#Khunwriting

[khunwriting]

[Cigarette Break]

Synopsis: While skipping classes, you get a nicotine craving and end up dragging your two best friends with you. 

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Naughty Busters!Ichiro Yamada x Reader; Naughty Busters!Kuko Harai x Reader

While hanging out with your best friends, the usual nicotine itch that scratched at your throat was kicking back up again, and you were beginning to get antsy as a result. You were pretty vocal about needing a smoke break, and your two skipping buddies were okay with tagging along to the bathroom with you. However, it was usually a trip that you took on your own, so you didn’t quite realize how cramped it would’ve been with two more people in the same stall. 

It was awkward to stand in the tiny stall, and the three of you had to figure out quickly how to situate yourselves comfortably for the next handful of minutes till you got your craving satisfied. But with how you three were…

“You’re taking up so much room! Sit your ass down, Ichiro!” 

“I’m working on it, Kuko! Ugh, you reek, [Name],” “Fuck you, Ichi!”

…It was a surprise you haven’t gotten caught by the teachers.

With that thought in the back of your head, you had to resist the urge to stomp on Ichiro’s foot, his comment shooting a spike of irritation through your veins. With the way he was sitting on the toilet, Ichiro could easily spread his legs and push you into Kuko, who leaned against the stall door. If that were to happen, you were sure that it would’ve only gotten louder and end up with you guys getting caught. So instead, you just shot the taller boy a glare over your shoulder and tried to get comfortable between nearly straddling Ichiro’s leg and pressing yourself against Kuko’s body.

“It’s too fucking cramped!” The red haired monk hissed next to your ear, his warm breath hitting your neck. Peering over at the shorter boy, your eyes met with his narrowed gold ones, looking a tad annoyed. “Do you have to smoke in here!? Couldn’t we do it outside?”

“And get caught smoking on school grounds? Yeah, right,” You barked out with a huff. “Look I’m cool with skipping, but I’m not trying to get expelled. My mom will beat my ass if I get kicked out now,” 

“Yeah, but it’s super uncomfortable. Can’t stretch my legs with you guys in front of me,” Ichiro complained as he let his head lean against the wall behind him. At his words, both you and Kuko craned your head to give him a heated look. 

“Not my fault they make the only bathroom with a window have the smallest stall,” You snapped, jerking your head to motion at the window just above your head. With a strangled groan, your eyes darted between your best friends, scrunching up your nose. “Why are you guys complaining? You wanted to be in here with me!” 

Hearing your words, the two boys stiffened and darted their gazes away from your scowl. You realized you weren’t going to get any answers from them, making you roll your eyes and take your chance to finally get your smoke break.

You reached into your pocket, took out your pack, and placed a single cigarette between your lips. Letting it dangle for a few seconds, you grabbed your lighter, bringing it to your cigarette, not noticing the two pairs of eyes watching your movements. Upon lighting up the end, you took a deep inhale, holding it for a beat, before releasing it into the window above you, careful to not blow it into your friends’ faces. 

Instantly, it felt like that annoying scratch was ebbing away and the tension forming in your chest felt lighter. You couldn’t help the smile that stretched around the cigarette as you continued to inhale the smoke a few more times. Noticing that your usual loud-mouth friends were oddly quiet for once, you took the chance to tilt your head to look at Ichiro.

Said boy was still leaning back in his spot, his hands disappearing into the pockets of his hoodie. Though you don’t miss the way his eyes lingered on your mouth, staring at the cigarette sitting in between your lips. Your eyebrow quirked up in curiosity, taking the stick out of your mouth and extending your arm out to him. 

“You wanna try?” You asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. Ichiro blinked a few times, his gaze darting between your cigarette and your eyes. Then his expression scrunched up and his lips pursed into a frown.

“I’m a minor,” He stated simply, earning a deadpan stare from you, seeing as you both were the same age. 

“C’mon, you can beat up dudes for money, but you can’t smoke a cig?” You snorted, causing Kuko to snicker softly behind you. The boy’s cheek began to tint red and your eyes instantly took note of the rosy hue. Unable to hold back your smirk, you placed your cigarette back between your lips, speaking with a teasing lilt. “You’re so cute, Ichi,”

You turn back to chuckle with Kuko, causing the eldest brother to thrum with embarrassment. Without a second thought, Ichirou shifts his legs forward. His leg knocks into the back of your knees, making you nearly topple into the monk if his hands didn’t dart out to steady your taller form. His hands rested firmly at your sides while your hands shot out to plant next to Kuko’s head. The impact made the stall walls rattle as you tried to steady yourself.

“Shit, shit, sorry!” You apologized, pushing away from the monk’s personal space once you could. Your expression shifted to a vexed glower, turning to snap at the laughing boy. “Man, Ichi, what the hell!”  

Kuko could only watch as you finally stomped on your friend’s foot. Ichiro instantly bit down on his bottom lip to prevent the loud curses from slipping out, and he kneeled over to nurse his hurt foot. Standing over him, you let out another drag from your cigarette, flicking the ashes out the window. You let out a click of your tongue before turning to Kuko, holding out your cigarette.

“What about you, Ku? Wanna try?” Kuko let out a smirk, highly amused how you ignored the daggers Ichiro was sending your way. “I’m a monk. We’re not supposed to indulge in alcohol or drugs,” He shrugged, folding his arms across his chest. You blinked at him with an unimpressed purse of your lips. 

“And you’re not supposed to use violence either,” With your free hand, you began counting off other things. “Or hold money. Or swear. Or treat your elders like shit. Or—” 

“Shut up!” Kuko rasped out, rolling his eyes at your laughter. He reached his hand out, wiggling his fingers in a ‘come hither’ motion. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Hand it over,”

You sent him a cheeky grin and placed the cigarette carefully between his fingers. Kuko stared at the object for a few seconds, not quite sure what to do. He had seen you done multiple times, but never actually attempted himself. He tried to recall the motion of going through the actions in his head and decided to try it himself finally.

Bringing the butt of the cigarette to his lips, Kuko took a deep inhale. Instantly, the smoke filled his mouth and it was all he could taste and smell. It’s nearly nauseating and he can feel tears welling up in his eyes. Unable to hold it back anymore, the monk begins hacking, his throat feeling incredibly irritated now.

“This shit fucking burns!” He spat out in between coughs. Even as you reach over to rub his back, the searing sensation in his chest still lingers. “How do you enjoy this crap?!” 

“It’s ‘cause you sucked it in too hard, too fast, Ku,” You answered with a small, apologetic smile. You took back your cigarette, bringing it close to your lips. “Let me help you out. When I’m done, just hold onto your breath for a sec, okay?”

Kuko nodded slowly, unsure of what you were planning. His gold eyes darted to Ichiro behind you, who peered around your body with a curious stare. But the monk’s attention was taken back to you as your free hand cupped his chin. You gave him a sweet smile and took a light drag of your cigarette. 

Then suddenly, your lips were on him. 

Kuko’s mind went instantly blank, never having felt someone’s lips on his own until now. But he vaguely felt your tongue pushing against his mouth and he unconsciously parted his lips. Then the familiar sensation of smoke filled his mouth, and that’s when he recalled your words.

You pulled away from the monk, watching Kuko follow your instructions. His chest stopped moving and he didn’t look as uncomfortable as he did just a few moments prior. 

“Breathe in normally, then exhale,” You commanded. Kuko did as he was told, and, slowly, white smoke left his lips in light wisps. You grinned widely, patting your friend’s cheek. “Good boy. Better now?”

“Shit still hurts,” He muttered with his chest still burning and his heart hammering against his ribcage.

“Yeah, well you get used to it after a while,” You mused as you gave him back his space. You turned back to look at your other friend, noticing his tinted cheeks and gaping mouth. His eyes were lingering back on your lips, blatantly staring. 

“Wanna try, Ichi?” Ichiro jumped at your voice, pressing his lips together. Your tongue slipped out to lick your bottom lip, amused that his gaze honed in on the action. You waved the small remaining bit of your cigarette, gesturing towards him. “I can do the same to you,”

“I’m a minor…” Ichiro mumbled, his heterochromatic eyes darting anywhere but you and Kuko. You chuckled at his words, trying to muffle the sound with your hand. Even as you did your best to silence the noise, the sound still came out nice to the two within range and they couldn’t help but join in on the laughter. Looking back at this memory in the future, you wished you could relive these small, much simpler times with both of your friends.

But you know you might never get that chance again.

[khunwriting]

[Valentine Gift]

Synopsis: Kuko doesn’t quite understand the hype around Valentine’s Day, but he could change his mind.

Genre: Fluff

Pairing: Kuko Harai x Reader 

Something about Valentine’s Day didn’t seem all that great to Kuko. There wasn’t an issue with the couples expressing their love. It was simply the byproduct of said loving expression that was more or less bothersome.

Walking down the shopping district in the days coming up to the 14th was a nightmare. Seeing all the hearts in various shades of reds and pinks plastered on every shop window quickly became an eyesore, and the ads selling chocolates, flowers, and jewelry were overly abundant and overstaying its welcome. Granted, Kuko is a monk and he did let go of any need for materialistic wants, so maybe the holiday wasn’t exactly meant for someone like him.

But even when he was in high school, Kuko never understood all the buzz surrounding his classmates when the holiday was around the corner. All the girls would be squealing about confessing to their crushes and the guys were just desperate to receive chocolates—it was a rather pitiful sight. Maybe it was because he wasn’t involved in the festivities, but he doubted that it would’ve changed his mind on the topic. 

Still, Valentine’s Day didn’t seem that great. In fact, it became a pain in the ass for him, especially when it came to his duties at the temple. 

He’s forced to stand at the entrance of the temple with a broom, gathering up all the fallen leaves and dirt that all the visitors keep trekking in. And no matter how many times he gathers them into a pile, some shitty person will just create a different mess elsewhere in the temple. It was a constant cycle of messes, all while hearing the young high schoolers rush in with their friends, chatting and giggling so loudly. It isn’t hard to see the intent behind their wishes as they throw a coin into the donation box and make a quick prayer, and Kuko can’t help but irritably note that’s not how it works. 

And it’s barely over his heated grumblings that he almost missed your footsteps trailing his way. His sweeping motions immediately stop upon seeing you bound up to him, smiling brightly with two bags in your hands. Kuko’s unable to hide the grin that stretches across his face as you come within a few feet of him.

“Hey, Kuko! I’m surprised you’re doing chores now. Is your dad making you do it?” You mused, eyeing the old broom sitting in the monk’s grasp. At your words, Kuko’s face fell, pursing his lips into a pout. “Yeah, the old man is making me sweep ‘cause of all the visitors recently,” The red head monk grumbled with a click of his tongue. Hearing his words, you blinked a few times.

“Visitors?” 

Kuko grunted in response, jabbing a thumb towards the temple. You peered around his body and could see a small gathering surrounding the donation box. The high schoolers’ voices drifted towards your location several feet away, and you nodded in understanding.

“It’s a pain in the ass. They’re acting like Buddha supposed to grant them a damn date if they start praying. That’s not how shit works!” Kuko scoffed. You listened to the monk complain about how the high schoolers were crowding and making too much noise—though you argue that you’ve heard Kuko yell louder any other day. Still, you kept your mouth shut and nodded along to the red head as he finally ended his rant by reciting one of Buddha’s quotes. “‘Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let them resolutely pursue a solitary course’,”

“Ah, thank you, Buddha,” You smiled simply, pressing your palms together with a slight bow of your head. After a moment, you glanced up at your companion and let out a snicker at the monk’s deadpan expression.

“Shut up, brat,” Kuko huffed, reaching over to flick your forehead. As you let out a light whine, Kuko took a step back to examine you. “What are you doing here anyways? You look like you’re about to go on a date,” 

Kuko wasn’t even attempting to hide his blatant gaze raking up and down your body. Though your outfit wasn’t too fancy, you did attempt to dress nicer than usual, choosing to wear nice jeans and a plain white sweater. You had on a light layer of makeup and even had your hair in a cute style, different from what you usually wore. The monk let out a low hum, his eyes trailing back up to meet your gaze.

“You look really cute,” He drawled, flashing his fangs. From his spot, he could see your cheeks turn a pretty shade of red and he could feel his heart swell with pride. “Should I be worried about another guy?”

“Well, I’m not exactly taken currently, y’know,” You retorted with a sly grin of your own. You tilted your head to the side, not backing away from the monk’s heated gaze. “Would it be so bad if someone wanted to take me out?”

While you and Kuko never pointed it out, there was an obvious attraction between the two of you. For whatever reason no one wanted to address the elephant in the room, yet you two remained close. Neither of you could call it friends—as friends typically don’t go on dates with his arm around you or with your lips pressed against his cheek—but you didn’t have a title either. So, it became a test, flirting with each other just to see if the other was going to break first and confess.

And Kuko wasn’t planning on losing the game.

“As if someone could handle your ass,” Kuko snickered, leaning his cheek against the end of the broom in his hands. You gasped playfully, swatting the monk’s shoulder lightly.

“Rude. I can get a boyfriend any time I want,” You scoffed, rolling your eyes. Kuko’s expression lit up and his golden eyes glinted mischievously.

“Go ahead then, confess,” The monk ushered as he waved his hand to you. “‘To those that speaks or acts forthright on their truth, happiness will follow like a never-departing shadow’,”

“You definitely made that up, lying monk,” This only elicited a cackle from Kuko, which only made the smile on your face grow wider. Shaking your head, you continued speaking with a softer tone. “But fine, I actually came to see you,”

And while you didn’t want to be the first to confess, you did want to do something special for the day. Extending your hand, a decently sized red and white bag dangled from your hand. 

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Kuko!” Just like that, a shit eating grin stretched across Kuko’s lips.

“For me? I thought girls give shit to the guys they like,” He spoke in a teasing lilt. Despite his mean tone, Kuko dropped the temple broom without a second thought, causing it to clamor onto the ground in favor of taking the bag from you.

“There’s such things as obligatory gifts too,” You countered, relishing in the way the monk eagerly shook the bag, trying to gauge what was inside. It made your heart thud a little too quickly and your cheeks hurt from your wide smiles. “Just open it already,”

Not needing to be told twice, Kuko dug his hand into the bag, sifting through the pieces of white tissue paper. His fingers ghosted the edges of an object and he fished it out from the paper bag. It was a pink box with a lacy white ribbon wrapped around it, sitting just a little bigger than his hands. Without hesitation, the red haired monk undid the ribbon and opened the cover. His face could’ve split in two with how wide his grin had grown as he drank in the sight of the box’s contents. 

Inside, a few rows of chocolates sat neat and delectable. The treats weren’t completely uniform and it was clear that they were homemade, based on the imperfections, but it was obvious that a lot of care was put into each piece. That thought alone had a surge of glee rushing through Kuko’s veins.

“Damn, you must really like me to make these from scratch,” Kuko whistled, eyeing the little chocolates that sat neatly in the box. He plucked one of the chocolates and popped it into his mouth, humming in delight as the semi-sweet treat melted on his tongue. “Nope, you’re just the test subject for when the real deal comes around,” You couldn’t help but tease, earning a mild glare your way. Laughing off the look, you pointed to the bag that still hung from his hands. “But that’s not all, there’s something underneath the box,”

Kuko quirked an eyebrow at the statement but closed the chocolate box shut. Setting the box back into the bag, he reached underneath it to feel soft fabric. Confusion colored his expression as he pulled the item out, only for his face to morph into exasperation. 

“Hey! This is my old jacket! I knew you took it!” He hissed, holding it up to his face. Clicking his tongue, the monk reached over to tug on your cheek, pulling with a frown. 

“Let me explain, you jerk!” You whined, swatting his hand away. You took a deep inhale, holding it for a second, before continuing with a deliberate drawl.  “So, your jackets are like…Super comfortable,” 

“Yeah, I know. You’re always stealing my stuff,���

“I know! So to combat that I went to get your jacket tailored!” You laughed at Kuko’s blank stare. “What I mean, is I commissioned someone to get your jacket made again,”

It was then that you finally acknowledged the other bag you had been carrying around. You dropped it onto the ground and bent over to rummage through it. Not a moment later did you pull out his bomber jacket. 

Well, not quite his. The bomber jacket was still the same design as his, but it was more attuned to his current one than the one he wore a few years ago. The gold shachihoko and lightning bolts were embroidered on the chest, and all the blue sections of his current bomber were changed to black, making the bomber jacket look slicker. 

“You can have your old one back since this one is mine!” You said, slipping on the bomber jacket. Despite the alterations, the measurements were clearly still the same as you were practically swimming in the fabric. You looked up to him, raising your arms in the air with a light cheer. “So, we can match now!” 

And there it was.

Three damn words. 

Those three words were on the tip of his tongue, and if he didn’t have any better self-control, Kuko was sure he would’ve lost the unspoken game. But looking at you twirling around in the jacket made him think that it would’ve been okay if he did say it. Still, he’d like to hear those words from your lips first.

Perhaps, he could understand the appeal of Valentine’s Day just a little bit better. And based on how fast his heart is beating now and how hot his face feels, he’ll be sure to return the favor tenfold on White Day and make you cave in first.

[khunwriting]

[Company]

Synopsis: Your heart beats for someone who cares for another.

Genre: Angst

Pairing: Hero x Serena; Erik x Reader

“Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?”

It was just a side quest to help out Rodrigo Briscoletti with defeating some monsters that casted a curse on him and his family. A little task that gave the party a break from the weight of saving the world while still doing some good. And Eleven was never one to turn down a person in help, and that’s what made him oh so endearing. Always kind and considerate of the people around him.

“Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?”

Once they lifted the curse, of course Rodrigo asked if the party could assist with setting up the wedding. With Eleven being as he is, he happily accepted the additional task. And what other way then to help rehearse the ceremony with Eleven acting as a stand in groom. All he had to do was choose a blushing bride to act as his counterpart. It didn’t matter who it was as it was just a placeholder for the real engaged couple. It wasn’t like Eleven was going to actually get married to whoever he chose.

“I, Eleven, take you, Serena, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life,”

Yet why did it hurt so much watching Eleven stand at the altar with Serena?

You watched with blank eyes, taking in every single detail of the mock ceremony from the furthest wall away from the happy couple. Despite the ceremony not holding any true weight, you couldn’t miss the shy glances or rosy cheeks the pair held as they repeated Rodrigo’s words. To anyone witnessing the rehearsal, it was sweet and romantic—everything you’d want from a wedding. 

But to you, it was absolutely sickening. The ugly emotions brewing in your stomach nearly made you want to slip out of the room and run outside of the mansion to get away from the awful scene. If it wasn’t for Sylvando’s worried glances sent your way, you were sure she would’ve booked it when the whole ordeal had started.

It wasn’t fair. It’s not like you chose to fall for the ever sweet and handsome Luminary. He was the one who had shown you genuine kindness from the moment you two met. He was the one who listened to all of your woes and comforted you in your vulnerable moments.

It wasn’t fair, but it wasn’t like it was his fault either. Serena was bubbly and optimistic in the ways that you knew you weren’t. It wasn’t hard to like Serena and it’s easy to see why anyone would fall for her. It was simple; much like how you didn’t choose to fall for the Luminary. It just happened. 

“In the name of the Yggdrasil take and wear this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness,”

Still, it was too hard to watch. Your eyes were quick to slide to the floor once Eleven held the wedding band between his calloused fingers. You could hear the Luminary shuffle closer to the healer and it stung when he spoke with such a soft, adoring tone. Loving words never meant for you. 

For a moment, you were distracted as another body had settled right beside you. Their shoulder brushed against your own and the familiar scent of pine filled your nose, and you immediately knew who the newcomer was. Your eyes trailed from your dirty boots to look into a pair of blue eyes already staring back at you.

“I, Serena, take you, Eleven, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life,”

There Erik stood, his head leaning back against the wall as he just stared at you with silent regard. His half-lidded eyes were ever knowing and his lips had long tilted into a lopsided smirk. Erik looked as handsome as ever. Though you didn’t miss the underlying pain seeping into his beautiful blue hues—the same kind of anguish that mirrored her own heartbreak. Because, of course, you weren’t the only one affected by the stupid rehearsal. 

After all, misery loves company.

“In the name of the Yggdrasil take and wear this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness,”

It wasn't fair. It’s not like Erik chose to fall for the ever sweet and pretty mage. It was easy to like her. Simple really. But then the like turned into something more yet completely unobtainable. He couldn’t do that to his best friend, who timidly shared that he was in love with Serena all that time ago. No, Erik couldn’t backstab his partner like that. 

So here he stands, wallowing in self-pity with someone who shares his pain. Just knowing that someone else is bitter about the whole ordeal was enough to bring slight comfort to the thief. 

But it wasn’t enough to drown out the ceremony completely. No, he still was aware of the giant smile on their faces once Serena slipped the wedding band onto Eleven's finger. So, instead, he kept his gaze set on you. 

Beautiful and somber where you stood. Always realistic in the way you thought about everything, making you both a valuable companion yet hard to approach at times due to your standoff nature. Though, that’s what Erik enjoyed about your company. You were never one to linger on hopes and dreams as the weight of the world had a more prominent focus than your own desires. You were selfless and kind in that aspect. 

And Erik couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been better off falling for you instead of Serena. Maybe if you two met sooner, would things have been different? However, that’s just wistful thinking. Erik is no Eleven and you were no Serena. One can’t just force a role onto someone who was never meant to fit it. 

But couldn’t they try?

Erik wondered as his eyes drifted to his companion’s lips. The movement didn’t escape your eyes, but you also made no attempt to move away. Youjust tilted your head towards him as the thief leaned in closer. 

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,”

Slowly, your eyes fluttered close, pressing your lips fervently against each other for some desperate comfort. And in that moment, you wished it was Eleven you were kissing. And, in the same manner, Erik wished it was Serena instead. 

Oh, how misery loves company.