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acosmicbee · 2 months ago

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I think I’m cooking rn … so Yk how there’s all the discourse online abt child influencers?? So the Yandere in this situation is a “commentary” “video essay” YouTuber and one day they get an announcement suggesting to look into reader. See reader is a child influencer, trapped under their bad parents and forced to make videos for them and yan is immediately interested in making a video about them so he does and he notices it gets success so he continues to make videos about reader and it’s to the point where it’s low-key an obsession

do whatever u want with that au heheh

Poison Words

500 Follower Celebration - Day 4

TWS: Mentions of creepy/implied inappropriate comments towards a minor (Y/N), Parental Neglect

"It's just some stupid kid who has nothing better to do than be jealous of others' success! Honestly, why can't he go play some video games or stick his nose into someone else's business?" You peeked out of the basement door, watching your mother pace the newly renovated modern kitchen.

Apparently, someone had been saying some lies online about your family. Not that you knew what was said, you weren’t allowed online. You were hardly allowed out of the house other than for filming videos or school.

"Honestly, this wouldn't have happened if Y/N would just behave instead of being a whiney crybaby on camera! Is it really that hard to just be quiet and smile?!" She continued. Her phone was pressed to her ear as she rhythmically paced back and forth. Her words stung, but you brushed them off. This was normal, hearing her talk about you like that.

"Y/N!" She suddenly noticed you, all her anger suddenly directed at you. "We raised you better than to eavesdrop on conversations that clearly aren't meant for you! Go back to your room right now!"

You could only nod, slinking back down the basement stairs. You had just wanted a snack, she'd forgotten to give you breakfast and lunch. Although, maybe it was less forgetfulness and more apathy towards you.

You only got fed when your parents randomly remembered you, or you were filming a video. You didn't mind filming the videos because your parents were always nicer when the camera was on. You wished the camera stayed on all the time sometimes, just so they'd hug you and tell you they loved you.

The room shown in your videos, the one that was colorful and full of toys and blankets and pillows, was merely a set you weren't allowed to actually sleep in. Your actual bedroom was a small room in the basement with a basic wooden bed frame, mattress and sheets.

You curled up on your bed, holding your pillow close as you thought about your mother's words. Someone posted a video about you...? It didn't sound positive from what your mother had said and you wondered what he had said. But there was no way for you to know... right?

. ₊ ⊹ . 📽.ᐟ

You glanced around the library nervously as you crept towards the computers. At school your class got 30 minutes of library time every day, but you had never dared to touch the computers before, always picking up a book.

You felt sick with anxiety as the search bar popped up and you typed in YouTube. Everything felt overstimulating on the homepage and you quickly located the search bar, typing in your channel name. Among the most recent videos from your own channel was one with a guy on the thumbnail next to a picture of your family with your face blurred out. Gingerly, you clicked on the video.

The video started with a man, maybe in his 20s staring into the camera. He looked serious, like something bad was happening. His hair was black but had some blue highlights in it which you found super cool.

"Todays video is going to be serious. We're going to be talking about the exploitation of children and family vlogging channels. Recently, a viewer brought a channel rising in popularity to my attention. This channel is run by a mother and father and mainly features their young child."

A few video clips were shown from your channel and in every one your face had been blurred. In any clips where your name was said a beep was played over it. It was strange to you, and almost made you close out the tab when he started to talk again.

"As you know, I don't believe children should have their faces and names on the internet. It's dangerous and you never know who could be using that to their advantage behind the scenes. Even though their parents lack the care to do so, I will be blurring their face and censoring their name during this video."

It was dangerous for your name and face to be out there? The concept was so foreign to you, your entire short life was practically on the internet. Nothing bad had happened to you so far.

You spent the rest of your library time watching the video. It made that sick anxiety feeling in your stomach even worse. Was it really that strange to be posted on the internet, for your name and face to be out there?

By the time your teacher called you all to be rounded back up you pushed down the feeling, vowing to never look him up again.

. ₊ ⊹ . 📽.ᐟ

Sky had expected the copyright striking and takedown requests on his last video. The parents from that family channel seemed like the controlling type who couldn't stand having valid criticism lobbied against them.

It didn't change anything, all the clips he had in his video were covered under fair use. Now he just had more fuel for the fire. He just felt bad for you. You were such a cute kid who didn't deserve what your parents had put you through.

He decided to look a little more into you, just to make sure you were in a safe situation, while he worked on filming his next video. After all, it would be horrible if his videos were leading to backlash towards you or a worsening of your situation.

. ₊ ⊹ . 📽.ᐟ

You lasted a week and a half before you went on the computer again. Your father and mother had been arguing over another video made about them. There had been multiple similar arguments but your mother had called this person in particular a 'blue headed freak' so you guessed who it was.

You made your way to his page, finding his newest video easily. It was similar to his last one in title and thumbnail, and you forced yourself to click on it. You had been thinking about some of the stuff he'd said in his last video and wanted to see what else he'd say.

"It seems some people are unable to learn a lesson or accept that they are wrong about certain things. Your child's personal information should not be accessible on the internet. Your child's location should not be accessible on the internet. Have you even read some of your comments?! Have you read the things creeps say about your child?!"

Your eyes widen at some of the comments that flash up on screen. You feel confused, anxious and sick. You shut the computer to head to the bathroom where your teacher later finds you sobbing and throwing up. Maybe... he was right. If people were saying those weird things about you, you didn't want to be filmed anymore.

Your mother took a long time to come get you and the second you got in the car the camera was already rolling. She was playing up the worried mother as she drove you home, talking into the camera about tucking you in and making you some soup.

Of course, none of that happened. You were sent down to your room as she talked to the camera about how she'd left you some soup and you didn't want to be filmed. She was a good liar, especially if that side of her was the only side you knew.

You curled up in your bed, closed your eyes and tried not to think too hard about the disgusting things people apparently said about you.

. ₊ ⊹ . 📽.ᐟ

It was surprisingly easy to find where you lived. Sky had already mapped out your neighborhood, which was easy considering your parents had carelessly shown your school's full name to the camera before.

They were lucky Sky was just looking out for you instead of looking to harm you.

He couldn't see anything from the outside, but that was fine. He wouldn't give up until you were safe. It was a good thing he'd booked a hotel for a while. He refused to give up on you, not when he knew he could be the savior you needed.

. ₊ ⊹ . 📽.ᐟ

You had overheard your mom talking the other night about some prank they wanted to pull. It was supposed to be a kidnapping prank, one where they'd send you out to run errands only to have some paid actor drag you into a car.

You didn't see how it was supposed to be funny, but at least you were aware. When you were told to go run to the store, you didn't protest, noticing the camera your mom had tried to hide quite easily.

The walk was peaceful, but even when you were expecting it, you still jumped when your arm was suddenly grabbed and you were pulled into a car. It wasn't until your fake kidnapper pulled out an actual syringe filled with something did you realize that maybe this was going a little off script.

The substance was injected into your neck before the person started to drive. As your vision went spotty you saw the person reach up, tugging off their hair to reveal... blue hair. Oh... so this was a real kidnapping then...

. ₊ ⊹ . 📽.ᐟ

"The search for missing child Y/N L/N is still ongoing. The child was taken while out running an errand for their parents in a situation many are calling barbaric. Allegedly, their parents paid someone to pretend to kidnap the child for a YouTube video only for the man to actually take the child away." A reporter said on the TV. Sky hummed as he sliced some strawberries.

"Y/N is 6 years old and was last seen wearing a white shirt and black bicycle shorts. They are about 3 and a half feet tall." The reporter continued as a picture of your face flashed on screen. "This disappearance has raised new scrutiny into the life of family vloggers and the potentially dangerous outcomes."

Sky placed down the knife, rummaging around in his fridge looking for some blueberries. The TV continued, "The argument is a long standing one in online spaces and has come up again and again. In fact, some people were trying to raise awareness about this family in particular before the kidnapping happened. I'd like to welcome Skylar Peyton, also known online as BlueHairedSky."

Sky grinned, pulling out a carton of blueberries. He poured some into a bowl to be washed as he turned up the TV. "Thank you for having me." His own voice said from the TV. "I really appreciate being given this kind of recognition to talk about such an important issue."

From upstairs he heard a dull thud. He frowned, setting down the bowl and making his way up, the TV still echoing through the house. "Many children are being exploited for personal gain instead of loved and treated like people. I made my first video because I felt that if no one was going to speak up for them and help them, then I would. Someone should."

Sky carefully unlocked the door to the first room beside his own with a smile. "Good morning, honey! You're already awake. Here, let me help you with that." He hummed as he carefully unlocked the padded handcuffs securing you to the bed.

"I was just making breakfast! Come on, lets get you some food." He said, ignoring the way you cowered from his touch. It was because of your old parents, not because you were scared of him. He was protecting you.

"While I hope Y/N turns up alive and well, I also hope that they'll be taken away and given to someone who will actually care for their wellbeing. This entire tragedy could've been avoided if their parents cared about anything besides money."

"Any last things you want the people watching to know?" The reporter asked. Sky set you down in a chair, placing the cut strawberries in front of you as he went back to washing the blueberries.

"I hope wherever they are... they're safe and happy."

Sky smiled. Of course you were safe and happy, you were with him of course! It had been a pleasure to be interviewed like that, even if he did have to sedate you so you didn't make noise while he was live with the reporter.

They wouldn't find you. Not now, not ever. Because Sky would never let anyone take you away from him. He had saved you, so you were his.

#platonic yandere #yandere platonic #yandere #yandere oc x reader #yandere x reader #platonic #yandere ocs #parental yandere

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disgustingtwitches · 11 months ago

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MDNI

Working at a restaurant with 141!(Part 5)

The shithead owner decides that he needs to sign up for a "restaurant renovation" show. Chaos ensues.

"A fucking TV show?"

Gaz frowns while polishing glasses.

"Told him it was a bad idea."

Price shrugs, lighting a cigar. You are horrified, being on the screen for millions of people to see was nerve wracking. And it'll be the first time you meet the owner.

"Restaurant renovation... Lik' he gives twa fucks aboot renovating this shitehole."

Johnny ashes his smoke and passes it to you. You take a deep drag and sigh, this is gonna be a disaster.

Cameras are set up everywhere, everyone's mic'd up, there are too many people in too small of a space. Some obnoxiously loud man introduces himself. He seems to be an amalgamation of every TV host you've ever seen, wearing too much cologne and too much hair gel. He puts a hand on your shoulder,

"The place looks terrible but at least they got something nice to look at here."

He flashes a smile, cheap veneer blindingly white. You awkwardly laugh while Price steps in, introducing himself. You scurry away to the back where the rest of the boys are,

"I want everyone to be on their best behavior today. No fucking around. Don't make me look bad."

The owner is a bland man, average height and weight, with a shitty haircut and wearing an ugly flashy shirt. He turns around and briefly introduces himself, he already smells like liquor. Great. He gets waved over to get interviewed by the host. You and the guys watch from the other end of the restaurant. It's quite embarrassing, the host pointing out how run down the place looks, the menu is confusing and overwhelming, and then asks if he's drunk,

"I can smell the alcohol from here Carl... it's only 11am buddy."

The owner stutters and blinks,

"I- just uh, just a crazy night is all."

The host stares, unconvinced. Carl shifts awkwardly in his chair. The next segment was ordering food apparently, so you were up. You walk up to the table as the host asks you a barrage of questions,

"How would you say the fish is here? Is everything fresh? What do you think of the steak? Do you have any recommendations?"

When you say you only ate the fries from here and he laughs loudly,

"That is not a good sign folks!"

He stares at the camera, showing off teeth that were too big for his mouth before you walk off and punch in the order. There's a cameraman recording John and Simon cooking,

"Steak and potatoes."

John reads the slip out loud, they move around the kitchen while the owner watches. For such a simple dish there's a lot of chaos, Carl is yelling at them to move faster and cook properly, John is busy arguing with Carl and burns the steak, Simon plates up the food and hands it off to you. You place the plate down in front of the host,

"Oh...oh my God..."

You keep a straight face, hands behind your back. The host looks back up at you,

"Does the food usually come out like this?"

There's a tone of disgust and concern, his eyebrows turned up, you shrug. He stares back down at the filet and cuts into it,

"It's very impressive that one is able to overcook such a large piece of meat. That takes...skill."

You watch concertedly as he picks up a piece and puts it into his mouth, it looks like he wants to cry.

He goes on to complain about the quality of the food to the camera as he walks to the kitchen,

"At least it's clean back here. I've seen kitchens in wors- is that a fucking pigeon?"

Sure enough, there is. How the fuck did it get in here?

"Oh! I just left the door open to let some fresh air in..."

Carl awkwardly tries to catch the bird while the boys watch amusedly, even the camera crew stifle a laugh.

"Christ Almighty, what is wrong with you man?"

The host shakes his head, watching the whole scene in disbelief. Eventually, the bird is out of the building and the sweep of the kitchen continues.

"Food is not expired, everything is stored properly, it's all very well organized. I was honestly expecting worse."

The host walks up to the bar next, plucking up bottles and examining them,

"So, Kyle is it? How long have you been working here for?"

"Just a little over five years."

Gaz leans against the bar. There's a gasp and the host waves the camera over,

"Look at this shit,"

He points at the label,

"Expired in August,"

You look over at Gaz and Soap, they look like they're about to piss themselves, holding back laughs.

"Of 2012!"

The host looks disgusted,

"Why didn't you throw this away?"

"Carl told me to not toss anything."

Kyle shrugged. Soap is almost in tears, shaking, trying to bite back a howl of laughter.

The next two days are like this, you don't know why Carl hasn't pulled the plug on this fiasco yet,

"I think he's getting drunker as the days go by."

Johnny says, ashing his cigarette. There's a nod from Simon,

"I think he enjoys being embarrassed, seems like the type to get off on that."

'The big finale' as the host calls it, means getting a new menu, refreshing the cooks(John's) skills, and cleaning out the bar. The place is opened and there's a line out of the door. It's overwhelming, the customers are putting on a show, acting like dickheads and sending everything back even when there's nothing wrong with the food. Simon and John are on top of everything, putting out food as fast as possible, Carl is shitting himself running around the kitchen like a headless chicken. The night goes by fast and everyone is at the bar,

"So the cooks are for the most part competent, the waitress is amazing, and the bartender is well... The man can do no wrong. The problem here is you,"

The host points at Carl who is fucking sloshed swaying back and forth,

"I genuinely think this restaurant would be better off without you."

Carl starts bawling. The host is visibly uncomfortable. The boys and you are looking at each other. Then when all the cameras and lights are gone, it's all back to normal. Carl is looking for reassurance from anyone and you and the boys just pack up and head home, Price patting him on the back,

"You'll be alright."

A few months later, you're all sat on the couch watching the TV. Johnny's over the moon pointing at the screen,

"Look thare A am! See hou sexy A look?"

He's smiling and waving at the camera in the background of the scene where Carl is crying his eyes out. That gets a laugh out of Gaz,

"You're a sick bastard, Soap."

Once the episode dropped, the restaurant got busy for a few months. Most of the customers are horny women ogling at Kyle. On occasion you get the request to bring out "the scary looking one" and you just laugh it off.

"You're so lucky working with all these guys, I don't know if I'd be able to control myself,"

A particularly drunk woman said to you one day. You just smile while Kyle winks at you over his shoulder.

#this one was rushed sorry!!!#next one will have sex i promise!!#just wanted a little fun one #141 x reader #poly 141 #simon ghost riley #john soap mactavish #kyle gaz garrick #john price #ghost x reader #cod x reader #soap x reader #gaz x reader #kyle gaz x reader #john price x you #price x you #john price x reader #price x reader

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novlr · 6 months ago

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Any tips on how to describe indoor spaces so they feel real and match the vibe of the story without throwing in too much detail?

Getting interior scenes just right is all about finding the balance between setting the mood, showing the unique personality of your story world, and keeping the plot moving. There are lots of ways you can use senses, action, and background to set a scene, all of which can work seamlessly with the type of story you want to tell. Here are some tips on how you can achieve that:

How does it look?

Lighting: does your space contain the soft glow of lamps, harsh fluorescent lights, or natural light?

Use colour and textures like peeling paint, plush velvet, or sleek marble.

Size and scale: is it claustrophobically small or impressively grand?

Architectural features: does the space have high ceilings, crown mouldings, or exposed beams?

Furnishings: are they modern, sparse, antique, or cluttered?

Style and decor: what style is represented, and how does it affect the atmosphere?

State of repair: is the space well-kept, neglected, or under renovation?

Perspective and layout: how do spaces flow into each other?

Unique design features: describe sculptural elements, or things that stand out.

Spatial relationships: describe how objects are arranged—what’s next to, across from, or underneath something else?

How does it sound?

Describe echoes in large spaces or the muffled quality of sound in carpeted or furnished rooms.

Note background noises; is there a persistent hum of an air conditioner, or the tick of a clock?

Describe the sound of footsteps; do they click, scuff, or are they inaudible?

Include voices; are they loud and echoing or soft and absorbed?

Is there music? Is it piped in, coming from a live source, or perhaps drifting in from outside?

Capture the sounds of activity; typing, machinery, kitchen noises, etc.

Describe natural sounds; birds outside the window, or the rustle of trees.

Consider sound dynamics; is the space acoustically lively or deadened?

Include unexpected noises that might be unique to the building.

Consider silence as a sound quality. What does the absence of noise convey?

How does it smell?

Identify cleaning products or air fresheners. Do they create a sterile or inviting smell?

Describe cooking smells if near a kitchen; can you identify specific foods?

Mention natural scents; does the room smell of wood, plants, or stone?

Are there musty or stale smells in less ventilated spaces?

Note the smell of new materials; fresh paint, new carpet, or upholstery.

Point out if there’s an absence of smell, which can be as notable as a powerful scent.

Consider personal scents; perfume, sweat, or the hint of someone’s presence.

Include scents from outside that find their way in; ocean air, city smells, etc.

Use metaphors and similes to relate unfamiliar smells to common experiences.

Describe intensity and layering of scents; is there a primary scent supported by subtler ones?

What can you do there?

Describe people’s actions; are they relaxing, working, hurried, or leisurely?

Does the space have a traditional use? What do people come there to do?

Note mechanical activity; elevators moving, printers printing, etc.

Include interactions; are people talking, arguing, or collaborating?

Mention solitary activities; someone reading, writing, or involved in a hobby.

Capture movements; are there servers bustling about, or a janitor sweeping?

Observe routines and rituals; opening blinds in the morning, locking doors at night.

Include energetic activities; perhaps children playing or a bustling trade floor.

Note restful moments; spaces where people come to unwind or reflect.

Describe cultural or community activities that might be unique to the space.

How is it decorated?

Describe the overall style; is it minimalist, baroque, industrial, or something else?

Note period influences; does the decor reflect a specific era or design movement?

Include colour schemes and how they play with or against each other.

Mention patterns; on wallpaper, upholstery, or tiles.

Describe textural contrasts; rough against smooth, shiny against matte.

Observe symmetry or asymmetry in design.

Note the presence of signature pieces; a chandelier, an antique desk, or a modern art installation.

Mention thematic elements; nautical, floral, astronomical, etc.

Describe homemade or bespoke items that add character.

Include repetitive elements; motifs that appear throughout the space.

What is its history?

Mention historical usage; was the building repurposed, and does it keep its original function?

Describe architectural time periods; identify features that pinpoint the era of construction.

Note changes over time; upgrades, downgrades, or restorations.

Include historical events that took place within or affected the building.

Mention local or regional history that influenced the building’s design or function.

Describe preservation efforts; are there plaques, restored areas, or visible signs of aging?

Describing indoor spaces doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Focus on the details that matter most, tie them to the mood or characters, and let your readers fill in the blanks. A well-crafted space not only sets the scene but builds your character's relationship to it. Use sensory language, background, and action beats to tie it into your narrative, and don’t be afraid to play around with motifs and contradictions, depending on who is experiencing it!

#writeblr #writers of tumblr #writing tips #writing resources #creative writing #writers #writing #writing community #creative writers #writing inspiration #writerblr #writing advice #writing reference #writers on tumblr #ask novlr #writer

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potatomountain · 7 months ago

Text

CIY CH 30

Chapter Thirty

📍Pairing: detective ateez ot8 x detective afab reader 📍Summary: "Welcome Home" 📍WC: 3.2k 📍AU: detective/mafia 📍Genre: action, dark romance, poly romance 📍Warning(s): 18+ rating (all of CIY is), anxiety 📍Beta readers (and sole motivation): @yourfatherlucifer, @bunnliix, and @adelusionforyourthoughts 📍AN: The last chapter of Case: It's You. Book 2, Case: It's Us will begin posting most likely in the beginning of March. I have some collabs i want to focus on and to knock out pieces i missed last year with FFF. Anyways, the taglist fo CIU will be reset and directions to join will be listed at the end of this chapter. Are you ready for the climax of Case: It's You? 📍dividers and banner made by me!

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masterlist | Previous | Book 2 Masterlist

It was a lot more nerve wracking descending the stairs than you thought, a lot less prepared for this conversation than you had hoped for. You could see the majority of the open space, the industrial pipes and vents above with the fans blowing air. The whole space was renovated nicely, with a large sitting area that doubled as a game or theater set up with the large flat screen on the stone wall. Shelves occupied the rest full of books and other items, including a dagger and sword collection.

Wooyoung was the last to notice your presence, moving about the large industrial type kitchen cooking up a feast just as you had asked, but the others had all stopped to look up at the stairs the moment the door opened. San had let you step out first, taking it slow as you fought off the panic that threatened to engulf you. You told yourself you had no reason to be scared, they wouldn’t hurt you. Yeosang was watching from over his monitors he had set up on the dining table, Jongho standing next to him, while the other four were standing in the living area discussing something important if you had to guess from their demeanor.

They just… stared. Some smiled, like Hongjoong and Yunho, even Yeosang had a shy little smile. But otherwise their concern was so evident it almost made you turn and run back into the room. Wooyoung, bless him, noticed that when he noticed you. “There’s my pretty girl- hey! Y'all stop gawking at her! Not unless you’re going to get on your knees and beg for her love.” He pointed his spatula at a few of them as if ready to hit.

Yunho chuckled and made his way over to meet you at the bottom of the stairs. “Sorry about that butterfly, we’re just happy to see you moving about.” You rolled your eyes but took his outstretched hand once you reached the last step. “Yeah, well, get used to it. I’m not about to be some doll you keep in a box.”

He smiled wider, stopping you there instead of helping you down like you thought. “Wouldn’t dream of it Butterfly, you’re meant to fly after all.” Blushing at his comment, you gently smacked his shoulder. “Shut it charmer, I’m hungry and I’d like to chit chat.” “Of course, anything you want.” He hummed out and then swept you into his arms. He hadn’t been as clingy as the other two, so the contact threw you off, for a moment reminding you of the night you found out everything.

It left a bad taste in your mouth and had you scrambling out of his arms. “I can walk just fine.” With a huff you moved past him to the others: in particular Hongjoong. “I want answers. Please.” He nodded, sombering up and looking to the others. They each sat down and both Yeosang and Jongho made their way over. Yunho took his seat next to Mingi, placing a hand on his thigh to still Mingi's bouncing leg, Yeosang sitting next to Mingi on the other side and and Jongho sat on the arm next to him, all on one sofa. You glanced at San to have him sit, which he did, sitting on the far end of the other couch next to Seonghwa.

Even Wooyoung paused in his cook, leaning against the counter and giving you all his attention.

While you were thankful they did, none of them standing above you and giving you ample space, the intensity of their stares made you uneasy. Unwavering attention, somber expressions, even Jongho’s usual tense demeanor was for a different reason: concern for you.

Taking a deep breath, you let it out in a huff, placing your hands on your hips and furrowing your brow with a playful glare. “I swear to fucking God if you don't relax a little I'm going to start swinging! I'm not going to suddenly combust and I'm not made of crystal either.”

At your threat, there were some tense smiles, but other Wooyoung scoffing in the kitchen no one relaxed.

“Yes you are.”

Surprisingly, it was Jongho who spoke up, drawing your attention with eyes wide with shock. “What did you say?” You took a step closer, ready to fight him on it. You weren't fragile. You weren’t-

“You are fragile. Ready to combust. Crystal or glass or whatever.” He repeated, shifting on the arm rest as Yeosang grabbed his arm with alarm. “I'm just saying what everyone is thinking! And it's true. When I found you…”

As he trailed off you stepped forward, thigh brushing his knee as you stared him down with a locked brow. “What? What about it?!”

“Easy Gorgeous, this is what you wanted to talk about right?” Hongjoong stood up to try and intervene but you held up a hand to stop him, gaze locked onto Jongho's in a battle of wills.

“When I found you… when you held on to me, I thought… I thought we lost you for good.” His tone significantly softened, but he held eye contact, seeming just as shocked as you were by his words. “We don't want to lose you.”

“And when was I ever yours to lose Choi Jongho? Maybe some of the others but yours? Don't make me laugh.” You scoffed, rolling your eyes and waving him off dismissively.

Just for him to grab your hand and pull you closer. Out of reaction. You brought your other hand down in an attempt to hit him, just for him to grab your wrist. Both were now locked in his hands, his feet hooking behind your calves and effectively trapping you against him while he still sat on the arm of the couch unwavering. “Let. Me. GO!” You still struggled, but while you were smaller and could be quick, he was much more physically fit and overpowering. Despite your best efforts your breathing became labored, eyes wide with unbridled fear as your body reacted from trauma as opposed to Jongho himself.

Despite his rough grip, his face softened. “Look at me, little one, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Stiffening at the pet name, heat flooded your senses, mingling with the icy fear that was in your veins and somehow balancing it out. He didn’t say anything else, nor make a move, just waited out for your struggling to seize. Instead you deflated, hands balled into fists to try and keep your fingers from trembling more than they were. “Why does it matter to you?” Your previous demeanor to take action and demand answers was long gone, the vulnerable side of yourself that you often rejected coming back to the surface. These men had a way of bringing it out, apparently that meant Jongho as well. “I…” He started, dropping his hands from your wrists to settle on his thighs, giving you the option to back out if you wanted. When you didn’t, he continued, a tremble in his voice. “You… you matter to me little one, more than I’d like to admit. Butting heads with you, watching you thrive in this kind of work, seeing the way you interact with my partners here… It all matters to me. I’m sorry I reacted poorly, I thought if I could get you to walk away before you got too deep there was a chance for you to be happy elsewhere but… that’s not an option anymore is it?” You shook your head, staring at him as if he had just grown a second head. Softness was not something you expected to ever see from this man, and coupled with the pet name it had you feeling some type of way. “No… it’s not. I want to be a part of this. No, I need it. With you all. I want…” You paused, taking a deep breath to gather up what courage you could, turning to look at every single one of them before meeting Jongho’s still soft gaze. It felt like you had to tell him this the most. “I want to join the Black Pirates.” The way he smiled up at you had the apples of your cheeks burning, for a brief second finding him adorable. “For new members we take a vote and if it’s not unanimous, it fails. Should we take a vote?” He looked to the others, but you were staring at him, a question in them. “It’s not the first time for the vote… no, but I disagreed every time. I get it if that makes you angry at me.” Swallowing hard, you shook your head. Now that you understood a bit of why he was so hateful to you, you couldn’t be upset with his actions. Well, not at this moment. You might give him hell for it later though. “Just you though?” You couldn’t help but glance over at Yeosang and Yunho, having thought they two might have protested at least. You know San and Wooyoung wanted you since the first time you met them both, and the others had shown so as well over the last few weeks.

Yeosang caught you looking at him and smiled sheepishly, nodding his head. “I want you here. I uh- well…” He trailed off, getting more bashful the more you stared expectantly.

It was Wooyoung that chimed in, making his way over in a rush, announcing himself with a giggle before he pulled you back against him once he was sure you would not panic about it. “Sangie is obsessed with you, Goddess. Asks about you constantly, praises you. It’s so fucking cute to get him flustered just by mentioning you. You know, if you sat on his lap right now he would practically combust? He’s never been with a woman, just us, you could teach him a few things.”

“Wooyoung!” San stepped in, huffing as he stood up. “Let’s not suggest things like that right now.” “Why not? I think it would be very healing for her to hear just how much we want her and care about her. Did you know, love, that he’s been your secret admirer for awhile? Like that breakfast waiting for you the day you were late. Oh that was fun to get out of him.” You could hardly process what he was saying, watching the way Yeosang fidgeted and now refused to look at you, much like a shy boy in the presence of his crush. When Jongho slid his hand through the man’s hair, eliciting a low deep moan from him, your brain went haywire. Of course you had already decided Yeosang was adorable and had a lot of cute habits, like his lisp and the way he would preen at your praise just to name a few.

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.” Shit, were you actually getting aroused by this? It was a nice thought that you actually could, but you knew the act itself was off the table. Especially if Jongho touching you like that had adrenaline running in your veins ready to fight and run. So you turned your attention right to Mingi who was sitting next to the pretty boy. He was watching with those boba eyes of his that melted your heart. You hadn’t talked to him since he had interrupted your time with Wooyoung, pouting from your lack of attention. “Do you want me here?” The sex, the shared moments in between, and the brief moments after… you couldn’t say for certain that he did want you here.

He looked offended you asked. “Of course I do Princess. Do you have any idea how badass and amazing you are? You’re an upgrade to our team for sure. And not just because the sex was amazing, I like you for way more than just that.” He elbowed Yunho next to him. “Right?” Yunho nodded, smiling softly as he patted his thigh and met your gaze. “Remember what I told you, Butterfly? This is another way I meant it, as a Pirate. San has always been right about you being perfect for us, and that means in this way too. You’re a hard worker, you fight for what you believe in, and you’re a force to be reckoned with. My balls still hurt thinking about your knee, you know.” He teased with a wink, resulting in a blush on your own cheeks. “I do feel bad about that but it didn’t seem to affect your performance.” You pointed out, shifting in Wooyoung’s arms. The man tightened his hold on you, chin resting on your shoulder as he let out a whine. “And you know how San and I feel already. We love you. Cherish you. Most definitely worship the ground you walk on Goddess. Having you as a Pirate with us? It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” Fighting off the smile that wanted to spread across your lips was hard, so you didn’t. Especially when you locked eyes with San, his own smile mirroring yours, his dimples on full display. “You two are charmers, I swear.” San chuckled with Wooyoung, the broader man nodding. “It worked, we got you now don’t we?” You couldn’t deny that, warmth spreading through your body at their obvious affection. That meant six out of eight agreed for you to join. Six out of eight of them wanted you, wanted to work with you as an equal and a partner. Hesitantly you glanced at Seonghwa, feeling a bit intimidated despite knowing he did care for you. Still, you had held him at gunpoint, he had freed you at the safe house and you had, essentially, killed a man to try and fight for him and Hongjoong. Did they know that? How you had made that decision, in that moment, to fight for them? With nothing more than a knife? The way Seonghwa softened, you thought maybe he did. You felt shy, insecure, anxiety eating in your chest. So much had happened, all the care shown to you over this last week being second guessed at this moment. And he seemed to know that. “Angel?” He started, standing up slowly as you removed yourself from Wooyoung’s hold, his presence suddenly overwhelming for you. “Hey, it’s okay-” “It’s not. It’s not okay.” You stammered out, backing away from Wooyoung to create some space as heavy weighted emotions took hold in your heart. It finally hit, not just what had happened by the Red Wolves hand, but what led up to it. Your questioning at gunpoint, the way Yunho fucked you, being held hostage by them and still choosing to fight. What if that changed things? Did that really make you good enough? Did that really make you deserving of their words? Seonghwa shared a quick glance with Hongjoong and both approached you, stopping when you backed up. The guilt and pain that twisted their features suddenly twisted your own emotions in your gut. “You don’t think you deserve this… do you? Being a Pirate?” When you nodded, they reacted in a way that had you jumping, staring at Hongjoong now on his knees as he had fallen to them with a groan of pain. Seonghwa was shaking his head, using your shock over Hongjoong to close the distance and grab you by the waist. You jumped at that, attempting to pull away until you saw the gun.

“This is why, isn’t it? You don’t think we want someone that hurt us?” There was pure anguish in his voice, pushing it against your chest. “You think you’re a liability after what happened? And wondering just how we can agree to having you on board huh?” You hated how right he was, holding onto the gun because he wasn’t giving you a choice. “You wouldn’t have gone with them if I wasn’t there. I wouldn’t have been there if I didn’t hold you at gun point. You wouldn’t-” You were shut up with a kiss, words muffled against Seonghwa’s lips as he held you tight against him. Your mind went blank, confusion settling under the bliss that came from his sweet lips on yours.

When he pulled away, he directed your attention to Hongjoong who was gripping his knees tightly, still on the ground but tense. He presented himself as if he was offering his life up to you for a mistake. And in hindsight, he was. He blamed himself for what happened, you could see it in his eyes, hear it in the way he said your full name, slowly and syllable by syllable. “We signed up for situations like that, you hadn’t. Being a Pirate means there will always be a chance of that happening again-” The air in the room grew thick with a new tension, somber expressions befalling each member as they looked at you almost protectively. You normally would hate it, demand that you could take care of yourself.

But they knew you could, they admired that you could, and therefore their protective demeanor meant something entirely different to you.

Tears were running down your cheeks unexpectedly, finding new strength to pull from Seonghwa. He let you, watching as you were on your knees before Hongjoong the next second, wrapping your arms around his neck and holding onto him. He latched on, burying his face into the crook of your neck, trembling in your arms. “Being a Pirate means I’m with you, all eight of you, and that’s more than worth the risk Hongjoong. I can’t think of anywhere else I want to be, or that fits me more. Working with you all, being with you all, just… this is my home, isn’t it?” There were arms wrapping around you both, a kiss pressed to the top of your head. You didn’t have to look up to know it was Seonghwa, the sound of his humming filling your ears. “Welcome home then Angel. We’re happy to have you.” Hongjoong’s arms tightened around you, a wet spot forming on your shirt from his own silent tears. “We’re in this together, Firecracker. Promise not to let you get hurt like that again okay?” As much as going through that again would terrify you, you glanced around the room, taking note of the others. Wooyoung was now holding San’s hand, freely crying while San was trying not too, both looking as if they wanted to come join. You waved them over, and they joined rather fast, surrounding you with so much warmth. Wooyoung on your right across from Seonghwa and San now behind you. Both kissing the top of your head just like Seonghwa did.

Then there were the other four, Mingi and Yeosang leaning into their respective partners, both Yunho and Jongho sharing a look of determination, all four watching you. With your own determination, you took a deep breath and kissed the top of Hongjoong’s head instead. “If I do… I’ll be okay. I’ll have the eight of you right? I think I can handle anything if I have you all in my corner.”

The four of them squeezed you tightly, the amount of emotions in the room overwhelming but it felt right. It felt right to experience this with them all, to be vulnerable with them and receive this support. This is what it meant to be with them all, to be in this together.

Seonghwa said the final words, making it official as he seemed to comfort his family; his lovers. “Then together. Welcome home Angel.”

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acrosstheujiverse · 5 months ago

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【📂】 summary: wonwoo’s life is upended when his ex, jiyeon, reappears and demands answers to their unresolved past. struggling between his feelings for jiyeon and his commitment to you, he must decide if he can truly move on or if his history with jiyeon will tear apart his future. 【🖇️】 pairing: chef!wonwoo x gn!chef!reader. 【💿】 genre: romance, angst, fluff, based on movie. 【🧺】 tags: established relationship; ex-girlfriend coming back; implied cheating; unconditional love; forgiveness. 【📦】 w/c: *8.3k+

📬 — author’s note！this story is based on the filipino movie “starting over again.” (some lines are taken directly from the movie--so go watch it to have a better understanding). i admired patty’s mature view on love. she is the embodiment of unconditional love.

UPDATED 03/01/‘25*

« main masterlist | till there was you »

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wonwoo had never expected it to be this way—heartbroken and alone after his five-year relationship ended so suddenly. his ex-girlfriend, jiyeon, left him without any explanation. no closure, no reasons. just an empty space where their future once seemed so certain. the pain of that loss had been suffocating, leaving him unsure about love for years. but then, you came into his life.

it wasn’t immediate. you started as friends—no expectations, no pressure. but over time, as you cooked together in the kitchen, spent late nights talking about food and life, and shared a small but steady bond, something deeper bloomed between you. slowly, he let his guard down, and before he knew it, he fell for you. six years later, you had built something solid.

during that time, wonwoo knew he was ready to take the next step. he was planning to propose to you. he had no doubts.

but life, as it often does, threw a curveball when jiyeon suddenly returned. seven years had passed since their breakup, but jiyeon was back in his life, and this time, she wanted something. as an architect, she had started working on the renovation of the shared restaurant that you and wonwoo owned, which brought her back into wonwoo's life. what seemed like an innocent project became a difficult reminder of a past that wonwoo thought he had long buried.

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jiyeon’s point of view. internal dialogue.

when i think back to those days, it’s as though i’m remembering a different version of myself—someone who believed in love so deeply that i thought it could last forever. wonwoo and i were young. we were each other’s first love, naïve and full of hope, ready to conquer the world together. we had dreams, and they were intertwined—like our fingers and hearts. it felt so natural, like we were meant to be. i never questioned it.

but somewhere along the way, i started to see changes in him. it was subtle at first—a slight dulling of his once-bright eyes, a lack of spark in his smile. and then it grew. he stopped talking about the things he was passionate about. he didn’t talk about his dreams anymore, or the things that used to excite him. it felt like he was fading—into something that felt too familiar. he became like my father, a man who lost his hopes, his drive, his sense of purpose.

i couldn’t stand it. i tried to hold on, comfort him, and remind him of the person he used to be, but it was like talking to a wall. i didn’t know how to fix it, and i realized i couldn’t save him if he didn’t want to save himself. he wasn’t the boy i fell in love with anymore. he was a shadow, and i was suffocating in the silence between us. i didn’t want to become like my mother, always staying in a place that drained me. i wasn’t ready to be stuck in a life like that, so i left.

i didn’t give him an explanation. i didn’t know how. the words wouldn’t come out, and part of me didn’t want him to hate me for leaving. i didn’t want him to feel like i was abandoning him, but the truth was, i couldn’t watch him spiral any further. i left without a word, hoping he’d understand, but knowing deep down that he wouldn’t. i thought it would be the only way to move on—without looking back.

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but jiyeon couldn’t let go of the past. she couldn’t accept that what they once had was over. every attempt to reach out to wonwoo, every pleading question—“do we still have a chance?” and “do you think our love story deserves a better ending?”—pushed him further into himself. the constant pressure, the relentless pursuit of answers he didn’t have, wore him down.

one night, she cornered him in the restaurant’s quiet, her eyes filled with desperation and yearning. the weight of her words was too much for him to carry anymore. he had tried to move on, but she wouldn’t let him. when jiyeon kissed him, her lips demanding what she refused to give up, something inside him snapped.

“is this what you wanted?” he muttered harshly, his breath ragged, before his hands gripped her and he kissed her back forcefully, the line between love and frustration blurring.

in that charged moment, all the unresolved emotions—love, regret, anger, and longing—took over. what followed was a blur of need and bitterness, both searching for something neither could give: closure. the aftermath was a painful reminder of how far they had fallen.

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the bathroom was eerily quiet, save for the constant hiss of the bathtub faucet, water steadily rising in the porcelain tub. steam filled the air, curling in delicate wisps as it mingled with the coldness of wonwoo’s racing thoughts. he sat on the edge of the tub, hands clasped tightly in front of him, eyes fixed on the running water as if it could cleanse him and wash away the weight of what had just happened.

the sound of his breathing was loud in his ears, the air thick with regret and self-loathing. he could still feel jiyeon’s presence lingering in the space between them—how her touch, and desperation had burned him in ways he wasn’t ready to confront. he knew that things had gone too far. he’d given into something he shouldn’t have, and now everything felt broken beyond repair.

but he couldn't bring himself to face it.

outside the bathroom, the room was quiet. the faint light from the hallway filtered through the crack under the door, casting a soft glow on the darkened bedroom. wonwoo’s phone rested on the nightstand beside the bed, illuminated suddenly by an incoming call.

the screen flashed in the dim room. a contact photo appeared, glowing in the night, but the name—just out of reach, too far for wonwoo to see from the bathroom—flashed in and out of view, its meaning lost on him in his haze.

on the other side of the door, jiyeon stood motionless for a moment. she had heard the phone ring, seen the name. she knew exactly whose photo lit up the screen.

her chest tightened, a slow wave of confusion and sadness washing over her. her eyes lingered on the phone one last time before she turned, her movements slow and deliberate. her footsteps echoed softly in the hallway, the sound growing faint as she left the room.

the air in the bathroom felt heavier as wonwoo remained unaware, lost in his thoughts, the sound of the water still running, the steam fogging the mirrors, as he continued to sit in the quiet. the phone’s glow faded, the call unanswered, as jiyeon quietly slipped out of his life again.

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wonwoo couldn’t escape the image of jiyeon’s eyes—those eyes filled with desperation and longing—her touch lingering on his skin like a ghost. he had given in. he had allowed the past to creep back into his life when he knew better. he had promised himself he was over her, but that kiss had broken something inside of him that he didn’t even know was fragile.

he didn’t know how to fix it, or if it could even be fixed. he had ruined everything. his relationship with you and his future with you was now in jeopardy because of one impulsive moment of weakness.

and now, more than ever, he needed to confess and tell you everything. but how could he? how could he look you in the eyes and explain the mess he had made?

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you had noticed the change in him these past few days. wonwoo had always been quiet, but now he seemed to be hovering around you more than usual. his touch lingered just a little too long when he reached for something or kissed your forehead. his presence felt overwhelming, yet there was something different in the way he was acting—a subtle shift you couldn’t quite place.

at first, you brushed it off, telling yourself it was because you had just returned from a short business trip. it had been only two days, but you could tell that he was clinging to you as if he was afraid of losing you, of something slipping away. you didn’t want to question it too much. after all, he had missed you, and that was understandable.

but there was something in his eyes, the ways he would look at you; there was something almost frantic that made your stomach turn in ways you couldn’t explain.

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you and wonwoo were in the kitchen at your friend's grand opening event, cooking for the occasion.

the kitchen was filled with the usual chaos of preparation—pans sizzling, knives chopping, the soft hum of staff moving around in organized frenzy. but amidst it all, there was a quiet, undeniable shift.

wonwoo had been standing by the counter, his hands working absentmindedly, but his gaze constantly drifted to you, who were busy organizing ingredients. it had been like this for years—your connection, always strong, never needing words. but today, there was an added softness in the air, a shared understanding between you that made everything else disappear.

you glanced up, catching his gaze for a fleeting moment, your lips curving into a small, tender smile. something unspoken passed between you, and in that moment, the entire world seemed to still. without thinking, wonwoo moved toward you, stepping closer until he was standing right in front of you, his presence a calm contrast to the busyness of the kitchen.

without a word, he reached for you, his hand gently cupping your cheek. you looked up at him, your eyes reflecting the years you had shared—the struggles, the victories, and the deep, quiet love that had blossomed in your time together. and just like that, he leaned down and kissed you without hesitation.

the kiss was slow, tender, like the comfort of returning home after a long journey. it was a kiss that said everything you’ve never needed to say, anchoring you to the present, to the certainty of your love.

unbeknownst to you, from the corner of the room, through an open door, jiyeon watched. her breath caught in her throat as she stood frozen, her gaze fixed on you two. the warmth of the kitchen, the busy voices of the staff—it all seemed distant now. she could only focus the sight of you and wonwoo sharing such a quiet, intimate moment. her heart twisted, the sharp pang of jealousy gnawing at her chest.

she had thought—no, she had hoped—that seeing wonwoo move on would be easier, and wouldn’t hurt this much. but the reality was crushing. she had walked away from him years ago, without an explanation, without giving him the chance to fight for their relationship. and now, seeing him so utterly content with you—seeing that love between you two—brought back memories she wasn’t ready to confront. she had been the one to walk away from wonwoo, after all. she had been the one who left without giving him any closure. now, seeing him with someone else, it was as though that pain was fresh again.

when the kiss ended, wonwoo pulled away, his face soft with affection. he didn’t notice jiyeon’s presence, nor did he care at that moment. but jiyeon couldn’t bear to watch any longer, so she turned and walked away, her footsteps firm and resolute as she stepped outside, seeking a moment of calm.

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the evening passed, and wonwoo soon returned to your shared restaurant to check on things, leaving you alone in the kitchen to finish the last preparations. you focused on the task at hand—decorating a cake, carefully placing each delicate detail.

jiyeon walked in, her eyes locking onto you with an intensity that made the room feel smaller. she wasn’t here for the event or the food. no, she was here for one thing only—to confront the person who now shared a life with the man she had once loved.

you didn’t look up immediately when jiyeon entered the kitchen. you continued to work as if nothing had changed. but you had known, deep down, that this confrontation was inevitable. jiyeon had been watching you, and she would come for answers.

"i... i loved him first, (y/n)," jiyeon said, her voice barely above a whisper. there was no anger, no confrontation in her words. just the sound of someone holding on to something for too long. "i loved him when he didn’t know what love was. i loved him when he needed someone, and i gave him everything. everything."

you stopped for a moment, looking at her. your expression was steady, but your heart twisted. you felt sympathetic towards her. however, you didn’t respond. instead, you returned to the cake, placing the last finishing touches.

"how sure are you about him, (y/n)? i mean... really," jiyeon’s voice had changed, no longer just soft, but filled with a bitter kind of urgency. "if there’s any doubt in your heart, you need to ask yourself—why hold on? let him go. let him be with the one he truly wants."

you didn’t look at her again, just focused on your task. "are you okay, jiyeon?"

she laughed, but it was hollow. "do you even get it, (y/n)? it’s not about us anymore. it’s about him. if you're not certain about this, don’t make him stay. don't let him settle for something less."

she walked closer, her steps echoing in the silence. "you don’t even realize it, do you? if you let him go now, you could save the both of you from a future of regret. a life of ‘what ifs.’"

you couldn’t stop the pang that shot through you. you turned, your eyes narrowing. "are you sick, jiyeon?"

"come on," she snapped, shaking her head, "stop pretending like we can be nice about this. we both know better than that."

you stared at her, your voice steady but sharp, "and why’s that?"

"because i’m his past," jiyeon said, the words cutting like a knife. "i loved him first. i’ll always own a piece of him that you’ll never have. no matter what."

you pulled back slightly, retreating to the other side of the counter, trying to focus on anything else. but jiyeon wasn’t done. she wasn’t backing down.

"so what, (y/n)? you’re just going to act like it doesn’t matter?" her voice was louder now, more frantic. "don’t tell me you’ve never felt threatened by me. don’t tell me you’ve never wondered if i could still take him back."

her words hit hard, but you stood your ground, meeting her gaze steadily.

jiyeon took a step closer, desperation rising in her voice. "what if you’re just a rebound, huh? what if he’s just settling for you because he couldn’t have me anymore? you don’t think that’s a possibility?"

you met her challenge without flinching, your voice low but firm. "you let go of your chance, jiyeon."

tears welled in her eyes, and she spoke again, voice cracking with emotion. "but i still love him. and he still loves me. please, (y/n). let him go. just set him free."

the words burned. you stared at her, trying to swallow the lump in your throat. you spoke slowly, the quiet pain in your words evident. "shouldn't he be the one telling me this?"

jiyeon’s eyes blazed now, her voice sharp and fierce. "you know him better than that. he’s not the type to hurt anyone on purpose."

your heart ached, but you held firm, shaking your head slightly. "so how sure are you that he loves you more?"

her voice softened, a tinge of sadness in her words. "because i saw it in his eyes. i felt it when he touched me... when he held me... when he kissed me... that kiss... slowly, passionately. a kiss that tells you everything. a kiss that tells you that he feels the same."

your world stopped. for a moment, you couldn’t breathe. "do you mean…?"

"yes, (y/n)," jiyeon whispered, her words like daggers. "more than you think."

a sharp pain shot through you as her words hit. you froze, the air in your lungs thick and suffocating. you blinked quickly, trying to hold back the sting of tears. hearing it from her, so bluntly, felt like a blow to the chest. you tried to push past it, but you couldn’t ignore the tremble in your hands as you set the knife down. "you must have a really lonely life.”

you grabbed a tissue from the counter, wiping away the tears that had begun to fall. "you know, jiyeon... wonwoo and i... we don’t have that kind of grand, epic love story. ours started quietly. as friends. our love may not be exciting, but it’s sure. it’s steady."

jiyeon’s lips trembled, but she wiped at her face quickly, trying to regain composure.

"you see," you continued, your voice growing steadier, "with the right amount of trust, respect, and room for mistakes... that’s what makes our love what it is."

you took a breath, letting the weight of your words settle for a second, before finally speaking again. "i love him, jiyeon," you said, your voice quieter but unwavering. "and in love, there is no fear. i hope one day you’ll find that, too."

with that, you opened the door and left the kitchen, stepping into the hallway, where the cool air felt like a stark contrast to the tension you’d just left behind. you leaned against the wall momentarily, trying to calm your racing heart, and only then did the tears come. you let them fall freely, the weight of everything finally hitting you.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

before you and wonwoo had become what you were now, there had been a time when things were… uncertain. you could still remember that night so clearly��an evening filled with quiet sadness and unspoken words.

it had been a few weeks since wonwoo had started to pull away. his usual calm demeanor had shifted into something more fragile, like a delicate glass that could shatter at the slightest touch. you hadn’t known the full extent of his pain, not at first, but it was impossible to ignore the weight that seemed to hang around him. he had become quieter, withdrawn, and though he still laughed with you, his eyes no longer held the same spark they once had.

one evening, after closing up the restaurant, you found him sitting alone in the dim light of the back office, his gaze unfocused, staring at nothing. you hadn’t asked him about it right away. it was obvious that something was off, but you knew better than to press him when he wasn’t ready to talk.

instead, you had simply sat beside him in silence. time had passed, minutes or hours, it didn’t matter. the quiet between you was comfortable in a way—it was your way of letting him know that you were there, without needing to fill the space with words.

his eyes were cast downward, his fingers lightly gripping the edge of the chair as though he needed something solid to hold onto. and then, almost like a confession, he finally spoke, his voice raw with emotion.

"i don’t know who i am without her. i don’t even know how to let go."

it took a moment for you to process what he was saying. you had a feeling, but hearing the words—spoken so softly, yet so full of pain—shocked you to your core. wonwoo had never been one to speak of his past openly, especially not the parts that had clearly left scars.

he didn’t look up at you at first, his face twisted with emotion that he couldn’t quite control. you felt helpless, wanting to ease his pain but not knowing how.

and then, finally, his eyes met yours.

his eyes were filled with a vulnerability you had never seen before. "i don’t know how to move on, (y/n). i don’t know how to let go of something that feels like it was supposed to be everything."

your heart broke for him at that moment. you wanted to take away his pain, to make everything okay again, but you knew it wasn’t that simple. sometimes, the things we had to let go of were the hardest to part with.

"i know it’s hard," you whispered, squeezing his hand gently. "but you can’t keep living in the past. you deserve to find peace, wonwoo. you deserve to be happy again."

the silence stretched on again, but this time, it was different. it wasn’t filled with sorrow. it was filled with understanding. he didn’t have to speak anymore; the two of you simply existed in the quiet presence of one another, both navigating the complexities of a world that seemed too big to manage alone.

that night, when you said your goodbyes, you left him with a small but genuine smile. you didn’t push him to open up further, but you left him with something more important: the understanding that, no matter how broken he felt, he didn’t have to face it by himself.

though you never pushed him to talk, you knew the weight of unspoken things, the quiet ache of carrying a broken heart. you had known that kind of pain before, in your own way, and you couldn’t let him bear it alone. you stayed close, offering him the space to grieve and process, but also ensuring he knew that he wasn’t isolated in his feelings. every step, every silent moment where he needed someone to just be there—that was what you were offering him.

even if you didn’t fully understand the depth of his connection to his past, you could still empathize with the emotional struggle. you weren’t trying to take the pain away or fill the void left by what he had lost—you were simply offering him the one thing he needed most: the comfort of knowing that, no matter how dark it got, you wouldn’t let him face it alone.

and as the days passed, your presence became a steady anchor for him, slowly helping him find his way back. you didn’t pressure him to let go of his past or tell him to forget; instead, you let him grieve in his own time, providing the kind of support that only someone who truly understood could offer. you knew exactly how he felt because, in your own way, you had felt that kind of emptiness, the feeling of being left behind.

but you never wanted him to face that loneliness alone—just as you had never wanted to face your own.

and somewhere in the depths of his sadness, you had hoped that he would realize, in time, that he could find love again. but for now, you would just be there for him, quietly, patiently—because sometimes, that was all someone needed to start healing.

slowly, over time, you became his safe space, the person he could trust to stand by him, no matter what, through the pain and uncertainty.

that was the bond between you two, built not on grand declarations or sweeping gestures but on the quiet, steadfast presence of someone who understood, who stayed—every single time.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

as you walked outside, still processing the weight of your conversation with jiyeon, you couldn’t shake the feeling of exhaustion that had settled deep in your bones. the confrontation had taken everything from you. you had never been one to lash out or let yourself be consumed by anger, but the weight of jiyeon’s desperation, her need for something that wasn’t hers anymore, left you defeated.

jiyeon, on the other hand, wasn’t ready to let go.

jiyeon couldn't bear the feeling of the weight of her actions pressed on her chest like a suffocating vice.

in a sudden, frantic moment of regret, jiyeon ran after you, her heart racing. "y/n, wait! please!" she called out, grabbing your arm with force, her fingers digging into your skin. "i’m sorry. i never meant to hurt you. i just... i just wanted him back. i was wrong."

your breath caught in your throat, and you turned to face jiyeon again. your heart was heavy with compassion for this woman who had been broken by her choices. yet, as much as you wanted to ease her pain, you couldn’t lose sight of your peace.

"you’re not alone, jiyeon," you said, your voice quieter now. "but you can’t drag me down with you. let go."

jiyeon didn’t want to hear it. in a desperate attempt to make you listen, she held on harder, her grip tightening as she clung to you with all her might. the scaffolding above them, already unstable from the ongoing construction, groaned ominously under the weight of their struggle. neither one of you noticed the danger until it was too late.

the next moment, everything collapsed.

the scaffolding gave way with a deafening crash. metal and wood splintered, falling violently around them. the deafening sound of the collapse filled the air, and you and jiyeon were caught in the wreckage.

you screamed as the debris hit you, and pain shot through her body like a wave of fire. jiyeon cried out too, but the chaos drowned her voice. the world spun into a blur of pain and confusion. both of you were pinned beneath the fallen structure, but you had taken the brunt of the impact. blood trickled from your forehead, and your breath came in shallow gasps.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

this wasn’t the first time you had found yourself in a life-or-death situation. you’d learned long ago that in moments of true danger, fear could cripple you if you let it. and you had learned not to let it.

years ago, you had been in a car accident—a wreck so violent that you had only vague memories of the impact. you remembered the screech of tires, the shattering of glass, and everything going dark. when you woke up, it was to the sterile white walls of a hospital room, your body battered, your mind foggy, but your heart somehow still beating.

the doctors had said you were lucky to be alive. but luck, in your experience, was something that often ran out. and so, after that accident, you learned to live with a quiet understanding of life’s fragility. you learned how to stay calm in the face of chaos, to keep your head when everything else around you was falling apart. you had seen the fragility of existence firsthand, making you resilient. the panic, the fear—those emotions were fleeting, useless. what mattered in those moments was action. what mattered was getting through it.

your love for wonwoo, the life you had built with him, and the bond you shared all came rushing to the forefront. this was what you were fighting for.

as you lay there, your body aching, the memory of your past experiences—the accident, the recovery, the time it had taken for you to heal both physically and emotionally—pushed through your foggy thoughts. you knew what it was like to fight for your life, to fight for the ones you loved. this moment, as painful and terrifying as it was, felt like a distant echo compared to that dark chapter.

you had been given a second chance then, and you were determined to make the most of it. that’s why you were here now, still fighting, still holding on—not just for your own sake, but for those you loved.

for wonwoo, for your future.

and even for jiyeon, whose broken heart you wished you could mend.

in the silence of your mind, amidst the wreckage and chaos, you held onto that resolve. you had been through worse—and you would get through this, too.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

wonwoo had barely processed the call when he was rushing through the hospital halls, panic rising with every step. you and jiyeon had been rushed in after an accident during the renovation, but the details were vague. his only concern was you, the person he had loved for six years.

when he arrived at the er (emergency room), his heart stopped. multiple nurses hurriedly pushed two stretchers, one carrying you and the other jiyeon.

jiyeon was closest to him, her face pale, her body bruised.

she stirred slightly, but her eyes fluttered open only for a moment. "i’m sorry," she whispered, her voice weak. "i didn’t mean for this to happen."

wonwoo felt a stab of guilt, but there was no time for lingering. he stood up quickly, turning toward your stretcher. his heart broke when he saw you lying unconscious, your body battered and bruised from the fall. his world narrowed down to you—his thoughts centered on nothing but your safety.

he moved to your side, his hand taking yours tightly. "(y/n)," he whispered, his voice desperate. "please, stay with me."

but you didn’t respond.

as time seemed to stretch, wonwoo stayed by your side, unable to leave. his heart ached with every passing second, the weight of his decisions pressing heavily on him. he hadn’t realized how much you had come to mean to him, how much you had become the center of his world.

and now, seeing you like this, so fragile, so vulnerable, he couldn’t imagine a life without you. the thought of losing you was more terrifying than any pain he had ever known.

"please," he whispered, tears threatening to fall. "i can’t lose you."

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

the soft glow of the evening light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden hue over the room. you and wonwoo lay in bed, your heads resting against the same pillow, the comforting silence of the space wrapping around you like a blanket. it had been a long, tiring week, but at this moment, lying beside him, everything felt peaceful.

you hadn’t realized how much you needed this—just to be close to him and feel his presence beside you after the chaos of everyday life. the quiet rhythm of his breathing was like a lullaby, grounding you, helping you to unwind.

“you know,” you began softly, your voice barely above a whisper, “i had a dream last night.”

wonwoo stirred beside you, turning his head toward you with a slight shift of his body. his fingers brushed gently over the back of your hand, an action so familiar it always comforted you. “what about?” he asked, his voice low and sleepy but still attentive.

you took a deep breath before you answered, your gaze shifting toward the ceiling as the memory of the dream replayed in your mind. “it was about you," you said quietly, your voice laced with hesitation. "i dreamed that you… you died.”

wonwoo’s body tensed slightly at the weight of your words. he shifted to face you more fully, concern flickering in his eyes. “really?” his voice was soft, but there was an edge to it, as if he was trying to understand why such a dream had come to you.

“i don’t know," you said, shaking your head slightly, your fingers picking at the blanket. "it felt so real. you were gone, and i couldn’t save you. i cried a lot, and it hurt so much, more than anything i’ve ever felt before.”

a quiet pause hung between you both as the weight of your words sank in. for a moment, the room felt heavier, as though the dream had cast a shadow over the both of you. you could feel wonwoo’s gaze on you, but he didn’t immediately speak. instead, his hand found yours under the covers, his touch warm and reassuring, as if silently offering comfort.

“i heard dreams like that symbolize good luck,” he said after a while, his voice softer now, trying to ease the tension. "it's a lucky dream, (y/n)."

you looked at him then, the weight of your dream still lingering, and you sighed. “i guess it’s just the fear of losing you,” you admitted, your voice steady but carrying the underlying vulnerability. “i’ve always known life is fragile. but the thought of losing you… i don’t know, it just scared me so much in that moment.”

wonwoo watched you with a quiet intensity, as if trying to understand the depth of your feelings. he ran his thumb gently over the back of your hand, his gaze softening as he spoke. “i’m not going anywhere, (y/n),” he said, his voice calm and filled with warmth. “you don’t have to be afraid of that.”

you let out a shaky breath, trying to brush the lingering discomfort away, but his words seemed to settle the weight on your chest. it wasn’t the first time you’d had a fear like this, and knowing he was there, that you didn’t have to face that fear alone, meant everything to you.

after a moment, he let out a small, almost teasing sigh, his lips curling into a faint smile as he spoke again. “thank you. i’m glad i have someone who'll cry when i die.”

you laughed softly at his attempt to lighten the mood, but you could hear the unspoken vulnerability in his voice. it was almost as if he was testing the waters, trying to make light of something he didn’t want to confront.

you turned to face him fully now, reaching out to gently cup his cheek. your thumb brushed over his skin, and your heart ached at how deeply he felt things, even when he tried to hide it behind humor. “what’s that supposed to mean?” you asked with a quiet smile, your voice tender.

he shrugged, his gaze shifting to the ceiling as he sighed softly. “i don’t know. life just feels… fragile sometimes. you never really know when it’s all going to end, and it’s hard not to think about it.”

you squeezed his hand softly, letting the silence linger for just a moment before responding. “wonwoo,” you said quietly, your voice steady and warm, “i’m not going anywhere. not if i can help it.”

he turned to face you, his eyes searching yours for something, maybe reassurance, maybe comfort, but when he spoke, there was a gentle sincerity in his voice. “you really think so?”

you nodded without hesitation, the certainty in your heart clear. “i do. i don’t care what happens, i’m not going to let you go through anything alone.”

for a long moment, wonwoo didn’t say anything. he simply looked at you, as if processing your words, before his lips finally curled into a soft, genuine smile. slowly, he leaned in and kissed your forehead—gentle, like a promise.

“you’re right,” he murmured, his voice soft with affection. “i wouldn’t want to go through anything without you.”

and in that simple, quiet moment, as you lay there beside him, everything felt right. you both knew life was fragile, uncertain, and full of unknowns, but as long as you had each other, you would face it all together. no matter what came your way, you would hold onto each other, never letting go.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

you woke in a sterile, quiet hospital room, the sound of beeping machines surrounding you. the sharp pain in your side made you wince, and you could feel the weight of the bandages wrapped around you. but when you opened my eyes, you saw him.

wonwoo was sitting beside you, holding my hand. his face was pale, his eyes wide with concern.

you winced faintly, though the pain still lingered. "wonwoo," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

he squeezed your hand tighter, the tears finally spilling over. "you’re here. you’re safe."

"why didn't you tell me?"

"i’m sorry," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "i'm sorry. i didn't know how to—"

"my love is greater than your failures, wonwoo, but don’t play with my feelings," you interrupted, your voice hoarse. "be fair. tell me your honest feelings because i can accept whatever your choice may be. if it’s me, then it’s me. if it’s her, then it’s her. but you have to make a choice."

wonwoo’s face contorted with guilt, but before he could say anything, you held up a hand. "i’m not asking for an answer now, wonwoo. i just need you to be honest with me, because i deserve that."

he looked at you, his eyes filled with pain, but you could see something else there, too. a recognition. a quiet realization of how far you've come together, and how much you've built.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

it was a warm summer day, and wonwoo and jiyeon were sitting on a park bench, the late afternoon sunlight casting long shadows over them. jiyeon’s laughter echoed through the park, carefree and light, but there was a quiet tension beneath the surface of the conversation.

wonwoo was looking at her, his eyes distant, as if he were searching for something in her words. he had never been one to openly share his thoughts, but something had been weighing on him for days.

“ji, why do relationships fail?” wonwoo asked suddenly, his voice quiet but filled with curiosity.

jiyeon turned to him with a bright, innocent smile. she didn’t seem to sense the weight of his question. “huh? why?” she asked, a hint of confusion in her tone.

“my best friend just got dumped by his girlfriend all of a sudden…” wonwoo trailed off, clearly trying to understand the reasons behind it. “they seemed perfect. so... why?”

jiyeon let out a short laugh, brushing her hair back and looking at him like the question was too simple. “oh, well, relationships fail because people get bored, right? or maybe they just don’t have the same level of commitment. you can’t just expect everything to stay the same forever, wonwoo.” she giggled, her voice light and carefree. “people change, things happen. that’s just how it is. nothing lasts forever, you know?”

wonwoo’s gaze softened as he processed her words, but something about her answer didn’t sit right with him. he couldn’t shake the feeling that relationships were more complicated than that—more fragile and nuanced than the simple, childlike reasoning jiyeon seemed to offer.

it was one of those quiet evenings where the world felt at peace—just the two of you. the soft glow of streetlights outside the window illuminated the cozy apartment, casting long shadows on the walls. you were sitting on the couch, your legs tucked underneath you, as wonwoo sat beside you, his hand resting on your knee. it was still early in your relationship, when you were both discovering the rhythms of each other’s lives, learning about each other’s pasts, and figuring out how to fit together in a way that felt right.

the conversation between you both had been lighthearted, filled with laughter and easy moments. but as always with him, there was a certain depth to his quietness, a thoughtful quality that lingered long after the jokes faded. he had been staring out the window for a few moments, deep in thought, when he suddenly turned toward you, catching your attention.

“(y/n),” wonwoo began, his voice softer than usual, as if he was testing the weight of the question in his mind before speaking it aloud. “why do relationships fail?”

you tilted your head slightly, surprised by the abruptness of the question, but you could see the sincerity in his eyes—the kind of quiet uncertainty that made you realize he was asking this more for himself than anything else. he wasn't looking for something flippant or simple.

you thought for a moment before answering. “i think… sometimes people forget how to communicate. they let small things build up until it feels like too much. or maybe they start taking each other for granted.” you paused, giving him a small smile. “i guess sometimes love just isn't enough when people stop trying.”

wonwoo absorbed your words, his gaze soft, contemplative. there was something so genuine in the way he was looking at you, like he was piecing together something important. then, after a beat of silence, he let out a small sigh and looked away, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“yeah,” he said quietly, his voice laced with the slightest trace of a bittersweet understanding. “i guess that makes sense.”

he seemed distant for a moment, as though his mind had drifted to somewhere far away. you could tell there was more behind his words, but you didn’t press him. instead, you reached out, gently nudging his shoulder, a reminder that you were here. "hey, you okay?" you asked, your voice soft, always attuned to the way he closed himself off when something troubled him.

he smiled faintly and nodded, though you could still see that flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "yeah, i’m just thinking."

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

the next day, wonwoo held the flowers carefully in his hands, his steps slow as he approached the door.

wonwoo sat quietly beside jiyeon’s hospital bed, the room dimly lit. the soft beeping of the machines was the only sound that filled the silence between them. he held the bouquet in his hands, almost as if unsure of what to do with them.

jiyeon’s gaze flickered up, her eyes searching for reassurance. "how are they?"

"they're okay... it's just going to take time for them to heal."

her expression softened, a mix of regret and sorrow clouding her features. "i'm really sorry."

his eyes lingered on jiyeon for a long moment before he finally spoke, his voice steady but filled with something deeper—something raw.

"i know this might be difficult for you to hear," he said, choosing his words carefully, "but every time i think about everything that happened... i always end up thinking about them. about (y/n)."

jiyeon’s eyes flickered to him, her gaze sharpening slightly, almost as if she was testing his sincerity.

he took a deep breath, his eyes drifting to the floor for a moment. "back then, i thought i had everything with you. i thought we were going to be together forever. but when you left... you left without a word, jiyeon. without any explanation. no reason. it just... happened. and i was left behind, questioning everything. i wanted to hold on, to fight for us, but you just... you walked away."

his voice caught briefly, a painful silence filling the space between them. he swallowed hard, gathering himself before continuing.

"i don’t think i’ve ever told you this before, but when you left, it felt like a part of me died, jiyeon. i was empty. i didn’t know how to move forward. you were the person i thought i’d spend my life with, and you just... vanished. i couldn’t understand it. and for a long time, i carried that weight—wondering if i could have done something differently. wondering if i missed something. but you never gave me the chance to know, and that’s something i’ve had to live with."

wonwoo’s grip tightened around the bouquet, his knuckles whitening.

"but then i met (y/n)," he continued, his voice growing steadier, the weight of his words anchoring him in truth. "and for the first time in a long time, i felt like i wasn’t broken anymore. (y/n) was there when i was at my lowest. they didn’t walk away. they didn’t leave me to figure things out on my own. they helped me rebuild myself—not by telling me everything would be okay, but by showing me how to heal."

he let out a breath, his eyes locked with jiyeon’s now, a fierce, unwavering resolve behind them. "that’s why i’m here now, jiyeon. not because i need closure from you, but because i need you to understand that what we had is gone. when i look at (y/n), i don’t just see a person i’m in love with. i see my future. they're the one i want to grow old with. they're the one who taught me what real love looks like. and now... when i think about losing them? i can’t even begin to imagine it. the thought of losing them—it would feel like dying a second time. i wouldn’t survive that, jiyeon. not after everything we’ve been through together. not after everything they've done for me."

his voice softened, but there was no mistaking the conviction in it.

"(y/n) has become my everything. they're the person who makes me feel like i’m enough, even on my worst days. and i realized something—true love isn’t about clinging to something that’s already fallen apart. it’s about being willing to let go of what doesn’t serve you anymore, and choosing the person who brings out the best in you, who builds with you, who loves you even when you’re at your worst. that person is (y/n)."

he took another deep breath before continuing, his tone quieter now, but resolute. "for that reason, jiyeon, i’m sorry. i’m sorry for how things ended between us, but i’m not going back. i’m not going to turn away from the life i’ve built with them. i’ve made my choice. and that choice is (y/n)."

for a long moment, jiyeon remained silent. the faintest flicker of something—perhaps a trace of regret—passed over her face, but she didn’t say anything. she only looked away, her eyes welling up with tears that she quickly blinked away. maybe she had expected this. maybe part of her had known all along that this day would come.

wonwoo stood up, his legs stiff from sitting so long, and carefully placed the bouquet on the side table. he didn’t look back at jiyeon as he turned to leave the room.

before he reached the door, jiyeon’s voice broke through the quiet, barely audible but filled with emotion. "wonwoo..." she said, trembling slightly. "i... i hope you’re happy with them."

wonwoo paused for a moment, his hand resting on the doorframe. his heart ached for her, but there was no uncertainty in him. he had decided.

"i am," he said quietly, his voice resolute, but with a trace of gentleness. "i really am."

for the first time in a long while, wonwoo realized something that brought him a profound sense of peace: healing wasn’t about forgetting; it was about embracing the scars, the memories, and choosing to love despite them. true love, he understood, was never about perfection. it was about fighting for something worth holding onto, day after day. love wasn’t defined by who loved first or who loved more. it was about the daily decision to choose each other. and as long as that choice was made, nothing else mattered.

with his heart at ease, he stepped into a new chapter, ready to continue writing his story—not as a man defined by the past, but as one who had found his way forward, not by looking back, but by moving on.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

it had been some time since the accident, and you were healing—physically, emotionally, and mentally. the scars left from that day were not just on your body, but deep within your soul. yet, every step of recovery had been made easier with wonwoo by your side. he had never left you. not even when the past had come calling, and not when he was facing the hardest decisions of his life.

life after your hospital discharge was slow, but steady. the quiet days were spent together, learning to rediscover each other without the weight of past regrets hanging over you both. you could see it—the way he looked at you with a newfound softness, the way his actions spoke louder than words ever could. wonwoo had chosen you, and that was all that mattered. there were no more questions, no more lingering doubts.

one morning, as you both sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and talking about the mundane things in life, you noticed something different. wonwoo was sitting a little taller, his gaze a little steadier.

"you know," he said, almost as if he was speaking to himself, but you knew he wanted you to hear it too. "i never really understood how much of me was tied up in the past... until i met you. until i realized that none of it mattered anymore. not with you in my life."

you looked up at him, a soft smile on your lips. "i know," you said quietly. "you’ve been through a lot. but you’re not that man anymore, wonwoo. you’ve shown me what love can really be. i’m proud of you."

he smiled back, his hand reaching across the table to find yours. "i’m just trying to be the man you deserve," he said, squeezing your fingers gently. "i’m still learning, but i’m committed to being better for you. every day. i’m not running from the past anymore. i’m not letting it control me. i’m focused on us, on the future."

you felt warmth bloom in your chest, the sincerity in his words something that made you believe in him all over again. this wasn’t just the man who had been lost in a web of unresolved feelings for jiyeon. this was the man who had walked through fire and come out the other side, determined to create something real and lasting with you.

you had both grown together, and the future now seemed like an open road.

୨:୧┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ · · ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈୨:୧

wonwoo was on his knee, looking up at you with eyes full of quiet determination.

"will you marry me?" he asked, his voice steady, yet his eyes shimmered with emotion so raw it left you breathless. his hands, slightly trembling, held out the ring to you as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

your heart skipped a beat, and the world around you seemed to fall away into a serene silence. all that mattered was him—the man who had been your strength, your comfort, your home. the man you had chosen to love, no matter the hurdles life had thrown your way.

"yes." the word came out as a soft whisper, but it carried a weight that filled the room with warmth. overcome with joy, you cupped his face in your hands, searching his eyes for the countless moments of love he'd given you, the depth of everything you'd shared. and then, without hesitation, you kissed him—soft at first, but filled with all the love you had been holding onto. your lips, a promise of forever.

— fin.

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tobiosbbyghorl · 4 months ago

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Hyper&Chill | psh

act 27: Hoon moving in ( for a week)

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 - 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧

The doorbell rang just as you were settling onto the couch, scrolling mindlessly on your phone.

Ding-dong.

You sighed, already knowing who it was.

When you swung the door open, there stood Park Sunghoon, looking far too pleased with himself, an small suitcase with him. He exhaled dramatically, as if carrying the weight of the world.

“So…” he started, tilting his head with a charming grin.

“So?” you echoed, raising an unimpressed brow.

Sunghoon jutted his lower lip in a mock pout. “My apartment is being demolished—”

“It’s under renovation,” you corrected.

“Demolished,” he repeated stubbornly. “And I need a place to stay. Preferably with someone who loves me.”

You deadpanned. “That rules me out.”

Sunghoon clutched his chest in feigned betrayal. “Wow.”

You sighed, stepping aside. “Just get in before I change my mind.”

A triumphant grin spread across his face as he strutted inside, immediately flopping onto your couch like he owned the place. He stretched his arms out, smirking. “This is nice. I could get used to this.”

You crossed your arms. “Don’t get too comfortable. One week, Lolove. One.”

“We’ll see,” he hummed, eyes glinting mischievously.

You already knew he was going to be a menace.

⸻

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 - 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐧𝐢 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

The smell of something delicious woke you up before your alarm did. Weird. You never cooked breakfast this early.

Still groggy, you dragged yourself out of bed, rubbing your eyes as you shuffled toward the kitchen.

And then you froze.

There, standing at your stove, was shirtless Park Sunghoon, flipping eggs like he was starring in a cooking show.

Your brain short-circuited.

He had broad shoulders. Defined abs. That ridiculously tiny waist. And the way his back muscles flexed as he moved—

You sucked in a sharp breath. Focus.

Sunghoon turned at the sound, a teasing smirk already in place. “Morning, LoLove.”

You ignored the way your stomach flipped at the nickname. “You cook?”

He smirked wider. “Surprised?”

“Very.”

“Rude.” He tsked playfully. “Sit. Eat. Fall deeper in love with me.”

You rolled your eyes but obeyed, eyeing the perfectly plated breakfast he slid in front of you—fluffy eggs, crispy bacon, and buttered toast.

You hesitated. “Are you trying to impress me?”

Sunghoon leaned down, voice dropping to a whisper. “Is it working?”

You shoved a piece of toast in your mouth. Damn it. It was.

After breakfast, you both got ready for class, and to your surprise, Sunghoon tossed his keys to you.

“I’m driving?” you asked, blinking.

He shrugged, climbing into the passenger seat. “I like being driven around sometimes. Plus, I can stare at you more this way.”

You shot him a look. “Shut up.”

He just laughed, hand reaching over to rest comfortably on your thigh, like it belonged there.

⸻

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑 - 𝐂𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 & 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

At this point, Sunghoon had fully settled in. He had taken over your couch, your kitchen, and your bathroom counter with his endless skincare products.

That night, after a long day, you both crashed on the couch for a movie.

Sunghoon immediately pulled you against him, his arm wrapped securely around your waist.

“You’re so clingy,” you muttered, feeling his warmth seep into you.

He hummed sleepily. “You love it.”

…You did.

And you hated that he was right.

⸻

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟓 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞

The plan was simple: Sunghoon would use the extra shower, and you’d take yours.

The problem? The extra shower was broken.

The bigger problem? Sunghoon had class in less than an hour and needed to shower now.

Which led to this—

“I’ll just wait,” he said.

“You’ll be late.”

“I’ll manage.”

You groaned. “Oh my god, just—ugh—fine. We can shower together.”

Sunghoon blinked. “…Seriously?”

You sighed. “Yes. Just—no funny business, okay?”

He grinned. “I would never.”

You stepped in first, facing away, and after a long pause, Sunghoon followed.

At first, it was fine. Just water, just showering.

Then—

“Ow, shit—”

You turned just in time to see Sunghoon almost slip, gripping your arm for support—his very naked self very close to yours.

You both froze.

Neither of you had seen each other like this before. And suddenly, you were very aware of Sunghoon’s broad shoulders, his toned arms, the water dripping down his skin—

“I—uh—soap. Right. Soap.” Sunghoon fumbled for the bottle, ears burning.

You exhaled, trying to focus on literally anything else.

It was innocent. Domestic. And yet, it was probably the most frustrating shower of your life.

The tension broke when you couldn’t hold it in anymore—you laughed.

Sunghoon, who had been standing awkwardly, clutching the soap bottle like his life depended on it, blinked at you. “Are you laughing at me?”

You nodded, covering your mouth as another giggle escaped. “You looked so panicked.”

He huffed, face still pink. “Well, excuse me for not expecting to shower with you today.”

Your laughter softened into a smile. “Come on, just shower. We’re wasting time.”

Sunghoon grumbled but started lathering up, keeping his eyes strictly on the tiles in front of him. The both of you moved around each other, passing the shampoo and body wash in an unspoken rhythm, your initial nervousness fading into something strangely…normal.

“You know,” Sunghoon mused as he rinsed his hair, “this could have been a chance for us to save water and—”

“Don’t even start.”

Sunghoon just grinned, shaking his head like an overgrown puppy, spraying water everywhere.

You squealed, swatting at him. “Sunghoon!

“Oops.”

By the time you both finished, the bathroom was full of laughter, fog, and the lingering warmth of something unspoken.

And as Sunghoon wrapped himself in a towel, still grinning at you, you had a feeling this week was going to change everything.

After the unexpected shower incident, you thought the morning would return to normal. You were wrong.

Sunghoon was too smug about what had just happened.

As you both got ready, he kept throwing looks your way—teasing glances, half-smirks, and the occasional eyebrow raise whenever your eyes accidentally met his bare torso. Because, of course, he just had to walk around shirtless after showering.

“You keep staring,” he said, pulling on a hoodie. “You like what you see, Lolove?”

You nearly choked on your coffee. “I—shut up!”

Sunghoon just laughed, slipping on his sneakers. “No need to get all flustered, I was just asking.”

You ignored him, grabbing your bag. “We’re gonna be late.”

He followed behind you, clearly very pleased with himself as you both got into his car. The drive to campus started out quiet, until Sunghoon—who just couldn’t help himself—brought it up again.

“So… about earlier.”

You groaned, covering your face. “Sunghoon, drop it.”

“I mean, it was kind of a moment, don’t you think?”

“No. It was not a moment. It was two people trying to save time.”

Sunghoon hummed like he wasn’t convinced. “Right, right. So, should we make it a habit?”

Your head snapped toward him. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just saying,” he mused, keeping his eyes on the road. “It was pretty efficient.”

“Sunghoon!”

He laughed, reaching over to squeeze your hand. “Relax, Lolove. I won’t tease you too much. You’re cute when you’re flustered, though.”

You glared at him, but he just smiled, bringing your hand to his lips for a quick kiss before returning it to the wheel.

By the time you arrived at campus, you were still red in the face, and Sunghoon? He was definitely enjoying himself.

As Sunghoon parked the car, you crossed your arms, finally deciding to fight back.

“Well,” you huffed, tilting your chin up. “At least I’m not the one who almost slipped in the shower.”

His smirk immediately dropped.

You grinned, watching as his ears turned slightly pink. “Oh? No comment, Mr. ‘It Was a Moment’?”

Sunghoon scoffed, gripping the steering wheel. “That was a technical difficulty.”

You bit back a laugh. “A technical difficulty? You flailed like a cartoon character.”

“I did not—”

“You totally did.” You leaned closer, wiggling your eyebrows. “What was it you said? ‘Shit, shit, shit—’”

Sunghoon groaned, covering his face. “I regret ever bringing it up.”

You laughed, feeling victorious.

Just then, Sunghoon turned to you with narrowed eyes. “Alright, you wanna play that game?”

Your smile faltered. “Wait—”

Too late. Sunghoon suddenly leaned in, his face inches from yours, voice dropping to a smooth whisper.

“Then tell me why you kept sneaking glances at me?”

Your brain short-circuited.

“I—I wasn’t—”

Sunghoon smirked, leaning even closer. “You totally were.”

You gasped dramatically. “Lies and slander.”

“Mhm.” He tapped your nose before pulling away completely. “Come on, we’re gonna be late.”

Still flustered, you scrambled to grab your things, huffing as you stepped out of the car. Sunghoon walked beside you, effortlessly cool while you were still burning with embarrassment.

“Next time, Lolove,” he said, throwing an arm around your shoulder. “Maybe I’ll be the one who catches you slipping.”

Your heart stuttered.

Oh, he was good.

—

Sunghoon flopped onto your couch with a dramatic sigh, stretching his arms over his head. His suitcase sat by the door, packed and ready, but he made absolutely no effort to move.

You crossed your arms, raising an eyebrow. “You do realize you have to go home at some point, right?”

He groaned, throwing his head back against the cushion. “Do I, though?”

“Yes, Park Sunghoon, you do,” you teased, nudging his leg with your foot. “Your apartment’s finally done. It’s time to reclaim your kingdom.”

He peeked at you through his lashes, lips forming a slight pout. “But my kingdom doesn’t have you in it.”

Your heart skipped a beat. “Oh my god,” you muttered, turning away so he wouldn’t see your flustered face. “That was so dramatic.”

He grinned, sitting up. “I’m serious, though. Living with you for a week? Kinda nice. I might have to move in permanently.”

You rolled your eyes, but your lips twitched. “You’d miss your fancy apartment in two days, max.”

“Maybe,” he admitted, standing up and stretching again. “But I’d miss you more.”

You froze for a second before quickly turning to grab his suitcase, shoving it into his hands. “Alright, out.”

Sunghoon just laughed, effortlessly taking the suitcase from you. “I’m kidding! Kinda.”

You walked him to the door, and just as he was about to step out, he hesitated.

“…You know,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I really don’t wanna go.”

You softened, nudging him lightly. “You’ll survive. It’s not like we won’t see each other.”

“I guess,” he sighed, still reluctant.

Before he could say anything else, you quickly leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

His entire body stiffened.

You smirked. “Go home, Hoon.”

His ears turned pink. He blinked at you, slightly dazed, before snapping out of it.

“…Fine,” he muttered, stepping back. “But don’t miss me too much, Lolove.”

You rolled your eyes. “Bye, Lolove.”

And with one last glance—one that lingered a second too long—he finally left.

But not without texting you the second he got home:

Lolove💕: The bed feels too empty. Might have to come back soon.

You laughed, shaking your head.

Yeah. You missed him already, too.

It was past midnight when your phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with “Lolove💕” calling. You were already tucked under your blanket, half-asleep, but seeing his name made you smile.

Answering the call, you were greeted with the sight of Sunghoon lying on his bed, his hair slightly messy, eyes lidded with sleep. He was hugging his pillow, his phone propped up against something.

“You’re still awake?” you mumbled, your voice soft with drowsiness.

He let out a tired sigh, shifting slightly. “Couldn’t sleep.”

A small smile tugged at your lips. “Why? Bed too big and empty?”

He groaned, burying his face in the pillow for a moment. “Yeah.” His voice was muffled. “It’s weird not waking up to you anymore.”

Your chest tightened slightly at his honesty.

“Miss me that much, huh?” you teased, but your voice was gentle.

He peeked at you through the screen, eyes warm but sleepy. “Yeah.”

Your breath hitched slightly, but you laughed it off. “You’ll survive.”

He hummed, clearly already half-asleep. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment before he mumbled something under his breath.

You barely caught it.

“…Would be nice if you moved in with me.”

Your eyes widened slightly, but you weren’t sure if he even realized what he said. “Hoon?” you called softly.

No response. His breathing was already evening out.

You bit your lip, staring at his peaceful face through the screen.

“…We’ll see,” you whispered before hanging up, your heart pounding in your chest.

perm tag

taglist: @iboughtnjz @rikidaze @pocketzlocket @jaerisdiction @ijustwannareadstuff20 @doririsstuff @whateveridontcarsheesh @rikifever @firstclassjaylee @jayhoonvroom @veilstqr

permanent taglist: @ijustwannareadstuff20 @hoonielvv @rissierjrie

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lichenes · 1 year ago

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on my hands and knees begging for domestic fluff w joost. cooking together, doing livestreams, playing video games, ANYTHING plz <3

My friend read the ask and suggested the whole plot so it came out like a crack fic near the end but oh well, the sillies :D Hope you like it anon and thank you for the ask!!

CW: cursing, broken washing machines??? wc: 689

•───────•°•❀•°•───────••────────•°•❀•°•────────•

He walked through the door inhaling the familiar scent of your shared home. “You’re home!” You said with excitement, thrilled to see Joost. He talked to you about the latest concert, his eyes sparkling with joy when he described a huge group of people shouting the lyrics to his song alongside him.

You were happy to finally have him back home as this was the last concert of the tour. He expressed how grateful he was for your support and couldn’t quite stop apologising for - as he called it - abandoning you for so long. You reassured him constantly hoping he would one day realise what made him happy, made you happy.

You both were too tired to do anything more than discuss things on the surface level. “You know I wouldn’t give you up for anything in the world.” He said as you both were laying in your shared bed. You nodded, constantly surprised by the level of affection he sported while extremely tired.

You woke up well rested, finally not worrying if he was okay, he was next to you after all. “I’m doing laundry, do you need anything washed?” You said no and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for you two. When he was done with the load he got into the kitchen and hugged you from behind inhaling your scent.

“Missed you.” He mumbled into your neck tickling you with his breath. “Missed you too.” You were standing over the stove with a wooden spoon stirring the scrambled eggs. Joost thought proved to be a severe distraction. “I need to focus on the task at hand, Joost.” He let his gorgeous laugh out. “I knoww~ but I didn’t have much time to spend with you and I need you now.” Your face got warmer at those words. “You’ve got me all to yourself lovely.” You said this time making his fair skin turn a shade of red.

He stopped hugging you and opted instead to set the table. It was quite small but enough for both of you to dine. He made sure to give you your favourite glass. You served the food up. He commented on how tasty it was despite it being only eggs and salt. “It’s hard to fuck up scrambled eggs.” You said with a slight jest in your voice. He laughed and continued. “But it’s not impossible!”

You went into the living room of your apartment after he was done with washing the dishes and you were done drying them. Your day was spent laying in bed and watching some stupid series full of cheesy jokes which were just cringey enough to make both your stomachs hurt from the laughter. At some point you stood up and went into the bathroom.

Your socks were met with a wet floor which you didn’t expect. Suddenly you realised what was going on. “Joost!” You shouted, calling him over. “What’s up?” He walked right into the puddle. “The washing machine malfunctioned… grab some cloths.” He nodded and walked up to the closet and pulled out some, handing it to you with a smile on his face to cheer you up before the work you both were going to do soon.

Unfortunately you didn’t catch the malfunction in time which meant the floor panels lifted due to the moisture they absorbed. Renovations were long overdue and you were planning on changing up the floors anyway you told yourself when you saw the panels literally de-gluing themselves from the floor.

You decided on a herringbone style of floors this time opting to lay them yourselves, after all how hard could it be? You bought raw planks and let Joost lay his heart out. You loved seeing him work all stuck in his own world. He weatherproofed the planks after cutting them up into size appropriate pieces and made your home look brand new with the shining new floors.

“You did a great job baby.” You said when he came over excited to show you his work. “We should monitor our washing machine better next time though, we wouldn’t want to ruin these gorgeous floors.”

•───────•°•❀•°•───────••────────•°•❀•°•────────• masterlist

#x reader #joost #joost x reader #joost klein x you #joost klein fanfic #joost klein x reader #joost klein #eurovision 2024 #eurovision #fluff #domestic fluff #my fic

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whxtedreams · 1 year ago

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Cookies as Payment

A Poets Love

Inspired by rupi kaur poem:

i'd be lying if i said you make me speechless the truth is you make my tongue so weak it forgets what language to speak in - by rupi kaur (milk and honey - page 61)

Word Count: 1.5k

Pairing: neighbour!joel x reader

Tags: no outbreak, fluff, baking, kissing, first kiss (with Joel), just wanna rip my heart out kind of fluff.

Series Masterlist - Main Masterlist

You didn’t expect it. Truth be told, you’re positive he didn’t plan it either. There’s so much you didn’t expect to happen between you and your neighbour, and knowing how soft his lips are was definitely not on your bingo card.

The house smells divine, a tantalising blend of vanilla and chocolate filling the air, the sweet scent mixing with the smooth jazz playing from the record player. The atmosphere is cosy and welcoming, blending all the perfect ingredients for an afternoon with Joel as he works outside on another one of your projects.

He walks through the kitchen door, his nose leading him to you while you pull the slightly browned cookies from the oven. Your back is to him as you place the tray on the counter to continue cooking as they cool.

“They smell amazing.” Joel hums as he reaches over you for one.

“They’re not ready yet, they’re still cooking as they cool.” You swat his hand away with the oven mitt, scolding him for almost touching them.

“But they smell too good.”

You softly shove him as his hand reaches for the cookies again. You turn to face him then, arms crossed over your chest as you lean against the counter. His wired headphones dangle over his shoulders, blending into his plain white tee, his jacket discarded in the early afternoon from the Texas heat.

“I could smell ‘em from all the way outside, got me droolin’ out there.” He huffs a soft laugh as he brings his hands up in false defence, moving back from the cookies. “I’ve been tellin’ ya to start sellin’ them, make a fortune.” He points at you then before pushing himself to sit on the unused side of the counter.

You open your mouth to say something but shrug instead, your hands focusing on the small fabric strands at your sleeves. He’s mentioned this a few times, every time he tries something you cook he ends up showering you with compliments. It’s sweet, how much he likes your baking and cooking and you have considered selling what you make but the idea terrifies you. Having someone pay for what you make, you’d rather just gift them to friends and family.

The first time you cooked for him, he almost begged you to help him cook for Sarah’s birthday the following week. You didn’t believe him when he told you he was a terrible cook. He ended up cooking for you that night to prove you wrong and after he made you spaghetti, you thought it would be better if he just stuck to prepping while you did the rest of the work for Sarah’s birthday dinner. You didn’t think someone could mess up spaghetti that badly, you were proven very wrong.

It’s been a few months since you moved in next door to Joel and it took him no longer than a week to start offering help in renovating. Took two weeks before he started coming over without the excuse of helping out and just wanting to hang out.

It’s been nice, the constant company that doesn’t feel like you’re suffocating your own social battery. It’s the easy, effortless conversations that instead fill your social battery instead of draining it like others tend to do. There have been nights where nothing is said for hours, each just bathing in each other's company as you each do your own little hobbies, not demanding attention.

There’s been times where you’re so stuck in your book you forget Joel is sitting across the room, tools in his hands as he carves away at another design. It’s not until he walks over to show you that you get the fright of your life, forgetting that you’re not alone.

You fall into another easy conversation as Joel impatiently waits for the cookies to be ready. He updates you on the bench he’s building for your patio, and you get lost in how passionate he becomes when he talks about his job. His hands start moving the more he talks, the corner of his mouth twitching as he explains how he overcame something when it wasn’t quite working the way he wanted it to.

You could listen to him for hours. You have listened to him for hours.

You offered to pay him of course, but he said a batch of cookies was more than enough payment.

You make him coffee as he talks, already knowing how he likes it due to the amount of times he’s ended up over at your house in the mornings while his daughter Sarah had a house full of teenage girls over. He’d stumble over half awake and plant his face on the counter as he waits for the coffee to brew, his hair a mess and clothes crumbled. Hard to sleep when they stay up all night fuckin’ laughin and playing games. As much as he complains about it, you know he loves that his daughter ended up with a nice group of friends, even if they keep him up all night.

You pour his coffee and he takes it as he mentions he’s almost finished outside. He’s rambling now and you’re half listening as you place a few cookies on a plate. His eyes light up and he shuts up as you turn back around with the cookies. This time you don’t swat his hand away as he takes one.

His eyes close as he takes a bite and you smile, knowing that you made him happy. “So fuckin good.” he mumbles with a mouth full.

You’re standing in front of him when he opens his eyes, and you can’t seem to read his face as you smile up at him. His eyes seep into you and it lingers on your skin as his eyes flicker down to your lips. The room goes quiet besides the music in the background.

And then he puts his coffee down along with the cookie, his hands reaching for the sleeves of your dress. Your heart is in your throat by the time he pulls you between his thighs, one hand on your wrist while the other rests at the back of your neck.

Your smile is gone, eyes wide as his own burn into yours. Then his hand on your neck ever so slowly pulls you in, giving you time to move away. You don’t.

The first press of his lips on yours steals the air from your lungs and leaves you completely breathless, completely entranced by the sensation of his touch. Your muscles loosen, your mind clears, and any sense of tension in your body disappears. You feel like putty in his hands, every ounce of your trust and affection poured into this single moment. He could do anything he wishes, and you would simply allow it.

His lips are soft and comforting, the stubble a welcomed contrast as they move over yours again and again. There's a sweet and sensual feeling in the air, the connection between you both being amplified with every kiss.

His hand trails up the back of your neck and into your hair, his fingers lacing themselves through the strands and pulling a deep sigh from you. The tender, intimate touch is causing you to melt, your body and mind slowly responding to his touch. The feel of his hand in your hair is both soothing and stimulating, drawing out a shiver from you.

He pulls away all too soon, leaving you wanting more. He holds you close, his warm breath fanning over your face as he looks into your eyes. You can see the smile slowly settling on his face as he sees your gaze, the longer he looks down at you the more his smile seems to grow.

“I think you taste better.” He confesses in a whisper, his hand leaves your wrist and settles at the small of your back.

You try to speak, but the words keep failing to escape your lips. You want to say so much, but there are so many thoughts and feelings racing through your mind that you can't translate them into words. It makes your tongue tired as it struggles to say how you feel, as if your feelings have completely filled your brain and left it with nothing left to speak.

At your lack of response, Joel's smile widens and his lips move down to kiss you once again, this time with even more tenderness and affection. The touch of his lips on yours is soft and gentle, sending an intoxicating sense of joy and comfort that sweeps through you. As his lips move over yours, brushing over them in a sweet and sensual way, you can feel yourself falling further into his arms.

And you think that maybe, you like the taste of your cookies better on his lips as he kisses you. The lingering flavours of vanilla and chocolate seem to blend perfectly with his mouth, as if designed to perfectly complement each other.

Notes

little thank you to @janaispunk for tagging me in the pinterest moodboard game and therefore making me sit on pinterest for an hour looking at cookies to bake and then write this. Thinking of making this a small series. Just small scenes losely based around rupi kaur poety as I read through their books.

#pedro pascal #joel miller #the last of us #joel tlou #joel fanfic #tlou #tlou joel #tlou fanfiction #joel x reader #joel miller x you #joel miller x reader

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khbathroomandkitchenrenovation · 10 months ago

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Kitchen Renovation Point Cook

When considering a kitchen upgrade, Point Cook kitchen remodeling services by KH Bathroom and Kitchen Renovations provide the perfect blend of style and functionality. Whether you’re looking to modernize your kitchen space or need a complete makeover, our team specializes in transforming kitchens to suit your needs. At KH Bathroom and Kitchen Renovations, we offer expert kitchen makeovers in…

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renovationprosau · 2 years ago

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Small Bathroom Renovations Melbourne: Revamp Your Space

Is your small bathroom in Melbourne feeling cramped and outdated? With recent trends showcasing stylish, compact bathrooms, a makeover might be just what you need. This blog will share insider knowledge about Small Bathroom Renovations Melbourne and how to maximise your space while revamping the design.

Benefits of Small Bathroom Renovations Starting a renovation for your small bathroom in Melbourne or in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs offers optimised layout and storage solutions. It offers a world of possibilities that increase the value of your property. Whether you’re in Malvern, Williamstown, or beyond, transforming this intimate space can yield numerous advantages.

Optimised layout and storage solutions An optimised layout and intelligent storage solutions can turn large and small bathrooms into spacious sanctuaries. Whether it’s a custom bathroom remodel or laundry renovation, strategic planning can enhance every inch of available space throughout your home.

Space-saving fixtures like wall-mounted sinks or corner toilets are perfect for both large and small bathroom renovations, expanding the floor area and fostering an open ambience. Recessed shelving provides generous storage without invading the room, while careful plumbing and electrical planning by professional bathroom renovators in Melbourne ensures a seamless fit.

Opting for light colours and clean lines in your custom design contributes to the illusion of added space in an old bathroom or ensuite bathroom. If you’re seeking the best bathroom renovation experts for your large bathroom renovations or ensuite designs in Melbourne, get a quote from our team of tilers and craftsmen. An efficiently designed bathroom not only maximises functionality but also cultivates a clutter-free environment, paving the way for relaxation and tranquillity.

Premium finishing and design options Premium finishing and design options transform your bathroom into a luxurious oasis. High-quality materials like granite countertops, ceramic tiles and polished brass fixtures contribute to an upscale feel.

Space-saving fixtures ensure every corner of the small room becomes practical yet stylish.

Customised lighting solutions can make a significant difference in making your new bathroom appear spacious and bright. For example, LED strip lights underneath vanities or mirror backlighting can add depth to the room while highlighting its best features.

Of course, any customisation with premium finishes will impact the cost of your renovation project. But every dollar spent is worth it for creating a dream bathroom that matches your aesthetic preference perfectly.

Increased property value With a well-executed bathroom renovation, your Melbourne property could see significant financial gains. Imagine creating a bathroom design that meets your dream aesthetic and increases your home’s value by 2-3%.

Whether it’s the installation of new fixtures or tiles, every change you make adds equity to your property and potentially gives you an additional $15,000 on a $20,000 renovation project.

Moreover, these renovations may boost the overall energy efficiency by approximately 10%, yet another selling point for prospective buyers impressed with eco-friendly homes.

Henceforth, small bathroom renovations go beyond improving functionality, they’re sound financial investments that can pay off big when it’s time to sell!

Common Problems with Starting Bathroom Renovations When starting bathroom renovations in Melbourne, homeowners often need help with common problems such as budget constraints, limited space, and the challenge of choosing suitable materials and fixtures.

Budget constraints Renovating your small bathroom in Melbourne doesn’t have to break the bank. When it comes to budget constraints, options are available to suit various financial situations. By carefully strategising and making wise decisions, it is possible to accomplish an affordable bathroom renovation that is aesthetically pleasing and practical.

Consider opting for cost-effective materials without compromising on quality, explore affordable fixture options, and work with experienced tradespeople who can provide efficient services at competitive rates.

By being strategic with your spending and taking advantage of affordable solutions, you’ll be able to transform your small bathroom into a space that reflects your style without overspending.

Limited space Limited space is a common challenge when it comes to small bathroom renovations in Melbourne. Renovating a small bathroom can be daunting, as you must make the most of the available space while ensuring functionality and aesthetics.

Planning is critical when working with limited space, and there are specific tips and advice that can help you achieve successful small bathroom renovations. By optimising your layout, choosing smart storage solutions, and selecting fixtures that maximise space, you can transform your small bathroom into a stunning and functional oasis within your budget.

With careful planning and the appropriate approach, you can overcome space limitations and design a stunning new bathroom that fulfils all your requirements.

Choosing the right materials and fixtures Choosing suitable materials and fixtures is a crucial step when starting your bathroom renovation project. It’s important to carefully select the materials that match your desired aesthetic and provide durability and functionality.

Using premium materials like marble and quartz can add a touch of luxury to your bathroom. However, they may have a sizable impact on the overall cost of your remodelling venture. Still, they might significantly affect the total expense of the remodelling project. Consider factors such as maintenance requirements, water resistance, and longevity when choosing materials for your fixtures.

By making informed choices, you can ensure that your new bathroom will not only look stunning but also stand the test of time.

Choosing a Professional for Bathroom Renovations Melbourne When choosing a professional for your bathroom renovations in Melbourne, experience is key. Hiring experienced tradespeople ensures that you will receive top-notch service and quality workmanship.

Don’t settle for anything less when it comes to creating your dream bathroom. Read on to discover why our team is the best choice for all your renovation needs!

Importance of hiring experienced tradespeople Hiring experienced tradespeople for your bathroom renovation is of utmost importance. These professionals have the knowledge and expertise to ensure the job is done correctly and to a high standard. They understand the specific challenges and requirements of bathroom renovations, such as plumbing and waterproofing, and can navigate them effectively. Experienced trades contribute valuable expertise, guaranteeing a seamless execution of your project from beginning to end.

By hiring professionals who specialise in bathroom renovations, you can have peace of mind knowing that your space will be transformed into a stunning and functional oasis.

Professional and friendly service Renovating your bathroom may seem overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. With the help of professional and friendly service, you can make the process stress-free.

Experienced renovators take pride in offering top-notch customer service from start to finish. With their knowledge and experience, they guide you through the entire renovation process, ensuring that your vision for a stunning and functional bathroom becomes a reality.

Whether it’s providing expert consultations or delivering high-quality workmanship, these companies are dedicated to providing you with a professional and friendly experience. With their assistance, you can transform your small bathroom into a beautiful space that meets all your needs. Renovation Pros is known for its commitment to excellent customer service.

Our team of experts takes the necessary time to comprehend your unique needs and collaborates closely with you throughout the entire process. From initial consultation to final completion, we guide you every step of the way while maintaining open communication.

Testimonials from previous customers Our satisfied customers have raved about the exceptional workmanship and customer service they received from our team. Sharon Giblett, a homeowner in Melbourne, was thrilled with her bathroom renovation project managed by Renovation Pros.

We delivered stunning complete bathroom renovations that exceeded expectations, with high-quality finishes and clear communication throughout the process.

Renovation Pros has an experienced team that guarantees a completion date for their stunning bathroom projects. You can trust that when you select our services, you’ll join a long list of happy customers who have created their dream bathrooms with us.

The Renovation Pros Process Bathroom Renovations In Melbourne Our skilled team will begin the renovation process by conducting an initial consultation to grasp your requirements and develop a personalised design for your compact bathroom in Melbourne.

We will help you select the best materials and fixtures, handle all construction and installation work, and add those final touches to ensure that every detail is perfect. Trust us to bring your vision of a stunning and functional bathroom to life within your budget and timeframe.

Initial consultation and design During the initial consultation for your small bathroom renovation in Melbourne, a professional installer will come to your home to understand your needs and assess the space. This step is crucial in the design process as it allows them to gather all the necessary information to create a tailored renovation solution just for you.

Our team will present you with a concept proposal during this consultation, giving you an introduction to what your renovated bathroom could look like. You can also discuss the design and build process, ensuring everything is clear from the start.

Selection of materials and fixtures Choosing the right materials and fixtures is key in small bathroom renovations. It’s important to select items that enhance the aesthetic appeal of your space and provide functionality and durability.

When considering materials, choices such as marble and granite can bring a sense of elegance to your bathroom, while tiles provide numerous opportunities for creative designs. Fixtures such as faucets, showerheads, and toilets should be chosen with quality in mind, ensuring they are built to last.

By carefully selecting materials and fixtures for your small bathroom renovation in Melbourne, you can create a beautiful and functional space that will stand the test of time.

Construction and installation During the construction and installation phase of your small bathroom renovation in Melbourne, our experienced professionals will bring your vision to life. This process involves engaging builders, plumbers, and other tradespeople who will work together to transform your space.

We will ensure that all necessary building codes and regulations are met through a thorough building inspection.

We will use custom cabinets or drawers that can be thoughtfully installed in your small bathroom, allowing you to maximise storage space. These tailored storage solutions are designed to fit seamlessly within the available space, providing you with convenient and accessible areas to store your bathroom essentials. By optimizing storage in this way, you can keep your bathroom clutter-free and organized, enhancing both the functionality and aesthetics of the room.

With our experts in bathroom renovations and attention to detail, our professional teams will ensure that the construction and installation are completed efficiently and with high-quality workmanship.

Final touches and completion Once your small bathroom renovation’s construction and installation phase is complete, it’s time for the final touches and completion. This is where your vision truly comes to life! Our team of experienced tradespeople in Melbourne will meticulously attend to every detail, ensuring that your new bathroom is stunning and functional.

From carefully applying the finishing coat of paint to installing beautiful fixtures and fittings, we take pride in our workmanship. We understand the importance of these final touches in creating a space that exceeds your expectations.

With our attention to detail, you can trust that every aspect of your small bathroom renovation will be completed with precision and care.

Budgeting and Timeframe Discover the factors that influence the cost and timeframe of your small bathroom renovation project in Melbourne, and get ready to transform your space into a stunning oasis. Read on to find out more!

Factors influencing the cost of a small bathroom renovation Several factors can influence the cost of a small bathroom renovation. One key factor is the size of the bathroom itself. Generally, larger bathrooms tend to be more expensive to renovate compared to smaller ones.

The bathroom layout also plays a role in determining the cost, as it may affect plumbing needs and any necessary structural changes. Additionally, the style and accessories chosen for the renovation can impact the overall expenses.

From budget-friendly options to high-end finishes, each choice can contribute to the final cost. Lastly, it’s essential to consider the timeframe of your renovation project, as more extended periods may lead to higher expenses.

By considering these factors, you can better plan and budget for your small bathroom renovation in Melbourne.

Average cost range for small bathroom renovations The cost of small bathroom renovations in Melbourne can differ based on the project’s size and extent. The typical cost range for a small bathroom remodelling project is around $15,000 to $20,000, on average.

However, larger and more complex renovations could cost upwards of $40,000. For smaller bathrooms under five square meters, the average cost is around $9,700. Remember that specific elements within the renovation can also impact the overall price range.

These prices typically include materials, fixtures, labour costs, and any necessary plumbing or electrical work.

The estimated timeframe for completion A bathroom renovation project in Melbourne typically takes 3 to 8 weeks to complete the build stage. Under ideal conditions, whole bathroom renovations can be finished in around 23 days.

On average, a bathroom renovation in Melbourne falls within the range of 3 to 40 days. Please note that the durations mentioned above may differ based on the project’s intricacy and any unforeseen challenges encountered during the construction process.

It’s important to plan accordingly and allow for some flexibility when setting your expectations for completion.

Conclusion Revamp your home with Small Bathroom Renovations Melbourne and create a space that is functional, stylish, and tailored to your preferences. With a team of experienced tradespeople, premium finishing options, and optimised storage solutions, you can transform your bathroom into a stunning oasis.

Don’t settle for a cramped or outdated space, contact Renovation Pros today to start your dream bathroom renovation project.

ORIGINALLY FOUND ON- Source: Renovation Pros(https://renovationpros.com.au/small-bathroom-renovations-melbourne/)

#Bathroom renovations Melbourne #Kitchen renovations Melbourne #bathroom renovations Point Cook #Kitchen renovations Point Cook #bathroom renovations Brighton #Kitchen renovations Brighton #bathroom renovations Werribee #Kitchen renovations Werrinbee #bathroom renovations Hawthorn #Kitchen renovations Hawthorn #bathroom renovations Kew #Kitchen renovations Kew

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iloveboysinred · 1 year ago

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Life with Keith after the war [Domestic fluff hcs]

pg.13 fluff| Keith Kogane x gn reader

cw; fluff, domestic life, mentions of war

masterlist

-Okay so after the war against the Galra was won, you and Keith moved back to his house in the desert, opting to live a quiet life in isolation.

-it was peaceful and a stark contrast to the almost constant chaos of whirling around in space.

-you and Keith made some renovations to the home, fixing broken windows, re-storing the paint on the walls, and getting working appliances like a new fridge, a microwave and a bunch of new cups and plates.

-Mornings with him were your favorite, you always woke up before him, turning on some music and cooking breakfast for yourselves, watching the sun finish rising.

-he didn't wake up too long after you, your lack of warmth in bed basically forcing him to get up and look for you.

-He would find you in the kitchen, a cute apron that was much too long for you covering you from the mess of pancake batter all over the counter.

-"Morning Keith" "mmh morning baby. What's cooking?"

-he would come up behind you and wrap his arms around your waist, burying his face in the crook of your neck, his sleep laden eyes still not adjusted to the bright morning light shinning through the windows. He made a mental note to get curtains.

-He would hold onto your hips and sway side to side, following the beat of the music playing.

-you guys regularly visited Shiro, almost always taking home Tupperwares of food his husband would cook, never returning them back because Keith kept forgetting them.

-you guys had built a dog house outside for Kosmo, but he would just teleport right back inside, suddenly laying over you and Keith on the bed, wagging his tail like a puppy.

-You guys spent most of the day indoors, watching movies, talking about the future, loving on each other and trying to make up for all the times you couldn't be like this in space.

-Keith had become such a cuddle bug it was ridiculous, his hands were always wrapped around your waist, and he always had to be touching you, sub-consciously or on purpose.

-When you guys would sitting down at the dinning table, his hand would interlink with yours or rest on your thigh.

-you never went to bed before chit chatting about your day, exchanging I love yous and snuggling up under the covers.

-on the nights that you did stay up together, you and him would sit outside and stargaze, or stay in and watch scary movies with all types of sugary junk food, as if you guys were still teenagers.

-you regularly de-tangled and kept up with Keith's hair, it was so healthy and shiny.

-whenever Krolia visited you would all catch up, her sharing with you her earliest memories of baby Keith.

-he would blush and cross his arms, growing more and more embarrassed at every story. Your giggling not making it any better.

-after about a year and a half, Keith asked you to marry him. Much to Krolia's delight.

-you decided to have a small wedding, Keith not being the big flashy party type of man.

-You invited all the former paladins, as well as Ulaz and Krolia, everyone making sure to show up and celebrate your special day.

-you were over the moon once your vows were said and you were officially married, yanking Keith onto you and pressing a kiss to his lips, everyone cheering behind you and clapping.

-after the wedding, you guys laid in bed, just admiring each other, loving kisses exchanged between the both of you.

-from then on Keith just called you by your shared last name most of the time.

-"good morning, Mr/s Kogane"

-made it a point to let everyone know you were his spouse.

-he was such a sap, having multiple framed pictures of your wedding all over the house.

-Eventually the conversation of children came up, deciding when the time came you would adopt, wanting to give a child a family, just as Shiro did to Keith.

-Keith splurged as much as he could for the new addition to the family, buying clothes, food, toiletries, everything.

-he filled what used to be his room in the house with kid stuff.

-Shiro would frequently come over during this time, brining handbooks on parenting, offering useful advice on how to make the child feel at home and comfortable.

-When your new son came home you and Keith were over the moon, low-key freaking the little boy out with your enthusiasm.

-got a regular dog for him, scared Kosmo would teleport him to god knows where.

-it took a while, but he ended up warning up to you and Keith, you guys were a proper family.

-you and Keith grew old and grey.

-you would still hold hands on the porch, sitting side by side as the days would go by, but your love never ceased.

#❥iloveboysinred #keith kogane #keith kogane x reader #vld keith

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tgmsunmontue · 3 months ago

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Wild fields of forget-me-nots - 10/15

During the training for the mission Jake has an accident which results in him losing 10 years of memories.

A lot has happened in ten years. Bradley broke up with him. DADT was repealed. He got an air-to-air kill and a new callsign.

And he doesn't remember any of it.

ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE

PART TEN

Jake remembers a lot of things, like how to fly and drive and navigate. He knows how to cook and look after himself. He doesn’t remember a whole lot of other things and he’d hoped for answers to become clearer at home.

Except home doesn’t feel like home.

Answers didn’t appear, instead he has more questions.

The house feels… lonely. Empty. He’s not sure if that’s because Bradley’s no longer there, or if there’s something else missing, but he feels like he can’t just blame it on the fact that they were apparently renovating.

Jake isn’t an idiot.

There are a lot of somethings missing.

He’s never been an idiot when it comes to noticing things from the people around him, and he knows when people are talking around a subject or trying to bullshit him.

Something is not right, and he’s going to figure it out.

The fact that Javy had been looking around the house like he’d never before stepped foot in it had been a red flag. Another red flag to add to the others, so many now he’s lost count.

Some are bigger than others.

Whatever the fight had been about and Bradley and Javy not having their stories straight, that is so far the biggest one.

The lack of his clothes here.

Pictures missing even with the excuse of them being in storage.

There are some serious inconsistencies for everything, and now that he knows he’s not going to get interrupted he’s snooping, seeking out more clues to see if he can shape some answers. He might not have a lot of clothes here, but there are some. Again, it’s inconsistent. His favorite brand of coffee is in the cupboard, but it’s unopened and past the best before date.

He walks around, fingers trailing over surfaces and it’s nice, he does remember it, having visited here three or four times when they were dating. He remembers having a conversation about knocking out a wall and putting in a patio, and that’s happened; the wall has gone, and replacing it is floor to ceiling folding glass doors which lead out to a patio area. It’s what he imagined when he’d mentioned it, and the colors of the paint are ones he remembers pointing out that he liked.

There’s one picture that screams out home to him, but it’s not of him and Bradley. Instead it’s a field of wildflowers which is set up as a pollinator field near his grandparents’ farm and beehives. That is a view he’d know anywhere and he wonders at the significance of it here, hanging in the finished dining area where it’s also viewable from the kitchen.

Okay.

They’ve been sleeping in the bedroom, but it’s just him now, and whoever Bradley and Javy have arranged to check up on him. He heads for the bedroom, eyes running over the empty hooks on the walls, lips twisted and wonders. He’d have thought there would be something, anything, a small, framed picture on their bedside tables, but there aren’t. No pictures of their wedding at all and his sense of unease is growing.

But there are rings.

It doesn’t add up and it’s frustrating him.

He runs the pad of his thumb over the warm metal of the ring on his finger.

He’s already checked the bedside table and under the bed, faster and easier to check even when Bradley or Javy were around. Right now he’s got his mind set on the bedroom wardrobe. Pulling open the door he can see his few pieces of uniform hanging, taking up maybe one-tenth of the space. Not that he’s ever been a clothes horse, not like Bradley and his shirts, but Jake lets his eyes sweep over the collection before falling on the seven shoe boxes neatly stacked at the bottom.

He bends down to open one and a wave of dizziness makes him pause and he decides to settle down on the ground instead, he can crawl to the bed and sleep if he needs to. This shouldn’t take too long. Sure enough the first box has a pair of black dress shoes polished to a high shine and he wonders when was the last time Bradley wore them. The second box is another pair of shoes, brown leather; third box seems filled with paraphernalia from Bradley’s childhood. There are birthday cards and letters between what Jake can only assume are Bradley’s parents.

The fourth box contains more letters, except Jake’s name is on them. His fingers tremble a little, wonders if there are letters he’s written Bradley somewhere. It seems old-fashioned but also somehow romantic. Then he realizes that these have never been sent. Never been opened. And they’re all addressed to him. His address changed to different places as he flicks through the sealed envelopes.

He’s pretty sure he’s just found his answers, he’s just not sure if he wants them anymore.

… … …

Curiosity drives him forward.

There are dates on the top left-hand corner of each envelope and a quick flick through the box reveals at least one letter a week. Why the hell would Bradley write him letters like this? He pulls out the oldest one and slides a finger in, tearing it open, ripping sound loud in the silence of the house. It’s a single sheet of paper, covered in Bradley’s scrawling loopy handwriting and he starts reading.

… … …

Dear Jake,

I broke up with you today. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life and you know I’ve had to deal with some pretty shit already. But I want you to be happy. Need you to be happy. To lead a good life and find happiness with someone who deserves you. You’re so good. At flying, and life and loving. Everything just comes effortlessly to you and I know you’ll get over me.

I know you love me. Your capacity for love seems infinite. However so many days I simply don’t feel like I deserve you. No. I know I don’t deserve you. That I’ve managed to have you in my life for nearly three years despite everything, our time apart, hiding that we’re even together, DADT and our friends sometimes having to be won around before they even start to support us. It’s been a lot and you’ve never wavered in the face of all of it.

I have. You know I have, and yet you pulled me through, kept me at your side and helped me see what we could have. What you could have. Could be. And that’s what made me realize that you don’t need me there. You’re so easy to love and anyone would be so lucky to have you. I know you’ll find someone to make you happy. More than I ever could.

I’m so sorry that I had to hurt you like this to make you happy in the long run. I’m shipping out tomorrow, so you won’t have to see me, and I won’t have to try and be strong while I watch you move on.

With all of my love,

… … …

What the actual fuck?

He looks at the date and it’s just over eight years ago.

They’ve been apart longer than they were together?

He feels like throwing up. That’s not exactly new, not with his concussion, but the reason is very different.

Bradley broke up with him.

But then… Bradley had wedding rings.

He’d… agreed or pretended that they were married. Just gone along with Jake.

Had they gotten back together since Bradley wrote that letter?

Well. Clearly. But maybe it was recent? It would explain the inconsistencies, but still… married?

He’s just going to have to read the rest of the letters.

… … …

It’s been over a year and we saw each other for the first time and you hate me so much now. If that’s what I have to endure for you to be happy then that’s the price I’m willing to pay.

… … …

I heard through the Navy grapevine that you’ve got a new girlfriend. I went and got blackout drunk. Not exactly the best way to cope.

… … …

Holy shit. DADT has been repealed and I could ask you to marry me. I mean. Obviously I can’t. You don’t even look at me. But. Well. I had wedding rings made. God. I can almost imagine you laughing and calling me pathetic. I just needed to have something to mark what would have been our fifth anniversary.

… … …

You better be taking care of yourself Jake. Holy shit I hated hearing about you getting into a firefight, and I know you’re good but that doesn’t stop me worrying. So fucking proud of you.

… … …

I’ve been going to therapy. Not that the Navy will ever know about it, but I found someone and they do these sessions over the phone or through a video call on my laptop and it’s been… well. Hard fucking work. Interesting. Upsetting. Awful. Confronting.

… … …

You ever have regrets in life? I do. I have to live with my past decisions but it doesn’t stop me wishing things were different.

… … …

God you look good. You always look good.

… … …

I’m stationed with Coyote and if looks could kill and bury I’d be burning up in the core of the earth. I’m so glad you have friends like him.

… … …

We’ve both been selected for this fucking hellish suicide mission and you’ve been a complete and utter asshole, using your knowledge about my dad and Maverick to rile me up. To hurt me. A few years ago I would have said it’s nothing I don’t deserve, but I’m trying to be better about thinking things like that now. Still.

… … …

Writing to you is a habit now, and right now you’re asleep in my bed. You got injured and you’re under the impression we’re married and every time I see you here I’m scared of blinking incase you’re not there when I open my eyes again. Or that you’ll just fade to mist. I’m being so selfish letting myself have this, but if I don’t come back it’s all yours anyway.

… … …

There are over four hundred letters, and it takes him days to read them all, part of him is glad that he has them, it gives him something to do, even if he does have to stop to take pain killers every so often, or entertain whoever it is has been sent to check on him. The initial anger that was so bright and hot in his gut with the first letter is faded and muted by the time he’s nearing the end of the last box. Instead, he’s feeling shaky and emotional, has definitely shed a few tears.

But he’s still furious. Can’t believe Bradley lied about them being married… except. He’s lied about even more than that. He’s written letter after letter to Jake, never sent them, kept his penance to himself and just… wallowed in his own misery. Jake can look at the older letters and see the edges of depression and complete lack of self-worth there. He had known Bradley didn’t have an ego as big as his, but he’d never realized just how much of an act he was putting on for everyone. Some of his anger is at himself for not realizing how Bradley was feeling.

Every letter is signed with either, all of my love, BB or love always, BB. It makes sense, because the way Bradley has been acting doesn’t scream of a man that doesn’t love him. So even after all this time Bradley loves him, regrets breaking up with him, and would be married to Jake if he had his way. Has kept clothes that belonged to Jake from nearly a decade ago. Has been renovating his house with Jake in mind. Buys Jake’s favorite brand of coffee but doesn’t drink it himself. He wonders if Bradley has talked about all of those things with his therapist, because Jake is pretty sure none of that is overly healthy either.

… … …

Now that he’s read all the letters and then worked his way through some of them again he’s itching for Bradley to get back. He needs to talk to him, yell at him, kiss him. He doesn’t know which will come first, but he definitely has all three rotating positions in his top three priority list of things to do when Bradley gets back. He doesn’t want to think about Bradley not coming back, doesn’t want to think about not talking with him about… everything. He’s edgy and jittery, knows they’re meant to be getting back today, his check-in this afternoon being some woman who hadn’t looked military at all but had seemed nice enough. Then there’s a knock at the door and his stomach sinks, because Bradley wouldn’t knock. Not at his own house.

“Javy… what’s happened?”

“Well. He’s alive…”

“What happened?” Jake repeats

“Uh… I don’t think I can tell you. It’s classified.”

“Fuck’s sake Javy, you don’t need to tell me where or when, just… what happened?”

“Well. He got shot down. Then he LALOd…”

“Shit.”

“Then he and Maverick got into the air in a, uh, in an aircraft. Which was then crash landed on the deck. Uh. He’s got a concussion as well.”

“Oh my god. But he’s… he’s okay?”

“Yeah. As I said. He’s alive.”

He’s shaking, and he reaches back for a chair, pulling it closer so he can sit. Of all the scenarios he’d thought of, he’d somehow not considered Bradley getting hurt. He’d been thinking of it almost in a binary – Bradley was either going to die, or he was coming back alive and Jake would be able to have it out with him.

“I came to see if you wanted to come to the hospital.”

“Of course I want to come to the hospital!”

“Okay. You able to lock up?”

“I’m not a fucking invalid…” Jake mutters, and he’s also going to have it out with Javy. Figure out why his best friend has also been lying about his relationship with Bradley. There are boxes of letters for him to read to explain Bradley's actions, none to explain Javy's.

“Could have fooled me man, leaving you lazing around here while we went off and did the work…”

Jake flips him the finger as he pulls his sneakers on, keys in hand, slides into the passenger seat of the car and does up the seatbelt, his urgency to see Bradley now at even higher levels. Javy doesn’t muck around, heads straight back to base, and that relaxes him a little. No specialists or intensive care units or higher tech needed if Bradley is still on base.

“Uh. Everyone else okay?”

“Yeah. We all made it back alive. Miracle.”

Jake scoffs at that, because they’re all highly trained and the best at what they do. He might not remember his air-to-air kill, but he’s read all about it, Bradley’s worry for him, but also his pride in Jake’s competency and skill.

“Is he awake?”

“Yeah. They’re just keeping him in for observation overnight.”

Something inside Jake relaxes at that, not sure why that wasn’t his first question, although alive is probably still his key concern.

He can’t yell at a dead man.

ELEVEN

#Wild fields of forget-me-nots #Hangster #top gun maverick #Top Gun Maverick AU #bradley rooster bradshaw #jake hangman seresin

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