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siconetribal · 9 months ago

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Put It On My Tab: Chapter 9

Pairing: Jason Todd x Fem!reader

Tag: @vbecker10 @wordsfromshona @harlequin-hangout @harpy-space @tild3ath @gone-batty-fics @princessbl0ss0m @dakotali

Warning: Threats, Harassment, Discussion of possible links to/interest in criminal activity, and Y/N being a trouble magnet

Summary:

Everyone deserves time off, and the vigilantes of Gotham are no exception to the rule. The boys decide to take a weekend to let loose. Who knew a few drinks would lead to a stranger in bed?

Author Note:

A huge thank you and shout out to @harlequin-hangout for the amazing banners you made for me.

If you’re new to the story, here is a link to the other parts:

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

The store was spotless. The last customer had left about half an hour ago. There was nothing else to do, so Y/N took it upon herself to make sure it was pristine and ready for the next night traveler that would grace the establishment. Did she honestly expect anyone to come in? No, but this just meant she had one last thing to do before the shift was through.

“And now, I wait.” She mumbled as hopped up onto the stool behind the counter. It was going to be a boring and hellish shift with so little to do, but that just meant she was getting paid to do nothing. And that is far better than having to deal with some cranky customer. Grabbing her book from under the counter, she dove into the realm that awaited. A place where good, evil, and morally grey collided into a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors of adventure, intrigue, and romance. Within these pages, she was not some minimum wager struggling to make ends meet in some crime-ridden city. Within these bound sheets, she was free…until the chime of the front door pulled her back to reality. Of course, someone comes in just when I thought I’d be doing nothing.

“Well, well, well, look who we have here.” The familiar accented voice made Y/N’s jaw tighten as she slipped her bookmark back into the book and looked up to see none other than Citlalli’s troublesome cousin, Matías, and his posse of trouble. The one who always had some kind of job that would promise big reward, and would definitely get you killed if you were lucky. She could still recall the look on the Penguin's face when he realized he was being had. A look she never wanted to see once in her lifetime, let alone again.

I’d rather deal with those secret menu drinks and hear the brainless chatter of the overprivileged youth than deal with him. A lobotomy sounds delightful, even. “Welcome, what can I get started for you today?” She plastered on her award-winning customer service smile as she stood from the stool and stepped up to the register.

“C’mon Lindura, don't be like that.” He softly clicked his tongue and reached across the counter to grab her hand. Y/N was quick to pull her arm back to her side.

“I will have to ask you to refrain from reaching across the counter, sir. If you need time for your order, you may do so, but I request you step aside. Anyone who is ready in the group, I am happy to help.”

“Damn, Matty, she’s not playing with you today.” The group snickered.

“Fuck off, that’s just how mi pequeña petardo is.” Matías eyed Y/N and smirked. It made her skin crawl, and she wanted to burn every inch that had the poor luck of being seen by such a leering gaze. “Isn’t that right, Nena? You like playing hard to get, don't worry, I’m not giving up that easy.”

No, please do. Give up, better yet, please walk into a wall however many times it takes for you to completely forget about my existence as a whole. She bit back the retort, reminding herself that she was at work and being recorded. She needed this job to pay off the 4k. “Sir, I'm not "playing ard to get", you're simply impossible to want. I am but a simple café employee working her shift, nothing more. So, what would you like?”

“For you to finally say yes and be mine.” She had to admit it was a smooth answer, but coming from him it was more greasy, like deep fried onion rings fresh out of the fier and still swimming in the oil. Her temple began to throb as the group cheered and encouraged Matías to go on. Emboldened, he leaned over the counter some more and attempted to grab her again. She smacked his hand away and glared.

“Strike two, Matías, keep this up, and I’ll call the cops.” She kept her voice flat as she glared at him. “Now, do you want to order anything or not? If not, get out and leave me alone. I’m not interested in you, your idiotic lackeys, or whatever pitch you're trying to sell.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are talking to us like that, bitch?” The one to Matías’ right snapped, grabbing and tugging her closer by the front of her apron. “Do you know who you’re messing with?” It was obvious from the clothes that he wore and the way he held himself, this guy was a hot headed rich kid trying to be cool.

“Someone with severe halitosis?” She rolled her eyes, trying to tug his hand off of her apron. “Let me go, or you'll regret it.”

“Regret it?” The rich kid scoffed. “How? Gonna call the cops? Then what? Even if we give ya the chance to call them, it’s gonna take time for them to get here. That gives us plenty of time for some fun. Plus my dad knows the commissioner, they can’t do shit” His slimy smug smirk was the last straw. Her free hand gripped the counter edge as she tried to create distance by pulling back as she tugged at his wrist in the opposite direction.

“I’m how.” Everyone turned at the newcomer’s voice, surprised to see that someone else was there at all, since the door had not chimed at someone else coming in.

No way, Wonder Boy?! Y/N’s jaw dropped at the turn of luck of having someone as witness to the harassment.

“And who the fuck are you supposed to be? Piss off and mind your own business.” The tallest of the group stepped forward.

“Guys, settle down.” Matías glared at Jason. There was something unnerving about him, and he knew fighting him as they are now would be a loss on their end. “Joey, let her go.”

“But Matty,” the rich kid turned to their leader to insist, but one look from Matías was all it took for him to back down. “You’re lucky, bitch.” He sneered, shoving her backwards hard enough to send her falling back into the counter behind her. The sharp pain up her spine was hard to ignore, but she refused to give them the satisfaction.

“You’ve misunderstood the situation, my friend! Lindura and I, we go way back. She’s my cousin’s best friend, after all.” He gave Jason a broad smile as he hooked an arm around Joey. “Joey here likes to play rough, we were all just joking around. We were actually in to see our good friend Ryan. He was supposed to be in tonight, which is why we stopped by in the first place. Seeing Lindura was just a big surprise.”

So he was expecting Ryan? Or is he just bluffing and just said the first generic white name he could think of? Y/N eyed Citlalli’s cousin with great suspicion. Her gut was telling her that it was most likely the former, and there was a lot that was not being said. Knowing what she did about him, what was unsaid was usually dangerous, and her expensive knight in shining armor did not need to get involved in all that. Is he trying to get other staff mixed up in his schemes? Don’t tell me he’s trying to pull a fast one on the Penguin again. Or is this him trying to gain turf and get noticed by some other criminal mastermind? Didn’t he idolize the Riddler or Scarecrow? Yeah, I need to be associated with that just as much I need a hundred bullets turning me into human Swiss cheese!

“Lindura?” She snapped out of her thoughts at the call of the annoying pet name she was given by Matías.

“For the hundredth time, quit calling me that.” She snapped. Shit, what did he say? “Also, don't get me or him involved in whatever this is. You’re on private property and our company wants nothing to do with any of it, understand? If you’re not ordering, leave. He wants to order, and you’re holding him up.” She motioned to Jason, purposely avoiding any confirmation of someone named Ryan being employed here. The less she said, the more distance she could keep from whatever was going on. I’ll just let Mr. B know later. I better let Cici know, too, I don’t want her or the rest of her family getting dragged into his nonsense. Matías glared at her response, looking between her and Jason in silence. He was clearly angry with her and her answer, but said nothing more. He turned towards the door, which was behind Jason, and shoved past him. His little group of lackeys followed suit, glaring and sneering at Jason, who barely even flinched at their attempts of intimidation. He turned and watched the group climb into their car and drive off before turning back to face Y/N.

“So, he’s really a friend of yours or,” he trailed off.

“More like a pain in my side. Like he said, he’s my best friend’s annoying cousin.” She sighed, rubbing the sore spot on her back. “Thanks, for stepping in like that. He’s…not the best person to be around and hangs around unsavory people, as you saw. I want as little to do with him as possible, but he just can’t seem to take a hint.”

“Is that what you call hinting? I’d hate to see what you being blunt is,” he chuckled as he walked up to the counter. Does she remember who I am? “So, this would be the second time I save you?”

Ah, so he does know it’s me! “Are you asking? Because I might need to start charging you, again.” He raised his hands up in mock surrender.

Yup, definitely does. “Purely rhetorical, but if you must, you can put it on my tab.” He chuckled. Y/N rolled her eyes at his confidence, she had to. Otherwise, she would have found it cute, and she needed to not find him anymore attractive than she already did. “So, are you closing up shop or can I order?”

“Sadly, I’m stuck here until the next shift comes in at 8. For some reason, we need to be a 24-hour location. So, what’ll it be, Wonder Boy? Order whatever you like, it’ll be on the house. The Least I can do for you since you saved me from that mess.” She straightened her apron and stood in front of the register once more.

“Something tells me your boss won’t like that, and you'll end up paying for it. How about I buy us both something, and you come join me at a table?” Jason offered, looking around at the vacant shop, to point out that she really had nothing to lose if she did. It was a very tempting offer, though she was equally happy with just sitting back here and reading her book, but when would be the next time she would meet him? To get a chance to actually talk to him and sort out this hotel mess?

“Well, if you insist,” she forced a heavy sigh of reluctance. “What’ll you have? The bakery items are either made in house or bought fresh from local shops, by the way. I’d suggest one of the sandwiches if you're looking for something more filling or aren't too big on sweets.” He hummed audibly as he stepped to the right, peering into the display case before glancing up at the menu that was hung up behind her before making his selection and insisting she or more than a drink. As promised, he paid for the entire order, and she quickly got to work making everything.

The second son of Bruce Wayne silently watched as she moved around behind the counter, sometimes disappearing behind the door to what he could only assume was the kitchen. After weeks of searching, he finally had her. He finally found the young woman he landed into a sizable amount of financial hardship, and she was not against spending time with him. Now I just need to figure out a way to bring up the topic. If those assholes didn’t make such a scene, I could've easily brought it up now and insisted on paying. But now she’s going to feel indebted to me for saving her again, and might fight me on it. There's got to be a way to make this work. He frowned, crossing his arms as he watched the back of her head move left and right as she began to make whatever drink she had put in for herself. He knew it could not be his order, he kept it simple with coffee, medium with creamer and sugar. The fact that I broke a coffee machine, and she works at a café, she must really think I’m some sort of imbecile. He ruffled his hair to release some pent-up frustration.

“Here’s your coffee and sandwich. Here’s my drink and pastry,” he heard her mumble to herself as she reviewed the ticket once more before stepping out from behind the counter. “We should be good. If you need anything, just let me know and I’ll grab it for you. Anywhere in particular you want to sit?” He glanced around the room before settling on a window side table that was a half booth on the window with chairs on the opposite.

That looks like it’s the closes to the counter, so she doesn’t have to go running if someone else comes in, and the lot is visible from there too. If those assholes decide to come back, I can handle it. “Over there is fine.” He pointed towards the table, placing everything on his tray and carrying it over. Y/N watched with raised eyebrows at the gentlemanly treatment. She was not one to judge by looks, but he certainly did not look like the type to be so courteous. “Are you coming?” She blinked away her look of surprise as she walked towards him.

“Color me impressed. Is saving damsels your forte?” She grabbed the chair to take a seat when Jason motioned for her to sit in the booth.

“I’ll let you know if you got anyone coming in.” He took the chair from her and sat down. “As for me saving damsels, I guess it depends. Do you make it a business to always be in distress?” He smirked, stirring his coffee a bit before taking a sip.

“I don’t make it my business, if you must know. Trouble likes to court me whenever it gets the chance.” She scowled, plopping onto the cushioned seating. “And it seems like you are around quite often when it’s doing its damnedest. Should I be wary of you?”

Oh, you have no idea. “Is that any way to treat your savior, twice over?” He exaggerated his frown as he leaned back into his seat.

“That depends, are you causing the trouble so you can do the saving, or am I just that lucky to have you around to save me?”

“You’re not ‘just lucky’ if it’s me doing the saving. You could say I’m a bit of a professional,” he thumbed his nose, earning a loud “ha” from Y/N.

“Fancy yourself as some sort of warrior of justice? A lesser known caped crusader?”

“No capes, definitely no capes.” He sternly answered. Y/N stared at him, surprised by the tone of his voice, but ended up laughing it off, just like the last statement. He was clearly playing along with her line of inquiry. Jason, on the other hand, was being honest and was a little annoyed by her lack of believing him. It did not help that he found her laughter melodious and the joy of it so infectious that it placated the momentary irritation of her waving his words off as something humorous.

“Ok, a capeless crusader, got it.” She picked up her drink and took a sip. “Well, thank you, in all seriousness. You really saved me on both counts. I’m pretty sure that drink you took on my behalf was drugged, which would explain why you were so out of it afterwards. And even now, even though he knows me, Matías wasn’t going to stop that Joey guy from causing a ruckus. The last thing I need is something that’ll cost me or Cici’s job.”

“Cici, that’s the girl who took my order last time, right?” He thought back to his first visit here. He recalled reading the name tag of the employee he requested to keep his association with Bruce Wayne hidden.“The one and only,” she nodded her head. “Which, speaking of, I wasn’t, she didn’t-” she let out a heavy sigh and raised a finger signaling that she needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Jason raised an eyebrow in question, but said nothing as he let her take her time while he ate his sandwich. How exactly do I explain this without sounding like I’m blaming him or demanding money?

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keep-the-wolves-close · 10 months ago

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Steady Heart

Chapter 32: Destiny

* Pairing: Slow-burn Kayce Dutton x OFC Stella Daniels

* Rating: M

* Warnings: language, despair, angst, dealing with first time killing, smut, p in v sex, unprotected sex, creampie

* Word count: 4,604ish

I would love to give credits to @dameronscopilot and @deanscroissant for being sounding boards for me during this whole process, giving outsider insight, being cheerleaders, and allowing me to screech at them about things that have happened during the writing process. I seriously couldn't have gotten this far without y'all

Author's note: All I have to say is finally. Good lord. You’ll all understand when we get there lol. I hope everyone is enjoying so far! I hope you love this chapter as well! One more before I take a break to get some actual writing done.

The sound of the door being opened woke Stella with a jump. When it was daylight and she teetered on the edge of consciousness, it had been fine that she was by herself. She hadn’t thought about what it would be like after dark. She quietly sat up. She tried to listen for any recognizable sound.

The boot falls she would recognize anywhere. They belonged to Kayce. Her heart rate started to slow again. He opened the door a crack, just enough that he was able to see into where she was on the bed. She looked back at him and blinked sleepily.

“Hey cowboy.” Her voice was quiet, scratchy.

He smiled softly at her, “Hey Stellfire,” he opened the door a bit more and leaned against the door frame. “How’re you doin’?”

“I mean, isn’t that kind of a loaded question after… Wait, what day is it?”

“It’s the same day. It’s late though.”

She groaned and threw herself back onto Kayce’s pillows. “It couldn’t have at least been the next day before I woke up?”

“No, you know how our luck runs, but your brother also wanted you to be checked on. He was about to come up here himself, but I figured I would spare you.”

“My hero, thank you. Seriously. I don’t know if I can talk to him just yet.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s somehow going to turn into a lecture and I really don’t feel like being lectured right now.”

“Oh you mean how he and Colby tried to interrogate me as to why I answered your phone?”

“What do you mean they tried to interrogate you? About what?” Stella swept the sheets off and stood. “That you’re probably the main reason I made it out of that bullshit alive?”

“Hold on there, spitfire.” Kayce put his arm across the door frame to keep her from going out the bedroom door. He looked down at her. She was shorter without her boots. He wasn’t sure he’d ever stopped to think about it before. He had to clear his throat to keep from laughing at the cute scrunch of her face, her eyes squinted hard trying to focus in the dark without her glasses. “He just cares. Which you should be worrying about yourself right now. Not me. I can handle your brother.”

She crossed her arms, and squinted at him in the dim lighting.

“You should also probably get your glasses if you’re gonna be awake with me for a while.” She shoved him, silently telling him to fuck off.

“I guess I’ll stay up for a little whil—,” she realized she didn’t have pants on as the comforter brushed against her leg when she reached for her glasses. Kayce seemed to be ignoring her lack of pants, or it truly went unnoticed. “I’ll meet you out there in a second.”

After Stella heard him wander off, she searched for her black sweatpants. They had to be here somewhere. She had them on when she got back to the ranch. She looked on the bed. They weren’t there. They weren’t on the arm chair, the dresser or the floor. Anywhere on the floor.

“Where the fu—,”

“Lookin’ for these?” Kayce said in an amused tone. His arm was outstretched through the door, her black sweats dangled from his hand.

“Kayce John give me those!” She reached out and snatched them while he laughed and walked away.

His voice sounded far away in the living room. “What are they doing out here anyway?”

Stella walked through the door and into the kitchen, “I wish I could tell you, but I came in here and after I opened the door, I don’t remember anything else.”

She padded her way into the little living room. She sat down cross legged and faced Kayce on the couch. The quiet enveloped them both. She uncrossed her arms and looked at her hands. They started to shake as reality started to set in again. She killed someone with those hands. Two someones. She had snuffed the life out of them and couldn’t take it back. Yes, she had witnessed death more times than she should have at this point in her life. But she’d never been responsible for it.

“Kayce, what the fuck.” She leaned forward as a wave of nausea overtook her stomach, her face nearly touched the couch. He leaned over and rubbed her back. He chewed on his bottom lip as he tried to find the words. There was nothing he could say to make it any better. It definitely wouldn’t change the course of action she had taken.

“I know, sugar. You did what you had to do. To stay here. Alive, and with us. Like you said, they were coming for you and they weren’t stopping.”

“But I should have shot their knees or something. I didn’t have to go for their heads, Kayce. Fuck!” She moaned as she sat up. She ran her hands down her face. She started to hyperventilate.

“Stella,” he scooted closer and grabbed her hands bringing them down to her lap, “Stella, look at me,” he grabbed her full round cheeks. She stopped all forms of movement. She almost stopped breathing.

“Yeah?” Her voice was small.

“You did what you had to do. And if I’m right, he was a bad man—,” Stella interrupted and pulled back from his hands.

“— that doesn’t make it fucking better Kayce.”

“Yes it does actually.”

“What the actual fuck?!” Her temper raised her voice to a higher octave. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“You’re here with me and I don’t have to do this alone!”

Everything went silent. Both of them breathed heavier than normal as their blood pressure came back down. Stella blinked at Kayce, but he wouldn’t look at her. It wasn’t very often that you would find him raising his voice to her. She wasn’t sure what to do with the admission. Especially since the talk they had a few weeks ago. She hadn’t taken into account how important she was to him before. How crucial she still was, apparently.

“Look at me.” Her tone was soft. She didn’t want to scare him into leaving. She realized that he had been just as scared about her dying as she was. He took his time, but finally looked at her.

“I’ve always been your Huckleberry, Kayce. Why do you think Lee joked about us being attached at the hip?” Stella fidgeted with her hands and tried to keep her mind busy. “I made a promise to your brother that I would do almost anything for you and the family. You’re all Ryan and I have. You’ve done everything for us. I’m glad I’m still here. With you.” She reached out and grabbed his hand.

“The point I’m trying to make is that regardless of whether or not they were bad men, there’s still blood on my hands. How do I come back from that? I just—,” the lump in her throat cut her off. She puffed out air. She tried to catch her breath, but the thoughts stole it from her.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. He cupped her full cheeks to make her bring her eyes to his. He could see her starting to calm down.

“Baby, it’s okay. Whatever it is, we're gonna get through it together, alright?” He used the words she’d used for him time and time again.

Stella nodded, “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course Stella. You know you can always ask me anything.”

She hesitated. She felt childish asking this, but she really didn’t want to be alone. “Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?” Kayce smiled at her affectionately. The small way she asked was endearing.

“Come on, let’s go to bed.” He stood from the couch and grabbed her hand to lead her back to the bedroom. Stella felt her stomach tighten. She had been in and around Kayce in a bedroom plenty of times. They’d slept together for crying out loud. Something felt different now, and she wasn’t sure if she was overthinking it this time, or if something had actually shifted. She was torn, wanting to forgive him because he had saved her life, but also not wanting to because that shit had really hurt.

He walked in before her and pulled the covers down. He placed his hat off to the side and started to take off his boots. Stella was nervous and didn’t want to move more than she had too. He gazed over at her and could see the anxious look in her eyes.

Kayce assured her. “It’ll be okay. I promise. I’ll be in the house all night.”

Stella broke out of her daze and busied herself. She made her way to the bedside as Kayce took off his jeans. She sat down and watched him grab a pair of his own sweatpants. She bit her lip and looked away.

“How can you be sure? There’s so many places people can sneak onto the property and we all would be none the wiser.” Stella thought of all the different ways people could sneak in. She took her glasses off and set them on the nightstand on her side of the bed.

“Well, even if they do find a way in, we’ve got an entire group of people that will stop them.”

“I would rather it didn’t come to that though.” She didn’t want to endanger anyone else, more than she already had.

Kayce breathed out as he placed himself on the full size bed next to her. Stella scooted back toward the edge of her side.

He grinned. “I promise I won’t bite, Stell.”

“I know, I know. I just don’t wanna be all up in your grill.”

“At least make yourself comfortable. You don’t have to squeeze all the way over there.” He pulled the covers up over his lower half. Kayce placed his arm back against the headboard as if leaving a space for her to slide in. Stella squinted at him, unsure of what was happening.

Kayce reassured her. “Well c’mon.” She gnawed on her lip for an extra second and contemplated. She couldn’t help but feel like a line was being crossed somewhere. The exhaustion creeped in. ‘Whatever, I’ll deal with this later.’ She dismissed the idea. ‘That’s a later me problem.’

Stella shuffled underneath the blankets. She moved a fraction closer to Kayce, to which he huffed. He pulled her into his side.

“Since when did you become scared of me, huh?” He framed his arm around her shoulders giving her a gentle squeeze.

“I’m not scared of you. I just don’t want to be vulnerable again. We know how that ended up last time.”

Stella focused on whatever she could in front of her. There had been a lot that happened within the last 24 to 48 hours. She felt like the only thing she could do was be quiet. Some of the thoughts that ran through her mind still made her feel physically sick. Some of them left her uncertain. Her head was all over the map. How could she be thinking that something had changed between Kayce and she, when she had killed two people not long ago? Where did that make sense?

“I just think I’m tired, Kace.” Stella migrated farther into the blankets, but remained encircled in Kayce’s arm. “Can you turn the light off please?” The full weight of his arm dropped against her. He didn’t want her to clam up on him. He wasn’t sure what to do. He kissed the top of her head and leaned over to turn out the light.

It had only been a few hours since they had wandered into the bedroom. Kayce’s full intention had been to head out to the couch once she fell asleep. He woke up as he felt her rutch around. She was making small noises. Even faced away from him, he could tell she was troubled. She flopped back over and faced him again. She reached out and grasped his tank top.

He reached out for her. “Stella, honey.” One hand grabbed hers on his chest, the other touched her face lightly. He rubbed her rosy cheek and tried to pull her out of the nightmare.

“Stella.” Kayce said more firmly. Her eyes flew open as she breathed in a gulp of air. Her arms flailed as she grappled to get her hands on anything she could to keep herself from falling.

“Hey, hey, hey. It’s okay, Stella. I’m right here. You’re safe. You’re in the foreman’s house. Everything is alright.” Kayce told her quickly. He brushed the stray hairs from her face. She heaved trying to catch her breath making high pitched wheezes come out. She pushed his hands away, and kicked at his legs.

Kayce tucked his leg over top of hers, grabbed both of her wrists in one hand and brought them close to his chest. He laid himself over on top of her to weigh her down some. He leaned into her, as close to her face as he could get. He had to get her to stop struggling.

“Stella!” She drew back into the pillows. Her eyes fully locked in on Kayce, and she realized was safe. They both puffed and panted. Her short bursts of breath moved the hair in Kayce’s face. Their eyes locked and Stella froze. Time appeared to stand still.

“Come back to me, Stell.” He let go of her wrists and she touched his face. She had to make sure this was real, and wasn’t about to transition into a horrible scene.

“Oh my god, Kayce.” Her arms shot out and hugged him tight. As he dropped, he moved to his side. He rolled her with him and kept her in his grasp. She buried her face as far into his neck as she could and started to cry. “I’m a horrible person. I killed someone. I can’t take it back. I should be arrested, or in jail! But no, I had to call you, and now all of you are wrapped up in my fuckin’ mess too.”

He placed his hand on the back of her head. “Shh shh, it’s okay baby. It’s okay.” His heart broke all over again for her. He wished he would have gotten to that last man before she had to kill him. He would have gladly placed that on his shoulders, so she didn’t have to bear it.

“No! It’s not okay! I put everyone in danger—,” she hiccuped with tears.

“Baby, I came for you. I got you safe, and you did what you had to. You didn’t force any of us to do anything we wouldn’t.”

Stella got frustrated. She pushed back and away from Kayce. “Why do you keep calling me that! You made your feelings very evident when you ripped me apart!” She sat up and swiped angrily at her face. “You don’t get to call me that!”

“I don’t know!” He sat up and fixed his gaze on her. She glared at him. “I can’t do this anymore. You know we’re more than friends at this point.”

“No. No. I’m not doing this right now.” She started to panic. She clambered from underneath the tangled sheets on her legs.

“Stella, where are you going?” Kayce scrambled to get out of the bed behind her.

“Away from you!” She hurried and snagged her boots. She could hear his footsteps behind her. Her hand landed on the door knob and she started to swing the door open. It slipped from her hand violently as it was pushed shut by Kayce’s much larger hand. She gaped at Kayce’s arm and spun around and scowled up at him while dropping her boots.

He towered above her. With his hand on the door, his presence felt so much bigger. Their eyes finally met. They both huffed wildly. Stella felt warm. The whole room felt like it was on fire. She rammed her hands into his chest and tried to shove him backward. He moved, but swung back forward, keeping her surrounded.

“Kayce let me go!”

“No Stella. Not until you simmer down.”

“That’s not gonna happen with you in my face!” She shoved at him again. He grappled with her hands. Kayce yanked on them and straightened her back against the wall. He pressed himself against Stella’s body as close as he could get, then maneuvered his leg in between hers. That caused her to hike up, almost on her tiptoes. It made her lose her breath. She was taken over by a memory of that first time in her house.

Kayce gripped her chin in his hand. “Stella, stop. Focus.” She glowered at him. “I will let you go, but I need you to calm down. I don’t want you leaving here in a huff and getting hurt because you left unprepared.”

“Oh my god. I don’t need you to fuckin’ baby me.”

“I’m not babying you! I’m trying to make sure you don’t die!”

“Why?!” She screeched. “No one signed you up for that!”

“Because I fucking love you okay!” He let her go and she dropped back onto her feet. Kayce retreated and turned away from Stella. His shoulders dropped and he wiped his face with his hands.

The silence that enveloped the room was deafening. Stella sagged back against the door while she tried to catch her breath. She stared at his back, her mouth hung open, unsure of what to say. In a small voice, she asked simply, “Why?”

Kayce picked his head up, but he didn’t turn around. “Because after everything that’s happened in my life in the last 13 years, good, bad, horrible… you’ve never run.” Stella looked down at the floor. She went to adjust her glasses, but realized she had never grabbed them in her hurried temper tantrum. “Hell, even when I told you what I had done after Lee… you still, never ran.”

“I know I can always count on looking up and seeing you somewhere ready to fight anyone coming for me, or die trying.” She heard his feet move on the floor, but refused to look up. He placed his hand gently under her chin to bring her eyes up to meet his. Once she did, he released her face.

“I couldn’t breathe when I heard you scream and those gunshots, Stella. I thought I was gonna run to you, and you would be gone. My heart stopped.” He opened his arms in an offered hug. Stella sniffled and moved forward into the embrace. “I’m happy it was him and not you. I’ll say that every time. No matter if we got the chance to change it, or not.” Kayce said softly into her ear.

Muffled from his chest came the hushed admission. “I’m really glad it was you who came and had my back.” He softly smiled and put his chin on her head.

Stella stared at his chest. All the thoughts rushed through her mind at once. She leaned back to take a good look at him. When his eyes met hers, everything ceased. She threaded her hand through his hair and stood on her tiptoes to meet his lips halfway. Kayce wrapped his arms tighter around her, pulling her closer like she was his source of air. Their tongues danced along one another and Kayce let out a quiet hum.

She pulled back, leaning her arms on his shoulders. Kayce gazed down at her as if she held the universe in her palm. She timidly looked up at him in contemplation. The last time they allowed this to happen had been a whirlwind. Kayce watched her mind work.

Was she ready to forgive him? Of course she forgave him. She would probably always forgive him. They were both human and when all of that went down they were both vulnerable in different ways. They sought out comfort and safety with each other. Did it make it right that they both took advantage of each other? Absolutely not. But did coming to the realization they both weren’t perfect make it easier to swallow? Did she think they could work things out? Yes.

Amidst all the weirdness, he had put that aside when she needed someone the most. He’d saved her. She wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t rushed out to her. Was she ready to let him back in for real this time, was the question. His hand on her cheek brought her back to reality.

“You okay, Stell?”

A tiny grin settled on her cheeks. She placed her hand on his chest and with a hushed tone said, “come to bed with me.” Gently she grabbed his hand and led him to the bedroom.

Her heartbeat pounded in her chest so hard she could barely catch her breath. “Keep me safe.” She whispered. It was about more than just the act they were about to engage in. She wanted him to be careful with not only her body, but her mind. Her heart.

Kayce stepped forward, and kissed her softly. He reached down and wrapped the bottom of her plain white t-shirt in his fingers. Tugging upward, Stella instinctively lifted her arms to let the garment slide up and off. When it slipped over her head, her breasts dropped free of the shirt. They bobbed with her heavy breaths from her nerves.

Kayce took off his shirt to join her and tossed both to the side. The duo grabbed the waistband of their pants and quickly dropped them to the floor. They stood there taking each other in. He closed the gap between them and took her mouth with his. Stella met him with open arms. Kayce turned them about face and laid back on the bed, bringing her with him.

Neither of them came up for air as they slowly descended onto the mattress. Stella’s hand trailed its way from his chest, along his stomach. The muscles tightened as her fingers flitted along closer to their goal. Her soft fingers wrapped around his dick. Kayce broke their kiss to groan.

Stella placed soft kisses along his jaw and shoulder. She stroked his cock with a soft grip and loose wrist. With every pass of her hand she swore it hardened even more. He looked beautiful in this moment to her. His head was back against the pillows, lips parted, eyes closed. She gave him gentle direction. “Hey look at me.”

Kayce’s eyes shot open, searching for hers. When he found her, she was watching herself jerking his dick with her bottom lip pulled in between her teeth. She released her lip and looked back at him. The desire he saw in her almost stopped his heart. His penis throbbed and jumped in her hand.

She lazily sat up and pulled her hair free from the messy bun that sat atop her head. Kayce propped himself up on his elbows and groaned at the lack of contact, but her hand on his shoulder stopped him. Stella threw her leg over his hips and straddled him. He placed his hands on her thighs and gave them a squeeze.

Posting up, he reached between them and grabbed himself to help her aim. He pumped his cock a few times and he slid himself between her slick folds. Stella tossed her hair to the side and sunk down onto him. She watched him disappear into her waiting pussy. The sound she made was almost a purr when he was fully sheathed. Her head fell back and her eyes fluttered shut at the sensation of being full.

Kayce grabbed her arms and pulled her down to his chest. He propped his legs up on flat feet, pulling her in to kiss her. His tongue found its way into her mouth and she responded with a moan. Gradually he thrusted his hips upward. Stella’s waist came to life and ground down on his cock in time with his thrusts.

It was lazy and it was slow. There was no rush, and every feeling built upon the last one. Stella pushed back and sat up straight. She wound her pelvis against his. There was a particular angle he noticed she hitched at. When she came around again Kayce snapped his cock up into her dripping cunt. She buckled forward, catching herself on his chest. She kept winding her center against him. The electricity from him hitting that angle ran through to her toes. She whispered breathelessly, “fuck, Kayce.”

“I know, sugar. Lay down.” He helped her up off him. When she was settled he got comfortable on top of her. She subconsciously surrounded his waist with her legs. He angled his cock at the entrance to her pussy and dove back in. Stella embraced him, burying her face in his neck. Kayce’s hand trailed back along her side, and up her leg to lend her support.

He drove his cock into her slow and deep. Each time he hit her cervix she huffed out a moan. Stella was so overwhelmed with how deep he was she scratched at his back. “Kayce,” she mewled. “Shit.” She wasn’t sure how much more she could handle.

Kayce rolled his hips in a circle and felt Stella clench around him. “Fuck, Stella,” he sighed shakily. “You gonna cum for me?” He thrusted sharply when she squeezed him again.

“Yes, yes!” She cried out. “Please,” she begged. Her arms left his neck and she grabbed his midsection, spurring him into action.

He rose up on his hands and Stella grabbed her legs behind the knees to keep herself spread for him. He almost came at the sight. Kayce locked his elbows and pounded into her from the close angle, pushing deep into her. Small grunts left him from the effort. He felt his release rising.

Stella felt as tears lined her eyes. The pleasure absorbed her. “Kayce, cum in me,” she requested soberly.

Kayce’s thrusts stuttered, “oh fuck,” he groaned at her invitation.

She reached up to touch any part of him she could reach. “That’s it cowboy, come on. Cum in me.” Kayce dropped overtop of her and hammered into her. He growled louder with every push. Their keening grew in volume and he felt his cum shoot out into her begging cunt. He shook and stuttered. Stella sobbed with her orgasm.

They laid there intertwined with each other, trying to come back down from the high. Stella came to sooner and brushed Kayce’s hair back from his face. His eyes slowly opened and he smiled up at her.

“I’ll be right back.” He tenderly pulled out of her and shuddered at the loss of contact. He quickly went to the bathroom and turned on the water in the sink. While he waited for it to heat up, he cleaned himself up, and grabbed a separate rag to run under the water.

Stepping back into the room, he gazed at Stella laying there, knees bent and feet flat in the bed. “Come to the edge baby.” She slid herself to the end of the bed and he took the wet rag and softly wiped his cum off of her.

“We made a mess, didn’t we?” She asked shyly.

He chuckled. “Nothin’ a washer won’t fix.” He finished cleaning her up and threw the washcloth into the hamper.

“Can we go back to bed, and deal with this during normal hours?” Stella asked as she placed her hand on his chest when he came back to her.

Kayce breathed a chuckle. “Yeah, c’mon, Stellfire.”

#yellowstone #kayce dutton #yellowstonetv #luke grimes #ian bohen #ryan #kayce dutton fan fiction #yellowstone fanfic #yellowstone fanfiction #kayce dutton fanfic

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luna-andra · 11 months ago

Text

The Shadows Return | Simon 'Ghost' Riley x OC | Retired AU | Chapter 6: The Cage

Summary: Ghost and Andra's first not-date

Author's note: This chapter was so fun to research and write, I hope you guys enjoy! ✨️

Content Warning: slow burn, eventual smut, 18+, fluff, mentions of mental health

If this is the first time you're seeing this, Chapter 1 is here. You can find the rest on my masterlist! Next chapter is here!

Word count: ~6k

The ideal way to see Andra bright and early in the morning would be with a smile on her face for once. Ghost was just relieved that he wasn’t the cause of her anger this time. His truck rolled to a stop in front of her house, and he could see her pacing back and forth on her front porch, her phone pressed against her ear. He couldn’t help but smirk at the sight of her in black sportswear, her hair pulled up in a hair tie with spindles of curls flowing from the pony and two free curls framing each side of her face.

She noticed his arrival and gave him a subtle “please wait” gesture to him.

Ghost sat tight in the truck, tapping a finger against the steering wheel nonchalantly. He observed her body language as she strolled down the 3-step landing, taking slow steps to the front of the truck. He wasn’t that good at reading lips, but he didn’t have to be to know that she was saying ‘no’ venomously. Everything else was lost on him, and her voice grew loud enough for him to realize she was yelling in Spanish.

Andra approached the passenger door, her last words being “Good luck figuring it out” before hanging up and slamming the door behind her.

He took the risk of trying to lighten the mood. “Got a habit of slammin’ doors, do we?”

Andra groaned as she scrubbed her clean face with shaky hands. “Sorry, my mom knows how to push my buttons.”

This is the first time he’s heard her talk about her family since they met. “That bad?” He also realized since it’s crack-of-dawn early here for them, it was late over there in the states.

Andra set her phone to vibrate and shoved it into her back pocket. “She tried starting with the whole ‘hi, mija! How are you doing? We miss you!’” her voice went up a few pitches to reflect an imitation of her mother, “And here I am thinking ‘it’s eleven at night over there, why is she calling that late?’ so I let her play her little game until she finally came out with it.”

She took a breath along with a hand gesture as if she’s trying to compose herself in front of her face. “She asked me to help her bail out my cousin Andrew.”

Ghost, focusing on the road, felt hesitant to ask anything about the situation, but he took the bait. “Are you close with your cousin?”

“No!” Andra exclaimed. “I don’t talk to that side of the family because they deal – “ she interrupted herself to omit a bit of information. “They run the streets with the wrong people, and I told her several times before that I couldn’t care less about that side of the family.

“And does she ever bother my brothers with that bullshit? Oh no, never,” she sneered, “Not her precious mijitos.” Andra crossed her arms over her chest and let out a heavy sigh, followed by a sarcastic chuckle. “I’m only family when they need something.”

Ghost sympathized with her, but he didn’t know what to say. What was that part about them dealing? Dealing drugs?

Andra melted into the passenger seat and eyed him. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be dumping this on you when we’re supposed to be having a nice day out.”

All he could do is play it off. “I think I have to draw the line at family baggage.”

A silent snicker had her shoulders bobbing. “That would be my hard limit, too. So tell me now if I have anything crazy to look forward to so we can call it quits now.”

He knew she was joking back, but he couldn’t help but think how she had no clue.

Her head relaxed against the headrest as she looked out the windshield to the morning sunrise melding with the skyline. “I guess I should be thankful that she bothered me early in the morning rather than in the middle of our not-date.”

Ghost shook his head at that with a hidden grin. “That’s one way to look at it.”

“Speaking of, where are we going?” Andra turned to him again.

The truck stopped at the next stop light and took a left, taking them away from Disley and the little civilization they lived nearby. “A park.”

“A park?” she questioned. “We passed up plenty of other parks.”

Ghost eyed her for a quick second before looking back to the road. “This one’s different.”

“Is this a park where notorious killers dump the bodies of their victims? Because that’s the vibe I’m getting.”

He rolled his eyes. “If I was a killer, don’t you think I would’ve done it a long time ago?”

Ghost could feel the grin she was trying to suppress. “That was honestly my first thought when we met.”

“Gee, thanks.”

With the sun only halfway peaked over the horizon, the truck drove down a narrow, one-lane road lined with beech trees shedding their red and yellow leaves. The wind was mild, and with each passing breeze the leaves were picked up in a wistful, arbitrary direction, creating flurries of autumn colors.

Andra looked out the window with a young, whimsy sparkle in her beautiful browns, and the sight of an ancient and well-maintained estate came into view. Ghost wasn’t sure if she even knew that she whispered a ‘whoa,’ but he wouldn’t ruin the moment.

The road split off into two directions, and Ghost made a right turn to the near-empty parking lot.

“The estate is closed until 0900, but the grounds are open to the public to roam about.” Ghost shifted the gear into park and killed the ignition. Behind him, he reached for a small pack that he prepared with a few water bottles and some protein bars in case they were peckish on the trail. “Ready?”

Andra was already opening the passenger door to hop out. “Absolutely.”

From the parking lot, they took the trail that would lead them directly to the front gates of the estate. The weather was mildly cool, but Ghost was wearing a jacket in case he found Andra feeling cold. Her skintight, long sleeve athletic zip up looked thin, but so far on the stroll she was managing.

The front gates to the estate were closed, but a quick cross over the road would lead them onto another trail. Andra observed the castle-like mansion. “Why does this place look familiar? I swear I’ve never been here before.”

Ghost stepped up to her side. “BBC’s Pride & Prejudice was filmed here.”

“No shit.” Her eyebrows shot up. “You watched it?”

He shook his head. “You?”

“Nah, just seen a few minutes here and there when friends would watch it.” Andra turned to continue the trudge along the trail lined with aged half-walls of cobblestone.

Ghost followed in tow. “I figured that would be your type of thing to watch.”

She snorted. “Why, because I read the occasional romance novel?”

“Romance? You read downright smut.”

Her face blazed crimson at his retort. “Jeez, thanks for saying it out into the wind.”

The wind was fresh and crisp every time it blew through the fabric of his balaclava. It had been a while since Ghost had been out on a nature hike, probably since the last time he and the lads went camping. This trumped staying home all day doing annual house upkeep or working out for a few hours.

The manor faded beyond the rolling hills, and further they followed the trail. Ghost knew exactly where this trail would lead them, high up on a hill overlooking Disley.

The silence between them was comfortable, Ghost didn’t feel the need to fill the time with talk. Andra was enthralled with the scenic tour of the countryside. Yet, Andra found herself being disrupted by the occasional vibration from her phone. Alerting her to unwanted messages by the expression darkening her eyes.

“Still getting loving messages from mother dearest?” Ghost assumed.

Her ponytail whipped around as she turned to look at him. “Yeah, at this point I’m realizing I should’ve left my phone in your truck.” Her finger held down the power button, and the phone’s screen went black.

“Did you leave the states to get away from them?” It was not like Ghost to go prying into people’s personal life, but he had always been curious about what brought her all the way over here in his own backyard. Or rather, next door down the road.

Andra slowed down to a sloth’s pace before she sat upon the cobble wall beside the path. “That’s not the entire reason, but it’s some of it.” She looked down at her dusty shoes. “I lost my scholarship. I had a four-year ride to Texas State, and a year in I blew it.

“My mother was pissed.” Andra’s gaze lifted to stare aimlessly amongst the fields of yellowing grass. “Not because I squandered my future, but because she thought she would never get rid of me. She didn’t want a daughter, just boys. And I worked my ass off all throughout school to make sure I had a way to leave home as soon as possible.

“So, when she found out that I was getting kicked out of the dorms, she told me I wasn’t welcome to come back.”

Ghost clenched his jaw. “And your dad? Was he present?”

Andra’s hands rubbed the tops of her thighs as she swung her feet. “He was, but he was completely oblivious to my mother’s vitriol.” Her eyes met his, that sadness he couldn’t bear to see swirling in the mocha of her irises. “My dad was at work the day I came back home, I’m sure if he was there, he would have opened the door for me and asked if I was hungry.”

A flash of his mother’s face manifested in his mind, her kind, ageing face opening the front door to his childhood home to greet him. He couldn’t fathom anything but love from his own mom.

Ghost had to look away from Andra and blew out a breath. “What happened after that?”

“I couch surfed while working multiple jobs.” Andra leaped off the cobble wall. “I got fed up one day, bought a world map, darts and a bottle of tequila,” Ghost shuddered at the mention of tequila, “Got piss drunk, and threw some darts at the map. That part was true, and that’s why I had lousy aim. The other two landed on Australia, and I wasn’t about to move there, scary ass bugs and all. And the other one landed on Russia, and I didn’t feel like learning a new language so Disley, England it was.”

Ghost couldn’t help but be amused by how cliché the decision was. “Safe to say you did good for yourself by moving.” The two of them continued their walk on the trail.

“Oh yeah,” she vehemently agreed. “I got a chance at life again and I don’t have to see my family? Win fucking win.” Her grin fell once more. “I miss my brothers and my dad. But I know Ivan is doing well for himself in the Marines, and Orion will be graduating high school next summer.” Andra’s eyes narrowed to the building in the distance. “What is that?”

Ghost looked at what Andra was questioning. “That’s The Cage.”

“The what now?”

The hill was getting steep, and Ghost noticed how Andra was struggling to trudge up the slope. He took her hand and led her to the smaller stone keep.

The Cage sat atop of the highest hill, looking over groves of shedding trees and endless, quiet pastures for kilometers. The closer they got to the Baroque-styled standalone structure, the louder the wind blistered all around them. A heavy, iron gate locked with chains and a padded lock restricted access to the three-story keep. Iron bars were installed on the first floor windows to keep visitors and vagrants out. And the windows on the floor above are too frosted with age to get a look of the interior of the building. Thin patches of moss speckles over the bricks and archway of the entrance, giving it color and character. The bricks have been discolored by centuries of rain running off its surface.

“It’s a historical landmark, built sometime in the 1500s.” Ghost assisted Andra as they reached a leveled out plain of gravel path, holding onto her hand even while they approached the keep. “It was originally a hunting lodge, and the wives or ladies of nobility would sit inside to watch and observe the hunters nearby.

“It was actually part of a larger structure, but they built this part of it a couple centuries after the original keep was demolished.”

Andra gave Ghost an astonished look. “I didn’t take you for a history buff.”

He laughed. “I took a field trip out here when I was still in primary school. I remember a few of the details from pamphlets we got. We were expected to take an exam on the history of the landmarks, and this one was the more interesting one to me.”

Andra pulled her hand away from Ghosts, leaving an absent sensation in his palm, to touch the withering stone. “1500s you said?” he hummed in response, and she was in awe in a way he wasn’t expecting. “Wholly shit, this might be the oldest piece of architecture I’ve ever seen in person.”

“This is nothing.” Ghost stepped closer until he was a step behind her.

She scoffed. “Yeah, that’s easy to say when your country is over a thousand years old.” Her surprised expression when she turned to face him, hand pressed firm on the wall, told Ghost that she didn’t know how close he was. She had to tilt her head up to meet his eyes.

Ghost fought the urge to place his brawny hand over hers. The air felt thicker than it has all day.

“Should we start heading back?” Ghost suggested. He figured by the time they got back, the estate and other shops were open to the public now; there was so much left he wanted to show her.

Andra nodded and followed Ghost carefully down the steep hill. “I realized something.”

Ghost hummed, “And what is that?”

“I don’t even know your last name.”

It was an innocent inquiry, one that Ghost felt comfortable sharing with her. “It’s Riley.”

Andra made an interested murmur. “Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley.”

She said his name like she it was an answer to one of life’s many questions. His name rolling off her lips made his knees weak. The way she held so much power over him should scare him. His feet began to carry him at a slower pace, walking a few meters behind that swaying ponytail, the breeze carrying the jasmine and vanilla essence that once haunted him.

-----

The estate had groups of people filing into the entrance, and the discomfort was apparent through Ghost’s body language. “It looks like the café is separate from the mansion, let’s hit it up first and get something.”

Andra’s suggestion was a relief. Ghost didn’t feel like bringing attention to the both of them and potentially ruin the experience for her. It would have been less packed if they had shown up on a weekday, but what could he do now?

The gravel crunched beneath their shoes as they approached the café. Andra hesitated, then turned to Ghost, blatantly looking at his masked face in concern.

Before she could say anything, he shook his head. “Don’t worry about me.”

“Are you sure- “

“What do you think I do when I gotta eat on my lunch breaks?” He opened the café’s door, the bell over the threshold chiming to announce their arrival.

Andra didn’t say anything else about it, yet Ghost was moved from her worrying about him. The café barista greeted them warmly, fighting the urge to give Ghost a questionable look. He let them know if they had any questions, they just needed to ask. Andra tilted her head up to look at the menu displayed on the wall. “What are you getting?”

“Just tea.” Ghost answered.

She scoffed. “Typical.” Before he could quip back, she started ordering for the both of them. “I’ll have a flat white and a tea.”

“Cream and sugar for the tea?” the barista asked politely.

Andra looked to Ghost for the answer, and he nodded. “Yes, please.” She chirped.

The barista announced the total, and before Andra could fish her wallet out of her pocket, Ghost handed payment over. He wasn’t about to let her pay for anything today.

A bashful grin crossed her mouth and she muttered a thanks.

With coffee and tea in hand, Ghost led Andra out of the café and chose a table with an opened umbrella shading them from the morning sunlight. Its vinyl material whipped and cracked with the wind. Ghost took the seat giving him the advantage to see anyone passing by and Andra sat directly across from him. She clasped the warm to-go cup in her hands, gauging the temp of the coffee with a gentle sip.

Ghost took the lid off his cup and dunk the tea bag a few times in the milky water and watched Andra’s satisfaction at her hot drink. “You cold?”

She waved her hand in a so-so gesture. “I’ll be fine after the coffee.”

“Here.” Ghost shucked off his jacket, leaving him in his black long sleeve shirt. Andra tried to protest, but stopped after he draped the jacket over her shoulders and returned to his seat. It was too big on her, but she didn’t complain.

Her cheeks went carnation pink. “Thank you.” Her attention turned to their surroundings, observing the other buildings nearby. Ghost took this as a chance to lift his mask up enough to drink his tea, gulping nearly half of the small cup. Shit, it burned going down.

With how Andra’s pupils flared, Ghost knew she was fighting the urge to look his way. Not that she had to; he made the choice to reveal a bit of his face, yet it was endearing. After concealing himself once more, Ghost broke the silence with more questions to ask her, such as what she was majoring in college, which led to her asking if he went to school before joining the military.

“No,” Ghost answered, “We were just required to have high marks on our assessments.”

“Oh.” Andra nodded; her eyes glanced down at her coffee. “In the US you have to complete college in order to be an officer.”

“Is that what you were trying to do?” He continued.

She glanced back up at him once more. “Yeah, I was in their ROTC program and was going to join the army after graduation.”

There was a thick energy around the topic. She was only giving out information that he directly asked her for. “Even though you lost your scholarship, you didn’t want to try enlisting afterwards?”

Her body went rigid, he didn’t know if it was from the cold wind blowing through or from his prodding. “I couldn’t.” A forced, halfhearted grin tried to conceal her sadness.

Ghost wanted to know more, but he was all too familiar with avoiding certain topics. And it probably had been years since she talked about this with anyone. He might be the wrong person to be asking forward questions about her past, but as much mystery as he gave off, so did she. And he wasn’t used to being in the dark about the people in his life.

With another lift of his mask, her eyes darted away, only to look back at him again as he finished off his tea. “There’s a second-hand bookstore nearby, wanna check it out?”

Andra’s eyes brightened. “For sure.”

-----

There was a particular smell about second-hand bookstores that Andra always enjoyed, a scent that she never gets anywhere else. It’s the telltale sign that these books were loved by all different kinds of people, and they were waiting to be taken home to its new owner to take them on a new adventure.

The bookstore was warm and inviting, and so was Ghost’s jacket. Andra had to fight the urge to lean her face into the lapels of the jacket to inhale his scent. Gods, she was a creep. She had done it once when he draped it over her and a second time when he walked ahead to open the door of the bookstore for her.

An orange tabby hopped down from its cat tree and approached the two of them as if to greet them, like it owned the bookstore instead of its owner. It chirped as Andra gave its back a gentle touch, earning her the honor of the cat rubbing itself against her leg. Sammy’s not gonna be happy about smelling cat on her when she gets home.

A woman in her late 30s peered her head from behind one of the many tall shelves with a smile. “Welcome, let me know if you need help finding anything particular.”

“Thank you.” Andra smiled back as she sauntered down the main corridor, scanning the aging labels for each genre.

Ghost followed closely behind her, hands at his sides. He stopped a few inches as he realized she had turned to face him. “I have an idea.”

An eyebrow disappeared beneath the fabric of his balaclava. “Should I be concerned?”

She grinned with an eye roll. “I promise, it’s not painful.”

Ghost stuffed a hand in his pocket. “Alright, I’m listening.”

“Pick a title that you would be interested in reading and I’ll have to read it, and I’ll do the same for your read. Nothing lengthy, something less than… let’s say three hundred pages.”

“That’s not lengthy to you?” Ghost retorted.

“I’ve read thousand-page books before, but I won’t make you endure that. You interested?” Andra rocked back and forth from her heels to her tip toes.

Ghost looked around and nodded his head. “Let’s see what we can find.”

“Great!” Andra left Ghost to search for his own book while she went scouring the store for some ideas.

From non-fiction to culinary, fiction to religion, the bookstore had variety. Andra went looking for the woman running the store, finding her behind the register counter. “Excuse me, do you have any American titles?”

The woman with blonde hair tied up in a bun looked at Andra with a friendly smile. “Yes, miss, it’ll be down that way.” She gestured down to the right of them. “On the lefthand side of the shelves.”

Andra thanked her and made her way to the section. From where she was at, she could see Ghost slowly stalking some shelves, his head was blocking the view of the sign that would have told her what genre he was browsing.

She didn’t know if it was the espresso in the coffee she had or excitement she felt from the day, but her heart warmed with joy. She didn’t expect the day to go the way it had. A walk on beautiful trails, sightseeing historical landmarks, coffee and books. Ghost was laying it thick, and she was eating it up.

It was enough to make her forget the morning call with her mom. Nearly enough. Andra knew she would have to call or message her brother to see if he got the same sob story from mom. It wasn’t a priority, but she hoped Ivan was smart enough not to lend the bail money.

Andra shook the thoughts away as she found the book she was looking for. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton.

“Find your book?” Ghost’s voice penetrated her focus.

She nearly jumped a few inches off the floor. “Aye dios mio.” Her hand pressed against her racing heart as she took a breath as he chuckled. “Yeah, I found something.”

“Me too.” The book hung at his side in his hand, she could see the title in bold, capitalized letters. The Operators. “Want to exchange now?”

“Sure.” They handed off each other’s book, both a mirroring image of inspecting the cover of the books. His illustrated a man in a ski mask aiming a pistol at an unknown target with a helicopter flying over his head. “The Operators: On the Streets with Britain’s Most Secret Service.” Of course he would pick a book like this.

“The Outsiders?” Ghost turned the book over to read the backside of the book. “Didn’t they make this into a movie?”

Andra nodded. “I’ve read and watched the movie.”

Ghost narrowed his eyes on her. “You chose a book you’ve already read? That’s hardly fair.”

“We’ll call it even since you probably know half of the knowledge in this book.” Andra strolled up to the counter and laid the book gently on the counter, Ghost placing his on top of hers. “And I’ll pick up the bill this time-“

Ghost laid out a twenty-pound banknote, maintaining eye contact with her. “I don’t think so, doll.”

She felt the heat rising in her face, again. “I’m gonna get you back.”

The nice lady witnessing what might be the second most sexual tension they have had between the two of them slid Ghost’s change across the counter and bagged up the books in silence.

“No you won’t.” Ghost picked up his change and the bag, thanking her as he headed towards the front door.

Andra and the woman exchanged glances, the woman telling her get it, girl without ever saying a word. After a polite goodbye, Andra caught up with Ghost.

He was looking at his phone that was blaring an emergency alert alarm quite obnoxiously, and he muttered a curse under his breath. “A severe flood warning has been posted for our area; we better get home before we can’t.”

“Oh shit, yeah let’s go.” Andra was on Ghost’s heel as they both picked up speed to head back to the truck. The clouds were noticeably darker off in the distance, in the direction that they had to go. Wind was blowing fiercer as well, the temperature dropped a couple of degrees during the time Ghost and Andra were inside the bookstore.

Her hair whipped around her face wildly, and Andra almost wished she had a balaclava to keep the chilly air from hitting her face. By the time they arrived at the truck, cold droplets were falling onto the windshield.

The two of them slid into their respective seats, and the engine roared to life as Ghost threw the gear into reverse. Andra was turning her phone back on to check the local weather app to see how close the rain was. Her knee bobbed impatiently as the phone took its sweet time booting back up.

For the first time, Ghost turned on the radio and immediately a broadcast played on the speakers inside the cabin.

“A flash flood warning has been issued in the following areas…” the spokeswoman rattled off several town names, including Disley. “This development is uncommon for this season; we advise our listeners to seek shelter and stay indoors until further notice.”

Once Ghost was out of the parking lot, he punched the gas pedal, sending the truck careening down the road. Andra could see other vehicles behind them; they must have gotten the message as well and are trying to get back home.

“Just our luck, huh.” Andra murmured as her phone completed its boot-up, and opened the weather app. The radar showed a huge wave of orange and red and a small outline of green making its way south to Disley. They were going to definitely be pelted with some heavy rain by the time they get back.

“We’ll get there.” Ghost assured her, taking a sharp right turn onto the main road.

Andra gripped onto the hand rail as her heart leaped into her throat. “Hopefully with all our limbs and blood inside us.”

Ghost shook his head. “You gotta stop listenin’ to Johnny, I’m a good driver.”

“I mean, tell that to the speed trap you busted some tires on but I wasn’t there…” Andra braced herself once more as Ghost braked hard at a stop light.

The rain was pelting the truck hard now, and she was starting to worry about hail coming along with the rain. Did I lock up the chicken coop? Andra started to worry for her animals, going over her morning routine in her head. Yeah, the chickens should be okay, she prepared to be out for a good portion of the day.

Lightning streaked across the sky, earning a gasp out of Andra. It was never the lightning that scared her, it was the boom of thunder afterwards that bothered her. Well, no, that was a lie. She remembered watching her dad take off for work one time in the early hours, the car took off just in time to miss a strike of lightning. It hit the asphalt with a crack, and the thunder was so loud it rocked the house. She could not possibly imagine what could have happened if her dad hadn’t started driving away at that very moment. So yeah, lightning bothered her, but the thunder was worse, even at her adult age.

Andra started to recognize where they were through the torrential downpour as the windshield wipers worked double time to keep the view clear for Ghost. He took the turn onto Middleton Lane, their shared street. A breath of relief left the both of them as they realized the road wasn’t flooded nor blocked off by any debris. Ghost turned into her driveway, and got as close as he could to the front of the house without ruining any of her flowers.

As Andra was taking off his jacket, Ghost stopped her. “Give it back to me the next time we see each other.”

Andra beamed a smile at him. “You’re already sure that there will be a next time?”

His eyes crinkled at the corners; a smile was beneath that skull pattern. “If you’ll allow me.”

Another flash of lightning had Andra flinching. She pulled the jacket back onto her and lifted the hood. “Shoot me a message or a call when you get inside.”

Ghost grunted in agreement before she opened the passenger door and made a run for the covered porch, making it inside with minimal moisture. She watched the truck reverse and turn around, driving down into the brutal rain.

Andra closed the door, and a boom louder than just the thunder rocked the house. She fell to her knees and covered her head with a scream. Sammy ran up to her and licked her hands covering her head in a frenzy; she was just as afraid of the unforgiving weather outside those walls.

Andra gave Sammy loving rubs. “Poor baby, I know you need to go outside.” Sammy licked her face before Andra got back up onto her feet, heading to the kitchen storage to see if she still had leftover puppy pads. Thank gods, she saved them. Andra put a few down by the back door, and Sammy whined. “It’s just in case if you can’t wait, once the rain lets up, I’ll let you out babygirl.”

A heavy knock at her front door made her want to jump out of her skin. She could see the top of Ghost’s masked head through the frosted glass of the door. Quickly, she went to go open it and let him in. “Everything okay?”

Ghost was soaked. His long-sleeve shirt clung to his skin, leaving nothing to the imagination, and a black backpack was slung over his shoulder. “That loud bang you heard was a tree falling in the middle of the road. I tried to see if I could hook it up to the truck, but there’s no getting it out of the way by myself.”

“Shit…” Andra closed the door. “Well, obviously I don’t mind you crashing for the night here.” Ghost didn’t respond to that, and the air grew thick. “I have a spare bedroom upstairs; the couch also has a pullout bed so you have options.”

“I’ll stay down here.” Ghost declared.

Andra realized she was making him stand there with dripping wet clothes. “Oh my gods! Y-you can go ahead and use the downstairs bathroom to dry off.” She led him to the bathroom, forgetting that he already knew where it was. “It’s stocked with towels and everything else.” She assumed his bag had clothes in them, like an emergency bag she had stashed in her truck as well. Great minds think alike.

“Thank you, I won’t be long.” Ghost shut the bathroom door behind him, and Andra darted upstairs to her own bedroom. With the door closed behind her, she felt her heart racing in her chest.

Ghost is staying overnight.

-----

Any interaction with my story is always appreciated! Thank you if you've made it to the end of this chapter 🖤

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dominimoonbeam · 1 year ago

Text

Totally Normal Meet Cute Script - Part 3

The final part to this absolutely normal meet cute story!

warning: it's not a normal meet cute... it's a slasher. you're in a slasher. good luck!

Performed by Jouska over on his youtube and his patreon!

Part 3 - It Always Ends at a Party

I absolutely agree, a house party is a bad idea.

But if we were going to go, we should go together, right? Safety in numbers.

Really, what would be safer, glasses, being the only two people staying home or being in a frat house packed to the rafters with other people?

[laughs] Okay, safe from a serial killer, obviously. Not safe from…everything else that can go wrong.

It’s not a fire hazard. It’s just a party!

I’m not saying that we should definitely go, I’m just saying that maybe we should think about going. It would be fun, and the last couple months have been… intense.

It’s not until next week anyway. You can think about it. Here, I’ll tack the flyer up on your corkboard right between this incredibly detailed list of goals for the year and… Is this an expired coupon for soft serve? Why do you still have this?

[laughs] You’re lactose intolerant!

I’m tossing the coupon.

What else do you have up here… I’m seeing a lot of sticky note reminders and take out menus…

I still have a half hour before my class starts. That’s plenty of time to get across campus.

It is for me… You should really reconsider coming out running with me in the morning. We can do a light jog! We’ll take it at your pace, just around the campus and back. You’ll love it, glasses. Okay, that’s a lie, you’re going to hate it, but I will let you complain the whole way and after we get back, you’re going to realize how much more awake you feel. It’ll change your whole day!

Really? [surprised] You’ll really give it a try?

Wait, are you agreeing to go running so you can turn down the party?

[laughs] I would take that deal, yeah… I’d much rather have you to myself in the morning than share you with a bunch of people at a loud party.

I’m not trying to charm you into anything!

That’s just flirting, glasses. I’m flirting with you.

[pause]

Wait… Did you not realize I’ve been flirting with you? Oh, glasses… Come on!

No, this isn’t a joke!

I’ve been sleeping in your bed for the last four nights!

[laughs] Extenuating circumstances?

Uh-huh… and what about when our study session turned into a make out session yesterday?

Are you blushing? Now? You weren’t blushing when you kissed me!

If we’re not dating, then we’re at least more than friends.

No? So, this is how all your friendships look?

I don’t know why you’re cramming all your books into that bag like you’re about to leave. This is your room and you just got back. I know your schedule, glasses. You have no more classes today. You even changed into your comfy clothes. Which you did right here in the room with me, by the way. I saw everything.

[laughs] Oh god, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this red before…

So, you can kiss me, and sit in my lap, and snuggle up against me at night, so long as we never talk about it? Is that what’s going on here?

[closer, smiling] Am I like… your secret boyfriend? You know, I’d make great arm candy if you want to parade me around some. Like to, say, a party full of our peers?

[laughs] Okay! I’ll drop it for now. You can think about it. [kiss] I’m going to class. I’ll pick up dinner on my way back and then we can talk some more about how we’re definitely not a couple…

Glasses, why is my stuff in the hall? Are you throwing me out? I can’t tell because you folded everything so neatly…

Oh shit, you’re actually angry. Why?

Which dead girl?

What are you—

Oh.

Yeah… I mean, I met Casey a few times, but I didn’t know her.

What? Who have you been talking to?

I’m not lying to you! I… I slept with her a couple times freshman year. We were at some of the same parties and had some friends in common.

No, she was just using me to try to make one of my friends jealous. And that was fine because it’s not like I was hurt. We barely knew each other.

Why does it matter what friend?

[laughs unhappily] You don’t think I have friends?

Come on, glasses…

No, I stopped hanging out with them.

[raises voice] Because they were assholes! Because they made me feel like an asshole!

[pause]

[sighs] I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to yell.

Nothing happened. I just… I didn’t like myself or my life, and realizing that was rough. I bailed on everything I could. On clubs and on friends. I just, bailed, and no one fucking noticed.

[to himself] No one noticed. That’s the kind of friends I had.

Are…Are you seriously asking me that? I’m not using you. I was trying to get my life the way I wanted it and I just…I always had a crush on you and I decided to get to know you better.

Bullshit? Are you kidding? I’m telling you—

Just because you can’t see how amazing you are, doesn’t mean that I don’t! You care a lot about everything you do and everyone in your life.

No! I’m not trying to get you to fall for me just to make myself feel better. I can’t believe you’re—

[pause]

[confused] The guy from my building?

Okay, yeah, I did say I didn’t know him… I didn’t want to talk about it! So what if I did? I told you, I hadn’t talked to any of my old friends more than a few words for the last year. I never really knew them—

I didn’t know the couple! What the fuck are you even driving at?

You… [realization] Glasses, do you think I’m the killer?

Logical? No, it’s not! I was with you when we found those bodies! Do you think I’m some sort of deranged mastermind? You think I set it up like that? Why? To scare you into my arms? Oh my god, of course! And then I killed the guy in my building, somehow knowing that my dorm would be closed and I’d get to come knock on your door? If I’m this fucking brilliant, then why would I need you to be my partner for the final? Clearly, I’m a genius.

What?

[quieter] You don’t really think that. You’re upset about Casey and scared about the murders so you’re spinning out. No. No, if you thought I was planning to murder you, you wouldn’t fucking dump my shit outside and wait for me to come back to argue with you about it. You would have called the cops. Did you call the cops, glasses? No. Because you know I wouldn’t hurt you, or anyone else.

So what if I knew them? You probably would have too if you went to a party or joined a club, or just fucking looked up from your books!

No, of course I didn’t just make friends with you for the final project. You… You looked lonely. You looked lonely the way I felt lonely. And the more we talked, the more I liked you. That’s all. There’s nothing shady or murderous about it.

[pause]

[sad/tired sigh, annoyed] My building is open again, so I’ll move my stuff back to my room.

Fine, glasses. Have it your way. I’ll see you around.

[house party sounds, muffled music and background voices]

[surprised] Glasses? What are you doing here?

My roommate told you— You mean, you came to see me?

It’s been a few days… I didn’t think you wanted to talk.

[sighs] No, I’m sorry. I should have told you the whole truth, but I didn’t have anything to do with it. I barely knew them.

Glasses… Look at me. [softer] Look at me.

You know me. I would never hurt you. You know that, right?

You… [smiles] Yeah, I’d love to be your partner for the final.

Wait, did you come by yourself?

You shouldn’t have done that. The campus has a whole buddy system rule in place. [mock gasp] I can’t believe you broke a rule!

[smiling] So, you were counting on someone walking you home? I can definitely do that. You want a drink while we’re here?

Yeah, take mine. I’ll grab another. Do you want to meet some people? Or do you want to go hide in a corner and make out?

Yes, that’s exactly what happens at a party, glasses. Later we summon a demon with a Ouija board, but first we’re going to play spin the bottle and kiss some strangers… [laughs] I’m joking! About the Ouija board and the bottle. We’re still kissing strangers.

Ow! No hitting, we just made up!

Okay, stay put, I’ll be right back.

[party sounds]

[other voice, muffle from distance] What the hell is that?

[power going off, music cutting off, other voices rising in panic] Who did that? Turn the lights back on! It’s not funny! Someone—

[a scream, foot falls as everyone starts running]

Glasses!

Is that you? Oh, thank god. No, no, I don’t think that’s a prank…

[another muffled scream]

Come on!

Don’t let go of my hand. I think there was a closet over here…

[horror sounds (I’m so sorry audio creator)]

[opening the closet door and then closing it, muffling the sounds even more]

Shhh… It’s okay.

[breathing, sharp inhale]

[heavy footsteps walking slowly by outside, floorboards creaking, standing there, killer breathing hard in his mask, dramatic pause, walking away]

[exhale, still whispering] I think he left. It’s okay. We’re okay. We’ll just wait here until the police show up.

[nervous whisper laugh] I guess I did manage to get you in a closet even without spinning the bottle…

Did you see him through the crack in the door? Yeah. Yeah, he was huge. And that mask? What the fuck was that about? Did you recognize him?

I don’t know, glasses. I feel like if we knew a guy that size, we could recognize his build even with the mask on. There can’t be that many of them lumbering around campus…

What? No, I don’t smell anything… Oh shit.

Yeah, that’s smoke…

[muffled fire sounds]

[coughing] I don’t know. He could have started it, or it could just be a candle that got knocked over… Either way we need to get out of here.

We can’t just sit here and burn. Even if he’s waiting, we have to make a run for it.

Here. [keys jangling] Hang onto these. We’re going to bolt for my car. I parked along the woods, near the footpath.

You’re holding the keys in case… In case you get there first, glasses. Unlock the car, get in, lock it, and drive.

[laughed a little] I know you don’t have your license, but I know you can do it.

If a cop materializes just to arrest you, then at least you’ll be safe, right?

Right.

[coughing, fire crackling] No, if you get to the car first, don’t wait for me. I’m faster than you. If I’m not with you… Just don’t wait for me, okay? I’ll be there or I’ll find another way. He’s probably moved on by now anyway.

You can do this. You are the smartest, strongest person that I know. Just run and don’t look back.

Okay…

Three.

Two.

One.

[throwing open the door and running, fire sounds, footfalls, another door, muffled fire and the sound of the night] Go. Gogogo!

Keep going! I’m right behind you!

[running, gravel]

You see the car?

Yeah, just—

[reaching the car, fumbling the keys and opening the door]

[stops, silence]

[night sounds, muffled fire sounds, far away sirens, his pained groan somewhere close by]

[popping the trunk, gravel steps, pulling something metal from the trunk]

[speaker panting, fighting with the slasher]

[injured, surprised] Glasses? What are you—

No! Don’t come back. Just run!

[thwap as glasses hits the slasher]

Oh shit. Hell yes, hit him again!

[another thwap and someone thudding down]

[speaker panting, struggling to his feet, sirens getting closer]

You came back for me…

[coughing laugh] I think this is a little above and beyond for study buddies, glasses.

I got stabbed in the side trying to save you and you came back and fought a serial killer with my baseball bat, I think you can admit we’re more than just partners for the final.

[fire sounds. sirens]

Does this mean I get to move back into your dorm room?

[smiling] Yes, you can keep the bat.

[pained laughs] And you were right about the party being a bad idea… and a fire hazard.

[fire crackling, house falling apart sounds, cop cars skidding to a stop on the gravel]

Oh shit… Glasses… Where did he go?

He was right there. I didn’t even hear him get up.

Yeah, let’s get out of here. I think I might need that ambulance.

[think Halloween theme song fade out]

- Authors Note: I imagined this story as a meet cute going on in the background of a college campus slasher flick. In my head, the killer is primarily terrorizing someone else on campus and if it were a movie, Glasses and Dash would be background characters. When the killer vanishes at the end, he's probably loping off through the woods after his final girl to have that last battle before the credits roll.

And do I feel like an asshole for leaving instructions like "horror sounds" and "think Halloween theme song fade out"? Yes. I do.

Does Jouska somehow make that magic happen anyway? Yes, he does!

Will I learn to stop doing it? ...No.

#audio script #jouska #dominimoonbeam #slasher 101 #clover down #halloween #<3

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walleeli · 5 days ago

Text

Matchup Exchange with @frostfall-matches (1/2)

I match you with… Yuri Leclerc

Hear me out! (my reasoning)

There's always a point when I'm doing matchups that I'm like. Slouching in my spinning chair thinking about all of the variables and holding them up to characters in some sort of fucked up Anubis weighing the heart -esque ritual. And sometimes that ends in a very cautious, well thought through, and well argued conclusion… and sometimes I get struck by lightning and shoot up gasping "YURI! IT HAS TO BE YURI!!!"

Anyways. This was that.

Yuri appreciates how honestly you carry yourself. He's drawn to people that are authentic and unabashed (see: his relationships with the other three ashen wolves.) a perspective motivated in no small part by the years he's had to spend acting a part for myriad nobles.

He's inclined to be untrusting and watchful but your security in yourself, your willingness to be seen as unpolished, helps to quickly sand his edges down.

Your logical nature and even temper matches his own and is something that he would note, in your early days of acquaintance, to be an asset.

Despite your cold exteriors the both of you are hopeful and able to navigate the world, seeing it as it is, still able to believe in better.

It's definitely more of a slow burn between the two of you. Your general disinterest in others and his overcaution aren't going to see you falling in love at first sight. But I think your dynamic is all the better for it.

Your inclination to challenge authority lines up with… I mean. what is essentially his whole deal and your independence is essential in his establishing you as someone he could see as a partner.

Yuri can appreciate the different facets of your personality in fullness. And seeing different sides of you makes it all too easy for him to slip up and reveal long hidden parts of himself to you in turn.

Yours is a relationship that is built on common ground, mutual understanding and respect. Falling for you is a natural consequence of coming to trust you, to feeling completely comfortable in your presence.

Headcanons - How It Starts

It is your poor sense of direction and chronic bad luck that sees you stepping foot into Abyss. And it is your reckless curiosity that sees you not immediately turning around.

This begins a series of missteps and actions that will permanently alter the course of your life. And will be something you will flippantly laugh off when the realization strikes you long after.

You don't even meet him the first time you descend. That's the funny thing. Who you DO meet is a food vendor. Real gruff dude, super off putting demeanor, serving some of the most peculiar and delicious food you've ever tasted. And so, you return, semi-regularly, to sample the vendor's goods.

You arrive in Abyss entirely by mistake. You disregard the fetid air, the general discontent, the feeling of watchful eyes always on you…and stay for the food.

(And truthfully, you take an odd sort of comfort in the general wariness of the Abyssians. You appreciate that no one down here is expecting you to be social, or cordial, or particularly pleasant in any way really. It's refreshing.)

It isn't until you've visited enough to be on first name basis with your new favorite chef that you and Yuri finally come into contact with one another. He's a busy man and your descents are irregular, it was bound to happen this way.

It… bothers him. To see a new face in his domain and to hear from those around him that it is, in fact, not so new.

He is the protector of Abyss and it is his job to know these things. How did he miss you?

That is how it starts. Yuri's interest in you is not initially about you at all.

Any unknown quantity must be treated as a threat until otherwise proven. It is the only way he can keep his people safe.

And what is the old adage about friends and enemies?

He keeps an eye on you. Quietly, at first. People don't come to Abyss unless they want something. He needs to know who or what you work in service of before he makes any sort of play of his own.

It doesn't take him long to come to the tentative conclusion that you aren't here for any grand purpose or elaborate scheme. Which should be heartening, but mostly leaves him… concerned?

He has to be missing something.

And so, he makes himself known to you for the first time. As he believes, at least.

Yuri is clever, and cunning, and apt at hiding in the shadows. It's just that you're not… stupid? You can't find a more delicate way to put it, nor do you really care to.

There is always a nebulous sense of being watched when you're down here. But, to you, that only made it all the more obvious when that observation became pointed. You notice him the very first time he sets sight on you, and note every vigil thereafter.

It sits in your head somewhere between vaguely annoying and not really any of your concern. You reason if he had some kind of problem with you he'd stab you, or something. You've seen fights start with a staring match (one-sided or otherwise) many a time down here. Figure its part of the culture.

When he approaches you you take it in stride. The calculations the both of you are running-a battle for information in which you both currently consider yourself the forerunner-unknown to any outside observers.

He's seen you around. (Obviously.) He has a job. He wants to know if you want in. (What the hell… sure.)

In any other circumstance you would be harder to convince to exert the effort. But for one, the job in question involves the vendor you've gotten surprisingly attached to. And for another, you have got to know what this guy's deal is.

One job turns into two and two turns into you being…way too involved in underworld politics for an outsider, a disinterested outsider at that.

Or you'd like to say that. To call yourself uncaring. But you're starting to think Yuri is rubbing off on you. Or your boundless curiosity has escaped even your ability to control.

Either way, the two of you have reached an understanding of sorts. In your time spent working together you note similarities and differences between yourself and the other and navigate them with ease. You communicate clearly, address any situation you find yourselves in with objectivity, and find it incredibly easy to work effectively and efficiently together. Things could have remained that way indefinitely, gap between you never bridged, never needing to be. But something shifts.

What starts the shift? You may be asking?

You throw out a pun in the middle of a critical interrogation. Yuri, to his credit, stops himself from reacting in the moment beyond his eyes, briefly, cutting sharply to you before getting back to business. But it fucking haunts him. It's so incongruous with the behavior he's used to seeing from you.

The action itself is made worse by the fact that in the moment you don't even LAUGH. Just say it and move on, demonstrating a clear understanding of the seriousness of your situation AND YET STILL SAYING IT. It drives him crazy. He thinks about it for days. Barely covering seemingly unprompted laughs with little coughs in moments of quiet.

Congratulations, his interest in you has escalated to fascination.

You become one of his people. And then you become more still.

Headcanons - Assorted

Yuri takes to giving you gifts along with payments for jobs well done. Always little things, inconsequential enough that they can be written off as something acquired in passing. In truth it is something he puts a fair amount of thought into. At first, intent on showing appreciation for your efforts and as a show of his friendship and later, because he finds his thoughts drifting to you often, and with very little provocation.

I said, earlier, that despite Yuri's careful movement and deliberate distance, you caught onto his observation of you immediately. This may or may not be true. And is a point of frequent debate between the pair of you. You will recall in near perfect detail the first time you noticed him noticing you and he will tell you that that was the second time he set out to watch over you. He, of course, has an equally elaborate and plausible recollection that he spews at you, supporting his claim. But you cannot be convinced he isn't lying. The smirk on his face could implicate his untruth, but it could also be nothing more than evidence of his delight in riling you up.

You love when people cook for you? Yuri is an excellent cook. Match made in heaven. If you jokingly suggest that he can't compare to that one vendor that saw you caught up in the underworld's affairs? That's neither here nor there. And if he, in turn, threatens to withhold the latest whispered gossip around Abyss? Then that's neither here nor there, is it?

Headcanons - How It's Going

When Yuri is finally ready to admit to himself that he feels something more than platonic for you he's going to take you on a date without telling you that that's what it is. He doesn't like to play his hand until he knows he's won. He's hoping he'll have the answer to that by the end of this… excursion he has planned.

It's a long hike on uneven ground through dense forest. In the dead of night. Anyone else would probably think they are about to be murdered. Badly. You would be amongst them only a few short months ago. But as it stands, you trust Yuri intrinsically. (Still, you'll have to get him back for the exertion and scraped up legs and stained clothes later.)

Eventually, you find yourselves stopping, feet sinking into the mud below you and Yuri just standing in front of you, silent. You barely get a word of the question "what the hell are we doing here?" out before he shushes you.

Just as you are about to express your distaste, you hear it. A ribbit. And then another. And then many. Yuri lights the lantern he's let go unused for the entirety of your trek. (He will tell you it was to conserve fuel, you suspect it has more to do with being entertained by your stumbling about in the dark.)

There are… so many frogs… like a probably obscene number of frogs. You could squeal. Cats you can see plenty of in the monastery but an honest-to-goodness frog is harder to come by. (Though you'd swear you've heard one, and have spent your fair share of time searching the grounds for it.)

You grab his hand in your excitement and squeeze. Yuri is grateful that you are so mesmerized by your new friends that you don't notice him jolt, hear his breath catch.

When you let go, move quickly and carefully ahead to observe and coo at the slimy little beasts. Yuri knows. Not what exactly you feel for him, not with certainty that his own feelings will be returned, but that he has to tell you that he loves you. He can see no other path forward.

Playlist - Birds of a Feather (You're Raven… he's the Savage Mockingbird… you get it.)

Like Passing Ships by The Family Crest

Thieves by Sammy Rae & The Friends

Nothing Else Matters by Phoebe Bridgers

NFWMB by Hozier

Everywhere, Everything by Noah Kahan

Friend, I went so crazy on this matchup I apologize. LMAOOO ("Just a cool 1.2k words. Should be reasonable." I say to myself… GIRL. I need you to be SO SERIOUS right now.) I so so quickly lose the plot when I'm doing matchups and go off the rails with narrative crafting and inserting my matchee into the world... I get a thousand words deep and am like "oh wait fuck. these people are supposed to kiss each other. or something." FDJFSKJDFKJDFJKFKJAF REGARDLESS. I HOPE IT WAS A PLEASANT READ. I HAD A GREAT DEAL OF FUN WRITING IT UP. Thank you for playing in my sandbox with me <3

#matchup #matchup exchange #fire emblem x reader #fire emblem three houses x reader #frostfall-matches

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queen-scribbles · 2 years ago

Note

......yep okay talk about Mason plz 😛

ALRIGHT THEN, YOU ASKED FOR THIS

Cut again bc spoilers and there will be lots of shouting bc Mason's route is amazing. I think--both friend and romance--he's my fave in book 3.(Nate's still winning overall romance, but Mason wins b3) Warning: this clocks in at about 2700 words, just so you know what you're getting into. It's longer than a lot of my fics. xD

This is gonna be Kasey specific, obviously, even if all the high notes I love in general. There's just some... flavor to it bc of the way she's engaging his romance. (also, this is pretty stream of consciousness, so I can't promise smooth transitions😅)

The way just your touch helps when he's getting overwhelmed in Addie's room feels like a good place to start- NO WAIT. If you try to bluff about not being worried over the bounty and he calls you on it and swears to have your back. Half of why Kasey kissed him so hard there is it's her go-to reaction when Mason incites strong emotion in her, even if desire/attraction isn't precisely the right match for the moment.

I know I already screamed a lot about the bakery scene when the demo came out, BUT I finally settled on which option Kasey would pick there. She's still oblivious/in denial, so there's no hurt to Mason's "She's only seeing me naked," comment, and no confusion either. Lil Miss Snark shot back with the one about him seeing HER naked (which ooooooboy did that pay dividends later :3) and then didn't get anything flirty/snarky/teasing back (poor Haley, watching this unfold) and that confused her. Snark and innuendo has been their Thing since day fucking one. So the weirdness of leaving it like that has her on edge and makes her snappish and downright vicious with Bobby("I'd say it's a pleasure but we both know I'd be lying" and kicked him out of the station, it was great)and she genuinely can't figure out why it's bothering her that Mason didn't play along.

And then we get him actually using her name when she shows up at the Warehouse soaking wet and covered in plaster mud. Felt a little like someone had punched her in the lungs, she had to fight the reflexive urge to call him 'sunshine' and make the weirdness go away. And then on top of that he actually apologized--for something that didn't seem like a big deal to her, at least on the surface, but the way her heart skips a beat, maybe it did matter--and Kasey manages to actually be sincere for five minutes to accept the apology with 0 snark and explain about needing a place to stay etc. Insert some flirting/innuendo/giving Nate a headache while handing out flyers and she feels like their equilibrium is back. They're okay, they're good, still casual, though ngl it does feel nice to hear him say her name every once in a while....

And then. AND THEN. The Trapper fight. And Sin. and OH MY GOD. Mason throws himself in front of Trapper to protect her, gets zapped instead of her and she is just. Terrified isn't a strong enough word. She doesn't realize it's anything more than panic/adrenaline in the moment, but it's a miracle she didn't leap on that Trapper like a feral wolf. Which is only compounded when Sin shows up and Mason is afraid for her. He tries to hide it when he tells her to run, but her main hobby is people watching so good luck with that, buddy.

And with the adrenaline of the whole encounter, she hasn't even really had time to full unwind and process it before Mason is staring down Adam on her behalf.

Not only that but he's insistent on backing her up. Same guy who, what, six months ago(less?) "found this all unnecessary" and barely wanted anything to do with her is now adamant about watching her back and keeping her safe and then waits up super late for her to get home(whole separate screaming session about him considering this home) and doesn't feel a need for innuendo with her when they talk.

"Thrown for a loop" is an understatement. Flabbergasted, maybe works. For Kasey, anyway. I was having a meltdown about him being vulnerable with her wrt what he remembers of his past, and the crystal(he didn't even want her to look at when they first met) and then just saying a genuine goodnight without trying to get in her pants or anything. AMAZING.

And then his mood starts off weird at combat training and he's gruff and irritated(and MASON WITH A BUN. MASON WITH A BUN) and he's being grumpy bc he can't figure out why the thought of Sin taking her away from him is so terrifying.

The patrol loop after the blood drive is just.. hoo boy. Kasey was bitten on the wrist by Murphy and there have been some Moments with those scars on Mason's route and I got another one to add to the list

just that he's so gentle. That would be sweet from any of them but from Mason it makes me scream internally even before we get to the emotional KO that is

I love sO MUCH when gruff/abrasive characters are gentle with the people they care about, and not only is that happening here, he still warns her that just bc Bravo won't hurt her, there's not many other supernaturals that will care so she still needs to be cautious. (It's just a bonus--for me--that he's clearly affected by the conversation even if he's not sure why :3) And also!!! Kasey-specific note here: Her trust is not easily given. It was a cautious thing even before Bobby fucked her over in college, but him using her friendship like that really made her kinda hold people at arm's length, so the fact she trust Mason(and the rest of Bravo) with her literal life and her scars and other vulnerabilities is really uhhhh saying something even if she's denying what that something is

I played around a bit with Kasey's reaction to the stack of missing persons posters, and even if it's not the one I kept, Mason's reaction if you call him crying straight up slayed me

Just that mix of gruff almost-annoyance and "you clearly need me, I'm already on my way". (the others ask if you want them to come, Mason's just "yeah, I'm coming to see you")The beat between saying he doesn't like talking on the phone but will make an exception for you. The return to flirting/innuendo once you seem to be getting back equilibrium.

As I've mentioned, Kasey has Verda knowing about the supernatural, and that dinner with him and Eric was all kinds of awkward(she went slinky for her outfit bc this is Kasey)

BUT I very much enjoy both Eric's 👀👀👀 when Kasey pulled an "Idk what you're talking about" and a)Verda getting Mason to acknowledge there's a "Something" with the two of them even if he doesn't know what it is and b) Mason calling him on his reaction to the supernatural making him a not so-great-friend. BUT THE REAL KICKER came after, when they were leaving, and this happened

Just. He's essentially holding her hand. And he doesn't think to let go. Mason, who hates and is extremely pained by physical contact(he flinches when Adam touches him in one of the bff/ro scenes) willing maintain contact for several seconds and only withdraws when she says something. (I stand by my expectation Mason's gonna figure out What They Are before Kasey does, lmao)

I absolutely loved the car sex scene(she's been teasing him with that long enough xD), especially bc Kasey 100% told him to apologize to her car, but the biggest takeaway for purposes of this is HE HESITATES. He hesitates to just look at her for an extra few moments before kissing her again. (and btw I ran with each taking initiative and HOLY HELL this will be one of the few times I go with letting Mason have initiative instead of Kasey. Whew.)

And we gotta talk about Mason not wanting more cigarettes when Felix offers to buy the bc that's... for something that might look like a little moment it's undeniably huge. The cigarettes have been his source of comfort, the way he makes it easier to Deal With Everything and he just casually turns down getting more of them. Bc he has her now(new addiction, indeed). For such a quiet thing, it shouts about the changing nature of their relationship and I loved it.

I--once again--played with reactions to arriving at the warehouse bc Kasey's still figuring out how she feels about that so she has some leeway, and I gotta say I love how Mason just bluntly calls you on your shit any time you try to lie about being fine when you aren't.

I will never be over him having the same calming effect on the detective as they do on him. 🥺🥺🥺Kasey has this whole snarky tough girl thing going and even when she tries to hide it, he sees through the bs and comforts her. He's blunt but gentle and it makes me scream...

..buuuuuut not as much as Mason's POV on the building cave-in. :3

No, no, I'm fine :)

ABSOLUTELY PEACHY :))))))) Totally not wrecked at all, not laying on the floor screaming internally or anything, why do you ask? I'm such a sucker for the whole "joking pet name accidentally becomes actual sincere term of endearment" (see: Taviloth and "city slicker") and this made me just a bit feral. ALSO the parallel to the house Mirrors scene in book 2 is killing me. The day Kasey calls him sunshine with affection rather than teasing I will throw myself into the sun, it will be too much. (Super easy to picture one of those gut-wrenching comics using "You Are My Sunshine" with them, btw)

And the aftermath made me lose my gd mind.

Kasey: *tries to snark as a way of covering how much today fucked her up*

Mason: *calls her on it while also being ready to help.* And he's volunteering to help(after sticking himself in a corner at the breakfast earlier in the story so he wouldn't get asked to contribute)

No innuendo, just support, my HEART. Kasey Irene, HOW are you still in denial, you're smarter than this. Though I suppose I can give you a pass this one time considering how much pain you're in.

He's so worried he's not even thinking, just wants to keep her safe, and I swear somehow every time he uses her name it both add three years to my life and take one away.

This mental image. I can't. I had to go take a walk before I could finish, bc the mental image of Mason standing fully clothed and soaking wet in the shower with her just to offer support is TOO MUCH. It's too much, I can't handle it. (Especially when you put it next to this or the "me being naked is more important to you, right?" comment from the bakery scene. She's naked, he's not, and he doesn't even seem to care. my fucking HEARTTTTTTT )

He's sitting with her. Just the fact that he's staying is *inarticulate yelling* enough, but he's in a chair. Not sitting on the bed, not laying with her, sitting in a chair to be with her and keep an eye on her but give her space. And that "You don't have to stand guard" //"I know, but I sure as hell want to." Mason is so gonna figure out he's in love with Kasey before vice versa.

And now we come to the totally-not-a-date scene, where Mason will ask, unprompted and genuinely curious, what you're thinking about and, this being Kasey, there's some sarcasm/teasing in the following conversation, but it's also so comfortable.

This is just banter. They're bantering and playing around and just comfortable with each other in a way beyond what's usually the case for people who're just seeing each other naked. :3

I do love the lingering obliviousness. Sure, Mason, it's that the crystal's not as full as you thought. Not that Kasey's presence/touch helped you recover faster or anything. Even though that's happened MULTIPLE TIMES. (Nate would be smirking so hard if he'd witnessed this interaction)

The whole scene with Roshaun(sidenote: RAT BABIES! <3) and how Mason reacts to even the suggestion of being sedated/vulnerable has me 200% sure I'm gonna want to kill some people when we learn his backstory. This is practically a full on panic attack, like, what level of hell did he go through that it incites this strong an instinctive reaction even when he can't remember the details?! (Unfortunately, since he's been a vampire ~100 years, there's decent odds the people responsible are already dead, unless they're also supernatural. But if they're still alive they WON'T BE after Kasey and Mallory get their hands on them)

The way Kasey's touch settles him(again), the way he deliberately takes her hand and doesn't let go, like she's a lifeline(she probably is) "I asked you to come because I wanted you here" alksdafbalfbjabslk

onefear.jpg There was a patreon short story that touched on that, too, and I really wanna go dig it up now >.> I smell plot threads. Angtsy, angsty plot threads.

Someday I'll make Kasey be more genuine(orrrr maybe it'll happen if I do a Janine/Mason run) in the convo when you get back to the warehouse, bc you know my girl went with the

even if it led to a moment of what could be taken as genuineness, even if she meant it more as flirting. "When it comes to you, you know I am." KASEY. GIRL. Yes, sure, that applies in a "kiss/sex me right now, you handsome bastard" sense, but also in the sense of her just always leaping at the chance to spend time with him, regardless of if it will involve sex or not.

And then you get an actual genuine smile out of him, and more gentleness, and she doesn't know how to deal.

And then we come to this

where Kasey kisses the vampire harder to not have to deal with the possibility this is almost definitely more than just seeing each other naked. "No, no, nothing more than just that he's hot and we enjoy having sex and he's a really good kisser. No deeper than that."

*clutches chest* SOFT MASON, GENTLE MASON, HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE AND DOESN'T REALIZE IT YET MASON

AND THE LEAD UP TO THE AUCTION JUST UGHGGHGHGH

Pardon me while I go lay down and just... melt into a puddle of emotion. The compliment that's not flirtatious. The confidence in her abilities. "YOU THINK I'D BE ABLE TO COPE WITHOUT YOU NOW?" ?!???!?!?!?!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

SIR. I'm loving this progression from "it's just sex" to "idk what I'd do if I lost you", but my heart can't take it. You being so vulnerable--in front of so many people--is gonna be the death of me.

my heaaarttttttttttt. "Can I have tonight?" CAIT.EXE IS NOT RESPONDING And then--if you do the detailed scene with him taking initiative--it's slow and gentle and deliberate and he doesn't pull away when you wrap your arms around him, the significance of which will escape Kasey for a while. and there's a gentle lil neck kiss afterwards and they CUDDLE until she falls asleep

And then. THEN THEN THEN *pounds table repeatedly*

he FUCKING.

STAYS.

I am so beyond emotionally compromised by that I just *screams*

He stays and

and then when he leaves he tucks her back in and runs his finger down her cheek without even realizing what he's doing and SIR. HOW DARE.(If she'd been awake enough to know he did that, her denial would have several very large cracks in it istg.)

I have hit the image limit(RIP), so text! The bff convo with Adam is so good, and Mason doesn't deny that the way Kasey "has him" is different from the rest of UB, and isn't sure how she feels about that and calls himself "too much of a fucking coward" to find out and aaaahhhhh this would have been Kasey's "tu omnia" moment if she would just WAKE UP and OVERHEAR the conversation. Why do you have to sleep so soundly baby girl???

Wrapping up with the party. oooh boy. "I wouldn't survive thirty seconds in this circus without you." Kasey, he's definitely serious and not joking. Mason, babe, the "in this circus" was unnecessary bc you've mentioned needing her/not knowing what you'd do without her several time in general already. And he TAKES A FUCKING SHOT during NHIE on the "nhie fallen for a colleague". I think I rb'ed a post yesterday where someone in the notes said Felix must've been in the bathroom or something and missed that to not raise absolute HELL about the implications. LIKE. Silent but very very obvious admission this is Not Just Sex anymore, even if he doesn't know what it is, even if it's just a "something" it's THERE in his opinion. So yeah. 100/10 romance, I need more desperately, and will be sitting here vibrating until we get book 4 or at least teasers. xD

And here are several cookies (and cake!)for anyone who made it this far through my borderline-unhinged commentary 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🎂🎂🍰🍰🍰🎂

#queen rambles #SO MUCH RAMBLES #twc spoilers #kasey/mason #aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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throwaway-yandere · 2 years ago

Text

ESTHER (Yandere Idol!Kaeya Alberich/Reader)

CW: bodily harm.

Alice's note, mother of Klee: I'm not sure why Lumine put you here exactly. I thought you'd end up with Aether– oh but I guess she wants to keep her brother to herself. Keep your guard up around Kaeya, "ESTHER". You'll never know what he's up to.

1k event masterlist

-----------------

Sometimes you couldn't tell if it was all in your head. You're supposed to be the assistant and Kaeya Alberich is your idol.

So why the hell does it feel like it's the other way around?

Sometimes you couldn't tell if it was all in your head. Being the assistant is what you're supposed to do, and Kaeya Alberich is your hero.

He is unnervingly kind. Kaeya would make it a point to pull out seats, open doors, and give you a warm welcome each morning. For someone in your position, this is a big deal. Though it doesn't appear that way in photos and fancams, you were given the responsibility of managing him. Strangely enough, he spoke of what he does as if it were nothing. He'd laugh and say that he treats everyone with the same vigor, and almost mockingly tells you that he's sorry if he "led you on."

It was embarrassing.

Of course, Mister Alberich doesn't have any romantic attraction towards you. You're just his producer, nothing more, nothing less. During the album release celebration, he made that extremely apparent. Kaeya even went into detail about how you're just not his type and went so far as to offer a date if you were deeply saddened by his rejection. Needless to say, you were more than thankful that he confronted you alone on the balcony. However, you can't help but reserve some doubts regarding his sincerity so you spend your alone time pondering his words.

Fortunately, Diluc saw your dilemma.

"Chin up, (Y/n). You can only trust half of what he says, at best."

Without Diluc whispering rather earnestly to clear your head, you don't know how long you would've stayed on the balcony. You didn't understand what Mister Ragnvindr meant by that, but he was kind enough to (finally) give you his contact number. He insisted that if his adopted brother were to trouble you again "psychologically or otherwise", you should ring him up.

When you went to work the next day, Kaeya already knew about your secret exchange. Not like he was being subtle about it.

"Good evening, Sir Alberich."

"Hmm, I think you're in the wrong room, Mx. Producer." He smiled so sweetly. It was kinda nauseating, but that was his intention. "Aether's in the lobby– oh, but maybe you're here for my brother?"

You smiled.

Well, you're just relieved that your two-way joking banters had resumed. You don't want to spend the whole day silently ordering him around.

"Oh, wow, really? I definitely did not just see them both when I got here." You gasped exaggeratedly. "Do you think I should get his autograph?"

Kaeya scoffed, grinning, but his lips were strained and his eyes did not crinkle. He wasn't having a good day, you mentally noted.

"(Y/n)."

"Sir."

"What's my schedule for today?"

You laughed. Kaeya doesn't like it when you nag him. Strangely, he's practically begging to be bugged by asking this question.

"You have to practice for the To Be Reunited play. Act II - Scene 1 to 5. Afterward, you have a business meeting with assistant "Mei" and CEO Alhaitham–"

"Alright, alright, let me rephrase that." Kaeya sighed. His shoulders dropped down, and you realized just how tense he was earlier. "You. What's YOUR schedule for today?"

You raised an eyebrow. 'What are you trying to pull?' is what you want to say but judging from how your "boss" was trying to hide how dejected he looks, you're not going to push your luck.

"Same as yours, Sir Alberich." You told him nonchalantly.

"When are you– when are we BOTH free, then?"

"Around 3 to 5 PM."

"How fortunate." He grabbed his phone, typing something down. "Let's grab some chicken-mushroom skewers later– look forward to this."

You shrugged. "Mushroom soup is better. Allow me to pay for it at least–"

"Can't hear you right now over the sound of me being SOOOO busy, (Y/n)."

"Heh. What a drama queen."

-----------------

"Kaeya...?"

You unlocked his apartment's door.

He hasn't gone to work for days. Although three leaves of absence may not seem concerning, as a well-known idol, this is a producer's worst nightmare. His location said his phone is here, so you're acting under the assumption that he wouldn't leave without it. Although this act theoretically constitutes an invasion of privacy, you are desperate to find out why he suddenly went up and vanished.

"Listen– I brought some chicken-mushroom skewers!!! And one bowl of mushroom soup but that's not important..." You muttered the last sentence.

SHUT!!!

"Didn't your parents warn you not to enter a man's house so recklessly?"

In a blink of an eye, Kaeya was in front of you. His clothes were unkempt and his shirt was unbuttoned halfway.

His starry cerulean eyes were melancholically breathtaking.

No– his starry cerulean eye.

You were so mesmerized and concerned that you didn't realize he had you backed up against the wall.

"What... What happened?" You traced your thumb lightly across his bandaged face. The gauze was not clean. This wound was recent. Regardless of what facts you found out, you couldn't fathom just who would try to hurt Kaeya like this. "Who did this? Who did this to you?!"

"Took you long enough." He muttered.

Kaeya drew back slightly, but he refused to remove the hand that trapped you in this position. You reached out to grab your phone– to contact Diluc– but his large hand stopped you.

"Kaeya–"

"I did some digging a few days ago." Kaeya chuckled. His breath caressed your cheeks, but you can't move away. His free hand dangerously moved to cup your neck. "My dearest (Y/n), your name is already perfect the way it is. But why do hide behind the name ESTHER as well?"

You gulped. Shit.

"ESTHER."

They have a devoted following on all social media platforms. On their blog, ESTHER frequently engages with fans and posts fan-made content. Some might even dare to "delete" them by creating a phony account, but they are far too credible for such malicious slander.

What is "ESTHER" known for, exactly?

Well...

"What does 5wirl have that ADDICKTZ don't? ADDICKTZ is the leading idol group. So how, I–" Kaeya's hollow laughter echoed. "–I'm sorry, I just don't get it. We're the group with the most fans, so why are you running a fan account for 5wirl– hell– why are you running a fan account for their stylist, Scaramouche? Why are you so prying– so nosy when it's about them? Aren't you the least bit curious about my past?"

His hold on your neck grew significantly firmer. You can still breathe, yet breathing felt wrong.

"You've..." His lips quivered, and his voice was now soft and weak. "You've never posted anything about me. Why? Was I not good enough for you? Everyone has their secrets, but this isn't a secret. This is quite the betrayal."

He spat. "Is it true? Is it true that you wanted to join TEYVAT productions for a chance to be Aether's producer?"

You bit your lip.

You don't know the first thing of the hell you've put him through. Kaeya tried being just like Aether– he acted like a dog around you begging for more orders but he was met with your perplexed face instead. It just wasn't fair.

Fitting how the name ESTHER also means "to hide or conceal." Guess you're both lying by omission, then.

"Kaeya..."

You yelped as he placed his head on the crook of your neck. His cold earring touched your shoulder, making you flinch. Kaeya whimpered. "Luck must hate me so much if it made me fall in love with someone who hates the cold."

Reluctantly, you wrapped your arm around his back, patting him. "Kaeya, you're still bleeding. Let's get you cleaned up."

"... So you're just going to ignore my confession, ESTHER?"

----------

"Chin up, (Y/n). You can only trust half of what he says, at best."

"Why, because he has a crush on me?"

"... You're a nosy person. I'm sure you already have the answer to that question."

----------

You laughed which made him hold you tighter. It was not a good time to laugh.

"Kaeya, let's focus on–"

"I know you hate confrontation but are you seriously running away now?" Kaeya looked down. Your shoulder feels soaked, and you can't tell if it's from his blood or his tears. "Please don't leave me. There's no way they'll let me stay as an idol now. I'm not blind– I know I'm a damaged product now and you'll leave me so–"

Hearing all this breaks your heart. This was not the confident Kaeya Alberich you worked with.

And You? Leaving a nice man like him? Not a chance.

Your heart won't allow it.

"Shhhhh... I-I'm not running away. I'd never leave you." You stuttered. "I'll tell you all that you need to know, but you have to let me help you."

Kaeya perked up.

Your guess was right.

He was crying.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Good."

Kaeya grinned.

Wonderful. His first strategy was a bust, but who knew you could be manipulated with just a few fake tears?

It seems like cutting his eye was a bright idea. Two birds, one stone. He gets to leave the company and you'll remain by his side. Kaeya can no longer tolerate living in his more successful brother's shadow, so he'll leave in the best way he can.

Kaeya Alberich is a desperately lonely man. No fame can ever soothe the emptiness he's been dealt with.

He'll blame Diluc for this and pretend to be the bigger man. Of course, he's not going to take his older brother to court, he cares about him! Keep this incident a secret. But having one eye can be such a pain, please be there to help poor Kaeya out.

After all, you promised you'll stay and tell him everything, didn't you?

Ansytea: THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE YANDERE!IDOL EVENT ESTHER ANON :DD

#tag: yan!idol 1k event #yandere kaeya #yandere kaeya alberich #yandere kaeya x reader #yandere genshin #yandere genshin fanfiction #yandere genshin au #yandere male #yandere #yandere genshin x reader #yandere fanfiction #esther anon #yandere kaeya alberich x reader #ADDICKTZ

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tmntxthings · 2 years ago

Note

Alright, I don't know if you're still taking requests but I had this fun little idea and I just had to leave it here.

A platonic Turtle bois + April(& Casey Jr if possible, don't feel obligated to if you don't feel like writing him tho) x Reader where the gang asks the Reader who's their favorite one(as in favorite best friend), and Reader just insists they don't do favorites until one day Reader forgets their sketchbook there and when the gang takes a little peak at it they just find pages upon pages filled to the brim with full on Mikey drawings(colored, shaded and all), doodles, sketches, even handmade stickers and all along with other stickers that resemble Mikey(like Pizza stickers, tangerines since it's the same as his color, radio boxes, skates all that jazz)

This is totally not because Mikey is my favorite character in the entire series and I think he's pretty underrated compared to his other brothers-

Anon🌠

The Favorite

author’s note: INSTANT YES, I love it, I completely agree, here you are my 🌠 anon

warnings: capital F for Fluff c; unedited

—————————————————————————

“We all know who it is,” Leo said smugly. Kicking his feet up on the coffe table. “Know who? What now?” You said looking up from your phone. You hadn’t realized it but everyone was looking at you. The turtles, April, and Casey. “Okay I’m definitely missing something..” you said feeling nervous from all their stares. “Oh ya know just that I’m your favorite friend!” Leo continued to say, a wide smirk on his face.

“Leo, don’t kid yourself, I’m their favorite,” Raph said throwing a pillow at the blue clad turtle, it smacked him squarely in the face since he had those smug eyes closed. “Oomph!” He sputtered. “Scoff! You two?? The favorite??? My calculations would state otherwise,” Donnie pipped up. “And let me guess your calculations say you?” Casey asked crossing his arms with a slight smile. “Exactly future boy, exactly,” Donnie replied.

“Well I’d definitely want to be the favorite,” Mikey said excitedly, turning in his bean bag to give you the biggest puppy dog eyes. “Sorry boys, I mean the answer is obviously April O’Neil~~~” April sang confidently. Soon everyone was claiming to be the favorite, trying to talk over one another until you couldn’t even hear your own thoughts.

“Guys!” You said and immediately they hushed, looking expectantly at you, each ready to be proven right. “I don’t have a favorite!” You exasperated, shaking your head at all of them sincerely. “Yes, let them down easy Y/n, the truth can stay between us,” Leo said quickly, because he had totally expected you to say his name. “Leo I’m serious! How could I possibly choose between my best friends??”

“Easy, by saying April O’Neilllllll~~~” she sang again and everyone started arguing again! Casey shot you a glance, shaking his head as if to say ‘oh well what’re you gonna do?’ He had to deal with this same situation not too long ago. He had tried to say the same thing, that he loved everyone equally but c’mon, Leo is totally his favorite. Casey told him so privately just so Leo didn’t break down.

Thankfully they dropped it after you kept your answer steady. No favorites! You were happy to be friends with them alllll. A week went by and you were back at the lair, thinking that the whole discussion was finally over with. When suddenly you got an important call, “Oh my god, I think this is them!! This is it!! I either get the job or get let down!!” Everyone wished you good luck as you stepped out of the living area into the sewers for some privacy.

You had been doodling in your sketchbook, leaving it closed and unattended. Leo’s eyes turned mischievous after a moment of silence. “The time has come!” He announced and everyone was looking his way like ‘oh lord what’s he about to do.’ “Y/n’s prized art book will surely tell us who the favorite is!” Mikey was just as curious as Leo but he knew how private a sketchbook was. “I don’t know Lee..” he started to say reluctantly.

“How about this Mikey just a quick peek!” Raph said as Leo snatched the book, everyone leaning closer from their seats. The first few pages was of the entire group, all laughing or making silly faces which made everyone smile and “awe.” But as Leo kept flipping through pages, the main color of choice became orange. Sketches of Mikey and his stickers, skateboard, the boombox radio he carried around. Mikey’s face flushed a dark green, more than flattered that you had chosen to draw him. “Well well well, Angelo would’ve been my second guess,” Donnie said informatively. It didn’t come as a surprise to the purple turtle because Mikey was his favorite brother.

Leo kept flipping until the pages turned blank. “So Mikey, how’s it feel to be the favorite?” He sniffed, a little jealous but happy for his brother. Especially when he saw how happy Mikey was. “Hurry and put it back Leo!” He said not wanting to get caught rifling through your things. “Guyyyys!” You shouted from the sewers and no sooner you were back into the common area. “I got the job!!” You said smiling a big cheesy smile. Congratulations and cheers were in order and April gave you a big hug, knowing how hard it was to get not just a job but a good job!

Mikey was still reeling from the secret knowledge of him being your favorite. So when the whole gang piled into the hug, he gave you an extra squeeze a slight blush still on his face. “You draw really well by the way,” Leo said in the middle of the hug. A moment of silence for those words to settle and you gasped, “you didn’t!!!” you said in an accusatory tone. He smiled sheepishly, “hey wasn’t just me!” and you turned to the whole group, “so we’re going through everyone’s things now?!”

“It was Leo’s idea,” Donnie made sure to say. “And none of you stopped him?!” Mikey’s fingers came together tapping, “well I tried, but I’m happy I got to see your sketchbook, you do draw really well..” Mikey gave you the brightest smile and it was your turn to blush. Realizing he had seen all of the drawings you did of him, of his things. “I can’t believe you guys!!” You sputtered trying to maintain an angry expression but at this point you were just flattered at getting compliments from Mikey. He inspired you greatly and you thought his artwork was the best out there. “Well, the favorite can make it up to you somehow,” Leo teased and you groaned.

Yeah… Mikey was your favorite.

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erwinsvow · 4 years ago

Text

𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 | 𝐚𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬

a/n: hey everyone! hope you enjoy these college headcanons! part two can be found here! warning for nsfw in jean's, and mentions of alcohol/partying throughout!

jean kirstein

jean shows up to college thinking it’s gonna be high school part two, and quickly gets put in his place

his old antics (for both school and girls) won’t fly anymore, so he tries his hardest at both

i personally see jean as not the smartest, most gifted kid (in college!) but definitely one of the hardest workers

this man comes in pre-law and changes to sports management real quick

he definitely plays some kind of club sport, lacrosse or basketball or maybe even both and he is way too into it

like club lacrosse is his life.

he 100% has eyes for cheerleaders, because he loves idea of someone rooting for him, and if you are one, then it’s instantaneous

he notices you at one of his games, giving a shove to conny and asking if he knew who you were

which is met with “what do i look like, a phone book?”

he builds up the courage to ask you out eventually, to which of course you agree, and it’s pretty much a happy ending after that

makes for a lot of sweaty, post-match sex, with him still in his jersey and you in your uniform hiked up

reiner braun

frat bro reiner is a business major with a focus on finance

reiner is the guy who dedicates 100% of his time to school during the weekdays, and the weekends are for the bros

he’s the first in the library, last to leave lecture because he stayed behind to get clarifications, and pretty much aces everything

halloweekend, he decides to drag annie and bertholdt to a party, because they are in desperate need of letting loose

probably dressed up as something mildly douche-y that didn’t require a lot of thought: a foot ball player jersey with eye black improvised by annie

he is a heavy-weight if you’ve ever seen one, probably on his fifth cup of cheap beer and not even slightly buzzed

annie and bertholdt are sloshed, so he keeps one eye on them to make sure they’re alright

you, on the other hand, are serving as designated-driver for the night and sipping on soda

i think any kind of sweet, innocent costume (angel, fairy, woodland creature) would get his attention immediately

he goes over to you to try to make conversation, and finds himself stumbling over his words even though he just swore he wasn’t tipsy yet

but you find it cute, and given how you have seen him before around campus, studying all the damn time, you’re pleasantly surprised to find a sweet, interesting guy making conversation with you at a halloween party

eventually, your friends take off with their hook-ups, and reiner is left behind alone too after making sure everyone had a safe ride home

with no one left besides you two and his passed out friends, you offer him and his roommates a ride back to his dorm

after dropping annie off, you arrive at the dorm and help lug a blacked-out bertholdt to their room

you say goodnight and as you leave, feeling bold, you leave your number on the whiteboard hanging on their door

so that then turns into coffee-and-studying dates, and eventually a relationship before too long

armin arlert

i think we all know what armin is like in college: marine biology major and history minor

this is an effortless genius, so unlike reiner, he doesn’t have to spend all his time studying

i think armin would be the kind of guy who has school and life figured out, and he slowly realizes a healthy relationship is the one thing missing from his life

there’s honestly plenty of people who want to date him, if he had ever cared to return any of their gazes

i honestly see him being oblivious, so when a fellow classmate asks if he wants to study together, he goes “oh, sorry, i wasn’t really planning on studying, but maybe eren wants a study-buddy, i’ll let him know for you!” instead of realizing that was someone flirting

so it’s the same for you

you’re taking the marine sci class as a last resort, everything else was completely filled up, and you just had to get out of that physics class

but all this talk about oceans and sea-creatures is even worse, somehow. to put it short, you’re struggling, and armin is the kid who raises his hand at every question without so much as jotting down a note during lecture

you know mikasa through a friend-of-a-friend type situation, and ask her if armin would be willing to tutor you sometime

doesn’t matter that part of the reason you’re doing so poorly is because you’re staring at the back of his head most of class

armin and you get together to study on a saturday evening, and what began as a recap on the history of the ocean quickly turns into laughing, talking, and then “you wanna go grab something to eat?”

for someone so smart, he’s really dense

he thinks you’re being friendly and doesn’t want to assume you’re thinking this is a ‘date’ even though you’re internally screaming

it takes you leaning in for a kiss after he’s walked you back to your dorm for it to click

needless to say, he wasn’t quite so oblivious after that

eren yeager

eren was determined to get into the same college as armin and mikasa

my man is undecided, and then sociology after he’s forced to pick

not exactly a fuckboy, not exactly a stoner, just somewhere in between

procrastinates doing work and submits every thing a day late, even though he probably would have gotten full marks if it was on time

him and mikasa decide to take a marine bio class with armin, and he ends up falling asleep during lecture

i don’t see him going for a goody-two shoes type that wants to reform him, because he just wouldn’t want to deal with that

it’s not a toxic relationship, but pretty close to one

on again, off again ever since the two of you met in a dingy frat basement, absolutely hammered, and hooked up

this boy does not want to admit that he’s caught feelings, but eventually it comes to that because he is very much the jealous type

catches you engaging in polite conversation with reiner and he is seeing white in seconds

he realizes he has to make you his

marco bott

the most wholesome nursing major with a minor in english because he is a sucker for lit

i don’t think there is any shortage of girls who want to be with marco, just given how sweet and genuine he is

that being said, i feel like the few time he’s wanted to pursue a relationship with someone, they haven’t reciprocated/just saw him as a friend

which isn’t the easiest thing to deal with, but because he’s a mature angel, he doesn’t hold that against anyone

instead, he kind of succumbs to this false idea that people want to be his friend, and not his girlfriend, which he’s a little insecure about

that’s why i think you and marco would have idiot best friends to lovers, featuring everyone around you knowing how head over heels you both are except the two of you

you two meet in a particularly challenging class, and not recognizing anyone, you both turn to the friendliest face in the room to make study-buddies with

over a whole semester of late-night cramming (and talking), scribbling smiley faces on flashcards, and good luck texts before the exam, you realize how much you’re gonna miss constantly hanging out with marco

and on his end, he’s complaining to jean about how after the final, you two won’t have any reason to keep talking

“so ask her out then, you idiot”

“she probably doesn’t think of me like that…”

“are you blind?” jean says, with a roll of his eyes

after the class has ended and you’re both headed back home for winter break, you work up the nerve to text marco one last time

“let me know if you ever need help studying for another class :)”

you have no idea that he’s over the moon, and that finally brings an end to your friendship, and starts your relationship

bertholdt hoover

mister bertholdt is structural design and architecture major

there’s basically six of those total in your entire college, so he definitely gets a bit isolated/lonely sometimes

he basically came to college with reiner & annie, and figured he didn’t really need more friends than that

so when they’re busy, he’s just by himself

annie definitely makes fun of him for not spreading his wings and flying out of the metaphorical nest, but he’s comfortable with how it is

not a huge fan of the party scene, and prefers a quiet night of studying

i feel like you and him would be the last two studying in the library most nights, and sometimes walk out together after the librarian reminds you both the building is closing

so, when reiner and annie drag him to a party one weekend, he’s shocked to see you there too with outgoing friends of your own

he’s used to seeing you in the bright fluorescent lighting of the library, so this dim, hazy room after the shots have already gone to his head is hard to take in

you two eventually end up talking after your friends push you towards him

“funny seeing you here.” “i could say the same to you.”

he already has a crush (you do too, but he doesn’t want to accept that) so the alcohol inhibits his usual caution

a little bit of dancing, a lot of sitting on the pavement outside while looking at the moon, stars, and each other, topped off with a first-kiss starts your relationship

levi ackerman

teaching assistant levi is a staple of your college

almost infamous, really

you count your lucky blessings that he’s still a year or so away from graduating with his ph.d. in molecular biology and that he’s ta’ing this microbiology class

you’ve definitely heard all sorts of rumors, but you really don’t know what’s truth and fiction

he definitely hasn’t slept with a third of his students (right?) but the lingering way he looks at you isn’t helping quell your thoughts

technically speaking, teaching assistants and students are not allowed to date, interact, etc

until the semester in which you are their student is completed, at least

it doesn’t take long after that for you two to constantly run into each other

“how’re your new classes going? any hot ta’s?” he asks, sipping his tea from the bookstore cafe. you choke on your hot chocolate.

all this being said, you’re an upperclassmen about to graduate, possibly start a ph.d. or masters program yourself. i see him teaching upper-level courses exclusively.

it’s not long after that you admit your feelings to each other, since after all, there’s no time to waste

erwin smith

you’re a second year masters program in the history department. your specialization is military history, so of course professor smith is assigned as your thesis advisor.

i mean, he’s only written several textbooks on the subject

on first sight, you can’t believe he’s a professor. because certainly, this is a some cruel twist of fate. he’s closer to your age than some of his colleagues.

you both try to keep it strictly professional

at first least. this gets gradually harder and harder

there’s a certain chemistry there neither of you can deny.

having a mutual interest in the same subjects doesn’t help too much either. suddenly, you guys are spending hours pouring over topics for his next textbook and your thesis.

the conversation continues over chinese food in his office, long after the rest of the building has cleared out for their friday evenings

“well, i won’t keep you any longer. i’m sure you have much better plans on a friday night than talking military policy with me.”

“there is no where else i’d rather be.”

hope you all liked it! :)

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the-iceni-bitch · 4 years ago

Text

Every Little Thing

Pairing: Colin Shea x fem!Reader

Words: ~4.3k

Summary: You and Colin are two slutty pea in a pod neighbors, but maybe you could be more?

Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual content (fingering, f receiving oral sex, unprotected vaginal sex), idiots in love, excessive alcohol consumption, SMUT!!! 18+ ONLY!!!!

A/N: Ugh, I love Colin and I can’t believe it took me so long to write him. Before I get a bunch of notes about it, they’re gonna realize their feelings eventually but it might take a couple fics because they’re both morons, but they’re pretty morons so it’s fine 😉

Check out my masterlist and join my taglist if you want!!!

Divider by @firefly-graphics

Oh god, what the fuck was that noise? Why was your phone ringing at 8 AM on a fucking Sunday?

You picked up the offensive object and growled when you got a look at the caller ID.

“Colin, it’s Sunday morning, this had better be really good. I didn’t get home until 4 AM.”

“She won’t fucking leave.” He hissed over the line. “She wants to go out for waffles.”

“I fail to see how this is my problem.” You grumbled, rolling over onto your back and flinging your arm over your eyes. “Just ditch her at the fucking waffle place.”

“C’mon, Y/N, that’s like a second date. What about our deal?” That fucking deal, he definitely benefitted more from it than you did.

“You’re an asshole.” You mumbled, sitting up with an exhausted groan. “Gimme 5 minutes.”

“You’re the best!” You could hear the fucking grin in his voice and rolled your eyes at him.

“Yeah, I fucking know.” You didn’t wait for him to confirm before you hung up on him, stretching your whole body as you moved to put on some clothes.

It only took you a few minutes to pull on some old jeans and a sweatshirt and then you were stomping across the hall to Colin’s apartment, determined to make this as uncomfortable as possible for him.

“Colin Shea!” You pounded on the door viciously. “This is your wife! I found your little love nest! What hooker do you have in there now?”

You couldn’t help but grin to yourself as you heard a commotion from inside, someone was cursing up a storm and you were pretty sure you heard a couple of slaps.

“I can hear you in there.” You tried to make it sound like you were on the verge of tears. “What about Colin Junior? I’m not raising that baby on my own, you bastard!”

The door slammed open and a very angry looking woman stormed out, shooting a glare over her shoulder and calling Colin a motherfucker as she scurried down the stairs. He came rushing after her with a frustrated look on his face, rubbing the side of his jaw and scowling when he got a look at the shit eating grin on your face.

“My wife?” He asked incredulously, grabbing his hoodie and pulling it over his naked torso as you just continued laughing at him. “That was kinda mean.”

“8 AM on a Sunday, Shea.” You booped his nose with your finger and winked at him before turning to head back to your place. “You wake me up before 10 AM on a weekend and you take what you can get. I’m going back to bed.”

“Wait, Y/N, don’t you wanna have breakfast or something?” He jogged after you, ignoring the glower you shot him as you opened your door. “I’ll make you my famous eggs.”

“Did you not hear me when I said I got in at 4 AM?” You frowned at him when he kept you from closing your front door. “Colin, quit being so clingy. If I wanted to have breakfast with some annoying dude I would’ve actually brought that lawyer from last night home.”

“A lawyer, huh?” He was giving you one of those stupid looks that he typically reserved for girls he was trying to bang but that he definitely knew didn’t work on you. “And that didn’t even do it for you.”

“I mean, I still rode that beard for a good hour, but he was super depressing.” You kept knocking your door against his foot with an annoyed air. “Which is why I need to sleep, so get out of my fucking doorway.”

“Fine, we’re hanging out later though!” He called as you slammed the door in his face.

You just ripped off your clothes and crawled back into bed, burying your face in your pillows and cursing the sun as you did your best to fall back asleep.

It must have happened at some point, because you woke up six hours later with a mouth full of cotton and absolutely drenched in sweat. Why was it so fucking hot?

The pillow case tried to come with your face when you rolled out of the bed and you threw it away from you with a huff as you padded to inspect your air conditioner.

It wasn’t on. You knelt in front of it and whined as you tried flicking it off and on and nothing happened. This could not be happening, not with summer just about to start. It was supposed to be in the 90s today. No matter what you tried, it didn’t turn on. Granted, all you tried was unplugging it and plugging it back in, but that always worked with your computer.

The call to the repair company was no luck, they were closed for the weekend. This was going to suck, you fucking hated being hot. You moved to your kitchen to try to find some way to cool off after opening every damn window in your place to hopefully get some kind of air circulation going.

That’s when you spotted it.

The frozen margarita machine you had bought on an absinthe fueled online shopping spree and never gotten around to returning. It was like a little miracle right there in your kitchen, designed to help you cool off and get drunk so you could forget about how fucking hot it was while you did the week’s worth of chores you had been procrastinating.

You hummed happily when that first gulp of frozen tequila goodness slid down your throat, and maybe you shouldn’t have chugged the whole thing but who fucking cared, it was hot. Time flew by as you downed those things like it was your fucking job, scrubbing your pots and pans and singing little songs to yourself.

Music started drifting through your open windows but you barely registered it even as you started singing along because it was Queen and how could you not.

It was the third time you had filled that margarita machine and you were feeling fantastic, dancing around your kitchen as you continued cleaning your dishes. Whoever was playing music was still going strong and you began belting when they started doing Seven Seas of Rhye.

“You are mine, I possess you, I belong to you foreveeeEEER!”

“Hey, Y/N!”

Your badass high note devolved into a shriek and you turned to chuck the cup you were holding at the intruder on the fire escape, cursing when you saw it was Colin. He managed to duck out of the way at the last second with a muttered fuck and you sighed as you watched your mug sail over his shoulder.

“Fuck, Shea, that was my favorite mug!” You pouted, stamping your foot a little and taking another gulp of your margarita. “What the fuck are you doing on my fire escape?”

He gave you a stupid cocky grin as he watched to try to lean on one hand on your counter and almost go down when you missed it at the last second.

“Are you drunk, honey?” Fuck him for calling you honey, that wiley asshole. “We could hear you singing from the roof.”

“I’m just a little buzzed.” You hiccupped. “Who’s we?”

“My band.” He crawled into your apartment and caught you when you tripped over your own feet again, still grinning at you like an idiot. “The ones you were singing along with.”

“That was your band?” You had never realized how blue his eyes were. “You guys sound great!”

“Yeah, you sound pretty good yourself.” He grabbed the cup you were holding and gave it a sniff, coughing a little before he set it on the counter. “Maybe you should come hang out with us instead of drinking what I think is blended jet fuel and ice all by yourself.”

“If I’m gonna hang out with you guys I think I should bring a pitcher of margs.” He was really fucking pretty, had you noticed that before? “Don’t wanna be a bad hostess.”

“Oh, baby, you’re wasted.” He tucked a stray lock of hair behind your ear and you felt your chest flutter a little bit. “No more margs for you. Come sing with us while you sober up. No, no.” He pulled you back when you tried to crawl out the window and started dragging you towards your door. “Ladder doesn’t really seem like a good idea right now, let’s take the stairs.”

You tossed your head back as you laughed, slapping his chest while you leaned heavily on him and let him guide you through the hall and to the stairs to the roof. Those were some firm pecs, you were a little marvelled at the way your palm just bounced right off so you slapped it again.

“Wow.” It was like your hand was moving independently from your brain as you gave him a pretty brazen squeeze. “Your tits are fantastic, Colin.”

“Holy shit, Y/N!” He was laughing hysterically when he shoved the door to the roof open. “Your drunk game is on point sweetie. Guys, this is Y/N, the killer vocals you heard from downstairs. She’s a little tipsy.”

They introduced themselves and you promptly forgot all of their names, your hand trailing down Colin’s chest until you could press it against his abs. This was getting weird, it’s not like you hadn’t seen him naked before. But seeing and touching were apparently two very different things.

“We still doing Queen, boys?” You said, finally tearing your eyes away from Colin after poking him in the bellybutton and grinning when he made a noise like the Pillsbury doughboy. “Cos I’m good with whatever.”

“What about some Journey?” He slung his SG over his shoulder and watched you carefully as you grabbed the mike one of his bandmates was handing you. “You wanna sit down, hon?”

“Don’t call me hon, sweetheart.” You teased, giving him a wink and tapping the mike a couple of times. “I’ll be fine. Journey feels a little basic but ok. Faithfully or Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’?”

That grin he gave you should not have been affecting you like this, maybe you did have too many margaritas. The bassist started playing the opening riff to Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ and your grin got even wider, your hips moving to the beat as you kept your eyes on Colin. You laughed happily when he joined in with the guitar part, joining in after the piano had done its thing and losing yourself in the music.

He could not take his eyes off of you, he was pretty sure you’d never been this fucking cheerful around him before. Not that you were especially grumpy or anything, or that your typical dry wit didn’t immediately endear you to him. But seeing you with that goofy grin as you sang every fucking Journey song they had in their roster until the sun set was not helping the already prodigious crush he had on you.

Now the two of you were sitting on the couch he had dragged up there months ago and watching his bandmates pack up their gear, saying goodbye to each of them as they headed down the stairs and left you two to lean against each other and sigh happily. You had your legs flung over his lap as he plucked at his guitar strings lazily, kicking your feet slowly and leaning back on the sofa as you watched him closely and sipped on a bottle of water.

“You ever do any actual performing, honey?” He asked, his fingers running over your calf absentmindedly. “Cos with that voice you could probably line up some gigs.”

“Just karaoke.” You murmured. You were definitely sobering up now, but you were still hyper aware of his hands on your skin and it was giving you some feelings you weren’t totally sure about. “Lemme see that thing.”

“What?” He gave a little huff when you grabbed the neck of his guitar and pulled it into your lap. “Baby, do not tell me you play.”

“I mean, it’s been a little while, but I think I remember a couple chords.” You gave him another grin and his chest started to hurt.

“Jesus, a couple chords?” He laughed to cover the absolutely filthy sound he almost made when you started playing, it was like he had made you on a computer. “Honey, that’s Led Zeppelin.”

“Yeah, but it’s easy Zeppelin.” You teased, turning your body so you could lean against his chest and not missing the low rumble you felt when you tucked your head against his shoulder. “It’s Coda.”

“Uh-huh.” Being this close to you was doing something to him, he suddenly had the overwhelming urge to smell your hair.

“Why haven’t we slept together, Col?” Fuck it, you might as well do this.

He choked on the water he was drinking, turning his face so he didn’t spit it all over you as you stopped your playing and grinned at him.

“I seem to remember giving it a good try when you moved in.” He managed to get himself under control and turned his face back to you. “But you said you had a rule about not fucking people who live in the same building as you. Something about not shitting where you eat.”

“That’s about sex with coworkers.” You said, scrunching your face up as you tried to remember what your exact justification had been.

“Which is what I told you.” He tried to scoot away from you but you followed after him. “To which you replied, ‘doesn’t matter, not gonna happen’.”

“Huh, that seems awful short-sighted of me.” You scooted closer again and this time he let you. “C’mon, we’ve fucked almost everyone else in this city, we’d have gotten to each other eventually anyways.”

“Jesus, what a romantic sentiment.” He was trying to focus real hard on his softeners, but they weren’t working with you squirming against him like that. “You really want to do this?”

“I mean, I think we’d enjoy it.” You set his guitar aside and turned so your chest was pressed to his. “It’s not like we’re gonna catch feels, or anything. Just gonna see what all the fuss is about.”

“Right.” Maybe this would get his little crush out of his system. “Let’s not do it on the roof, though.”

“God, no. My place?” You stood up and started heading towards the fire escape.

“Yeah, ok.” He watched you climb down to your apartment before sliding down the ladder after you like the damn frat boy he was.

As soon as he climbed in the window you were dragging him towards you, swallowing his tiny cry of surprise when you pulled his mouth to yours. His lips were unbelievably soft against your own, and when he opened up and stroked your tongue with his?

Fuck.

“Shit, Colin.” You purred when he started trailing his lips down your throat. “I feel like maybe we should’ve done this sooner.”

“Yeah, maybe.” His voice was muffled as his mouth moved to your chest, one hand moving to hook under the neckline of your camisole and pulling on it until your breasts popped out. “Well fuck me. No wonder you know so much about fantastic tits.”

You laughed at that, arching into his face and grinning down at him as he buried his face between your tits and gazed at you through his lashes. Those stupid, long as all fuck lashes that were brushing against your skin as he mouthed at your soft curves.

“Jesus, fuck.” You wound your fingers through his hair when he dragged his tongue over your nipple, tugging on it softly and guiding him further into your apartment. “God, you really know how to use that mouth of yours, sweetie.”

“Oh, honey, you don’t even know.” He teased, moving his face back to yours and lifting you to wrap your legs around his waist as he started carrying you towards your bedroom. “You wanna find out, though?”

“You tease all the girls you fuck this much?” You nipped at his lips and grinned when he moaned into your mouth, reaching behind you to open the door to your bedroom.

“Nah, that’s just for you, baby.” He cooed, giving you a quick peck on the lips before dropping you on the bed with a huff.

Every place his fingers touched sent a jolt of heat through your body straight to your core, your eyes never leaving his as he started kissing and nipping his way down your torso after pulling your cami over your head. He grinned against your thigh when you moaned after he yanked your shorts down your legs, sucking a soft bruise into your flesh before rubbing his face over your clothed core and inhaling deeply.

You throbbed under his lips as he pressed gentle kisses over the fabric that covered your mound, hooking your legs over his shoulders and trying to grind into him when he tugged at your panties with his teeth and let them snap back into place teasingly. His fingers skimmed up your legs until he could hook them under the band of your panties and drag them off you, sighing heavily when he settled back between your thighs and got a good look at you.

“Fuck, you’re so pretty.” He spread you apart with his fingers and flicked his tongue out to run over your slit softly, moaning when he finally tasted you.

“I bet you say that to all the girls.” You ran your fingers through his hair and beamed at him, rolling your hips against his face when he sucked your pussy lips into his mouth with a low hum.

Colin chuckled into your cunt at that, pressing gentle kisses all over your soft folds before dragging his tongue over you in a heavy stripe. Your body reacted immediately when he reached your clit, your back arching off the bed and your legs curling around his neck as he repeated the same process but at a much slower pace.

Two of his fingers slid inside you as he wrapped his lips around your clit and you keened, gripping his hair by the roots and tugging hard when he started stretching you open while his lips drove you wild. The rhythm of his suction and release matched the curling of his fingers inside you and made you want to scream, your free hand reaching above your head and digging hard into your pillow as your body tried to rise off the bed when he brought you right to the edge of your peak right away.

“Col, Colin, oh fuck.” He felt like your thighs were gonna suffocate him but those sounds you were making for him had him past the point of caring about a silly thing like oxygen. “Oh fuck, I’m gonna come.”

Your whole body seized against his face as you let out a gorgeous fluttering moan, soaking his lips and chin in your release as he hummed with satisfaction into your pussy. He sat up when you finally released him, removing his clothes in a rush as he watched you pant underneath him and run your tongue over your lips. God, you were fucking beautiful, he couldn’t believe he’d waited so long to do this.

Before you had a chance to say anything he was hooking your knee over his elbow and thrusting into you, sheathing himself to the hilt in one smooth motion and releasing his breath in a thin hiss when he felt your satiny walls flutter around him.

“Ah, fuck, you feel amazing.” He ducked his face to catch your lips with his before pulling back with a groan. “Shit, I forgot a condom. Uh, I’m clean, just got tested last week.”

“God, you’re fine sweetie.” You brought a hand up to cup his jaw and ran a thumb over his cheek in a soothing gesture. “Also clean and I have an IUD, so we’re peachy. I am a little mad at you though.”

“Yeah, why?” He wasn’t too worried, you were still grinning at him as he started moving his hips slowly.

“Well, Jesus, fuck, you’re big.” You almost lost your train of thought when he tilted your hips just a bit and his cock hit you deep. “I usually like to reciprocate oral, sweetie. I barely even got a look at what you’re packing down there.”

“You’ve seen it before.” He groaned when you wrapped your free leg around his hips and rolled your body against his.

“Just glances though.” You gripped his biceps and dug your nails in, biting your lip as he continued dragging his length over every inch of you at an agonizing pace. “And never hard.”

“Honey, there’s no way I’m pulling out for you to take a good look so you’re gonna have to make due.” He teased, grinding against your clit and grinning when your eyes fluttered closed.

“Fine.” You huffed, frowning a little before winking at him. “We’re switching then.”

“What?”

You didn’t answer, just giving him a cocky grin and gripping his hips with your thighs. One quick move and he was under you, a small sound of surprise leaving his lips when you were suddenly straddling his hips and grinning down at him.

“Oh yeah, that’s better.” You placed one palm on the center of his chest and curled your fingers through his chest hair as you rose up on your knees before sinking down again nice and slow, loving the low groan you felt reverberate in his chest when you clenched around him. “Good for you, Col?”

“Yes, yeah, s’ good.” He was completely mesmerized by you, his eyes trailing over your body as you arched your back and continued to ride him.

The way he was reacting to you was making it hard for you to focus on what you were doing, his eyes soft and relaxed on yours and his bottom lip tucked between his teeth as he slowly moved his hips to meet your own. You could’ve lost yourself in those eyes if you really wanted to.

Shit, none of that.

His fingers started trailing up your sides when he fucked up into you suddenly and he lost it at the way your tits bounced for him, sitting up with a whine and nuzzling into your chest before wrapping his lips around your nipple as he started bucking wildly.

“Shit, fuck, Colin.” He was hitting your cervix with each punch of his hips and it was taking all your self control to not pass out from how hard he was railing you, wrapping your legs around him and dragging your lips over his jaw. “Baby, you’re gonna make me come again.”

“Yeah? Good.” He cupped your jaw and brought your face back to his, tugging at your lips with his teeth while he gazed into your eyes. “I wanna watch your face while you come.”

You kept your eyes open and trained on his, worrying his bottom lip with your teeth and resting your forehead against his as you felt a warm coil gathering in the pit of your stomach. It was like you were falling into those lust blown pools as he took you apart, your lips crashing against his as the coil snapped and you gasped his name into his mouth.

The feeling of your entire body fluttering around him was too much, and he followed you with a low growl. He muttered your name under his breath as he spilled his cum inside you, holding you close to his chest and rubbing his nose against yours.

You fell on top of him when he collapsed back against the bed, the two of you laughing breathlessly as you tangled your limbs and molded your lips together before pulling back and gazing at each other some more. Both of you lost yourselves for just a beat, your chests heaving against each other’s before disconnecting and rolling off the bed in two opposite directions as you did your best to compose yourselves.

“I’d say you definitely earned all those screams I’ve heard coming from your apartment, Shea.” You teased, trying your best to lighten the mood and not dwell on the desire you had to ask him to spend the night.

“Yeah, well I’ve always thought so.” He was avoiding looking at you as much as possible, searching the room for his clothes and fighting the urge to pull you back into the bed and snuggle with you. “Have you seen my converse?”

“Yeah, here.” You shoved his shoes at him after pulling an oversized tee over your head. “Well, I’ve got work in the morning, so…”

“Right, I’ll, um, I’ll talk to you later, I guess.” He shuffled towards your front door and pulled it open before leaning back to look at you one more time. “You can join us for band practice any time, by the way.”

“That would be great.” That smile you were giving him made him feel like his heart was going to break. “I promise not to be sloppy drunk next time.”

“Aww, drunk Y/N was pretty fun, but ok.” He winked at you then left in a hurry, slamming the door behind him.

You fell back on your bed and ran your hands over your face in frustration, hating yourself for coming up with this stupid idea because now all you wanted was to have breakfast with that beautiful idiot tomorrow after sleeping on top of his chest.

“Goddamn it.”

Colin grabbed himself a beer when he got back to his apartment and chugged it, sinking into one of his barstools and considering the fact that he was absolutely not over his crush after everything the two of you had just done.

“Shit.”

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#natalie writes #colin shea #colin shea x reader #colin shea x fem!reader #colin shea x you #colin shea x y/n #colin shea smut #what's your number #chris evans #chris evans smut #chris evans character #smut #eighteen plus #eighteen and over #do not interact if you are a minor

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itsamejin · 4 years ago

Text

easy || jungkook angst/fluff

Summary: Date you, win a bet, get his rent paid off. Sounds promising enough, right? Jungkook should’ve known that his ambitions would end in disaster, but even if he did, that still wouldn’t have stopped him from pursuing you.

Warning: cursing, crude humor, fuckboy talk

Genre: college!au, fuckboy!au, bet!trope, angst, fluff

Pairing: Jungkook x female!reader

Premise: In which Jungkook accepts a bet from Taehyung to date the first girl that walks into the lecture hall and realizes that he bit off more than he could chew when starts to catch feelings. Now, he has to suffer the consequences of being an idiot.

Commission Request: @altus-gens

Word Count: 9,203 words

—

It's not like Jungkook planned to be one of the most sought after person in Yonsei University, but it somehow turned out to be that way. Truthfully, he basks in it, loves that so many people idolize him for doing the bare minimum. He was handsome after all and had a level of charm that surpassed the need to have a good personality.

He got into such a prestigious school through an athletic scholarship for Taekwondo, managed to convince his professors to pass him when he put in minimal effort, and there was no shortage of girls to call when he was feeling lonely for a night. He was the stereotypical 'it' boy on campus and maybe if he was a little bit smarter, he'd have a better choice of friends than the six idiots he always hangs around with.

"How about this," Taehyung starts, gum in his mouth, "the first girl who walks in, you have to successfully get in her pants."

Jungkook rolls his eyes. They were in a damn lecture hall and yet Taehyung had no shame bringing up sex. Typical.

“This again, bro?” Hoseok sighed. “Aren’t you sick of bribing us to do weird shit for you?”

Taehyung smirked.

“Not at all, actually.”

"For how much?" Namjoon cut in, probably curious for the price point Taehyung would arrange this time. He was fired from his job just a week ago and could really use the money. "I'll do it if it’s enough to pay for my rent this month."

Taehyung scoffs, although knowing full well he could pay for all of the boys’ tuitions combined if he wanted to. He was the resident rich bachelor on campus after all.

"I'll pay it for a full year and your utility bills too if you're really down," Taehyung flaunts. "You just gotta have proof you actually managed to do it."

"Dude that's gross," Seokjin chimes in, "No one wants to send you proof of us doing it with a random girl."

Taehyung shakes his head.

"No, no, no," he says, clicking his tongue. "I phrased it incorrectly. I’m not a fucking pervert."

“You got us fooled,” Jimin mutters.

Taehyung leans in closer to the six boys and even Jungkook finds himself getting intrigued. Admittedly, he was a little curious considering he hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. He could really use having some extra cash for food without worrying about rent.

"You have to date the girl for like three months," Taehyung says seriously, "and I'll consider that as enough proof that you managed to actually do it since I know you guys are too horny to wait any longer than that to fuck."

They all look at Taehyung in disgust, Jimin even opting to hit him in the back of the head for being so vulgar. To be fair, they were all thinking of accepting Taehyung's bet regardless. It's not like they were new to leading girls on anyway.

"You gotta pay me more than that to fuck just any girl," Yoongi says, yawning in the process. He seemed the least likely to take up Taehyung's offer, but he was still game depending on the person.

"Then how would you feel," Taehyung starts, "if I told you guys that I could get you priority registration for next quarter."

The boys, even the ones who weren't interested, were now listening to Taehyung's every word.

"You mean," Hoseok gulps, "I could finally get that fucking Organic Chemistry class I need to get out of this hell hole?!"

Taehyung shrugs, an ominous smile on his face.

"Just the perk of having parents who have connections," Taehyung replies. “I’ll only accept one of you guys to do it though. I don’t wanna have you all fucking the same girl- that’d be weird.”

Hoseok rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, that’s what’s weird about this,” he grumbles.

“So are you guys in or not?” Taehyung asks, his patience growing thin.

He lays back on his chair, a smoldering look on his face when they all nod. They were desperate for money after all.

"The next girl that walks in will be the subject of this bet and whoever calls dibs on her first will be the one to woo her,” he says with a stretch of his arms. “Good luck boys.”

They all turned to look at the door and Jungkook watches silently as guy after guy walks into the lecture hall. No girl yet.

Jungkook was hoping, from the bottom of his heart, that no familiar faces would walk in. If he had to deal with a past fling, he’d have to back out immediately. He never dealt with exes very well.

The guys are at the edge of their seats, praying for a cute girl to walk through that didn’t already know about their horrible reputation. They were looking for an easy target, someone that could fall for their charms almost immediately.

And then, you walk in. You were clad in sweats with earphones on, rushing toward the front row seats of the lecture hall. You were chatting with your friends, yawning several times throughout your conversation with them. Jungkook couldn’t help but smirk. There was nothing special about you to point out, in fact, you were just like everyone else. Strangely enough, he found that the most intriguing part about you.

"Nope, nope, nope," Jimin shakes his head repeatedly. "Can't, won't, never will. Sorry, Tae."

They all stare at him in confusion.

"What the fuck, what's wrong with her?" Yoongi asks, crossing his arms over his chest. Jimin faces away from you, not wanting to look at you any longer.

"No, nothing," there seems to be a blush forming on his face. He was hiding something.

“Bullshit,” Taehyung furrows his brows. “Bro, if she’s crazy and one of us gets our dick bitten off, we’re all blaming you, so spit it out.”

Jimin just sighs.

"She's been giving me Professor Kwon’s notes for the past few weeks,” he starts, much to the confusion of his friends. “Her name is [Y/N]. It'll be really mean if I go after her, especially since she and I are kind of friends. Plus, I really need to pass this class. I failed last quarter..."

The boys groan. Jimin was no fun.

"She's not my type so I don't think I could really get into it either," Seokjin states, no longer interested in the prize after Jimin’s confession. He’s been banking off of your notes from him too.

"Aren’t we all old enough to know not to mess with people’s feelings?" Hoseok sighs.

They roll their eyes at Hoseok’s statement. Who was he trying to fool with the nice guy act? He probably fooled around with girls just as much as the other guys did.

"Yeah, I’m backing out," Yoongi agrees, "and she hates me so there's that."

They all look at him questioningly and he puts his hands up in the air from their gazes.

"What? I just realized who she’s talking to down there.”

He pointed at a girl discreetly, but no one seemed to recognize her.

“Her friend and I dated,” Yoongi continues, “and I broke up with her over text and blocked her without letting her respond. That whole friend group is pretty much pissed at me. I'd rather not have to deal with them again."

The guys look disapprovingly at him. Breaking up over text was harsh, but probably not the worst thing Yoongi has done to his exes.

"You're actually a piece of shit," Namjoon sighs. "I really do need my rent paid though..."

Jungkook nods in agreement. It's been almost impossible to balance Taekwondo practices, college papers, and working a part-time job all at once. If he could somehow find a way to quit his job for a while and get priority registration for classes, then he doesn't mind getting his hands a little dirty in the process. Plus, you were cute enough and he's sure you weren't too difficult to befriend as long as he doesn't mention Yoongi in any conversations.

"I'm in," Jungkook chides, finally saying something after such a long period of silence.

They all look at him with disbelief in their eyes. Jungkook was never the one to partake in Taehyung's bets. In fact, he was the one usually ridiculing them for participating. He must have been really desperate if he was willing to do it.

"I mean, it's all yours if you want," Namjoon replies, "I don't wanna turn it into a competition.”

“Don’t worry dude,” Jungkook fist bumps Namjoon, “I’ll quit my job and refer you for it.”

They nod at each other as if they were on the same wavelength.

“I knew I could rely on you,” Namjoon says, faking tears from his eyes. The boys groan in response.

“Alright,” Taehyung claps his hands. “In exchange for providing me some mindless entertainment and going out with [Y/N], you will get your rent paid for the rest of the year and get early registration for next quarter. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.”

Jimin shakes his head.

“I don’t know about this, guys...”

Jungkook doesn’t hear him and instead takes one last look at you. You catch him in the corner of your eye and you can’t help but feel flustered at his serious expression.

“Should be easy enough,” he mutters to himself and turns his gaze back onto his friend.

“So we have a deal?” Taehyung asks.

He smirks, shaking the outreached hand Taehyung held out for him. He steals another glance at you and he finds you staring right back. He gives you a wink.

“Deal.”

—

Jungkook slid into the seat next to yours in the campus canteen, his eyes filled with determination. His posture was laid-back, but it was a little too obvious that he was trying to act like he didn’t care.

“Hi,” he greets you in a breathy tone- girls loved it when he spoke with his breathy tone.

“Hi?”

You’d been sensing that someone was staring at you during the lecture, but you thought that was just the paranoia that came from being near such an intimidating group of guys. Turns out, you should always trust your instincts.

Jungkook had a boyish grin on his face that made you want to smile back but also stare at him in disgust.

“I heard you help Jimin with Professor Kwon’s notes,” he whispers mischievously. “I’m struggling myself, actually...”

Not really, but you know. This was the easiest tactic to approach you- tackle your similarities. You nod understandingly at his words, not quite getting that he was flirting with you.

“Yeah I can send you the Google Drive folder,” you comply, taking your phone out. “But you can’t let Professor Kwon know or else he’ll flip out. He doesn’t want people to have the notes for some odd reason...”

You trail off but Jungkook just scoffs. You seemed clueless.

“That’s not what I necessarily meant,” he says, a little shy this time. “I need a tutor.”

You furrow your brows at him.

“Yeah, you’re gonna have to pay me for that,” you say seriously. The last time you offered to tutor someone for free, they ended up blaming you for their failing grade and screaming about it all over social media. You needed money to compensate for that emotional trauma. “Microeconomics is hard to teach.”

“Well thankfully I’m a good student,” Jungkook teases. You stare at him with a deadpan face.

“You wouldn’t need my help if you were a good student,” you say blankly, standing up from your seat. “My hourly rate is 20,000 Won. Take it or leave it.”

Jungkook’s eye twitched. He had to spend his money to get Taehyung’s money? Well, the payout would be worth it in the end anyway. He reaches out a hand to you.

“If you’d have me,” he says cheekily, looking up at you. You take his hand in yours and maybe for a second you felt your heart skip a beat, but that was soon over when you let go of him.

“You have sweaty hands,” you say straightforwardly. You wipe your hand on your shirt and he coughs awkwardly at how unresponsive you truly were. Didn’t Jimin say you were a nice person?

You take your barely-touched lunch tray and walk away from his pensive figure.

“Wait, can I get your number?” he yells. You don’t look back.

“Alright, whatever,” he mumbles to himself. “I’ll just ask Jimin, I guess.”

Without even a second glance, you disappear from his sight. He sits back on his chair, heaving out a deep sigh. Sure, this wasn’t the first girl that didn’t care much for his advances, but you didn’t even crack a smile or anything. This is going to be harder than he thought...

—

“She hates me,” Jungkook whines to Seokjin as they walked down the university halls to their next shared class. “Yesterday, I went up to her to get her number and I left with a fucking debt. Does that make any sense?”

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have taken on the bet,” Seokjin yawned. “Namjoon would have wooed her with his poetry by now or some shit.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m sure she’s interested in a dude who can’t even put on a hat without causing an earthquake.”

Seokjin smacked him on the back.

“At least he’d have the guts to say no to having a fucking tutor,” Seokjin replies. “You dug your own grave, man. Now roll around in it.”

“Do you want me to succeed or not?”

“I want you to not be a fucking dumbass, Jungkook,” Seokjin sighs. “Do you really wanna make your reputation worse than it already is?”

Just as Jungkook was about to reply, he catches a glimpse of you walking farther ahead in the university courtyard. You were a bit far but he’s sure he could make it if he hurries. He smacks the binder he held in his right hand onto Seokjin’s chest.

“Yo, can you cover for me,” he asks hastily and Seokjin stares at him with a concerned gaze. He watches as Jungkook takes off his backpack and leaves it on the ground. Jungkook looked about ready to break out in a sprint.

“What the fuck, why?” Seokjin questions.

“Just tell the TA I’m out for a bit,” he says in response, already running ahead to catch up to you. “I’m winning this fucking bet or I’ll die trying.”

Jin stands still, mouth agape. Jungkook really left him with his backpack and binder just to talk to you. He shakes his head. ‘I need to make new friends,’ he thought to himself, picking up the discarded backpack and walking in the direction of the class Jungkook was planning to be late to.

You were walking with your earphones on, not noticing someone sprinting at you in record speed. You only turn your music off when Jungkook stops in front of you, his hands on his knees. He was panting heavily.

“Hey,” he says through deep breaths. You nod at him awkwardly.

“Why are you running?”

“I wanted to... catch up to you... and I thought... you were closer... but the run here... took... fucking... forever,” he says breathlessly. “Water. I need water.”

You take out a bottle from your tote bag hastily, handing it to him. He took it into his hands, grazing your fingers a bit. As he was about to start chugging it, you halted him.

“Waterfall,” you say curtly- you were still planning to drink out of it later after all.

He nods in response, a drop of sweat cascading the side of his neck. After he was done, there was practically no water left anyway. ‘I’m gonna have to refill it myself,’ you thought begrudgingly. You stuff it back into your bag and wait until his breaths become more even.

“A bit out of shape, huh?”

He scoffs and gives you a glare, clearly offended.

“I actually have a Taekwondo scholarship, you know that? I just wasn’t warmed up and I’m naturally sweaty so it’s not like-”

You laugh a little.

“I’m joking,” you say, a smile adorning your face. He feels his face turn red and he can’t help but purse his lips out of embarrassment. Jeon Jungkook couldn’t take a fucking joke.

“O-oh,” he says shyly, avoiding your gaze. Why was he acting more like an idiot than usual? You hear the chiming bells of the university tower and stare at your phone to check the time.

“Don’t you have a class?” you ask him. His eyes widen and soon he was dashing off again. He turns around mid-run, jogging backward to face you.

“My number is 06-1313-9197,” he yells, loud enough for the other late students in the courtyard to hear. Most of them roll their eyes, knowing that Jungkook was flirting with another girl yet again. You’re embarrassed by the amount of attention he’s getting, but punch his number on your phone anyway.

“Text me,” he shouts. “I’ll always respond to you.”

Now it was your turn to be flustered.

—

"That’s wrong,” you say, reaching over to Jungkook’s notebook and marking a large ‘X’ on his paper. “You’re not supposed to apply that function for this problem...”

Jungkook stared at you with a tired face. He didn’t think he was too bad at the mathematical aspect of Microeconomics, but it seemed like it was your life’s mission to make him look like an idiot. Of course, you caught every mistake that he made- even the ones he made on purpose just to see if you were really paying attention to his work and not bamboozling him.

“My bad,” he mutters, copying down the same problem on a different sheet of paper. He didn’t even get a chance to make a move on you today- not like he could make any big developments in the campus library anyway.

“Is it like this?” he asks, tilting his notebook to face you. You take a hard look at it and nod.

“Yeah, just make sure you know the difference between these two formulas, or else you’ll mess up on the midterm,” you say thoughtfully.

This was your fourth or fifth tutoring session by now? Truth be told he wasn’t really counting. Each moment he spent with you kind of blended together and he didn’t quite know if that was a bad thing or not.

“You know you’re not even struggling,” you say, your nose buried deep in your textbook. “It’s not like you’re completely clueless like Jimin. It seems like you’re wasting money on stuff you already know.”

Jungkook laughs heartily, getting shushed by the people around him. He really was stupid, wasn’t he?

“Yeah, well, it was just an excuse to hang out with the pretty girl in class, you know?” he says as nonchalantly as he could. You stare at him for a second and he swears he feels his body freeze over. If looks could kill...

You just shook your head with a click of your tongue and got back to reading.

“The pretty girl in class is most definitely not me,” you grumble. “If you wanted, I could’ve given you Soobin’s number without all the added hassle of you trying to come talk to me-”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Jungkook stops you from saying anything else. He looked worriedly at your face. “I don’t even know who the hell Soobin is, why would I want her number?”

You look at him and finally, you chuckle. ‘She really does have a nice smile,’ Jungkook thought to himself. It would be nice if he could make you laugh more often and not just on rare occasions like this.

“You’re saying you don’t know Yoongi’s ex?” you tease slightly. You were finally letting your guard down with him and Jungkook smirked. One wall down, another million more to go.

“Bold of you to assume that I know any of Yoongi’s exes,” he says and you scoff. “He’s an asshole when it comes to dating.”

You roll your eyes.

“Isn’t that your whole friend group?”

He pouts. You knew of his reputation after all. Jungkook thought he could get away playing a nice boy act, but it didn't seem possible considering your knowledge of him. A little white lie couldn’t hurt in the end.

“Not me,” he replies. “I choose my relationships pretty carefully.”

You take a glance at him before jotting down a few more words in your notebook.

“Well,” you start off, a little shy to admit what you were about to say, “I guess we both have that in common.”

He tilts his head rather cutely out of confusion.

“What do you mean?”

You cough awkwardly, adjusting yourself on one of the library’s notoriously squeaky seats.

“I’ve never really had a boyfriend before,” you say quietly. His eyes bulge out from their sockets.

“You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not,” you say, a hint of amusement in your voice.

“Like, you’ve never been on a date or what?”

“I have,” you say hesitantly. “I’ve been on a few but they just never led into anything serious. I was pretty focused on studying in high school so there weren’t really any opportunities to get involved with someone. Plus, the guys who pursued me weren’t very... attractive.”

Jungkook laughs loudly again, much to the dismay of the other students in the library. He liked that you didn’t beat around the bush- it was easier to talk to you that way.

“And me?” he asks teasingly, laying his head on his arm that was atop the desk. He looks up at you with that boyish grin of his that gave you small butterflies in your stomach. You stare back at him, but only for a second. You ignore his watchful gaze and continue to flip through your textbook, trying to find the passage you last read. He keeps his eyes locked on you and you just couldn’t resist.

“What about you?” you ask, feigning ignorance.

“Am I attractive?” he replies as bluntly as he could. You stop your movements and he chuckles.

“You’re... cute,” you settle on that word. Cute. It was safe enough to not be misinterpreted too much. He sits up straight with a satisfied smirk. He takes his pen and draws a heart on the side of your notebook. He winks at you when you stare back at him, puzzled by his actions.

“You are too.”

—

“Tell me you’re lying,” Soobin whines disappointingly, shaking your shoulders. You were trying to eat lunch undisturbed in one of the campus cafes but your two friends seem hell-bent on making you suffer. “There’s no way you’re friends with Jungkook.”

You sigh, attempting to rid yourself of Soobin’s grasp but to no avail.

“He’s an asshole, [Y/N],” Gaeun sighs disappointingly. “I thought you were a feminist, why the fuck do you even tolerate him?”

You glare at her for a split second before going back to prying Soobin off you.

“Jungkook has no respect for women or himself. It shows in how many shitty friends he has,” Soobin chants, still clearly bitter that Yoongi dumped her.

You shake your head, rolling your shoulders back when she finally lets go of you.

“Jungkook’s not even as bad as you guys describe him,” you reply. “He’s actually been really sweet.”

The girls take a glance at each other and burst in a fit of laughter.

“You must be out of your damn mind,” Gaeun cries. You cower slightly at their words. It’s not like you said anything that controversial, did you?

Soobin slaps Gaeun on the shoulder when she realizes how your face had soured. It wasn’t right to judge you for your choice of friends so harshly, no matter how horrid said person was.

“As long as it doesn’t go past friends,” she says soothingly, but that only made you feel worse.

“Why?” you ask a little hesitantly. “Does Jungkook sleep around?”

Gaeun nods, a worrying glimpse in her eyes.

“He's not exactly the type to kiss and stay...”

You nod understandingly. You weren’t too clueless to believe Jungkook when he said he was “careful” on who he dated. As long as you knew the boundaries that came with being his tutor, everything should be fine... right?

“Don’t worry guys,” you say with determination. “I’m not the type to get played-”

“Of course you are!” Gaeun sighed. “Guys gravitate towards girls like you who lack experience. Jungkook’s a fucking weirdo, of course, he’s gonna try and-”

“[Y/N]!” a shout from across the cafe screams. That distracted you from the various insults Gaeun was spewing from her mouth. You get that she was being critical of Jungkook, but did she have to speak ill of you too?

You look around and catch Jungkook waving frantically at you. He stops at your table and takes a mere glance at your friends before setting his focus on you.

“Do you have time to help me out today? One of the papers for my writing class-”

“You tutor him in writing now, too?!” Soobin exclaimed, mouth agape. “[Y/N], what the fuck.”

You try to ignore your friend’s overreaction, a little disheartened when Jungkook looked hurt at their words. He had started to shy away from them as if he didn’t feel welcomed.

“Nevermind, I’ll just ask you later-”

“Actually,” you say standing up. “I’m free now.”

The two girls look back and forth between you and Jungkook, noticing the stars in your eyes when you looked at him. They did not like the thought of you two together at all.

“But [Y/N]-”

You ignored their words and start to walk away, hoping Jungkook would come catch up to you. You didn’t quite know why their insistence on him being a bad person had made your blood boil. It wasn’t like you weren’t aware of his flirtatious tendencies, but hearing from your friends that you shouldn’t pursue a guy that you liked-

You stopped in your tracks and feel heat climb up your face. Like.

No way you admitted that just now. There’s no possible way you actually like-

“Hey, wait up,” Jungkook pants, his hand touching your shoulder. “Why do you walk so fast for-”

He sees your shocked face and turns you towards him, his hands on your shoulder similar to how Soobin had shaken you just earlier. Except this time, it felt comforting. It made your whole body feel warm as if you were coated with a weighted blanket. Was he always this gorgeous?

“What’s wrong?” he asks, inspecting your face closely. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“N-nothing,” you swipe his hands away and rush out the door of the cafe. He smirks at how flustered you look, maybe he did have an effect on you after all.

Jungkook takes a last glimpse at the two girls who sat in their seats, staring at him disapprovingly. He raised an eyebrow at them and shoved his hands in the pocket of his jeans, following after you. ‘They’ll try to get in the way,’ Jungkook thought to himself, ‘but they’re already too late.’

The girls clenched their fist out of annoyance. He was definitely trying to get on their nerves.

“There’s something strange about what’s happening,” Gaeun mutters.

“They’re up to something,” Soobin agrees. “I don’t trust him at all.”

—

It’s been a week since you last spoke to your friends, not really wanting to read the messages they bombarded you with about how you should stay for away from Jungkook. It was hard to take any of their advice seriously when they were just badmouthing him without reason. They based all their opinions on him from rumors around the school and Soobin always felt the need to compare him to Yoongi even though they both had very different personalities. Well, at least to you they seemed very different.

Frankly, you were sick of their nagging and just turned off notifications from that group chat altogether. Instead of sitting next to them during Microeconomics, you opted to sit with Jungkook in the back of the lecture hall instead of at the front with them. Jungkook had abandoned his own rowdy friend group to sit with you and flashed them quick smirks and winks whenever they’d stare at him.

Slowly, Jungkook had started to become a constant in your day to day life. You walked to class with him, ate with him, played video games with him. It was sort of strange how used to you were of his presence, like you had known him your whole life. Jungkook snaps you out of your thoughts when he starts humming a little tune.

He draws a heart in the corner of your notes- which you find he has a habit of doing whenever he wanted to say something stupid.

“I don’t get what he’s saying,” he pouts cutely. “It’s like he’s speaking a foreign language.”

You shake your head, not paying him any mind.

“Well maybe if you actually paid attention,” you mutter softly. He scoots closer to you and you feel yourself stiffen.

“But you’re tutoring me later on anyway,” he says teasingly. “I get more bang for my buck if I know less.”

“Bang for my buck,” you scoff. “Who even says that anymore?”

He points at himself nonchalantly and you can’t help but crack a smile as you continue to focus on the professor’s words. You don’t even cower under his gaze like you usually do when he stares at you with those puppy dog eyes.

“What do you want?” you ask, finally caving when Professor Kwon adjusted something in his PowerPoint slides. He smiles.

“I want to hold your hand,” Jungkook replies and you could feel your palms clam up. His flirtatious comments increased as time passed and you didn’t really quite know whether he was just teasing you or if he was genuinely interested in you. You weren’t very good at taking a hint.

“I’m writing right now...” you reply, slightly skipping a beat in your note-taking. He really was the ultimate distraction, wasn’t he?

Jungkook pouts sadly, but you can tell an idea pops up in his mind when his eyes start to glimmer. He sits his hand on your thigh and you jolt back from the touch of his hand on the material of your jeans. He pulls away slightly, scared that he had made you uncomfortable.

“I just want to put my arm around you,” he asks innocently. “Are you okay with that?”

You calm yourself down and nod. For goodness sake, you weren’t a child- why did a hand on your thigh make you so nervous for?!

“Yeah,” you say, a little more confident despite your nerves. “Go ahead.”

He smiles softly at you and connects his hand to your waist, pulling you a little closer to him. It was comforting, not at all meant to be more than just a public display of affection. He finds himself getting lost in the lecture along with you, his hand playing with a loose thread on your shirt through it all. He didn’t even look at his friends who were teasing him on the other side of the class or your own friends shooting daggers into his being.

At that moment, it was you, him, and Professor Kwon giving out a lecture that had half of the students already asleep. He smiled at how diligently you worked and how your breath would quicken when Professor Kwon switched the slides without a warning. It was the little idiosyncrasies like this that caught his attention, the kind of things that made him wonder where you’d been all his life.

The smile on Jungkook’s face disappeared when he came to that realization.

Fuck.

—

Jungkook rolls around the grass while you sit on the picnic blanket you two had set up. Midterms were over and grades would soon be announced. He wanted a much-needed distraction from the monotony of constant studying and you had suggested a small picnic in a nearby park. Of course, he agreed.

“We’re free,” he groans. “Finally free.”

Jungkook stares hungrily at the assortment of food you had laid out for the two of you. He tries to reach a hand out to grab a bottle of lemonade but ultimately fails in the end. You giggle at his silliness, popping a grape in your mouth.

“You’re welcome by the way,” you say jokingly. “Don’t think you could’ve done it without me.”

He sits up to face you, bowing deeply as if you were a traditional empress.

“Thank you,” he says, imitating a Joseon accent. He was watching far too many historical dramas recently.

“You’re embarrassing me,” you say, attempting to straighten him out. “Sit up.”

He complies, only after a few pulls from you, with a toothy grin on his face.

“Seriously, I don’t think I could have gone through the first few weeks of Professor Kwon’s class without your notes,” he sighs, opening his mouth to signal that he wanted to be fed. You roll your eyes but placed a grape between his teeth anyway.

“You have hands, you should know how to use them,” you mumble shyly.

You move to take another grape for yourself, but he grabs your wrist before you could. He intertwines his fingers into yours.

“Why should I when my hands are holding yours~,” he says in a sing-song voice. It made you want to throw up at how cheesy he was, but you couldn’t help but laugh along as he cringed at his own words. When was it so normal for him to hold your hands like this?

“You can’t go one sentence without flirting, can you?” you sigh, feigning annoyance.

“Not when it comes to you,” he replies, but you could feel sincerity laced between his laughter. “I can’t resist flirting when it makes you all giggly like this.”

You purse your lips to prevent yourself from smiling too brightly. Jungkook and you were somewhat past the point of being just friends by now, but you were too much of a coward to label what you had with him. What if there was a chance that he was just leading you on?

Jungkook saw your furrowed brows. He rubbed circles on your hands with his thumbs to ease you.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” he asks softly, about to let go.

“No-” you say a little too quickly, clasping him closer to you. Your faces were inches apart now, much nearer than they were before.

“D-don’t,” you attempt to say but you’re tongue tangled as you looked at his lips. He certainly does have nice lips...

“Don’t what?” he asks in a lowly voice. You start to look around you- anywhere that wasn’t him. The park was relatively empty but it still felt embarrassing to say anything too loud.

“D-don’t let me go,” you say, your eyes on the picnic blanket rather than on him. His gaze was too intense to look at. Jungkook feels his heart clench. You were cute, too cute.

He shouldn’t be feeling this attached to you, but he couldn’t help it. Everything you did, every word that came out of your mouth- it had him wanting more from you than he could possibly handle. It was dangerous to feel this way.

“Why don’t you want me to let you go?” he asks nervously. He too was anxious for the answer. If you were to confess to Jungkook right now, he’d get the first part of the bet done, but there’d be no turning back after your confession. He would have to lie to you from now on.

Jungkook closed his eyes, chanting to himself that it’s okay to like you for a little while, just as long as he doesn’t get too attached in the end. He needed the money, he really did.

“Because,” you start off with a sigh, staring at him now with glossy eyes. “I like you.”

Jungkook feels like he could do ten backflips in one go and it wouldn’t even drain him of energy. The smile on his face was huge, his eyes curling into that half-moon shape that made you swoon.

Jungkook was relieved and if the boys asked, it was because he’d only have to date you for three months. He’d die before he’d admit to them that he caught feelings because Taehyung, as generous as he was with his bets, would never give Jungkook the money unless he cleanly broke up with you. It was one of his unspoken rules.

“I like you too.”

You smile at him and he can’t help but pull you close, his lips hovering over yours.

“Can I?”

You nod.

His lips graze yours slightly but he pushes a bit closer when he feels you lean into his touch. He kisses you again, and again, and again, but you pull away when his tongue had started to prod at your lips. Your face was flushed, embarrassed to be doing this in such a public place.

“Maybe later?” you say, panting slightly. He gives you a cheeky grin and nods.

“At my place?” he asks with a wink.

You hesitate, letting go of his arms, twiddling with your fingers. You wanted to set clear labels on what your relationship was. You didn't want to accidentally get caught up in a friends-with-benefits situation and be all shocked when Jungkook ends up breaking your heart.

“So we’re dating now, right?” you ask cautiously, looking at him with a worried glint in your eyes.

Jungkook’s mouth opens to speak but no words come out. He thinks a little harder about the whole situation... He was getting good grades, spending some quality time with a girl he’s clearly attracted to, and having his rent paid off all in one? He was killing three birds with one stone. It shouldn’t be too big of a problem to catch feelings for now, right? It’s not like any of his relationships lasted longer than a couple of months anyway.

He nods, cupping your face lightly.

“Yeah,” he hesitates. “We’re dating.”

Jungkook wasn’t aware, as he gives you another light peck, that it wasn’t possible to have his cake and eat it too.

—

It happens naturally. You coming in and out of his apartment that he shared with his friends, you tangling your legs with his underneath the sheets of his bed. It was hard to imagine a life where you didn’t wake up with him by your side. You were so wrapped up in his touch, so wrapped up in the sweet words he would whisper into your ears, that you spent most of your time with him.

You weren’t really up to date with your friends anymore and he didn’t really hang out with his either. Jungkook shared an apartment with Seokjin and Hoseok, and so the only contact he had with the other boys was when they visited those two. He should’ve known to take you back home when all the boys bombarded into his living room, where you sat with him watching TV.

“The lovebirds are at it again,” Taehyung coos, a mysterious glint in his eyes. “The honeymoon stage hasn’t passed quite yet, has it?”

Jungkook chucks one of the sofa’s throw pillows at his friend, obviously annoyed. What the fuck did Taehyung think he was doing?

“Quit it,” he mutters. You were sitting next to Jungkook, his arm around your shoulder protectively

“Why?” Yoongi yawns. “Anyone can see how incredibly in love you two are.”

You didn’t quite like the smirk he gave the two of you. This didn’t feel like regular teasing... it felt like he knew something that you weren't aware of. It made you curl your toes out of fear.

“Guys,” Jimin says calmly. “Stop it.”

The boys shrug their shoulders as if they said nothing wrong.

“We’re just pointing out how cute they are together,” Taehyung noted, “It’s not like we’re lying to her or anything-”

“Yeah, or leading her on or anything like that-”

“I think I should go,” you say hurriedly, uncomfortable at how tense the atmosphere was. Jungkook was clenching his fists, about ready to start a fight any second. Knowing his strength, you didn’t want anyone to walk around with a bruised eye because you couldn’t handle a few jokes- if that’s what Taehyung and Yoongi think they’re making. Harmless jokes.

“I’ll take you home,” Jungkook announces, standing up with you. Namjoon pulls him down back on the couch.

“Let someone else take her,” he says sternly. “We need to talk.”

Jungkook was about to protest until you spoke up.

“I can get home by myself just fine.”

“Hoseok and I can take you,” Seokjin insists, pulling the unassuming man up with him. “We don’t mind.”

Hoseok gives you a lopsided smile and you return an equally awkward one.

“Okay, that’s settled,” you say, clapping your hands. You walk over to Jungkook. “I’ll text you later okay?”

He nods, grabbing your hand and kissing it lightly. Yoongi scoffs and Taehyung glares at Jungkook. The dirty glances they were giving each other... You didn’t like it at all.

“Let me know when you get home, okay?”

“Okay.”

—

The walk to your apartment was unnecessarily awkward, Hoseok and Seokjin were talking too much and you talked too little. You tried to respond to their every quip, but you weren’t in the mood for chatting after that whole mess.

“You okay, [Y/N]?” Hoseok asks worriedly. “Don’t think too much about what those idiots said back there, they’re like that all the time.”

You nod, keeping your eyes on the ground. There was something chipping away at the back of your mind, something you wanted to get out of your chest.

“Would you say Jungkook and Yoongi act similarly?” you hesitate to say, “like with relationships?”

The two boys exchanged nervous glances at each other.

“Well, it depends,” Seokjin starts, choosing his words specifically. “What about relationships specifically?”

“Does he...,” you start off, not knowing the right phrase without sounding too harsh, “play around with girls? Like how Yoongi played around with Soobin?”

Hoseok looked at you with a raised brow.

“Who’s Soobin?” he asks before getting punched in the arm by Seokjin. “What the fuck bro!”

Seokjin clears his throat.

“What Hoseok meant to say,” he starts, glaring at his friend a little too harshly, “is that Yoongi never really introduces us to his girlfriends. You, on the other hand, are one of the few girls Jungkook actually took the time to invite over.”

“Yeah,” Hoseok chimes in. “He’s not exactly the most chivalrous, but he wouldn’t ghost someone like Yoongi did.”

Somehow their words weren’t enough to satisfy you. There was still something off in the conversation that transpired between the three boys- as if they were all keeping something from you. You stopped abruptly in front of your apartment complex, finally making eye-contact with the two boys.

“Do you think...” you start, a slight quiver in your voice, “that Jungkook is cheating on me?”

The two boys let out a deep breath that you didn’t even notice they were holding and laughed joyously together. They cackled as if what you said was the funniest thing they had ever heard in their life. Seokjin wipes a stray tear from his eye.

“Y-you think Jungkook’s cheating on you?!”

You nod, a little embarrassed at their reaction. Hoseok shakes his head, sighing out of his laughter.

“Trust me,” Hoseok starts, his breath evening out. “Jungkook would never cheat on you.”

You start to giggle along with them until a serious look suddenly takes over Seokjin’s features. He faces you fully.

“But listen [Y/N],” he starts. “If Jungkook hurts you, just know that he does love you. Like, undeniably. He does.”

“And we’re not just saying that as his friends either,” Hoseok continues. “We know how he’s like and we can tell that he really does like you.”

You smile at the two, feeling a small sense of comfort at their words.

“Thank you, guys. I mean it.”

They pat you on the back.

“Anything for Jungkook’s girlfriend.”

—

You walk through the campus cafeteria, eyes searching for a free table that you can sit alone in. Jungkook had Taekwondo practice so there would be no lovey-dovey feeding time with him.

He’s been a lot tenser since the living room incident (which was already a week ago) and it seemed like he got more agitated as the days passed. Not towards you directly, but he’d always mutter slight insults whenever Yoongi or Taehyung passed by. It made you worried that you had done something to possibly drive a wrench into their relationship without even knowing it.

‘Whatever,’ you thought, ‘I’ll talk about it with him when he comes over later.’

You aren’t able to find a seat, though, when you feel dainty fingers wrap around your elbow to pull you back lightly.

“[Y/N],” Gaeun says in a low voice. “We need to talk.”

It wasn’t like you had been ignoring them deliberately, though that was definitely the case at the start. You just couldn’t find the time to really hang out with them as much as you used to since you were with Jungkook most of the time. It was like that too when Gaeun and Soobin were in relationships, so you never really felt bad about doing it yourself.

“Yeah sure. I miss you guys,” you smile at her, but she doesn’t return it back.

“Come with me.”

Gaeun leads you to a table near the back of the room, where Soobin was sat up against the wall with her own tray of food. You sit down in front of her and Gaeun takes the seat next to Soobin.

“Good, you’re here,” Soobin says, apprehension laced in her voice. “We need to talk about Jungkook.”

You roll your eyes.

“Not this again-”

“[Y/N],” Gaeun warns. “Listen.”

You keep quiet, a little intimidated of how scary their expressions were.

“It’s all a bet,” Soobin says sternly.

You furrow your brows at her. She tends to speak vaguely when you needed her to be specific the most.

“What?”

“It’s a bet, [Y/N],” Gaeun repeats for her. “Jungkook’s only dating you because Taehyung said he’d pay his rent off if he did.”

You clench your fist on the table. How could they sit there and spew lies so easily?

“What are you guys-”

“Those dicks do this all the time,” Soobin rambles. “They play stupid games with girls just to fucking break their hearts later on and-”

“I don’t believe you,” you say confidently. “Jungkook would never do that to me. Besides-”

Gaeun didn’t even wait until you stopped talking to play a recording on her phone. The voices were familiar enough to recognize.

“So you’re telling me that Jungkook’s just fucking around with [Y/N] because he wants priority registration? You have to be fucking joking...”

You could tell from the sound of the person’s voice that it was Soobin. It sounded like she was putting on her clothes.

“Of course not. He’s doing it for priority registration and his rent getting paid for the rest of the year. I’m not joking when I say Tae goes big with his bets. He likes to flex his money on us like that.”

Your jaw drops at the sound of the man’s voice. It was Yoongi. You were sure of it.

“And you guys don’t feel bad? Like at all?”

“Why should we? Jungkook’s planning to break up with her next week anyway so she doesn’t catch feelings for too long. It’s not like they were gonna last past the three-month deal...”

Gaeun paused the recording when she sees you bite your lip so harshly that blood starts to surface. This didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel real.

“I hooked up with him last weekend,” Soobin admits, shame written all over her face. “He was spewing stuff about Jungkook spending all his time with you and not really hanging out with the boys like he used to.”

“You still hook up with Yoongi? After all he did to you?” you ask, not meaning to come off aggressive but undoubtedly did.

“Look,” Gauen starts, taking the heat off of Soobin. “She was just drunk and looking to have fun. I was with her that night and I was talking to Namjoon. He...”

Gaeun trailed off, but you were sick of it. Sick of being kept in the dark from something you should’ve known all along.

“What?”

“H-he told me that all the boys were getting tired of him playing around with you,” she says, twiddling with her fingers. “He’s supposed to break up with you today. Some of the guys think he’s just prolonging it to fuck with you and they’re getting really annoyed-”

You bite back the tears threatening to spill over any minute now.

“Hoseok and Seokjin told me to trust Jungkook. They said he wouldn’t hurt me-”

“Did they also tell you that their rent gets paid too if Jungkook pulled through with the bet?” Soobin replies angrily. “Because they live together, don’t they?”

You open your mouth but no sound comes out- just a small whimper. Your lips start to quiver and you bite your lip again to calm yourself down. When you had collected your thoughts, you glared up at the two girls.

“And you didn’t tell me this earlier?”

Soobin scoffed.

“You were fucking ignoring us too, how were we supposed to tell you?”

“Still it wouldn’t have killed you to-”

“Don’t take your anger out on us,” Gaeun warns, her finger pointing at you. “Jungkook is the one to blame. We told you from the start that he was bad news.”

You pursed your lips and Gaeun put her finger down, feeling guilty that she lashed out on you when obviously you were just processing the information.

“Hey, I’m sorry-”

“Why me?” you ask with teary eyes. “What did I even do to them to deserve this?”

They glance over at each other for a long while before Soobin breaks the silence. You had the right to know, but at the same time, they knew it would break you.

“It’s a sick game that they play where they just choose someone randomly...” Soobin starts off gently handing off the next few words to Gaeun, “and you were just the first girl to walk into Professor Kwon’s lecture hall. He thought you’d be...”

“Easy,” Soobin finished.

Just as they predicted, you had burst out in tears.

—

Jungkook opens the door to your apartment, using the spare key you had given him a month earlier since he tended to visit often. It was more convenient that way.

He was freshly out of his Taekwondo garb, still sweaty, but otherwise clean from taking a shower at the campus gym. He found it strange at how dark the room was, but he knew you were on the couch from the noticeable lump of a blanket on it.

All Jungkook wanted was to cuddle with you and fall asleep in your arms after such a harrowing day. Lord knows he needs your warmth right now.

He smiled as he made his way towards you, but stops in his tracks when you sit up from where you laid. He couldn’t quite see you in the darkness so he walked to the light switch to turn the lights on. His heart broke at the sight of you.

Tears stained your cheeks, your eyes red and puffy from all the crying. You looked a mess and his blood boiled at the thought of someone hurting you.

“What happened?” he asked, rushing over to you and cupping your face in his hands. You push him away.

“You don’t have to act anymore,” you say softly. “I can handle it.”

He looks at you with furrowed brows.

“What are you talking about-”

“I get that you really need the money,” you say through bated breaths, “I get that financially, it would have really helped, but did you really have to hurt me to do that?”

Jungkook’s breathing stopped. Everything was happening too quickly, his world crashing down when you uttered those words. He knew what this meant, knew that now you would see past his lies. Jungkook couldn’t have you finding out this way.

He kneeled in front of you, attempting to wipe away the tears from your eyes but you push him off.

“[Y/N] no-”

“It could’ve been anyone,” you whimper, trying to look up at the ceiling to prevent any more tears from falling down. “Anyone could’ve walked through that door and you would’ve been okay with it.”

“That’s not true-” he interjects but you stop him.

“A-and you flirted with me all the time ‘cause you knew that I wasn’t used to it,” you say, your voice quivering. “You took advantage of me.”

Jungkook shakes his head rapidly, eyes pleading for you to let him speak. It hurt seeing you refuse to even look at him, to have your eyes so filled with sadness because of what he did to you. He fucked up, he fucked up so bad.

“No, you have to listen-”

“They told me not to trust you,” you whimper somberly. “They told me and I didn’t believe them because I... I was delusional or something. I thought that someone like you could actually like someone like me-”

His heart broke. It wasn’t you that didn’t deserve him. It was him. All him.

“Please don’t say that-”

“Did you come here to seal the deal? To finally break up with me?” you ask sadly. “Are you happy you’ll get the classes you want next quarter, Jungkook?”

He clenches his teeth. Jungkook knows you’re mad, knows you have a right to be, but it feels like he’s being cornered by you. Why won’t you give him the chance to speak?

“[Y/N], no,” he says sternly, “You have to trust me when I say that it went past just a bet. I like you. Genuinely, I like you.”

There was no point in lying any longer. You deserved to know the truth, but he needed you to know all of it- not just the information your friends cherry-picked to fit their narrative. He tried to speak again, but you wouldn’t let him.

“How could you,” you whimper. “How could someone be so cruel?”

Jungkook’s heart breaks at the words. He should’ve seen this coming. How could he delude himself into thinking he’d be okay if you find out- that he’d be fine seeing you heartbroken? He was disgusted with himself.

“I’m sorry [Y/N],” he whispers. “I’m so sorry.”

You shake your head, your vision getting blurry from the tears. He clasps your hands in his, knowing that it used to soothe you whenever you felt worried over something, but you just wailed harder at his touch. He didn’t know what to do, he didn't even know where to start.

“Stop pretending like you care,” you cry. “Please. It hurts.”

“It was a bet,” he admits and he breaths through the words to prevent himself from getting too emotional, “but I promise that my feelings are genuine. You have to trust me.”

“Trust you?” you ask crudely.

You stare at him, slowing your breaths to ease the crying. There was a certain emptiness in your gaze and it scared him. It was awfully frightening having you looking at him with a certain animosity that was not there before. Like he was a stranger.

“I can’t do that anymore, Jungkook,” you say softly, “because I hate you.”

—

A/N: Gasp A double update?! Say it isn’t so... I had so much fun writing this!!! Probably one of my favorite fics I’ve written in a while because I love this trope. How do y’all feel about Jungkook? Forgive or forget? Let me know!! Thank you @altus-gens for requesting this story, I hope you like it :)

Please leave any comment, critiques, or just random thoughts about my story! I’m planning my murder mystery series rn and I’m so excited (I might... do an album giveaway along with it...) I really love the direction I’m taking this blog in and I hope you guys are excited for the stories to come~~

buy me a coffee?

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