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aonungslvr · 1 year ago

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he’s…what?

pairing ; jealous! ao’nung x f!sully! reader

taggings ; 🪽⭐️🐚

summary ; ao’nung quickly falls for the sully sister after she arrives in his village, but who is this boy she keeps talking about?

3.1k words

when you and your family had first arrived in awa’atlu you hated it. the sound of ilu’s chirping and waves thrashing against the sand wasn’t normal. the smell of salt was disgusting. there were no trees to shield you from the suns rays or give you coverage when you wanted to be alone. no grass or cool dirt to dig your feet into.

this wasn’t your home; you belong in the forest. you had been chased out of your home after having a knife held to your throat by sky demons; obviously you weren’t happy to be here.

your nerves certainly were not eased when the tsahík of the metkayina, ronal, had grabbed your four-fingered hand to show the crowd. you were instantly met with hisses and snarls from the lighter blue clan. you gently trembled at her touch, less from fear and more from annoyance, and continued staring into the sand, trying to dig your feet into it like dirt. it was too hot; this wasn’t your dirt. your mother intervened, seeing your discomfort, and held you to her; raising her fangs towards the tsahìk. your father entered himself in hopes of calming the situation down, showing the clan his own 4 fingered hand.

when ronal had moved on and the attention focused on the leaders of the metkayina, you glanced up, seeing the ocean clan more clearly this time. you had noticed a girl and two boys closer to your family than the others; they looked around your age. the female was eyeing your youngest brother before her vision shifted towards you. she offered you a warm smile along with a small wave. you looked her up and down before giving her your own smile and wave, though you lowered your hand as you could tell she was now focused on your extra finger.

you looked beside her to see a taller boy with a bun, he had been the one to make fun of your brothers thin tails, the tail you all shared. you sighed and continued staring at the teen, for some reason you couldn’t stop. that was proved false when the boy looked your way, you diverted your eyes back to the sand as fast as you could. you hadn’t been able to see it, but the teal na’vi eyed you up and down silently. his shorter friend slapped his arm and laughed at him, whispering something you couldn’t quite pick up.

apparently whatever your parents and the leaders were talking about had been concluded. you heard the olo’keytans stern and loud voice speak out among the crowd, before he faced your family directly and spoke a bit softer.

“my son ao’nung, and my daughter tsireya will show you our ways.”

ao’nung and tsireya. the boy you had stared at spoke up in disagreement, leading you to his name being ao’nung, as well as him being the chiefs son. the kind girl had also made herself to be tsireya when she guided your family to your new home.

you walked among kiri, trailing shortly behind her. you followed tsireya and ao’nung had followed from behind you all, paired with his little friend.

“i do not like it here kiri.” you spoke as you looked up to face her.

she scoffed in return, “yeah me neither.”

“these are ilu, if you want to live here, you have to ride.”

you and your siblings were all hip length deep in the sea, surrounded by multiple swimming animals, they were called ilu. they reminded you of your ikran.

the ocean siblings had been tasked with training you all to learn how to survive within their clan, and it was time to tame your animal.

tsireya first helped lo’ak, you already knew why. it was quite obvious. he had settled onto the creatures back and held onto the saddle. he made tsaheylu with the marine animal and she took off. you watched as your brother had tried to hold on as best he could but was ripped off due to the speed and pressure that being underwater included.

he had failed miserably and tsireya continued to guide him, but you couldn’t all wait for him. (you’d be there for years.)

ao’nung had invited you over a few feet to show you how to get your own ilu. he explained the process just as tsireya had. you mounted the animal and waited for instruction.

“hold here, when you make the bond, you need to think with her. not against her. let her guide you.”

after seeing what happened with lo’ak, you figured that was a load of bullshit and you would be swept away too. you gripped on the saddle with one hand and grabbed your braid with the other.

“your position is wrong.”

the blue teen pushed your back down and shifted your legs. the feeling was different, the extra skin on his arms were odd. your heartbeat quickened for a moment and the ilu beneath you flapped her fins.

“there. remember, bond gentle.”

you connected your kuru with the creature, and took off. you panicked for a little until you were reminded with how dramatic lo’ak is. he had made this look like such a hard task, it really wasn’t too bad. the water pressure threatened you but you were able to manage. you tightened your grip and squeezed your eyes shut. as you felt the tide flow with you, you slowly opened your eyes. you instructed your ilu to slow it down, which she listened too.

the sea wasn’t horrible. there were so many new creatures you had never even known about. you looked among the fish and corals as you smiled at the sight. feeling your chest begin to tighten, you and your ilu went back up to the surface, swimming closer to where you had left the others.

tuk was the first to congratulate her big sister, “that was so cool (y/n)!”

“yeah way better then lo’ak”, laughed your eldest brother, neteyam.

“ok bro, who invited toruk makto?” your youngest brother was always the jokester, and you laughed at the reference.

looking back at your mentor, you noticed ao’nung hadn’t held any malice or laughter towards you, you took that as a good sign.

throughout the training of your family, you had sectioned off into unofficial groups. tsireya tended to assist lo’ak and tuk, while ao’nung helped neteyam, kiri, and you. ao’nung had tried selling you off to tsireya because he was upset he had to deal with three sully’s while his sister only had two. she had argued that having tuk was basically like having two in one, and she stood with her statement.

with annoyance, he taught you what you all needed to know to adjust to the ocean. most of his lessons were filled with sighs and reprimands when someone would do something wrong, but that had started to fade lately.

“what do you mean ao’nung is nicer? no he isn’t? he still makes fun of us during training…”

oh.

it had only began to fade for you.

well this was fine, neteyam was probably just exaggerating. after all, he was certainly a charmer yesterday.

. . .

“you are not breathing right.”

you and ao’nung sat on a jagged rock in the middle of the reef, he was giving you a private lesson on holding your breath because apparently you were falling behind. (not true.)

you looked at him as he demonstrated how to intake the air and hold it, but it just looked like normal breathing. you tried to repeat what he did but it still wasn’t good enough for him.

“what are you even doing? are you even breathing?”

you rolled your eyes and looked away from the teal teenager, he was so dramatic.

“pay attention to me forest girl,” he redirected your face back towards his.

he placed one of his wide hands on your smaller diaphragm and the other where your heart layed.

you panicked at the sudden contact and prayed he couldn’t feel your heartbeat pick up beneath his touch.

“eywa please i never ask for anyth-“

“your heartbeat is fast. that’s why you cannot breathe.”

thanks great mother.

despite the metkayina’s teasing, he had genuinely seemed to adjust to you. you two spent more one on one training together and even hung out when it wasn’t time to train.

it was nearing eclipse when ao’nung had come to your families marui, unfortunately, your father had noticed him first.

“what are ya’ doin’ here boy.”

the shorter navi hesitated for a moment until he was able to speak up,

“i’m- i’m here for (y/n.) sir.”

your father looked him up and down with a stern look on his face. ao’nung was convinced he would be thrown outside by toruk makto himself. jake grunted and leaded down into your new friends face.

“she’s back by 10 before eclipse. a second after and i’ll cut your tail off. she comes back with even a hint of your touch on her i’ll drag you deep into the ocean by your braid and leave you there. understood?”

“yeah- got it.”

“i said understood.”

“uh-understood sir!”

your dad sighed before finally alerting you of the conversation,

“(y/n!) visitor!”

you showed up at the door as your father was walking away, and was greeted with the sight of ao’nung shaking in the sand.

“hey ao’nung! you alright?”

he eyed the exit, indicating you to leave with him. once you step out he grabbed your thinner arm and ran towards the shore, looking back for the deadly gaze of jake sully.

“oh my god (y/n) why didn’t you tell me your dad is fucking terrifying.”

you giggled and brought your hand to your lips, trying to conceal it.

“whatever, no big deal, follow me.”

despite his ego being damaged, he led you along the shore, pointing out some shells he though you would like on the way. you two eventually made it to the more foresty part of his island, farther from the clan.

you were unaware this area existed and instantly fell in love. it had been months since you had seen a tree. the sight reminded you of your home and it brought you so much happiness. you glanced at the back of ao’nungs head as you continued to follow him where he led. you two made it to a part of the small forest that opened out into the beach. you could see the sunset and water clashing onto the sand all from behind a tree.

“ao’nung! this is so beautiful, it’s just like the forest!”

“well yeah, that’s what i was hoping for..”

he was hiding his flushed face but you could hear the smile he was trying to hold back.

“come!”

you grabbed his arm towards a tree you deemed was tall and had enough branches. effortlessly, you climbed up the tree. you jumped and stood on branches, easily making it to the high thin branch you wanted. you had planted your left leg and arms on the branch as your right leg hung down.

the lighter blue na’vi watched you and his mouth dropped open. he had made fun of your family for being poor divers, but god you were good at climbing. him and his friends would break the branches if they were to ever try that.

“get up here!”

“yeah…i don’t think so.”

you quickly remembered you were among the sea people now, and their bodies simply weren’t built for climbing like you were.

“ah right.”

you hopped down onto a lower branch then the ground, the teen boy staring in aw yet again. you ran up to him and pulled him into a hug while giggling.

“thank you ao’nung, really. this was great”

he scoffed in embarrassment and rubbed his neck,

“yeah, we’ll there’s actually one more thing. i was just wondering if you’d l-“

you cut him off before he could finish his question.

“this is just like what txäol would show me!”

what.

ever since the first mention of this “txäol” they kept coming.

no matter how many times ao’nung tried to get you to like him more, it always ended up as a talk about txäol.

“ao’nung this necklace is so pretty! it looks like the one txäol gave me!”

“txäol used to say that! he’s super funny.”

“oh eywa this shell would look great next to the flowers txäol gave me!”

you were beyond oblivious at the way ao’nungs eye would twitch when you brought up your best friend from back in the forest.

it was a comment on the gifts he’s given you, or the stories he used to tell you, or sometimes you would show the metkayina boy some things the omatikayan gave you before you left the forest.

ao’nung raised his concerns with tsireya first. she was pretty close to you, so he thought she might have some intel.

. . .

tsireya automatically burst out laughing when her brother questioned her.

“your-your joking right? sweet eywa, your so funny! your helpless brother- truly!”

“what- tsireya what are you talking about?! who is txäol?!”

“oh-oh my eywa i cant-“ she continued laughing.

“is he her boyfriend?!”

this just caused tsireya to start laughing again. she gripped her stomach and bent over, unable to stop the giggles that flowed out of her.

“whatever- your never any help! i’ll just ask her!”

and so that’s what he did.

the teal teenager approached you while you were mounting your ilu, getting ready to go hunting.

“(y/n)!”

you turned your head to the sound of your name and saw ao’nung riding his own ilu towards you.

“oh- hey! did you need anything? i was just about to head out.

he had been torturing himself over this question for so long he just cut to the point.

“is txäol your boyfriend?!”

you paused and had no words. your ilu had picked up on your shock and had even dropped her own jaw.

“t-txäol? h-“

you were cut off by the reef na’vi.

“if he is- just tell me. i understand if you have a lover back home that you can’t forget about. all i’m asking is you let me know!”

“he’s n-“ you tried to speak before you were interrupted again.

“i just can’t deal with the not knowing! i see you, (y/n), and i need to know if you see me too! you talk about this txäol guy all the time, so if your in love with him instead, tell me! i won’t be an-“

“he’s gay!”

oh.

bonus!!

the sky people had finally returned back to their planet, and wouldn’t be coming back this time. this meant your people were safe. you could go back to the forest! back to the forest��

when you first arrived at the reef, all you could think about was going home, and how happy you would be. but now that home was right in front of you, you just couldn’t. not without ao’nung.

you two had recently began courting each other, and had plans of mating once you both completed your rite of passages. you couldn’t leave him behind now. so if you couldn’t leave him behind..why not take him with you!

. . .

you yipped for your ikran, calling her down to the sandy shores.

“seyä! hi girl!” you rubbed her nose and cleaned off some sand off her head.

you mounted seyä and invited ao’nung to do the same.

“no fucking way.”

“she doesn’t bite!”

“yes the fuck she do? look at her!”

“aww you poor thing..is he being mean to you?”

you rubbed your ikrans head and made tsaheylu. she flapped her wings and screeched, scaring the hell out of ao’nung.

“yeah there’s no way i’m going anywhere near that th-“

he was cut off as seyä picked him up under his arms using her claws, flying up in the air. you giggled and grabbed ao’nungs hands, pulling him up behind you on the saddle.

“that wasn’t so bad- right?” you could swore you saw a tear running down his face, but he denies it.

. . .

the fly had taken a few days and you were exhausted, ao’nung had given you company and made sure to hold you extra tight when you were getting tired. if it wasn’t for him stopping you to make you sleep, you probably would’ve flown while sleeping.

after what felt like years, you finally arrived back at the forest. you flew over the trees until you saw the omatikaya people, your people. your smile had began hurting your jaw as you landed your ikran on a tree, hopping off and landing on the branches. you would just jumped right down but you had to help the metkayina.

“here- just..place this foot here. and then this arm right here.”

it took awhile (32 minutes) to get him down around 7 branches. it usually took you a few seconds, but who were you to judge.

he mainly just trailed behind you as you greeted so many friends you had missed. he felt like the outsider now, surrounded by darker blue people with thin limbs. he stayed back until he heard someone scream your name. a boy scream your name.

“(y/n)! oh my eywa- your back!” he ran up to you and embraced you in the tightest hug out of everyone else.

ao’nung looked this guy up and down and frowned at him, about to step in and announce himself as your boyfriend until you spoke up.

“txäol! oh i missed you so much-!”

oh. him. the metkayinas anger was reduced, but still present. this boy was all over you! how could he not be upset? he stepped up closer to you and wrapped his hands around your waist, hugging you from behind.

“oh- txäol meet ao’nung, ao’nung meet txäol!”

txäol raised his nonexistent eyebrows at how the boy hugged you and eyed you. he would definitely need you to tell him about everything he missed.

“i’m txäol, (y/n)’s best friend!”

“ao’nung. her mate.”

you kicked ao’nungs knee, trying to get him to be nicer. he was still jealous and god did it show.

“speaking of mates..” txäol started.

you stared and him and gasped. “your lying.”

“(y/n) meet ityea, my boyfriend.”

a shorter omatikayan male entered from the forest and held txäol’s hand. you screeched. like loud. ikran loud.

“txäol oh my eywa i can’t even- you guys are so cute!!” you hugged your best friend and spun around.

“right?! but no- you guys too! i can’t believe you found someone in another clan- you guys are adorable!!”

ao’nung backed up and grounded himself. right. he was gay.

#aonung #ao'nung x reader #aonung x reader #ao’nung x female reader #ao’nung x you #ao’nung x sully!reader #avatar #avatar the way of water #avatar fanfiction #avatar x you #co writes !!#this took way too long #i’m sorry #sully!reader #sully daughter

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throwaway-yandere · 1 year ago

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FLAWLESS (Yandere!Various Genshin/Reader)

A/n: This is a complete interactive fic w/ CGs! There’s an HP system and 4 possible endings (yandere!Scaramouche, Alhaitham, Kaveh, and Kazuha). This is my final fanfic and I really put my best effort into drawing and writing this. Have fun!!! Your choices matter so read the evidences properly and try not to get a bad ending hahaha. (Pls answer this poll after and feel free to send me memes about who you got hAHHAHA)

Unreliable Synopsis: (Danganronpa!Genshin AU) If this is your last dance as an idol, then you do not want it. No. You’ll make the real criminal sing instead.

CW: yandere themes, blood, murders (well duh ansy–), and brief mentions of suicide.

Kazuha frowned. "For (L/n) (Y/n), this whole ordeal must seem like a flawless crime."

"They don't know the murder weapon, the suspects— no nothing." Kaveh sighed.

Alhaitham interjected. "Indeed, but the real questions will begin in a moment."

Words punctured the air in nameless accusations. Each time people enter this room, only distrust looms acting both as a safety blanket and suffocating plastic. You stared at the people left. One, two, three, four, five... You clenched your fist, and all those fingers pointed back at you.

The sixth.

There are only six survivors left.

"Say, (L/n) (Y/n)." Your Akademiyan companions stared at you as Kunikuzushi’s smirk could practically be heard in his voice. "Where were you at the time of the murder?"

You gulped.

The Teyvat Akademiya. Home only to the most renowned student of their craft. The faculty carefully picks out select groups of students to be their new freshmen- and it can only be counted by hand how many had declined such a generous offer. It was a government state university, but it was also a golden ticket to knowing people from high places.

Each student was known for contributing something in their fields of interest. In fact, both your adoptive siblings were alumni of this prestigious school. Your brother Aether was a famous "adventurer" (as he loved to call himself instead of an artifact-obsessed archeologist) whereas your sister Lumine was a remarkable swordswoman with a straight-edged track record. Even your older friends, Dainsleif, and a certain glasses-wearing individual you had forgotten the name of were graduates and now boast incredible resumes befitting of an Akademiyan. Each alumnus you've met wasn't someone any person with a head on their shoulders would dare disrespect.

But that was not the reason for your schoolmates’ evident intimidation.

“Allow them a moment to process,” Alhaitham scoffed. “The Body Discovery Announcement was approximately 2 hours ago. It’s challenging for individuals from the entertainment industry such as them to comprehend complicated matters in a few seconds.”

“I would’ve fainted at your rare attempt at empathy if it wasn't obviously pointed,” Kaveh scoffed before turning to you with a soft stare. “(Y/n), don’t listen to these two, I’m sure we can find out if you’re innocent or not later.”

You gave a short nod of assent.

Tragically, murders had become the norm for college students like yourself. No one has flinched at Kaveh’s grim mention of a suspect lurking by and none had the insanity to deny what had occurred.

It began when you first woke up in one of the Akademiya's classrooms. You stirred awake on a desk near Shikanoin Heizou, the "Detective Prince". He was a famous figure, so you instantly believed him when he said you were both hauled into this location against your will. You were enthused by his infectious desire to uncover whatever was behind the “kidnapping” you found yourselves in. He told you not to worry, that despite the barred windows and inaccessible exits, you'd both "probably" find a way out. As you both wandered around the area, you found fourteen other students (some familiar faces, some not as much). For a brief moment of hope, everyone thought escape was possible.

That was until a certain cold-eyed puppet entered the scene.

A heartless puppet you’re sure was waiting for everyone just under that elevator.

“Is… Is this everyone?” You asked like a mouse, frightened as your eyes darted for any hints of twinned cyan hair. Nothing about your recent behavior had gone unnoticed.

Senior Faruzan is missing…

Yoimiya frowned, grabbing your hand for comfort. “(Y/n)…”

Kunikuzushi scoffed. “Enough of this dumb ohhh boohoo exhibit. Let’s go.”

The most mysterious of the bunch left for the stairs immediately, punching the button on the elevator to its ground floor. Yoimiya huffed, muttering complaints about Kuni’s behavior while the three other men followed her silently. No one took the stairs two at a time and walked at a snail’s pace. A clear indication that no one wanted this to occur.

And just like in the previous cases, Kazuha’s eyes were on you the entire time but spoke nothing of this behavior.

The elevator door opened. You looked at the camera above it. If the Shogun's words are to be trusted, then the outside world is watching your every move like reality TV.

If that's the case, might as well give them a show.

Kunikuzushi stepped aside, royally ushering everyone— and specifically YOU— in.

“Idols first.”

Everyone entered the trial room. If the mood from earlier was tense, it is worse now that you’re inside. Stepping into the cold room makes the situation all the more real.

There is an execution waiting to happen, but without a hint if it’ll be “us” or “them”. Every bright person inside the room here had previously partaken in 4 of these court sessions by force. Since no one can exit the premises nor contact the outside world, the only key out was to kill and avoid getting caught. 5 people had attempted to commit murder, and considering how you’re still breathing, none of the “blackened” had succeeded in getting their way.

How… How did it come to this?

You enrolled in the Akademiya in hopes that you'd also find the subtle clues as to why Aether went missing, this wasn't in your plan.

Getting roped into this killing “game” was on no one’s to-do list. You received an invitation to enroll in the Akademiya because of your stark idol career, although your siblings being famous alumni may have greatly increased your chances of receiving that privilege. You would’ve thrown that paper into the fire if you knew you’d get dizzy upon arriving in the Akademiya and will wake up in such a heartbreaking dilemma. Hearing from a grapevine, you discovered that Kaveh was invited for his architectural drafts, Kazuha for his poems and a bit of swordsmanship in his repertoire, Yoimiya for her firework shows, and Kunikuzushi?… You don’t know. But you are wholly aware as to why Alhaitham is here as your senior— you were there when he opened his letter after all.

The “mascot” is yet to make her entrance. So, as “obedient” students, you’ve uncomfortably shuffled to the places you were meant to stand. Bile rose inside your throat as you looked at the last five students excluding yourself circling the room— with Faruzan’s crossed-out portrait to your right while Kamisato Ayaka’s on your left. It would appear that most of the dead students were on your side and the closest breathing person next to you was Kunikuzushi, who was two photographs away.

Alhaitham, Amber, Tighnari, Ajax, Albedo, Kamisato Ayaka, You, Faruzan, Xiao, "Kunikuzushi", Kaveh, Cyno, Yoimiya, Layla, Yunjin, Kaedehara Kazuha, and Shikanoin Heizou.

The deceased faces had been crossed out in bright violet paint, a nauseatingly unsubtle reminder that only six remained. Yet, the one that was meant to sit towering above was missing.

“… Where’s The Shogun?” Kazuha asked.

“Ah, so you do have a voice. And here I was about to call you a cricket. I thought our poet lost his words, considering how the previous trial ended,” Kunikuzushi mocked, rolling his eyes. “Just wait and see.”

You sighed, hoping it was quiet enough for Kuni not to have heard it.

The last trial broke everyone’s spirits and sense of camaraderie the most. Before trials, the puppet gives everyone an incentive to kill. In the Ayaka-Heizou murder case, each student was given a videotape that raised more questions than answers. Yours was a clip of Lumine, your fellow theater actors, and idol mates congratulating you for your enrollment before it cuts off to a scene of your home burned to cinders. As for Ayaka, hers was a short-lived message of her older brother asking her to come visit the clan for Thoma’s upcoming birthday— before it cuts to a gruesome scene of her brother fatally wounded on their living room floor.

“Find out what happens once you graduate!”... and then the tape ends.

Whoever was the mastermind behind this killing, you had to admit, they were an expert in psychological torture. And unfortunately for everyone, Ayaka was a smart individual— killing the most trustworthy student, Heizou, to cover her tracks better. She put up quite the fight in manipulating everyone to think that you and Kaveh were possible culprits.

You even got into an argument with the calmest person around. Kazuha was “convinced” that Ayaka was right, which led to you two entering an incredibly heated argument that left him depressed with his rejected apology. You were on "good terms" with him before, that being he would always offer to cook food and accompany you often.

… Perhaps that was a good thing. Discreetly, you thought he strangely knew you to a degree that makes you far from comfortable. It still bugs you how he knew you all too well and yet you know nothing about him other than his aspirations: traditional Inazuman poetry writing with a bit of karuta on the side.

Maybe he used to be a big fan of yours? Even so, the foundation of your music, choreography, and persona was weaved through a tapestry of feel-good lies. And yet, he was wise enough to speak your true thoughts before you even hesitated to voice them in your cheery idol tone.

But that’s not the issue right now.

The issue on your plate was that you had no evidence to prove your innocence except for the list of school rules on your E-Handbook because you were convinced someone will kill you during the investigation.

You laughed to yourself bitterly. Might as well review those rules now.

You opened the E-Handbook.

As per “school rules”, there are regulations to be had in a murder game, but none stick to you as these three. Rule #10 and #7: A class trial will commence after three or more students have discovered a corpse, and a Body Discovery Announcement will play as soon as it occurs. However, a trial will be held if and only if every survivor is present; failure to do so will result in class “expulsion.”

And the last rule that never left your mind was Rule #8: If the guilty party is exposed during the class trial, they alone will be executed.

By the end of Trial #4, she did not receive a proper execution. Ayaka was compelled to restore her honor and raised her sword to…

…

… You couldn’t hate her for it. Even though you were close friends with Heizou, you couldn’t hate any of your fellow students. They all had family, hopes, and visions for the future. Each one here was "a fledgling barely out of the nest." You couldn’t deny that you would’ve done the same.

"Since the Shogun isn't here yet, let's get a headstart," Kaveh gripped the court fence, eyeing everyone with a nervous stare and stiff posture. "What's your alibis?"

Nobody raised their voice initially. You cast a pitying glance toward Kaveh. When it comes to your closest friendships, he comes in second only to Heizou. As someone who had seen the horrors of the media which is essentially a mirror of the world's social issues, Kaveh's one of the few decent individuals left on the planet, in your opinion. In moments of quiet, you, Kaveh, and Faruzan used to chat together, with Heizou periodically interrupting to share his findings regarding everyone's entrapment.

Considering how Kaveh is your last true friend left, you volunteered yourself.

"I never left my room," you spoke audibly depressed, no longer caring that you appeared un-idol-like. "And I refused entry as well. I heard a couple of angry knocks at 9:37 p.m., but I didn't open my door for anyone."

You looked at Kazuha, hurt and accusingly.

You'd never forget how Kazuha called you a murderer. That intense argument made up 30% of Heizou's class trial. He lost his composure and called you a "dishonorable monster". The whole back-and-forth was very much unlike him. After the trial, neither of you talked– and you never left your room unless it was to get something to eat without anyone in sight.

If he was the one who killed Faruzan because he can’t get to you, then you’ll…

"9:37 eh? You got a watch now?" Kunikuzushi pointed at your wrist.

You snapped out of your aggression and nodded, which made him break out in a fit of laughter.

"HAHAHA!!!" Kunikuzushi grinned, wide. "Learned your lesson, huh?!"

You scoffed, but your ego was humbled and your heart sank at his harsh words.

Everyone in the room nearly lost their lives because of your time-blindness. It's precisely what made Kazuha suspicious of your motives. You were always unsure of the time, hence, you didn't have the most watertight alibi compared to Ayaka. Before you entered your room to lock yourself, Alhaitham blocked the door with his shoe and handed you his spare wristwatch. He was the last person you saw before your self-isolation.

"Good," Alhaitham said. "And you, Kunikuzushi?"

"Are we going to ignore that angry knocking thing?" Kaveh rightfully asked.

"Let's complete the first task first," Alhaitham answered. "Let's follow the circle; it's (Y/n), then Kunikuzushi, Kaveh, Yoimiya, Kazuha, then I."

"Conveniently putting yourself last," Kunikuzushi snarled. "But whatever. I was napping in my dorm. Woke up when I heard footsteps outside and decided to investigate. The discovery alarm rang off when I entered the nurse's office the second time."

Kaveh fell silent, his face pale.

"I… never went to m dorm that night"

"Oh?" You and Yoimiya curiously said in unison.

"I-I was with Alhaitham, patrolling!!!" Kaveh defended; his arms in the air. "I swear on my life, I was with him! We're probably the footsteps Kuni heard."

He spoke as if it was a good thing with his mouth, but he was whispering that it wasn’t with his eyes.

"Can't be certain," Kunikuzushi threw in a quick grumble and snapped his fingers. “But I think that's probably the case.”

"That makes sense. I mean, if Kuni was telling the truth then that just means there's more chance it's just those two hopping around. Oh, and I was actually on the second floor at the time. I was in the recreational room cause I wanted to get tokens for the cute little Shogun Stall.'' If Kuni’s side comment lasted a month, then Yoimiya's would be a year– but her good cheer is just what everyone needed to alleviate the tension.

"I wasn't in my dorm room either," Kazuha said. "I was in the cafeteria. I couldn't sleep so I decided to fry fish."

"True, I think. When I checked the cafeteria a knife was missing from the shelf."

"We’ll keep your fact-checking in mind, Miss Naganohara."

No soul was sure if Alhaitham was being genuine about it except for you. And the answer was yes, he was being warily appreciative. Admittedly, you don’t know any of these people before this killing game started, except for one person…

Alhaitham looked away, conscious of how you looked at him.

In all fairness, Alhaitham was closer to Lumine than you and Aether, and he wasn’t your favorite neighbor either. As a kid, he was the type who would leave in the middle of hide-and-seek simply because the ordeal wasn’t “stimulating” to his developing intellect. He had a habit of causing uncomfortable situations just to “observe” your reactions with an emotionless stare. Alhaitham had once given you a sumeru rose with a startling grasshopper to see how you would behave, and the worst part is that everyone knows he did these without malice. His grandmother had to force a sorry out of him for your tears to dry. “He probably has a crush on you, you know how boys are,” was the excuse the old lady tried, but your twin siblings were quick to shut that thought down. You and he were simply oil and water, nothing more, nothing less.

But there were times you two got along. When you aired out loud sentiments regarding how stuffy his room must be, you snatched the book he was reading and dashed up the nearest tree. Despite his grumbling reservations, he was thankful that you taught him how to climb that afternoon. That was the first you saw him smile wider than usual and offered to narrate the book you stole: The Little Prince.

However, that version of Alhaitham you’ve come to love remains awol amidst this killing game.

"As for my whereabouts: Kaveh is correct. He and I were patrolling just the first floor and exchanging conversation. Neither of us could sleep. We started at 9:15 and ended abruptly at 11:05, when we, along with Kunikuzushi, found–"

"The body." Kunikuzushi finished.

"Yes," Alhaitham said.

Kunikuzushi smirked. From your perspective, the worst part about this was not Kunikuzushi’s inappropriate smugness, but the look in his eyes that mirrored what Heizou used to have— what your good friend used to be. The light in his eyes, his more forward demeanor, the way he crossed his arms and snapped his fingers– it was as if he was copying him.

Mocking him.

You hate Kunikuzushi. You detest just how much you don’t know why he’s in the Akademiya or anything else about him other than his first name. You loathe how he had made it his job to be the antagonist of every damn class trial. You hate how he looks at you as though you’re beneath him. You despise how much he is willing to withhold vital information till the very end.

Kunikuzushi is like a commedia dell’arte stock character. A Scaramouche. An unreliable servant. You can’t trust a man who said he was moved by your acting in all your filmography only to act like he wants nothing more than to crush your spirits once lives were at stake.

After listening to everyone’s alibis, your intuition screamed from something deep within a place you had begun to trust after experiencing these trials:

Out of six survivors, FOUR of them are hiding something.

“Is everyone present?”

Before you could speak up, a low and refined woman’s voice stole everyone’s attention. All turned to gaze at the long synthetic-haired lady with a katana by her side. She returned the stares with an unfathomable coldness as she strutted to her throne, the silk of her grand kimono touching the floor.

There she is. The lone audience and judge. The puppet: the Almighty Raiden Shogun. Undoubtedly made of metal and not flesh. Xiao had learned that firsthand when he sacrificed his life in an honorable duel against the captor— but seeking freedom by force was of no use when she herself is capable of the murders she wished to witness.

“Very well. We shall begin.”

“W-Wait, hold up, ma'am!”

The last vaguely extroverted cheerleader raised her hand; her bravery to interrupt the Shogun was acknowledged.

“... Can I share my E-Handbook data with (Y/n)?” She asked, high-pitched.

The medical and criminological technology of this era eluded everyone. Trapped inside the Akademiya with no phones or any signal to the outside world, each student only has their E-Handbook to rely on. It contains information the owner investigated regarding murders and records testimonies made by their peers. A handbook is only “handy” for both people who were hoping to survive and those who were hoping to twist the facts.

And that offer is exactly what you need.

“You see– they didn’t leave their room during the investigation period– probably worried that the killer might be after them next and they kinda turned into a hikikomori for the past few days. I’m kinda worried they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves on this trial so… So, uh… Pretty please?” The blonde girl smiled nervously.

The Raiden Shogun stared, calculating.

“I shall allow it.”

“Thank you so much!” Yoimiya tapped her E-Handbook as fast as she could, more eager than you were in watching the loading screen fill up.

(SYSTEM: RECEIVING NAGANOHARA YOIMIYA’S E-HANDBOOK DATA…)

(SYSTEM: TRANSFER COMPLETE.)

You smiled at Yoimiya but it came out crooked and jaded. She didn’t complain that you weren’t at your top form today, but she did send you a loud “Do your best!” in her native tongue.

The Shogun walked to the throne and took her seat.

“Now then, let the class trial begin.”

Out like a bolt of lightning, the doors behind you were completely shut with metal bars in her flick of a wrist. In her twisted form of justice, she hammered the circular surface with her gavel.

“Court is now in session.”

(SYSTEM: TAP HERE TO CONTINUE)

1K notes · View notes

shinysobi · 4 months ago

Text

pretty u

summary: when joshua, your best friend gets engaged, you can't help but feel as though you're missing out on something important. jihoon, your other best friend, kindly offers to set you up with one of his many friends. chaos ensues, seungkwan is an observer who knows everything, and unfortunately, mingyu is a hapless victim.

pairing: woozi x fem!reader

genre: crack, fluff, angst

word count: 10k~ish

warnings: alcohol consumption, general warnings apply

A/N: uhh..hi? this is the first time i've written rpf, and it makes all the more sense for it to be centred around woozi, my svt bias. this has no plot at all, and i just wrote it for fun and vibes...also unbetaed, so if you see any mistakes, no u did not :)) shout out to my twitter gc for cheering me on as i wrote this hehe u guys are the best

a/n 2: reblogs and comments are much appreciated! please tell me if you're liking this lmao

chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3

Chapter 1

Whoever said that every love story is universal, was not lying, unfortunately. Every good love story is a mix of tropes that unfortunately work well together to form a coherent plot. And the longer you read books, the easier it becomes for you to identify (or avoid) these tropes.

The enemies turn into lovers.

The friends turn into lovers.

The inn only has one available bed.

Your brother’s best friend is somehow smoking hot and doesn’t see you as an annoying little sibling anymore.

Your one-night stand is your new boss, and he is inexplicably obsessed with you.

Your parents have forced you into an arranged marriage, and your partner is a. incredibly hot and b. also obsessed with you. You get the gist, so on, and so forth.

All love stories go for a trope that becomes the central conceit of the story, no matter how unique they try to be. The small-town girl/boy falls for the hotshot city lawyer/businessman/vague marketing executive and shows them the importance of family, and of course, of love, because without it, business is notoriously low. People need romance to feel something other than hatred in their already terrible lives, and books offer escapism. Escapism and on some other level, a sense of belonging. You can identify yourself with the girl who falls in love with her brother’s best friend, or the man who has feelings for his sworn enemy, or the person who has, surprise, fallen in love, with their best friend. Or their best friend’s brother. Take your pick.

And unfortunately, as a critic, reading romance implies wading through the countless reiterations of trope-y goodness on offer at every bookstore, and trying to find something that strikes a chord. It is a given, that one has to kiss some proverbial frogs in the meantime, and of course, any professional mishap has to be accompanied with a gossip session with one’s friends, where any complaints you might have about your work, is unloaded onto the brunch table, for my friends to laugh about.

Because at the end of the day, everyone is a character in their own kind of romance novel. A victim of the tropes, if you will. In my case, I am the perpetual single childhood best friend, who puts up with every single antic of the main character. In of course, an enemies-to-lovers romance. Apparently unrequited love sells too, if its written well. If not, then it just becomes one of many repetitive marketing gimmicks that frankly, don’t sit well with anyone, let alone someone like me, who critiques books for a living.

“It’s your attitude that’s a problem.” Jihoon says, taking a sip of his coffee, “you’ve been writing for the newsdesk for years and I have never seen you actually be satisfied with a book. There’s always something that could have been better. Maybe this is why you are so—”

“I am so?” I say, eyes narrowed, “finish that sentence, Jihoon.”

“You want me to?”

“Do you really have to fight every time we meet?”

Both Jihoon and I turn our head to the third person at the table, Joshua. Dressed impeccably in a freshly ironed pair of shirt and trousers, he looks far better than either me or Jihoon, because both of us look as though we have been through botched murder attempts. I am in a hoodie and sweatpants, and Jihoon is somehow worse than me, wearing a pair of shorts and a black t-shirt. His abandoned khaki bomber jacket hangs on the back of his chair, and I cannot believe I’m saying this, but he actually looks worse when wearing the jacket. Joshua looks as though he has been seated at our table by mistake. I’m slightly annoyed by this, but it seems as though Jihoon is more annoyed than me, “what do you mean we fight every time we meet?”

Joshua makes a vague hand gesture, “really? Look at us. You both are dressed as though you’ve been through a typhoon. I feel horribly overdressed.”

“I had a long night.” I reply, “worked overtime at the desk for the Sunday paper.”

“I came here straight from the studio.” Jihoon says, “I didn’t even go home to shower.”

“See, this, this is what I am talking about.” Joshua groans, “both of you dress like homeless people, and then when you come to brunch, you fight all the time. Do you guys never get tired of fighting?”

“Never.” Both Jihoon and I say in unison.

Joshua sighs, before picking up his knife and fork, “I give up. I can never get you two to agree on anything apart from the fact that you guys, apparently, don’t fight.”

“She needs to quit complaining about her job.” Jihoon points his fork at me, “she’s got the cushiest job imaginable, and she manages to complain about it all the time. Every week, she’s here complaining about something at her job.”

“As if you don’t complain about your job all the time too,” I reply, not one to back down from a fight, “you complain about the people at your job all the time as well. And it’s not as though your job is shitty; you literally work at the biggest music corporation in the country—”

“Guys!” Joshua half-yells, and I stop. Everyone is looking at the three of us, and unlike the two of us, he looks embarrassed. “Guys, if you have to fight every time we meet, maybe I suggest we stop this weekly brunch. Jesus—”

“Oh, he swore,” Jihoon whispers, and I giggle, “we finally made him take the Lord’s name in vain.”

“—it’s like you’re kids all over again. This isn’t freshman year of university, for heaven’s sake,” he takes an elegant sip of his coffee, “and for your information, Jesus isn’t the Lord. I’m not letting you guys get the satisfaction of hearing me fucking swear.”

“Does he hear himself?” Jihoon mutters. “I don’t think he does.” I whisper in response.

“Yes, I’m aware I said ‘fuck’, thank you very much.” Joshua sits back in his chair, “I’m proposing to Eunseo tonight.”

“Tonight?” Jihoon yells, bolting upright from his chair, and everyone in the restaurant looks at us, “you’re proposing to her tonight?”

Joshua grabs his hand to drag him back onto his chair, “yes, tonight. Are you stupid? Everyone is looking at us now.” He looks at me, “what do you think about it?”

Oh. Oh.

Remember when I said that my role in a romance novel is that of the eternally-spurned childhood friend? The one who has loved the main character from a distance, never really daring to express their feelings? Well, I’ve not known Joshua since my childhood, we met at high school, and it hasn’t been that long since I discovered that I might have a tiny, the most miniscule of crushes on him. But I’m that trope. The childhood friend who gets spurned, and the main character turns away to the actual love of their life, leaving only a broken heart behind. Too little, too late.

Well, who wouldn’t?

He’s tall, good-looking, gentlemanly, with just the right amount of unhinged, has a good, stable, get-off-at-the-right-time government job, and above all, he’s unflinchingly kind to everyone. Yes, including me and Jihoon, even though we make his life a living hell on most days. Realistically, it was only a moment of time before either Jihoon or I had any feelings for him. And I was betting on Jihoon too. Fuck.

“Are you okay?” Joshua’s voice is soft, insisting, and all I can see when I break out of my reverie is the swoop of his collarbones as they disappear under the shirt, and suddenly I feel very dirty. Not just dirty, but also simply awful. Why am I out here thinking about his collarbones when he’s thinking about how to propose to his girlfriend? His very nice, very beautiful girlfriend?

“I’m fine,” I nod my head, “have you picked out a ring for her?”

“Not yet, but I have a kind of ring in mind already.” He says, turning to Jihoon and starting to talk about the different cuts of diamonds that are present at Tiffany’s, and how they suit different kinds of people. Eunseo, I learn, is partial to a pear cut. Jihoon, the idiot, who can’t shut up when it comes to arguments with me, is unnaturally quiet, only offering comments here and there. It’s very uncharacteristic.

And then he gets that look on his face which is a signal for both me and Jihoon that we are about to hear an hour’s worth of praises of Eunseo, and I step in. Making a vague sign towards my completed plate of fish and chips (not that great, the fish was soggy) I say, “before he begins singing praises of his girlfriend, sorry, fiancé, can we get the check?”

“You keep saying it as though you don’t know how much I love her.” Joshua sounds annoyed but unfortunately, I can see through his mask of fake annoyance, “I already paid.”

“Thank goodness, I forgot my wallet.” Jihoon smiles, “for a moment, I thought I would have to use my online wallet.”

“Aren’t you ashamed?” I elbow him lightly in the ribs, and he doesn’t even flinch. Apparently, music producers these days have to be certified gym rats, or they won’t let them into the building, “you’ve mooched off of Joshua and me for the past twelve years, maybe it’s time to start paying.”

“Maybe I do pay, but I just don’t like you.” Jihoon replies, sarcasm evident in his tone, “so I don’t want to pay for your meal.”

“You little—” I’m about to commit a murder in broad daylight, but Joshua, the sweet angel that he is, stops both of us, waving his card in between like a bullfighting matador.

“You guys just don’t stop, do you?” He grins, evidently thinking about how he’s going to propose to his loving girlfriend this evening. Nauseating. It makes me want to throw up. Because Joshua is not going to wake up one morning and decide that he wants to throw away his living relationship of five years to—to pursue his unfortunate best friend, who has nursed an unfortunate attraction towards him for the past year. That is never going to happen. So, let’s scratch that. That should not happen.

Because apart from being unfairly gorgeous and rich and beautiful and did I mention gorgeous? Eunseo is also unflinchingly nice, the kind of nice that leaves other people wondering if the person in front of them is real or not, or if they have some kind of hidden intentions that border on murderous or at the very least, fraudulent. She’s the one who took me under her wing when I was a freshman and had no friends except the two weird guys in my required sociology class, and thanks to her, at the end of four years of university, I had friends in the journalism club, people I come into contact on occasion such as weddings and the odd reunion.

Her niceness is also the reason why Joshua fell for her at first sight.

“I’m out.” Jihoon picks up the abomination of a bomber jacket from his chair, “and before you ask, no, hyung, I’m not helping you with picking out a ring for your girlfriend. You can do that yourself. Or ask her for help.”

And before Joshua can look at me and before I make a fool out of myself (yet again), I turn away, rejecting his proposal for looking at pear-cut diamond rings on a Sunday morning, “I’m ideologically against the institution of marriage. Do it yourself.”

Joshua sighs, because of course he has anticipated this. The fucker. “cannot believe you’re still on your Dworkin streak. Fine,” he says, getting up from his chair and walking out of the café, “I’ll get Eunseo’s ring myself. And when she asks, I’ll tell her that none of you helped me.”

“Ooh, threatening your girlfriend on us, I’m shaking in my boots,” Jihoon replies, sarcasm evident in his voice, digging through his pockets to get his car keys, “when are you planning to get the ring?”

“Later, in the afternoon,” Joshua is opening the door to his car, and looking at me, “do you want me to give you a ride? Your house is on the way.”

“She only takes buses and the subway,” Jihoon grins, “don’t you remember the time in university when she kept saying about how much she likes welfare policies and transportation benefits?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I reply, elbowing him, harder this time, and Jihoon flinches, “I’ll just go to the office. Jihoon will give me a ride.”

“When did I say that I’ll give you a ride?” Jihoon looks like he wants to begin an argument with me in front of the café, but he acquiesces, “ugh, fine. I’ll give you a ride. Your office is on the way.”

—

“I’m still not convinced that you simply wanted to ‘spend time with me’.” Jihoon grumbles an hour later, seated at his studio and fiddling with his computer. “You’ve been lying there and scrolling twitter for hours now.”

“Your couch is much better than my office chair,” I hum a non-committal reply, before making myself further comfortable into the soft plush material of his couch, “and I’m not scrolling on twitter, I’m trying to find another flat to move into.”

“Lease up?” Jihoon asks, “wasn’t your agreement still valid for at least another few months?”

“I’m just trying to get ahead of the curve,” I reply, “if I start looking from now, maybe I’ll get a better flat by the time the lease is up. My current flat is—”

“A shithole.” Jihoon finishes my sentence for me, “seriously, I don’t know how you manage to live there. And you’ve been holding onto that flat for the past seven years. everyone moved out of their university flats, but you managed to hold onto yours for so long.”

“That’s because it’s a good deal,” I mutter, “ugh, I can’t manage to find a single good deal on any of the flats.”

“Because you’re never satisfied with any deal,” Jihoon replies, “your ideal deal is if everything was free.”

“And I still maintain that housing should not be monetised.”

“Why thank you for that insight, comrade.” Jihoon puts a finger to his mouth, “shut up for a while, I’m trying to concentrate on this song.

“Who’s it for?” I sit up, intrigued, “a new artist?”

“The company’s new girl group.” Jihoon says, “I was asked to produce the title track for their debut. I only have four months on hand, and I still haven’t finished the track. The higher-ups are going to have my head for this.”

“No, they won’t,” I reply, “they like you too much. Speaking of—”

“—if you want me to give you an interview, I won’t, I’ve already told you five times,” Jihoon cuts me off, wheeling his chair away from me, “jeez, you’re tenacious.”

“Oh, but come on, it’ll be fun,” with an extra emphasis on come on, I think I’ve got Jihoon’s attention, “people keep speculating on the kind of person you are. I mean, people know Woozi, but do they know what kind of person he is, underneath all that secrecy? You’ve never given an interview, and you keep avoiding any kind of public appearance. One might think you hate the spotlight.”

“Even if I were to give an interview, I wouldn’t be giving it to you. Who knows how you’re going to spin my words.”

“I’m hurt, Lee Jihoon. This has hurt me.”

Jihoon turns around and blows me a raspberry. I roll my eyes. Is he twenty-eight, or just eight? “whatever you say won’t affect the way I think. I still won’t give you an interview.”

“Just so you know, I’m known to be an excellent interviewer.” I say, walking over to his chair, “come on, Jihoon-ah, give me an interview. Please?”

“No.”

“Pretty please?”

“No.”

“Pwease?”

He turns around at that, fixing me with a stare, “don’t you ever fucking do aegyo in front of me. I’m going to kill you if you do that again.”

“See, if you gave me an interview like I’m asking you to, then I would not have a reason to subject you to aegyo, but as things stand, you really give me nothing else to work with.”

“Ask Joshua for an interview then, if you’re so desperate for one,” the words coming out of anyone else’s mouth would have given me enough reason to walk out of the room, but Jihoon made them sound softer, almost romantic. It was funny, how he managed to change the intonations of every word, changing them to his whims. I suppose that’s what I do with words, and that’s what he does with sounds.

“Joshua is not the elusive Woozi,” I flop back onto the sofa as I counter, trying actively to not think about Joshua picking out a ring at Tiffany’s for Eunseo right at that moment, “he’s an adjunct professor. Not the most interview-friendly of all occupations.”

Jihoon looks at me, and for a moment, I think he’s going to ask me a very uncomfortable and difficult question, but at that moment, both our phones buzz simultaneously. I check the phone, and it’s a single message in the shared chatroom. Joshua has sent a message, a single picture of a pear-shaped diamond solitaire ring (don’t ask me how I know the cut of the diamond) with an attached message;

joshuji: picked up her ring! <3

“Damn, an exclamation point, and an emoji,” Jihoon says, typing out a reply in the chatroom, “our joshuji is entirely too far gone, isn’t he?”

I don’t say anything. Its far easier to pretend that you’re typing out a reply and can’t hear anything, especially when it comes to Jihoon. He’ll take anything in stride.

hoon: wow Eunseo has you whipped

big dick (canon): hey I think it’s cute

Jihoon sets his phone down with an audible clack, and fuck, I’ve messed up. Joshua is oblivious and blissfully happy in his own little life, but Jihoon? The Jihoon that I’ve known ever since our seats were beside each other in the sociology class that made me develop an irrational fear of surveyors? He’s single-minded whenever it comes to pursuing anything. One doesn’t become the most sought-after music producer in the industry with just talent, they need to be dogged in their pursuit of success. And unfortunately, when Lee Jihoon turns his mind to something, he accomplishes it, whether it’s producing a Billboard Hot 100 hit, or, judging by the way he’s looking at me right now, getting words out of my mouth.

“Okay, spill, I’ve seen this go on for long enough,” he says, getting up from the chair and walking over to the sofa, where I am currently hiding behind a throw pillow, “you’ve been weird for months now, and we need to talk about it.”

“We, don’t need to do anything,” I reply, “I’m perfectly fine. If something happened, I would tell you. Or Joshua. Or both of you, at the same time.”

“Like you inform us after every breakup of yours?” Jihoon laughs, “you mean to say you’re going to hold another one of your ‘meetings’ to tell me and Joshua about how some poor bastard made the mistake of trying to date you?”

“I’m actually nice when I date, and I can hold down a relationship for more than two weeks, Mr I-don’t-like-commitment. Tell me, how did your last date go? Did she walk out of the date itself, or did you ghost her?”

Jihoon blinks at me, and then, a slow, catlike smile passes over his features. Fuck.

“You’re being combative today,” he grins, and fuck, its infuriating how predictable I am, and how absolutely incapable I am of not taking his bait, “so, there is something that you’re hiding.”

“Ugh, I hate this.”

“Then you shouldn’t have taken the damn bait,” he replies, “do you want to tell me yourself, or do you want me to guess your little secret?”

“I’m not telling you anything, and its nothing you can suss out either.”

“I can just beat it out of you,” he smiles, flexing his arms, and I belatedly remember that Jihoon, to my disadvantage, had decided at the early age of twenty-one, that he was going to make up for his height by being The Broadest Man on Earth, and now carried a protein shake in his bag everywhere he went, that somehow tasted more disgusting than it looked. He could easily beat me to a pulp. And he would do it too, the little shit.

“Jihoon, remember the time I carried you home when you were drunk?” I don’t know how to do the specific variant of the thing they call ‘puppy eyes’, but I try my absolute best to emulate the little I know, “and you threw up all over my clothes? Remember? It was at Mingyu’s birthday party, and you got drunk on an empty stomach—”

“Don’t fucking do that,” he throws a pillow at me, “fuck, that’s creepy. Also, I got drunk and threw up on your clothes in my second year of university, damn, how long are you going to milk it for?”

“As long as I can,” I reply, “please, Jihoon, just this once.”

“Damn, fine, weirdo,” he stands up, going back to his chair, his back now towards me, “isn’t as though you like Joshua or something.”

I freeze, hoping that the intake of breath at that last sentence hasn’t been heard by Jihoon. I know I’m an atheist, I pray fervently, to whichever god that’s listening, God, Allah, Buddha, Jesus, if anyone’s listening, please, please, please, let Jihoon not notice—

“You like Joshua?”

Fuck.

“No.” I lie brightly, “I just—stubbed my toe on the table.”

Jihoon looks at me in a way that screams bitch, I know you’re a liar so don’t even try. “You know you’re a horrible liar, right?”

“I am?”

He nods, “its one of the many endearing things about you. But unfortunately, you’ve given yourself away now. Really, Joshua? The Joshua Hong we know?”

“Really, it isn’t like that,” I’m sweating, and praying Jihoon doesn’t notice that I’m sweating, “its nothing, and besides, I don’t even like him in that kind of way—”

“Do you want to fuck him?”

I choke on a breath and begin coughing. “What?” I manage to say, after I recover enough to breathe properly, “I don’t want to fuck anyone!”

“Great, because if you wanted to fuck him, it would have become massively awkward.” Jihoon shrugs, “since it’s one of those passing feelings, you can take care of it; it happens all the time. I once had a crush on you too. It’s bound to happen.”

“You had a crush on me?” I screech, “what the fuck, Lee Jihoon, you’re supposed to wait before dropping this kind of information on me!”

“Dude, its long gone,” Jihoon places a hand on my shoulder, a touch that’s meant to be reassuring, but it only suffices to make me angrier, “it was during my military service. I remember that you came with my parents to see me off, and it was—nice. So, I had a crush on you. I got over it when I got out of the military, though. Turns out seeing your best friend live in a hovel really does wonders for your lingering feelings.”

“For eighteen months?” I hold my head in my hands, “you had a crush on me for eighteen months? What the fuck kind of information is that? And you got out of the military three years ago!”

“M-hmm, see, that’s what I mean when I say these feelings will go away.” Jihoon looks sage, as if he’s imparting the secret to life and how to be a good Buddhist, and not bombarding my mind with information I would rather not know, “wait, have you masturbated to Joshua?”

“What the fuck?” I stand up, pacing the room at a speed that would closely rival that of an Olympian, “why would I masturbate to Joshua Hong?”

Jihoon shrugs, “people masturbate. You are a person. Hence the question.”

“Of course, I haven’t masturbated to—wait did you masturbate while thinking of me?” I’m yelling now, yelling and pacing the room like a woman possessed, because of course, Jihoon has made me lose my mind, “Lee Jihoon, did you jerk off to my pictures?”

He shrugs. “What are you going to do if I say yes?”

“I’m going to kill you, and then I’m going to kill myself,” I say, grabbing his shoulders, “you know what, Jihoon, lets do that. Let’s both die.”

“Why would I consent to a murder-suicide with you?” he sounds terribly composed, which again, does not bode well for the numerous murderous thoughts I have currently running through my head, “its just a little masturbation. I was twenty-three, I was bored to tears at the military camp, and I had a crush on you, so, I did what I did.”

“Which was apparently, masturbation.” I flop facedown on the couch, “I want to castrate you, you know that, right?”

“Figures. You’ve always been weird about sex.” Jihoon makes a face, “So, you didn’t tell me. do you want to fuck Joshua or not? Because if you do, then it just means that you want sex. If you don’t, then I can’t help you.”

“How can you help me in any way if I say I want to have sex with Joshua?” I ask, “even if I do, which I don’t, just by the way—”

“You want to jump his bones. Right.”

“—how can you even help me, short of getting me a male prostitute.” I pause, horror spreading through my features, “oh fuck. Jihoon, are you going to hire a gigolo?”

To his credit, Jihoon looks appropriately disgusted, “why would I hire a prostitute? No, I would set you up with one of my friends.”

“Who?”

He thinks for a while, then says, “Soonyoung.”

“No offence, but I’m about 90% convinced that Soonyoung is a furry.”

“Jeonghan-hyung, then.”

“He’s too similar to Joshua,” I groan, “why am I going along with this idea? This is literally the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Then do you want to help yourself?”

“Masturbate to thoughts of Joshua? Yeah, like that’s gonna work.” I hold my head in my hands, “fuck, I have to sleep with Soonyoung, don’t I? I’m half-convinced he will do a tiger impression in bed.”

“I’m fairly convinced he mimics a roar when he orgasms.” Jihoon mutters.

“Oh, fuck, now I have to talk about orgasms with you,” I say, face buried in one of the pillows, “I have to sleep with one of your weird friends and then everyone will know about my crush on Joshua and I’ll be shunned from our three-person group forever and ever—”

“Calm down, no one is going to spill your secrets,” Jihoon says, “and I have other friends too, you know. They don’t talk as much as those idiots, but they are good people.”

“But I don’t want to fuck anyone right now.”

Jihoon stares at me.

“Okay fine, maybe a little bit.” I concede, “but still, not enough to warrant a setting-up. Maybe I’m just sexually frustrated.”

“Then go fuck someone!”

“It isn’t that easy!” I snap, and Jihoon looks surprised, because its so unlike me to be incandescent over something as stupid as this, but I can’t help the shiver of anger running over me, “it isn’t so fucking easy. If it were, I would have gone and slept with a stranger from a bar. Yes, I know it’s dangerous, but I would have done it. But I’m telling you now, its difficult for me to even know if I’m attracted to Joshua, and if my attraction means I want to jump him or whatever.”

“Then what does it mean?” Jihoon, it seems, is also incapable of not reacting to my moods and temper, he gets angry easily sometimes, “What does it mean when you tell me you’re attracted to someone? We’re twenty-eight, for fuck’s sake. What the fuck else do you mean?”

“I don’t know!” I half-yell, half-sob, “I don’t know what I want, and I don’t know if I want to sleep with anyone, least of all Joshua. I’m confused, and I don’t know what to do, and all I want is a little acceptance, not you rattling of a list of people I should sleep with in order to get over my feelings for Joshua—”

“Hey, I’m sorry.”

“—and you can’t even give me that, Jihoon,” I finish lamely, looking at his concerned expression, “yeah fine, I’m leaving.”

The door is loud when I close it behind me. to his credit, Jihoon doesn’t pursue me, because even if he’s abnormally idiotic in matters like these, he’s got some sense.

—

I deeply regret befriending either of them, because both Joshua and Jihoon have apparently no sense of boundaries between people. Joshua keeps assaulting my inbox with messages along the lines of oh look how much I love my girlfriend and how much I can’t wait to see you guys and celebrate my engagement because I’ve got my life sorted out unlike YOU fuckers, and Jihoon has rewarded me with radio silence ever since I blew up in his face about his idiotic idea regarding me having sex with one of his friends.

And, as a testament to my misfortunes in life, Joshua has decided that his proposal to Eunseo must be followed up with a party thrown in her honour, or at least a dinner as per his last text message; which of course, he has to send to the shared chatroom with a variety of threatening and non-threatening messages.

joshuji: just saying if you guys aren’t here for the dinner, I’m never talking to you

hoon: aren’t proposals supposed to be an intimate thing? For couples??? Why are you asking us to be there????

joshuji: Eunseo wanted you guys to celebrate, too

joshuji: also, I’m proposing to her in the afternoon. I’m asking you guys to come over for dinner

hoon: maybe we should ask Eunseo about her feelings?

hoon: idk if she would want two others celebrating her engagement. Maybe we should stage an intervention and try to convince her to leave you. Its not too late already

big dick (canon): idk if I can make it guys

joshuji: I told u I wouldn’t be forgiving you if you don’t attend

hoon: you also tell us that every other week, I think we’ll be fine

joshuji: please?

hoon: don’t you fucking dare

big dick (canon): send us the location. Also, you’re paying

hoon: that’s the least he can do, after inflicting all this on us, and on her

joshuji: don’t worry, dinner is on me. [location attached] be there.

Fuck. Fuck my life, and fuck the two other people also in my life, and also, fuck Eunseo for good measure, because if it hadn’t been for her coming over to the mixer in third year, Joshua would never have fallen head over heels with her at first sight, and he wouldn’t have asked her out, and then I wouldn’t have had to deal with my conflicting feelings in the middle of a random Sunday. In the middle of me contemplating whether to clean my flat or not, too. If you look at it, its all her fault. Her fault for being so flawless and lovely and gorgeous that even I cannot bring myself to be jealous. The woman volunteers her free time at an animal shelter, for god’s sake. She’s the kind of person you write rambling horrible love sonnets about, and inflict them on your best friends after getting drunk and vomiting on a sidewalk at three in the morning. I should know, because that was Joshua when he was twenty-five.

Everything seems to go to shit at the same time, so of course, my landlord has to make an appearance when I’m in the middle of a neurotic episode over whether or not to do my laundry and contemplating hurling myself out of the window. His knocks are rhythmic, three seconds apart, which gives me enough time to prepare with a butcher’s knife in my hand. To ensure my safety, of course, in all my good conscience, I could never murder someone.

“Ah, yes, if it isn’t my favourite tenant,” he smiles, wide enough for me to see the gold tooth he had put in four years ago, “don’t worry, I’m only here for a routine check.”

“I bet you say that to all your tenants, Mr Kim.” I mutter, not moving from the doorway. If this man can sell me a glorified hovel posturing as a flat, I can disrespect him as much as I want. “I’ll get back to you on the renewal on my lease as soon as possible.”

The nosy bastard (man) that he is, Mr Kim cranes his neck around me to take a look inside my flat, “don’t worry, you’ve been one of my longest-running tenants for a while, you can take your time.” Then he looks at me, and the gold tooth is again on display. Ugh, I fucking hate it, “Is there a man inside? Boyfriend?”

“I don’t know why I’m saying this to you, Mr Kim, but I don’t have a boyfriend.” I reply, suppressing my urge to bury the knife held in my hand in his chest, “I was cooking, if you want to know that badly.”

“No boyfriend?” he tuts at me as though my dating life (or its lack thereof) is a personal slight against him, “but there are men coming over to your house all the time?”

“Those are my friends, Mr Kim,” I grit out, fake smile getting more brittle by the second, “men and women can be friends, you know.”

“Ah yes, I know, I know,” he nods, before clapping his hands like he’s received some sort of epiphany, “I forgot to tell you, but if you do decide to renew,” here he takes a deep breath, as if he’s bestowing upon me some great honour, “the rent will be raised. By twenty.”

“Twenty percent?” I screech, and the student in the flat next to me has probably heard it, “is that even legal?”

From the smile on his face, I don’t have to hear anything else. It probably is.

Mr Kim goes away from my line of sight (my kitchen knife’s line of attack) with another, equally insufferable, smile, and I close the door with a loud enough bang that the hinges rattle. I lied to Jihoon, because I only have two months left on my contract, and I still have had no luck in finding a new flat to move into. Everywhere I go, its either overpriced, or the facilities are too shitty, or the vibes are off.

Back in the room, I try to busy myself with laundry, when my phone rings. Its Jihoon, who’s apparently decided that making me angry is a full-time job for him. He’s making use of the private chat, which is rare for him, and somehow, equally annoying for me.

hoon: sorry about what happened in the studio this morning

hoon: offer still stands though

big dick (canon): that’s not how you apologise to someone

hoon: what? I’m trying to help my bestie get some

hoon: is that such a scandalous thing to ask for

big dick (canon): yes. Yes, it is

big dick (canon): also, fyi, I’m not sleeping with any of your friends. They’re all too weird for me

hoon: Mingyu? I remember you saying once that you’d motorboat him

big dick (canon): platonically

hoon: not sure how you’d motorboat someone platonically

big dick (canon): he’s too outgoing for me. cannot imagine I’d ever have a moment to myself if I ever dated him

hoon: Wonwoo? Everyone liked him back in university

big dick (canon): unfortunately, all he seems to talk about is gaming. I don’t mind gaming once or twice, but talking about it all the time? That bores me

hoon: Chan? He’s younger than you, but you could be a cougar, for all I know

big dick (canon): I’ve seen Jeonghan beg on his knees for him to go home after a drinking session

hoon: Minghao?

big dick (canon): He once teased me for my curtain bangs for a week straight

hoon: fine then, Cheol?

big dick (canon): Too competitive

hoon: Seungkwan?

big dick (canon): Too athletic. Also, isn’t he joining the culture desk soon?

hoon: Seokmin?

big dick (canon): Too outgoing

hoon: Vernon?

big dick (canon): Too quiet

hoon: Jun?

big dick (canon): Too weird

hoon: Jesus, fuck, woman, what kind of person do you want to date?

big dick (canon): ykw, just set me up with Mingyu. If nothing I can still get to say I motorboated some great pecs

big dick (canon): seriously, his pecs are bigger than my boobs

big dick (canon): how does he do it

big dick (canon): can I hold them

big dick (canon): respectfully

big dick (canon): in a non-sexual way

big dick (canon): please

hoon: I’m sure he’s going to appreciate that

big dick (canon): please ask him

big dick (canon): how does one get that kind of pectoral muscles

big dick (canon): wow

hoon: my pecs are bigger than his

big dick (canon): is this some new sort of dick-measuring contest idk yet

big dick (canon): if it is

big dick (canon): you’re losing

big dick (canon): I need to take a bite from his tits

big dick (canon): One

big dick (canon): Teensy tiny

big dick (canon): Munch

hoon: I’m so close to blocking u

big dick (canon): They hated Jesus because he spoke the truth

hoon: maybe you need to consider that Jesus had very bad vibes

hoon: so, you want to go on a date with Mingyu?

hoon: I feel like I should tell you that he eats the equivalent of three people

hoon: at the same time

big dick (canon): As long as he lets me motorboat him

big dick (canon): I don’t care

big dick (canon): He can eat as much as he wants

hoon: why must you be so horny over Mingyu of all people

hoon: he’s not even that attractive

hoon: and I’ve got bigger pecs than him

big dick (canon): congratulations on having bigger pecs, but I’m still gonna motorboat Mingyu

big dick (canon): going to gently hold his tits

hoon: between you going feral and Joshua badgering me about his engagement party dinner

hoon: I can’t help but feel as though both of u are out to make me go insane

big dick (canon): are you gonna go to that?

hoon: he’s already made plans at the barbecue place where we go to

hoon: even got a whole discount coupon and everything

hoon: normally I’d be upset that he’s being cheap, but after researching the price of that ring, I’m prepared to forgive him this once

hoon: next time I’m forcing him to take us out to a good dinner place

big dick (canon): are you planning to spend all his salary

big dick (canon): I’m in

big dick (canon): Ugh I haven’t eaten anything since the morning

big dick (canon): Can you ask Mingyu to bring me food

hoon: you’re incorrigible

hoon: have you been able to maintain eye contact with him?

big dick (canon): UNFAIR

big dick (canon): You know I can only do that with you

big dick (canon): Since you’re exactly my height

big dick (canon): Hehe

hoon: I’m blocking u and this number right NEOW

hoon: cannot believe I’m conversing WILLINGLY with someone who slanders my height

big dick (canon): see u at the barbecue place tonight

big dick (canon): have fun on the song

hoon: I’m trying to finish it

hoon: cannot believe I’ve gone into a slump

big dick (canon): you know how this can be cured?

big dick (canon): An INTERVIEW

big dick (canon): With yours truly

big dick (canon): Please

hoon: ask someone else

hoon: Soonyoung

big dick (canon): he’s an idol, yes but

big dick (canon): I’m terrified he’s going to do at least three tiger impressions

hoon: wrong, he’s going to do at least five

hoon: ugh gotta go

hoon: see u at the dinner

I stare at the dark phone screen for about five minutes after I’ve finished texting Jihoon. His interest in setting me up with one of his friends aside, he’s not wrong. I’m sexually frustrated, which means I’m just projecting my desires onto the closest available person, which in this case, happens to be Joshua.

Okay, fair enough, then why not anyone else? The people at my workplace aren’t that bad, and some of them are fairly good-looking, so why not them?

As soon as that thought comes into my mind, I shake it away violently. To willingly date someone in the workplace is inviting a whole host of problems, HR notwithstanding. And to imagine the fallout when I eventually break up with them, while still having to work with them in the same office—no, I’d rather take a transfer. The only option that remains are Jihoon’s friends, and while they’re all nice, they can also be terrifying, and therefore, not the best options for dating. Or sleeping around, which is what Jihoon wants me to do.

“Ugh, why do I have to have these feelings,” I moan into my pillow. It would have been great if I were born as an amoeba. Or as a plant. No need for my feelings to take centre stage, no need to maintain friendships with annoying people like Jihoon or Joshua. Just peaceful photosynthesis, and being eaten by a random goat on a random Tuesday. I wouldn’t even need to go to university. Nothing required. Just basking in the sun.

And unfortunately, because my mind is a little traitor, it focuses on the one thing that I don’t want to focus on: Jihoon’s offhand comment about his pecs being bigger than Mingyu’s; which, if I know Jihoon as well as I do, is a blatant lie, but even the thought of it is enough to send me into a downward spiral. What the hell does he mean, he has bigger pecs than Mingyu? Its not as if I want to see them, and let this be known, and made into public record, that I’ve never once wanted to see Jihoon’s pecs.

But.

Of course, its not as if I haven’t thought about it. not as far as Jihoon, who apparently masturbated to the thought of me, but of course I have idly wondered, what it would be like. When he came back from the military, its all I could think about for a couple days, before I had to physically slap myself back into reality. Unfortunately for me, his one petty comment about the size of his pectoral muscles, threatens to throw me back into the pits of desperation yet again.

Ugh. I slam my face into the pile of fresh laundry, hoping for it to soothe my nerves. Spoiler alert, it doesn’t.

Its at that moment that the chatroom pings again, this time with a message from Joshua.

joshuji: SHE SAID YES!!!!

hoon: congratulations!

big dick (canon): Congratulations!!!

—

The barbecue place is good enough for us, but for a dinner celebrating Joshua’s engagement to Eunseo, it seems a little too shabby. Although given the amount of money he’s spent on an engagement ring (I saw the prices, and I had to stifle a gasp) it can be forgiven. Just this once, as Jihoon said.

I’ve come here late, on purpose. Between the excited texts from Eunseo, who texted me a picture of her ring, and I had to act appropriately surprised, and Joshua’s infamous enthusiasm for a. showing the world how much he loves his girlfriend and b. to torment his friends, I’m feeling drained. I’m dressed for a night of eating greasy food and drinking cheap alcohol: a hoodie borrowed (stolen) from either Jihoon or Joshua, and jeans. I can’t even lie to myself and give myself a reason to dress up, because even I can’t delude myself into doing that. Jihoon once saw me with day-old vomit on my shirt, and Joshua has seen me dress in my sleepwear for exams week.

The place is filled with smoke, emanating from the meat being cooked on the grills, and it takes me a moment to adjust myself to it all, before I look for the other three. They have all arrived, and according to Jihoon, who’s sent a message out of his own accord on the chatroom in a long time, they’re all eating lots of beef.

“You’re late,” Jihoon grumbles as I approach the table, “I had to sit through half an hour of these two being happy and in love.”

“You’re a liar,” I say, sliding into the seat next to him, “you enjoy romance movies.”

“Wow, that’s something I didn’t know about him,” Joshua says, with a twinkle in his eyes that I don’t want to decode, “how come you know everything about Jihoon?”

“Occupational hazard,” I reply, reaching for a piece of meat, “every time you bailed on us to go on a date with Eunseo, Jihoon and I would be forced to hang out together.”

“It was horrible,” Jihoon agrees, “she’d force me to watch all these romance movies.”

“Says the man who cried while watching Love Actually.”

Eunseo giggles at that, almost doubling over herself. I narrow my eyes at Joshua, “have you both been drinking since the afternoon?”

“No, no, I haven’t,” Eunseo wheezes, and it’s unfair how gorgeous she is while laughing, too. She’s wearing an apron to prevent grease falling on her expensive clothes, and she’s still gorgeous. I snort when I laugh, and once Jihoon saw me with mango juice coming out of my nose, “it’s just funny.”

“What is?”

She points at the two of us, “you know, the both of you keep talking about how annoying you find each other, and yet you’re both closer to each other than anyone else. It’s just so funny to me.”

“Joshua,” Jihoon says, very seriously, “I think your fiancée has been taking drugs.”

“At the very least, she’s insane,” I supply helpfully, “no one in their right minds would date Joshua. Not to mention agreeing to marry him.”

Joshua puts an arm around Eunseo, “stop slandering my fiancée.”

Jihoon puts a piece of meat into his mouth, trying to change the topic, “have I mentioned I’m helping her hook up with someone?”

I cough violently, while Eunseo and Joshua wear twin expressions of confusion. “Wait, Jihoon,” Joshua says, “I thought you—”

“I told you not to talk about that!” I wail, a noise that’s fortunately covered by all the meat-grilling around me, “no, I’m not going to hook up with any of your friends. Jihoon has terrible taste in people, not to mention that all your friends aren’t exactly hook-up material.”

“You take that back,” he gasps, “weren’t you talking about how you’d like to motorboat Mingyu?”

“That was platonically!”

“I’m sorry,” Joshua interjects, looking at me as though I’ve sprouted another head, “how can you, and I’m just going off on a limb here, motorboat someone platonically?”

“That’s what I said,” Jihoon grumbles, “she keeps asking me to set them up once.”

“That’s because he’s the hottest out of all your friends.” The soju is bitter as I drink it, “if I have to engage in a night of mindless sex, might as well do it with the hottest guy around.”

“Knew it,” Jihoon wags one of his fingers at me, “knew you only wanted Mingyu for his body. How dare you do that to my friend.”

“You once stole his socks.”

“Once.”

“For a whole semester.”

“Fair enough.”

“Both of you,” Joshua says loud enough for us to stop bickering, “explain it to us properly. What do you mean you’re helping her hook up with one of our friends? And why are you letting him hook you up with one of our friends?”

I shrug, “It’s not a big deal. Besides, you heard us. It’s only going to be one time.”

“Do I need to give you the talk?”

Jihoon laughs, “you do realise she’s an adult?”

“I’m not saying she can’t do anything; I’m just saying she needs to be careful!

“If I have to be careful around the rest of the guys, then maybe you shouldn’t be friends with them.”

“What do you mean she should be careful around the people who have known her for so long?”

“All of you!” Eunseo claps her hands, and like kindergarten children, we all turn to look at her, sheepish, “Josh,” she turns to the man in question, who looks sufficiently contrite, “let me have a word.”

As they leave, Jihoon pulls a face. “asshole.”

I take another shot of the soju, “he’s just looking out for me.”

“Then he shouldn’t be so overbearing about it.” Jihoon takes a look at me downing another shot, “should you be drinking this fast?”

“Don’t you start.” I say, shaking my head, “I’m going to drink enough to wipe out Joshua’s bank account.”

Jihoon says nothing, just looks at me, and then, after ten seconds, “do you want to do it?”

“Do what?”

“The date. With Mingyu.”

Maybe its just the alcohol getting to my head, or maybe its all this smoke, but his voice seems different. Is he concerned, or is he joking, as per usual? It’s confusing. Should I blame the alcohol? That seems easier, given how it’s getting to my head. “I don’t know.”

“He’s not that bad, you know. He’s a good listener, and if you want him to shut up, he will. He’s great that way.”

I stare at him. Jihoon has a strange look on his face, one that I can’t really place. Alcohol. Yes. Blame it on the alcohol. I take another shot, but before I can form a reply to him, Eunseo and Joshua are walking back to the table, hand-in-hand, identical smiles on their faces. As soon as it had come, the look in Jihoon’s eyes is gone, replaced by the usual, blasé attitude he has perfected.

“Sorry for being late,” Eunseo breezes as she settles into the table, “Joshua needed to be reminded of adult boundaries.”

“I’m sorry.” Joshua offers by way of an apology, “I overstepped.”

“Damn right you did.” Jihoon mutters.

“Apology accepted,” I smile, picking up a piece of meat, “can you order some more?”

—

Mondays are, unfortunately, the worst. Especially if one spent their Sunday evening drinking enough alcohol to lose half their memories. I slide into my seat at work, yawning as I inspect the things I have to finish working on before the end of the day.

“Morning, sunbae,” a cheery voice says, placing a cup of coffee on my desk, “you look like shit.”

“Not the time, Seungkwan,” I mutter, pressing two fingers to my forehead, “too loud, too loud.”

“Heard you got shitfaced with Jihoon and the others last night,” Seungkwan says louder, “Jihoon texted the chat with the others at two in the morning, saying how he was going to take you home.”

“He did?” thankfully, I have no recollection of this happening, so I just let him fill me in on the details, “all I remember is drinking too much at the barbecue place.”

“Celebrating Joshua’s engagement, right?” Seungkwan’s smile is irritating, and I hate how cheery he is in the morning, “he texted about that, too. The pear-cut diamond was, oof, it was something to see.”

“Why do you know about diamond cuts?”

“I grew up with sisters,” he shrugs, as if growing up with sisters imbued one with all the hidden knowledge of womankind, including, but not limited to, engagement ring diamonds and their specific cuts, “you pick up stuff from listening.”

“Jihoon told you all he took me home?” I ask, “he doesn’t usually say that kind of stuff.”

“You got especially drunk last night, so he made an exception for you.” Seungkwan grins, leaning in, “what do you think about Jihoon?”

“He’s a pain in my ass.” I mutter, switching on my computer, “also, go back to work, Seungkwan. You’re not even supposed to be here until next week!”

“Yoo-min quit, so they asked me to join a week early,” he gives me a grin that again, I try not to decode (what is it with all these men and their mysterious grins?) before settling down into the seat next to me, and promptly jumping up to subject me to a ninety-degree bow, “Boo Seungkwan, at your service!”

“Ugh,” I wince, waving at him, “sit down, for the love of god, no one needs to be that loud in the mornings.”

“You are my senior, as it happens, and I’m very keen on maintaining proper relations.”

“Get me one of those hangover cures.”

“I like the American style.”

—

To no one’s surprise, Seungkwan is a very competent worker. He’s a social butterfly, which means that he quickly endears himself to everyone at work, and by the time lunch rolls around, I have to hear praises of Seungkwan from everyone. It’s terrifying, how competent he is.

Being one of the associate editors, means I have to mostly edit the articles sent in by the reporters on ground, not to mention I get to pick and choose which issue I want to cover. I maintain as much of my professionalism as I can, while having a raging headache.

“Sunbae,” Seungkwan approaches me right before lunch, “will you be going out to cover an article?”

“I have an interview with an author after lunch, so not yet,” I reply, putting the finishing touches on a report sent in by one of our field staff, on some celebrity’s rash driving case, “I have some time.”

“Do you want to have lunch with the rest of us?” he asks, gesturing the group of five waiting behind him, “we’re going to have naengmyeon at the place down the block.”

“I have enough sense to not butt into the affairs of my juniors, Seungkwan,” I say, standing up from my chair, “here, have the card. Since its your first day here, the office should treat you.”

Seungkwan takes the offered card with a bow, and smiles brightly, “oh, but the editor said we’re having a company dinner tonight? Won’t you be joining us for that?”

“A group dinner?” I ask, and the group behind him nods their head, all in unison. It makes them look like little bobbleheads, for some reason. “Sure, I’ll join in.”

“Yes!” he seems unusually cheerful about the company dinner, which in my own experience is nothing but a pain that I had to accustom myself with when I joined the paper, “see you tonight, sunbae!”

“This kid,” I groan, picking up my coat. The prospect of lunch makes my stomach turn, and now I have to contend with dinner?

I text Jihoon while walking out of the offices. Joshua is busy with his new fiancée, and Jihoon’s building is far closer to mine that it is to Joshua’s place of work.

big dick (canon): Are u free

big dick (canon): For lunch

Unless Jihoon texts first, he takes an hour to respond at best, but as soon as I send the message, he’s typing a reply.

hoon: lunch?

hoon: if it isn’t lunch I’m killing u

hoon: dude I’ve never had a block this bad I think I’m going to go crazy

hoon: not to mention the hangover from last night is crazy

big dick (canon): it is for lunch, you idiot, why would I text u otherwise

big dick (canon): and I can agree on that, my head is killing me

hoon: is hangover soup cool with u

hoon: I know a good place

hoon: meet u at the front of your building in five

hoon: please tell me all the details about Seungkwan

“He took five minutes to get the editor to warm up to him?” Jihoon cackles, as the lady serves us two steaming bowls of seollongtang, “of course, it’s Seungkwan. He can make anyone warm up to him in minutes.”

“I fear he takes it as a challenge.” I say, spooning the milky broth into my mouth, “ah! Its hot!”

“Why can’t you just wait for a while, before eating your food?” Jihoon pours me a glass of water, “did you die of starvation in your previous life?”

“I don’t believe in that.”

“Yes, yes, Miss Atheist. Tell me what else our little dongsaeng get up to in the meantime.”

“He’s not been given a lot of work, given that it’s his first day,” I take another, more tentative sip of the broth, “but unfortunately, I’ve got to attend another company dinner tomorrow night.”

“Another company dinner? Haven’t you gone through enough pain to consider drinking again, what, barely twenty-four hours later?”

“Twenty-fours is pushing it,” I say, wincing at the sound of my own voice, “ugh, this damn hangover. I can’t even function. Let’s just eat in silence.”

“You want a cider?” Jihoon asks, looking around for the owner to ask for two cans of cider, but the owner is faster than him, setting down two cans of soda in front of us with a smile on her face.

“Your boyfriend is very caring.” She tells me, “its so nice to see someone taking care of their girlfriend so well. The sodas are on the house, okay?”

“Oh, but he’s not—” even before I’ve finished my sentence, she’s gone again, tending to her other customers. Jihoon opens one of the cans for me without saying a word.

“We should stop coming here.” I say, accepting the can from him, “why would anyone think that we’re a couple?”

“They can’t accept that men and women can just be friends, that’s why.”

“Too bad the food is great.”

Jihoon pauses for a moment, then a slow, sly smile spreads all over his face. I know that look. That look does not bode well for me, or for anyone else involved. The first time I saw Jihoon have that look on his face, Seungcheol embarrassed himself so badly in front of a group of first-year students, he refused to come out to any events where Jihoon was invited, for almost a month. This look means that he’s got some sort of evil plan in his mind, one that involves another person and their total embarrassment. He takes a look around the restaurant, and sits up straight. The words that come out of his mouth next, however—

“Babe,” Jihoon says, loud enough for half the restaurant to hear, “don’t you think this place is great?”

What the fuck?

“Jihoon, what are you doing?” my voice is a whisper, “they’re all looking at us!”

“That’s the point.” He whispers, before smiling, “you should say something too, you know. Make the whole thing more believable.”

“I don’t want to!”

“They gave us free sodas; they deserve a special performance at least.” He points to the owner, who looks like she’s about to break her face from smiling so damn broad, “sorry, my girlfriend is a very shy.”

“Oh,” the lady waves it away, “anyone can see you are in love!”

In the end, when Jihoon is paying for our lunches, she takes a final look at the two of us, and croons, “you two make a lovely couple!”

“What the fuck was that?” I turn on Jihoon as soon as we are safely out of the restaurant and far enough for anyone to eavesdrop, “Why the hell would you tell her that we’re dating?”

“Thought you needed a pick-me-up,” Jihoon grins, “at least I got you to stop worrying about things so much.”

“There are better ways of going about that than telling unsuspecting diner owners that we are dating!”

“It was funny, you have to admit,” he smiles, and I have to begrudgingly agree, “see, told you we’d make a cute couple.”

I would rather die than tell Jihoon that I agree with him on anything, so I keep quiet. Thing is; it was rather funny. Especially with how the owner reacted to us.

“And later on,” Jihoon says, holding on to my arm as we cross the road, “when you come to this place with someone else, you can just tell her that we broke up.”

“You need to stop talking about how I’m going to start dating other people.” I mutter, “just because I’ve got some frustrations I need to work out, doesn’t mean I’m going to go running into the arms of whoever it is who offers first.”

“Careful with that,” he says, standing at the crossroads where he’s supposed to walk towards his building, “you might end up regretting it.”

And with a single wave, he’s gone. I stand for about five minutes, like an idiot, while the busy crowd walks past me, trying to decode his words. Why would I regret my decision to not date someone just because I need to get over myself? Not to mention Jihoon has been behaving strangely since the previous night.

“Sunbae,” Seungkwan materialises next to me, “penny for your thoughts?”

“Jesus!” I narrowly escape jumping three feet into the air, “give a girl a warning!”

“I did call out,” he pouts. Its disconcerting how adorable he is. “You were pretty engrossed in looking into the distance to even notice my presence.”

“Are you upset?”

Seungkwan smiles, “if you agree to a badminton match with me over the weekend, I’ll overlook this slight.”

I sigh. “You drive a hard bargain,” I say, making my way into the building, “see you at the dinner, then.”

—

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look-at-the-soul · 10 months ago

Text

Every little thing you do- Prologue

Tommy Shelby x reader (Mini series)

Summary: Y/N has been Tommy’s best friend since childhood. She had always been there for him when he needed her the most. Now as the Shelby family are in a better position, Y/N will need Tommy’s support when something she didn’t expect happens.

A/N welcome to this little new adventure! This story started as an idea @lyarr24 shared a while ago and I just stared at it for a few minutes until the ideas started “appearing” in my mind. This particular part turned somehow into a comedy show on its own 😂🤭 it was fun and light to write, but it’s going to get angsty… thank you for sharing your unique ideas as usual! It took me some time but I’m always into giving each story it’s own time. And of course @justrainandcoffee thank you for creating this beautiful moodboard for this story! You totally nailed it!

Word count: 2,196

Arriving at the Garrison, Y/N headed straight towards the private booth where the Shelby’s were reunited.

“You should’ve seen the look in Polly’s eyes when she found out we were buying the stallion.” John cracked and threw his head back with a loud laugh.

Arthur winked at Y/N and decided to mess with his brother.

“Erm John boy.” He cleared his throat, just as Tommy gave Y/N a smirk, they were both sitting facing the door unlike John who had his back at it.

Tommy used the chance to kick his youngest brother in the shin, as a warning.

“So you think it’s fucking hilarious John Michael Shelby.” Y/N imitated Polly’s voice and mannerisms perfectly.

John’s face paled as the smile left his face and he straightened his back.

Arthur snorted and then started laughing uncontrollably as John turned around to find Y/N standing by the door.

“Shit! Y/N you scared the fuck out of me.”

“Get in here sweetheart.” Arthur called for her, making room next to him. “That was brilliant, you’ve got a talent.”

“You sound just like her.” Ada praised, leaning over the table to kiss her cheek.

“You’re late.” Tommy offered her a glass of whiskey.

Taking a sip, she nodded. “The lady I work for had a terrible day, didn’t want me to leave.” She replied titling her head to the side because Arthur was right in the middle, sandwiched between her and Tommy.

“And how did it go?” He asked over the laughs of his siblings.

“My feet are killing me, I had to walk all the way back… but I really needed a drink tonight.

“Why? Scott didn’t pick you up?” He raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

Against his best judgment, he agreed to give Y/N’s boyfriend a place among the peaky men. He didn’t like or trusted him but he was doing it for Y/N and the friendship they’ve always had. Over time, he even gave Scott a car under the condition to drop and pick up Y/N from her work every day.

“We had an argument this morning, he got pissed and I asked him to not.” She lied.

She knew how protective Tommy could get, specially around Scott. They were already past the phase where Tommy would’ve to intervene and put her boyfriend in his place, then Scott would come for her arguing that she let that gangster say and do whatever he pleased.

But Tommy knew Y/N better than that, and this wasn’t the first time she lied to cover for her boyfriend’s attitude.

“What’s so funny?” Polly demanded to know as she joined them in the booth. Staring at Arthur and John’s faces she knew, so she shot Y/N a long look. “You’re imitating me again?!”

The Shelby brothers tried to hide their amusement but all of them failed.

“We wanted to mess up with John, Pol. Sorry.” Y/N looked down embarrassed for being caught.

Polly smiled down at her, it was impossible to stay angry with someone as Y/N.

“Well I hope it was a good one.” The smile grew bigger.

Ada laughed and stood for her aunt to take her place. “You should’ve seen John’s face, he went pale.” Waving at them, she left.

“Hey you need to talk to Finn, he’s getting out of hand these days” Polly warned her nephews. “I asked him to deliver a few letters and he had the audacity to answer he wasn’t a mail boy anymore.”

Tommy shook his head and after a long puff to his cigarette, he answered; “I’ll talk to him.”

Y/N’s chuckle made him look at her. “What? Are you really going to lecture the poor boy? Tom, if I remember correctly, you answered your father something similar back in the day but worse and that caused your first fight.”

Tommy shuddered at the memory. He was so done with his father demanding favors from him and his brother Arthur, so one day he told him he was done with his bullshit and Arthur Sr answered with a curse, threw a glass against the wall and pushed him, Tommy pushed him back. Luckily Arthur Jr and Y/N were close and could intervene to stop them from getting any further.

That night, Y/N stayed with him outside until Tommy had calmed, then she asked her parents, who were neighbors to the Shelby’s if he could sleep on the couch. Y/N’s mother made him some tea and offered him the comfort he wasn’t able to find next door.

They started as neighbors, then Tommy and Y/N became friends until Tommy trusted her blindly. After the war she was the only one who could understand him.

Tommy took a swing of his drink. “You’re not going to tell him that, are you? I’ve a reputation to keep.” He finally added.

“Leave him Pol, the poor boy is probably frustrated because he haven’t had a woman yet.” Arthur chuckled at his own joke.

“Hey,” Y/N called everyone in the room, “leave Finn out, you’re nothing but a bad influence.”

John shook his head and raised his hands as if saying he wasn’t part of it.

“Oh please Mr.-I-want-to-marry-Lizzie-Stark, really?” Y/N raised her eyebrow at him.

“Tommy! Why the hell did you tell her?!” John exploded against his brother, who was already laughing out loud, head thrown back.

Polly had to look twice at her nephew, his guard was down he seemed to be relaxed for once. Since the war he had changed a lot, the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“And besides, I corrected my path, married to Esme didn’t I?” John mumbled chewing on his toothpick.

Y/N nodded, deciding to leave that conversation, it’s was funny to tease John. “I better go now, it’s getting late.”

Tommy was on his feet the second she announced her plans.

“C’mon I’ll drive you.” Tommy offered his best friend.

Giving Polly a hug, she waved at the Shelby brothers goodbye.

After driving for a while, Y/N noticed Tommy took another route.

“Before you ask me,” Tommy spoke softly, “I’m going to show you something.”

She opened and closed her mouth. “You’re so mysterious.”

Tilting his head, Tommy clicked his tongue. “When you see it, you’ll understand.”

“Is it the new horse?” Y/N asked impatiently.

Tommy shook his head and passed her the cigarettes and matches to light it. “Why don’t you tell me what happened with Scott?”

“Something really stupid, he got pissed over nothing.”

“Really? Tell me something I don’t know already.”

Y/N sighed and took her time to exhale the smoke out of the window. “He asked me to ask you for some money, when I told him that he still owed you from the last time he got furious at me.”

“But you gave me the money for that loan.” Tommy’s eyebrows knitted in confusion.

“I did, but it wasn’t his money.” Y/N explained embarrassed after confessing Tommy the truth.

It was now time for Tommy for sigh. Eyes focused on the road, he didn’t want to be a pain and say I told you, Y/N was the only person he could trust and he wanted her to trust him the same way.

“Look this happens all the time, your Mum used to pay your dad’s bills behind his back, I just couldn’t take another one yet, he’s trying to find a better job and I think he’s going to propose soon.”

Tommy’s breath got caught up in his throat, he was trying to process the possibilities.

“So… is he the one?” He finally asked.

“Well he’s my boyfriend.” Y/N rushed to answer. “I just don’t know if he will let me keep working for Lady Winchester.”

“If you need a job, you know there’s always a spot for you at the Shelby Company Limited.” Tommy took the last puff of his cigarette and threw it outside the vehicle.

“Maybe I’ll need it later. Thank you.” Y/N felt more than grateful to have someone like Tommy around, he had always been there for her and her siblings specially after his business took off and he started to earn more money than anyone around. In her eyes, that didn’t make him change, if anything he became more generous.

But Scott on the other hand, was tender and good to her, he was fun to be around, always brought flowers to her. He wanted to have his own business one day, unfortunately life had been hard and it was taking him longer to make it.

Taking a turn, Tommy stopped in front of a huge gate, the property guarded by the gate wasn’t a house, it was a freaking mansion!

And her best friend was opening the gate as if he owned the property.

“Wha-what are you doing?” Y/N asked looking out the window.

“Drive over here!” Encouraged Tommy with a huge smile.

Her heart started beating faster, he showed her how to drive and even let her do it when she wasn’t allowed to. But this was wrong, it felt like they were trespassing, she could feel her heart pounding as Tommy shouted for her to hurry up.

Following his instructions, Y/N parked the car next to the fountain.

“I wanted you to see this first…” His smile couldn’t get any bigger as he opened his arms wide and looked around proudly. “I bought this place.”

Her jaw dropped, she was lost for words.

“What do you think? I’ll build a place for the horses in the back.” Tommy explained, eyes shining.

“Woah… I don’t know what to say Tom.” A hand covered her mouth, still shocked to form anything coherent. This house looked bigger than Lady Winchester’s and that was a bloody mansion too! “You always said you’d get yourself a decent place and a big house, and look at how far you’ve come!” She felt genuinely happy for him, Tommy had always worked so hard, always found a way to help his people and those around him. If anyone deserved this, it was him.

“I’ll even have my fucking office here, and there’s a grand salon for parties.” He explained as he waited for her to step inside.

“Parties?!” She laughed nervously.

“A ball dance and shit.” He took a look around.

“You’ll need loads of furniture to fill this place.”

Tommy chuckled. This was unthinkable a few months ago, now it was a reality, he’d had the big place he dreamed of when he was a kid.

“You got a fireplace! In the tea room!”

He followed Y/N’s voice, she was now standing in the middle of the dining room.

“This looks like it belongs to a Lord.”

“You can call me Lord Shelby then.” He winked at her and they both laughed at how ridiculous it sounded.

“Downstairs it’s the wine cellar.” He added hiding his hands inside the pockets of his pants. “Do you like it?”

“Are you kidding me?” She nodded. “This is a dream! I’m so happy for you!” Y/N then went to give him a hug.

A bold movement for the rest of the world, but to her it was just natural, they’ve been friends since forever. She was the one comforting him when his mother passed away, the one to help him hold it together after the war.

“You’ll love the kitchen, it’s huge but they’re doing some renovations already, I’ll show you once it’s done.”

“Looks like I’ll need to make an appointment from now on.” Y/N teased him.

Tommy shook his head with a shy smile. “Of course not, specially not you.”

She knew he was busier now days that the Peaky Blinders owned the races and licenses. It was just a matter of time before he found a woman and got married, then this house would be filled with kids. Or perhaps he already had someone therefore the plans to get the big house.

Once the realization hit her, she pretended to look towards the window. A sudden lump installed in her throat and something indescribable pressed her heart.

“Should we go? It’s going to be dark soon.” Y/N asked, looking him in the eyes for a mere second.

Time flew on their way back and soon Tommy stopped his car in front of Y/N’s door.

Even before he could say goodnight, an angry voice called for her.

“I’ve been waiting hours for you, Y/N nobody knew where the heck did you go.”

“Slow down mate, that’s no way to treat her.” Tommy intervened, holding Scott’s death stare.

“Stay the fuck out of this.” Scott raised his voice.

Tommy felt his blood boiling, one stride and he’d finish the prick, but before he could move, a pair of soft hands stopped him.

“Tommy please, let me handle this.” She pleaded.

His jaw clenched as he saw the smirk of satisfaction Scott gave him. The bastard had Y/N charmed and there was nothing he could do about it.

✨ Thank you for your support! You already know it, but the way to a writer’s heart is through your feedback xx

Part 1

Master list

Tag list: @lyarr24 @runnning-outof-time @cillmequick @datewithgianni @cloudofdisney @gretelshelby @garrison-girl-08 @lespendy @onlydeadcells @fastfan @stevie75 @prettylittlehoneyeyesxoxo @esposadomd @forbidden-forest-witch @ange-thoughts @moral-terpitude @elenavampire21 @forgottenpeakywriter @thenattitude @winchestergirl22 @zablife @elk96 @blondie-22 @imichelle-l-rigby @allie131313 @already-broken144 @peakyscillian @babaohhhriley @shelbydelrey @shaddixlife @sloanexx @sydneyyyya @adaydreamaway08 @pono-pura-vida @thomashelbyswife @darleneslane @everythingelseisextra @kmc1989 @mariaelizabeth21-blog1 @lau219 @lauren-raines-x @red-riding-wood @lovemissyhoneybee @theendlessvoidofdarkest @wannabeperfectionists-blog @yeppaweshallsee (can’t tag) @skydisneylover (can’t tag) @holacia3 @galactict3a

@saradika-graphics divider

#that’s what a I’ll said #tommy shelby x fem!reader #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby x y/n #tommy shelby x you #thomas shelby x you #thomas shelby x y/n #tommy shelby imagine #peaky blinders x reader #peaky blinders fan fiction

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imabeautifulbutterfly · 10 months ago

Note

Ok, this is so fun! Congrats again!

I'll pick...Hunter (shocked, I'm sure.)

How about: "I don't think I've ever seen you smile" and "Oh, don't be cute"/"Wait, did you just say that I'm cute?"

Thanks!!

Carol (@clonethirstingisreal)

Thank you @clonethirstingisreal - I hope you love this Carol, it actually brought a smile to my face as I was writing it.

Enjoy, love oo.

One Meal

Warnings: knife flipping, allusions to loss, slight angst, fluff. I think that's it, if I miss any please let me know.

Main Master List | Star Wars Fic Roulette

Hunter flicked his knife back and forth in between his fingers, as he contemplated the next mission. Things were … different, since you joined. Not good or bad … just different. It been about six months, and yes, the Marauder was cleaner and didn’t have that lingering smell anymore, and yes, the meals had gotten better too, because you refused to just eat the ration bars the GAR provided. And … okay, it was nice to see your smiling face in the morning, compared to the miserable faces of his brothers.

Yet, he still felt awkward around you. He wanted to laugh with you, like you could so easily with Wrecker, to have deep discussion, like you could with Tech, even philosophical discussions like you did with Echo. Hell, he’d be happy if he could just do target practice with you, like you did with Crosshair, but … every time he opened his mouth, he was curt, short tempered, and on edge.

It wasn’t even your fault, it was just him.

He stood from his seat, heading down the ramp and taking in a breath of fresh air. You were cooking dinner, doing your best to teach Wrecker that just because salt tasted good, didn’t mean he had to put in a whole table spoon full.

It made him laugh a little as you tried to explain in your most patient voice possible, that you’d fix the dinner and Wrecker could go help Tech or Crosshair with something else. It was your polite way of saying ‘go away.’

Hunter tried but he couldn’t stop the smile on his lips, as he walked over to you.

"I don't think I've ever seen you smile" you pointed out as he walked up to you. “What’s got you so happy?”

“Oh, I just saw how you were very tactful with Wrecker. It was funny.”

You shrugged trying to fight back your own laughter as you tried to fix the stew, by adding more water, “He tried. I’m grateful he’s willing to learn.”

“Need help? I’m not completely inept when it comes to cooking.”

You looked a little surprised when he asked, not that his offering to help was a real shock, it was the fact you realized this was the first time you two had a proper conversation. “Um … yeah, if you don’t mind using your handy dandy knife there, that you like flipping around so much, to cut up some of these veggies so I can add them, that’d be great.”

Hunter chuckled at your description, as he nodded, taking a seat and getting to work, “Where did you learn to cook?” He asked, hoping to get to know you a little better.

“My mom and grandmother. They were adamant that I learn how to feed an army if I ever needed to …” you chuckled, “I had a big family, back home. Usually there would be around twenty of us for dinner.”

“Twenty? Did you have a lot of siblings?”

“No. It was just me. But I had uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, neighbours, anyone and everyone who needed a meal could always come to our place for dinner. We never turned away anyone in need of a good meal.”

“Sounds nice.”

“It was …” a sadness passed your face, as you thought back to what had once been your home, until the Separatist droid army showed up, and destroyed everything you had held so dear.

Hunter saw your smile slip, it pained him to see that you had been through so much, although he hadn’t heard about it directly from you, he did overhear what had happened when you were talking with Tech. “Well we appreciate all your efforts, especially when you’re trying to teach us neanderthals how to cook.”

You giggled a little, pushing away the sad thoughts that had encapsulated your mind for a split second, “You’re not neanderthals.”

“We’re not exactly proper either. Couldn’t say, we’re exactly suited for a posh dinner.”

You shook your head as you laughed, “You don’t need to be suited for a posh dinner, you just need to show up to eat.” You smiled as you turned to look at him, smirking as you saw how perfectly he cut each vegetable.

You walked over and grabbed the tray of veggies, and dropped them into the stew, “Thanks for your help.”

“Of course. Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure”

“Why do you take care of us? I mean granted the Marauder smells a lot better, and the meals you cook are much better than the GAR rations, but … why do you do it?”

You stirred the stew as you contemplated the question, “I guess … because you feel like family to me.” You turned to look at him, truthfully, he was the only one that you didn’t think of as family, you wanted something more with him, something special, but seeing as this was the first time you two actually talked, it might be a bit far-fetched to imagine that could possibly happen. “And, I love seeing how my food makes you guys happy. Wrecker, has the biggest smile on his face, whenever he eats when I cook. Tech has this adorable blush, although he’ll never admit how much he enjoys my cooking. And Crosshair … well he always comes back for seconds; and frankly, between you and me, he needs to eat more. He’s too skinny. I could break off his collarbone if I needed.”

“I enjoy it too,” Hunter clarified as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, “I might not say it, but I always look forward to your cooking.” He blushed and turned his head away, not wanting you to see how much of an effect you had on him, and not just because of your cooking.

You laughed at his reaction, "Oh, don't be cute” you teased, “I might have to walk over there and pinch your cheeks.”

Hunter started to laugh, when he realized what you said, “Wait, did you just say that I'm cute?"

Main Master List | Star Wars Fic Roulette

Tag list:

@liadamerondjarin @badbatch-simp24@spicymcnuggies@lady-ren @firstofficerwiggles @darkangel4121 @discofern @kavecika @monako-jinn-stories @ladykatakuri @avathebestx @theroguesully @furyhellfire66 @carodealmeida @ciramaris @sprout-fics @twinkofthedink @dindjarin-mandalorian @ulchabhangorm @littlemisspascal @tortor-mcgee @vodika-vibes @clonethirstingisreal

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fcthots · 1 year ago

Note

thinking abt wearing jason's initial on a necklace but in a taylor swift kind of way

-🕷️

THIS THIS THIS CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT

I WANT TO WEAR HIS INITIAL ON A CHAIN ROUND MY NECK CHAIN ROUND MY NECK NOT BC HE OWNS ME BUT CAUSE HE REALLY KNOWS ME WHICH IS MORE THAN THEY CAN SAY-

ANYWAy

Here's the thing about the fucking press, since the moment they found out Jason was alive, they've never let him breathe. Your relationship went public against your will only two months after he was declared legally alive. Since then the opinion on your relationship had fluctuated. Sometimes there were fan accounts and other times you were sent death threats. Jason did what he could, but he couldn't stop everything.

The worst that happened was when you went with some friends. It was just dinner on a balcony at a nice restaurant. Jason had gone to some concert with one of his siblings. To be honest, you were too drunk to remember which. You were out with three friends two of you were drunk. The birthday boy doesn’t like to drink, but he gave the ok for everyone else. One other friend stayed sober and offered to be the designated driver.

You're solidly drunk. Drunk enough to actually be excited to take pictures. Drunk enough to be laughing the whole time. Drunk enough to try to call your cat on the phone.

Either way, you're singing happy birthday while your friends are taking pictures so you lean over to kiss the birthday boy's cheek and tell him "HappsyBirthay!" He laughs and thanks you. It's a good time. Your other drunk friend kisses him on the other cheek and takes a picture of it on his phone. It's cute. It's fun. But it is 11:30 pm and time to go home.

You're about to get in the designated driver's car when he asks for your address. You don’t invite people over much, what with Jason having to go on patrol and bloody bats dropping in. You're also drunk enough to not know your address. "That's a relly diffisult queshion. Do you know the answer?" You look over to the birthday boy; he's been to your apartment a few times to have lunch and feed the cat.

He looks over at the designated driver. "I don’t know the address, but I know to get there... Don't worry about it. I'll take her home."

"We goin home?"

He laughs. "Yeah."

"Holy shit! Is Jason gunna be there?" He puts his arm around your waist to guide you into his car so you don’t fall.

"I don’t know. You said he was going out tonight, but I don’t know if he's back yet." He laughs again and waves goodbye to your other friends before he buckles himself into the driver's seat.

The car ride home is mostly quiet. You're half asleep, and it's not long until your friend is pulling into the parking garage. He taps your shoulder and asks for your key. You don’t know where it is. He asks for your phone. You hand it over, and he asks Siri to call Jason.

Jason picks up after half a ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, man. It's me. We're in the parking garage and your wonderful girlfriend is too drunk to find her keys. Any chance you're home."

You hear Jason's voice ask something about articles, news, and pictures before you fall asleep again.

A few minutes pass and someone's calling your name and unbuckling your seatbelt. You look over and see Jason leaning over you.

"J'son!"

"Hey, sweetheart."

"I missd you." He grabs your bag off the floor.

"I missed you too. Hey can you give me your phone?"

You nod your head and hand him the phone.

"I'm gonna pick you up. Ready?"

"Yeah!" He lifts you up while you shout "Weeeee!"

He closes the car with his shoe and turns toward your friend. "Thanks, man. Happy Birthday. Sorry about everything."

"'s no problem. Take care of her. Bye."

You don’t remember much of the elevator ride up or getting in pajamas or getting in bed. But you remember waking up. That wasn't fun.

Jason makes you breakfast, and that in itself isn't out of the ordinary at all, but he's acting weird. Every time you ask for your phone he says "I'll give it to you in a minute."

You can't take it anymore. "Jay, just tell me what happened. You're killing me. Did I post anything dumb while drunk again?"

"No." He sighs and grabs your phone out his pocket before opening up an article. You take your phone from him and read the headline. You feel sick.

"Jason Todd and Girlfriend Broke Up! Finally She's Gone"

You take a bite of eggs off Jason's plate and keep reading.

"Here's the evidence:

"nobody's heard from the couple for months, not even so much as an instagram post from the once vocal couple

"Todd was seen last night at a concert singing his heart out to breakup songs, images below

"and most damning of all: the now would-be ex-girlfriend was spotted last night getting cozy and leaving with new man, exclusive photos below!"

You scroll and see zoomed in photos of you kissing your friend's cheek and getting into his car. You bang your forehead into the counter repeatedly. Jason puts his hand over the spot you're hitting your head against. You look to him and he looks apologetic.

"I'd prefer if you didn’t read the rest. I don’t think Vicki Vale likes you very much. I'm having Bruce sue the company right now."

You try to hit your head into the table again and he grabs your cheek to stop you. He leaves his hand there. This time, you look apologetic.

"I'm sorry. It just makes me upset when people think I don’t love you or that you don’t love me." You meet his eyes and he's smiling.

"I had an idea."

He pulls two small boxes from his pockets and you stop yourself from making a comment about the size of men's pockets. Before you have the time to freak out, questioning what's in the boxes, he opens them. They're necklaces with the initials of your first names. He takes the one with your initial and puts it around his neck. The chain on his is longer than the other one.

"Obviously you don’t have to, I just had a feeling you might want to. I'm not trying to put a brand on you-"

You cut him off with a kiss.

"I'm never taking it off."

#saph’s love letters #jason todd #saph’s thots #jason todd x reader #red hood #red hood x reader #jason todd imagine #jason todd x you #🕷️ anon #hurt/comfort #fluff #angst #Jason todd fluff #jason todd x reader fluff #I stopped beta-ing my stuff at some point. I apologize. I just hate reading my own stuff

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so-long-soldier-writes · 2 years ago

Text

Always & Forever

poly!mikaelsons x reader (kol, elijah, & rebekah)

summary: a slip of tongue confession leads to a world of trouble between the mikaelsons and the salvatores. but little do any of them know, it's exactly what was needed to promise a perfect future.

tags: smut, love confessions, mild exhibitionism, lingerie, blood drinking, begging, foursome (no incest), praise kink, choking, vaginal sex, oral sex, fingering, blowjobs, overstimulation, dirty talk, cuddling

word count: 6k

“I think my girlfriend is falling in love with my brother,” Kol says, with a look to each of the Salvatores, “but unlike you two, we’re actually quite capable of sharing women.”

Both scoff, and Stefan rolls his eyes. Damon takes a long sip of bourbon before smirking. “Prove it.”

Three days later, the brothers show up unannounced on the Mikaelsons’ porch, ready to find the proof themselves. Their conversation with Kol didn’t really end; the man just smiled and gave a wink, but didn’t offer any proof to his statement. He left the grill soon after that, too, convincing the Salvatores that he was just a cocky liar. Determined to prove their enemy wrong, they planned a surprise dinner in the other’s own house, specifically choosing a day they know you’ll be there.

It’s a Sunday, and Klaus has been in New Orleans all weekend doing who-knows-what, leaving you alone with the other three siblings. You were originally a loyal friend of Elena’s, until she fell for Damon and you fell for Kol. Ever since then, your friendship has been in shambles and the two of you barely speak. The only reason the brothers were even talking to Kol about you is because you all ran into each other at the grill. You were playing pool with Elijah, while the younger watched from afar. Stefan and Damon approached to pester him about it, only to receive the answer they did.

Now, they were going to prove Kol wrong. They had been through this before with both Katherine and Elena. One woman cannot love both brothers; she will always pick one, and the two will become divided over it. It was only a matter of time for the jealousy to seep through, and neither brother could wait to see it happen.

When they ring the doorbell, it’s Elijah who answers. “What may I help you with, brothers?”

Damon smirks, “we’ve decided to invite ourselves over for dinner. How does that sound?”

“And whatever has given you this idea?”

“Just a talk we had with your little brother the other day. Nothing bad, we promise.”

“Convincing,” he mutters, not at all convinced. “Well, I guess then, come in. I’ll find Kol.”

Kol isn’t hard to find. When Elijah walks into the living room, trailed by the Salvatores, he finds you and your boyfriend curled up together on the couch. Elijah clears his throat, grabbing both of your attentions.

“Oh, look who it is - the less famous brothers,” Kol greets with an attitude. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

You don’t say anything, but tense up at the sight of the two. Neither have been pleased with you lately, and their sudden appearance can’t be anything good.

“They have come by for dinner,” Elijah supplies. “Which, luckily enough, should be ready now.”

Just as he predicts, Rebekah comes into the room, hands in oven mitts. “Did I hear the Salvatores are coming over for dinner?” She looks over to them, “oh, and they’re already here. What fun. Y/N, darling, would you please help me carry the dishes to the table?”

You nod quickly, happy to get away from the men.

“You make your sister cook for you?” Damon grunts as you and Bekah disappear.

“No, no, we all take turns. Kol was yesterday. I have tomorrow.”

“But sometimes none of us do and we just sip on blood all night.”

“You feed Y/N blood, too?”

“Well she’s not here every night, unfortunately. But if she is here on a sipping-night, we’ll still make her something,” Kol says sternly, not liking Damon’s tone.

Stefan decides that now is a good time to interrupt. “So what’s Rebekah making?”

“We’ll have to see. Shall we?”

Five minutes later, the six of you are sitting around the table enjoying a steak meal, just red enough to satisfy both vampires and human. The seat you’ve chosen has you between Kol and Rebekah and across from Damon and Stefan, while Elijah, per usual in Klaus’ absence, sits at the head. You can tell he likes sitting there; the head of the table always gives the sitter a feeling of power. Dominance. Like how he dominates the conversation despite Damon’s numerous attempts to try.

“I was just curious about your brother’s whereabouts. What exactly is he doing in New Orleans?”

“It isn’t your place to know about what he’s doing, and frankly, I don’t know every little thing he does either. I’m not his babysitter.”

“But you’ve got to know something.”

“Who am I to tell? It’s not my business, nor yours.”

“So if-”

At this point, the three of you zone out entirely. You have been pestering Kol the whole dinner, but now you’re really starting to bug him, rubbing your foot up and down his leg. The action makes him squirm in his seat, which only encourages you further, and now Rebekah’s giggling at the both of you. In return, Kol lands a hand on your thigh, squeezing it ever so often. You then poke him in the side where you know he’s ticklish.

Little do you know, Rebekah wants to join in, but doesn’t want to cross a line with her brother. Little does she know, you want her to join just as badly.

Meanwhile, the discussion between the others is growing intense. Damon is getting more aggressive; Elijah, more defensive; and Stefan, more anxious.

“This conversation isn’t going anywhere,” he tries, “maybe we should-”

“Klaus goes in and out of Mystic Falls way too often. I like to know where my enemies are, so if he would just stay in one place, that’d be great. He-”

Finally, Stefan cuts his brother off completely. “What I would like to know is if Kol’s words have any truth in them.”

The room silences immediately.

“That’s why we’re here, right, brother?”

Damon stiffens at being interrupted, but then relaxes, a smirk on his face. “Yes, actually.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Elijah cocks his head. “Kol?”

“I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Oh sure you do? What was it? At the bar?”

“We go to the bar fairly often, Damon, you’ll have to be more specific.”

“You don’t remember? Y/N and Elijah were playing pool. You were watching, telling us what was on your heart…”

Kol raises his eyebrows before scoffing. “That.”

“Yes, that.”

“First of all, I wasn’t spilling my heart out to you two dumbasses. There was no heartfelt moment there.”

“Oh, really? I thought we were having a moment.” Damon frowns with a sad puppy dog look. Fake, of course.

“You thought wrong then. I was only sharing an observation.”

“So? Is there any truth in what you said?”

Kol shifts uncomfortably, not liking being on the spot like this.

“Aw, Damon, he’s shy. Let’s give him space.”

“No, hold up,” Kol stops them, “not shy about anything, I just don’t like to put my girl in situations like this.”

At the mention of you, you look up in question.

“Well maybe you shouldn’t talk about ‘your girl’ when she’s not there to hear it.”

By now, Rebekah’s had enough, “whatever are you two daft dimbos on about? Kol would never do anything to hurt her. He loves her. Speaking of which, we all do, so you better not say anything bad.”

“Oh I bet you all do,” Damon smirks again.

“Say what you want and be done with it,” Elijah tenses, “or get out.”

“You want to do the honors?” Damon turns to his brother.

“No, you’re good.”

“Alright.” He stands up as if he were making a speech. “Kol told us that he thinks his girlfriend over here, Miss Y/N, sweet little Y/N, is falling in love with his brother. Then he tried to tell us that you guys are good at ‘sharing women’.” The man laughs, “as someone who’s shared a woman with my brother, that never ends well. One, or all of you, are gonna be real sad when she either picks one and divides you from your family, or leaves you all and never looks back. So I say, pick your poison now, ‘cause it’s gonna happen someday.”

Damon sits back down looking very proud of himself. Kol, on the other hand, looks mortified. You, Bex, and Elijah have no idea what to do with that information. It’s dead quiet for too long.

“Darling,” Kol finally says, “can I talk to you?”

“Of course.”

You leave the table with him, but no one picks up any conversation as you go.

As soon as he gets to the kitchen, he runs the sink water so the vampires in the room over would have a harder time overhearing. He then puts his hands over his face and avoids eye contact with you.

“Darling, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t meant for that to come out the way it did, nor to say it to those two, and I certainly didn’t expect for them to reiterate it straight back at you. I can’t believe I could be so stupid. I’m so sorry. I understand if you hate me for it. I-”

“Kol,” you call him for the fourth time during his rant. This time, though, you take his hands and make him look at you. “You’re not stupid.” He finally looks at you, but doesn’t reply. “And I don’t hate you. I could never hate you. You don’t have to apologize.”

“But I subjected you to their vile jokes. Made you look like a groupie or something to my family.”

You have to stop for a second and giggle. Of course, he’s immediately confused. “Why are you laughing?”

“Did you just use the term, ‘groupie’? That’s so seventies, Kol.”

“That’s what you’re worried about?”

“No, no, I’m just- I’m sorry. It was just funny to me.”

“What word was I supposed to use?”

You laugh again, “I don’t know.”

“Okay, well, I shouldn’t have used any word, because you’re not that, but I made you look like that to those bloody idiots.”

“Kol, it’s okay. I’m not upset with you. With them, yes, for doing that in front of everyone. But only for your sake, not my own. And besides, I can live with being an original groupie.”

He nods, hearing you’re not upset, but then narrows his eyes. “Wait…”

You swallow hard. “It’s not entirely wrong. I don’t like admitting it, but I’d be lying if I said there was nothing there.” You pause, giving him time to react. He only nods for you to continue. “I know Elijah’s liked me to some extent ever since we started dating. At first, I brushed it off, but the more I’m around you all, the more I find myself starting to like it.”

Not sure how to answer the latter, he starts with the first. “To some extent? Darling, he’s in love with you.”

You half smile, “I know.”

“But?”

“I don’t know how to say this, Kol. It’s weird.”

In one fell swoop, he picks you up and sits you on the bare counter. He stands to be in between your legs, then cups your face with his hands. “It’s alright, Y/N. Tell me.”

“I love you. There’s no doubt about it. I would die for you.”

His heart races. Sure, he’s heard those words a thousand times, but each time, his heart acts the same way. “I love you, too, darling. Nothing you could say would make me love you less.”

“Good, because I don’t want to lose you. I want to love you for eternity. But… you’re right.” You take a deep breath. “I’m also falling for your brother.”

Kol doesn’t seem fazed by this. If anything, he seems relieved.

“Are you okay?”

“I was afraid you were going to say you wanted him instead.”

Your eyes go wide, “no! Baby, no way. But… if it’s something you’re okay with, I wouldn’t mind being an original groupie.”

He laughs at your choice of words. “That is certainly something I am okay with. You can love whomever you like. I’m just glad you still love me, too.”

“I will always love you, Kol.”

He kisses you deeply, bringing a hand to your back to steady you. “And I love you. And like I said, I am willing to share my girl if it makes her happy. Plus, I trust my brother to keep you and your heart safe.”

You smile, then bite your lip.

“What is it?”

“One more question.”

“Hm?”

“Do you trust your sister, too?”

“You’re in love with Bex, too?”

You can only shrug. A blush rises to your cheeks.

He shakes his head playfully. “Of course I trust my sister. Let’s say this: I trust my family with my girl and her heart.”

“Sounds good,” you peck his lips, then his nose.

“Soooo… do you want to go back out and prove to Damon and Stefan that my family can both share and protect women better than they can?”

“Certainly,” you pop off the counter with Kol’s hands on your waist. “And I can’t wait to see the look on Bex’s and ‘Lijah’s faces when I kiss them unexpectedly.”

You little troublemaker,” he grins as he turns off the faucet, “you fit into this family perfectly.”

◇◇◇◇

A chat about the weather is the only conversation happening when you re-enter the dining room. A big sigh of relief comes from everyone when they see you.

“I hope you’re willing to pay the water bill next month, Kol, because that was a long time to have it running.”

“Relax, brother. Y/N and I were just having a little chat.”

“Oh really?” Damon smirks, “did she slap you for what you said about her? Because that would be well deserved.”

“On the contrary, Damon,” you say, returning to your chair. Kol sits in his, though you only stand behind yours. “It actually gave us time to talk about some things that probably wouldn’t have been brought up otherwise.” As you talk, you make your way to Elijah’s side, putting your hands on his shoulders.

“Ah, and what would that be, Miss Y/N?”

You grin, “why talk about it when I can show you?” Before Damon can answer, you trail your fingers along the man’s face to his chin, feeling the stubble along his jaw. The group sees your eyes roll back in your head, then they watch you move to stand in front of him. “Hi,” you say, blushing mad.

He mouths, ‘what are you doing?’

You’re too giddy to answer; it’d probably come out in a stutter. So, you only smile instead. Then, bending slightly, you lean forward, grabbing and pulling on his tie in the process, and kiss him passionately. His body goes limp immediately, satiated by your kiss after wanting it for so long. The fact that you have him by his tie, dominating him just a bit, doesn’t help his case. Your other hand rises back to his jaw, holding him in place. After a second, the reality of the matter kicks in and he kisses back, bringing his own hands up to your face gently.

Seated directly behind you are Kol and Bex, half of their attention on the scene, and half on the lingerie peeking out from under your skirt. Kol knows damn well you did that on purpose, and he feels himself getting hard at the thought. As for Rebekah, she’s conflicted. She’s not sure if she’s allowed to feel the warmth in her core that you’re making her feel, or if she’s allowed to steal a glance at the black garter adorning your thighs. She tries to poke her brother to ask, but every time she moves her finger, one of the Salvatores glance over to see the younger two’s reaction.

After about a minute, you let go of Elijah and lick your lips. You then stand up and smirk at the brothers. “What would that be, you ask? Well, it gave me a chance to tell my loving boyfriend,” you’ve made your way back to Kol now. Once you’re behind him, you turn his head toward you with a finger on his chin, then kiss him with the same intensity. “That, not only do I love him, but also that I’m falling in love with his brother, as he suspected.” Then you grin again, “but what he didn’t know, but also just learned, is that I’m also falling in love with his sister, too.” After confessing, you bend over to kiss Rebekah as you did Elijah, with your lace set partially on display for the man. His eyes catch it instantly and become locked on you. Meanwhile, Kol, in touching distance, grabs onto your thigh. His hand almost disappears under your skirt completely. The sudden feeling makes you moan into Rebekah’s mouth, causing her to grab the back of your neck and kiss you harder.

Eventually, a cough from Stefan pulls you out of the make-out session. You stop and take your seat back, though Kol’s hand doesn’t leave your body.

“Wow,” he comments with nothing else to say.

Damon, of course, has a reply. “Since you’re sharing, you can give us a kiss, too,” he mocks.

“Nu uh,” you wiggle a finger, “I’m reserved for Mikaelsons only. Plus, I don’t think your girlfriend would like that too much.”

He rolls his eyes. “Only playing.”

“So,” Stefan starts, rather awkwardly. “Dinner was great, Rebekah. Was I wrong to assume you’d be serving dessert tonight, too?”

“Not entirely,” she stands, “I did make one for us. Though it seems you’ll be the only ones eating it, for I already had mine just now.”

She’s on her way to the kitchen when you chuckle, “there’s no way that filled you up, Bex. That was just an appetizer. Trust me, dessert’s way better.” You give her a wink.

The girl’s knees nearly give out. “Is it now?”

You’re about to answer when a squeak leaves your lips instead. Kol’s moved his hand from your thigh to having a finger on your clit. He puts the lightest bit of pressure on it, then says, “she’s right, sister. Dessert’s much better.”

Rebekah goes completely red and hurries to the kitchen to hide her face. Elijah, on the other hand, swallows hard. He’s not sure how he feels about doing something like this with the Salvatore brothers watching. He knows that Kol is, and always has been, rather wild, but this? And if he’s going to be allowed to touch and pleasure you for the first time, he doesn’t want them there. Nor should they be so honored to see your body unclothed; that should be a sight only for those chosen by you.

Elijah’s tempted to pull Kol aside and bring up these concerns, but that would require leaving you alone with the Salvatores. That is something he’d much rather not do. Luckily, Rebekah comes back just in time.

“For you two, who don’t get to share the beautiful Y/N,” she smirks. “Please, feel free to take it home with you so we can get on with private business here.”

Elijah relaxes at her words, but then stiffens again at Damon’s.

“Oh no, we were promised that you could maintain a four way relationship and not fight. We are going to see this through.”

“That was never included, Damon,” Kol snaps, “all you were promised was that we could, not that you could see it. All you’re allowed to see of my girl is what she allows you to see.”

“Your girl?”

“Don’t push it. You’ve already pushed it by welcoming yourselves here anyway. And yes, she is my girl. Just because she shares her love doesn’t mean she’s not still my girl.”

“How do you feel about that?” The man nods to you. “A family of vampires sharing you?”

You giggle as Kol pulls you into his lap. “I don’t know if this has escaped you, Damon, but I gave in before either of these two did. I love them all as much as they do me.”

“Until you fall more in love with one and break the rest of their hearts.”

“I am not Katherine. I’m fully capable of loving them without hurting them. Just you see,” you challenge, a glint in your eyes.

The brothers look to Elijah, knowing he’s been through the ringer with Katherine as well. To their dismay, he’s smiling. “The girl is right. She isn’t Katherine. She has a similar fire, yet is much more kind. Maybe if you two had been so lucky to stumble upon her first, you’d learn that not all women are like Katherine.” Before Damon can argue, he continues, “fortunately for us, and rather unfortunately for you, she’s ours.”

Stefan’s about to comment, but then he sees you smirking. The glint in your eyes, still apparent, and sharp like a dagger, as if daring him to try to convince you otherwise. At that moment, he decides it’s not even worth it to try. He turns towards his brother. “Well. Guess we have to let them figure it out on their own.”

“Guess so.”

Not long after that, the Salvatores are finally out the door, Rebekah’s pies in hand. Damon makes it very clear that if he isn’t allowed to see the action, that he is certainly taking the dessert he is allowed to have. And, he isn’t going to make any effort in returning Rebekah’s pans, either.

“Whatever, don’t care about the pans, go away,” you say, pushing them out the door. “Bye now!” You lock it the minute they’re out. Then, you turn around to face the three vampires looking at you. “Hi.”

“Hello, darling. Quite a pickle you’ve found yourself in,” Kol smiles at you.

Rebekah takes a step towards you. “Are you sure you can handle all three of us, love? It is a lot to handle.” She seems more like she’s challenging you into submission rather than actually asking you the question. You’ve proven you want all of them, now it’s just a matter of seeing if you can catch up.

Your answer is on the tip of your tongue - an equally sassy reply that will tell her everything she needs to know. But then Elijah approaches you with a comment before you can say it.

“Maybe we should talk about this first. Y/N-”

“Oh, enough talking,” you walk over to him, “haven’t we been talking all night?”

His lips curl into a smile, “guess we have. Is this really what you want?”

“Yes, ‘Lijah.”

“Then you shall have it.”

You give three seconds. Three seconds to search his eyes for any hesitation. Three seconds for anyone to speak up with a counter. Nothing. Not a second after is wasted as you rise to your toes to kiss him again. He kisses back deeply, tapping your waist for you to jump. He holds you in place with strong arms, fighting everything to not push you up against the wall. He knows if he does, his siblings will protest.

The protest comes anyway.

“Elijah, you’re stealing the girl,” Rebekah whines.

With a sigh, he speeds you over to the nearest room and sets you down on the bed. As he catches his breath from the adrenaline, Rebekah wastes no time rushing to you and peppering you in kisses. Kol’s not far behind, laying you down the minute Bex comes up for air. Your head rests in his lap while he plays with your hair. Elijah quickly comes back into play, feeling the fabric that is the only thing separating them from seeing you wholly. You make eye contact and nod to him, and instantly, your clothes are torn from your body.

“Gorgeous,” you hear him mutter, running his hands from your stomach down your legs.

“Say,” Kol snickers, “what about this lingerie, darling? Was that on purpose?”

You bite your lip, “knew I’d get you by the end of the night. Didn’t think this would happen.” You nestle your head into him, “but I’m not complaining.”

He grins, “was a lovely surprise to a boring dinner.”

“I’ll second that,” Rebekah bounces her eyebrows at you, making you giggle.

“Kol,” Elijah calls to his brother.

You and the boy look up.

“Switch places. She’s been with you, knows you best. For her first time with all three of us, let’s give her something familiar.”

The boy nods, and you’re secretly thankful for the man’s suggestion. As much as you’re loving this, it’s all very new, and something familiar is greatly appreciated.

“Thank you,” you mutter to Elijah as he takes Kol’s spot in supporting your head.

“Of course, baby. I love you.”

You smile, “I know. I love you, too.”

“You know? How, may I ask?”

“I’ve known since the minute I met you.”

His eyes soften from shock as everything sinks in. You knew he loved you, yet you were dating his brother. But now, they both have you, and Bex, too. Bex, who, at the moment, is giving you a hickey on the neck.

Elijah realizes this and immediately chides, “don’t bite her, Rebekah.”

“Relax, it’s only a hickey. People do it all the time.”

You giggle, “it’s true, ‘Lijah. But I don’t mind if you bite. Kol’s fed from me.”

“He has?” The girl stops her ministrations to read your face.

“Mhm. I trust him, and eventually, he started to trust himself.”

“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” She jokes.

“I’m right here, Bekah.”

“You’ve fed from her?” She asks again, still shocked.

“Show her, Kol,” you smile up at him. During the last minute of your conversation with the two, he’s been teasing your entrance with his cock, making sure you’re wet enough to fit comfortably.

He bites his lip, debating it, but can’t say no to your face. “Alright, darling. Count of three.” He lines himself up, then covers your body with his own, positioning his teeth right at your neck. “3… 2… 1.” At one, he sinks his teeth in and pushes his cock into your heat at the same time. Your eyes roll back into your head with pleasure as he begins to rock inside you, finding a pace. Kol only drinks for a few seconds before detaching, because he knows Bex will want to try too, if you’ll let her.

“Not long enough, baby,” you say immediately.

“Give Bekah a try,” he nods to his sister, sitting back up.

Rebekah’s still in shock at her brother’s self control, but snaps out of it when you give her the ‘okay’.

“‘Lijah, you too.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“I need it,” you beg.

“She’ll beg you all night,” Kol warns. “Better to give in than deny what you know you both want.”

The argument is convincing. Elijah gives in, taking your wrist. At the same time, he and Bex bite down - her at the other side of your neck - and begin to drink. Kol slows his pace as they do, taking a minute to look into your eyes. I love you, he mouths. You mouth it back.

Seconds later, they come off, too. Elijah wastes no time bringing his own blood to your lips, healing your wounds completely.

“Thank you,” you smile at him.

“Mhm, thank you, girl,” Rebekah interrupts, “you’re bloody amazing.”

Elijah returns your smile, nodding to you.

As soon as you meet his eyes, Kol picks up his pace again until he finds the one you usually like. Though Bex beats him to rubbing your clit, so he uses both hands to hold onto your waist instead. Elijah takes to kissing you hungrily, his hands digging into your scalp. You’re so overstimulated with pleasure, yet it feels so good.

After a bit of this, you start to pant, running out of breath.

“What do you like, baby?” Elijah asks, not wanting to tire you out with kisses.

“Play with her boobs,” Kol suggests, “makes her crazy.”

“Does it now?”

“She’s cum just by me sucking on them at times.”

“Kol!” You whine.

“Don’t get shy now, darling! Little late for that, don’t you think?”

You shut your mouth tight as the three smirk at you. Elijah then repositions his body to sit more to your side, giving him better access to your chest. He makes sure to put a pillow under your head where he had been sitting, then wastes no time playing with your tits, holding, cupping, and squeezing them. The feeling is so good it makes you bite your lip hard enough to draw blood.

“Darling,” Kol mutters, swiping your lip and putting his finger in his mouth, “don’t hold back your pretty little sounds from them. Let them hear what I get to hear from you.” As soon as he says that, he pounds into you hard without warning. You cry out in a strangled moan before you can stop yourself. “Just like that, yes,” he praises. “Good girl.”

Bex immediately picks up on how you react to Kol’s praise and tries it for herself. “Hey, girlie, can you do that for me, pretty please?” She puts more pressure on your clit, touching you exactly how you like.

“Awh,” you moan, “like that, keep doing that. Feels so good, Bex. I- I’m close.”

Meanwhile, Elijah’s transitioned from using hands to using his mouth to stimulate your breasts. He tugs on a nipple with his teeth while pulling the other between his fingertips.

“Fuck, ‘Lijah. Shit. I- I-” whatever you were going to say is cut off by another moan. This spurs the man on, Bex too, and they continue at their paces.

You then turn your attention to Kol. “Right- right there. Perfect. Close. I’m close. Kol?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Cum with me, okay? Please, please, please.” You know begging will do it instantly. Another thing that will make you both cum fast- “and here,” you point to your neck. “Please.”

“Which one?”

“Pick.”

“You pick this time.”

“Kol, I can’t.”

“Can I put them up to the challenge?”

You nod ferociously, desperate for anything.

“Choke or bite, she wants.”

The siblings go still. Neither feel good about choking you, and they’ve already fed.

“Kol, please,” you beg again, “I’m so close.”

“Okay, darling.” He thrusts deeper to crawl back across your body, then holds you in place by the neck as you get closer to your high. In the midst, Bex continues her pleasure on you, while Elijah keeps at his. Then, mere seconds later, you cum hard. A string of curse words that ends as a moan falls out of your mouth. Black spots cloud your vision, due to Kol’s hands on your neck, or the overstimulation, or both, you’re not sure, but you love it. You whine all the way through your orgasm, legs shaking and heart beating rapidly. Shortly after you, Kol cums too, and it takes everything in him not to collapse onto your body. After the two of you ride out your highs, everyone begins to ease up in their pleasuring.

“Not done,” you pant, out of breath still. You crawl up a little ways on the bed to lean against the headboard and its numerous pillows.

“What do you mean, ‘not done’? Girl, I’d think you’d be tired,” Bex says, incredulous.

You answer her by slipping your hand into her pants, feeling for her heat, and inserting a finger. You then unzip her jeans for better access, making her melt instantly.

“Fuck, Y/N,” she whines. When you curl your fingers, she moans louder.

Once you have her where you want her, you move your other hand to the man beside you, rubbing his hard-on through his suit pants. “‘Lijah, come here.”

“You don’t have to pleasure me, baby, I’m alright.”

“Again,” Kol interrupts, “she’ll beg you all night if you don’t let her.”

You smirk up at Elijah, proving Kol’s words true. The man tries to fight it, but desire takes over him. He’s slow to pull himself out, still a bit unsure. You gesture him closer and closer until you’re able to pleasure both him and Bex at the same time.

“I’d rather you straddle my head, ‘Lijah, so I can get you wet, and more comfortable,” you say in between breaths. The man goes red in the face. Never have you ever seen Elijah embarrassed. Neither, apparently, have his siblings.

Bex grins, “brother! You’ve gone shy to Y/N’s dirty talk! I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t seeing it.”

You giggle, the girl egging you on now, “I promise it would be much better. Come on.”

Again, he hesitates, but ultimately gives in. You smile as he moves in front of you, not exactly straddling you, but comes at least close enough that you can take him in your mouth. Immediately, you circle your tongue over his tip, sucking slightly in certain places. He lets out a breathy moan which makes you crave him more. Soon, you find a vein on his underside that is especially sensitive, so you tease him by dragging your tongue along it, before finally taking him in full once he’s wet enough.

When you find your pace with Elijah, you refocus your attention back to Rebekah, continuing the curling of your fingers, but also stimulating her clit. You’d love to put your tongue on her, too, but in its absence, you move your fingers inside her instead. Wetness drips from her, pooling onto the bed. Hers, thankfully. She rocks her hips against your hand, holding onto your hip for support. Little whines leave her lips, one after another.

Meanwhile, Kol’s attention is on your clit, driving you to overstimulation yet again. He flicks his tongue against it while keeping two fingers buried inside you. It’s only a matter of time before you all explode from the intense pleasure. If you weren’t so distracted, you’d probably place a bet on it.

Not two minutes later do the second round of orgasms come, and they do in quite a domino effect. Kol blows cool air on your clit and immediately, it sends you into pleasure. You start shaking again, well beyond satiated. Bex is then triggered by your orgasm, having her own not a second after, and having it be just as intense. Her mess is made bigger, cum obvious on the sheets, and she can’t help but giggle. Bex giggling causes the same reaction out of you, to which Elijah’s final stimulation is the vibration from your mouth, and he has his own orgasm. He tries to pull out, but a shared look of eye contact comforts him, knowing you’re okay with it. Once you’ve swallowed it, you loosen your suction from his cock and allow him to pull out completely. He can’t help but to kiss you when you open your mouth to prove it’s all gone.

As soon as you all come down from your highs, one-by-one you collapse on the bed, exhausted. Bex and Elijah are on your sides, while Kol’s between your legs, his head on your chest.

“That was,” Elijah pauses, catching his breath.

“Perfect,” Rebekah finishes for him.

“Quite the girl she is,” Kol says, kissing your tits.

“Need to take care of her back,” Elijah tries to get up.

You hold him down, though, “no, no, stay with me. We do that later. Cuddle for now.”

“Y/N-”

“No, we cuddle for now. I need that more.”

“Okay, baby. We’ve got you.” He settles back down into your side, letting out a long, peaceful sigh.

A second later, a camera snaps.

“Who’s that?” Everyone peers an eye open, except for the one who’s guilty.

“Whoops, sorry.” Kol smirks, “going to send Damon proof that not only are we capable of sharing, but also, that we have the best bloody girlfriend in the world.”

“You’re such a little shit,” you ruffle his hair because he’s too out of reach to kiss. “But I love you. I love all of you.”

“I love you, too, darling.”

“Me too,” Bex yawns.

“We will love you, Y/N, always and forever.”

And you all did love each other, always and forever.

#poly!mikaelsons #poly!mikaelsons x reader #kol mikaelson x reader #elijah mikaelson x reader #rebekah mikealson x reader #tvd fanfiction #i'm not crazy about the summary #but i can promise you it's smutty

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xoxochb · 6 months ago

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I saw you were taking ‘Leo x reader’ requests so I thought I’d throw some ideas out there!!! :D (they’re random ideas I’ve been writing in my notes app so sorry they’re not too planned and specific…)

1.) (rivals-to-lovers) Fighting over music on the Argo II with him. Either over aux or they’re neighbors on the ship and he plays his music loud so reader does the same to drown it out… and then it turns into a little petty loud music battle.

2.) (???-to-lovers) Reader is cold so they go to his room for an extra blanket because he’s a human furnace so chances are he sleeps without one. He doesn’t have any but offers to cuddle with them. Others find out and snap a photo in the morning.

3.) Reader spends money on him (paying for food, buying something he was looking at, etc.) and Leo starts crying because he hasn’t had someone do that for him since his mom. With a fluff ending

4.) Like number 3 but with a surprise brithday party, maybe a confession at the end or maybe it’s already an established relationship?

5.) (friends-to-lovers) Percy and Leo are joking about who is more charming/attractive and the reader picks Leo. One of the others is like “Percy obviously, he’s everyone’s type, literally almost everyone has had a crush on him or found him attractive at first”. And the reader is like “Speak for yourself.” Everyone just looks over at them, even Leo is shocked lol. Maybe he gets flirty with them after and teases about it.

6.) Same as 6 but it’s some other camper making fun of him and the reader stands up for him. Maybe they fake date or something?

7.) Leo and reader are on counsler duty helping younger campers for arts and crafts. Reader makes him a friendship bracelet and he wears it all the time.

I know there’s a lot, but I just wanted to throw stuff out there for if you’re ever in a writing block, you don’t have to reply to this either any of the requests if they aren’t something you’re interested in! I just love your work (sersiouly your writing is so good omg) so I thought I’d brain dump ideas!!!

🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

⋆·˚ ༘ * he built a fire just to keep me warm

warnings: one sexual reference

pairing: leo valdez x fem! reader

right side, left side, back, stomach, sitting up. no matter how you slept it was still insanely freezing in your cabin. you’re three blankets were not enough to radiate warmth through your body. you lie awake for gods know how long, staring at the ceiling, then back at the clock, a repeating cycle between the two. you take another look at the clock: 1:58 it reads

great, so you’ve been awake almost the whole night and now it’s yesterdays tomorrow. an idea, an idea, you scan your brain for a genius idea that will help you sleep the rest of the night. would another blanket do? no it won’t because five minutes after you’re still cold. turn up the heat? then it will be too hot and there’s a possibility your siblings will complain. you’re left with only one option: get a fourth blanket. you’ve run out of blankets, your three currently being used, however you know the perfect boy who would be glad to give you one of his, and it’s your human furnace of a best friend leo valdez

he had told you many times that he sleeps with only one singular blanket since he tends to overheat with any more than that amount. he had said however that if you ever needed an extra he would be happy to give up his one for the sake of your happiness

you remove the three blankets from your body, standing up and unfortunately embracing the cold of your cabin. you slide your slippers on and throw one of leo’s sweatshirts on- another thing he had offered to you one night at a campfire, you recall it almost vividly, and the faint scent of fire still lingers on it

you had began to make your way to cabin nine, the cold air of night almost worse than your cabin, but nonetheless you power through it. once arrived at your much anticipated destination you open the door slowly, the warmth of the cabin warming you up instantly; you don’t know what you would’ve done if leo wasn’t a child of hephaestus

you make your way to his bed just fine, having spent many mornings taking this path to wake him for breakfast. you stand on the side, watching him sleep so peacefully, you hated to wake him from his sleep, he never got much of it. perhaps it was creepy to be staring as he slept, your worries got the best of you though, you felt terrible waking up for a problem of your own

“perverted much?”

you swore you saw the underworld for a moment, a hand flies to your chest and you breathe heavily. you watch as leo sits up in his bed

“oh my gods” you take a large breath “I’m sorry, I don’t- jeez- uhm, could I use your blanket? It’s freezing in my cabin”

the moment the words fall from your mouth you realize he has no blanket. a frown forms on your lips almost instantly

“I threw my blanket in the closet for the summer, haven’t taken it out yet” there’s a long pause before he speaks again “you could sleep with me though?”

sleep with leo? only your fantasies were privileged enough to be granted that honor. just sleeping right? this can’t be that bad. just go to sleep, that’s it

you crush and best friend leo valdez is asking you to sleep with him? this can’t be right

“are you sure?” you ask

“of course” he moves over to make room for you to lay, you gladly do so, eager to get warm

It’s awkward for a moment. side by side you feel his warmth through his shirt, was there any way he could just simply give it to you? probably not, you’re only option was to get any closer if that was possible, you push away this thought though, he was your best friend not your boyfriend

for a while this was how it went, you assume he fell asleep shortly after you joined him. was it the heat? your sleepiness? were you possessed? you’re unsure how it happened but you find yourself cozying up to leo, a position much to couple-y for best friends. soon enough a warm arm is wrapped around your waist, sending you into a deep sleep

you would say this was the best night of your life. the many campers taking photos in the morning would agree

#xoxochb #percy jackon and the olympians #pjo series #pjo fandom #percy jackson #pjo #percy series #pjo hoo toa #leo valdez x y/n #leo valdez x you #leo valdez x reader #leo valdez #percy jackson x you #percy jackson x reader

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necrotic-nephilim · 4 months ago

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for the ask game, an AU where (somehow…) jason and tim (begrudgingly) team up in the search for a hero/battle for the cowl era (either when jason says tim should work with him on the gang stuff or when batman jason asks tim to be his robin) :]

for the ask game!

god, Search For A Hero my beloved. for the Search For A Hero version of their team-up, I think I'd write it something like this

I think the biggest reason Tim says no when Jason asks him is Jason asks Tim too early in the arc. as the storyline develops, Tim gets more and more desperate to best Ulysses, which is what pushes him to make the mistake that gets Ulysses' siblings killed. he's in a tight spot and he misjudges the situation. (i think the guilt he carries from that moment is one of the biggest inciting incidents for becoming Red Robin) so, i'd introduce Jason to the plot just a little later. just as Tim is on the edge of desperation. Tim isn't entirely adverse to working with villains if he thinks he can stay on top of them. so instead of sending Jason to prison, i think if Jason came to Tim at the right time, Tim would begrudging accept Jason's help

part of Tim's plan would be leveraging Jason's power with the mafia/mob scene in Gotham. they'd agree that topping the gangs would just cause a power vacuum (i'm pretty sure that's actually addressed in SFAH but i could be misremembering) so it's more about a balancing act, which is where Jason thrives. Tim is right on the cusp of being willing to do more morally questionable things, so it'd be a fun internal war for him to second-guess himself at every turn.

there would be such a delightful lack of trust in their partnerships. TIm has *zero* reason to trust Jason, and while Jason likes Tim enough, i don't think he's naive enough to put any trust in Tim. so there'd be moments where they don't fill each other in on aspects of the plan. Jason kills people behind Tim's back, Tim keys in his cop friend behind Jason's back. it builds the tension between them with a lot of hot arguments that get more and more charged.

the jealousy. there would just have to be a scene where Jason gets wildly jealous over Ulysses' complex over Tim. Ulysses tries so hard to pit himself as like, Tim's biggest adversary, his opposite. and Jason would *despise* that. sure, Jason is working with Tim, but part of the fun is that they're still enemies as they do it. i think it'd be sort of fun to have the moment where Ulysses blows Tim up be something Jason witnesses and he raises unholy hell about. because if anyone is going to kill Tim Drake, it's going to be him. and that angry possessiveness is what makes the romantic/sexual tension something neither of them can ignore anymore.

Tim deciding to put on the Red Robin suit to fight Ulysses would be where Jason just. goes full tilt possessive "he's mine i marked him that's my suit. see. mine. i said so." and Tim would push back but. what ground does he have to stand on bc he could've picked any suit with any cowl to protect his head after the blast, but he did choose Jason's. it was his own open invitation to Jason in a way. and well. they fuck nasty about it. and then Damian becomes Robin, so why not Tim keep the suit and just maybe, keep Jason in his back pocket.

and!! for the Battle for the Cowl version. man on one hand i love "Tim accepts Jason's offer to be his Robin" fics but i feel they lack a bite to them, so this is personally how i would try to pull it off, while being relatively in character.

so the biggest thing for me is, TIm agrees to be Jason's Robin not because he trusts or likes Jason, but for the same reasons he became Robin in the first place: to keep Batman stable. being Jason's Robin isn't about wanting to work with Jason, it would be Tim knowing there's no world Jason is ever going to stop and seeing Jason slowly tip over the edge of madness and well. if Tim was self-sacrificial enough to do it for Bruce and attempt to do it for Jean-Paul, he can do it for Jason.

him agreeing would i think startle Jason. like, Jason's offer was never particularly serious because he's at the point he knows Tim wants nothing to do with him. so when Tim says yes it sort of. snaps Jason out of the rage BftC puts him in. he's so startled but enticed by the thought, he willingly agrees to stipulations Tim sets, like no murder. like even if just to see where this goes, Jason jumps on the chance.

i'd really want to keep Dick and Damian as Batman and Robin, and the weird divide that would exist with Dick/Damian and Jason/Tim both running around as Batman/Robin and how off kilter that puts Gotham. like Gotham is so baffled by it, it actually makes criminals easier to handle. because they have no clue if they're getting the Batman who needs Robin to keep him in line, or the Robin who needs Batman to keep him in line. people know there's two Batmans, two Robins and no one knows quite what to do with that information. who's the "real" Batman? who's the "real" Robin? and on the personal level, the divide between Dick and Tim would be unmistakable. Dick would know what Tim's doing and try to convince him Jason is a lost cause bc well, Dick at this point *really* believes Jason is a lost fucking cause. So Dick's genuine care and concern for Tim just drives a further wedge between them.

i think there'd need to be a scene where Tim flat out asks if Jason even *wants* to be Batman. in a sort of attempt to slowly ween Jason off of being Batman, but also because i don't think Jason ever really wants to be Batman, he just wants Batman to be what his vision of justice is. and it'd be the first real heart to heart they have, discussing the legacy of the Robin and Batman mantles and how it's affected them. it'd be heated, but it'd be their first real conversation as just. Jason and Tim.

to me, i think the end goal of this AU would be Tim successfully "taming" Jason, and not in like a soft way, but in like a manipulative way, where even Jason knows that's what Tim is doing, but he just goes along with it because it's the first real human connection he's had in a while. also, i would work in Scarlet, Jason's sidekick in Batman & Robin (2009) as like. a pseudo daughter figure for them to help Jason find his humanity a bit. so it's not just Tim as Jason's rock, but also this misguided girl they'd both try to help. and well, then they ride into the sunset and all that, but still have a complicated, toxic dynamic they're both aware is unhealthy, but as balanced as it can be.

#ask game #necrotic festerings #jaytim #tim drake x jason todd #jason todd x tim drake #timjay #batcest #i love these two arcs so much #battle for the cowl *is* bad. that's why is fun fodder to try to see what you can get out of it.#and search for a hero is just. GOD it's a good fucking arc.#i think i'd be more likely to write the bftc version of these ideas but i'd write either if ppl rlly like the concepts tbh #trying to balance canon characterisation when bftc is your basis is just fun. it's like a lil challenge #jason and tim as batman and robin is such a fun thing to me.#bc you have to consider tim's motivations in it and how he views robin as a servitor of batman #also i just need more jaytim fics where they take in scarlet okay #i'd also accept duela dent #scarlet bby i miss you you were so cool as a robin parallel #truly the only thing that salvages jason in batman & robin (2009)

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rendy-a · 7 months ago

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Hi! Apologies if this request is too vague or specific but can I request a fic of Jack Howl x reader who’s a night owl kind of person and is much shorter than him, thank you!

Thanks for requesting. I don't get a lot of asks for Jack, so its a nice exercise to write something for him. I hope I captured him correctly.

‘Crazy,’ Jack thinks for the hundredth time after befriending the strange Prefect of Ramshackle dorm. You can see this thought pass through his face, but it only makes you laugh more. “Come on, you know you’ll enjoy it.” Jack sighs, “Why can’t you ever pick anything to do that occurs during a normal person’s day?” You lift your hand high to pat your tall friend on the shoulder and laugh, “I’ll convert you eventually,” and chuckle at the resulting scoff.

It is said that opposites attract, and nothing could be more fitting to describe the closeness that has developed between you and Jack. You were short and he was tall. You were always laughing, and he was so serious. The point that seemed to cause you the most contention was that you lived for the late evening hours when the darkness crept in and the sky awoke with stars. You loved the way the insects would sing in the night and the dampness of the coming dew that settled over everything. Jack, on the other hand, went to bed early and woke up at some god-awful hour in the morning. He would tell you any time you brought it up why he liked it, but you just didn’t see it. Noisy birds chirping? Bright and garish sunrises? Having the whole campus to yourself for a jog? What was the charm in that? So, you’d taken it upon yourself to show him the beauty of the night whenever you could. You’d change his mind eventually or at least have fun trying!

“Tell me again why we can’t just watch these movies on the weekend?” Jack asks with a hint of annoyance in his voice. You grab his arm and lay your head pleadingly on his bicep, “Awe, come on! Late night movie marathons are the best!” When you see him turn away as though he can’t meet your eye, you know you almost have him. Time for your most convincing argument. “Please, please, please, please, please!!!” Jack sighs with a huff and gives in to your demand but makes you promise to at least have something healthy for a snack. “Ok, fine,” you offer conceding, “I’ll even prove my commitment to healthy snacks by asking Vil for some suggestions.” Jack thanks you for going so far out of your way for him and gives you an approving pat on the head. Finally, your late-night horror fest with your best pal Jack is a go! And you got a head pat; way to go you!

You were halfway through Horror from the Deep when you could feel the sleepiness creep up. Jack had fallen asleep twice, for which you teased him relentlessly, and so you were determined to make it through the entire retro horror movie marathon without missing a second. “Should we call it a day?” asked Jack with a raised eyebrow. You force your fluttering eyes to full-open and ask, “What? Why?” as though you didn’t know the answer. He huffs at your ridiculous defiance and remarks, “You’re no better than my kid brother at admitting when you are tired.” You frown, “So what, I’m like your sibling now?” Jack seems disturbed by this suggestion and lowers his ears as he stammers an apology. Well, this was awkward now. You turn your attention back to the movie, forcing yourself to focus on that instead of the warm (and firm) arm you are leaning against. Just like friends. Only friends.

By the time the monster emerges onto the beach, you are sleeping deeply while pulling Jack’s arm into a hug. He gives a half-hearted tug before deciding to abandon the effort and leans to rest his head on top of your own. Sleeping like this won’t be so bad. But only because he has too, not because he’s been dreaming about this. No, certainly you didn’t have a friendship like that. Of course not.

In the deep hours of the night, when you’re not quite sure if you should refer to it as night or morning, you awaken. Your sleepy noises bring Jack to alertness before you can really take in how close you were. You sigh and look at your movie partner bashfully, “Guess we will have to rewatch that one later, huh?” Jack gives you a smug smile in response and suddenly you are laughing together. There is a strange magic to the twilight and perhaps that is why Jack suddenly asks, “Walk me home?” You smile at him, glad to have an excuse to drag this time out, “Sure.”

You walk side by side in the misty fog that rolls off the grass during the pre-morning hours. The effect was mysterious, like the setting of those late-night horror movies you’d watched. You decided that you liked it. You lean toward your companion to share your insight, “See Jack, this is exactly the sort of reason I love the night so much.” Jack gives you a bit of side-eye and dryly remarks, “That fog is there because its nearly morning.” You are startled by his comment, “Wait, what?” Looking around, you realize he is right, it has grown so late that it was nearly morning. The stars still gleamed in the sky, but you couldn’t deny the hint of brightness that was creeping from the horizon and the music of insects was slowly intermixing with the earliest of bird calls.

You look around, taking in the atmosphere of the hour, “So this is the death of night, huh?” Jack scoffs, “So dramatic.” You smile, secretly pleased at getting such a response from him. “Is it always this…fresh smelling?” you ask him pensively. He takes a deep breath and lets out the most satisfying exhale, “Yeah, it is.” You continue watching him with a smile, “I kind of like it.” Jack’s ears twitch as though thinking something over, “Yeah but sometimes it’s too bright. This is nice too, easy on the eyes.” You give his arm a tap with your elbow, as though to let him know you’d noticed what he did there. Jack was always fast to reconcile with you when you argued, especially if you admitted you understood his side.

You execute a little hop step and remark, “We should get moving, I don’t want to get any of your morning cooties on me.” Then you set off in a mild run, laughing as you go. Jack quickly catches up to you with a smirk, as though to remind you here is a far better runner than you. You don’t mind, in fact, this is nice. You reach out and grab his hand, pulling him along after you. You feel him squeeze your hand but aren’t brave enough to look back and see what expression might be on his face. You didn’t really need to though. You went together like morning and night. They were both great apart but when you combined them, like fog rolling off the grass, it was magic.

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #twst x reader #jack howl #jack howl x reader

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sallownights · 2 years ago

Text

lavender haze

Request: Can I pls request an Ominis Gaunt x fem Slytherin reader who is part of the Black family and is the niece of professor Black. The two have been best friends since childhood but have also been in an arranged marriage since before they were born. At school, Professor Black often teases the two, as well as Sebastian. They argue that they are just friends but they both have feelings for each other. It all changes during Christmas break when Ominis mother sends him an owl saying that him and his fiancé are to stay at the Gaunt Manor over the break. Ominis is reluctant but y/n convinced him that everything will be fine and that they should go. When they arrive at the manor Ominis parents and siblings greet y/n saying how much they have missed her. During their stay, Ominis confesses his feelings to her and they finally get together. 💕

request by: @levis-dilutedbleach

word count: 5.2k

CW: ominis’ family (i feel like they need a warning), violence, fluff, gramatical errors (maybe), hurt/comfort? maybe? (idk what the tags would be <3)

A/N: I had so much fun writing this! And ofc i related it to taylor swift. bc i think i’m just branding my blog this way. sorry. love you.

pairing: ominis gaunt x f!slytherin!reader

“Did you get number 4 yet? I don’t understand the question.” Y/N looks at Ominis, her eyes pleading a bit.

Ominis nods curtly, his slender fingers still grazing his book. Y/N stares at Ominis, for a moment, before sliding her chair over to look at his parchment.

Ominis closes his eyes, breathing in Y/N’s perfume. Lavender. He let himself get lost in her for a moment. The proximity to Y/N was intoxicating. He hears a chair scrapping away from him, the scent going with it.

“Thank you,” Ominis can hear the smile in Y/N’s voice.

“Do you have any plans today? I heard Sebastian say something about practicing spells in the Undercroft.” Y/N asks Ominis, watching him intently. Ominis’ eyebrows furrow.

“I believe he mentioned it, yes,” Ominis pauses for a moment. His breathing a bit shaky. “Would you like to accompany me?”

Y/N thinks for a moment. While yes, she does want to spend time with Ominis, she doesn’t enjoy the constant teasing from Sebastian. Or the teasing from her uncle, Professor Black, whenever she and Ominis are in the halls.

“I don’t want to intrude-”

“You won’t be.” A small smile graces Y/N’s lips.

“Well then, I shall accompany you.”

After studying for a couple more hours, Ominis collects his things, helping Y/N get her things together as well. Before Y/N can pick up her books, Ominis takes them into his arms. Y/N began to protest before Ominis started walking, not giving her a moment to disagree with his actions.

Y/N and Ominis walk into the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower, making their way to the secluded, odd clock. Ominis and Y/N fit into the lift, lowering them to the ground. The lift creaks and Y/N opens the gate, the metal grating against the brick.

“Hey, Ominis… and Y/N. Didn’t know you’d be joining us today.” Sebastian walks over to the pair. Y/N looks to Ominis for a moment before turning back to Sebastian.

“Yes, I hope that’s alright. Ominis asked if I liked to join.” Sebastian smirks. That same stupid damn smirk.

“Well, don’t let me stop you.” Y/N takes her books from Ominis’ arms. She walks over to a plush lounge chair she conjured at the end of last year. Y/N sets her pile of books down taking the one off the top. Advanced Charms.

‘Great’ Y/N thought to herself. She looks over to the boys who are deep in conversation before they start taking their robes off. Y/N stands, walking over offering to hang them up. Sebastian throws his at her, bending down to re-tie his shoes. Ominis gently hands his robes to her, placing his hand atop hers.

“Thank you, Y/N.” Ominis gives her a warm smile while heat rises in her chest.

“Mhmm.” That was all she could muster to say. She walks over to their makeshift coat rack and hangs up their robes, brushing out any wrinkles they might have. Sebastian’s clearly more of a mess than Ominis.

When Y/N resettles herself on the chair, she starts reading where she left off in the library. She hears the boys shuffle for a second before she notices Ominis rolling up his sleeves. She blushes to herself, trying to force herself to look back at her book, but finding herself entranced by Ominis toned forearms. Her gaze moves lower, to his hands. She knows she’s staring and she knows she should stop, but something about the way he grips his wand when he’s about to duel. She feels her body grow hot before Sebastian sends off a few spells at Ominis, to which he dodges.

Y/N breaks her gaze, allowing herself to cool off as she reads about the Aguamenti Charm.

‘It provides the user with a jet of clear, pure water, and shoots it from the tip of the caster's wand.’

‘If only it were holy water’ Y/N thinks to herself. Fanning her face from the heat of the Undercroft. While it was normally quite cold, Sebastian has a rather clear fixation with fiery spells.

“I yield! I yield!” Y/N’s head shoots up seeing Sebastian now on the ground underneath Ominis. Ominis, bending Sebastian’s leg in a way that it should not be going.

Ominis stands and brushes himself off, before lending a hand down to Sebastian.

Sebastian takes Ominis’ hand, jumping back up.

“That’s not fair. We said no tackling.” Sebastian said, pouting.

“I believe we said that last duel, not this one,” Ominis replies. Y/N stifles a laugh, knowing Sebastian was going to be all grumbly over his loss.

“Okay, let’s go again. No tackling,” Sebastian turns to Y/N. “And no ogling!” Y/N rolls her eyes but feels that familiar heat rise to her cheeks.

“I wasn’t ogling,” Y/N mutters, almost certain neither boy could hear her.

“It’s alright if you were, Y/N. I don’t mind someone seeing Sebastian’s defeat.” Ominis answers. It was rare when Ominis would gloat. However, he knew his strengths. Y/N remembers the first time she saw Ominis beat Sebastian in a duel. He was quite proud of himself but ever the gentleman, he wasn’t one to brag. However, now, he did it just to get under the freckled boys skin.

“Let’s just go again.” Sebastian brandishes his wand.

“As you wish.” Ominis, says calmly.

The boys continue to duel, this time, no tackling and no ogling. Y/N kept her eyes glued to her book. Her eyes scan the words, but not processing a single one.

‘I wasn’t staring.’ She thinks to herself. She doesn’t dare look up from her book when she hears Sebastian yell a few curses.

“Do you yield?” Ominis has Sebastian cornered.

“Like hell I’ll yield!” Sebastian sneers out.

“Have it your way.” Ominis’ calm demeanor doesn’t change. Even when he sends a fiery blast of Confringo at his best friend.

‘Deprimo. Used to blast holes into the ground.’ Y/N’s eyes are ripped from her book as she feels a sharp pain on her shoulder and yells. She tries to look down at her shoulder, which she can tell, is now bleeding.

“Y/N!” Ominis rushes over to Y/N, holding his wand to her, scanning the damage. His hand gently holds her face while he casts a quick spell, seeing if she was harmed anywhere else.

Sebastian starts rushing towards Y/N before Ominis casts Depulso at him, sending Sebastian flying into some barrels. His hand never leaves Y/N’s face.

“I have some wiggenweld. Just a moment, please.” Ominis digs in his pocket, removing his hand from Y/N. She sighs, missing the warmth of him. He finds the potion before opening it and having Y/N tilt her head back to take it. He pours it into her mouth, caressing her face once again, sliding his thumb back and forth holding her chin. Once she swallows, he plants himself in front of her, between her knees. One hand on hers, the other on her cheek.

“Are you alright?” Ominis asks, his voice quiet, nervous almost. The wiggenweld helped reduce the pain, along with the bleeding coming to a stop. The wound started repatching itself.

“Yeah! I’m fine!” Sebastian yells, standing up and dusting himself off.

“I didn’t ask you.” Ominis’ voice was never full of malice. Maybe not until now.

“I-I’m alright.” Y/N manages to say, not used to Ominis sounding angry. Not unless he was discussing his family. Even then, he sounded pained, not mad.

“See, your fiancée is fine.” Sebastian’s voice is almost teasing.

“No thanks to you.” Ominis places his wand on the lounge, bringing a hand up to Y/N’s shoulder and the other back to her face.

‘Good’ Ominis thinks to himself moving his fingers along the smooth skin of Y/N’s shoulder.

“Breathe,” Ominis says and he nudges Y/N slightly, indicating he was talking to her. She lets out a shaky breath.

“Well, I should go back to the common room. Don’t want to get in the crossfire, again.” Y/N says, glaring at Sebastian. To which he glares back at her.

“I shall walk you,” Ominis says, standing up to help Y/N stand. He takes a step back, offering his hand to her. Y/N takes it gracefully and hands Ominis his wand back. Ominis helps Y/N to her feet before taking her books off the lounge.

“But we weren't finished-” Sebastian starts before he gets cut off.

“We concluded the duel when Y/N got hurt.” Ominis starts walking to the gate of the Undercroft, Y/N following in toe. Ominis takes his robe off the rack, placing it gently over Y/N’s shoulders.

“Oh, Ominis, I’m alright-” Y/N begins to protest before Ominis interrupts her,

“Your shirt is cut, I would feel better if you were to have my robe.” Y/N just nods and looks at her feet. Ominis enters the lift and as Y/N does she sends a quick Rictusempra at Sebastian, causing him to double over in forced laughter.

Y/N smirks before feeling the lift rise, leaving the other Slytherin to deal with the effects of the spell.

The walk back to the Slytherin common room was fairly quiet. Some students were still mulling around, but not many. Y/N finds comfort in Ominis’ robes, wrapping them tighter around herself in the cold, damp dungeon hallways. When they arrive at the common room, the snake crawls up the wall, revealing the passageway. Ominis notions for Y/N to walk in first.

‘Ever the gentleman.’ She thinks before stepping into the room, descending the staircase leading to the main portion of the communal area.

“Do you want me to bring these to your room?” Ominis quietly says.

“Oh, I can take them.” Y/N places her hand on the stack of books, Ominis’ grip doesn’t relent.

“It’s really no problem.” He smiles at her.

“Well, if you insist.” Y/N walks to her dorm room, opening the door for Ominis to enter, he waits for her too. She rolls her eyes before stepping through the threshold.

“If you could place them on my desk, that would be lovely.” Y/N takes her shoes off, happily getting rid of them.

“Of course,” Ominis slides the books onto her desk before turning back to face her. “Are you sure you’re alright? I can take you to the Hospital Wing if needed.”

“Ominis, I promise, I’m okay,” Y/N takes a step towards Ominis. “Oh, before I forget…” Y/N unclasps the robe and before Ominis places his hand on Y/N’s.

“Uh… y-you can keep it. I’m sure you look better in it than I do.” Ominis’ fingers graze Y/N’s engagement ring. Y/N trains her eyes on his fingers. Focusing on the delicate touch they leave behind as he begins to fiddle with the ring.

Y/N thinks back to a time when everything seemed simpler. Before she was “technically” engaged to her now best friend and for sure not crush, Ominis Gaunt. Before she understood the weight of not being able to choose who she was going to be with for the rest of her life. Before her heart was taken by the boy in front of her.

Their first meeting was rather… odd. Ominis’ mother was nothing short of kind to Y/N. Which now, after hearing all the things she’s done to Ominis, she thinks less of her. Marvolo, Ominis’ brother, was quick to tease the two, despite him also being engaged to someone he didn’t choose. However, whenever Y/N was around, everything seemed… brighter. Ominis would engage with his family, Marvolo would be tolerable, and Y/N’s mother would stop complaining.

Now… everything was different. She knew she was going to marry the Gaunt. His last name carrying an amount of notoriety that she wasn’t entirely comfortable with. However, he seemed okay with leaving the name behind.

‘When did we get so close?’ Y/N thinks to herself. Ominis’ face was so close to hers, she could see every beauty mark, every dimple, every imperfection. Not that he had any. She barely noticed how he was now holding her hand, cradling it almost. She was too enraptured by his beauty, not only internally but externally too.

Ominis runs his fingers over Y/N’s slowly, feeling one of his family’s heirlooms on hers. A gift he had once given her. While they had been engaged since before either were born, she wasn’t required to wear a ring. Ominis could hear how people talked about her. Beautiful, smart, ambitious, talented.

Ominis wasn’t necessarily possessive, or at least he believes he’s not. So, he got the ring from his Aunt Noctua and proposed. Y/N wasn’t overly emotional when he proposed. He had to propose in front of his family so Y/N more so had to act like she was excited. Y/N’s mother was more excited than Y/N was. The Black family aren’t necessarily making waves with anyone but they were certainly influential in the wizarding society.

The Gaunts had been friends with the Black family for years. So when Mrs. Gaunt got pregnant the same time Mrs. Black did, it was the perfect opportunity for the families to conjoin.

Ominis’ hand slowly travels up Y/N’s arm, leaving a burning trail behind. He brings his hand to her face, slowly moving his thumb around her quickly blushing face.

A throat clearing made them jump away from each other. Y/N wrapped her hand around one of the poles on her bed and Ominis bringing his hand to the back of his neck.

“Hi Imelda…” Y/N pushes her chest out trying to look confident and her voice wavering slightly. Imelda lays on her bed on the other side of the room.

“Black. Gaunt.” Imelda eyes Y/N up and down, not bothering to look at the boy between them.

“Well, I should go.” Ominis scrambles out of the room quickly. Y/N and Imelda watch him go. As soon as he’s out and shuts the door, they hear his footsteps retreat down the iron stairs.

“So… just friends still?” Y/N picks up a throw pillow before tossing it at Imelda.

“Shut up.” Imelda cackles before she and Y/N start talking about their day.

———————————————————————————

Weeks go by, snow falling harder at the encroaching holiday season. Sebastian, Ominis, and Y/N sit together in the Great Hall.

“Sebastian, can you pass the pumpkin j-” The trio is met with the familiar caw of the Gaunt owl. Noctua, affectionately named by Ominis, honoring his aunt.

An envelope, wrapped around Noctua. She lowers herself to the table, in front of Ominis.

“Hello, love,” Ominis says, bringing his hand to pet the owl for a moment. Noctua’s ruffling her feathers. Ominis carefully takes the letter off of her, a small bit of thin rope coming off with the letter. Noctua walks onto Ominis’ arm before he raises it, helping her take off.

Ominis’ fingers move across the back of the envelope, feeling the crest of the House of Gaunt. His eyebrows furrowing and a frown evident on his face.

“Family?” Y/N says quietly, placing a comforting hand to Ominis’ arm.

“Yes. I’m not particularly excited about whatever they want.”

“Do you want me to read it?” Y/N offers, placing her hand on the letter.

“If you could, thank you.” Ominis lets go and Y/N takes it. Carefully, she breaks the seal of the envelope. The letter isn’t particularly long which is slightly unusual for the family. She flipped it over and casted Revelio, hoping the spell would reveal some kind of hidden script, but no such luck. Y/N clears her throat before starting.

‘Dear My Good Son Ominis,

I expect to see you and your fiancée, Y/N over the Christmas break. Her family is not able to host her this year, so we are going to at the Gaunt Manor. Please bring warm clothes along with anything Miss Y/N may need.

Warmest Regards,

Mother’

“Well, I suppose I’m not staying with my family over the holidays,” Y/N says, disappointed. She didn’t dislike her family. They are more than tolerable. However, she doesn’t see the reason she must stay with the Gaunts and not at Hogwarts.

“We can stay here… or… or go to Feldcroft with Sebastian.” Ominis gives options, but Y/N just shakes her head.

“No, no. It’s quite alright. We can go to the Gaunt Manor. Maybe… maybe it’ll be fun.” Ominis’ hand finds Y/N’s and she gives him a comforting squeeze. Sebastian clears his throat but the two don’t pull apart.

“If you’re having a terrible time, you can always come join me and Anne.”

“Thank you for the offer, Sebastian. I’m sure everything will be fine though.” Y/N waves Sebastian off with her other hand.

“Yes, it seems my family tends to be… kinder… when you’re around.” Ominis lifts Y/N’s hand to his mouth and kisses it. He lets go and goes back to his meal. Y/N is still after he kisses her hand. A blush made its way to her face faster than a golden snitch. Sebastian seemed too engrossed in his meal to point out Y/N’s quickly reddening face.

“It’s settled then.” Y/N smiled, bringing her fork to her mouth.

———————————————————————————

“Are you cold? Did you forget your gloves?” Ominis’ voice rings out in Y/N’s ears.

“A bit, yes and it appears I did,” Ominis frowns before taking his gloves off and putting them on Y/N’s hands.

“But now your hands will be cold, Ominis.” He holds out his arm for her to take, which she accepts. She places her other hand on his arm, bringing him closer to her for added warmth

“Better, yes?” Y/N’s face goes scarlet and stutters out,

“Y-yes. Yep. Better.”

“Lovely.”

The two walk through the gates of the Gaunt Manor. There’s a light snowfall. Y/N keeps taking quick glances at Ominis, his cheeks glowing from the cold. The air is crisp and bites at the couple's cheeks. The courtyard is surrounded by tall, ancient trees that are now adorned with a layer of powdery snow. The tree branches sway gently in the wind, causing snow to fall from the branches and create a serene atmosphere.

In the center of the courtyard, a beautiful fountain stands, now frozen over and covered in snow, giving the impression of a snow-draped sculpture. Its water spouts are now quiet, frozen in place by the cold. The snow-covered ground is a beautiful contrast of white and dark stone, with a few patches of greenery poking out here and there.

The buildings surrounding the courtyard are stately, with tall and imposing stone walls. The snow adds a beautiful accent to their already impressive architecture, creating a peaceful and idyllic winter scene. The stairs are slippery but with the hold they have on one another, they stay upright.

Y/N politely knocks on the door before placing her hand back on Ominis’ arm. The door swings open to reveal Marvolo, Ominis’ older brother.

“Y/N! Lovely to see you!” Marvolo exclaims, rushing the couple inside.

“Marvolo, how are you?” Ominis moves behind Y/N, having her shrug off her coat for him to hang up.

“I’m well, I’m well. How is Hogwarts? Are you still planning on being a professor?” Y/N giggles at the excitement of the older brother, who’s normally a pain.

“I’m not entirely sure yet-”

“Are Ominis and Y/N here?” Ominis’ eldest sister comes sliding into the room, wrapping her arms around the younger girl. The sister pushes back slightly to get a better look at Y/N.

“You look so beautiful! Oh, Merlin, I haven’t seen you in ages. You’ve gotten taller!”

“It’s been ages, it’s lovely to be here. Thank you for having me.”

“Of course. Let me go get Mother, I’ll be back in a moment.” The sister drags Marvolo out of the room to help search for their mom.

“Oh, darling, let me help you. Your tie got all crooked.” Y/N stands in front of Ominis, readjusting his tie. He takes her hands and slides the gloves off, placing them in his coat pocket before placing it on the coat rack.

“Are you alright?” Y/N whispers, her face close to Ominis’.

“I am. I’m glad you’re here.” He smiles. While, yes, he is happy she’s here with him, he does wish it were under different circumstances. Not the ones his family placed on him before he had a choice. He wishes he could bring her here as his girlfriend, not as his chosen wife. He wanted them to develop feelings over time. Now, more than anything, he’s worried she hates him for what his family has put upon them. If she did hate him though, she had a funny way of showing it.

“Well, I’m glad I’m here too. It’ll be fun. Right?” Ominis nods, not finding any words to answer her question. He raises his arm to her once again, her casually finding her place next to him as if it didn’t make Ominis’ heart beat out of his chest.

“My dear boy! Y/N! So glad you made it alright. The weather was absolutely horrible this morning. Seems you brought the sun with you.” Ominis’ mother beams at the two. Y/N can tell that she clocked the two standing close next to each other and looks more than pleased.

“Oh, yes. The trip was rather scenic.” Ominis’ mother brings Y/N in for a tight hug before moving to her son. She wasn’t a very affectionate woman but Y/N did seem to bring out a side of her that Ominis wasn’t used to.

“I’m sure, I’m glad the carriage found you both well. Did the coachmen help with your bags?” Ominis’ mother turned around snapping at a few house elves to fetch everyone some tea.

“Yes, they took them for us.” Ominis sits down, bringing Y/N down with him. He moves his hand to find hers. It wasn’t intentional, just being home reminded him of so many awful things. Of everything really. He knew his hearing would start to give out if he thought about it for too long. Y/N kept him grounded, her thumb making its way back and forth across his hand.

He’s not sure how long he’s sitting there. His hand in hers. It feels right and he knows it's right. Her giggle, the way he can hear her smile, hear her blush. The way she never stops comforting him even when she’s being bombarded with a million questions.

He felt Y/N stand and pull him to his feet. He followed her like a lost puppy. Her scent enraptured him. She made him feel safe. Even when he knew he wasn’t. The Gaunts were not people you could feel safe around. He came back to reality when the scent of lavender got lost with the scent of dinner.

Ominis pulls out Y/N’s chair for her. He then slides into his own chair, moving it as close to her as he can, not wanting to bring attention to it but needing to be near her.

Dinner, truthfully, couldn’t have been slower. Ominis was thankful for the attention to not be on him, and for Y/N to be so quick to answer. Every now and then Y/N and Ominis’ hands would brush by. Y/N knew she was blushing but she hoped everyone would just think it was because of the attention she’s receiving.

“Thank you for the dinner. I’m going to wash up and head to bed if that’s alright. Today was just a lot of traveling.” Y/N smiled and stood up, taking hers and Ominis’ plates to the kitchen.

“Of course! Marvolo will show you to your room.” Marvolo stands and ushers Y/N down the hall.

The room is dark and moody, with heavy curtains covering the windows, casting the room in a dim light. The walls are painted a deep, rich forest green and adorned with ornate patterns.

The bed is the centerpiece of the room, with a grand, four-poster bedframe made of dark wood and draped with luxurious fabrics in dark grays and greens. The bedding is piled high with plush pillows and soft, heavy blankets, creating an inviting and cozy atmosphere, despite its exterior.

The room is decorated with antique furniture, a wooden dressing table with a large mirror, a high-backed armchair, and a matching set of drawers with intricate carvings. The windows are framed with heavy drapes, adorned with tassels and fringes, which can be drawn shut to create a sense of privacy.

The lighting in the room is soft and warm, with lamps and candles casting a golden glow throughout the space. The room has a fireplace, adding warmth and comfort to the ambiance.

In the corner of the room, there’s a record player, one Y/N had brought over a few years ago.

“If you need anything, please let us know.” Marvolo flashes a quick smile before stepping out. Y/N goes over to her bags, noticing Ominis’ on the bed as well.

‘Great. This is so great. I’m… happy.’ She forgot about how she has to share the bed with the Gaunt boy every time she stays here. Even when they were younger. It’s become more comfortable now. Y/N thinks back to a time when she woke up with Ominis’ arm around her. She wanted to indulge herself, fall back asleep, but she wanted to save him the embarrassment in case he didn’t mean to do that.

“Love, are you… decent?” Y/N giggles at Ominis’ choice of words.

“Yep, come in,” She turns around and sees the door open, Ominis walks in and makes his way to the bed.

“I’m just going to shower real quick, I hope you don’t mind,” Ominis shakes his head. He hears her footsteps begin to retreat before he quickly grabs her wrist, moving to her hand. His fingers finding it’s way to his aunt's ring once again. They stay there for a moment, Y/N’s eyes studying Ominis’ face. Trying to get any sort of understanding from what's happening.

“Ominis?” Her voice is quiet.

“Thank you, for being here. I think you just make everything better by just being around. No, sorry. You do make everything better by being around.” Y/N’s face breaks out in the familiar heat once again.

“Oh, darling, you know I’ll always be around for you. Always.” She pulls him in for a hug, to which he reciprocates. Her hands slide into his hair, scratching his scalp and sending shivers down his spine. Ominis breathes her in. Wanting to get lost in her for as long as he can.

“Can we just stay here a moment?” Ominis’ voice comes out a bit shaky, afraid of her answer.

“Always.” She places a kiss on his cheek before settling her head against his chest, letting her arms drape around his neck. He keeps his arms around her waist, holding her as tight to him as he possibly can without hurting her. That is until he feels her pull away slightly.

“I’m very sorry, I didn’t mean to make you-” He gets cut off by feeling her lips press against his. Just as fast as they were there, they’re gone. Y/N’s eyes try to read his face and she bites her lip, waiting for him to say something.

Anything.

“Ominis, I-” Before Y/N can continue, Ominis’ mouth is on hers, it's as if time stands still for them. The pining, the fingertips brushing, the shared nights. Their embrace is passionate, yet tender, as if they are savoring each and every moment. The electricity between them is palpable, their bodies pressing against each other as they hold on tightly, unwilling to let go.

Their kiss is filled with a mix of intensity and tenderness, as if they are trying to convey all the emotions they've been feeling for so long through this one act. Ominis’ hands pull Y/N closer as her hands get lost in his hair. They've both been waiting for this moment, and the anticipation has been building up for so long that it's almost overwhelming. It’s dizzying. Their kiss is filled with longing and desire, yet it's also filled with a sense of relief and contentment.

As they finally break apart, their foreheads rested against one another as they try to catch their breath. They know that they've finally crossed a threshold and that their lives will never be the same again. They hold each other tightly, basking in the warmth of each other's embrace, and knowing that they will never have to be apart again.

“Uh, I uhm… I kinda like you, Ominis.” Y/N manages to say once she gets her breathing fairly under control. While it’s not exactly what she was feeling, she felt as if she needed to say something.

“If I can be honest, I think I’m in love with you.” Ominis steps back slightly, taking Y/N’s hands in his. He slides the ring off her finger before getting down on one knee.

“I know we’ve done this before, however, then I didn’t have the right words to say to you. I didn’t know how to tell you that I am in love with you. I believe I was then as well, and now, it’s only grown. You’ve been there for me when I couldn’t be for myself. You talk to me as if I’m anyone else, yet, I feel special whenever you talk to me. Your aura is intoxicating. I find it hard to not be near you. The moment you leave, I lose a part of me. I long for the moments when you’re near me again. I think I was okay with our arrangement in the past couple of years because I knew, even if you hated me, I would be yours. I didn’t care how much you didn’t want to be around me because I knew my heart would still belong to you. Maybe it was pure destiny that we are to be wed. Maybe it’s dumb luck. But if I get to spend the rest of my life with you, I would do it. I will be whoever you need me to be. I’d leave my family behind. I’ll go wherever you want. I just want to be with you, love.”

Y/N’s eyes swell with tears that immediately pour over, she pulls Ominis up from his knees and kisses him softly.

“Will you be mine?” Ominis whispers against her mouth, holding the ring in his hand still.

“Darling, I was always yours.” Ominis breaks out into a smile before pulling Y/N into a kiss again. He slides the ring onto her finger before bringing his hands to her hair, tangling it. Y/N brings her hands to his chest before she feels his tongue slide into her mouth, deepening the kiss. Ominis pulls back suddenly.

“Oh, fuck.”

“Ominis!” Y/N not used to hearing Ominis curse. “What?”

“I owe Sebastian 100 Galleons.”

#ominis imagine #ominis x mc #ominis smut #ominis x reader #ominis gaunt x reader #ominis hogwarts legacy #ominis x y/n #hogwarts legacy ominis #ominis gaunt imagine #ominis x you #ominis gaunt #sebastian sallow #ominis #hogwarts legacy sebastian #Spotify

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bookworm551 · 2 years ago

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Of Duty and Desire | Chapter 3 | Neteyam x Metkayina!reader

A/N: Sorry this took so long! I literally rewrote this like three times before I figured out what I wanted. Hopefully the next part will be a lot easier for me lol. Again, thanks for the love I got on the last chapters, and to everyone who left a comment under them, you get a little kiss on the forehead (consentually)

Word count: 7.5k (I literally cut out like 700 words too)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Epilogue

"That wasn't fair!"

You laughed at Lo'ak as he came up on his ilu behind you, looking a little sour at your victory. You slid off of your own ilu into the waist-high water and shrugged casually. "It is not my fault you took the long way," you told him with a smug grin. He huffed at you. "Only because I didn't know there was a short way," he muttered.

The two of you had been out that morning collecting sea grass to make more ropes, a never-ending demand in the reef. After gathering as much as you could pack, you had suggested a friendly race back to the village, and Lo'ak, powerless to resist a challenge, had agreed. Now, he was wallowing bitterly in your victory wake.

The two of you waded up towards the beach, and to your delight, you spotted Neteyam not far off. "Neteyam!" you called out to him, making him pause to see who was calling. "Your brother is a sore loser." Lo'ak huffed in annoyance. "Only because she cheats," he countered loudly.

As you approached Neteyam, you could make out a small smile on his face. "That is a bold accusation, brother," he replied, stepping over to where you were emerging from the water. You grinned up at him. "A bold accusation," you repeated, "and a false one."

Neteyam turned to his brother and shot him a smirk. "So, you resort to false accusations when you lose?" he questioned with a disproving shake of his head. "That's low."

Lo'ak scoffed at his brother. "Of course, you're taking her side," he said, switching to English so you wouldn't understand. "You're so obvious, it's pathetic." His words made Neteyam's lofty smile disappear immediately, and he gave his brother a warning look. "Don't," he said quietly in response.

Your eyes flicked back and forth between the two brothers. Whatever Lo'ak had said to Neteyam seemed to cut him, but you had no idea what it was. To diffuse the tension between them, you asked, "Neteyam, would you like to help us with some braiding? We collected plenty of sea grass for ropes, and we could use the help."

He looked away from Lo'ak to you. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before shaking his head and responding, "I can't, I have something I must do for my father." You nodded in understanding, but you couldn't deny the twinge of disappointment you felt.

It seemed to you that you were seeing Neteyam less and less every day. Usually, he was always stopping by the center of the village where you spent most of your time to talk or see if you needed anything, but lately, he seemed preoccupied with something, you just weren't sure what.

He seemed to pick up on your disappointment because he offered you a small smile and said, "I will next time, I promise." You smiled back and nodded. "I will hold you to it," you told him as he started making his way across the beach again.

You watched Neteyam walk off for a moment before turning back to Lo'ak. "What did you say to him?" You asked in curiosity. Lo'ak shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he replied. "I was just making fun of him." In truth, Lo'ak felt a little guilty about what he had said to his brother, seeing in hindsight that his response to Neteyam's jokes was a bit harsh. However, he shrugged it off knowing that he was right and that his brother wouldn't hold it against him for long.

For the rest of the day, you went without seeing Neteyam until the evening meal. He and his siblings always sat with you and your friends as you ate and talked amongst yourselves. That night, your conversation focused on the exciting events of the next day.

Now that the waters had grown warm again, and now that you were finally of age, you, Aonung, and other young Metkayina clan members prepared for the final trial of Iknimaya—learning to ride a skimwing. You were eager for the challenge, and eager to prove yourself worthy of your first tattoo.

"I don't see what all the fuss is about," Lo'ak said skeptically. "They can't be that bad." You and your other Metkayina friends all shared an amused look. "Don't think we forgot about the first time you rode an ilu," Aonung laughed. "I can't wait to see you try to ride a skimwing next year."

Lo'ak rolled his eyes as you all laughed at him. "Very funny," he said, sounding not at all amused. "But tomorrow, I get to watch you guys make fools of yourselves." You shook your head with a grin. "I appreciate the confidence you have in us," you told him sarcastically. "I know you wouldn't want us to fail, especially not your own brother." Lo'ak smiled wryly at you. "Right," he agreed. "Especially not my brother."

Tuk perked up. "Neteyam, you get to ride the skimwings tomorrow?" She asked excitedly. Neteyam, who had been eating silently most of the night, was pulled from his thoughts at his sister's question and nodded in affirmation. "Neteyam is old enough to learn to ride a skimwing," Tsireya explained to her, "but he cannot gain a tattoo and prove himself a warrior until he has bonded with a tulkun."

Tuk looked a little disappointed for her brother and quietly uttered a sad, "Oh." Neteyam shrugged casually at her. "It's okay," he said reassuringly. "I have already completed the demands of the Iknimaya for Omatikaya. By rights, I am already a warrior."

You all paused in surprise. "I didn't know that," you said thoughtfully. "This whole time, you have been proven?" Everybody watched Neteyam as he nodded nonchalantly, apparently not realizing that his Metkayina friends had made a new discovery about him.

"So, you can choose a mate then?" Aonung asked with interest. His question made you pause your eating. You looked over at Neteyam and watched his reaction closely. "That is my right," he replied simply, keeping his eyes trained on his plate as he answered.

Aonung smirked at him. "So, has anybody caught your eye?" He questioned teasingly. "Or are our women not good enough for the son of Toruk Makto?" The boys all chuckled together, and one of them added, "Maybe he had someone back in the forest."

That comment made you look back down at your plate. Their teasing caused your stomach to twist. You had never considered the possibility that Neteyam could find a mate so soon, and you definitely hadn't thought about the fact that maybe there was someone special he had left behind, someone he would want to go back for. The idea made you feel sick, and what was worse was that you definitely should not be feeling like this.

Neteyam's silence only made you feel worse as the boys continued joking with each other. It was totally plausible that Neteyam would have someone. Aside from being the son of one of the most famed Na'vi in history, he was smart, caring, kind, and handsome. Even if he didn't already have someone, it was only a matter of time before someone caught his attention.

You were somewhat relieved when the conversation turned back to riding skimwings. You reminded yourself that there were far more important things than dwelling on Neteyam's love life, and those things were much more relevant to your future than whether or not Neteyam was searching for a mate.

That first day of skimwing training, everybody made a fool of themselves, which made it a little easier to deal with. Riding a skimwing was a lot harder than riding an ilu. They were much more sensitive to stimuli and required a lot of focus, as was proven with your first attempt at riding them.

The wind blew through your hair as you and your skimwing rose above the water, and you were reminded of the feeling of flying on Neteyam's ikran. The memory of his hand on your thigh as you turned through the air popped into your mind, and immediately, the skimwing took advantage of your momentary distraction to twist to the right and quickly dive back into the water.

Every day, however, you all became a little bit better at riding. Everyone lasted longer and had better control of their mounts than the day before, but you noticed Neteyam was still having trouble adjusting to the skimwings. After one of his many unplanned dismounts, Jake had pulled him aside and spoke quietly to him in English. "You need to get your head out of the clouds and focus," he had told him. "Don't let her become a distraction, you're better than that."

You didn't know what he was saying, but whatever it was, Jake's words definitely fueled Neteyam's determination because he stopped joking around with you during the lessons. It made them less fun, but with time, you all became more proficient at riding.

The real challenge came after nearly three weeks of rigorous training with skimwings. To prove your proficiency, bravery, and unity, you and the other initiates must successfully hunt one of the most dangerous animals in the water—the akula.

The morning of the hunt, you all rode out past the reef on your skimwings. There were a couple of adults that came along to observe the final step of your Iknimaya, but they were strictly forbidden from interfering, including Tonowari.

It took a while of searching, but Aonung was the first to spot it. It was difficult to see, but in the deep blue water, the shadow of the akula was moving slowly beneath you. You looked over at Aonung, and he signed at your group, 'I will bring it up to the rocks.' You all nodded in understanding. Even though you were all facing this challenge together, you knew that Aonung would be taking charge as a demonstration of his leadership skills.

The way divers killed akula was by luring them towards closely-set rocks like the ones nearby to prevent them from having much space to attack. Then, a few divers needed to entangle its tail in the net to keep it from swimming away. The hardest part was the killing blow. Akula were covered in hard-plated armor with few weak points, but the safest bet was to stab it with a spear right behind where its jaws unhinged to open, effectively puncturing its tough skeleton.

You watched anxiously as Aonung swam out away from the rest of you on his skimwing. Giving you all a final nod, he took a small fish from out of his saddle pack and sliced it open. The akula reacted almost instantly. It made a wide, slow circle around to face the direction of the blood. Aonung watched and waited from afar, preparing himself to take off at a moment's notice.

You glanced over to your right. Neteyam was not far off, and he seemed to notice you looking. He offered a reassuring smile before you realized that Aonung taking off towards the rocks. The akula was charging toward the scent of blood in the water, prompting you and the rest of the initiates to spring into action.

You followed after the large predator with a net in hand. Aonung had circled around to face the akula as he came near the scattered rocks that rose all the way up to the surface of the water. The akula continued swimming after him, heedless of the large jutting stones. Aonung weaved around them with speed and precision, outmaneuvering the beast.

You managed to catch up to them first, and you cast your net over the rapidly moving fin that propelled the akula forward. You pulled hard, causing the animal to falter in its chase. Its body was too stocky to reach around to attack you, and soon enough, others joined in with their nets and began pulling as well.

It began thrashing viciously and snapped its jaws with wild desperation. Aonung took the opportunity now that it was fairly immobilized to run his spear through the weak point behind the jaws. The creature recoiled violently, but it still moved weakly. On the other side, you watched Neteyam bring his own spear up and stab it through the weak point on the other side of its head.

This time, the creature gave a weak shudder before going limp. Your relief was overwhelming, as was your excitement. With this hunt being a success, you had now completed your Iknimaya. You were now fully Metkayina, and you had earned your tattoo.

You and the others who had their nets on the akula pulled it up toward the surface. When you all broke above the water, you immediately began laughing together in excitement. You saw Aonung and Neteyam side-by-side with matching smiles as they clasped each other's arms in celebration.

Tonowari came up to the surface with a proud grin on his face. "You have done well," he called out to you all. "I am very proud of you all.”

The village greeted you all eagerly as your skimwings hauled the akula back to the reef. People immediately worked to bring in its body to be prepared for use as both food and tools. Ronal was there as well, and she smiled at you all proudly. "You have now earned your first tattoo," she told your group. "Come with me."

Aonung went first. You all waited eagerly outside of Ronal's tent, and the three younger Sully siblings and Tsireya joined you to hear about your hunt. You recounted how the akula chased after Aonung through the rocks and how it required both him and Neteyam together to be killed.

It felt like no time at all had passed before Aonung stepped out again. You all gasped in amazement at the tattoo cresting his brow bone. It was similar in design and placement to Ronal's own forehead tattoo, and it symbolized strong leadership and wisdom. Ronal watched as you and your friends showered her son with compliments before holding out a hand to beckon you in.

Tsireya gave your hand a reassuring squeeze and smiled as you stepped up to follow her mother. Inside, you lay down on the cot in front of Ronal. By her side, there was a large bowl of black ink and several long sticks with varying tips attached to the ends. She brushed your hair away from your shoulders and began cleaning your chest with fresh water.

"You have spent countless days here in the village learning your duties and upholding your responsibilities," she explained. "And so, you will bear the crest of the steadfast and strong-hearted." She patted your skin dry and moved her supplies closer to you. "Our island is the heart of the clan," she continued as she picked up her tools. "And one day, you too shall be the heart of the People."

You listened to her speak without interrupting. Her words inspired a mix of emotions within you. You were honored by the profound meaning she had chosen for your tattoo, but at the same time, you were reminded again of your obligation to Aonung. Every day, you felt more and more apprehensive of the day that Tonowari and Ronal stepped down from their duties and passed them onto you, and the anxiety you felt only incited feelings of guilt.

Ronal began tapping her tools into the skin above your heart. The sharp tip stung as it broke your skin, but you stayed still as she worked carefully for what felt like hours. You didn't move except when she took the occasional break to sit up from her stooped pose over your body.

When she finished, she sat up to admire her work, a genuine smile growing on her face. "We are finished," she said, offering you her hand to help you sit up slowly. You looked down and could see part of the intricate pattern etched into your raised skin. Smiling brightly, you turned your eyes up to Ronal's face and breathed, "Thank you." She placed a hand on your shoulder, still smiling, and told you, "I am very proud of you."

Your chest swelled at her words. Ronal rarely gave compliments, so when she did, you knew she was being genuine. You worked so diligently trying to live up to her expectations, and hearing her praise made you beam with pride. Gaining your first tattoo was a momentous occasion, and the significance of that accomplishment made your hard work worth it. Seeing Ronal's smiling face made you eager to further prove yourself to her. How could you ever think of letting her down?

You stepped out of Ronal's tent with a new sense of achievement. Waiting to greet you outside, Aonung, Roxto, Tsireya, Kiri, and Lo'ak all stood up as you walked out. Their eyes all fell on the fresh tattoo on the side of your chest.

"It looks amazing!" Tsireya gushed as she grabbed your hand in excitement. You beamed at her, and everyone gathered close to inspect the details of your tattoo. They all offered their congratulations, and happiness washed over you with their praise.

Glancing around, you found that there was one face missing from the group. "Where is Neteyam?" you asked, trying to sound casual. Everybody else seemed to notice for the first time that the oldest Sully was not there. "I'm sure he's just resting," Kiri offered. You nodded in response. You also felt tired from the day's excursion, but you couldn't deny that you were hit with a pang of disappointment that Neteyam wasn't there to see your tattoo with all of your friends.

After receiving your tattoos, you and your friends headed back to your homes in order to prepare for the celebration being held in your honor. The akula that you had killed was harvested for its meat which would be served for everyone to enjoy that night. You busied yourself preparing for the festivities when you heard a voice near the entrance of your home.

"May I come in?" Aonung asked politely. You turned to face him in surprise. In nearly two years of being betrothed, the two of you had rarely spent time alone together, and he almost never made a point to come calling for you. "Of course," you replied, trying not to seem as awkward as you felt.

He stepped in carefully, feeling somewhat out of place in your home. "I wanted to congratulate you on the hunt today," he began. "You showed great skill and bravery in the water."

You were taken aback by his kind words. Never before had he offered such praise, but he seemed genuine in his words and tone. "Thank you," you said with a smile. "And you have proven yourself to be a capable and mighty leader."

He smiled back at you before releasing a small sigh. "I know this..." he gestured between himself and you, "...has been strange for us." You looked down and chuckled lightly, relieved to know he felt the same way about your arrangement.

"But I do not want it to be that way anymore," he continued, holding out his hand. You looked up and couldn't help but gasp softly. Dangling from his fingers was a necklace with several shells and beads intricately braided into the cord. At the bottom hung a large, gleaming tooth.

"It is beautiful," you breathed in amazement. You reached out and held the necklace up to admire. The bands of colorful red and yellow shells alternated in a beautiful pattern that demonstrated dedicated craftsmanship. "Is this the tooth of an akula?" you asked. Aonung smiled at you. "The same one we killed today," he told you proudly.

You looked up at him in surprise. "You just made this today?" you asked incredulously. He gave you an amused look before admitting, "No. I have worked on it for some time now, but I thought the tooth would be an appropriate addition." Looking back at the necklace, you understood what he meant. In Metkayina culture, the akula were a symbol of power, and wearing the teeth of one was a way to demonstrate one's own status.

Taking it back from your hand, Aonung politely asked, "May I?"

You nodded wordlessly and turned around, moving your hair off of your shoulders so that he could tie the necklace around your neck. The tooth felt heavy as it rested against your chest, an appropriate metaphor for the burden you bore as tsakarem.

After he had securely clasped it around your neck, you turned back around to face him. He had a faint smile on his lips as he admired his craftsmanship resting next to your new tattoo. "It looks good on you," he complimented sincerely.

You brought a hand up to feel the beads and shells laying on your skin. "Thank you," you said with a genuine smile. He nodded at you and then looked back outside a little awkwardly. With nothing further to say, he told you, "I will see you at the celebration." You nodded back at him and watched him go.

Feeling the tooth with your hands, you mentally reprimanded yourself. This was right. This was what you should look forward to, but deep down, you found yourself wishing that it had been Neteyam who had given it to you. You wanted it to have been him even though you could still feel the sting of his absence outside of Ronal's tent. You wish you could understand what was going on with him, or better yet, you wished you could stop caring so much. It would make everything so much easier.

In a stroke of cruel irony, your attention was captured by Neteyam's figure not far from outside your tent. He crossed paths with Aonung as he was leaving, and though you couldn't hear what they were saying, you could tell from their body language that Neteyam was congratulating him on his new tattoo and status.

Your heartbeat quickened as you watched Neteyam turn away from Aonung and head over to your home. You immediately busied yourself by pretending to move things around when he approached. "Are you busy?" he asked softly as he stood by the entrance. You looked up at him and feigned surprise. "No," you responded a little too quickly. "I am just preparing for the celebration tonight."

He walked in slowly, and you could see that his eyes fell on the tattoo on your chest. "It looks beautiful," he told you earnestly, and you beamed at him. "It is going to take some time for me to get used to it," you admitted with a laugh. He nodded with an understanding smile. "I imagine so," he said before his smiling face turned into a more apologetical look.

"I am sorry I wasn't there to see you afterward," he said softly, raising his eyes from your tattoo to meet yours. You stared up at him for a heartbeat before smiling gently. "It is fine," you assured him. "You deserved to rest after all you did today."

Neteyam shook his head with a sigh. "It was not that," he explained. "My father, he has been asking a lot of me lately. I was with him after the hunt." You nodded your head with a small, "Ah." You had noticed Neteyam constantly mentioned his father lately, either running errands for him or working with him in the village, so his explanation was not so surprising to you.

"You are coming to the celebration, yes?" you asked hopefully. You didn't want his father to keep him so busy that he would miss out on the festivities of the night. Neteyam's warm smile returned as he looked down at you. "I wouldn't miss it," he assured you.

You smiled in relief. "You better not," you told him playfully. "You wouldn't want to miss Lo'ak dancing." He chuckled at the memory of his brother's awkward dancing the month prior at the celebration of the tulkun. "I definitely do not want to miss that," he agreed.

His eyes fell down to the new accessory you wore around your neck. Taking a step forward, he reached up to gently lift the akula tooth off of your skin. "Is this new?" he asked curiously, inspecting the necklace with interest.

"It is," you confirmed, looking up at his face that was now so close to yours before adding, "Aonung made it for me." Neteyam seemed to freeze at your words, and in his face, there was something like disappointment. He let the tooth gently fall back against your chest, his fingers barely brushing against your skin. "It suits you," he said finally, bringing his eyes back up to yours and offering a faint smile.

You stared up at him silently for a moment. He hadn't been this close to you since you had danced together, and you found that words didn't come so easily when his lips were so close to yours. With effort, you managed to pull yourself out of your thoughts to reply quietly, "Thank you."

He took a step backward, helping you ground yourself back to reality. "I will see you tonight," he promised. You took a breath and nodded at him. "Tonight," you repeated and watched him walk away.

He kept his word to you. You and the other newly initiated warriors were all gathered together to sit with Tonowari and Ronal as a sign of honor for your new achievement, but through the crowd of Metkayina, you caught a glimpse of the forest boy sitting with his family. As the feast began, Tonowari announced you each by name in recognition of being newly anointed members of the clan. Everyone present cheered for you all, and soon after, there was dancing.

Of course, you danced as much as you could. The joy of completing the final, crucial step as a Metkayina member made you feel energized throughout the night. You only took a few short breaks to eat and drink so that you could continue dancing.

During one such break, you wandered over to where Neteyam was sitting by himself not far from his family. You held out your hands to him, and he immediately took them both with a smile. "This is a celebration," you told him with a laugh. "You are supposed to be celebrating!" He looked up at you warmly, but he didn't budge from his sitting position.

"I do not think I will dance tonight," he admitted. You scoffed at him playfully and tugged at his hands. "Nonsense," you replied. "You must." He seemed to deliberate for just a moment before his eyes looked past you to something behind you, and he dropped his hands from yours with a shake of his head.

"I think he would make a better dance partner for you," he said, nodding over to where Aonung was standing to your right. You felt another sting of guilt. Of course, you should be wanting to dance with Aonung instead. That was how it should be.

You gave Neteyam a disappointed smile. "You are no fun," you told him. He shrugged apologetically, his lips pulling into a faint smirk. "So I have been told," he retorted as you stepped away from him.

You rolled your eyes at his words. For a moment, you thought he was going to agree to your request, but something made him change his mind. As you walked over to Aonung, you turned your head to see what it was that Neteyam noticed behind you. Across from Neteyam, Jake was sitting with a plate full of food and a watchful eye. It was strange that Jake would cause Neteyam to reclude from your invitation to dance, but you didn't dwell on it for long.

Aonung had been speaking with a friend when he noticed your approach, and he greeted you with a smile. Without saying a word, you held your hands out to him. He took them and immediately understood your silent request, and he led you to where the others were lining up with the music.

Just as he had done the month before, Neteyam watched you dance with Aonung. In his heart, he sorely regretted not taking your offer, but after the last time, his father had pulled him aside the day after the celebration of the tulkun back at their home and warned him to stay away from you. Now, Neteyam felt his father's ever-present gaze on him every time he interacted with you.

He knew his father was right, and so he did his best to listen to him. Still, watching you dance with Aonung made his chest burn, and after watching you for a minute, he stood up and walked over to his parents. "I am growing weary," he said mutely. "I am going to bed." Jake and Neytiri shot each other a knowing look before Jake replied, "Alright. Goodnight, son."

Soon after you had finished your dance with Aonung, you realized Neteyam was nowhere to be found. It seemed you were becoming better acquainted with disappointment because you knew that you wouldn't be seeing him again for the rest of the night, so you quickly distracted yourself by clinging to Tsireya for the rest of the celebration. Still, you managed to enjoy the rest of the night despite Neteyam's early departure.

The next day, life resumed as normal. You got up early and helped with the morning catch to bring in for the first meal. You helped prepare the food for everyone before the rest of the clan came out to eat together.

Your friends all came out to eat with you. Lo'ak plopped down next to Tsireya and immediately started chatting away with her. Behind him, Kiri and Tuk came up to where you were all sitting together. You noticed Neteyam was missing immediately, but you managed to refrain from asking. He seemed to be making a habit of unexplained absences.

You saw him later on in the day when you were gathering palm branches for basket weaving. He was nearby helping his mother collect the newly ripened fruit from a grove of trees. You greeted them both cheerfully and said to Neteyam, "I didn't see you leave last night."

He looked away as he reached up to grab a piece of fruit. "I did not want to interrupt your fun," he explained casually. You watched as he pulled it down and placed it in the basket at his feet. "I see," you muttered quietly before adding in a more lighthearted tone, "You could have been having fun too if you would have danced."

He shot you a faint smile. "If you say so," he responded as he continued working. You stood for a moment, wanting to say more but not knowing what to say. With a quiet sigh, you told him, "I suppose I will see you later." He nodded without looking at you, remaining intently focused on finding the next fruit to pick.

You walked away feeling a little hurt. Neteyam's behavior toward you seemed to grow increasingly distant and unresponsive. You used to feel so close to him, but now, it was like there was a disconnect between you, and you didn't know why.

It only grew worse as the days passed on. You noticed he spent less and less time eating with your group, some days opting to eat with his parents instead. He never came around to where you stayed in the village anymore, and if you happened across each other, his conversations were polite but short.

Nearly two weeks after gaining your tattoo, you were walking up the beach and into the foliage surrounding the mangroves to search for a specific root Ronal was running low on. You looked out at the rain falling in large drops across the water. It was unusually warm weather for rain, and since there was no storming, you didn't mind walking in it to forage. Under the cover of the trees, the steady rhythm of the rain became scattered dripping overhead. You hummed to yourself as you stepped across the ground through the shrubs.

You noticed the signature leaves of the sand root you were searching for poking out behind one of the trees. Walking around it, you knelt down to collect them, but you were startled by a figure nearby.

Through the dripping leaves around you, Neteyam was sitting not far off under a large palm branch that halfway shielded him from the rain. In his hands, he was braiding a band of sea grass together with several small shells and stones woven throughout. He seemed lost in thought as his fingers moved the fibers effortlessly, remaining unfazed by the falling water around him.

You watched for a moment and felt the longing in your chest that you had been trying to ignore. You thought about turning back, but the truth was that you missed him, and you just wanted a chance to talk. You made yourself known by standing up, and he glanced up at you, a look of surprise crossing his face as he was pulled from his thoughts by your presence. You stepped over towards him, trying to walk beneath the protective branches around you to avoid the rain.

"Do you often sit in the pouring rain?" You asked with a grin as you came up next to him. A weak smile tugged at his lips as he looked up at you. "I was here before the rain started," he explained. "But I do enjoy it. It reminds me of the forest. We would often get warm rains like this."

You nodded in understanding. Gesturing to the space next to him, you asked, "May I sit?" He looked up at you for a moment, contemplating, before nodding silently and continuing his quick braiding. You crossed your legs and sat down beside him.

"What are you working on?" You asked after a brief silence. Without looking up at you, he said, "It is for Tuk. She collected these shells, so I'm making it into an armband for her." You smiled softly at him. "That is very sweet of you," you told him. Neteyam stayed focused on his work, but after a moment, he said, "Braiding helps me think. It clears my mind."

You studied his face, and in the silence that followed his words, you felt that strange disconnect again.

"And what is on your mind?" You asked quietly. He didn't say anything for a moment, and you thought that maybe he hadn't heard you. Then, he murmured under his breath, "Many things." The rain pattered around you as you sat next to him in silence.

"You know," you carried on, trying to keep the conversation going, "when I need to clear my mind, I have a secret place I like to go to." That seemed to catch his interest because he slowed down his braiding and looked over at you in curiosity. With a small smile, you continued, "Do you know where the water runs over the edge of the rocks on the north side of the sea wall?"

Neteyam seemed to search back in his memory for a bit before nodding slowly. "I think so," he replied. "Like a little waterfall?" You nodded at his answer. "Well, if you swim down underneath where the water falls, there is a little tunnel in the rocks," you explained. "And the tunnel leads to a cave. Nobody seems to know about it, so it's like my own secret hideaway." With a soft smile, you bumped your shoulder against his gently. "But it can be yours too if you'd like."

The corners of his mouth turned upwards at your offer. "Thank you," he said sincerely before adding dryly, "I need a good hiding spot from my father." You chuckled at him before tilting your head in curiosity. "Is that what's been bothering you?" You asked carefully.

Your question made his faint smile melt away entirely. His focus returned to the armband he was braiding, and he muttered quietly, "I don't know what you mean." You couldn't help but give a small, disappointed sigh. "Neteyam—," you began, but he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, making you hesitate.

"Please," he said, eyes still closed. "You don't have to concern yourself with me." You watched him in distressed silence. Whatever was going on with him clearly agitated him, but you didn't want to make it worse by prying. "You're my friend," you told him quietly. "What concerns you concerns me."

He sighed again, and his eyes opened to look at you with sadness and exhaustion. You turned your body to face him better, placing a worried hand on the crook of his arm. "What is the matter?" You asked imploringly.

His eyes fell on where your hand was resting on his arm, and you could see in the dim light how his jaw tensed. He looked back to his own hands that were still holding the unfinished armband and shook his head slowly. Taking a deep breath, he looked back at your face.

"Nothing," he said. "I am fine."

You didn't believe him, not even for a second, but he was making it clear that he wasn't going to disclose to you whatever was upsetting him. He continued his braiding quickly, and in the few silent seconds between you, he finished it and tied it off.

"It's getting late," he stated, looking at the dim sky through the leaves above. "I need to get back to my family." He stood up quickly, and with a quick nod to you, he muttered, "Good night," before leaving you sitting on the ground.

"Wait," you called out, pushing yourself up from the ground to follow after him. Neteyam began walking away quickly, but you grabbed his hand. "Neteyam, wait," you said softly. He stopped moving as you held onto him, the warm rain splattering down on you both, and even though he could have easily pulled away from your grip, he stayed.

He turned back slowly to face you, still holding onto your hand. "Please," he murmured, closing his eyes in an almost pained expression. "Don't do this." You blinked up at him, perplexed. "I just want to understand," you told him pleadingly. "Did I do something to upset you?"

His head tilted in agitation at your question, and he opened his eyes to gaze down at you sadly. "You did nothing," Neteyam insisted gently. "I just need to be alone right now, that's all." He began pulling away from you, but you tightened your grip on his hand.

"I don't believe you," you told him, your voice growing more urgent. "For weeks now, you have been pulling away, avoiding me, and I don't understand why." He looked away from you uncomfortably. "I did not mean...," he paused, trying to think of how best to explain himself.

"Did you think I would not notice?" You interjected, feeling your hurt and confusion from the past few weeks begin to bubble up in your chest. "Do you think I don't see you leave every time I come by? Or how you barely speak three words to me all day?"

Closing his eyes, Neteyam winced at your accusatory questions and whispered your name pleadingly. You squeezed his hand and stepped a little closer to him so that you were gazing straight up at his face. Sighing, he opened his eyes just enough to look down at you with half-opened lids.

In the dim light, his amber eyes almost seemed to glow. Water was streaming down his face from the continuous rain, gathering at his lashes before falling to the ground. He looked beautiful— his body strong and his face gentle. It made your chest ache.

"Please, tell me what is wrong," you begged softly. "What did I do to upset you like this?" His face twisted in something like anguish, and he shook his head again. "You did nothing," he repeated. "It is me, I—," Neteyam paused, seeming to grow more agitated.

"I cannot be around you anymore," he said finally.

You blinked in surprise. "What?" was all you were able to say in return. He looked down at you sadly and shook his head softly. "I can't," he repeated. "I am sorry."

Your face contorted in confusion. "I don't understand," you said quietly. "What are you saying?" Neteyam looked away from you uncomfortably. "It was never my intention to hurt you," he murmured. "I just...," he trailed off again, unsure of what to say. He pulled his hand away from you and took a step back. "I'm sorry," was all he said.

You stood there for a moment, dumbfounded. Then, you felt a surge of determination rise up in you. Maybe if it had been any other person saying this to you, you would have let them go—it would have still hurt, but you wouldn't fight it—but not Neteyam. He was the one person who you felt understood everything, the one you looked forward to seeing most in the day. He wasn't going to get off so easily.

"No," you said resolutely. "No, you cannot expect me to just accept that, Neteyam. I won't accept it." He shook his head slowly. "Please, let it go," he whispered, begged. You scoffed, growing frustrated with his behavior. "No," you repeated, growing more heated. "I won't let it go. Not until you explain to me why you can't—,"

"I'm in love with you."

Silence.

You couldn't say anything. His words knocked the breath out of you. You stared up at him in complete shock, unable to utter a single word. Neteyam looked away from your stunned face in shame. "I'm sorry," he whispered regretfully. "But that is the truth."

You blinked and looked away, trying to regain your composure in order to reply. "Neteyam," you began, "I—,"

"I know," he interrupted gently, drawing away from you. "You are spoken for," he continued. "It was never my intention to interfere with that."

You were at a loss for words. You felt a strong mix of emotions in your chest—happiness, guilt, confusion. You had scarcely allowed yourself to imagine that he could reciprocate what you felt for him, and now, here, in the warm rain, he had given you more than you could have hoped for. But now, you felt the weight of Aonung's necklace and the promises it represented more distinctly than ever.

He must have seen the torrent of thoughts on your face. "And now you see," Neteyam said regretfully. "I am very sorry." As he moved to walk away, you grabbed his hand again. "Don't go," you pleaded. "I'm not upset, I just...," you thought desperately for the right thing to say.

"I have a duty to my people," you said finally. "Part of that is to be with Aonung one day." Neteyam averted his gaze and nodded solemnly. You took a shaky breath as you continued. "But being with him was never by my design. It was easy for me to accept before, but now, I find myself dreading it more and more."

His eyes flicked back up to look at you, his forehead scrunched slightly as he did. "You don't love him," he observed quietly, and you shook your head. "How could I?" You asked. "Not when I...," you couldn't finish saying it. Telling him how you felt was never something you had planned to do. Your heart was pounding furiously, and all you could do was stare up at him with longing and squeeze his hand.

He caught your meaning, and his face changed from sadness to hope and then to pain all within the span of seconds. "Don't," he pleaded quietly, pulling away from you. You blinked in surprise. "What?" You questioned as he stepped back.

"Don't," he repeated more urgently. "Don't tell me that. You are tsakarem. You are meant to be with someone else." Your jaw clenched at his words, feeling the guilt creep over you. "You think I don't know that?" You asked him in a strained voice. "Every day, I am reminded of it. It weighs on me constantly, and I don't want it. I never have."

He looked down at you sympathetically. "A heavy burden," he muttered in a low voice. You couldn't help but give a defeated sigh. "I don't want to be tsakarem. I don't want to be with Aonung," you told him quietly, looking back up at him.

"I want to be with you," your words were barely above a whisper, but Neteyam heard them clearly. Neither of you moved. You blinked up at him as the rain fell on your face. Finally, he took a slow step towards you and held up a hand to cradle the side of your face.

Your heart was hammering in your chest, and for a moment, you thought he was going to kiss you. Instead, however, he just stared at you with a look of longing before he finally closed his eyes in determination.

"No," he whispered finally. "We can't."

You felt your throat tighten and your heart twist at his words. You knew he was right. You couldn't. It wasn't right, and you would bring shame to your family as well as his. That didn't make it any easier to hear.

You couldn't say anything nor could Neteyam. There was only the sound of the rain around you as he dropped his hand from your face and walked back towards the beach, and as he did, the raindrops on your face was indistinguishable from your tears.

Chapter 4

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#neteyam angst #neteyam sully #neteyam x reader #avatar #avatar fanfiction #avatar the way of water #neteyam x metkayina!reader #Kiri Sully #tuk sully #loak sully #aonung #tsireya #forbidden romance #slow burn #atwow

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