#a day late but I’m keeping on schedule for the most part

[puck-luck]

hi qween, could i request mocha with qh43, whipped cream = established relationship, and cold foam 💗💕💞💗💗💞 happy 1 year i love your writing :3

hi!! thank u for requesting!! since you didn't specify what you wanted with the cold foam, i used this kink prompt generator to determine the wild card.... which was sexting!

so, warnings (1.2K): sexting, slight angst (they're fighting, the mocha part is that they're making up here), mentions of ass-eating, no actual sex but lots of allusions to it, puns and double entendres about cooking/sex, quinn is persistent and dorky and stupid and i love him, reader is doing her best to not fall for his goon-ness <3

Things have not been good between you and Quinn lately. It wasn’t by any fault of yours, or of Quinn’s, but you haven’t had sex in weeks. You’ve barely seen each other with Quinn’s schedule and your work. It’s been driving both of you crazy, and you’re both stressed in your own jobs, and it hasn’t been manifesting well. 

Quinn left his sneakers in the middle of the hallway one day and you tripped over them while carrying a fuck ton of groceries inside. That had started a big fight, which hadn’t been resolved, and you’re still upset whenever you see something out of place… like the toothpaste this morning, left on the bathroom counter capless. The cap was next to the tube. How hard is it to screw the cap back on the tube when you’re done brushing your teeth?

You’d lost track of time and been late to picking Quinn up after a roadie one night, which sparked a fight on his end. That also hadn’t been resolved entirely. You know Quinn is still holding it against you because he’s driven himself to the arena every single time since you were late, insisting that he’ll just take himself so he doesn’t have to worry or wait. 

So there’s been tension lingering in the air of the apartment ever since. You’re sure that when you and Quinn have more time, you’ll be able to talk about it. The hockey season is almost over and the presentation you’re working on at work is almost due, so you both will be free in a couple of weeks. The light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter and drawing nearer.

Quinn is at home tonight, which is nice most of the time. Over the last two years that you’ve been together, it’s rare for you and Quinn to avoid each other. Today, though, you’re staying away from each other. You’re both still upset and holding a grudge.

Quinn sits on the couch flipping through a book. You worked on your computer at the dining room table and now you’re on your lunch break, chopping up stalks of celery to toss into the pot of soup you’re brewing.

As you turn and make your way around the island in the kitchen, you can feel Quinn’s eyes roaming over your skin. You pay him absolutely no mind, keeping your head down and returning to the cutting board to chop up a few carrots.

Your phone buzzes a minute later. 

I’m starving

The text pops up from your lovely, annoying boyfriend and strikes a chord within you. Does he expect you to be cooking for him? The pot of soup is big enough for four people at least, but Quinn didn’t ask you. He just said he’s starving and expects you to do something about it. He’s a big boy; he can make his own meal. You let your screen fade to black without replying.

Another buzz:

But not for food ;)

Unimpressed, you raise your gaze to Quinn on the couch. He’s watching you with a barely-suppressed, smug smile tugging at the corners of his lips. You shoot him a glare, letting him know that you’re not budging, and go back to chopping a carrot into tiny pieces. 

Whereas you were unimpressed, Quinn is undeterred. 

Buzz.

Baby your cooking smells so good, it’s making me crave YOU… wanna add something sexy to that savory?

You squint at the text and return to your carrots, scooping them off of the cutting board and dumping them into the broth.

Buzz.

Cooking looks good on you. Making you moan is even better. Come and let me season you up properly ;)

You pick up your phone and face Quinn, staring him in the face as you shut it down entirely. You place the phone on the counter out of reach and go back to stir the pot. There’s shredded chicken and veggies in this pot, plus some spiral noodles that have been thoroughly cooked in the simmering broth.

He clears his throat behind you and starts to speak. “Hey, babe, I thought I’d give you a call since you hadn’t replied to my texts. Your hands must be full since you didn’t answer, so I hope this voicemail will be fun for you.”

You take a deep breath and press your lips together, closing your eyes. He is such a fucking dork.

“Hm, what am I up to?” Quinn fake-ponders aloud. “Nothing much, just sitting on the couch, rock-hard, and thinking about bending you over the stove.”

Your nostrils flare and you halt your movements. 

“I’m going to need you to turn off the stove and turn me on, though. I’m dying for a sample of your other delicious skills.”

You’re at your wit’s end, about to break your silence. You’re not sure whether you’re going to tell Quinn to shut up or if you’re going to fall for his silly sexting-turned-voicemail, but you’re almost at the point of saying something. 

You can hear Quinn holding back a laugh. “You look so hot stirring that pot, beautiful. Wish it was your ass I was stirring instead. Lemme grab a bite, yeah?”

You scoff, surprised and amused by his pick-up line. “I am not letting you eat my ass, Quintin.”

He chuckles and stands from the couch, his feet padding over the wooden floor of his apartment as he enters the kitchen. “Okay, not your ass. We can still skip the utensils and I’ll put my tongue on something else. I promise I’ll be thorough.” His reflection in the microwave shows you that he’s still talking into the phone. He’s close enough to touch now and he makes a point to splay his fingers over your hip, standing with his crotch pressed against your behind. “Can I serve you something hot and hard, baby?”

His breath washes over your neck, followed shortly by the scratch of his scruff as he kisses the curve of your shoulder. Instinctively, you bare the skin to him. 

Quinn drops the call and places his other hand on your other hip, holding you steady as he rolls his hips against your bottom. He kisses your jaw, then your cheek. “‘m sorry I haven’t been very happy lately. Things are tense. I don’t want them to be.”

“It’s just a difficult time right now,” you reply softly. “I’m stressed and every tiny thing that goes wrong gets on my nerves and makes it worse.”

Quinn takes the spoon from your hand and turns off the stove, moving the pot to the backburner and off the heat. “You get an hour for lunch?”

“About forty-five left.”

“I only need fifteen.”

You laugh. “It’s been long enough that I think you could do it in less.”

“Ouch, you’re making fun of my stamina?” Quinn pouts. “I’ll show you, baby. I’m a machine.”

You release a breath of a laugh, relaxing into Quinn’s touch. “Is sexting your new way of initiating?”

“Only when you’re mad at me. It’s cheesy enough that it’ll diffuse the tension, right? Did you like my lines?” Quinn asks, seeking your approval. One of his hands is unbuttoning your blouse, the one you threw on to look professional in your video meeting this morning.

“I liked that you were trying,” you confirm. “But you’re still not going to eat my ass.”

Quinn steers you toward the bedroom. “I’m perfectly content eating your pussy, baby. You’re my main course.” He scoops you up bridal-style and carries you across the apartment. Once you enter the bedroom, he tosses you onto the bed and grins at you. “Alright, spread ‘em. Gotta lick my plate clean.”

[hoperenae]

Turning Heads (a Haikyuu fanfic by hoperenae)

PREVIOUS — SERIES MASTERLIST — NEXT

PART 24- The Other Side

The cool October morning breeze brushed my hair away from my face as I stepped out my front door and into the street, my brother right behind me. We walked to school in silence, both nervous and reflecting on how far we’d come in the last couple of months.

It had been two months since the Miyagi Preliminaries. Two months since we beat Ohgi Minami and Kakugawa, the two meter guy. We had honed our skills and grown closer as a team, but nothing could be done about the inevitable nerves we all likely felt going into the Miyagi Qualifiers for Nationals.

The bus ride to Sendai City Gymnasium was quiet, too, even though everyone was wide awake. I sat next to Yacchi who, despite being a manager, looked more pale and anxious than any of the players.

Our first match of the day was against Johzenji High, the party school. Their carefree and fun nature made them unpredictable, but we managed to pool our new strengths together and win.

Wakutani was next, and we didn’t know what to expect. We quickly learned that their captain was very much the pillar of strength for their team, keeping everyone’s spirits up, but we had our own strong captain.

About halfway through the first set, we were neck-and-neck with them. During one rally, our spike got blocked, but Daichi scrambled to pick it up. Nishinoya managed to keep it in the air, and I turned away to prepare for the next attack. And then…the room fell silent.

I turned back to find Daichi and Tanaka on the ground. Tanaka was leaning over Daichi who wasn’t moving. My breath caught in my throat as I raced to my big brother’s side. I fell to my knees and choked back a sob.

“Daichi!” I screamed. Nothing. “Daichi!” Finally, he groaned softly and slowly lifted his head. I felt someone’s hand on my back but shrugged it off.

“Arya, give him some space.” It was Asahi’s voice that shook me from my shock. I raised myself onto one knee as I helped my brother stand up.

“Sawamura-kun!” Takeda said as he made his way to us. “Do you know where you are right now?”

“Uhh, Sendai City Gymnasium,” Daichi replied, putting a hand to his cheek and wincing. There was a trickle of blood coming from his mouth. “I’m ok, really. I can still play.” With that, he spat a tooth out of his mouth.

“You need to go to the infirmary,” Takeda insisted. “Have them check you out to make sure you don’t have a concussion.” Daichi nodded sadly and Shimizu began to walk with him.

“Little sis,” Daichi called over his shoulder. “Hold down the fort while I’m gone.” He smiled sadly, and I fought back tears as I nodded.

I finally understood what it felt like. When I got knocked unconscious back in middle school, I had no awareness of what everyone else was doing or feeling at the time. When I came to, I felt guilty for causing everyone so much pain. But now I knew what it felt like to be on the other side. The worry, the unknown, the waiting; it was unbearable. I was drowning in it. How was I supposed to play without my brother? How was Karasuno supposed to play without our captain?

“Arya-san.” Nishinoya put a hand on my shoulder. “He’s gonna be ok. He doesn’t seem dizzy or disoriented, so he’ll be back before we know it. All we can do now is win for him.”

I nodded shyly and wiped the tears that had escaped my eyes. Tanaka marched over to me and bowed before me.

“Arya,” he choked out. “I’m so sorry. I should have seen that Daichi was going for the ball.”

I put my hands on his face and pulled his gaze up to me. “Hey, it’s ok. It’s all gonna be ok.” I gave him a half-smile. Tanaka freaking out weirdly made me feel calmer. “Let’s win this, ok?” He nodded firmly.

I’ll be the first to admit, it was hard without Daichi. Ennoshita was subbed in, and after the initial nerves wore off, we started to gain our rhythm back. We took the first set, but they took the second from us. I was feeling anxious and distracted, constantly eyeing the gym doors for Daichi’s return. Half my spikes were blocked out, and I wasn’t using my head to strategize. I knew I was going to cost us the game if I kept that up, but I didn’t know how to get my head on straight.

The score was 24-23, match point for us. Kageyama tossed to me, but it was a little too high, so I panicked and flailed. The ball still went over, but now it was Wakutani’s turn for a counterattack.

“Arya!” Ennoshita called from behind me. “Don’t forget how far you’ve come!”

It was like being woken from a daydream. The fog in my brain disappeared, and I took a deep breath. Ennoshita was right, I’d come too far and worked too hard to let it end here. I steeled myself for the next attack. Hinata went up to block their attack, but it still made it through. Ennoshita dove forward to receive it and sent it back to Kageyama.

“Kageyama!” I screamed as loud as I could. He turned his head to me, saw the look of pure determination on my face, and grinned. I ran, jumped against two blockers, and spiked a perfect cross-shot, just like Bokuto taught me.

The gymnasium erupted in cheers, and my teammates swarmed around me with praise. For a brief moment, I forgot to worry about my brother. All I felt was pure bliss and pride.

After gathering up our things, we began to leave the gym. Leaning in the doorway with a sheepish grin on his face was my older brother.

“I guess you guys didn’t need me after all,” he said, running a hand through his hair. I raced forward and threw my arms around his neck.

“I’m so glad you’re ok,” I cried into his shoulder. I felt him tense up and dialed it back a bit. When I pulled away, it was not pain etched on his face, but pride.

“I saw that last point,” he said with a grin. “I don’t think anyone will underestimate you anymore, kid.”

TAGLIST: @bokuroibi @lemurzsquad

[jobean12-blog]

Sunshine

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x female reader

Word Count: 6.4K

Summary: It's a beautiful day that turns even more beautiful when you run into the most handsome man you've ever seen...and the grumpiest. Will his good looks be enough for you to stick around and get to know him?

Author's Note: I love a grumpy!Bucky and a reader who just won't give up on him! Kind of sunshine/grumpy trope with enemies/lovers mixed in a little too. This was fun to write and I hope you enjoy! Thank you so much for reading! Much love always! ❤️❤️❤️Divider by the lovely @firefly-graphics thank you Daisy 🥰

Warnings: fun, flirty tension, a tiny bit of angst, grumpy!bucky, fluffy sweetness too

Waiting in line at your favorite coffee shop is always worth it and today, after a restless night, you really need the extra boost. Even though you’re behind schedule the stop is a necessity and despite the busy morning rush the line is moving quickly but apparently not fast enough for the person behind you who lets out a loud and frustrated huff.

Trying to be discrete you turn and look out of the corner of your eye.

The sight of him strikes you in a way you’re not prepared for.

Then the barista calls your name. You blink, dazed but thankfully able to recover well enough to give the barista a warm smile and thanks.

As you grab your napkins and gather your things you can’t help but steal glances at the man. He’s tall and broad shouldered, wearing a leather jacket that shows his biceps shaping the fabric, his long legs are clad in well fitted dark denim, and he’s the perfect mix of masculinity and male beauty.

His brooding expression doesn’t falter as he retrieves his drink order, but he does say ‘thank you’ and to your continued surprise, ‘excuse me,’ to whomever he passes.

With one last longing glance you head for the door, walking out into the sunshine and crossing the street to your favorite bench to enjoy your coffee before work.

You’re focused on your phone while you sip slowly so at first you don’t notice the dark shadow looming over you. But the rumbly and gruff voice startles you.

“You’re in my seat.”

You look up, shielding your eyes from the sun to see nothing more than a large shadow.

“What?” you ask, feeling discombobulated.

The shadow shifts and your eyes widen when you see the man from the coffee shop, his glower ferocious despite your now big smile.

“This is your seat?...It’s a whole bench.”

“Yeah…well.”

You look at the open space next to you and offer out a hand. “There’s more than enough room for both of us.”

His eyes narrow but he sits.

“I’ve never seen you here before,” you say brightly.

“I’m here almost every day,” he answers.

You keep your smile in place.

“Well, I’m running late so that must be why I haven’t seen you before.”

“Then why are you sitting on this bench talking to me?” he asks.

You bristle inwardly but your smile doesn’t falter.

“I still have time. I usually get in early, so it won’t be a problem.”

He stares at you, the breeze catching his scent and blowing it your way.

You try not to inhale, focusing on the fact that he’s super grumpy instead of the fact that he’s super hot and smells really good.

“I enjoy sitting out in the sunshine. It helps me feel grounded before I really start the day.”

The words tumble out unprompted but under his narrowed gaze you find yourself feeling less confident than usual.

He just “hmphs” in response and looks away, taking a sip of his drink.

“You say you sit here every day so what’s with all the…” and you motion to him, “grumpy? Is the sunshine not good enough for you?”

He turns your way again, lips pressed together but his eyes flaring with surprise. Before he can respond his phone rings. He looks at the screen with another mild puff of air then swipes his thumb over it.

“Wilson,” he says gruffly.

His voice drops low, and you look down at your phone, trying not to listen. Most of the conversation on his part is a series of grunts and mumbled responses so it’s hard to follow anyway.

After hanging up he stands abruptly and looks down at you, his gaze lingering before he gives you a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgement and starts to walk off.

You yell after him, “I hope you find some sunshine!”

He doesn’t turn around but you’re sure you see his steps falter for just a second.

It’s only after you finish your drink that you stand and start the short walk to work, surprised to catch sight of the grumpy stranger across the street at the local VA, squatting down in front of an older man with a dog.

The grumpiness is gone, replaced by a warm smile that crinkles his eyes. All the air goes out of your lungs.

He looks up at that moment, noticing you stopped in the middle of the sidewalk across the street. His smile fades and you drop your head, speed walking away.

It’s Saturday morning and you’re standing outside the bakery, texting your friend to get their donut order. The door opens and you barely have time to register the whiff of familiar scent that floats by you when you look up and lock eyes with Mr. Grumpy himself.

You smile in greeting.

“You,” he answers.

Your grin widens. “Me. What are the chances? Your favorite bench stealer!”

He sighs heavily and glances back at the door to the bakery before pinning you with his stare again.

Now that the sun isn’t shining in your eyes you have a better chance to see the color of his. They’re blue. A gorgeous ocean colored blue framed by long, dark, and thick lashes.

His attention strays down your body and you feel tingles everywhere his eyes touch.

“Here for something sweet?” you ask.

He never gets the chance to answer because a man comes up behind him and grabs his shoulder, giving him a slight shove to move in front and say hi.

“Barnes! Aren’t you going to introduce me to your beautiful friend here?”

You smile warmly.

“Sam. Sam Wilson,” the friend says in introduction.

“Hi Sam!” you greet and give him your name.

“Barnes didn’t tell me he made a new friend,” Sam says.

“Barnes?” you repeat.

You direct your question to Mr. Grumpy whose been standing there silently murdering Sam with his eyes since he appeared.

Sam smiles triumphantly. “This here is James, but his friends call him Bucky.”

“Hi Bucky. Nice to officially meet you!”

Your tone is light and airy, and you wave.

“Hey,” Bucky answers, then turns to Sam. “Let’s go, the guys are looking forward to these donuts.”

“Is he always this grumpy?” you ask Sam.

Silence falls between you all, but it only lasts a moment, broken then by Sam’s loud cackle.

“Oh, I like her already!” Sam says.

Ignoring your comment-and Sam’s-Bucky repeats, “let’s go Wilson!”

Sam returns the favor, ignoring Bucky and focusing on you. “You should come down and visit us at the VA sometime. He’s never grumpy around the guys.”

“So just me then?” you ask with a laugh.

“That’s just because he thinks you’re beautiful,” Sam winks.

You steal a glance at Bucky and note the slight pink color that paints his cheeks.

“It was nice meeting you Sam. And you too Bucky.”

With those last words and a smile, you skirt past them and walk into the bakery. After placing your order you’re shocked to find Bucky standing at the pickup counter, hands in his pockets and shuffling on his feet.

“Miss me already?” you tease.

He doesn’t answer and instead hands you a business card. You take it and look down, reading the information for the VA and Bucky’s name.

“Thanks,” you say, meeting his eyes again and noting the pink still coating his cheeks.

He doesn’t answer but you think you see his lips lift into what might be a small smile before he casually strolls off.

His jeans are molded perfectly to his perfect ass, and you sigh.

“Are you going to go visit him?” Diana asks through a mouthful of donut.

“Nah,” you answer.

Diana’s eyes bug out of her head with a gasp.

“Um you said he was insanely hot. I don’t’ get it. You don’t NOT go visit.”

“You do if he’s a grumpy jerk.”

Diana laughs. “Maybe he needs to eat more of these donuts!”

You roll your eyes. “He had a whole box of them. He was with his friend Sam who was also hot. I should go visit him.”

“Ohhh make Mr. Grumpy jealous. I like it.”

You shove the card into your bag and grab a donut.

“I think we need more donuts for this day,” you retort.

After a long donut filled debate with Diana you decide to make the call to the VA office. To your happy surprise Sam answers.

“Hi Sam,” you say and tell him your name, thrilled he remembers you.

“I was just thinking I’d like to bring some treats down to the office this week. Is there anything in particular I should get?”

You can practically hear Sam’s smile through the phone. He rattles off some orders and then tells you the days and times that would work. When you hang up you feel lighter just knowing you could do something kind.

You’ve never been in the VA building before even though you’ve passed by it many times. The interior is warm and inviting and has a large walnut desk and matching benches nearby.

At the sight of the benches, you laugh to yourself, wondering if Bucky claimed these seats too.

“Hey.”

You barely catch the quiet greeting but look up to see Bucky standing by a doorway. You suddenly feel hyperalert, every inch of your sensitive tingling and awake. You almost forgot how gorgeous he is, his light blue henley fitted around his broad chest and his dark jeans showing off those long and muscular legs.

Your heart flutters as he crosses the hallway, hard expression on his face, before he stares down at the box of donuts.

“You can’t eat them all!”

He gives you a quelling look, though you’re sure you catch a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“I can actually,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone, “but when I’m here I share.”

“What if I want one?” you ask, feeling brave and maybe a little flirtatious.

It takes him a moment to answer as he holds you under his keen regard, sweeping his gaze down your body before it lingers on your lips and finally returns to your eyes.

“Maybe,” he grumbles, then turns on his heel. “Follow me.”

You enter a room with tables and chairs set up and one long counter and cabinets in the back where you see a coffee machine, refrigerator, and small microwave.

“Do you have a favorite?”

His question surprises you and it takes you a minute to realize he’s referring to the donuts.

“OH, yeah definitely. The Bavarian cream is the best!”

“Hm,” he replies.

He doesn’t indulge you with his favorite, so you decide to ask.

“What about you?”

“Glazed,” he says, then adds, “with sprinkles.”

You stare at him for a beat then a laugh bursts out of you.

“I was not expecting the sprinkles!”

You’re too busy laughing to notice his smile.

“Well, I’ll keep that in mind for the next time I visit,” you tell him when you finally catch your breath.

“You want to come back?” he asks, eyes narrowed.

You don’t have a chance to answer because Sam enters the room with a boisterous greeting.

“There you are!” he says. “So glad you stopped by to see us.”

“And I brought donuts!”

“Perfect,” Sam says, placing a hand on your shoulder. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

You look back at Bucky as Sam leads you out of the room. “Don’t eat any of those!”

Bucky’s scoff is the last thing you hear before you step out into the hallway.

After Sam gives you a tour you meet some of the veterans while you share donuts. It’s wonderful to talk with them and make them laugh and you’re happy you made the visit.

Right before you leave you run into Bucky who’s hovering over the last of the box of donuts.

“Slim pickings huh?” you say as you look into the mostly empty box.

“Yeah,” he huffs with a scowl.

“Lucky for you,” you say and open the cabinet above your head, “I stashed one in here earlier before we gave them out.”

You pull out the paper plate and take the napkin off to reveal a glazed donut with colored sprinkles.

He studies you in such a way that your thighs press tightly together in reaction. His expression is irritatingly unreadable as your eyes meet again.

He shifts as if he’s uncomfortable, an awkward silence hanging between you, before he blurts out, “thanks doll.”

His expression morphs into one of surprise and it matches yours, but you recover quickly enough with a warm smile.

“You’re welcome Bucky. Thanks for having me.”

You’re just getting situated with your book on the couch, rain pelting the window outside, when your phone rings.

Sam’s name lights up the screen and you answer with an excited, “Ghostbusters, whaddya want?”

The silence your met with is unexpected as you were hoping for one of Sam’s bright laughs.

“Tell me that’s not how you answer your phone normally.”

At Bucky’s weary comment your smile falls. “Bucky? I thought it was Sam?”

“You sound disappointed,” he points out.

“Only because you seem bothered by my amazing phone answering skills. I’m sorry that one got lost on you. Sam would have loved it.”

“So, if you knew it was me calling what would have said?” he asks.

“Uh…hello?”

“Uh hello?”

“No…just, hell, ugh! Why are you calling me from Sam’s phone.”

Silence again.

“Bucky?”

“Yeah…I didn’t have your number and wasn’t sure you’d answer if I called from mine so…”

“Ok,” you say. “And now that you have mine just text me and I’ll have yours.”

He’s quiet again before he continues in a rush of words.

“So, we’re having our annual fundraiser gala soon and Sam mentioned that you said you’d like to volunteer more, and we could use some help planning.”

“I’m definitely interested,” you cheer. “When should I come by?”

You get all the information you need from Bucky and then hang up, his conversation stilted when you started getting more excited and telling him that you were looking forward to working with him and helping. He hung up with a mumbled goodbye and never text you to give you his number.

It makes your thoughts of his disinterest solidify and you try to let it go and focus on the good you’ll be doing.

The week moves slowly but when Friday comes around you feel the same lightness from the last time you visited the VA. It gives you renewed energy, and you open the door with a smile, searching for the familiar face of Sam or Bucky.

You don’t see either of them, so you head down the hallway to the small dining room. Sam is at the front by one of the windows. He waves, pointing to his phone to signal he’ll be right off, and Bucky is at the counter.

He turns to face you, and you walk over.

“Hey,” you say.

“Hiya doll,” he answers.

Confusion washes over you at his sweet endearment, but you push it down and focus on what he’s holding.

“More donuts!” you exclaim.

“We always have them,” he says lightly. “I got you a Bavarian.”

At your silence you feel his eyes on you, and you drag them away from the perfectly powdered and filled deliciousness in the box.

“Why didn’t you text me?” you ask without thinking.

“What?” he says, his brow furrowed.

“You never text me to give me your number.”

His attention never leaves you, his gaze drifting from your head down to your feet. When he reaches your face again he stares and pulls his phone from his back pocket.

“Can I have your number?” he asks quietly.

“Sure,” you say and take his phone to program it in.

“Thanks,” he says.

“And thank you for my donut,” you finally say. “That was really thoughtful.”

He nods and grabs a glazed before motioning for you to follow him. The rest of the day is spent pouring over invites and food orders as well as any little detail that needs to be squared away before the event.

Most of the time it’s you, Sam and Bucky seated at a table, but Sam leaves occasionally to take a phone call or manage something in the office.

During the down time you learn more about Bucky, asking questions and mostly getting abridged but not unfriendly answers. He seems genuinely interested in what you have to say and that, again, confuses you more as to his intentions-if he has any at all.

Once the sun has set and you’re worn out you help them clean up then gather your things.

“How are you getting home?” Sam asks as you walk together to the door.

“I think I’m gonna walk,” you tell him.

Bucky makes a sound of disapproval behind you.

“What?” you turn and ask.

“It’s late,” he states.

“And?” you answer.

“It’s not safe.”

“I appreciate your concern but after sitting most of the afternoon I want to walk.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

At Bucky’s statement both you and Sam give him a wide-eyed look.

“You don’t have to do that,” you tell Bucky.

“Nah, he’s right,” Sam chimes in. “He should go with you. I would offer but I’m in the opposite direction.”

Sam tries to hide his smirk, but it’s written all over his face, so you just smile and accept Bucky’s kind and gentlemanly offer.

“Just gimme a sec. I want to grab something from my bike.”

“Bike?” you murmur as you track his movement toward a sleek black motorcycle parked at the curb.

Holy shit.

He doesn’t say a word as he walks back toward you.

“I didn’t know you had a motorcycle,” you say.

“Yeah,” he says while running a hand through his hair. “You know…easier in the city.”

“Smart and badass. It’s beautiful.”

That’s when he smiles at you, a real smile, for the very first time.

You nearly swoon.

“Yeah?” He looks boyishly pleased about your reaction.

You nod and give the bike one last look before you fall into step beside him. You chat about everything from the upcoming event to how he met Sam and even find out more about his motorcycle. He’s more open and comfortable and indulges you with more details about anything you ask.

As you pass by a bar a large crowd of young people come out, clearly drunk and rowdy as they sway and swerve as a mass toward you.

Bucky links your fingers together and deftly slides you out of harms way. Your skin tingles, little sparks of feeling shooting up your arm and it’s all you can concentrate on until the group passes by and continues down the street in a clamor.

“They seem like they’re having fun,” you giggle. “Thanks for the save there.”

The corner of his mouth starts to tilt upward and then he remembers he has a hold on your hand and his eyes drop and widen and he quickly let’s go, clearing his throat and mumbling, “no problem.”

“Did you ever go out like that and get wild?” you ask after a beat, hoping to lighten the mood again.

“Who me?” he asks and blows a raspberry. “Nah. I’m not really into big crowds much.”

“Then you should really enjoy the gala next week,” you say wryly.

“Right?” he answers. “If it weren’t for such a good cause and important to me, I’d skip it all together and stay behind the scenes.”

“Well at least you’ll have Sam!” you say in support.

“Actually…he’s usually caught up in everything since I leave all the talking and canoodling to him.”

“Canoodling,” you repeat and cover your mouth to stifle your laughter.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I can’t imagine you not wanting to canoodle.”

Your delivery drips with sarcasm, and he throws you another killer smile.

He has the sexiest smile ever. Of course he does. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t smile a lot, because of its killer effect? Or is he really just Mr. Grumpy? One or the other.

When you reach your apartment you walk toward the double doors, thanking him for walking you home. Searching for your keys in your bag you end up dropping your phone, bending to pick it up at the same time Bucky does.

You bump heads and he immediately apologizes and rests his hand gently on your forehead.

“You ok?” he asks, rubbing his thumb soothingly.

“Yeah,” you say, slightly breathless.

His gaze drops to your lips and lingers before coming back to your eyes.

“Hey um…” he starts, those beautiful blue eyes studying you, sweeping over your features, as if tallying every little detail he finds.

“Yeah?” you ask, giving him a sweet and reassuring smile.

“Uh, thanks, for the help today. I’ll see you soon.”

You deflate at his quick departure; telling him it was “your pleasure and you’ll see him later.”

You’re not even to your apartment door when your phone chimes. You retrieve it from your pocket and see Bucky’s name on the screen.

You open the text and nearly drop your phone again.

'Do you want to be my date to the fund raiser?'

Like sunshine bursting through a cloud, you feel butterflies erupt in your stomach, a fluttery warning that you’re way in over your head.

“What are you going to wear?” Diana asks as you stand in front of your closet.

“I have no idea!” you sigh. “I asked for a dress code, and he said ‘formal’…and that’s it. Then I asked what he was wearing, and he said, ‘a tux.’”

“Not very chatty, is he?” she mutters.

You shrug at stare at your closet that has nothing appropriate in it.

“Looks like we’re going shopping,” Diana says as she jumps off the bed and grabs her bag. “Come on, we’re gonna find you something that will knock his socks off.”

Bucky picks you up in a town car, and you smile graciously as he opens the door for you, your internal nerves wild as you wait for his reaction to your appearance.

Unfortunately, his reaction isn’t worth the nerves because he stares blankly at you before giving you an abrupt nod of greeting.

All the while you try not to drool over him in a tux.

When you arrive inside you can’t hide your beaming smile. It looks beautiful. All the details having come together perfectly to create an elegant yet comfortable atmosphere.

“You’re really doing wonderful work here,” you tell Bucky.

He holds out his arm for you and smiles. “Thanks doll.”

“You’re here!”

You turn at the familiar voice. Sam hurries over and takes you in.

“Wow,” he says, raising his brows. “Lucky man Barnes.”

He claps Bucky on the shoulder. “Enjoy yourselves. I’ll be around if you need me.”

Bucky places his hand on your lower back and leads you across the room to the table. Your breath catches at the sensation of his hand on your bare skin, but you try to shake it off.

His hand presses deeper into your back, and you follow his guide. People greet him and he says hello, but he doesn’t stop to chat.

“Shouldn’t you be taking the time to talk with these people?” you ask.

“Probably,” he says as he pulls out your chair.

You snort because he sounds like he couldn’t care less.

You’re the first people at the table and you stare at the fancy centerpiece.

“It really does look amazing in here.”

Bucky glances over it all, bemused.

“It does. I guess it’s necessary.”

“What do you mean,” you ask.

“I come to these events for Sam and the veterans. I want to raise money and help but if it were up to me it would all be quiet and low key. This kind of socializing isn’t my first choice.”

Turning to study his handsome face, you smile. “Is any kind of socializing your choice?”

He throws you a dark but amused look. “You’re funny”

You hold back more laughter and touch his knee, giving it a soft squeeze. His eyes meet yours and you swallow around the sudden sensation of your racing heart.

Needing to break the intense eye contact, you turn to observe the room, noting that more people are heading to their tables.

You spot Sam talking to a lovely woman and you feel Bucky’s smile.

“Sam likes her,” Bucky says quietly.

“Who is she?” you ask in a whisper.

He leans into you, his breath tickling your cheek as he murmurs, “the daughter of one of our veterans. They’ve met a few times, and I can tell he’s totally taken with her.”

You turn your head slightly, bringing your faces just inches apart. “She’s lovely. I’m sure she likes him too.”

His attention moves from Sam to you, and his eyes narrow as he realizes how close you are. But he doesn’t move back. Instead, he searches your eyes.

Your heartbeat skips and you’re almost afraid to breathe.                      

Needing to break the tension once again, you wrench your gaze away and find Sam shooting you a quick glance.

“I have the sudden urge to run over there and embarrass him,” you say with a devious smile.

Bucky’s answer is to move away but only because he throws his head back in laughter.

“I’d pay to see that,” he replies, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Before long, your table is filled, and Bucky introduces you to the people he knows. The older couple sitting nearest to you is just smitten with both you and Bucky, peppering you with questions and hanging on your every word.

They tell you their life story too, how they found each other and fell in love and have been together ever since. It warms you and you give his thigh another squeeze under the table.

He places his hand over yours and brushes his thumb across your knuckles.

The food comes and you turn his way, lightly tugging on your hand.

“I need that to eat,” you giggle.

“Oh, right,” he says with one more sweep of his thumb before he releases you with a soft expression.

The food is delicious, and you find yourself smiling between every bite.

“You two look like you’re having a good time.”

Bucky stiffens next to you, and you wait for his move before following his gaze to the older woman standing behind you.

“Don’t you look handsome as always James,” she comments then flits her eyes to you but doesn’t say anything more.

Bucky smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Mrs. Whitman. How are you?”

“Fine, just fine. Now I need to steal you away for a moment.”

Bucky’s eyes lift over Mrs. Whitman’s shoulder and his lips turn down in a frown.

“I can’t, sorry Mrs. Whitman. I’m here with someone.”

He looks at you and smiles.

Mrs. Whitman sighs, clearly annoyed.

“You can’t spare just a moment?” she pleads, trying to appear genuine.

“Sorry,” Bucky says as kindly as he can.

Without a goodbye she huffs off and you wait until she’s far enough away before looking at Bucky. His frown melts away as your gazes lock.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “Her husband was a veteran, and he recently passed. She’s been trying to set me up with her daughter since, but I’m not interested.”

“I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble,” you tell him.

“No. Not at all doll. She can be rude sometimes, but I think she’s just struggling with grief and doesn’t know what to do with herself. I feel bad, but like I said. I’m really not interested.”

You smile reassuringly then excuse yourself to the bathroom, needing a little air. When you return, you see Bucky hasn’t moved from his seat and his gaze is zeroed in on the hallway to the bathroom.

As you cross the room toward him, his eyes drift down your body. His gaze lingers on your bare shoulders and the sway of your hips and by the time you reach the table, you need another restroom break to cool off.

He doesn’t move out of the way, so you have to brush up against him to sit back down. When your eyes meet, his are heated. You stare at each other, the music and chatter around you fading away.

The lovely old woman next to you breaks you out the haze when she asks where the restroom is. You point her in the right direction, telling her you’ll happily escort her, but she refuses kindly and slowly makes her way through the crowd.

Once she’s safely down the hallway, you look away and find yourself staring at Bucky. His face is close.

Too close.

Or maybe just close enough depending on how you look at it.

His eyes search yours and you ignore the rushing in your ears as you close the distance between you and gently brush your lips over his.

Your mouth tingles from the brief touch as you pull away.

He scowls hard at your mouth, but you’re not sure if it’s because you kissed him or because you barely kissed him.

“What…?” he starts to ask roughly, but a loud banging at the front of the room, startles you and pulls your attention away.

Sam stands at a small podium, a smile on his face as he greets everyone.

Nice timing Sam.

‘How’s work today?’

You smile at you phone and Bucky’s name on the screen.

‘It’s going…’ you type back. ‘How about you? I know you said your day was going to be busy.’

‘Up and down. We made some really good progress with one of our veterans today, but we lost one of our oldest members to cancer.’

‘Oh Bucky. I’m sorry it’s been a tough day. Do you need anything? I can come by on my lunch break.’

‘Thank you doll, I appreciate it. But it’s unfortunately something I’ve gotten used to. Comes with the territory.’

‘I’m here if you need anything.’

‘Thanks.’

You’re just clearing your desk at the end of the day when your phone rings. You smile at the sight of Bucky’s name, and you’re not surprised considering you’d received a text to inform you that your delivery had been successfully made.

“Hey,” you greet.

“Hey.” His voice is low, a little hoarse. He clears his throat. “You sent me donuts.’

You grin at how confused he sounds. “I did and cookies.”

In fact, you sent him a dozen glazed- with sprinkles of course- donuts and a box full of assorted cookies from your usual favorite bakery.

“I wanted you to have a little treat after a long day. I know you might be used to it but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard on you.”

He’s quiet so long you have a horrible feeling that you may have crossed a line. But then he speaks.

“Thank you doll. I really appreciate it.”

You smile and try to quell the butterflies dancing around your stomach. “You’re welcome!”

“I’ve never had so many glazed donuts to myself!” There’s a teasing tone to his confession.

“But you have to share the cookies!” you tell him, trying to sound stern.

“Yeah, I’ll do my best,” he laughs. “But really, thank you.”

“It was nothing,” you say trying to shake off the giddy feeling he’s giving you with a shrug he can’t see.

His voice is gravelly when he promises, “it’s not nothing to me.”

You teeter on your feet. “Well, I’m glad it cheered you up a little. I’m just heading out of work so…”

“So, I’ll let you go.”

Did you hear a smile in his voice?

“I’ll see you this weekend for Sam’s BBQ?”

“Yes! Looking forward to it,” you say.

“Great doll, see you then and I am too.”

With that, he hangs up and you stand at your desk and try to slow the rapid beating of your heart.

Bucky picks you up on his bike and you’re barely ashamed at how excited you are to ride with him.

He revs the engine when he pulls up at the curb where you’re standing and settles the bike with his leg on the sidewalk.

“No helmet?” you ask with a wave.

He sucks in a breath and his eyes are glued to your legs.

“Wrong outfit?” you say as you track his gaze. “I can go…”

“Nope,” he says quickly.

He hops off the bike and offers a hand to help you get on, squeezing his eyes closed when you get close to him and your shoulder brushes against his chest.

“Are you ok?” you ask him, looking up into his blue eyes.

“Yep. All good,” he says, voice strained.

You narrow your eyes at his sharp tone but take his offered hand and help onto the bike. Once you’re wrapped around him and pressed to his back you lean up and say, “what’s going on? You seem grumpy today?”

“Nothing,” he replies before revving the engine and pulling away from the curb.

It doesn’t take long to get to Sam’s and when you arrive Bucky parks his bike and hops off lithely and you wait for him to offer his hand to help you off.

To your surprise he takes you by the waist and lifts you off the bike in one easy movement. Your body is plastered to his as your feet slide to the ground.

You shiver at the contact.

“You cold?” He frowns at you.

“Nope,” you answer, looking away and straightening the bottom of your dress.

Over his shoulder you see Sam walking your way.

“There you two are!” he yells.

You wave and smile.

“You look gorgeous as always,” Sam says.

Sam leads the way to the backyard and Bucky places a hand at your lower back. Your brain fritzes and it’s all you can think about as you walk through the yard saying hello to people as you pass.

When you reach Sarah, Sam’s sister, you greet her with a warm hello, having met her once before at the VA. Bucky joins in the conversation, his fingers still warmly pressed into your skin when he starts to draw little circles on your lower back.

You suck in a breath and trip over your words and then he splays his palm and slides it around to your hip, drawing you into his side.

Your heart stops.

Sarah doesn’t seem to notice or if she does she doesn’t make it known and when Sam calls for her help she rushes off with a promise to come back and chat after.

“You seem to be in a better mood now that we’re here,” you say as you turn your eyes to Bucky.

His eyebrows draw in. “I…you look gorgeous.”

Your lips part and your mouth falls open.

“You always do. You did at the fund raiser. You do today. It’s just…I’m not good at…”

He trails off, his words dying on his lips and his cheeks turning your favorite shade of pink.

His words fill you with relief and you swear that it’s the lingering heat of that barely there kiss from the gala that you can’t seem to forget because the next thing you know you’re grabbing him by the front of his shirt and pulling his lips down to yours.

You intend it to be a quick kiss, but he brings one of his hands to the back of your neck and the other presses deep into your back as he takes over. Your small gasp turns into a moan, and it ignites him. He deepens the kiss, hungry and desperate and it sets every inch of you on fire.

“Uh, there are children present.”

Sam’s voice cuts through the moment like a bucket of cold water and you move back. Bucky’s hand flexes at the back of your neck as if to stop you from moving away from him. You breathe hard and state at each other.

Best. Kiss. Of. Your. Life.

Bucky appears dazed enough for you to believe maybe it was for him too.

The party around you comes back to life and Sam’s broad smile fills your vision. He claps Bucky hard on the back. “I knew ya had it you Barnes!”

Sam saunters off with some extra pep to his step and you watch him walk back into the house. Bucky’s fingers close around yours and he tugs you away from the crowd.

“Where are we going?” you ask.

He doesn’t answer but just holds tightly to your hand until you reach a small garden enclosed by a low white fence. At the back there’s a wrought iron bench just big enough for two.

“This is so pretty,” you whisper as he walks you through the garden.

When you reach the bench he turns your way.

“You’re really going to share the bench with me?” you ask playfully.

His answer is to lift his hand to cup your jaw, his eyes dropping to your mouth. You hold your breath as he leans in. The first contact he makes is just a brush of his lips over yours. The briefest sweep.

“I’m sorry I was such an ass that first day we met,” he whispers against your lips. “I was having a rough day but it’s no excuse.”

“It’s ok,” you breathe out. “I forgive you.”

He does it again. Sweeps his lips along yours and you hear the quietest moan escape his throat as he leans in closer, pressing his soft, strong mouth to yours and taking your top lip between his.

With a smile forming against your mouth, he tilts his head and kisses you with a heat that rivals the one only minutes ago. His free hand slides around your waist and smooths along the curve of your spine, dragging you up against his body.

Without an audience he kisses you long enough to have you pulling back for need of air.

“Bucky,” you whisper, grabbing his biceps for support.

“I really am sorry,” he murmurs.

“You’re good at that.”

“At what?” he asks, distracted by your mouth again.

“Kissing.”

He hums. “That’s only because I’m kissing you. And I plan to keep kissing you. For as long as you’ll let me.”

“Forever sounds good,” you whisper at the feel of his lips hovering over yours.

“Won’t be long enough but it’s a start doll.”

[minniesfiles]

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Soonyoung loves his idol life, no matter how exhausting it gets, but the joy of coming back home to you was a different kind of happiness.

❧ PAIRING; soonyoung x reader

❧ GENRE; hurt/comfort, fluff

❧ TAGS/WARNINGS; established relationship, idol soonyoung, hurt/comfort, long distance relationship, fluff

❧ WORDCOUNT; 4.4k

𐚁₊⊹

13 OCTOBER 2022

Soonyoung loved being part of SEVENTEEN. That part never changed, no matter how heavy the days got. The years of blood, sweat, and tears he poured into dancing, singing, rehearsing until his body screamed for rest — he didn’t regret any of it. All the effort shaped him. It forged unbreakable bonds with his members and brought them closer to fans across the world. The love they received was overwhelming at times, but it was real. And Soonyoung loved them back just as much.

Still, there were days when even love wasn’t enough to keep the exhaustion at bay.

Lately, everything felt heavier. The amount of cities, performances, press, and short moments of sleep was starting to wear him down. He hadn’t been home in months. He didn’t see you in just as long.

And that was the part that hurt most.

He sat on the floor of the empty practice room, legs stretched out and back pressed against the cold mirror. The only light in the room came from the glow of his phone which was propped up on a water bottle in front of him. You were on the screen, curled up in bed with your face puffy and eyes red from crying. Soonyoung couldn’t word how much his chest ached at the sight.

“I miss you so much,” you whispered.

Soonyoung pressed his lips together, his jaw tightening as your voice cracked.

“It’s like I haven’t seen you in years,” you said, voice trembling, “and it hurts so fucking bad.”

He closed his eyes for a second, letting your words sink in, and forced himself not to cry. Not in front of you. You were already hurting. He had to stay strong. But God, did it hurt. Your voice sounded like a knife to the ribs.

“I know,” he finally said, voice low. “I miss you too. So much.”

Silence lingered. Not an awkward kind, but one that screamed louder than words. The one that felt like goodbye even when it’s not.

Soonyoung ran a hand through his sweat-damp hair. Practice ended hours ago, but he didn’t leave. He didn’t want to go back to the hotel room. He didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts. He didn’t want to keep pretending everything was fine.

“I hate this,” you said, your voice smaller now.

“I know what you signed up for, I know how much this means to you. But sometimes I just…I feel so far away from you. Like I’m not even part of your life anymore.”

That broke him.

“You are,” he said quickly, almost desperately.

“You’re the biggest part of it. Every time I walk on stage, every time I smile for a camera, I’m thinking of you baby. I swear.”

You looked away, wiping your cheek with your sleeve.

“I believe you,” you said. “It’s just…hard.”

He nodded, even though you weren’t looking. He knew exactly what you meant. The late-night calls that got dropped because of bad scheduling, the time zone differences, the missed anniversaries, the ‘I love yous’ sent through texts instead of kisses.

It was hard. It was brutal.

“I think about you all the time,” he said.

“When I’m on the plane, when I’m backstage, when I’m in bed and I can’t sleep…I replay our memories in my head just so I can hear your laugh.”

You laughed, but it was soft and tired. “That’s cheesy.”

“I know,” he said with a half-smile. “But it’s true.”

He looked around the practice room. The mirrors reflected a ghostly, drained version of him. Practice rooms had always been a little safe space for Soonyoung, an escape from reality. Now, it just reminded him of how much time he had lost. Time he could’ve spent with you.

“After the next leg of the tour,” he said suddenly, “I’m coming home. Even if it’s just for a few days. I need to see you. I need to feel like myself again.”

“You promise?” you asked.

“I swear.”

There was another long silence, but this one felt different. Softer.

“I don’t need grand gestures,” you whispered.

“I just want you. Sitting on the sofa next to me. Having a movie marathon like we always do. You and Latte falling asleep with your heads in my lap. I want the simple stuff.”

Soonyoung’s eyes stung. He blinked hard.

“I want that too,” he said. “More than anything.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees while the phone still glowed in front of him.

“I’m sorry,” he added, voice cracking. “I know this isn’t fair to you.”

You shook your head. “It’s not about fair. It’s just about love. And I love you enough to wait. I just need to know you’re coming back.”

“I am,” he said. “I’m always coming back to you.”

Your smile was tired, but real. And for the first time in weeks, it felt like you were both breathing again.

“Okay,” you said.

There was a comfortable silence afterwards. Soonyoung gave you the softest smile you swore that made your heart flutter and break at the same time.

“You know, Latte misses you too” you said, referring to your’s and Soonyoung’s dog.

“He keeps whining in the middle of the night by the front door” you lightly giggle.

There was a comfortable silence afterwards. Soonyoung gave you the gentlest smile that made your heart flutter and ache all at once. You could tell he was trying to be strong — for you, for himself — but his eyes gave everything away.

“You know, Latte misses you just as much as I do,” you said as you shifted on your bed with your fingers playing with the hem of your sleeve.

Your boyfriend’s smile widened a little at the mention of your shared dog, really. The little bundle of energy Soonyoung insisted on naming “Latte” after his favorite drink rather than the colour of his fur.

Soonyoung’s eyes softened. “Yeah?”

You nodded. “He keeps whining in the middle of the night by the front door. Just sits there and waits. Sometimes he scratches at it like he thinks you’ll walk through any second.”

You let out a light giggle, but it came with a lump in your throat. Soonyoung leaned his head back against the mirror and sighed, clearly trying not to cry.

“I miss him too,” he said quietly. “I miss everything. You. Home. The dumb jingles we sing when we feed him.”

Your chest tightened. “He still does that little spin when I say ‘snack time.’ Like you taught him.”

That made Soonyoung laugh, and for a moment, the heaviness between you both lifted.

“I’ll be back home soon,” he whispered. “I promise.” And even though promises didn’t make the distance hurt less, somehow, that one helped.

“Hmm” you hummed, “I can’t wait.”

Soonyoung stayed on the call even after you fell asleep. He watched your chest rise and fall, the faint noise of your breathing being the only sound in the empty room. He didn’t move, nor did he blink much. He just sat there with the phone in front of him and all the things he couldn’t say stuck in his throat.

He wanted to tell you how he replayed your last hug in his head every night. How he had a photo of you tucked inside his phone case, hidden so no one would see. How every love song on stage felt like a lie unless he imagined you in the crowd.

But those words could wait.

For now, just watching you sleep gave him enough peace to get through one more day.

And maybe that was enough. For now.

30 DECEMBER 2022

Soonyoung felt off the moment he stepped back onto Korean soil. Not in a bad way — just…different. Like his body knew where it was, but his mind didn’t catch up yet. It had been nearly eight months since they left for the world tour back in May, and now here he was again, standing in the place he longed for night after night, in hotel rooms and backstage dressing areas and long-haul flights that blurred into each other.

His boots hit the ground with a soft thud as he walked down the private ramp. The cold winter air hit him hard. His mask was up and his cap pulled low. His manager walked a step ahead as he quietly ushered him and the rest of the members through a side exit. No press. No fans. No chaos.

Just quiet.

Exactly what he asked for.

The tour had been good — amazing, even. Performing in cities they hadn’t visited in years, meeting fans from different parts of the world, seeing tears, hearing chants in languages he didn’t even speak. That was the dream. And he was living it.

But dreams still drained him. His muscles ached from dancing nonstop, and his voice was still a little hoarse from the last encore. His soul felt stretched thin.

Soonyoung loved being on stage. But damn, he missed being still.

His mind raced as he walked through the corridors of the private terminal. What was it now — December thirtieth? One day away from the new year. The thought of starting a new year back in his own country, in his own bed, and with you? That was the only thing keeping him upright at this point.

You didn’t know he was coming back. In fact, he didn’t tell you on purpose.

There were too many delays and too many last-minute changes with the schedule. He didn’t want to risk getting your hopes up. Plus, part of him liked the idea of surprising you. He wanted to knock on the door after months apart and see the shock on your face morph into joy.

He could already imagine it. The way your eyes would widen when you saw him, the little breath you’d take before you smiled, the way your hands would fly to your mouth in disbelief before you pulled him in like you never wanted to let go again.

Just the thought of it had his heart pounding harder than any concert adrenaline ever had.

As the vans rolled away from the airport, each member heading off to their own quiet reunions, Soonyoung sat in the backseat of his own vehicle, head leaned against the cold window. The city lights flickered past, a blur of neon and car horns, but he wasn’t really looking at any of it.

He was thinking of you.

What were you doing right now?

Curled up in bed?

Watching some late-night drama, wrapped in a blanket with Latte snuggled beside you?

Were you thinking of him too and counting the days until he’d return — unaware that today was that day?

His anticipation grew with every turn the car made and every block that brought him closer to you. He went over this moment a thousand times in his head during the tour. When homesickness hit hard, when the stage lights dimmed and the silence afterward felt louder than anything.

And now, it was finally happening.

He checked his phone. No new messages from you, which was perfect. You still had no idea.

He glanced at the passenger seat, where a small paper bag sat. Inside was your favorite pastry from Tokyo — a cream bun from that bakery you loved. He remembered you mentioning it during a call. Soonyoung went out of his way to wake up an hour earlier before he flew back to grab it. He wasn’t coming home empty-handed.

When the car finally pulled onto his street, his stomach twisted in the best way. He sat up straighter as his eyes scanned the familiar buildings.

The driver looked at him through the rearview mirror, “this is it?” he asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Soonyoung said, voice low. “Right here’s good.”

He got out and slung his bag over one shoulder before grabbing the pastry bag. The street was quiet, just past midnight now. There was a thin layer of frost that dusted the sidewalk. He adjusted his hoodie and walked up the steps to the door.

His breath clouded in the cold, and his fingers were stiff as he reached for the keypad, before punching in the code you both shared.

The door clicked open. And the moment he stepped in, his heart eased. It was warm and familiar, just like he remembered

He took his shoes off and walked in more quietly, and the smell of your fabric softener already pulled at his chest. Latte’s small barks echoed from the hallway seconds later, followed by the scrabble of tiny paws against the floor. The little dog bolted around the corner and froze mid-step when he saw Soonyoung.

“Hey buddy,” he whispered, crouching down.

Latte barked again, tail wagging violently as he launched himself at Soonyoung, circling him, whining, jumping — completely losing his mind. Soonyoung couldn’t help the smile that cracked across his face.

“Shhh, you’re gonna wake her—”

Too late.

From down the hall, you emerged with bleary-eyes and confusion. You were wrapped in a blanket, while your hair was messy from sleep.

As soon as your eyes locked onto the figure crouched in the entryway, you froze.

Soonyoung stood up slowly. And just like that, the world stopped.

Your eyes welled instantly, and your lips parted in disbelief. “You’re…”

“I’m home,” he whispered as he stepped forward.

You didn’t say another word. You just ran to him. The blanket fell from your shoulders, and your arms wrapped around his neck like you were afraid he’d vanish if you let go.

He caught you with both arms, holding you so tight it almost hurt. But neither of you cared.

It wasn’t long before Soonyoung heard it. That first muffled sob.

It broke the quiet like a crack in glass. You tried to hold it in. You tried to stay composed, but the second your face buried deeper into his chest, it all came loose.

They weren’t like the soft cries he grew used to hearing during video-calls. This was different. You were crying out loud now, the kind of cry that came from deep in your chest, raw and unstoppable.

You held onto him like gravity had let go, and he was the only thing keeping you at bay. Your fingers gripped the fabric of his hoodie tightly, knuckles white and nails digging in slightly as if you had to remind yourself that he was really there.

The more you cried, the tighter you held on. And the tighter you held on, the louder it got. And those sobs echoed off the walls of your apartment, you weren’t holding back at all. It wasn’t pretty or graceful, but Soonyoung never saw anything more honest.

Latte, completely unaware of what was happening, kept bouncing around your legs. He was barking and jumping, desperately trying to wedge himself into the moment. His small tail wagged furiously while his nails tapped against the floor, whining for attention. He couldn’t understand what was going on, he just knew his favourite humans were finally back in the same room again.

Soonyoung blinked fast, trying to stay composed. But then you let out a broken, gasping sound, and that was it. His own tears pushed through.

He dropped his bag to the floor and wrapped both arms around you firmly, almost protectively, pulling you in until there wasn’t a sliver of space between your bodies. He pressed a kiss to your temple and rested his chin on the crown of your head, breathing you in like you were the only oxygen he had.

“Shh, baby, it’s okay,” he whispered, his voice trembling as he said it.

But you didn’t stop. You couldn’t.

The tears came with everything you pushed down over the last eight months. Every night you spent alone, every concert photo you scrolled through with a bittersweet smile, every message left on read because he was too exhausted to reply. You didn’t even realise how much you bottled up until he was here, holding you, and suddenly the dam inside you broke.

You were happy.

You were relieved.

You were overwhelmed in a way that words couldn’t quite capture.

It was like every version of yourself that you were during his absence was finally collapsing into the one version of you that mattered — this one, the one who got to feel him breathe again, and got to feel his heartbeat sync with yours in real time.

And Soonyoung? He felt it all.

Every shake of your shoulders, every sob, every desperate inhale — it tore at him, but not in a painful way. It was reassuring. It reminded him just how much he mattered to you, how real this was, and how deep it ran.

He rocked you slowly, side to side, like he was trying to soothe both of you. “I’m here now. I’m home, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

You nodded, face still buried in his chest. You didn’t have the strength to speak yet.

“I missed you,” he added softly. “I thought about this moment a thousand times. But nothing compares to holding you again.”

You pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. Your eyes were red and puffy, your cheeks damp, your lips quivering — but he never saw you more beautiful.

You suddenly laughed, but it was broken — half a sob, half a breath. “You really surprised me.”

He smiled, tear-streaked but full of love. “Good. That was the plan.”

You leaned your forehead against his, both of you breathing heavily now, both blinking through tears. “God, I missed you so much” you let out a deep breath.

“Me too baby, me too” Soonyoung replied, pressing a soft kiss on your lips.

Latte, still being the persistent little ball of energy that he was, pawed at Soonyoung’s leg and let out a dramatic whine. You both looked down at him, then back at each other. And for the first time that night, you both laughed. A real one.

Soonyoung crouched down and scooped Latte up, holding him in one arm while still keeping the other around you. “Hey, I missed you too little guy,” he said, rubbing the dog’s ears.

Latte immediately licked his cheek as he wagged his tail like crazy. You shook your head, wiping your eyes again as you watched the reunion unfold. The warmth in your chest was spreading now, slowly overtaking the ache that was present for so long.

“Come on,” you said softly. “Let’s get out of the hallway.”

Soonyoung followed you inside and set Latte down. You took his bag without a word and placed it near the door. Then you turned back to him and opened your arms again.

“I need to keep hugging you,” you said simply.

He didn’t hesitate.

You stood in the middle of your house tangled in each other once again while the outside world was forgotten. The city could’ve been on fire and neither of you would’ve noticed.

This was your reunion. Messy. Loud. Beautiful. And it was exactly what both of you needed. No perfect script. No cinematic music. Just tears and laughter.

“I love you” Soonyoung whispered.

And for the first time in months, when you said it back, he got to hear it with his own ears. Not through a screen. Not as a message left unread until after rehearsal.

He held you like he would never let go again.

31 DECEMBER 2022 — 9:50 p.m.

“Babe!” you whined, craning your neck from the dining room towards the kitchen.

“Hurry before Latte jumps on the table and eats all the food!”

There was a clatter of something, probably a spoon, followed by the unmistakable sound of Soonyoung letting out an exaggerated sigh.

“I’m coming, I’m coming! He’s not that fast!” he let out.

You heard the shuffle of his slippers as he finally moved, taking his sweet time as usual. Soonyoung spent nearly the whole day preparing a spicy beef stew dish that he swore you’d love compared to the other dishes prepared. And honestly, you couldn’t wait to try it.

Your stomach growled, and you lightly kicked your foot under the table, impatient.

You glanced at the spread of different food in front of you and smiled. It looked fuller than it had in months. Some were recipes you both found online and tried to replicate over video calls. Others were comfort meals that both of you made whenever either of you were sad, sick, or just in need of something warm.

Now, they all sat in front of you again, in person.

Latte let out a soft bark and pawed at the leg of a chair. He already tried twice to get onto the table. You could see the intent in his eyes, he was waiting for the one second you weren’t looking to make his move.

“Latte!” you warned.

The dog dropped into a guilty sit, head tilted as if to say what? I wasn’t doing anything.

You were about to get up and go into the kitchen yourself when Soonyoung finally appeared in the doorway, holding the dish like it was some sort of trophy. He wore a goofy grin and an apron that read ‘Yes, Chef’, which had a faint stain of chili paste on the front.

He looked proud, and so happy.

“I present to you,” he said with mock grandeur, “the best spicy beef stew in all of Korea.”

You raised your brows. “That’s a bold claim.”

He set the dish down in the center of the table, careful not to burn his hands. “Well, let’s see if you still think that after you try it.”

You clapped lightly. “Finally. My stomach was about to give up on me.”

He walked around to you and leaned down to place a kiss on the top of your head. “Sorry, Chef Hoshi was in the zone.”

You rolled your eyes but leaned into the kiss. “Well, Chef Hoshi better sit his butt down before the dog eats his masterpiece.”

The two of you finally took your seats. You didn’t need to toast or make a speech, because your eyes did that for you. They said I’m glad we made it. They said I missed this. They said You’re here. You’re safe. You’re mine again.

“So,” Soonyoung said as he picked up his spoon, “last meal of the year. Anything you want to say before we dig in?”

You smirked. “Yes. If this stew sucks, I’m ordering fried chicken.”

He gasped dramatically. “You wound me!”

You both burst into laughter soon after, and finally, the eating began. First bites turned into second servings. He kept watching your expression as you ate, trying to gauge if you genuinely liked it. You kept exaggerating your reactions just to mess with him, dramatically clutching your chest, pretending to faint, moaning like it was the best thing you ever ate.

He played along, pretending to bow. “Thank you, thank you. I’d like to thank the Academy, my sous-chef Latte, and the eighty-seven YouTube tutorials I watched.”

Midway through dinner, the conversation quieted into something softer. You talked about the tour — what he loved, what he hated, which cities he wanted to take you to one day. He told you stories that didn’t make it to the phone calls, like silly things his members did and moments on stage where he thought of you.

You listened, with your chin resting in your hand, smiling as he spoke with his entire face lit up. This was your favourite version of him. Not the performer in front of thousands, nor the man on posters or in interviews.

Just Soonyoung. Just yours.

“And then,” he was saying between bites, “I tripped over a mic cord in front of like, five thousand people. Almost broke my nose.”

You snorted. “Did you recover like a pro?”

“Nope,” he grinned, “I laughed and bowed.”

“Classic.”

After the plates were mostly empty and Latte had finally been given a few small treats to calm down, Soonyoung stood up to take the dishes to the sink. You followed him, and the two of you danced around each other in the kitchen, bumping hips while rinsing plates and sneaking kisses. It was mundane, but to you, it felt like magic. The simplicity of it all. It was exactly what you were craving for.

Once everything was cleaned up and the clock crept closer to midnight, you both made your way to the living room. The lights were dim while the fairy lights twinkled faintly around the windows, and the television played a countdown show in the background.

You curled up on the couch with your legs tangled under a shared blanket, while Latte was fast asleep at your feet.

Soonyoung looked over at you, brushing your hair behind your ear. “This is the best New Year’s Eve I’ve had in a long time.”

You smiled. “Better than performing in Times Square?”

“Way better,” he said instantly. “Times Square doesn’t have you.”

You nudged him playfully. “You’re getting cheesy again.”

He laughed. “I’ve earned it.”

As the countdown reached its final minute, you both sat up slightly, watching the numbers tick down. You felt his hand reach for yours, fingers lacing with yours naturally.

10…

9…

8…

You turned to look at him, and he was already looking at you.

7…

6…

5…

“Thank you,” you whispered, feeling your eyes well up.

4…

3…

“For what?” he whispered back.

2…

“For coming home to me.”

1…

And as the room erupted in cheers from the television and fireworks burst faintly outside, he leaned in and kissed you. He missed you like he had all the time in the world to remind you he was really here. His hand settled behind your neck while his thumb gently stroked your skin, grounding you in the moment.

You responded without thinking, your fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. Months of longing poured into that single kiss. Every missed moment and every night spent apart, it all lived in that kiss now.

And when he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, his breath a little shaky. .

“I love you,” he whispered, just loud enough for you to hear over the fireworks outside.

You smiled, your eyes damp, your heart steady. “I love you more.”

It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t perfect. There were leftover dishes in the sink that both of you gave up washing, a dog snoring at your feet, and leftover stew on the stove.

But it was real.

And that was enough.

a/n; I was screaming while writing this!!! I want to experience bf hoshi

[featjunranghae]

Fatherhood - Lee Jeno

part two of a three part series.

summary: when jeno's girlfriend left him to deal with fatherhood alone. he decided he'd never let anyone in his or his daughter's life. that was until he met you. his neighbour whom his daughter seemed to love way too much

part one - nct masterlist

Jeno was exhausted.

Finals week had drained every ounce of energy from his body, and all he wanted to do was collapse into bed and sleep for as long as possible. But with Jiwoo, that was never an option.

His two-year-old daughter had a strict bedtime routine—she went to sleep by ten and woke up at nine. Sometimes, she stirred in the middle of the night, but most of the time, she slept peacefully. Jeno, on the other hand, had no such luck. His sleep schedule was a complete mess, thanks to late-night study sessions.

Tonight, at least, Jiwoo was already tucked in. With her warm little body curled up under the blankets, he kissed her forehead before stepping out of the bedroom.

In the dining area, he found his roommates, Haechan and Jaemin, setting up the table. Candles. Snacks. Drinks. The whole deal.

Jeno raised a brow. “Do we have someone coming over?” He reached for a chip, only to have his hand smacked away by Haechan.

“Don’t,” Haechan warned, snatching the singular chips from his hand making him pout. “Jaemin’s pretty friends are coming over. We need to impress them.”

Jeno scoffed. “Which friends?” He flopped onto the sofa, already disinterested. “And no music. Jiwoo just fell asleep.”

Jaemin placed a few cans of soda down, nodding. “Don’t worry, we know our princess needs her beauty sleep. Anyway, remember I told you about Karina? She’s coming over—with her roommate. Who, by the way, Haechan saw from a distance and instantly became obsessed with.”

Jeno smirked. “Oh, so little Haechan has a crush?”

“C’mon, guys. Crushes are for boys. I just like looking at her face,” Haechan defended, popping a chip into his mouth.

“You hypocrite—”

“You could’ve just asked for her name,” Jaemin pointed out. “What if she’s not even Karina’s roommate?”

“Then why would they do grocery shopping together? Why would they talk about which shampoo to get?” Haechan leaned back, propping his feet on the armrest of the couch.

Jeno hummed. “What if they’re dating?”

Haechan sat up so fast he almost fell off the couch. “Oh my god, Jaemin, is Karina a lesbian? Please say no. No offense to lesbians, but I can’t lose that girl to the girls.”

“Dude, calm down,” Jeno rolled his eyes. “You change crushes every other day. Some big tits and doe eyes are all it takes for you to simp."

“What can I say? I’m just a man—”

The doorbell rang. Haechan scrambled to his feet, suddenly panicking. “Oh my god—do I smell good? Is my hair okay? Do I have anything in my teeth?”

Jaemin snickered as he opened the door. “Hi, girls. Welcome to our humble abode.” He stepped aside, letting them in.

And that’s when Jeno saw you.

His teasing smirk faded for a moment, eyes widening slightly. Of all people, of all places—you.

"Why do you look so shocked?" Haechan asked him.

"It's yn."

Haechan, who had been shamelessly staring at you with heart eyes, leaned in, whispering, “Wait, is this the magic bus lady?”

It had been a fleeting moment, that day on the bus. Jiwoo had been cranky, fussy, and Jeno was struggling to keep her calm. Then you appeared—like some kind of miracle. You had leaned in, spoken to Jiwoo in the softest, gentlest tone, and within minutes, his usually stubborn little girl had settled down in your arms like she had known you her whole life.

And now, you were standing in his living room.

Jaemin introduced you to them, but you didn’t need an introduction.

“Jeno,” you smiled, recognizing him instantly. “We met on the bus last week.”

Jeno only nodded.

So you were the girl Haechan had been raving about all week. Jeno didn’t know why that sent an uncomfortable feeling through his chest. It wasn’t like Haechan was a bad guy—he was one of Jeno’s best friends. But Haechan always thought with his dick, and you just… you seemed different.

The night went on, conversation flowing easily. Jaemin and Karina talking about their work place, while Haechan tried—and failed—to flirt with you.

Jeno wasn’t sure what his problem was. You weren’t his. You were just some girl he met on the bus. But when he saw Haechan trying to charm you, something about it rubbed him the wrong way.

You and Karina did leave after a few hours. But Jeno kept hearing about you from Haechan for another week.

It was one lazy night when Haechan sighed. “Dude, I think she doesn’t like me,” Jeno should have felt bad for him.

“She said—oh my god—you remind me of my younger brother. Not even friend-zoned. Brother-zoned. Almost started sobbing,” Haechan whined dramatically, pulling Jiwoo onto his lap as she giggled.

Jeno bit back a smile. He shouldn’t feel relieved. He shouldn’t feel happy about this. But he did.

——

Days passed, and you became a regular presence in their apartment. Karina often brought you along, and Haechan still made half-hearted attempts to flirt, but it was clear you weren’t interested.

Semester break arrived, and Jeno brought Jiwoo to stay with him full-time. With more free time now, he often left her in the care of Jaemin and Haechan when he went to work, knowing he could trust them.

One evening, you and Karina joined them for movie night. Normally, you sat beside Haechan, but tonight, you settled in next to Jeno.

“Hey,” you greeted with a small smile.

“Hey,” he replied, trying not to think too much about it.

“You like horror movies?”

“They’re fun,” he admitted. “It’s just stupid, unrealistic stuff.”

“Right? Who even gets scared of them?” You both glanced at Haechan, who was already clutching Jaemin’s arm like his life depended on it.

When a particularly gory scene played, Haechan let out a scream.

“What the fuck—why is this so graphic?!” he yelped, burying his face into Jaemin’s sleeve.

Jaemin groaned. “That’s it. Movie’s over.”

The screen went dark, and just as everyone was settling back down, a tiny pair of arms suddenly wrapped around Jeno’s leg.

“Princess?” Jeno looked down, surprised to find Jiwoo standing there, still groggy from sleep. “What are you doing here?”

“See, Haechan? You woke my princess,” Jaemin scolded, bonking Haechan on the head.

Jiwoo blinked sleepily at everyone, then spotted Karina. “Hello,” she mumbled.

Karina nearly melted. “Oh my god, hi baby—you're so pretty.”

Jiwoo giggled, turning her head shyly. Then, her gaze landed on you.

Jeno didn’t expect what happened next.

Jiwoo reached out for you.

At first, you thought she just wanted to hold your hand. But when she lifted both arms toward you, waiting, you hesitated before picking her up.

“Pletty,” Jiwoo murmured, resting her head on your chest.

Jeno stared.

“No way,” Haechan whispered, just as stunned. “She never lets anyone hold her when she wakes up.”

Jaemin nodded. “She’s the crankiest princess when he wakes up.”

Yet here Jiwoo was—completely at peace in your arms.

Karina pulled out her phone, snapping a picture. “YN, you’re the chosen one.”

Jeno didn’t know why it felt so right seeing Jiwoo curled up against you.

But it did.

After that night, your presence at Jeno’s apartment became a regular occurrence. It wasn’t even intentional at first. Karina would invite you along whenever she visited Jaemin, and Jiwoo would run straight to you the moment you walked through the door. At first, Jeno figured it was just a phase—Jiwoo had always been an affectionate kid, but she was usually wary of strangers. Yet, with you, she acted like she had known you forever.

It wasn’t just Jiwoo either. Somewhere along the way, you and Jeno started gravitating toward each other too.

Maybe it was the way you always crouched down to Jiwoo’s level when talking to her, never treating her like she was too young to understand. Maybe it was the way you remembered what she liked—always bringing her favorite strawberry-flavored lollipops or tying her hair up in tiny pigtails because “she likes it when her hair is out of her face.”

Or maybe it was just the way you talked to him.

You were a psychology major, so naturally, you were good at understanding people. But with Jeno, it didn’t feel like you were analyzing him or trying to figure him out. You just listened. Really listened. And when he found himself opening up to you more than he intended, you never made it awkward.

It was a relief, honestly.

Being a young single dad, most people either pitied him or judged him. He’d gotten used to it, but with you, there was none of that. Just quiet understanding.

——

One Friday evening, you came over earlier than usual. Karina had a late-night study session, so you texted Jaemin if you could still come over. He replied with a dramatic voice memo about how he and Haechan were “fighting for their lives” trying to entertain Jiwoo, so you took that as a yes.

When you arrived, Jiwoo was in the middle of destroying Jaemin’s Jenga tower.

“YN!!”

She abandoned her mission to run straight to you, and you crouched down just in time to catch her. “My pretty girl,” you cooed, rubbing her back as she nuzzled into you.

“YN, please take her. I can’t do this anymore,” Jaemin whined from the floor, looking exhausted.

You laughed. “She’s two, Jaem.”

“She’s two with the strength of a full-grown man,” Haechan groaned, rubbing his shoulder. “She threw her stuffed bunny at me, and it hurt.”

Jiwoo giggled against your shoulder before lifting her head. “Haechan is… is a loser.”

“Oh my god—who taught you that?!”

“Jeno,” Jaemin answered immediately.

You turned toward Jeno, who had just walked out of his room. “Jeno.”

Jeno blinked, looking at Jiwoo, then at you. “What?”

“You taught your daughter how to call Haechan a loser?”

“...Define taught,” Jeno said, completely unbothered.

Jiwoo grinned and pointed at Haechan. “Loser.”

“Why must I suffer?” Haechan clutched his chest dramatically, making you laugh.

Jeno sighed and walked over, reaching for Jiwoo. “Alright, come here, troublemaker.”

But Jiwoo only clung onto you tighter. “No. With YN.”

Jeno paused. You looked at him, waiting for him to take her, but he hesitated.

“Looks like you made your mind baby,” Jeno muttered, watching as Jiwoo tucked her face into your neck. His lips twitched slightly before he ran a hand through his hair. “Fine. You win, princess.”

Jiwoo giggled in victory.

Jaemin and Haechan exchanged looks before Jaemin leaned in, whispering to Jeno, “Bro. Your daughter just chose YN over you.”

Jeno rolled his eyes and walked toward the kitchen. “Shut up.”

——

That night, you found yourself sitting on the couch with Jiwoo curled up in your lap, playing with the rings on your fingers. The others had started a movie, but you were barely paying attention.

“YN,” Jiwoo mumbled sleepily.

You looked down. “Yeah, baby?”

Jiwoo blinked up at you, her tiny hands still wrapped around your fingers. “You come morrow?”

Your heart melted a little.

“You want me to?”

Jiwoo nodded, eyes drooping. “Uh-huh.”

You smiled, brushing a hand over her soft hair. “Okay. I’ll come tomorrow.”

She made a content noise before snuggling closer.

Jeno, who had been watching quietly, exhaled through his nose. “You do know you’re officially Jiwoo’s favorite person now, right?”

You grinned. “I’ll take the title.”

He shook his head with a chuckle. “She’s never warmed up to someone this fast. Not even my own mom.”

You looked down at Jiwoo’s tiny fingers curled around yours, her breathing already evening out. “She’s easy to love.”

Jeno didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, quieter, he murmured, “Yeah. She is.”

——

It happened gradually.

You started coming over more, not just because of Karina or Jiwoo, but because you wanted to. And Jeno… Jeno stopped questioning why he didn’t mind it.

When Jiwoo had a meltdown over a missing sock, you found it tucked under the couch and turned it into a silly sock-hunting game. When she refused to eat her carrots, you distracted her by pretending to eat one yourself—“Oh wow, this is so good!”—and suddenly, she wanted to try them too.

Jeno found himself watching you more than he should.

You didn’t just tolerate Jiwoo; you genuinely loved being around her. And Jiwoo? She adored you.

So when Jeno had to work late one evening, and Jaemin asked if you could babysit, Jeno didn’t even hesitate.

That night, when Jeno came home, he found you and Jiwoo curled up on the couch together, a storybook resting on your lap. Jiwoo had long since fallen asleep, her tiny hands gripping your shirt.

You looked up at him, eyes tired but warm. “Hey.”

Jeno took a slow breath. “Hey.”

You carefully shifted, trying not to wake Jiwoo. “She wanted to wait for you.”

Jeno exhaled, running a hand over his face. “She’s stubborn.”

“She just loves you.”

His gaze softened. “I know.”

He watched as you gently ran a hand through Jiwoo’s hair, your touch instinctively soothing.

You looked up again, meeting his eyes. “Jeno?”

He blinked, realizing he’d been staring. “Yeah?”

You hesitated, then smiled softly. “You’re doing a really good job, you know.”

Jeno felt something in his chest tighten.

People had told him before that he was a good dad. His friends, his family. But coming from you… it felt different.

His throat felt dry. “Thanks.”

You smiled again before looking down at Jiwoo. “I should put her to bed.”

Jeno nodded, stepping closer. “I’ll take her.”

You carefully shifted, letting him scoop Jiwoo into his arms. She stirred slightly, but when Jeno whispered, “Shh, baby. Sleep,” she relaxed against his chest.

You stood up, stretching. “I should head home.”

Jeno looked at the time. “It’s late. I’ll walk you.”

“Jeno, I’m literally two blocks away—”

“Don’t care.” He grabbed his jacket. “Let’s go."

You rolled your eyes but didn’t argue.

As you both stepped outside, the cool night air settling around you, you glanced at Jeno. “You know… I really like being around her.”

Jeno shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah. I know.”

You nudged his arm playfully. “I like being around you too, I guess.”

Jeno huffed a laugh. “Wow. What an honor.”

You grinned. “It is.”

He glanced at you, something unreadable in his eyes. “I like having you around too.”

Your chest felt a little warmer.

Neither of you said anything after that. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable—it was easy, natural.

When you reached your apartment, you turned to him. “Thanks for walking me.”

Jeno shrugged. “Anytime."

You hesitated before stepping closer, lowering your voice. “Jeno?”

He raised a brow.

You smiled. “Get some sleep.”

Jeno blinked. Then, to his own surprise, he smiled too"

“Yeah. You too.”

As you disappeared inside, Jeno stood there for a moment before shaking his head and walking back home.

Yeah.

This was dangerous.

And he was already in too deep.

part three

an: y'all this has been rotting in my drafts for ages. I forgot completing it. anyways. part two one. one more left

taglist: @rubiiisyeon @x-luv @iseos1 @nctead @jaeminnanaaa17 @ajaaaaayyyyy

[reyalvr]

SHE’S MINE | 02

-SO I HOPE AND PRAY YOU MAKE IT WORTH IT.

synopsis ┊ thrust into the spotlight, ken sato had easily become the next big thing tokyo had seen in decades. alongside his fame came the inevitable string of rumors, of which sprung forth scandals and discrediting information against his image. of course the obvious and most rational solution would be to address them like every other celebrity, but this was ken sato; nothing would ever be rational with him, which is how you wound up with a ring on your finger and the sato name in your papers. 

genre ┊ fake dating, fake marriage, idiots-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, slight angst, chaotic fluff, mild smut

pairing ┊ ken sato x fem-PA!reader, ken sato x fake-wife!reader

warnings ┊ mild cursing, eventual smut, mentions of alcohol, all events in ultraman: rising take place a year after kenji moves back to japan

word count ┊ 3.2k

author’s note ┊ YAPPEE! part two officially out- so sorry for the wait EUEUEU… hehe hope the things that happen in this chapter make up for it being a few days late :p also, i will not be accepting anymore tag list requests! this is due to the amount of users that i can tag per post T^T … nonetheless, i hope you guys enjoy the chap! happy reading :D 

p.s. i will be blocking the people who message me (rudely) to “hurry up” with the next chapters. i understand most, if not, all of you are excited to read the next chapters, but please do understand that i have my own schedule too :,)

prev. | next

YOU HELD YOUR HEAD IN YOUR HANDS, GROANING INTO YOUR PALMS. In front of you sat the thorn at your side, Ken Sato. He had just finished reading- or rather, skimming through the files you had stayed up compiling. You peeked at him through your fingers before standing up to erase yet another column of pros and cons from the board. 

Taking a swig from the energy drink he had brought you, you shake your head as you try to figure out what to do next. Truth be told, you were just eager to leave. You had two weeks left until you could finally let these burdensome tasks go, all you wanted was for Ken to go along with your last few instructions so as to make your exit easier. 

“I don’t get what’s so hard about this, Ken.” You say, turning back around to face him. “You pick a girl, you ‘date’ her for a bit, and then you ‘split up’ amicably. Simple as that.” 

He tilted his head at you, a sarcastic smile on his lips. “Oh sure, yeah. Let me just go out with a random girl and act like I’m head over heels in love with her.”

“Yes, exactly that.” You reply with the same tone, going back to your seat. “Now you’re getting it!”

He rolls his eyes, placing the stapled papers back on your desk. “I get it, I fucked up. But I still don’t get why you’re so…” He pauses, pressing his lips into a thin line and gesturing with his hands. “Persistent in actually trying to get me to date someone for the sake of my screw up.”

“And I don’t get why I have to keep reminding you of why I need to do this.” You lean back into your chair while pinching the bridge of your nose. “You were the one who-”

“-’Told the entire world you were in love’, yes I know! You’ve only said that like, what, a hundred times over?” He cuts you off, crossing his arms. “I know what I did. But I also know that I have a choice in this matter, don’t I?”

You go to reply but stop when you register his words. You knew that, obviously, which is why you had multiple plans. You were giving him the chance to choose, were you not? The various notes and drafted project plans were proof of that. They were all laid out right in front of him, what more could he possibly want? You look at him briefly, your eyes scanning his expression before darting back to the things scattered atop your desk. 

“I’m giving you choices.” You say flatly, slowly looking back up at him. 

“No, you’re giving me options and expecting me to choose.” He counters, his hand gesturing towards the papers. “I’m talking about my choice. My plan, suggestion, whatever you want to call it.”

“So what is your plan? Because as far as I’m concerned, you don’t seem to actually have one.” You reply, brows slightly furrowing at his stubbornness. 

“And that’s the point. I don’t need a plan,” He pauses, pointing his finger directly onto one of the outlines and it towards you. “I just need to ride it out.”

You let out a scoff, stunned at how Ken was still treating this so lightly. The corners of your lips tug up a bit, and you end up letting out a soft laugh in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Am I, though?” He leans back, maintaining eye contact with you. “It’s the choice that takes the least effort. And besides, I thought you liked it when I kept things private.”

“Oh, don’t circle this back to me.” You say, pointing a finger at him. “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to address your little mishaps?” 

“Yes, I do. Which is why I’m trying to help you.” He says a-matter-of-factly, his eyebrows raising as if to emphasize how much he understands what your job entails. 

“No, you don’t.” You argue back, mimicking his crossed arms.

“Were you always this stubborn?” Ken says, catching you off guard. 

You feel your features scrunch up in confusion and annoyance, narrowed eyes slanting even more as this back-and-forth of yours keeps going. “You’re one to talk.” 

At that he smirks slightly, rolling his eyes as he pokes a tongue into his cheek. The audacity of this man to act annoyed. You think, all the while you continue to glare at him. You close your eyes for the umpteenth time that morning, taking in a deep breath as your nails dig into your palms. Despite wanting to calm yourself down, his words rang in your head like an unwanted mantra.

His choice.

Would it be so bad to give Ken free reign on this? Granted, he was the one who caused it. Why be the one to clean up his mess- again, for that matter? You pinch the bridge of your nose, shaking your head once more. You could never understand how his mind worked, and you figured you probably never would. You tapped against the desk with your pen, bouncing your leg as you pondered on what to do. 

Your plan? Everything sets sail smoothly, with only the liability being either party slips up. Which, in your defense, you could cover up in the blink of an eye. His plan? No plotline with room for spontaneous detail sharing whenever he pleased. More work for you, more freedom for him. You stopped tapping then, clicking your pen into place. In your moment of contemplation, you had realized then this entire thing was useless. His plan, your plan, all the plans. None of them mattered, not if the end result was going to be the same. 

Goddamnit, you hated Ken Sato. 

You flip one of the stapled pieces of paper over, drawing over the blank side. “The start of your first full season with the Giants is in less than fourteen days. By then we would need to have already released another press release- ideally before your conference.” 

Ken jumps slightly, caught off guard by your sudden return to work mode. He watches as you line up different keywords with boxy arrows, all of which lead up to the ‘end’ of his lie. “What exactly am I looking at?”

You flash him a smile, albeit a fake one, and slide the paper to him. “Your plan.” Leaning back in your chair, you make a show of stretching your arms. “You’re right, we should go with your plan.” 

He laughs then, noting the lingering hints of sarcasm in your tone. “[Y/N], what are you doing?”

“Giving you your choice.” You reply with a small shrug. 

“Yeah, I can see that.” He says, his smile slightly faltering. “But… why?”

“It’s your life, isn’t it?” You tilt your head to the side, your lips pressed into a thin line. 

Now it’s his turn to be confused and annoyed. The way he understood this, you were letting him win. You were waving a white flag, surrendering to his incessant pleading. He scrunched his brows, still trying to process your words. You continued to sit there, waiting eerily patiently for him to respond. 

“And you’re serious about this?” He questions once more, hesitant to believe that you of all people would back down so quickly. 

“Mhm,” You hum, fiddling with your thumbs. “I’m just your assistant. Well, for two more weeks, that is.” 

He felt like he was being played. He blinked at you, mouth slightly agape. The you that was sitting in front of him now was different from the you thirty-six hours ago. Yesterday, you were desperate for him to follow your plans. He recalled your words, ‘If you're actually as sorry as you say you are, you’ll do as I say.’ But now that you’re telling him to do exactly what he wants, he’s nervous. 

Nervous that he finally caused you to hate him for good. 

“If you’re done sitting there like I said something stupid, you can go. Coach wants to see the team, it’d be in your best favor not to be on his bad side two weeks before playoffs.” You say, not even looking at him directly. 

He clears his throat, licking his lips. “Right, well, okay.” He stands up, sliding himself into his jacket before walking towards the door. “See you, then.”

You only hum in response, still not looking at him as you continue fixing all of the papers on your desk. Just before he’s fully out of your office though, you call out to him. 

“Yeah?” He answers immediately, peeking his head through the door. 

“Have fun riding it out.” You say, flashing him a smile. A real one, this time.

A WEEK HAD GONE BY JUST LIKE THAT. Surprisingly, Ken had been able to keep things under control. Even his comments to street paparazzis were concise, almost as if you were the one who coached him his lines. While you had expected him to do nothing, just as he suggested, you hadn’t expected him to last this long without an intervention from you. 

You sat by your window as your body sunk into your armchair, your eyes threatening to close. The early blue hues of the morning had started to break through the night sky, the clouds slowly parting to clear the sky. You typed vigorously against the keys of your laptop, eyes following the blinking cursor to prevent yourself from falling asleep right then and there. 

You had been up for hours constructing your updated résumé, keeping all your needed information concise and in one page. Despite having a well-rounded history in regards to jobs, the lingering fear of keeping yourself afloat was an inevitable burden you were scared of accidentally fulfilling. You had family, yes, but relying on them did something to your pride. Most especially since you had been low-contact ever since you abruptly moved to the city. 

Seeking help from friends was another option that was off the table. In all your years of working in the entertainment industry, the amount of people you had let into your life dwindled as you realized people’s true intentions. You had merely three people left in your life, and that was by far more than enough to keep you sane throughout the rest of your life.

You sighed heavily, rubbing your eyes with the back of your hand. Truth be told, despite the factor of having to deal with Ken, this job has been the best in terms of your benefits. He was much like you- little circle, low-contact. Even his own team was a limited number, leaving you to deal with other jobs and tasks that would otherwise be done by different people. Yes, the workload was tiring, but the pay was enough to keep you alive ten times over. You could only say a silent prayer to whoever was listening to bless you once more once you let go of this for good. 

You sat back, finally satisfied with the way your page was laid out. You faced towards your window, closing your eyes as your breathing steadied. The birds were starting to chirp, the sun casting a foggy glow through the clouds. In this moment of solitude, you allowed yourself to relax; it was more than deserved. Not like anything could happen in your sleep, right?

WRONG, SO VERY WRONG. You groaned as you were awakened by the continuous buzzing of your phone. At first you had thought it was an alarm you had accidentally forgotten to shut off, but when it continued on, you eventually had to force yourself to wake up.

The sun was high up now, bright rays peeking through your blinds. You squinted, uncurling yourself from your chair as you got up and stretched. You yawned, scratching your head as you finally unlocked your phone. You were greeted with an endless stream of notifications, your mail app and other social media platforms pinging by the second. There was also the factor of the loud noise outside, though you made it out to be some kind of commotion or parade. 

Your screen then flashed the caller ID of an unknown number, followed by another sea of notifications. You blink yourself awake, now slightly worried at just how much texts and emails you had been receiving. Did Ken do something? Did someone die? Did Ken die?

Before you could even open any of the messages, you hear the familiar ringtone of one of your closest friends. You slide to answer, pressing your phone up to your ear. “Ami? What’s up, what’s wrong?”

She laughed, and you could practically see her shaking her head at you. “I’m guessing you just woke up? Check literally any news outlet right now, you’re gonna wanna see this.”

What the hell was going on? You mumbled something in reply, putting her on speaker as you did what she asked. 

You wished you hadn’t. In bold, bright red letters, the article’s headline read:

Extra Innings in the Press Box: Ken Sato’s Hidden Romance with Assistant Revealed! 

What you saw next nearly had you chucking your phone into the nearest wall. Attached right under the headline was you and Ken. You and Ken. You let out a curse, and you could hear the sighs coming from Ami on the other line. The picture was clearly shot from a hidden vantage point, the branches from the trees blocking the camera proof of it. Despite the distance, though, yours and Ken’s faces were clearly visible. 

“What the fuck!” You yell, now fully awake eyes wide in confusion. “When was this released? H-How did-”

“Two hours ago. Apparently some passerby sold the picture to the press, and said passerby just happened to be paparazzi.” Ami cuts you off, her tone serious yet concerned. “Trust me, if I had known something like this was going to be released, I would’ve done something about it.”

You left your phone on the kitchen counter as you paced back and forth, your hand glued to your forehead as you tried to wrap your mind around what was happening. Obviously it wasn’t true, you of all people knew that. But nobody else did, and that was the problem. 

“Ami what the hell is happening?” You manage to breathe out, still pacing. “This is all so-”

“Much? Yeah, I know.” She cuts you off again, and you can hear the bustling sounds from her office. “My own publisher is on my neck for this, God only knows what you’re going through. Are you okay? If you need help this could technically be classified as invasion of-”

“I do need help because this whole thing isn’t-” You start, but are ultimately cut off again when you hear the sounds grow louder outside. 

“[Y/N]? ‘You there?” Ami’s muffled voice calls out as you walk towards your window, peeking down to where the commotion was coming from. 

“Oh shit.” You gasp out, eyes widening even more as you realize the noises were coming from the sea of reporters and photographers waiting outside your townhouse. 

You swallowed hard, stepping back from the window with a hand to your mouth. This cannot be happening, this had to be some sick nightmare. Stumbling towards your phone, you mumbled some reply about needing to go before abruptly hanging up the call. Rude, perhaps, but Ami would understand. 

In the span of two hours of that damn article being released, eager and greedy gossip outlets had found your address and swarmed your only safe space. You held your phone close to your chest, running up to your room as you tried to catch your breath. You closed your eyes once more, breathing in and out heavily. The more you tried to convince yourself that this wasn’t happening, the more you slowly realized that it actually was. 

You opened your phone once more, muting all your socials and other messaging apps. You needed to think, and you needed to act fast. By memory, your fingers automatically scroll for Ken’s legal team. Having gotten him out of falsified defamations multiple times, acting during these types of situations was almost a second habit. But this didn’t involve just him, it involved you. You were a part of this mess, you couldn’t be the one to solve it.

A mantra of curses conjured up in your head, and you delete the previous number you had dialed in. Think, damnit. Think, think, think. You thought to yourself, nervously chewing on your bottom lip as you prayed for a solution to be presented to you. An alternative popped up into your brain then. Albeit that alternative was stupid, but it was something. 

You dialed his number, anxiously waiting as it rang. 

KEN WAS ON HIS BREAK, SITTING ON THE BENCH AS HE WIPED THE SWEAT OFF HIS FOREHEAD. Playoffs were about to start, and Shimura was working them to the bone to make sure everyone had their head in the game. He let out a deep breath through his nose, arms resting on his knees as tried to calm down after a few laps around the stadium. The rest of his teammates seemed to be reacting obnoxiously over something, though he didn’t have the energy to feign enthusiasm. 

One of his teammates teasingly nudged him then, giving him a playful grin. “Your secret’s out, huh? All this time you were with her.”

Ken laughed it off, still oblivious to the fact that nearly all of Japan now knew the face of his supposed girlfriend. He noted the specification in his tone, as if he were referring to a mutual friend of theirs. Which, again, was impossible- nobody but you knew the secret he was hiding. He gave them a nod before returning back to his own space. 

He felt his watch buzz against his wrist, and he was all but surprised to see you calling him on your day off. He sat up straight then, grabbing his phone to answer the call. He had to admit, he answered a little too excitedly. Or nervously. He couldn’t differentiate the two, not when it involved you. Ever since the start of this stunt, something in him shifts whenever you or anything related to you gets mentioned. He brushed it off as some sort of familiarity attachment, the weight of your sudden resignation still heavy on his shoulders.

Was he sad to let you go? Maybe, he wasn’t entirely sure. Aside from the fact that he had Mina, you did your job well. You knew the ins and outs of everything he liked and disliked, you kept him organized and on track. Sure, losing you would be another hurdle he would have to get over, but that doesn’t mean he would be… impotent without you. He clears his throat before he finally brings the phone up to his ear.

“Hey-” He starts, but stops when he notices the frantic panic in your voice. “Woah, hey slow down. What happened?”

“You happened.” You reply then, albeit through a shaky breath. 

“What?” He questions, brows furrowing in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s exactly as I said. You happened,” You paused, taking in a deep breath. “And now I need your help. Please.”

reyalvr © 2024 … do not repost, alter, or steal my work.

tags┊@mochminnie, @rreasonablydumbb, @sincerest-one, @fruticake, @lunaryasha, @lovingyeet, @sugacor3, @arrozyfrijoles23, @fennecspage, @mmeerraa, @azryaa, @akiradailylifes, @montybooks, @mmv-ymvm, @hore4ken, @greeniegreengreen, @meikoo, @random-3455, @todaywasafairytale07, @mythicalmoa, @imafangirlofeverything, @astylos, @vynwan-cbq, @rosegiyanabing, @icedberrytea, @ken-zah, @letharue, @chi222, @flooftoof, @c4ttheart, @ymrai, @stxrrielle, @alpha-mommy69, @ewitscat, @lightsinmycity, @furblrwurblr, @ayamago, @sugururawr, @secretlyapartofthisfandom @shellspider, @oh-kurva, @noraimp

[linoxpudding]

Second Chances - Han Jisung

summary: when your husband fails to show up for your family, you bring up divorce — only then does he wake up

pairing: han jisung x fem!reader

genre: angst, hurt/comfort, married with kids

word count: 1318 words

a/n: remember the twins in jisung's part of this fic? here's a little years later scenario where they have a younger brother now

-

The Kids: Twin Girls (Jisoo, Minsoo - 7 years old) and Son (Jihoon - 5 years old)

~°~

You were exhausted.

Physically, emotionally, mentally—every part of you was stretched thin, fraying at the edges. The weight of everything threatened to crush you, and tonight, it finally broke you.

One of your twin daughters, Minsoo, had her first-ever ballet recital at school today. The one she had spent months practicing for. The one where she had asked, with those wide, hopeful eyes, “Will Appa come this time?”

You had smiled, smoothed down her tutu, kissed her forehead, and whispered, “Of course, baby. He promised.”

But promises didn’t mean much anymore. Not when they came from Han Jisung.

Because when the curtains lifted, and Minsoo stood on stage, her little eyes scanning the audience with anticipation, her smile slowly faltered. Her twirls lost confidence. And when she finally spotted you, sitting alone, her lips wobbled.

And your heart shattered.

Just like it had last month when Jisung missed Jisoo’s science fair. And the time before that, when he forgot about Jihoon’s first-award ceremony at school, where your youngest won an award for being 'most creative' in his class.

How many times were you supposed to make excuses for him? How many times were you supposed to be both parents while he drowned himself in work, in schedules, in music, in everything but the family he promised to cherish?

Not anymore. You reached your breaking point.

Jisung felt it the moment he stepped into the house.

Something was wrong.

The lights were dim, the air heavy. His bag slipped from his shoulder, and he rubbed a hand down his face, exhausted from a long day in the studio.

“Baby, I’m home,” he called out, toeing off his shoes. He glanced at the clock. 12:37 AM.

Late. Again.

The guilt gnawed at his chest, but he pushed it down. He had deadlines, commitments—he was doing all of this for you and the kids, wasn’t he?

Still, when you stepped out of the kitchen, arms crossed, eyes void of warmth, his stomach twisted.

“We need to talk.”

He sighed. “Babe, can it wait? It’s been a long—”

“No.” Your voice was firm. “It can’t.”

Something in your tone made him look up. Really look. And for the first time in a long time, he saw something that terrified him.

You weren’t just mad. You were done.

“Baby—” he started

“Let's go to our bedroom,” you cut him off, “the kids are sleeping, i dont want to wake them up.”

He followed you quietly, and as soon as he shut the bedroom door behind him, you said it.

“I want a divorce.”

The words left your lips like venom. You had imagined saying them before, but you never thought you’d actually do it.

Jisung blinked. Like he didn’t hear you. Like his brain refused to process the words.

“W-What?”

You swallowed the lump in your throat. “I want a divorce, Jisung.”

His bag hit the floor. His breath hitched. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

“No, you don’t.” He shook his head, laughing weakly, like this was some cruel joke. “You’re just mad. We fight, we argue, but we always—”

“I’m tired, Jisung.” Your voice cracked. “I’m tired of being alone. I’m tired of raising our kids alone. I’m tired of watching them get disappointed over and over again.”

His jaw tightened. “I provide for them—”

“I don’t care about money!” You snapped, voice breaking. “I care about our kids growing up with a father who actually shows up! You keep missing everything, Jisung! Do you even know how much it hurts them? How much does it hurt me?”

Jisung’s breath came out uneven. “I—”

You let out a shaky laugh, eyes stinging. “You know what’s funny? If we get divorced, maybe then they’ll actually get to see you. Because at least then, you’ll be forced to make time.”

Jisung’s lips parted, but no words came out. He looked at you like you had just stabbed him.

Then, suddenly—

Thump.

He dropped to his knees. He felt the world tilted. His ears rang.

Jisung’s knees hit the floor before he even realized what was happening. His hands shot out, grasping at your legs, your hands, anything he could hold on to.

“Please,” his voice was barely a whisper. “Please, don’t do this.”

You flinched, stepping back slightly, but he held onto your legs tightly.

“I know I messed up,” he choked out. “I know I’ve been the worst husband, the worst dad, but please—please don’t leave me.” His fingers curled around your waist, his grip desperate. “I’ll fix this. I’ll be better. Just… don’t give up on me.”

Your face crumpled, and you teared up and gently you pulled away from him.

“Jisung… it’s not that simple.”

“But it is,” he pleaded, voice trembling. “It is to me. I’ll do anything. I’ll quit music—”

“No,” you cut him off sharply. “You love music, Jisung. I would never take that from you.” Your voice wavered. “I just need you to love us just as much.”

He let out a sob, his chest shaking. “I do.” His voice cracked. “I do, I do, I do. I love you. I love our kids. You’re my whole world, please don’t leave.”

Jisung, the man who once stood on sold-out stages with a mic in hand, now knelt before you, crying.

And it broke him.

The memories hit him all at once.

The way Jisoo had tugged at his sleeve last week, asking if he could just stay home for one day.

The way Jihoon had slowly stopped telling him about his day, because he knew Appa was busy.

The way Minsoo had once whispered to him, “Appa, do you love me?” Even though he reassured her, he knew this question shouldn't even have crossed her little mind in the first place.

His heart clenched so painfully he thought he might die from it.

You exhaled shakily. “Jisung, I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”

His breath hitched. He looked broken.

His face was crumpled, his hands shaking, his entire body trembling as he knelt before you. And you hated it.

You hated that even after all this, after all the pain and loneliness, you still loved him.

And maybe that was the problem.

You let out a deep breath. “Jisung, I—”

“Then let me prove it,” he whispered. “Give me one last chance. Let me fight for you, for our family.”

Silence stretched between you.

Then, you reluctantly said, “…one last chance.”

Jisung let out a broken sob, he quickly got up and pressed his forehead against yours, then cupped your face before whispering, “I won't let you down ever again.”

He then pulled you against his chest, his arms wrapping around you so tightly it almost hurt.

But deep down, a part of you wondered.

Would things really change?

Or were you just delaying the inevitable heartbreak?

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

The next few months felt… different. Not perfect, not magically healed overnight, but different.

Jisung started coming home earlier—first by an hour, then two. At first, the kids were hesitant, unsure if this was temporary, but slowly, their walls began to lower. Jihoon started showing him his drawings again. Jisoo asked him to help with her homework. Minsoo hesitated before ballet practice, glancing at him nervously.

“I’ll be there,” Jisung promised.

And this time, he was.

He still made mistakes—forgot to pack Jihoon’s lunch one morning, burned dinner when he tried to help. But instead of brushing it off or making excuses, he tried again. He listened more. He asked questions. He showed up.

And you?

You watched. You waited. You guarded your heart, afraid to believe in him again. But every night, when he reached for your hand—just a small touch, a silent reassurance—you found yourself hesitating less and less.

Maybe love wasn’t enough to fix everything. But effort? Effort could.

And for the first time in a long time, Jisung was finally trying.

[littlcdarlin]

Into Temptation – The Visit

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 (each part can be read as a standalone)

summary: Tommy comes over to scold Joel, and you like his eyes on you a little more than expected. warnings: exhibitionism (not actually — reader just likes the idea and Joel dirty talks about it), big girthy age gap (20 & late 50s), daddy kink, breeding kink, orgasm control (sort of), Joel calls reader "kid" or "kiddo", Joel kind of answers for reader when talking to Tommy, not a depiction of a healthy relationship but not dark enough to be dark!joel, pervert!joel, naive!reader, discussion of free use kink

note: we’re working towards Tommy possibly joining in on some fun, but I’m not decided on whether I’ll go through with that! Let me know what you think and enjoy this piece of utter filth, you freaks <3 I love you

It’s been almost two weeks, and you still haven’t gone home to your place. Joel isn’t sure if there is any documentation about who owns which house in Jackson, but he’d have no problem with Tommy and Maria giving yours away, in fact, the idea of you sleeping in any other bed but his bothers him, even if it’s your very own. Luckily you haven’t made any comments about wanting to go home, more than content with staying with Joel. When he isn’t fucking you, or you’re sleeping, you follow him from room to room like a lost puppy, just as glad not to be lonely anymore as Joel is.

He’s well aware under different circumstances you’d form a less extreme attachment to someone much younger than him, but therapists are hard to come by given that the world has ended, so he tries not to think too much about how severely you seem to need him. You don’t even like showering alone, preferring for Joel to wash your body with his sponge and soap and tenderly massaging your scalp with shampoo. And he obliges every time, if only to pin your wrists against the shower wall and make you come once or twice. It’s efficient, really, no need to clean up afterwards with the shower washing away the sweat and come.

Both of your sleeping schedules have unravelled, because most nights you wake Joel with a throbbing between your legs that needs taking care of, Joel happily fucking you back to sleep with lazy thrusts, plugging you with his cock for the rest of the night, so that none of his spent leaks out of you – he can’t wash the sheets every day, and he’s still trying to get you pregnant.

The mornings are spent with you on top of him, your little body clinging to his, either just lounging around, drifting in and out of sleep, humping his thigh, or bouncing on his cock until he flips you around and fucks you into the mattress.

Afterwards he makes you breakfast, swallows his eggs and guilt about having missed another patrol, watches you drink your coffee, and joins you in the shower to clean up. It’s bliss, a debauched slice of heaven he rationally knows can’t last forever. You’ll snap out of it any day now, and run away screaming when you count the years between the two of you, or Tommy will put a pistol to his head and throw him out of town.

He’s not far off, but when Tommy shows up it’s with a stern expression in place of the pistol. You’re sleeping upstairs, so Joel sighs, and opens the door for Tommy to step in. He knows he can’t avoid him forever, though every part of him screams at him to defend this little bubble the two of you have created.

"Where’s the kid?", Tommy asks, not even pretending his visit is about anything else.

"Upstairs," Joel answers, "she’s sleeping."

Tommy hums.

"Do you…wanna come in?"

"Depends," Tommy answers cooly, "how long are you plannin’ on keeping her here?"

Joel huffs – he knew Tommy wouldn’t get it, would think of this as something it isn’t.

"She can leave any time, Tommy, I’m not keepin’ her anywhere."

Tommy watches him for what feels like a long time, then he sighs, shakes his head, and makes his way into the living room. His eyes drift over your dress, hanging over the back of a dining chair since you prefer Joel’s clothes now anyway.

"I’m gonna say this one last time, Joel, and then it’s outta my hands, alright? She’s too fuckin’ young for you, and you need to send her home if you don’t want this…this thing to ruin both of your lives in Jackson. This isn’t the QZ, and it certainly isn’t the forest. People have a moral compass here, and you’re fucking pushin’ it."

He’s right, of course he’s right. Joel has noticed the glances in his direction when he gets food while you’re sleeping, he hears the whispers at the Tipsy Bison when they see the barely disguised marks he left on your neck and chest. But really, what has he lost because of it? He’s not exactly known for his deep friendships with the other citizens of Jackson, and Tommy’s still speaking to him. Sure, you’ve seen your friends less and less, sitting in Joel’s lap instead of at their table whenever you’re at the bar now, but you’ve told him how little you have in common with them apart from your age. The way he sees it, the both of you are only gaining something.

"She wants this, Tommy, I swear she does. I know it’s…different…extreme, but she’s happy with it. So am I."

"Sure you are," Tommy mutters, but he sighs, and sits down on the couch. "I’m not gonna get through to you, am I?"

Joel walks over to the cabinet in the corner and gets out his bottle of whiskey.

"Look," he says, pouring two glasses, "I didn’t plan this. It just sort of…happened."

"Gettin’ into golf happens like that, Joel, not fucking the barely legal new girl."

They drink the whiskey in silence, and Joel wonders how Tommy would react if you woke up and came downstairs the way you always do, naked except for Joel’s too big shirt, bare feet and legs begging to be warmed up.

"You bein’ safe at least?"

"Jesus, Tommy," Joel groans, feeling like a teenager who brought home his first girlfriend.

"They’ll crucify you if you get her pregnant. Heard the guys at the Bison talking about what they’d do if she was their daughter."

"Well, she ain’t," Joel mutters, remembering your little chants of DaddyDaddyDaddy just last night, as he bounced you up and down on his cock.

"You’ve known her for what, a month? Don’t be stupid, Joel," Tommy presses on, almost begging now. "She’s twenty years old, you’re pushin’ sixty. Tell me she’s not havin’ your kid."

"She’s not pregnant, no," Joel answers evasively. But she will be. Tommy hears the meaning behind Joel’s words and shakes his head.

"Christ almighty, you’re beyond help."

Yes, Joel thinks, so stop trying to help. He drains the last of his whiskey, when the bedroom door opens, and he hears the familiar sound of your bare feet coming down the stairs. Tommy sighs.

Your hair is messy, your eyes droopy, Joel’s white shirt bright against your skin. Purple hickeys are blooming on your neck, your collarbones, your shoulders, and there’s a small bruise forming on your arm from when Joel grabbed you a little too tightly two nights ago. He knows what you look like to Tommy, like some sort of live-in-Lolita, but his brother hasn’t heard you beg for it, plead with Joel to let you come. You’re not here against your will.

"Hi," you say, surprise evident in your sleepy voice.

"Hello," Tommy answers, offering you a small smile. You answer with a blinding one yourself, one that has Joel’s chest growing tight with fondness. 

"I didn’t know you were coming over, I would’ve put on something else," you say timidly, and Joel’s jaw ticks. This is as good as your home now, you shouldn’t apologize for wearing the clothes you like – or lack thereof.

"Come here, baby," he says before Tommy can answer, and you do so without question, no intention of running back upstairs to put on a pair of pants. You sit down on Joel’s knee, his shirt hitching up your thighs a little. Tommy watches quietly as Joel’s hand finds your waist, rubbing soothing circles.

"I wanted to talk to you about patrols," Tommy says after a beat, clearly trying to move the conversion along. "I’ll stop bothering you two if you don’t miss them again."

It’s a fair exchange, Joel thinks, although really, Tommy should stop bothering you either way. Still, people might find it easier to look past what Joel does to you if he performs well in regards to his duties. So he agrees, and Tommy seems to relax a little. Then he addresses you.

"Maria told me you got the first couple of weeks off to get used to Jackson, but they’re almost over. Would you prefer kitchen duty, or the stables?"

Before you can open your mouth, Joel answers for you.

"She needs a little more time," he says, his palm slipping over your stomach possessively. "To…settle in."

He knows he’s really pushing Tommy’s patience, but the idea of you cutting your fingers with a knife or being kicked by a horse…he much prefers having you here, waiting for him. And you don’t object, just settle more comfortably against his front, your hand finding his on your tummy.

Tommy’s brows are furrowed, but Joel can see his eyes flickering over your bare thighs, Joel’s hand on your stomach, and he almost smirks. Even if Tommy is a righteous communist now, he’s also just a man.

"One month," he says, getting up from the sofa, "one month, Joel, and then she’ll be workin’ like everyone else."

Good, Joel thinks, one month is all I need.

He isn’t sure you’re entirely aware you’ll get pregnant if the two of you keep up what you’ve been doing, but every time he plans on pulling out and having a conversation about it, you whine and plead until he gives in and pumps you full of his come. You’ve got him wrapped around your little finger, even if it might seem the other way around to Tommy.

When Joel agrees, Tommy gets up from the couch, and Joel lifts you off of his lap. His shirt hitches dangerously high on your thighs, he’s sure you aren’t wearing anything underneath it, and Tommy’s eyes flicker towards your legs for just a moment. Joel puts a hand on the small of your back, walking his brother out.

"Come visit us again," you tell Tommy to everyone’s surprise, a sweet smile on your lips. "You’re the only one who does."

Tommy’s eyes linger on yours for a beat, then he smiles back.

"Sure, kid. You keep an eye on my brother."

You chuckle, agree, and then Tommy nods at Joel.

"Think about what I said," he says seriously.

"Alright," Joel sighs, fully aware nothing his brother tells him will stop him from taking you on the couch as soon as the door is closed. 

You smile at him when Tommy is gone, and press your smaller body against his. He leans down to kiss you, his hands sliding up the sides of your thighs and under your shirt – he was right, you’re not wearing panties.

"Jesus, baby, you almost gave Tommy a heart attack," he drawls, one hand trailing down your stomach and over your mound, until his fingers are rubbing circles into your clit. Within seconds you go from kind hostess to needy and plaint in his hands, as if no change occurred at all, as if you would have let him do this in front of Tommy. He gently prods at your entrance, gathers the wetness there and groans.

"Oh sweetheart, when did this start?"

You move your hips, but Joel holds you steady, and keeps teasing you with one finger, not quite pushing in.

"When you told me to sit in your lap," you breathe, burying your face in Joel’s chest, and he chuckles.

"You’ve sat in my lap plenty of times, kiddo, what had you all hot n bothered?"

He knows the answer before you say it, feel it heavy in the air between you.

"Tommy," you whisper, and Joel rewards you by circling your clit again.

"What about Tommy?"

"I…I liked that he watched," you breathe, your hands gripping Joel’s shirt tightly. He pushes one finger into you, watches you tremble, barely able to hold yourself upright here in the hallway, but he holds you steady and makes you take it.

"You like sittin’ in my lap half naked while Tommy watches? Should’ve come downstairs without a shirt, angel, I’m sure Tommy wouldn’t have minded. In fact, I think he liked watchin’, too."

You moan at his words, and when he curls his finger, it turns into a yelp, and suddenly you’re coming, gushing around him, pretty face all ashamed and hidden away Joel’s chest.

He could be angry with you, because you didn’t ask his permission, but he knows you didn’t disobey him on purpose – your reaction was honest and raw. The idea of Tommy watching you naked in Joel’s lap was enough to make you come on only one finger, and it has Joel hard within seconds. It means he’s not your little hide-away fantasy, or an escape from reality. You want him the way you always do, and you want him with the world watching.

When he takes your face between his hands and forces you to look up, your expression is guilty.

"I’m sorry, Daddy," you say nervously, but Joel just kisses you.

"That’s okay, babygirl, you couldn’t help it. You like the idea of someone watchin’ what I do to you?"

"Yes," you whisper, cheeks all scarlet the way he likes them.

 "How about I haul your ass over to the Tipsy Bison and fuck you right there, huh? Bet that would have this pretty pussy gushin’."

You whimper and press your hips to Joel’s, desperately trying to find some friction, but he picks you up easily, and carries you to the couch.

"Want me to do this to ya in front of all of Jackson?"

Your hips twitch, but you shake your head.

"No, D-daddy."

"No? Why not, baby?"

He takes off your shirt, you arms raising for him easily, undressing you a practiced routine by now.

"They’d be angry, Daddy," you breathe, "Tommy said they’d crucify you."

So you heard, heard how pregnancy is a possibility, how people think Joel is a dirty old man, how his own brother felt he needed to intervene, and still, only minutes after, he had you trembling and coming on his fingers. In fact, you want him to continue, and fantasize about people seeing you.

"I see, baby, you want people enjoy the show? You liked when Tommy looked at your legs?"

His hands find your tits, and he teases your nipples, rolling them between his fingers until you’re almost arching off the bed.

"Yes, Daddy, I liked that he could only watch," you say, and Joel feels heady with arousal. There we go, he thinks, cat’s outta the bag. He kneads your tits, eyes on your perfect body, cock straining against his jeans.

"You want Daddy to touch you anywhere he wants, and whoever’s watchin’ can’t?"

His words make you moan, and Joel is only a man, so he lets go of you, and unbuckles his belt.

"Asked you a question, kiddo," he drawls, shoving his jeans and underwear down only far enough for him to comfortably fuck you. He’s rock hard already, and pushes the tip against your entrance.

"Yes," you breathe, eyes wide and on him, and finally, he pushes into your willing body, all soft and open for him. You screw your eyes shut, the initial stretch of him always a lot to take, but he pushes on, knows you can take him.

"Daddy wants that, too," he groans, as you clench and flutter around him. "I’d fuck you so good, baby, make people see how bad you want this cock."

You don’t answer, eyes a little glassy, as he fucks in and out of you with deep strokes, all up in your guts. You move your hips in time with his, legs spread wide for him, and for a second he wonders how it’s possible you’re not pregnant yet. His thrusts deepen, the thought of fucking a baby into you turning him on even more.

You move your hand to rub at your clit, but Joel quickly grabs both of your wrists, holding them in one of his hands easily, and pinning them into the couch above your head.

"You come like this, baby, just on Daddy’s cock," he tells you, and although you whine, you don’t argue, just tug a little against his unmoving grip. His hips punch into yours, your eyes rolling upwards whenever he hits that special spot inside of you, and soon, you’re close again, clenching around him, and throwing your head from side to side in an attempt to stop yourself from coming without Joel’s permission again. It’s almost endearing, how much you want to please him.

"Please, Daddy, please let me come," you whine, and he could deny you, watch you squirm a little longer, but he’s not feeling mean today, so he pulls out almost all the way.

"Want you to come as soon as I push into you," he tells you, just to see if you can do it, and you nod frantically. So he moves, his length spearing you open once again, and as soon as the head of his cock nudges your spot, you’re whimpering and thrashing around, coming hard without him touching your little clit.

"Good girl, you take it so good," he groans, his voice a little broken.

It doesn’t take him long, although he knows you’d let him fuck him as long as he needs to, and soon he’s burying himself all the way inside of you, cock twitching and pumping you full of his cum. Your eyes are big and glued to his face, and when the last spurts are inside of you, he turns the two of you around so that you’re on top of him, his cock softening inside of you. You’re limp, satisfied and fucked out, eyes fluttering closed.

"I like that, Daddy," you mutter, and he strokes your back, fingers gentle and soft.

"Like what, angel?"

"When you touch me in front of people without asking."

His cock gives a weak twitch, and you smile.

"Can’t do it in front of people, baby, we’d make them uncomfortable, but I can stop askin’ if you’d like."

You move your hips unconsciously, and Joel stops you before you overstimulate his spent cock, but your reaction makes him chuckle.

"You’d like that? Want me to just slip right into you, whenever I want to?"

"Yes," you breathe, "please."

Always so polite, even when it’s just what Joel wants.

"Could do it while you’re sleepin’, baby, how’d you like that? Wouldn’t have to wake me up at night, I’d just fix that ache right when you start humpin’ my leg, hm?"

If possible, you grow wetter around him, and hide your face in his chest, once again embarrassed and turned on by his words. Joel chuckles, and ruffles your hair.

"I’d like that, Daddy," you mutter, and he presses a kiss to your head.

"Alright, baby, I’ll make sure to remember."

[isak-dot-gov]

Operation Surprise Paige

Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Reader

Summary: It’s Valentine’s Day, but Paige’s busy practice schedule keeps her from spending the day with the reader. Wanting to make the night special despite the circumstances, the reader surprises Paige by setting up a cozy indoor picnic in her dorm,

Word count: 1069

My Masterlist :)

You stared at your phone screen for what felt like the hundredth time that day, rereading Paige’s last text:

PB: I’m so sorry, babe. Practice is running late. I promise I’ll make it up to you.

You sighed, setting your phone down on your lap. It wasn’t like this was a huge surprise—basketball was Paige’s life, and you knew that when you started dating her. But Valentine’s Day was supposed to be special. You had hoped for at least a few uninterrupted hours together, maybe a cute brunch date or a late-night dinner after practice. Instead, Paige was stuck in the gym, and you were sitting in your dorm, alone, wondering if you’d even get to see her before the day ended.

A part of you wanted to wallow in your disappointment, but another part—the one that loved Paige more than anything—refused to let this day be a complete letdown. If Paige couldn’t take you on a Valentine’s Day date, then you’d bring the date to her.

You wasted no time putting your plan into action. First, you grabbed your coat and headed off campus to pick up a few essentials. A quick stop at the store got you everything you needed: a fluffy picnic blanket, a string of warm fairy lights, a few battery-operated candles (because real candles in a dorm were a fire hazard), and, most importantly, all of Paige’s favorite snacks.

Then, you made a second stop at a bakery that you knew Paige loved. They had a special Valentine’s Day section, and you couldn’t resist grabbing a small heart-shaped cake with pink frosting that read, Be Mine? in white icing. It was cheesy, but you knew Paige would love it.

By the time you got back to her dorm, her roommate was nowhere to be found—perfect. You got to work, pushing the coffee table aside and setting up the picnic blanket in the middle of the floor. You arranged the fairy lights on the nightstand and around the window, their soft glow making the space feel warm and romantic. You placed the food neatly on the blanket, including the strawberries and Nutella because you knew Paige would devour them in minutes.

For the final touch, you pulled out a handwritten card you had made earlier. It wasn’t anything extravagant, just a simple message:

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love. Since you couldn’t take me on a fancy date, I figured I’d bring the romance to you. Hope you’re ready for the best dorm-room picnic of your life. Love, your #1 fan.”

You set the card next to the cake and took a step back, admiring your work. It wasn’t some expensive five-star dinner, but it was filled with love, and that’s what mattered most.

It was past 9 PM when you finally heard the sound of keys jingling outside the door. You quickly sat down on the blanket, waiting with anticipation.

The door swung open, and in walked Paige, looking absolutely exhausted. She had her gym bag slung over one shoulder, her hoodie slightly oversized, and her damp hair from a quick shower falling messily around her face. She was clearly ready to collapse into bed—until she took in the sight in front of her.

Her tired eyes widened as she scanned the room, from the fairy lights casting a soft glow to the carefully arranged picnic in the middle of the floor.

“Babe…” she breathed, dropping her bag by the door. “What—what is all this?”

You smiled up at her. “Your Valentine’s Day date,” you said, motioning to the setup. “Since we couldn’t go out, I figured I’d bring the date to you.”

Paige just stood there, staring at you like you had just hung the moon. “You did all this… for me?”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “No, I did it for your roommate,” you teased, making her laugh softly.

She stepped forward, dropping to her knees on the blanket and cupping your face in her hands. “I don’t deserve you,” she murmured, her thumbs gently brushing against your cheeks.

“You really don’t,” you joked, earning another laugh before she leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to your lips.

Paige wasted no time making herself comfortable, pulling you into her lap and resting her chin on your shoulder as she eyed the food. “Are those strawberries and Nutella?”

You grinned. “Of course.”

“God, I love you.”

You laughed, reaching for a strawberry and dipping it into the Nutella before holding it up to her lips. She took a bite, humming in satisfaction. “Mmm. Best Valentine’s Day ever.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Even better than last year, when we actually got to go to that fancy restaurant?”

Paige nodded without hesitation, wrapping an arm around your waist. “Way better. This is perfect.”

For the next hour, you sat together, eating and talking about everything and nothing at all. Paige stole more than her fair share of strawberries, and you made her feed you a few in return. The heart-shaped cake was a huge hit—Paige insisted on taking pictures of it before cutting into it, and she made you share the first bite with her.

At one point, she stretched out on the blanket, pulling you down so you were lying on her chest, her fingers lazily tracing patterns on your back. The sound of soft music playing from your phone mixed with the occasional sound of Paige yawning as she relaxed against you.

“This might be my favorite Valentine’s Day ever,” she admitted, pressing a lazy kiss to your temple.

You smiled, your fingers gently playing with the hem of her hoodie. “Really?”

“Really.” She tilted her head to look at you, her blue eyes filled with so much love it made your heart ache. “You didn’t have to do all this, but you did. You always do the little things that make me feel special.”

You felt your cheeks warm. “Well, you are special.”

Paige grinned before leaning in, capturing your lips in a slow, tender kiss. When she pulled back, she whispered, “I love you.”

Your heart swelled as you nuzzled closer to her. “I love you too.”

And in that moment, wrapped up in each other’s arms, surrounded by fairy lights and the warmth of your love, you knew that no matter how busy life got, as long as you had each other, every day would feel like Valentine’s Day.

[verstappenverse]

The Price of the Podium

Pairing: Max Verstappen x Reader

Summary: In the relentless pursuit of racing glory, Max faces the emotional fallout of missing an important weekend in his relationship, leaving your future uncertain.

1.5k words / Part 2 / Masterlist

Max's heart raced as the engine of his RedBull roared beneath him. The familiar hum had become a source of comfort, a steady rhythm that guided him through countless laps and countless victories. But today it felt different, a harbinger of an approaching storm that threatened to dismantle everything he held dear.

The season had been merciless. Each race had been a relentless pursuit of perfection, each lap a battle against time and competitors. Max understood that this world demanded sacrifices, but lately the weight of those sacrifices had changed.

When Max glanced at his phone during a fleeting moment of respite his stomach dropped as a surge of guilt swept over him. A string of missed calls and urgent messages from you filled the screen, each one more desperate than the last.

Hey, can you please call me when you get a chance? I need to talk to you.

Max, you’re really starting to worry me. I don’t understand what's going on?

It’s been three days since we spoke properly. Can you at least let me know you’re okay?

Max’s gaze fell on the calendar, he had promised again to visit your extended family this weekend, a significant step for you both that had been previously filled with excitement and anticipation. Your family were eager to meet him, and Max had been looking forward to it as well. But now with the punishing schedule of the season, he was struggling to find even a moment to breathe, let alone make the trip.

He knew he was being a coward, but it was easier to avoid the situation than confront it directly and risk letting down the person who mattered most.

As Max approached the racetrack for another testing session, the weight of his choices hit him like a sledgehammer. He was about to miss an important milestone in your life together and he didn't think you'd be so forgiving this time.

His mind was full of conflicting emotions. He wanted to be there for you, to prove to your family that he was serious about your relationship, but the world of racing had a way of consuming everything in its path leaving no room for personal commitments.

The testing session was a blur. Max’s driving was flawless, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The track blurred into an endless ribbon of asphalt. He pushed himself to the limit, hoping that the adrenaline would drown out the guilt gnawing at his conscience.

Finally, the session ended. Max’s team were in high spirits celebrating the improved performance. He barely registered their enthusiasm, his mind was occupied with the image of you waiting for him in a small town, wondering why he had not shown up. He could picture you there, waiting for him, checking the clock, wondering if he’d even bothered to leave. And it wasn’t just about this weekend, it was about every missed call, every text he hadn’t answered, every promise he’d let slide.

The moment Max stepped out of the car he took a deep breath and pulled out his phone. He dialed your number hoping against hope that you would answer. After a few rings your voice came through the line tinged with weariness and frustration.

“Max?”

“Hey, I’m so sorry. I know I’ve been out of touch.”

“Out of touch? You’ve been completely absent! I was supposed to introduce you to my family this weekend. It was important to me.”

“I know. I wanted to be there, but things just got out of hand here. I’ve been trying to make time, but…”

“But what Max? You keep saying you’re trying, but you’re never here. There's always an excuse.”

“I’m really sorry, I’ve been working so hard this season...I thought I could make it work, I just…”

“You know what? I don’t want to hear more excuses right now. You’ve missed something important to me again, and it hurts. I needed you here, and you weren’t.”

The silence on the other end of the line was heavy, almost unbearable. Max could feel the pain that you were struggling to mask, like a knife twisting in his gut. It cut him deeper than any criticism he’d ever faced on the track.

“Please. I know I messed up, I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”

“Make it up to me? I don’t even know if that’s possible anymore. This wasn’t like the other times when you just forgot or lost track of time; you made the choice not to come. I’ve tried to be understanding—I know how hard this season has been, and I know how much time and dedication it takes. I never wanted to undermine that. But I don’t know how much longer we can do this. I get it, you have to make tough choices sometimes, and I’ve done my best to support you, to step back and let you focus on your goals. But it’s happening too often now, and it feels like every time, you’re choosing this…this life over us. Over me. Every single time.”

Max’s throat tightened. He wanted to argue, to explain more, but he also knew that he couldn't keep making excuses for his absence, and he couldn’t bear to hurt you anymore. He’d run out of explanations, out of promises he knew he couldn’t keep. He wanted to say something, anything to fix it, but he could hear the finality in your voice. You’d reached a breaking point, one he’d seen coming but had been too afraid to acknowledge.

“I don’t know what to say,” he finally whispered, the words feeling hollow even as he spoke them.

The silence stretched on.

“I understand if you need space.” he murmured, barely able to get the words out, blinking back tears.

Your voice was barely a whisper throat locking up, it felt like he was giving up. Was this even worth fighting for if he wasn't?

Then, in a voice so small it broke his heart all over again, you whispered,“You’re right. Maybe space is what we need right now.'

The line went dead, leaving Max alone in the garage. The celebration of the session’s success felt hollow. The echoes of the track still rang in his ears mingling with the ache of your absence.

In the days that followed Max tried to bury himself in the upcoming races, hoping that the endless rush would drown out the regret gnawing at him. He avoided reaching out to you honouring your request for space. Each day felt like an endless rotation of driving, media commitments, and sleepless nights. The thrill of racing was overshadowed by the growing distance between you and him.

You had always been patient and understanding of the demands of Max’s career. You had supported him through the highs and lows, celebrating his victories and comforting him through the losses, but it hadn’t been enough. Each missed call and unanswered message chipped away at your resolve. You couldn’t keep repeating the same cycles and expecting a different result. The weekend you had planned for Max to meet your family was meant to be a milestone, a step toward a future together. Instead, it felt like a crushing disappointment.

You replayed the conversations you had with Max in your mind, trying to reconcile the man you loved with the absence he had become. You had pictured this weekend as a chance for Max to understand the importance of your family, to see the life you had outside of his world. The hurt and frustration you felt were compounded by a growing sense of doubt—doubt that maybe this life of constant motion had created a rift too wide to bridge.

You needed time to process the hurt, to focus on yourself and figure out where to go from here. The support you had hoped for seemed distant and unreliable, and the future you had envisioned together felt uncertain.

Loving him had been a beautiful dream, but you knew it was time, you hesitated just a moment before hitting send.

Max,

I need you to know that I’m not angry anymore. I’m just… tired. I need to focus on myself right now.

Max read the message over and over, his hands trembling. The message was brief and seemingly final. The reality of your words sank in, there was no dramatic declarations, no harsh accusations, just a simple statement of exhaustion, a quiet resignation that tore through him. He wanted to call, to beg you to come back, but he knew it was too late.

As the season drew to a close, Max stood on the podium, the roar of the crowd a distant echo, his gaze searching as if somehow he’d see you there. The trophy was in his hands, but it didn't feel like he had expected. He looked out over the crowd searching for a sense of fulfilment that seemed to elude him, it all felt like ashes without you beside him.

Max only thought of you as he stood amidst the celebrations, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that in the pursuit of his dreams he had sacrificed something far more precious, and wondered if there was a path back to what he had lost.

[heliosunny]

Would you mind writing anything with yan Sunday?If u don't mind ofc.Love ur work 🩷🩷

No Distance Left

Yandere!Sunday x Reader

The Quercus Society Library was like a second home to you, nestled on a quiet, tree-lined street where the Oak Family’s influence stretched farther than most could fathom.

You were a child, your visits frequent and filled with laughter, running between aisles with Sunday and Robin as your partners in crime.

One summer afternoon, you remember sitting cross-legged on the worn carpet of the library, flipping through a picture book as Sunday settled beside you. He had always been quiet, observant, but today, his silence was different.

“What’s wrong?”

Sunday hesitated, his gaze lingering on the pages you turned, before softly murmuring, “Do you think we’ll always be together?”

You looked up at him, your mind too young to understand the weight of his words. “Of course, we will! We’ll always come here. This is our place, right?”

“Yeah… our place.”

Robin, the more outspoken and bubbly younger sister, joined in, pulling you both from your thoughts. “I’m gonna be the best at hide-and-seek today! You’ll never find me, Y/N!”

The three of you spent the rest of that afternoon running through the library, hiding between bookshelves, and laughing so loud that even the oak bookshelves seemed to groan with your noise. You were all so young, unaware of the darker undercurrents swirling beneath the surface of your seemingly peaceful days.

Time passed, and soon you were no longer a child. The inevitable day came when you had to leave for high school, and your visits to the Quercus Society Library became less frequent.

The day before you left, Sunday stood by the windows, his fingers absently tracing the edge of the oak windowpane. Robin was tugging on your sleeve, trying to distract you with her usual antics, but you couldn’t ignore the look on Sunday’s face—almost as if he already knew you would be leaving for good.

“Promise me you’ll come back, okay?”

“Of course! I’ll always come back. You and Robin are family.”

Robin bounced over to you, pulling you into a hug with a grin. “You better! I’ll save you a special seat at the library for when you return!”

You promised to return. You swore you would. But once you were out of the city, your studies consumed you. You didn’t keep in touch with Sunday or Robin as much as you intended, and before long, their faces blurred into the past.

The first day of university was supposed to be a fresh start. New environment, new people, and the overwhelming relief of finally taking control of your own life. You had planned everything—your schedule, your part-time job, and how to balance tuition with supporting your family.

What you hadn’t planned for was him.

When Sunday walked into your classroom, it was as if the air itself changed. He didn’t acknowledge you at first. No greeting. He simply walked forward with the same composed grace as always, his presence both familiar and utterly foreign after all these years.

And then—he sat down.

Right beside you.

The entire day passed like that.

He didn’t ask why you never returned. He didn’t scold you, didn’t guilt-trip you. He simply existed next to you.

It wasn’t until the final lecture ended, when the last few students trickled out, that the moment finally came.

“Why didn’t you come back?”

You swallowed hard, gripping your bag’s strap. You owed him an answer.

“I’m sorry, Sunday. I wanted to. I really did.”

He didn’t respond, just stood there, waiting.

“I had to study and work at the same time. I couldn’t afford to go back home, not even once. There was just… no time.”

“So that’s how it is.”

He never pressed further, never questioned you again.

But somehow, he was always there. If you arrived early to class, he was already seated, flipping through his notes. If you stayed late in the library, you’d catch a glimpse of his familiar silhouette a few tables away. Sometimes, when you left your shift at work, you could’ve sworn you saw him across the street.

But he never approached.

That’s what made it so easy to ignore.

Until, one day, your manager pulled you aside after your shift, his expression unusually tense.

"Hey, listen… We’re letting you go."

"What?"

"Look, it’s nothing personal," he said, avoiding your gaze. "We just got complaints, and, well… the decision’s final."

Complaints? From who?

You wanted to ask, to demand answers, but there was no room for negotiation. You needed that job. Without it, how were you supposed to afford tuition?

Then, as if the universe itself had orchestrated it, you stumbled upon an opportunity almost immediately.

A friend mentioned a well-paying job—a company looking for reliable workers. The pay was more than enough to cover tuition and expenses.

And just like that, you unknowingly walked into Sunday’s carefully laid web.

Because this wasn’t just some random company.

----

The library—a place where you retreat to study in peace. You weren’t surprised to see him there. After all, he always liked books growing up.

“Sit.”

Whenever you hesitate on a problem, his voice cuts through your thoughts. “You’re overcomplicating it. Try looking at it from another angle.”

His advice is always correct.

It doesn’t take long for you to notice how brilliant he truly is.

Sunday rises to the top of the school rankings with ease, effortlessly surpassing the former representative. His intelligence, paired with his looks, quickly earns him admiration. People flock to him.

But no matter how many of them smile at him or how many students try to befriend him—he never once returns their warmth.

Except with you.

Students notice the way he talks to you, how he sits with you, how his normally distant demeanor softens in your presence. The whispers begin. How did you get so close to him?

You don’t have an answer.

-----

The barking was deafening, claws scraping against dirt as the dogs chased him down.

He was running, lungs burning, legs trembling—but they were faster. He was going to get caught.

Then, just before they could reach him, you stepped in.

"Run!" you shouted, pushing him out of the way.

You didn’t scream, but he saw it. The way the dogs latched onto your arm, the way blood stained your sleeve. That should have been him.

Tears blurred his vision as he crawled toward you, guilt crashing down like a wave.

“It was my fault,” he sobbed, “You got hurt because of me.”

But you only smiled, even as you winced.

“It’s okay.”

Sunday’s breath hitched as he jolted awake, the remnants of the dream still clinging to his mind. The barking had faded, but his chest was tight, fingers clenched.

"Sunday?" You were leaning slightly toward him, "Are you okay? You had a nightmare or something?"

For a moment, he just stared at you, mind caught between past and present. But then, reality settled in.

You were here. You were safe.

“…I’m okay.”

The bell rang, signaling the end of the morning classes. You stretched in your seat, exhaustion settling into your bones after hours of studying.

“Hey, let’s go get lunch!”

You looked up to see Lena grinning at you, her long, auburn hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Behind her stood Ethan, adjusting the strap of his bag, offering you a lopsided smile.

“You’ve been stuck in here all morning,” Ethan added. “Come on, take a break.”

You hesitated for a moment, glancing at Sunday, who was still seated beside you.

"Sure" you finally said, brushing aside the odd tension.

Lena looped her arm around yours, practically dragging you out of the classroom. Ethan chuckled, falling into step beside you.

“I swear, if we left you alone, you’d forget to eat.” Lena teased, bumping her shoulder against yours.

"More like they’d just survive on coffee," Ethan mused. "Again."

You laughed. "Okay, okay, I get it. I’m coming, aren’t I?"

As the three of you walked out together, you could feel Sunday’s eyes on you.

-----

Sunday had always been patient. He had learned from an early age that patience often yielded the best results.

From across the room, his sharp gaze followed as you sat between Ethan and Lena, the three of you chatting. Your eyes crinkled slightly when Lena said something amusing, your shoulders relaxed in their presence.

It was nostalgic. The difference was, it wasn’t him sitting there with you.

He had waited years. Years. Through the quiet ache of your absence, through the countless unanswered moments where he had expected you to return but you never did.

Time had placed a wedge between you, and these two had occupied the space you had once left behind. They filled the void that should have belonged to him.

This won’t do. He needed a way to fix this.

Sunday wasn’t careless. Rushing into anything would be sloppy. No, he had to understand before he acted.

How much did they mean to you? How easily could their ties be severed?

Would you abandon them if they betrayed you? If they hurt you? Or were they so deeply rooted in your life that something more… permanent had to be considered?

He needed answers.

Sunday started with the easiest method.

A quiet, discreet proposal. A generous sum. Enough to make Ethan and Lena rethink their place in your life.

Would they accept it?

Lena, the spirited one—he doubted she would take the bait so easily. But Ethan? He was more practical. Money could be tempting.

All Sunday had to do was ensure the conditions were appealing. A lucrative opportunity, something that would require them to leave. A business proposition, an exclusive program, a scholarship overseas—he had plenty of ways to make it happen.

It wasn’t just about getting them away from you. It was about making them choose to leave on their own.

Sunday’s patience had limits.

If money wasn’t enough, he would take something from them instead.

Their reputation. Their safety. Their future.

He would ensure they had no choice but to leave.

A scandal? A carefully placed rumor? A fabricated incident that would make the university question their standing? Ethan had a stable, good image—how much would it take to stain that?

As for Lena…

Accidents happen all the time.

Once they were gone, he would make his move.

-----

Sunday wasn’t supposed to be here.

He had just finished a business meeting, his mind still occupied with the details. Everything was going as planned—Ethan and Lena wouldn’t last much longer. He was only supposed to head home and prepare for the next steps.

But then, he saw you in the middle of a small plaza, standing by a decorated booth, surrounded by children with bright, excited eyes.

You were giving away balloons.

It was such a simple thing. So ordinary. And yet, the way you smiled at each child, the way you crouched down to tie the strings securely to their little wrists, he felt something shift inside him.

His feet moved before he could think.

He stood at a distance, watching.

A child’s laughter rang out as a bright red balloon suddenly slipped from their hands, floating up and getting tangled in the branches of a tall tree.

The kid pouted, pointing at it.

You reassured them with a smile before stepping closer. Sunday immediately knew what you were planning.

You jumped. Your fingertips brushed against the string. The balloon wobbled. But then, your foot slipped against the bark, and your balance tipped.

He caught you before you could fall.

For a second, neither of you moved.

Then you blinked up at him in surprise. "Sunday?"

"That was reckless."

"Thanks for catching me."

Then, as if the moment had never happened, you turned back, reaching for the balloon that had fallen to the ground.

"Here you go! Make sure to hold on tight this time, okay?"

The kid beamed and ran off.

The café was quiet. The smell of fresh coffee and pastries filled the air. Sunday stirred his drink lazily, his gaze never leaving you as you took a sip of yours.

“You do this often?”

“Giving out balloons?”

He nodded.

You hummed, resting your chin on your hand. “Yeah. The money’s decent, but that’s not really why I do it.” A small smile tugged at your lips. “I just… like spending time with kids. They remind me of when things were simpler.”

You chuckled, eyes gleaming with nostalgia. "Remember Robin’s birthday when she turned six?"

Of course, he remembered.

Robin had insisted on a castle cake—one with towers and candy decorations. The bakery they ordered from, however, had delivered a sad-looking mess that barely resembled a castle at all.

She had been devastated.

But you? You saved the day.

"Come on, it’s not that bad!" You had said, despite the fact that one of the towers had already collapsed.

Robin had sniffled. “It looks like it melted.”

Sunday had been about to call their family’s staff to fix the issue, but you had beaten him to it��grabbing frosting, extra candy, and getting to work.

By the time you were done, the cake was still a disaster, but Robin had been giggling, gleefully sticking sprinkles onto it.

Sunday had just watched you back then, marveling at the way you always knew how to turn a bad situation around.

You laughed at the memory. "Robin was so happy, she didn’t even care that it looked worse than before."

Sunday’s lips curled into a smile. "You always knew how to handle her."

"She was a sweet kid." You leaned back in your chair, "I kinda miss her, honestly."

"She missed you too."

"I also remember when we got chased by those geese—"

It had been a peaceful day at the park. You, Sunday, and Robin had been sitting near the lake, feeding the ducks.

Until you had mistakenly fed the geese instead.

They had not been pleased.

The next thing you knew, a whole group of them had started charging at you.

Robin had screamed, clutching Sunday’s sleeve.

You had grabbed his hand and yelled, "Run!"

And run, you did. For your lives.

The geese had chased you halfway across the park before you managed to dive over a fence to safety.

Robin had collapsed in laughter. Sunday had given you a long, exasperated stare. And you, despite gasping for breath, had only grinned at him.

“Worth it.”

You snickered into your drink. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen you run that fast in your life."

"It was your fault to begin with."

"Still fun, though"

The conversation continued like that. And for a moment, Sunday wished time would stop. That this would last forever.

But reality was cruel.

You would go back to your friends. To your job. To your life that no longer included him the way it used to.

Unless, of course, he did something about it.

The next morning, your world came crashing down.

The moment you unlocked your phone, the message stared back at you like a cruel joke.

Ethan was gone in a car accident.

You barely remembered how you got to the hospital. By the time you arrived, his body was already covered, and his family stood there, pale and grief-stricken.

Your knees buckled.

A pair of arms caught you before you hit the ground.

Sunday held you close as sobs wracked through your body, his hands steady against your back while you gasped through the pain.

“I’m here,” he whispered, “I won’t leave.”

You didn’t care how you must have looked—broken, vulnerable, clutching onto him like he was the only thing keeping you upright.

And for Sunday, it was perfect.

Because in that moment, you only had him.

When he returned home later that night, there was still confusion lingering in his mind.

He never laid a hand on Ethan.

This wasn’t his doing. He had been waiting, but not acting yet.

So how?

The answer came swiftly.

“Did you enjoy my work, young master?”

Sunday’s gaze flickered toward the butler standing before him.

“You.”

“I only did what needed to be done. He was in the way.”

“…I see.”

This man had just done him a favor.

One down. One to go.

----

Sunday knew.

Lena was different.

Unlike Ethan, she was perceptive, cautious—a problem.

She noticed things others didn’t.

So, he tried to negotiate first.

"You should leave them alone, Sunday."

"Leave them alone? I’m only looking out for them."

Lena scoffed. "Looking out for them? Or keeping them caged?"

Ah. So, she really had noticed.

Sunday kept his expression neutral, but he already knew what needed to be done. She wasn’t going to cooperate.

Then, he would simply take everything away from her.

It started with her family’s business.

One by one, their contracts were mysteriously revoked. Their deals collapsed. Investors pulled away as if tainted by an invisible hand.

In less than a month, they were drowning in debt.

And then, when Lena’s father came home one night, weary and defeated, there was a single offer waiting for him.

A lifeline.

Money. Enough to start fresh elsewhere.

All he had to do was take it and move his family away.

You found out the next morning.

"I have to leave."

"What?"

"My family… we’re moving. It's sudden, I know, but… we don’t have a choice."

You shook your head, grasping her hands. "No, there has to be another way—"

"There isn’t." Her grip tightened. "Just… promise me you’ll take care of yourself, okay?"

The goodbye was painful.

And when she finally walked away, you felt something inside you crumble.

Now, it was just you.

He noticed how you withdrew after that. It was expected, of course. But that didn’t mean Sunday would let it stay that way.

He knew exactly how to lift your spirits.

----

"Robin!" Your voice was full of warmth, arms wrapping around the girl who eagerly hugged you back.

She grinned up at you. "I missed you so much!"

Sunday stood beside you, watching with quiet satisfaction.

This was how it should be.

-----

Robin had boundless energy.

From the moment you arrived at the amusement park, she was dragging you from one ride to another, eyes sparkling with excitement. Sunday followed along, calm as always, though he never refused when Robin tugged on his sleeve to join in.

Your first ride was the Ferris wheel.

"We should start slow!" Robin chirped, already hopping into the cabin.

You took the seat across from her while Sunday sat beside you, his arms casually resting against the back of the seat. The ride slowly ascended, giving you a breathtaking view of the city as the sun cast golden hues over the horizon.

Robin pressed her hands against the glass. "It’s so pretty!"

You smiled. "It really is."

Sunday, however, was watching you.

You caught his gaze, and he only gave a small smile. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Yeah. It’s been a while since I had this much fun."

Next, Robin pulled you both toward the rollercoaster.

"Come on, let’s go!"

You hesitated. "Robin, are you sure—?"

"Too late! No backing out now!"

And before you knew it, you were strapped in.

The rollercoaster shot forward at lightning speed. You could feel the wind rushing against your face, your stomach flipping as the ride twisted and turned at high speeds.

"AHHH!" You screamed, gripping the handles for dear life.

Robin was laughing hysterically. "FASTER! FASTER!"

Beside you, Sunday sat completely still.

You gaped at him. "HOW ARE YOU SO CALM?!"

He raised a brow. "Should I be screaming?"

"YES?!?"

Robin was cackling. "Brother, you’re no fun! At least pretend to be scared!"

He merely sighed. "This is hardly thrilling."

"Unbelievable." You shook your head, laughing breathlessly as the ride finally slowed. "Remind me never to sit next to you on a ride again."

Sunday’s lips curled slightly. "As you wish."

After more rides—including an overly competitive bumper car match and a water ride that left you drenched—you finally decided to take a break at a nearby café.

Robin slurped her milkshake. "That was the best! I can’t believe you screamed so much on the drop tower."

You groaned, slumping against the table. "I wasn’t ready for it to DROP THAT FAST."

Sunday took a sip of his coffee "You should’ve read the warning signs."

You glared at him. "I didn’t see any!"

Robin giggled. "That’s ‘cause you were busy trying to fix your hair after the last ride!"

You sighed dramatically. "Betrayed by my own reflection."

Sunday chuckled under his breath.

"I’d say it was worth it."

By the time evening rolled in, you were all starving.

You ended up at a cozy restaurant, settling into a booth near the window. The warm glow of the city lights outside made the moment feel peaceful, a perfect end to the day.

As you browsed the menu, Robin suddenly grinned.

"You know, Sunday’s a little tough to please." She poked your arm playfully. "You should keep an eye on him for me, okay?"

"Huh?"

"He rarely has friends, and he’s kinda odd. So make sure he doesn’t scare people away."

Sunday narrowed his eyes. "Since when?"

Robin smirked. "Since always."

You burst out laughing.

"You know what, I think Robin’s right." You gave Sunday a teasing glance. "You do have that 'mysterious loner' vibe."

Sunday exhaled slowly, setting his menu down. "I was just being myself."

Robin giggled. "Exactly."

You grinned. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on you, Sunday."

"I suppose I’ll allow it."

The three of you continued chatting over dinner, the atmosphere warm, the food delicious.

For a moment, it felt like nothing had changed.

Robin had barely left when you already missed her presence. You wished she could’ve stayed longer, but she had responsibilities to tend to back home.

"I’ll come visit again soon, okay?"

You smiled, nodding. "I'll hold you to that."

----

The next day at school, the usual morning bustle filled the campus. Students hurried to their lecture halls, chatting about assignments, exams, and weekend plans. You were just making your way across the courtyard when—

THUD!

A figure dropped from above.

Gasps and screams erupted around you. Before you could even turn to look, a warm hand covered your eyes.

"Don’t look" Sunday’s voice was steady. His grip was gentle yet unyielding, shielding you from the sight before you.

"Sunday...?"

You heard frantic murmurs around you. "Oh my god, did he really just—?"

"Who is that?"

"I heard it was some creep sneaking into campus!"

Security rushed to the scene, and soon, teachers arrived to manage the situation. The man—apparently a pervert who had been sneaking into the school—had jumped from the second floor when he was caught.

Sunday only moved his hand away when the situation was under control. His other hand rested lightly on your shoulder, as if to keep you steady.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah... I just—I didn’t see anything, but still..."

After that incident, the school wasted no time tightening security. Strict rules were enforced for checking students and outsiders coming in and out of campus.

But even with the extra precautions, you couldn’t shake off the unease.

That night, as you sat in your small apartment, you couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. The idea of being alone suddenly felt terrifying.

Then, as if sensing your thoughts, your phone buzzed.

Sunday: Are you alright?

You hesitated before typing back.

You: Yeah... Just a little shaken up, I guess.

A moment later, another message appeared.

Sunday: Come stay over at my place.

You: Huh?

Sunday: The house is big. There’s plenty of room. You don’t have to be alone.

Your fingers hovered over the screen. It was true—Sunday lived in a ridiculously large house. Staying there would be much safer than your small apartment.

Still, something about accepting his offer made you hesitate.

Before you could respond, another message arrived.

Sunday: I won’t force you. But I’d rather not leave you alone when you’re scared.

Maybe… just for a little while.

From that night onward, you and Sunday spent a lot more time together. Having him by your side was oddly reassuring. You didn’t realize just how much you had missed this feeling—the quiet comfort of his presence, the way he seemed to always know what you needed before you even said anything.

At school, he helped you with assignments, explaining complex topics. At home, he was always there to check in on you, making sure you ate properly, got enough rest, and didn’t push yourself too hard.

Even at work, he was helpful, dropping by occasionally to lend a hand or simply to keep you company.

But then, the news started broadcasting horrifying reports.

"Several incidents of theft and assault have been reported in the area. Authorities warn students to be cautious, as perpetrators have been targeting young individuals returning home late at night."

"Eyewitnesses claim the attackers have also been stealing clothing from laundromats and personal belongings from students’ dormitories."

Every night, the news became more alarming. You couldn’t ignore it anymore.

One night, after a particularly long shift, you checked your phone.

Sunday: You’re still at work?

You sighed, typing back.

You: Yeah, I’ll be heading back soon.

His reply came instantly.

Sunday: I’ll pick you up.

Before you could protest, he added—

Sunday: Stay inside and wait.

You didn’t argue. By now, you knew better than to refuse his help.

When he arrived, he didn't say anything at first. He just held the door open for you, waiting for you to get in.

Once you were in the car, he finally spoke. “You need to quit.”

You looked at him in surprise. “Sunday, I can’t just—”

“It’s not safe.”

Of course, you knew. But quitting meant losing income, and without income, you were in trouble.

Still, he was right.

It wasn’t safe anymore.

As if sensing your hesitation, Sunday spoke again, "You don’t have to worry. I have a job for you."

You turned to him. “A job?”

"You can do it from home," he explained, keeping his eyes on the road. "It pays well, and it’ll keep you away from danger."

"But... what kind of job?"

He glanced at you briefly before returning his focus to driving. "Some paperwork for my family’s business. Nothing too complicated."

A part of you felt guilty—accepting help from him when you had always wanted to be independent.

But another part of you knew you had no choice.

So, finally, you sighed. "Alright... I’ll do it."

Sunday’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. If you had been looking closely, you might have seen the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.

----

Sunday sat in his room, staring out the window.

Everything he had done—removing obstacles, orchestrating events, securing your safety—had led to this moment. You were here, under the same roof, relying on him once again.

It was almost laughable how fate worked. Or maybe, fate had nothing to do with it.

Ethan… gone. Lena… out of the picture. Your part-time job… eliminated.

Everything had fallen into place perfectly.

Now, there was no one left to take you away from him.

"Sunday, come down. I made dinner today."

You sat across from Sunday, setting down a warm bowl of soup in front of him.

“I hope it’s not too salty” you joked, taking your seat.

Sunday glanced at the meal before him. It was simple but comforting. Something you had made with your own hands.

“I’m sure it’s perfect.” He took a careful spoonful, humming in approval. “It’s good.”

You smiled, pleased with the response.

As you both ate, you suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, by the way… I saw a strange man earlier.”

Sunday paused, his spoon hovering over his bowl.

You continued, “He was hanging around near the house earlier. I thought it was weird, but maybe he was lost or something.”

He set his spoon down, reaching for his phone under the table. With a discreet movement, he typed a message.

[Check around the house. Find out who it was.]

Then, he looked up and smiled at you, "I’ll have someone look into it. Probably nothing to worry about."

The report came in faster than Sunday expected.

The strange man lurking around? It was him- The very same pervert from the news—the one who had been terrorizing students. The one responsible for the string of thefts, attacks, and robberies. And now, he had made the mistake of coming near you.

Sunday could have handed him to the police right away. That would have been the logical thing to do.

But where’s the fun in that?

Instead, he made a better decision.

Standing before the trembling man, Sunday offered him a deal.

"If you want to live, listen carefully."

Strange noises at night. A shadow passing by your window. The unsettling feeling of being watched.

You told Sunday about it every time.

And every time, he reassured you.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.”

But it got worse.

One evening, while you were walking home from campus, you felt a presence behind you.

At first, you ignored it. Maybe it was just another student. Maybe it was your imagination.

But then, a hand grabbed your wrist.

Panic shot through you as you struggled, a muffled scream escaping your lips. But before anything could happen—

A force yanked the man away from you.

You barely registered what happened next. All you saw was the flash of his cold eyes before he struck the man down with brutal efficiency.

You heard the pervert scream in pain before Sunday silenced him.

When it was over, Sunday turned to you, his hands slightly bloodied but his expression calm.

“Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

Your legs almost gave out, but Sunday caught you effortlessly, pulling you into his chest.

You shivered, gripping onto him. “I… I was so scared.”

Sunday stroked your back. “It’s over. You’re safe now. I’m here.”

And then, only after he had thoroughly played the hero, did he finally turn the man over to the police.

Later that night, as you rested, Sunday stood in his room, watching the news.

“The suspect has been arrested thanks to an anonymous tip.”

Soon, you wouldn’t be able to imagine life without him. Soon, he would be the only person you needed.

----

The movie played softly in the background, but neither of you were really watching. The warmth of the room and the faint scent of hot milk filled the air.

You took a slow sip, letting the warmth seep into your tired bones.

“Life here is exhausting” you muttered absentmindedly, staring into your cup.

Sunday glanced at you, “Then come back with me.”

You exhaled a small chuckle, rubbing your forehead. “Yeah, let’s do that.”

You turned your head and found Sunday staring at you.

“You’re serious?”

You nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief. “I think I need a change.”

Sunday’s lips parted slightly as if he was about to say something, but instead, he pressed them together and turned his gaze toward the screen.

His heartbeat was too fast.

You didn’t realize what you had just given him. What you had just promised.

Finally, finally, you were coming back.

After all these years, after all the patience, the careful planning—you were walking right into his arms.

And this time, he wouldn’t let you slip away.

[preciousannie]

Ateez Headcanons

Ateez as your long-term boyfriend

Genre: Fluff, Boyfriend AU!, Idol AU!

Warnings: None

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾    ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾    ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾    ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾   ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾   ‧͙⁺˚*･

Kim Hongjoong

always attentive to your emotions

dislikes PDA but showers you with affection when the both of you are alone

the two of you share every part of your daily lives together

he would get slightly jealous when you get too close to the other members

very dedicated to his work but always makes sure to spare two days in a week for “dating days”

“I’ll always have time for you babe, always.”

Park Seonghwa

he surprises you with random gifts or gestures

keeps track and remembers your period schedules

always prepared beforehand to help you soothe all your discomfort and pain as much as he can

it hurts him to see you in any sort of unpleasant emotions and he tends to match your emotions

always makes time to video call you even on late nights when he’s busy and always after concerts

“I miss you, gorgeous.”

Jeong Yunho

the two of you always do silly things together

either one of you would be cracking a joke with the other 

laughs and giggles surround your entire relationship

likes to give you piggyback rides and princess carry you just because you’re “tiny” to him

very playful when you’re around each other

but when it comes to it he can get earnest and protective about anything threatening related to you

“You okay my love?”

Kang Yeosang

the both of you have a whole facial routine that you have to follow through every night

he likes to shower together whenever he can

buys you lots of expensive beauty products that he approves of and wants you to use with him

prefers to stay at home ideally with you on his off days to spend quality time together

but he would be down in a heartbeat if you just mentioned that you want to go somewhere or want something

even if it is in the middle of the night, he’d do it

“Oh? Consider it done baby, wait for me.” 

Choi San

he unleashes his cute side whenever you’re around despite wanting to appear stoic and manly around others

follows you around everywhere like a lost puppy

likes to take you out on food dates

loves complimenting you random times a day for just about anything

you absolutely endear him when he introduces one of his plushy collections

“Look darling! This one looks just like you! It’s a cute bunny, hehe.”

Song Mingi

he enjoys taking you on random vacations and trips

has to hold your hand wherever he goes as he claims it comforts him

showers you with affection and hugs especially back-waist hugs because of your size differences

absolutely has to cuddle or spoon when in bed together whether it’s relaxing or sleeping

loves sniffing your hair or the perfume you had on that particular day because it’s calming to him

“Mm, you smell so sweet today beautiful, come closer.”

Jung Wooyoung

always showers you with kisses and pecks whenever he can

enjoys bringing you to his family home and letting you be engulfed in the affection of his family members

loves mentioning and introducing you to everyone he engages with

eager to marry you ever since the beginning and wants to have children with you

hopes that the kids the both of you will bear would resemble you the most

“Let’s make it official, shall we dear? And have adorable children together please~” 

Choi Jongho

always makes you feel safe and assured in every aspect of your life

his goofiness makes you laugh all the time even when you’re down

loves singing you to sleep while he caresses your hair 

very mature and responsible even though he is younger

likes to help you with everything he can even when you say you don’t need help

“Here, I’ll do that for you honey, don’t hurt your hands.”

Hihi, it’s been a while (3 years to be exact) but I’m back. I’ve decided to clear up these years-old drafts refining them a little so that they can finally see the light of day XD But anyway hope ya’ll enjoy! Have a beautiful day or night wherever you are <33

[unintentionalseductress]

Natural Breeding Clinic - Prologue

warnings: MDNI, breeding kinks, general sex, mention of infertility and insemination methods

a/n: It's here. Finally.

Teaser - Prologue - Patient 1

You take a deep breath and sit down in front of the laptop, waiting for the other person to join the call. Never in your life had you heard about such a unique reproductive center but lately, you’d been feeling the pull to start your own family. You’d discussed this with relevant people in your life. Everyone had said if you really wanted a child, then you should go with the options you thought were right for you.

You’d done the research, looking into different doctors and fertility clinics, but this one just stood out. There were testimonials from several happy families, saying their methods, though unconventional, were effective, and the doctors showcased on the website were all incredibly striking, each one handsome in their own way. But it was the success rate that caught your eye. A 98% guaranteed rate that you would be pregnant, and that pregnancy would be healthy. The site didn’t go into too much detail on their method, but the wording caught your eye.

“A natural breeding clinic” they’d called themselves. You’d finally bitten the bullet and called, requesting an information session. The screen suddenly lightens and you focus your attention as an attractive woman with shoulder-length brown hair comes into view. She smiles in a welcoming way before speaking.

“Hello. Am I speaking with Mrs. L/n?” You nod and smile back, trying not to look awkward or uncomfortable. 

“Perfect! My name is Shoko Ieiri, I’m the main coordinating nurse here at Jujutsu Fertility. Thank you for scheduling an information session with us.”

“Yes, of course. I just needed more details before I booked an appointment.”

“Indeed.” Shoko claps her hands together before continuing. “Let me start by telling you a little bit about ourselves. We’ve been around for almost 6 years now. What sets us apart is that we focus more on women’s comfort than most other clinics. And we are sought out by people who are willing to use a sperm donor. We do not perform insemination services with sperm that are not from our own stock.”

“Your own stock? Are you associated with a sperm bank? And screen all the donors yourself?”

“Not a sperm bank in the conventional sense. We have 5 doctors who keep excellent health and their sperm is regularly screened to ensure quality. They are the only stock we allow for insemination.”

You blink to make sure you haven’t misheard. “The…doctors? Are you saying the fertility doctor I’d be meeting with will also be my sperm donor?”

“That is correct.” Shoko nods her head to confirm. “You will be meeting with the doctor of your choosing for at least 5 sessions. They will need to be at least once a week. Some women take the week off and come in 5 days straight.”

“5…sessions?” you ask, confused by the wording.

“Yes. It’s to ensure the insemination process has occurred an optimal number of times.”

“Wait…so…I’m going to be inseminated multiple times? How much downtime do I need in between each insemination?”

“Hardly any. Our method isn’t like a typical clinic. Most women leave feeling very normal and a lot more satisfied than when they came in.”

“Not like a typical clinic? So…you don’t use the catheter method?”

“We use minimal medical equipment in our inseminations.”

“Minimal…so what does the procedure entail?”

Shoko clears her throat and continues. “So it begins with you choosing one of our doctors. We highly recommend spending some time on this part. It’s essential that you feel attraction towards your doctor. Once you make a choice, they will reach out to discuss how your insemination experience can be optimized for you. You will receive a biodata on their sexual profile, their preferred methods of arousal, and other relevant details.”

“I’m sorry, but what?” You are at the edge of your seat wondering if you’ve entered an alternate dimension. Surely, this was all being made up? “Arousal, sexual profile- why would I need all these details? I thought sperm donors only gave information like height, weight, medical history and stuff like that.”

“Why wouldn’t they? You’re choosing to be bred by them. They would have to make sure their patient is satisfied with the experience.”

“Bred?” You bleat the word stupidly.

“Yes. We are a natural breeding clinic. We use the method nature has provided to us to ensure a pregnancy.”

The gears in your brain start turning and something finally clicks.

“Are-are you saying…I would be having sex with my doctor?”

“That is correct.” Shoko smiles gently at you, pleased that you have finally caught on.

“The human body doesn’t necessarily enjoy having medical equipment inserted into it. All that cold plastic, and the mechanical methods of insertion. It puts the body in a state of stress. Not good for implantation. So our doctors will inseminate you through the process of intercourse.”

 Her words fall like a fog around you. You can feel your heart racing, a flush creeping into your cheeks. It was…insane. The doctor of your choosing was essentially going to fuck a baby into you. As your mind starts pulling up the images of their doctors, each one impossibly handsome and striking, you feel a familiar throb starting between your legs. Wetting your lips, you try to talk to continue with the information session.

“I see. And…there are benefits to this?”

“Yes. Intercourse allows the body to relax, releasing happy hormones. In this stress-free state, in addition to the knowledge that your doctor is someone you’re attracted to and trust, the chance of an implantation doubles.”

You gape at Shoko, your mind reeling from all the information.

“And…when you say the insemination process will be optimized for my best experience…?”

“The doctor you choose will ask you extensive questions about your preferences. What turns you on, positions, dislikes, toys. It’s to determine if they will satisfy your breeding experience. If they feel they might not be a good fit, they’ll recommend another one of our doctors.”

You swallow, your mouth going dry. “I see. And…what else do I need to know?”

“We will start by collecting your medical history and run some blood work to make sure your body is ready for an insemination process. Women who have a domestic partner will need to get both a waiver and a consent form signed by their partner that they have been informed what happens for the insemination.”

“Of course. Makes sense.”

“You will be assigned an emotional support companion during this process. It will either be myself or Mr. Ijichi Kiyotaka. We are there to help ease your nerves and ensure you enjoy the process. And all patients must think of a unique safeword to use during the insemination process.”

“Safeword?” you parrot back, still processing.

“Yes. At any point during the process, should you feel uncomfortable, your safeword ensures all actions cease and your doctor will give you some space to breathe and reassess the situation.”

All you can do is nod along. Shoko gives you a look of reassurance. “I can guarantee that most women are pleased with the results. And our doctors are quite skilled in what they do. It’s natural to feel a little shy and embarrassed but at the end of the day, we all share a common goal- a healthy baby.”

Despite your initial shock, you feel some of your trepidation fade away. Shoko continues.

“If you are ok with all of this, I can send you the forms to get the process started. Once those are filled, you can take some time to decide on your doctor. Then we’ll set up a call with them.”

“Thank you.” You make a split-second decision. “Please go ahead and send the forms.”

“Excellent. I’ll send them to the email you put in your inquiry. Was there anything else?”

You shake your head no. “I think I have all I need.”

“Great! I look forward to assisting you again.” Shoko ends the call and you immediately go the the website again to look at the doctors, one of which will end up fathering your child. Such a hard decision. How will you ever make the choice?

@thesunxwentblack @kentocalls @actuallysaiyan

@belle-oftheball34 @jesssicapaniagua

@figmentforms

© unintentionalseductress original work | no copying, plagiarizing or translating

[siilent-wanderer]

Little Things

Summary: Jimin never thought she’d fall for the little things — adjusting stray hairs, shared smiles, and the quiet warmth of Y/N’s laugh. But as their bond deepens, those small moments turn into something much bigger, leaving Jimin hopelessly captivated by the person who’s always been right there.

Genre: FLUFF, minor tension and jealousy

Word Count: 2k words

Yu Jimin (Karina) x aespa 5th member! reader

A/N: read Stuck With Yu here

The SM practice room had seen its fair share of drama — sweat-soaked nights, creative differences, and the occasional ego clash. Y/N and Jimin had checked all those boxes in the early days.

Jimin couldn’t pinpoint when exactly her initial irritation toward Y/N had begun to shift. Maybe it was when she caught Y/N making the other members laugh during grueling rehearsals. Or when the younger girl, despite her quiet confidence, stayed back to practice even after the others had left. All she knew was that she had Minjeong to blame (or thank, for ditching them at the very last minute).

Whatever the reason, Jimin knew one thing: Y/N had always intrigued her from the start.

Weeks after the amusement park date, Jimin couldn’t help but replay moments of that night in her head — the quiet intensity of Y/N's smile, the way her eyes sparkled under the fireworks, and the warmth of her presence that lingered long after they had parted ways.

But things didn’t change overnight. They still danced around their feelings, unwilling to risk disrupting the rhythm of their friendship or the dynamic of the group.

“Your timing’s a little off in the second verse,” Jimin had pointed out one evening during practice.

Y/N had blinked at her, then grinned. “I thought you were too polite to call me out like that now.”

Jimin raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smirk. “I’m polite, not blind.”

From then on, there were moments — a playful rivalry during choreography drills, subtle jabs in vocal warm-ups — but somewhere in between, they began to balance each other out.

Jimin found herself staying late with Y/N to refine harmonies, and the younger girl started helping Jimin find the exact balance between leadership and letting loose.

The shift was subtle. It began with small, almost imperceptible changes.

Y/N had a habit of scratching her head when she was nervous or trying to figure out a dance move. One day, without thinking, Jimin reached over and gave her a light tap on the head. “You’ll go bald if you keep doing that,” she teased.

The next time it happened, Jimin's hand lingered, her fingers briefly smoothing over Y/N’s hair before she pulled away. Neither of them said anything, but the touch became a habit whenever the others weren't around.

One night, however, Jimin found herself sitting on the floor near Y/N as the group chatted idly about their upcoming schedule. Without thinking, her hand reached out to gently detangle a strand of Y/N’s hair.

The room went silent for a beat.

“Are you seriously combing my hair right now, unnie?” Y/N asked, amused but slightly embarrassed.

Jimin froze, her hand midair. “What? I— no! I wasn’t!”

Aeri and Minjeong burst into laughter, and even Yizhuo, who had been quiet most of the night, couldn’t hide her giggles.

Y/N just smiled, brushing it off. But the small moment left Jimin feeling oddly exposed, like her feelings were bleeding through the cracks she’d tried so hard to keep sealed.

One particularly rough week, the weight of back-to-back rehearsals and recording sessions finally caught up to Y/N. She stumbled into the dorm, her shoulders slumped and her expression drained. Without thinking, Jimin opened her arms.

Y/N hesitated for half a second before stepping into the embrace. Jimin’s arms tightened around her, and the younger let herself melt into the warmth.

“You’re okay,” Jimin murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll get through this.”

Y/N didn’t say anything, but the way she clung to Jimin spoke volumes.

It wasn’t long before eagle-eyed fans began to notice something curious in behind-the-scenes videos and candid photos. While Minjeong and Yizhuo usually struck goofy poses and Aeri radiated energy, Jimin's gaze often lingered on Y/N. There was a softness in her eyes, a quiet admiration that stood in contrast to her usual composed demeanor.

In one viral clip from a behind-the-scenes vlog, the group was backstage, killing time between performances. Yizhuo was animatedly recounting a funny mishap from rehearsal, and Y/N was laughing so hard she had to clutch her stomach. Jimin, seated nearby, wasn’t joining in the laughter. Instead, she was watching Y/N with an expression that spoke volumes — her lips curved in a small, involuntary smile and her eyes brimming with warmth.

Fans flooded the comments:

“Karina’s so whipped for Y/N, I can’t 😭” “did anyone else notice how jimin just stares at y/n like that?? my heart!” “bruh idk what this is, but i’m shipping it already”

Then there was the infamous candid photo that circulated after the group’s outdoor photoshoot. The members were on break, sitting on picnic blankets. Y/N had her hair tied up messily, laughing at something Minjeong had whispered to her. The laughter lit up her entire face, carefree and radiant. In the background, just slightly blurred, Jimin was mid-sip of her water bottle — but her gaze was locked on Y/N. The look in her eyes was unguarded and soft, a stark contrast to her usual composed expression.

Another clip that sparked a frenzy was from one of their practice room lives. The group was chatting casually with fans when Y/N fumbled her Korean, prompting Aeri to jump in and tease her in English. Y/N retaliated by throwing a small cushion at Aeri, who ducked dramatically, sending the rest of the members into fits of laughter. Jimin, though, didn’t even seem to register the joke. Instead, the camera caught her subtly reaching over to adjust a stray hair falling into Y/N's face, her touch gentle and unthinking.

Fans were quick to notice:

“jimin brushing y/n's hair away… do you SEE the domesticity??” “Y/N: chaos Karina: supportive mom mode engaged” “someone pls check on yu jimin. she’s fallen and can’t get up 🥺”

Sharing dorms meant they saw each other constantly, but Jimin never tired of Y/N's quirks — her midnight ramen cravings, the way she hummed off-key while brushing her teeth, the little notes she left on their whiteboard.

However, sharing dorms also meant having to share Y/N with three other girls, and none tested her patience more than Aeri. It wasn’t intentional — Aeri’s easy humor and the fact that she and Y/N were both fluent English speakers naturally drew them together. Whether it was late-night dance practices, trading inside jokes or bonding over playlists they created for each other, their bond seemed effortless. Jimin often found herself biting back irritation when she’d walk into the practice room to see Y/N sprawled out on the floor, laughing at something Aeri said, making Jimin’s stomach twist in a way she didn’t want to name.

“Y/N, let’s practice the harmonies again,” Jimin called out after a water break.

But Y/N was already tangled in a playful tug-of-war with Aeri over a water bottle. Aeri won, earning an exaggerated groan from Y/N and another round of giggles.

Jimin’s lips thinned, her tone sharper than she intended. “Kang Y/N, focus. We’re behind schedule.”

Y/N blinked, her smile fading as she nodded. “Sorry, unnie. Coming.”

The tension lingered throughout rehearsal, and Jimin couldn’t ignore the tightness in her chest whenever Y/N’s attention wandered back to the Japanese member.

Later that evening, the group gathered in the dorm's common area. Aeri and Y/N were seated on the couch, heads close as they scrolled through Aeri's phone. Their occasional bursts of laughter made it impossible for Jimin to focus on the script in her lap.

“Aeri-ya, you should probably give Y/N a break,” Jimin said casually, though her voice held an edge.

Y/N looked up, confused. “Unnie, we’re just—”

“It’s getting late,” Jimin interrupted, standing abruptly. “We have an early call time tomorrow.”

Aeri raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, while Y/N’s expression flickered with hurt before she masked it.

Jimin retreated to her room, pressing her palms to her temples. She didn’t know what annoyed her more — Y/N’s easy closeness with Aeri or her own inability to control her emotions.

Later that night when everyone had gone to bed, Jimin found herself pacing the dorm’s kitchen, trying to calm the strange emotions swirling inside her. She was startled when Y/N walked in, a glass of water in her hand and a curious expression on her face.

"Unnie," Y/N called, leaning against the counter. “Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

Jimin stopped pacing and turned to face her, trying to school her features into neutrality. “Acting like what?”

“Like you’re mad at me,” Y/N said, crossing her arms. “Or Aeri unnie, for that matter. Did something happen?”

Jimin hesitated. She wasn’t mad, not really. She just… couldn’t explain why seeing Y/N and Aeri together made her feel like this.

“I’m not mad,” Jimin muttered, her voice quieter now.

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “Then what is it?”

The older girl opened her mouth, then closed it again, unsure of how to put her feelings into words.

Y/N tilted her head, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “If you’re so worried that someone will snatch me up, why don’t you just confess to me right now?”

Jimin froze, her lips parting as if to respond, but no sound came out. Y/N’s teasing smirk faltered when she noticed the way Jimin’s jaw clenched, her eyes darting away. The silence that followed was heavier than she’d expected, tension thick in the air.

“I-I was kidding, unnie,” Y/N said softly, her voice losing its edge. “You don’t have to—”

But Jimin was already standing, her movements abrupt. “Let’s talk outside,” she said, her tone firm but quiet.

Y/N blinked, caught off guard, but followed Jimin as she stepped out onto the balcony. The night air was crisp, and the city lights below shimmered like scattered stars. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the hum of the distant traffic filling the silence.

Jimin leaned on the railing, her hands gripping the cold metal as if grounding herself. “You’re right,” she said finally, her voice barely audible. “I don’t like it when you’re that close with Aeri.”

Y/N tilted her head, watching her. “Why?”

Jimin exhaled shakily, the breath visible in the cool air. “Because every time I see you with her, I feel like I’m losing you. And that scares me.”

Y/N’s brows furrowed, her teasing demeanor completely gone. “Unnie…”

Jimin turned to face her, her eyes raw with emotion. “It’s not fair of me, I know. You’re allowed to be close with whoever you want. But I—” She paused, her voice cracking slightly. “I can’t help it. You’re the first person I think about when I wake up, and the last before I fall asleep. I’ve been trying to ignore it for so long, but it’s you, Y/N. It’s always been you.”

For a moment, Y/N said nothing, her lips parted as if to respond but no words forming. Then she stepped closer, her hand brushing against Jimin’s on the railing. “You should’ve just said so earlier,” she murmured, her lips curling into a soft smile. “I’ve been waiting for you, unnie.”

Jimin’s breath hitched as Y/N leaned in, her warmth cutting through the cold night air. The city lights twinkled below them, a soft breeze weaving through the balcony and making Jimin shiver slightly. Without thinking, Y/N tugged the blanket off her own shoulders and draped it over both of them, their faces mere inches apart.

“You’re really something, you know that?” Jimin whispered, her voice trembling as she gazed into Y/N’s eyes.

The younger girl’s grin widened, her hand now fully covering Jimin’s. “I could say the same about you.”

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in shared warmth, the faint glow of streetlights and the hum of distant traffic adding a quiet magic to the moment. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, Y/N leaned back slightly and quipped, “So, does this mean I’m officially off the market?”

Jimin laughed softly, the tension melting away. “Yes. And Aeri is definitely going to hear about this.”

Y/N snorted, pulling Jimin back inside. “Good luck with that, unnie. She’s going to say she saw this coming from a mile away.”

And as they settled on the couch, still cocooned in the shared blanket and each other’s warmth, Jimin couldn’t stop the quiet happiness bubbling in her chest. For the first time, everything felt exactly as it should — Y/N beside her, the cold night shut out, and a future that felt just a little brighter.

A/N: it was def quite smthn arranging all of my thoughts for this one (had too many ideas) but I loved writing whipped (and jealous) jimin saur much. hope you enjoyed this one!

[justdontaskme]

Home Sick (Leah Williamson x Reader)

A/N: It's been so long! I'm trying to get back into things but don't be surprised if I dip again, unfortunately. I want to go back and finish some of my WIPs but needed to get something out. Let me know what you think!

Normally, a day off from practice was a godsend, and you’d spend most of the day tangled in bed with your girlfriend. The day would be filled with laziness as you both enjoyed the simplicity and stillness the rare day of no obligations could hold. 

Yet, today, at this very moment, you felt as if you were at your wit’s end. And said girlfriend was the source of much of the current frustration. 

You’ve been slaving away in the kitchen since you woke up this morning, preparing to feed your whole team as they were scheduled to arrive later today. If you were being honest, there was a part of you that was beginning to regret even deciding to host, but it was too late now. 

Ordinary team hangouts were usually chill, with all the girls coming over for drinks and a movie or game night. Today though, you had planned an early Friendsgiving dinner. Well, it was actually Emily’s idea after she heard you were feeling extra homesick this year. 

Your fellow American picked up on your sour mood lately, and she hounded you until you admitted that you had seen a bunch of videos about people already planning out Thanksgiving menus. In fact, your family group chat had been going off with your parents asking for a head count for the special dinner and any dish requests. 

Since neither you nor Emily were going to make it home for the holiday, it only made sense for you two to celebrate this holiday with your new team. It didn’t matter that they didn’t quite understand the hype of this specific holiday here on the other side of the pond, they were more than happy to learn and eat. 

When word got to Leah, she was onboard instantly, wanting to do whatever she could to help alleviate any feeling of you missing home. While you loved and appreciated your girlfriend for wanting to help, right now you really just needed her to get out of your way. 

“Leah! Get out of the kitchen!” you said, shooing your girlfriend away before she could knock something else over. You grabbed another dish towel and started wiping up the sauce the blonde managed to get all over the counter. 

“I’m just trying to help,” she said, standing right behind you with a bunch of paper towels in hand, causing you to run straight into her when you turned around. 

After throwing the dirty towel into the sink to rinse later, you grabbed Leah’s shoulders so you could face her directly, “I know, babe, but right now you are literally stressing me out more than you are helping me.”

The blonde pouted, visibly deflating, her voice mumbled, “I didn’t mean to stress you out.”

Your face softened at her words. Leah really was just trying to help, but with a million different things going on in the kitchen at once she was more a hazard than anything else. A hand went up, cupping her cheek.

“I know you want to help, but cooking has never been your strong suit,” you said, your voice light to let her know you were teasing. “How about you help instead by sitting right here,” you patted the kitchen counter that was currently free of anything, “and keep me company?”

“I could do that,” she smiled, stepping away from you just enough that she could hop up and place herself in the open space you had previously cleared for her. 

Once she was settled, you took a step forward, standing between her legs, “You’ll be the best helper from right here.”

She dipped her head down, stealing a quick kiss from your lips. “Anything else you need from me?”

“I just need you to sit there and tell me I look pretty,” you told her, your arms slipping around her as you hid your face in her neck. 

“Oooo, complimenting my beautiful and gorgeous girlfriend. My speciality,” she grinned, her hands running up and down your back soothingly. 

As Leah sat there, with her cheek resting against the top of your head, she whispered all the sweet nothings you wanted to hear into your ear. It helped calm your racing mind as you started to refocus on the task at hand. 

Reluctantly, you stepped out of Leah’s embrace, one hand sitting on her thigh as you turned and took in the kitchen, mentally planning out what dish needed attention next. You left Leah to attend to your dishes, asking Leah to taste things here and there. In your mind, since she was the pickiest eater on the team, if it passed Leah’s taste tests, then it would be good enough for the others. 

If anyone asked, you would deny it, but you literally almost cried in relief when Alessia and Emily showed up almost two hours later. Your friends being the extra sets of hands you desperately needed in the kitchen. With their help, things started moving much more smoothly. 

As the day went on, your teammates slowly started to filter in with drinks, other homemade dishes, or desserts in hand. Now that you had helpers, Leah was free to play hostess, checking in on everyone and making sure you were supplied with drinks that Katie was kind enough to mix for everyone. A few of your teammates offered their help, but with the kitchen being as small as it was, you, Emily, and Alessia were better off handling the food. 

Steadily, the house filled with smells of all the different food as things were almost done. The space in your apartment was becoming almost nonexistent, but it was obvious your teammates were enjoying themselves if their laughs and screams were anything to go by. Despite what some would consider chaos, this is exactly what you needed. 

As the last few dishes were either finishing up or were being reheated, you three finally took a nice break to catch up on drinks and gossip. 

Alessia was telling a story about something Tooney had gotten herself into back in the day when you felt a pair of arms slide around your waist from behind.

“Everything alright, sweetheart?”

You turned your head to find Leah flashing you a bright grin. Her smile was one of the reasons you were enjoying yourself so much despite all the crazy and hard work from prepping and cooking over the past few days. 

“Everything is perfect,” you told her, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said, squeezing you a little tighter. She held you in her arms, joining in on your conversation with Emily and Alessia, only disappearing once to refill your drink for you. 

When the timer went off from the oven, you felt like a huge weight was lifted off of your shoulders. Your friends chuckled as they watched you slip out of your girlfriend’s arms and back to the oven.

With a huge sigh of relief, you slipped on the oven mitts and went to grab the star of the night. While having a turkey was a staple for the holiday, you decided to forgo it to keep your sanity for the day. 

Instead, you decided to try your hand at something new that you felt would garner much more appreciation. After triple checking that everything was cooked and ready, you gave Leah a nod to get everyone ready to eat. 

“Dinner is ready!��� she called, watching as a few of the young ones and Katie started playfully shoving each other in their haste to get first in line for food. You watched as everyone lined up buffet style and served themselves before looking for a space to eat, either at the table, on the couch, or up against the wall.

After everyone else was served, you grabbed a plate and started making a plate for your girlfriend as she went to reprimand the young ones for making a mess on the coffee table.

“This is so good, Y/N! Can you cook for us all the time?” Beth said around a mouthful of food. 

You rolled your eyes, “I already do, Beth,” you reminded her, thinking of all the days Beth would show up unannounced, looking for food and company since Viv moved to Manchester. 

“True, but you don’t make all this,” she countered, stealing a piece of bread off of Steph’s plate when the Australian was dealing with Kyra trying to overload her plate with food. 

“Thanksgiving special, so enjoy this while you can because I will not be cooking like this for some time,” you said, handing Leah her plate of food, when she came back. 

“Aren’t you eating?” she asked after thanking you, taking a seat so you could then sit in her lap. It was a little harder for her to eat this way, but she really just wanted you close. She felt like she barely saw you today as soon as people started showing up. 

“Maybe later, I just need a sec,” you told her, urging her to eat while the food was still hot. Honestly, you had quite a fill from taste testing and right now you were content to sit back and watch everyone enjoy themselves as long as you had a drink in hand.

“I’m a bit surprised there weren’t Smileys on the menu, with Leah living here and all,” Alessia said, digging into her food. 

You chuckled, seeing Leah’s mouth fall upon at the open attack, “We’re working on expanding her horizons on her food.”

Your girlfriend turned to you, her face full of betrayal, “I eat more than just Smileys!”

“Oh, I know, babe. Why do you think I made a ham instead of a turkey? Now you’ll be set with a ham sandwich for like the next week,” you said, grabbing a napkin to wipe the bit of food that spilled from the side of her mouth.

“Lucky! Now you don’t have to cook. Not that you really did much of that before.”

“I can cook!” Leah nearly shouted, sitting back from her food, glaring at her teammates.

“No, Leah. You can heat things up. There’s a big difference,” Lia said, jumping on the train to tease her best friend.

“I would take more offense to that, but you lot are just jealous that I have a girlfriend who is not only insanely pretty but loves to cook for me,” Leah said, sitting up proudly and sending you a quick wink.

“I mean she’s not my girlfriend, but she does keep me fed pretty regularly,” Beth reminded her. 

“And for that comment, Beth, you are not allowed to take any leftovers home with you,” Leah asserted, a satisfactory smirk in place when her friend immediately tried to backtrack all statements.

“Are we going to go around the table and say what we’re grateful for like they do in movies?” Kyra asked, switching topics before Leah and Beth’s banter could continue. 

You waved your hand, dismissing the idea while you took a rather large swig of your drink. The alcohol started to kick in and relax you more now that all of your responsibilities for the day were now over, “No, not really. I don’t know about you, Foxy, but we never really did that at my house. It sounds sweet in practice, but it was pretty awkward the one year we tried it. You are more than welcome to share if you want, but don’t feel like you have to.”

“I, for one, have something to say,” Leah stated, chasing her last bite with a bit of water before she cleared her throat. “It may sound corny and everything, but I want to say I’m thankful for having all of you in my life, especially this one right next to me. After doing my ACL, having you lot support me through it all and being able to share things like this is a dream.”

“Stop being so emotional, you’re going to make me cry,” Katie shouted, pretending to fan away imaginary tears in her eyes.

“Okay, okay, one more thing. Last one to clean up after themself is on dish duty!” Leah exclaimed, taking the last bite from her plate before rushing to put the dish in the sink.

From there it was a mad rush to the sink, as a few snuck around, packing some food to go home with them as the chaos reigned around them. 

You continued to watch everything unfold with rapt interest, refilling your glass and cheersing with Foxy who was following your lead. With these people you considered a second family, you truly felt a sense of home, healing that little patch of homesickness you had been feeling lately. 

[amethystarachnid]

I know it's very classic. Tony Stark x F!Reader. Office romance. Tony likes her and the reader is unaware of it. Tony gets very angry at a man who tries to flirt with the reader in the office and makes her uncomfortable, then informs him of his mistake. He drags his assistant to his room and while arguing, he lets it slip that he is in love with her.

OFFICE ROMANCE

⤷ ANTHONY “TONY” E. STARK

ᯓ★ Pairing: Anthony “Tony” E. Stark x fem!reader

ᯓ★ Genre: fluff, romance, rom-com

ᯓ★ Word count: 6.1k

ᯓ★ Summary: what the ask said

ᯓ★ TW(s): little spicy scenes at the end, nothing too explicit

ᯓ★ Part 2

ᯓ★ yeah I know the title sucks I didnt know what to name it lol

ᯓ★ Love is in the air - Valentine's Day special game

ᯓ★ My Masterlist

ᯓ★ MARVEL Holiday Special

ᯓ★ MARVEL Multiverse - choose an AU, pair it with your favorite character and make a request!

ᯓ★ Songs & Superheroes tales - The Game (to make a request, follow the rules on the link!)

ᯓ★ MARVEL Bingo

ᯓ★ English isn’t my first language

The elevator ride to Tony Stark’s office is uneventful—until the doors slide open, and you step right into chaos.

“Where is she? Where’s my assistant? Oh my God, I’m dying.”

Tony Stark is dramatically draped over his desk, one hand clutching his chest, the other extended toward the heavens like he’s in a Shakespearean tragedy. You barely have time to react before he twists his head toward the elevator, eyes locking onto yours with laser focus.

“There you are,” he groans. “Y/N, I think this is it. This is the end. You’re going to have to plan my funeral. Make it something classy, but also extravagant. Maybe fireworks? A Viking funeral? I don’t know, you decide.”

You sigh and step inside, the doors sliding shut behind you. “What is it this time, Mr. Stark?”

At the sound of his title, he frowns. “Really? We’re doing the ‘Mr. Stark’ thing today? Thought we were past that, sweetheart.”

You ignore him and set your bag down at your desk, flipping through the folders left for you overnight. Tony is still sprawled across his desk, his theatrics undeterred by your lack of concern.

“I’m serious,” he insists. “I might actually die this time.”

You finally look up at him, arms crossed. “Is it reactor-related, or are you just being dramatic?”

He gasps, placing a hand over his arc reactor. “I am never dramatic.”

You raise an eyebrow.

“Okay, fine, maybe I’m a little dramatic. But you were late this morning.”

You glance at the clock. “I was not late.”

“You were late to me,” he says, pointing accusingly. “Do you know what happens when you’re not here? Bad things. Boring things. Pepper makes me do paperwork, and Happy refuses to let me take the suit out for a spin at seven in the morning.”

Your lips twitch, but you suppress the smile. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Stark. I didn’t realize my presence was so vital to your survival.”

He lifts his head, expression serious. “Y/N, I don’t think you understand. You are the glue holding my fragile existence together.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Without you, I am but a billionaire genius playboy philanthropist adrift, lost at sea, doomed to perish in the harsh, unforgiving corporate world.”

“You are so full of it,” you mutter, grabbing your tablet to check his schedule.

Tony watches you, chin propped up in one hand. He does this a lot—just looks at you like you’re the most fascinating thing in the room, even when you’re doing something as mundane as scheduling meetings and reading emails. But you don’t notice.

You never notice.

And it’s driving him insane.

Tony Stark is in love with you.

Painfully, ridiculously, stupidly in love with you. And he’s not subtle about it, either. At least, he doesn’t think he is. He finds reasons to keep you around, finds excuses to talk to you, makes up the dumbest emergencies just to get your attention—and yet, somehow, you remain oblivious.

It’s almost impressive, really.

But also aggravating.

Tony sighs, rubbing his hands down his face before dramatically throwing himself back in his chair. “Okay, what’s on the agenda today, darling?”

You scroll through your tablet. “You have a meeting with Pepper at ten—”

“Cancel it.”

“You cannot cancel on Pepper.”

“Fine,” he grumbles. “What else?”

“You have a tech demonstration at two, a conference call with the board at four—”

“Cancel that too.”

You sigh. “Tony.”

“Oh, now it’s Tony?” He smirks. “See, I knew you liked me.”

“I tolerate you,” you correct, setting your tablet down. “And you are going to that board meeting, whether you like it or not.”

“Fine, but only if you’re there,” he says, pointing at you. “I refuse to suffer alone.”

You roll your eyes but nod. “I’ll be there.”

Tony grins, far too pleased with himself. He’s made you sit in on dozens of meetings that had nothing to do with your job, just because he likes having you there. He tells himself it’s because you keep him sane. That you make the long, boring hours more bearable.

But if he’s being honest, it’s just because he likes looking at you.

He likes the way your lips press together when you’re concentrating, the way your nose scrunches up when he says something stupid. He likes the way your eyes soften when you talk to him, even when you’re exasperated. He likes you. God, he likes you.

And yet, you remain completely, utterly unaware.

Tony watches as you type something into your tablet, your brows furrowed in concentration. He wonders what would happen if he just said it. If he just leaned across the desk, took your hands in his, and said—

“Mr. Stark?”

He snaps out of it. “Huh?”

“You okay? You spaced out.”

Tony clears his throat. “Uh, yeah. Fine. Totally fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine?”

You squint at him, suspicious. “Are you sure? You look kind of—”

“Handsome? Dashing? Devastatingly attractive?”

“I was going to say pained, but sure.”

Tony groans and leans back in his chair. “This is agony,” he mutters.

You blink. “What is?”

You. You are agony. Being around you, loving you, wanting you, and you not even noticing—it’s torture.

But of course, he doesn’t say that.

“Nothing,” he sighs. “Just this board meeting. Ugh, corporate politics. You have to sit next to me, okay?”

“Okay,” you say, amused. “Anything else?”

“Yes. I need coffee. Desperately.”

You snort but stand up, grabbing your purse. “I’ll be back in ten.”

Tony watches you go, his head hitting the desk as soon as the doors shut behind you.

He is so screwed.

The days pass like they always do—fast, chaotic, and filled with Tony Stark’s unique brand of dramatics.

Between meetings, tech demos, Stark Industries board nonsense, and the occasional explosion in his lab (which he always swears is intentional), you’ve settled into an odd routine with him.

A routine that involves not just work, but him.

It starts small.

At first, it’s just casual conversation in between scheduling his appointments and making sure he actually attends them. A random question here and there.

“Morning, sweetheart. How do you feel about pineapple on pizza?”

“It’s fine, I guess.”

“Wrong answer. Completely unacceptable. I might have to fire you.”

Then, it becomes a daily thing.

He asks about your coffee order, remembers the way you take it without you telling him twice. He learns your favorite snacks, stocks the office kitchen with them. He finds out you love old Hollywood movies, and suddenly, his TV has a list of black-and-white classics queued up.

You don’t think much of it.

Tony Stark is friendly. He’s nosy. He likes to know things. It makes sense that he’d ask about your life outside of work.

But to him, it’s everything.

Because these little details—the things you like, the way you laugh, the way you light up when you talk about something you’re passionate about—are what keep him grounded.

Sometimes, he even talks about himself, which is rare.

You don’t realize what a big deal it is at first. You’ve worked for him long enough to know he talks a lot, but usually, it’s about his inventions or some wild new idea he has.

But with you?

He tells you about his mom’s love for classical music, how she used to play records while she cooked. How his dad was cold but brilliant, how he spent his childhood trying to impress a man who never really saw him. How he went to MIT at fifteen and spent half his time pranking professors and the other half building things he wasn’t supposed to.

He tells you about Afghanistan one night, when it’s just the two of you in his office, the city lights glowing behind him.

About the cave, about the first arc reactor, about Yinsen and what he’d meant to him.

You listen.

You don’t pity him, don’t give him some empty platitude about how it must’ve been hard. You just listen.

And Tony—who has spent most of his life drowning out his own thoughts with distractions—thinks maybe you are the best thing that has ever happened to him.

He also thinks you might never notice how much you mean to him.

Which is why he’s completely blindsided when it happens.

It’s a normal day.

You’re at your desk, typing away, while Tony lounges on the couch with a blueprint in one hand and a screwdriver in the other, pretending to work while actually watching you.

Then Happy walks in.

“There’s a guy here to see you,” he tells Tony, looking unimpressed.

Tony doesn’t even look up. “Tell him I’m busy.”

“He says it’s urgent.”

Tony sighs, pushing himself up. “Fine, fine. Send him in.”

Happy steps aside, and the guy walks in.

You glance up, offering a polite smile before going back to your work.

The man is tall, well-dressed, and carries himself like he’s important—which immediately annoys Tony. He hates people who walk into his space acting like they own the place.

“Mr. Stark,” the man says, offering his hand. “Nathan Ellis. Big fan.”

Tony shakes his hand but looks bored already. “Uh-huh. What do you want?”

Nathan chuckles, like Tony just made a joke. “I had a business proposition I wanted to discuss with you. Something that could be mutually beneficial.”

Tony gestures lazily to you. “Talk to her. She handles all the boring stuff.”

You roll your eyes but give Nathan a professional smile. “What’s the proposition?”

But Nathan isn’t looking at you like a businessman pitching an idea. He’s looking at you like a man sizing up a woman, and Tony immediately hates him.

Nathan smirks. “You’re much prettier than I expected.”

You stiffen just a little, but you keep your composure. “That’s not really relevant,” you say, your tone still polite but firm. “What’s relevant is what you’re proposing.”

Nathan leans against your desk like he belongs there. “Can’t I compliment a beautiful woman?”

Tony sits up straight, his eyes narrowing.

You force a tight smile. “I’d prefer if we kept this professional.”

Nathan laughs, but it’s the kind of laugh that says he doesn’t really take you seriously. “Oh, come on. No need to be so serious, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.

Tony sees red.

That’s his word.

His fingers tighten around the screwdriver in his hand, but he stays quiet—for now—watching you, waiting to see if you want him to step in.

You shift uncomfortably, clearly trying to remain professional, but it’s obvious you’re not enjoying this.

Tony doesn’t give a damn about professionalism.

He stands up, moving toward you in a few easy strides before leaning down and planting his hands on your desk, effectively caging you in while staring Nathan down.

“You know,” Tony says, voice deceptively light, “I really don’t like it when people make my assistant uncomfortable.”

Nathan blinks, clearly not expecting that.

You glance up at Tony, eyes wide.

Tony doesn’t look at you. His attention is solely on Nathan, his jaw tight, his expression calm but dangerous.

Nathan chuckles nervously. “I was just making conversation.”

“Yeah? Well, here’s the thing,” Tony says, tilting his head. “She doesn’t want to have a conversation with you.”

Nathan raises his hands. “Didn’t mean to step on any toes.”

Tony smiles, but it’s not friendly. “Oh, buddy, you stepped on mine, and I really don’t like that.”

Nathan shifts uncomfortably.

Tony straightens, taking a step back—but then he leans down again, close enough that only Nathan can hear when he says, “If you ever talk to her like that again, I will ruin your entire life before breakfast.”

Nathan swallows.

Tony claps him on the shoulder, grinning. “Now, I think we’re done here.”

Nathan nods quickly, then turns and practically flees the office.

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.

Tony turns to you, concern flickering across his face. “You okay?”

You nod. “Yeah. Just… guys like that make my skin crawl.”

Tony watches you for a moment, then surprises you by gently brushing his fingers over yours.

You glance down at your hands, startled.

It’s not much. Just the lightest touch. But it makes your heart stutter.

“Next time, just say the word,” Tony says softly. “I’ll handle it.”

You swallow, suddenly very aware of how close he is.

“I—uh—thank you,” you murmur.

Tony smirks, his fingers curling around yours for just a second before he lets go.

Then, just like that, he’s back to normal, plopping onto the couch and stretching like nothing happened.

But something did.

And for the first time, you wonder if you’ve been missing something this whole time.

In the days after the Nathan incident, something shifts.

You don’t know what it is exactly, but you feel it.

Maybe it’s the way Tony watches you a little too closely when he thinks you aren’t looking. Or the way you replay that moment in your head—his fingers brushing yours, his voice softer than you’ve ever heard it.

Or maybe it’s the way you feel when you look at him now.

You’ve worked for Tony long enough to know he’s magnetic. People gravitate toward him, caught in his orbit like planets around the sun. You’ve always thought he was charming in an annoying way, a flirt by nature, someone who could talk his way into—or out of—anything.

But now, for the first time, you find yourself looking at him differently.

You start noticing things you never did before.

The way his eyes soften when he looks at you. The way he always saves the last bite of his favorite snacks for you. The way he makes excuses to keep you in his office longer, even when the work is done.

And it’s terrifying.

Because if this was anyone else—anyone—maybe you’d let yourself admit it. Maybe you’d let yourself fall.

But this is Tony Stark. Your boss.

And that means it’s impossible.

So, you bury it. You convince yourself you’re imagining things, that Tony is just Tony, and you’re reading into it too much.

Then Nathan Ellis comes back.

You’re at your desk, sorting through a ridiculous amount of emails when Happy walks in, looking unimpressed as always.

“Great,” he mutters. “He’s back.”

You look up, confused. “Who’s back?”

As if on cue, Nathan Ellis strolls in, his smarmy grin already making your stomach twist.

Tony is in the corner of the room, tinkering with something, but at the sound of Nathan’s voice, his hands still.

Nathan leans against your desk. “Miss Y/N,” he says smoothly. “I feel like we got off on the wrong foot last time.”

You keep your expression polite but distant. “Did we?”

He laughs. “Look, I’m not here to talk business today.”

Tony doesn’t like that.

His fingers tighten around his wrench, his jaw clenching as he subtly shifts closer to listen.

Nathan continues, oblivious. “I was hoping to make it up to you. Dinner, maybe? There’s a great place downtown. My treat.”

You blink, caught off guard.

Your first instinct is to say no. You don’t like Nathan. He made you uncomfortable, and you have no interest in him.

But then—Tony.

You don’t look at him, but you feel his presence. You feel the weight of everything unspoken between you, the things you refuse to acknowledge.

So before you can think it through, you hear yourself say, “Sure.”

It’s a knee-jerk reaction, a way to prove—to yourself, to Tony, to whatever this thing is between you—that you can still be rational. That you don’t have feelings for Tony. That you can move on, be professional, keep your life normal.

But as soon as the word leaves your mouth, you regret it.

Nathan grins, clearly pleased. “Great. I’ll pick you up Friday at seven.”

You nod stiffly, and he finally leaves.

Silence lingers in the room.

You risk a glance at Tony.

He’s looking at his workbench, his expression unreadable. He doesn’t say a word.

And that, somehow, makes you feel worse.

—

Friday rolls around faster than you expect.

You dread it.

The moment you wake up, you regret saying yes.

You don’t want to go out with Nathan.

But backing out now would make you look ridiculous, and you refuse to admit—to yourself or to anyone else—why you really don’t want to go.

So, you tell yourself you’ll go. One date. It’s not a big deal.

Then Tony ruins it.

The day is insane.

More meetings than usual, a sudden crisis with one of Stark Industries’ overseas contracts, a last-minute tech demo that Tony insists he needs you to be there for.

By the time you finally look at the clock, it’s almost nine.

Your stomach drops.

You completely forgot about the date.

You grab your phone, wincing when you see multiple missed calls and texts from Nathan, all of them getting progressively more annoyed.

Shit.

You stand abruptly, grabbing your bag.

Tony—who is lounging on the couch, looking suspiciously satisfied—raises an eyebrow. “Going somewhere?”

You glare at him. “Did you do this on purpose?”

He blinks, all mock innocence. “Do what?”

“This.” You gesture wildly at the stack of paperwork still on your desk, the mess of your day, the way you were so busy you lost track of time. “You knew I had plans tonight.”

Tony shrugs. “Did you?”

You want to scream.

“Tony.”

Something flickers in his expression when you say his name like that—low, almost dangerous.

You step closer, jabbing a finger at his chest. “You did do this on purpose.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says, but the smug look on his face tells you everything.

He did this.

He made sure you were too busy to leave, too busy to go on the date.

And for some reason, that makes your heart pound in a way you don’t want to analyze.

“Unbelievable,” you mutter.

Tony leans back, tilting his head at you. “What’s the big deal? It’s just a date.”

You gape at him. “That’s not the point!”

“Then what is the point?”

“The point is you manipulated me into missing it!”

He stands, stepping into your space, close enough that you have to crane your neck to keep looking at him.

And suddenly, the room feels too small.

“I didn’t manipulate anything,” he says, voice low. “I just gave you work. You’re the one who got so caught up in it you forgot about him.”

Your breath catches.

Because he’s right.

You were the one who didn’t check the time. The one who let yourself get wrapped up in Tony’s world.

And maybe—just maybe—it was because deep down, you didn’t want to go.

But that doesn’t change the fact that he wanted this. That he made sure it happened.

You shake your head, stepping back. “You don’t get to do this.”

“Do what?”

“Mess with my life like this. You don’t get to control who I see, Tony.”

He flinches.

For a second, you think he’s going to argue, make another joke, deflect like he always does.

But instead, he just watches you, something raw and unreadable flickering behind his eyes.

Then, he sighs. Runs a hand through his hair.

“You’re right,” he says quietly. “I don’t.”

The honesty in his voice catches you off guard.

It almost—almost—makes you soften.

But you’re still angry.

So without another word, you turn on your heel and leave.

Tony doesn’t stop you.

And the worst part?

A small, traitorous part of you wishes he had.

You don’t make it far.

You storm out of the office, heart pounding, anger bubbling in your chest so violently you can taste it. You don’t even know where you’re going—just away.

Away from Tony and his smug little I didn’t manipulate anything face. Away from the way he looked at you, like he wasn’t the least bit sorry. Like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Like he had every right to do it.

You make it to the elevator before you hear him behind you.

“Y/N.”

You don’t turn around.

“Y/N,” Tony repeats, voice sharp now, edged with something you don’t recognize.

You stab the elevator button. “Go away, Tony.”

“Yeah, see, that’s not gonna happen.”

You spin on your heel, glaring at him. “Oh, what now? You gonna kidnap me? Make sure I never leave this damn building?”

Tony sighs like you’re the one being difficult. “I just want to talk.”

“Oh, now you want to talk?” You laugh, crossing your arms. “Because when I was trying to talk about how you sabotaged my night, you had nothing to say.”

Tony clenches his jaw. “It wasn’t sabotage.”

“Oh, really?” You raise an eyebrow. “So it was just a coincidence that today of all days you gave me twice as much work as usual? That you suddenly needed me in meetings I normally don’t have to be in? That you—”

“I didn’t want you to go.”

The words come out quiet, almost too quiet to hear.

But you hear them.

And you freeze.

Tony exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. His gaze flickers away for a second, like he’s regretting saying it.

But then he looks back at you, and there’s something in his eyes—something real.

Something that makes your stomach flip.

You swallow hard. “Tony…”

He shakes his head. “Just—come back to the office. Please.”

You should say no. You should walk away.

But you don’t.

Because even though you’re furious, even though every rational part of your brain is screaming at you to be professional—to keep things normal—there’s a deeper, quieter part of you that wants to hear what he has to say.

So, you turn. Walk back.

And Tony follows.

—

The office feels different when you get back.

Quieter. Tense.

You lean against your desk, arms crossed, watching as Tony paces the room.

“Well?” you say finally.

Tony stops. Looks at you.

And for the first time since you’ve known him, he looks… nervous.

Not the fake, exaggerated kind he puts on for show, but real nervous.

He exhales. “I don’t want you dating him.”

You scoff. “Yeah, I noticed.”

“I don’t want you dating anyone.”

Your breath catches.

Tony swallows hard. “Because I—” He hesitates, like he’s physically fighting the words. Then, finally, he just says it.

“Because I love you.”

Everything stops.

The air in the room shifts, like the world itself is holding its breath.

You stare at him, your brain struggling to process what just happened.

Tony looks like he wants to take it back, like he wants to shove the words back into his mouth and pretend they never happened.

But they did.

And suddenly, everything makes sense.

The way he looks at you. The way he knows you—your coffee order, your favorite movies, the way you feel about things before you even say them.

The way he brushed his fingers over yours that day, like it meant something.

The way he sabotaged your date—not because he was being petty, but because the thought of you with someone else made him want to burn the world down.

And, God—maybe you do love him.

Maybe you have for longer than you realized.

You exhale sharply, your heart slamming against your ribs.

“Say something,” Tony mutters.

You don’t.

You move.

Before you can second-guess yourself, before you can let all the rules and expectations stop you, you grab him by the collar of his stupidly expensive shirt and kiss him.

Tony freezes for half a second.

Then he melts.

His hands come up, one gripping your waist, the other tangling in your hair. He kisses you like he’s starving for it, like he’s been waiting for this—for you.

And maybe he has.

Maybe you both have.

When you finally pull back, you’re breathless.

Tony stares at you, lips parted, looking so completely wrecked that you almost laugh.

Almost.

Instead, you press your forehead against his, inhaling deeply.

“I hate you,” you whisper.

Tony chuckles, breath warm against your skin. “No, you don’t.”

You sigh, closing your eyes. “You could’ve just told me.”

“Yeah,” Tony murmurs. “But where’s the fun in that?”

You do laugh this time.

Because of course he’d say that.

Because of course it was always going to be this—messy, chaotic, inevitable.

And as Tony kisses you again—slow this time, like he never wants to stop—you know one thing for certain.

You’re never making it to another date with anyone ever again.

Tony kisses you like he’s making up for lost time. Like he’s wanted this for so long he doesn’t know how to hold back anymore. His hands grip your waist, fingers pressing into your skin through the fabric of your blouse as he pulls you closer, eliminating the last bit of space between you. You feel the edge of the desk dig into the small of your back, but you don’t care. Not when Tony’s mouth is on yours, not when he tilts his head to deepen the kiss, not when his hand slides up your back, warm and firm and impossible to ignore.

You gasp against his lips, fingers tightening in the fabric of his shirt, and he groans in response. The sound sends a shiver down your spine, and suddenly you’re not thinking about where you are or what this means or how this is completely unprofessional. You’re only thinking about how much you want him. How much you’ve always wanted him, even when you didn’t want to admit it.

Tony shifts, his hands sliding down to grip your thighs, and before you can process what’s happening, he lifts you onto the desk. You barely manage to let out a startled breath before he’s between your legs, pressing into you, his lips trailing from your mouth to your jaw to the sensitive spot just below your ear.

You tilt your head back, your hands moving on their own, pushing his jacket off his shoulders, sliding over the hard planes of his chest. Tony lets out a low curse, his breath hot against your skin, and you know this is getting out of control. You know you should stop. But then his fingers graze the hem of your skirt, and your heart is pounding, and—

A knock on the door makes you both freeze.

Your eyes snap open, and Tony’s lips still against your throat. For a second, neither of you moves. Your breath is ragged, and Tony’s grip on your waist tightens like he’s physically stopping himself from ignoring the interruption.

“Tony?”

Happy’s voice is muffled through the door, but it’s enough to jolt you back to reality.

You push at Tony’s chest, and he steps back with obvious reluctance. His eyes are dark, his hair is a mess from your hands, and his lips are swollen. The sight of him like this, completely wrecked, makes something deep in your stomach tighten.

You shake yourself out of it, sliding off the desk as you smooth down your clothes. Tony watches you, chest rising and falling like he’s trying to get himself under control.

“Yeah, yeah,” he calls out, voice rough. “Give me a second.”

There’s a pause, then the sound of footsteps retreating.

You exhale, pressing your fingers to your temples.

“That was—”

Tony smirks. “Hot?”

You glare at him, but it lacks heat. “Unprofessional.”

Tony sighs dramatically. “Yeah, that too.”

You shake your head, trying to ignore the way your entire body is still buzzing. “We can’t do that at work.”

Tony’s smirk widens, and you realize what you just said a second too late.

“So you’re saying we can do it outside of work?”

You groan. “Not what I meant.”

Tony grins, stepping closer again. His fingers brush your wrist, light and teasing. “Come over after your shift.”

You bite your lip, considering.

Tony dips his head, voice dropping. “I’ll behave.”

You snort. “No, you won’t.”

Tony shrugs, completely unapologetic. “Yeah, okay, I won’t.”

You roll your eyes but don’t say no.

Tony notices.

—

You don’t talk about what this means. You don’t sit down and define your relationship, don’t have some long, serious conversation about what you are to each other now.

But you don’t need to.

Because it’s obvious in the way Tony kisses you when you show up at his penthouse after work. In the way he pulls you onto the couch, his hands sliding under your shirt, his mouth never leaving yours. In the way you spend the night tangled in his sheets, waking up to his arm draped over your waist, his breath warm against the back of your neck.

It’s obvious in the way he looks at you at work, in the way he always finds an excuse to touch you. A hand at the small of your back when he passes by, a brush of his fingers against yours when he hands you something, a teasing whisper against your ear that makes you shiver.

You try to be subtle.

You don’t want anyone thinking you’re only with him to climb the corporate ladder, and Tony—surprisingly—understands. He doesn’t push. He doesn’t announce it to the world, doesn’t make some grand declaration in the middle of a meeting.

But he also doesn’t hide it.

Not really.

Because the way he looks at you isn’t subtle. The way he finds any excuse to keep you in his office longer than necessary isn’t subtle. The way he calls you sweetheart in private and Miss Y/L/N in front of others with a smirk that says he knows exactly what he’s doing definitely isn’t subtle.

And then there are the stolen kisses.

The ones in the elevator when no one else is around. The ones in the hallway when he tugs you into a supply closet with a grin and a just real quick, I missed you. The ones at his penthouse when you show up after a long day and he greets you at the door with his hands already on your hips, pulling you inside like he’s been waiting for you all day.

Because he has.

You find yourself spending more nights at his place than your own. It starts slowly—one night, then two, then three. Then, before you know it, most of your stuff is at his penthouse, and you don’t even think about going home after work anymore.

Tony never says anything about it. He never asks you to stay.

But he doesn’t have to.

Because the way he holds you when you fall asleep says everything.

Because the way he presses a lazy kiss to your temple in the morning when he thinks you’re still asleep says everything.

Because the way he looks at you—like you’re the most important thing in the world—says everything.

Tony kisses you like he’s savoring every second. His hands rest on your waist, fingers pressing just enough to make you shiver. You’re sitting on his desk, legs wrapped loosely around his hips, completely lost in the moment. It’s a rare quiet afternoon in the office, just the two of you, and Tony has taken full advantage of it.

You hum against his lips as he trails his mouth down your jaw, then lower to your neck. His stubble grazes your skin, sending a pleasant shiver down your spine. His lips are warm, soft, teasing as he lingers just beneath your ear. He knows exactly what he’s doing.

Tony chuckles when he feels your breath hitch. You can practically hear the smirk in his voice.

You grab a fistful of his shirt. Tony responds with a slow, deliberate kiss to the side of your neck. His tongue flicks against your skin, followed by a light nip that makes you gasp. His mouth lingers there, sucking just hard enough to leave his mark.

A sharp knock on the door shatters the moment.

You both freeze. Tony exhales against your skin, shoulders tensing.

Another knock, this one louder.

Tony groans. "They have the worst timing, I swear—"

Then the door swings open, and your stomach drops.

Nathan Ellis stands in the doorway, his expression dark and furious.

The sight of him immediately kills any lingering warmth from your moment with Tony. He looks different from the smooth, arrogant man who asked you out—his jaw is clenched, his eyes cold, his posture rigid with anger.

You stiffen, already knowing this won’t be good.

Nathan steps inside without waiting for permission, eyes locked onto you. "You stood me up."

Tony straightens, immediately stepping in front of you in a way that makes it clear he has no intention of letting Nathan get any closer. "Big deal," he says flatly. "She didn’t want to go. Move on."

Nathan ignores him, eyes still burning into you. "You didn’t even have the decency to text me? Let me know instead of wasting my time?"

Your throat tightens. You don’t want to deal with this. "I got caught up at work. It wasn’t intentional."

Nathan scoffs. "Bullshit. You’re just another woman who likes to play games. You say yes to a date and then don’t even bother showing up? You think that makes you look good?"

Something shifts in Tony. His entire body goes tense, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. "Watch how you talk to her."

Nathan finally looks at Tony, his upper lip curling in disgust. "Oh, I get it now. This is why you didn’t show up, huh?" His gaze flickers back to you, sharp and accusing. Then his eyes catch something on your neck, and his entire expression twists into something uglier.

Your stomach sinks.

You don’t even need to look in a mirror to know what he’s staring at. You feel the lingering warmth where Tony’s mouth was just moments ago.

Nathan lets out a short, bitter laugh. "Wow. That’s just perfect." He turns back to Tony. "Guess I should’ve figured. Why go out with someone like me when you can just screw your boss instead?"

Your eyes widen in shock.

Tony moves before you can react.

His fist collides with Nathan’s jaw, the impact loud in the silence of the office. Nathan stumbles back, his hand flying up to his face, a stunned expression flashing across his features before fury takes over.

"Tony!" You grab his arm before he can swing again, your heart pounding.

Nathan straightens, eyes blazing with pure hatred. "You’re insane."

Tony glares at him. "Get out."

Nathan sneers, wiping his mouth. "Oh, trust me, I’m leaving. But you’re gonna regret this. Both of you."

Tony doesn’t even let him turn fully before pulling out his phone and pressing a button. "Happy. Come get this asshole out of my office."

Nathan’s jaw tightens, but before he can say anything else, heavy footsteps echo down the hall. Happy Hogan appears in the doorway, expression unreadable but posture firm.

"Let’s go," Happy says.

Nathan glares at you one last time, then at Tony, before reluctantly stepping back. Happy follows him out, and just like that, he’s gone.

The office is silent again, but the tension lingers.

Your pulse is still racing. You take a deep breath, willing yourself to calm down. Then you look at Tony.

He’s standing there, still tense, his hand flexing like he’s barely holding himself back from going after Nathan again.

"You punched him," you say, still a little in shock.

Tony shrugs. "He deserved it."

You let out a breath, rubbing your hands over your face. "I can’t believe this happened."

Tony frowns. "You okay?"

You hesitate. "I just—" You groan. "Tony, you gave me a hickey."

Tony blinks, then smirks. "Just now realizing that?"

You glare at him. "I have to work in this office. People are gonna see."

Tony tilts his head, completely unbothered. "So? Let ‘em see."

You stare at him. "I don’t want them to see."

He sighs dramatically. "Alright, alright. I guess I can be more strategic about my placement next time."

You groan again, turning toward your desk. "I need concealer."

Tony snickers. "You could just wear a scarf. It’d be very elegant. Very old-Hollywood."

You shoot him a look over your shoulder. "You think this is funny."

Tony steps closer, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind. His chin rests on your shoulder as he murmurs against your ear, "I know this is funny."

You shove at him, but you’re smiling despite yourself. "You’re the worst."

"Yeah, yeah," Tony murmurs, pressing a quick kiss to your jaw before finally letting you go. "Now hurry up and cover it. I have a meeting in ten minutes, and I need my very professional assistant to not look like she just had a makeout session with her boss."

You roll your eyes, reaching into your bag for your concealer. Tony watches you with a stupidly smug expression.

You shake your head, but your heart is still racing for a completely different reason now.

Because even after everything, even after the chaos Nathan caused, one thing is crystal clear.

You and Tony? You’re solid. And no one—not Nathan, not anyone—can change that.