes the Nie cultivator to snap and fall into a qi deviation.

But of course Wen RuoHan also lacks the knowledge that saber spirits cause those personalities to begin with. That Nie Dad acting rigid or arrogant or harsh might not be because he’s an actual asshole, but rather because the saber spirit is effecting his temperament. With a teenage son, Nie Dad was likely pushing 40 if not already much older. We see what a juggernaut Nie MingJue already is in his early 20s. Nie Dad had more than twice the time to wreck his temperament than Nie MingJue ever did, and it still took him six months to die while in a constant state of turmoil while bed bound.

(Which really shows how deadly the Collection of Turmoil was if it could kill Nie MingJue in less than half that time. I know this post is about Wen RuoHan and the Nie, but it truly cannot be understated how horrifically cruel Jin GuangYao’s actions were when he carefully crafted Nie MingJue’s murder, especially how he would have heard from both sides how this all went down.)

In the end, Wen RuoHan obviously gained a vague idea about what happened and what the Qinghe Nie are like as a Sect, but he is, of course, missing the vital point--just as he misses the vital point when he doesn't actually try to kill Nie Dad.

[i-like-plan-m]

the wind on another star

[On Ao3]

Lan Zhan wondered if pirates, of all things, were going to succeed where dozens of far superior fighters had tried and failed to kill him before.

The wide open void of space mocked him. Millions of escape routes within sight, and all worthless to him with a sabotaged hyperdrive and navigation system. The Hanguang-Jun was stranded in the middle of nowhere and caught in the crosshairs of a rather established band of mercenaries who doubled as pirates when they were between paid jobs.

Lan Zhan stood at the helm of his wounded starship and watched the empty escape pods drift away with so much fury he half expected them to explode.

Su She had conned his way onto Lan Zhan’s ship, hacked the navigation controls to drop them out of hyperspace and straight into the heart of a company of heavily armed mercenaries, and taken the only escape pod that he hadn’t already ejected into space.

Lan Zhan’s crew was trapped. Lan Zhan was trapped-- his ship’s weapon systems were mostly offline, brought partially back to life only by Lan Jingyi’s sheer desperation and skill. It wasn’t nearly enough to keep a dozen fighter planes and two cruisers at bay.

“Ambush,” Mianmian said tightly from beside him. “This was carefully planned, Captain.”

“What did we ever do to piss off these guys?” Lan Jingyi asked over the open comms, an edge of panic to his voice that made Lan Zhan’s mouth twist. It was his fault that his cousin was here in the first place, after all; he’d offered him a position on his ship due in part to Lan Jingyi’s skills and also to get him out of Lan Qiren’s hair. Apparently a too-clever, loud mouthed teenager trapped in the peaceful City of Clouds in Gusu had driven everyone up the wall.

He’d reminded Lan Zhan of Wei Ying-- the irrepressible character, the frequent mischief, a voice that ricocheted off of steel walls like a blaster shot. He was joy and humor and noise, a welcome change from the solemn silence aboard the Hanguang-Jun. It made him think of things loved and lost, bittersweet memories that perhaps made him more lenient with Lan Jingyi than his family would approve of.

And Lan Zhan had brought him straight into a trap, likely to be picked off by power hungry mercenaries or held as a hostage.

Even as the thought crossed his mind, the control panel beeped urgently, warning him that the cruisers had locked their missiles onto the Hanguang-Jun.

So they had decided to kill him after all.

His brother would be devastated, Lan Zhan thought distantly.

“I’ve still got the sonics,” Mianmian said, strapping herself into the copilot’s seat and reaching for the weapons controls. As his security expert and weapons master, Mianmian had seen them through insurmountable odds before; she remained as cool as ever under the flashing red warning lights. “I can pick off the missiles as they come, unless they unload several at once on us.”

“Can we use them to hit first?” Lan Jingyi asked, breathing heavily as he worked in the overheated mechanical room. “No one in the galaxy can counter Lan sonic tech.”

“They’re out of range,” Mianmian said regretfully.

“They haven’t attempted to hail us?” Lan Zhan asked, staring the largest cruiser down as it loomed over them in a blatant attempt to intimidate them. He suspected there was more at play here-- cruisers like this cost serious money, and even if simple mercenary crews got their hands on one, they didn’t keep them long. But two? Lan Zhan knew a set up when he saw it.

Lan Jingyi-- their mechanic and communications officer, because he was “skilled like that”-- made a sound of disgust. “No. So much for intergalactic law, right?”

“So many for just us,” Mianmian said, scowling out the front shield. “That’s half a damn army out there.”

The Hanguang-Jun had a reputation, though. Lan Zhan and his tiny crew went where the chaos was, and recently they’d taken on a number of jobs that had required the full force of their combined skill and strategy to survive. Except they’d not only survived, they’d demolished multiple bands of the rogue mercenaries that wandered the galaxy, terrorizing the helpless colonies too small or poor to defend themselves.

Someone had been paying attention, it seemed. And they had gone so far as to plant a spy-- Su She, hired only a week ago as extra support-- to lead them to an ambush in the middle of nowhere.

No one would know of their deaths for some time; the largest cruiser had an active jammer to block any distress signals, and Lan Zhan wasn’t due for a check in with his family for weeks.

He regretted the deaths of his crew. His friends. The loss his brother and uncle would soon face. And, privately, Lan Zhan regretted that he would never find Wei Ying. The bright, brilliant boy who’d vanished entirely after the Sunshot Wars, wherein the galaxy had come together to bring down Wen Ruohan before he could harness a sun’s energy to demolish entire planets.

So much left unsaid. But Wei Ying had broken the Wen remnants out of a prison world and disappeared into the darkness between the stars. No one knew where he’d gone. If he was alive. If they’d ever see him again.

Lan Zhan, it seemed, would never find out.

“Our shields?” He asked quietly, gripping the sleek rail separating the pilots’ seats from the rest of the control room so tightly his knuckles were white.

“In tatters,” Lan Jingyi said, trying to sound brave and landing somewhere around apprehensive. “I’m doing my best, Captain, but…”

“It’s alright,” Lan Zhan said gently. “We will try the sonic cannons.”

Mianmian’s eyes flickered to him, but she kept quiet. They both knew it would only take one missed shot to destroy their ship, and they were laughably outnumbered. But the comms were open and Lan Jingyi was listening intently from the engine room, so they kept their mutual understanding nonverbal.

“Well. It’s been an honor, Captain,” she murmured, too low for the comm line to pick up.

“For me as well,” Lan Zhan said, and dropped his hands to the pilot controls. He would try to help Mianmian dodge missiles as best he could, despite the futility of the situation.

The beeping became frantic, screaming in urgency as the second cruiser locked onto them. The cockpit was dim, lit only by the flashing warning lights that cast them in hues of red.

They waited, braced for the first burst of light that would signal a dispatched missile, surrounded on all sides, caught in a killing field with no way out.

Three bright souls on the cusp of darkness, facing a death that would leave them floating adrift in the eternal expanse of space. Not so terrible an end, he supposed, for a crew of wayfarers.

Mianmian suddenly jerked in place. “What the...?”

Lan Zhan’s attention snapped to her, wondering if he’d missed the beginning of the execution. He followed her baffled gaze, and then froze at the sight of a mid-sized, battered red cruiser dropping out of hyperspace, right on top of the armada.

He knew that cruiser. Had seen it only once, when a small collection of Wen prisoners had boarded it in the midst of a fierce storm with a slender, defiant figure guarding their escape.

The Yílíng Lǎozǔ drifted casually along, drawing the attention of the armada when its heavy artillery cannons dropped into active position. Half of the mercenaries turned their starships around to face the new threat.

“Is that who I think it is?” Mianmian whispered. Lan Zhan could not answer, though the hope in her voice matched the rising sun of his own.

“Is what who you think it is? What’s happening?” Lan Jingyi asked. They didn’t answer, too focused on the Yílíng Lǎozǔ and its unhurried course through the mercenaries’ ranks. Neither took much notice when he skidded into the cockpit to join them, breathing hard with wide, fever-bright eyes.

MianMian made a noise low in her throat when one of the cruisers disengaged their missile lock and turned it onto the Yílíng Lǎozǔ. “They’re going to get blown into pieces, why aren’t they moving out of range?”

Lan Zhan didn’t even notice the moment he stood, so tense his bones felt as though they’d shatter into pieces at a single touch. Wei Ying, what are you doing?

As if in answer, the largest cruiser angled to give chase to the Yílíng Lǎozǔ-- and exploded so abruptly and violently that Lan Zhan nearly staggered back in shock. Mianmian swore in mingled fear and delight, and Lan Jingyi exclaimed similar feelings at the top of his lungs.

“They dropped mines, did you see that?” She asked, leaning forward with bright eyes. “Completely off the radar-- we didn’t get so much as a blip, and this radar’s the only damn thing that is working on this ship.”

“Wei Ying has always been inventive,” Lan Zhan said, chest tight with something huge and undefinable.

“Fucking brilliant is what he is,” Mianmian said, and then made a face. “Don’t you dare tell him I said that.”

That implied Lan Zahn was going to see him, which promptly overrode every other thought in his head and made him feel as though he’d been struck in the head with a Lan sonic cannon.

Debris from the destroyed cruiser littered the battlefield, briefly hiding the Yílíng Lǎozǔ from sight.

“They won’t fall for that trick twice,” Mianmian muttered, leaning forward. “Careful, now.”

And then, so suddenly Lan Zhan and Mianmian made twin noises of shock, the starships closest to the Hanguang-Jun exploded. He thought at first it was another trick with the mines, but--

A ripple of darkness rocketed past the nose of their ship, far too fast to track. It was utterly undetectable except for the trail of destruction it left behind. The starship moved at impossible speeds; not even the Nie’s most advanced fighters could move like that, and they were the foremost engineers in the galaxy.

It took another moment, during which starships blew up like a pre-planned chain reaction, for Lan Zhan to realize there were two of these ships-- starfighters, combat aircraft built for speed and stealth. They worked off of each other like they were a hive mind, targeting clusters of enemy ships and annihilating them with some unknown invisible weapon that pulverized the ships into fragments.

A series of explosions along the remaining cruiser nearly tore it in half. Lan Jingyi whooped as it careened wildly out of control and erupted into blinding light.

Lan Zhan’s focus, though, was drawn inexplicably to the shimmer of darkness flitting through the ranks of the armada, slipping into impossibly narrow spaces, performing acrobatics that only someone absolutely fearless would even dream of.

Wei Ying had always taken “attempt the impossible” to heart.

“Look!” Lan Jingyi exclaimed, pointing outside their windshield to a furrow in the black void of space. A third ship, this one hovering just beside the Hanguang-Jun as a clear threat-- come any closer, and you’d be decimated like the rest of the ruined armada. Lan Jingyi waved, and the ripple of black dipped low and then back into place.

“What kind of weapon is that?” Mianmian wondered, watching in awe as a single shot from one of Wei Ying’s starfighters dissolved a starship into particles.

Lan Zhan remembered Wei Ying’s theories on dark matter, and he wondered.

It did not take long for the battle to end. None of the ships even had a chance to escape, and any that tried were chased down within a few heartbeats and destroyed.

The communications system blipped as the two starfighters finished off the remaining enemies. Lan Jingyi looked at Lan Zhan in question, who nodded and waited for him to open the channel to say, “This is Lan Zhan, Captain of the Hanguang-Jun.”  

“Hello, Captain,” someone replied. A young man, by the sounds of it, and politely cheerful. “Our captain has asked me to escort you to the Yílíng Lǎozǔ, if you are amenable.”

That was almost certainly not the way Wei Ying had likely worded it. Lan Zhan found himself wanting to smile. “I am amenable,” he said. “My ship is badly damaged and in need of repair.”

“We can help with that,” the boy replied, and was then interrupted by a voice that made Lan Zhan’s stomach swoop violently.

“Lan Zhan! Are you really going to let me put my grubby hands all over your shiny ship?”

He closed his eyes, emotion swelling in his chest. “Wei Ying can put his hands on anything of mine he wishes,” he said calmly, and meant every word.

He heard a squawk, a faint crash followed by an angry beep, and then a third voice calling in concern, “Wei-gongzi!”

“I’m fine, Wen Ning,” Wei Ying said hastily. Lan Zhan eyed the small piece of debris spinning away into the void, as though it had been clipped by the wing of a starfighter, perhaps.

“Ah,” Wei Ying laughed. “Lan Zhan, I didn’t expect you to have jokes now! I’ve missed a lot, it seems.”

“I have missed more.” Too much, if Wei Ying had made advancements like this; he’d clearly discovered some secret to the universe and left the rest of them far behind.

Lan Zhan had let him slip between his fingers once before. He was tired of being left behind.

“Wen Qing is bringing the Yílíng Lǎozǔ to you,” Wei Ying said with more warmth than Lan Zhan deserved. He had, after all, let Wei Ying down all those years ago. “I’ll see you soon, Lan Zhan.”

“Soon,” Lan Zhan agreed, and let the comm line fall to silence.

Soon. He felt his heart skip a beat in anticipation. Soon he would be face to face with Wei Ying again, the boy he’d loved and lost before he truly understood the potential for what it was, too busy being offended by the concept of his own stupid infatuation.

Soon, Lan Zhan thought again, and his tiny, hopeful smile was witnessed solely by the blanket of darkness and the glittering, luminous lights of a nearby star. A secret of his own, held between him and a universe full of possibility.