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keehomania · 4 months ago

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business proposal (제안서) — kim seokjin (김석진)

✧.* 18+

a closer look reveals the hidden multitude of narcissists roaming freely across the earth. they moved through life as ordinary figures—doctors, lawyers—sharing the same vulnerability of human blood. yet, there lingered a belief in their superiority, an unspoken arrogance. among them, businessmen appeared to embody that conceit most profoundly.

kim enterprises had the value of 1.5 billion won. a leading technology firm specializing in cutting-edge ai solutions and smart home devices. founded on the principles of advancing human-technology synergy, the company designs state-of-the-art gadgets that seamlessly integrate with daily life. under the visionary leadership of kim seokjin, the president’s son, the company has gained a reputation for pushing boundaries and setting new industry standards. currently, it lies at the forefront of revolutionizing smart technology, with a diverse portfolio ranging from intelligent automation systems to next-generation personal assistants.

impressive, really. it'd have been much more impressive if he was as likeable as his company. he was a narcissist in the purest form, no matter how much he cared for the company and his employees. only because no care would amount to the kind he put into himself.

the company had been running smoothly under his care for nine years, as his father had fallen ill and was unable to sustain it on his own. he knew he was making the right decision when he deemed seokjin the next heir, the next in control. he was smart, charming, persuasive. he knew every corner and end of a business deal, how to tie the knots and when to cut off loose ends.

“kim, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. i must say, kim enterprises has been on our radar for quite some time.” seokjin shook his hand firmly, returning the smile. “the pleasure is mine, james. i've been following your company’s progress closely as well. it’s impressive how you’ve carved out a niche in ai development.”

james’s eyes lit up. “thank you. we’re particularly interested in your smart home integration systems. from what i understand, your latest model has seen a significant uptick in market share.” seokjin’s smile widened, “yes, our quantum series has been a game-changer. we’ve seen a 30% increase in market penetration over the past year. the integration of adaptive ai has really resonated with consumers, allowing for a more intuitive user experience.”

james nodded, clearly pleased. “exactly. that’s why we’re keen on a partnership. our research indicates that your technology complements our upcoming product line perfectly. what terms are you envisioning for this deal?” seokjin considered the question thoughtfully. “given the scope of the integration and the potential for cross-promotion, i’d suggest a revenue-sharing model. we propose a 60-40 split in favor of kim enterprises for the first two years. this would allow us to leverage your distribution network while providing you with a substantial stake in the revenue generated.”

james raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. “that’s a fair proposition. but considering the development and marketing costs, how about adjusting the split to 50-50 initially, with a performance-based adjustment thereafter?” seokjin weighed the offer, then nodded. “i see your point. let’s compromise at 55-45, with a performance review after the first year to reassess the terms. we can draft a detailed agreement to reflect this.”

james’s expression softened into one of admiration. “agreed. your understanding of both the technology and market dynamics is impressive, kim. it’s clear you’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

seokjin’s eyes sparkled with resolve. “thank you, james. i believe in building partnerships that are beneficial for both sides. our goal is not just to expand our market presence but to also deliver exceptional value through innovative collaborations.” james raised his glass with a smile. “well said. i look forward to working with you. let’s toast to a successful partnership.”

he truly was a natural, he knew exactly what to say and how to say it. however, even if he was reluctant to admit it, he couldn't have done it on his own.

you navigated the room with a calm, poised demeanor, your sharp eyes scanning for any potential issues or tasks that needed attention. you approached seokjin with a subtle nod, a tablet in hand. he acknowledged the gesture, his eyes flickering with appreciation. “i’ve just received the finalized draft of the agreement,” you said quietly, sliding the tablet over to him. “i made sure to include the revised revenue split and the performance review clause you discussed with james.”

he glanced at the document, his expression approving. “perfect timing. you’ve captured all the necessary details. thanks for handling this so efficiently.” james, intrigued, looked at you. “i must say, it’s clear that you play a crucial role in ensuring everything runs smoothly. your attention to detail must be invaluable.”

you smiled modestly. “thank you, james. it’s my job to make sure that the priorities are met and that every aspect of our deal is thoroughly managed. it’s a pleasure to contribute to the success of our partnerships.” as you stepped back, you made a quick call to coordinate a follow-up meeting with the legal team, ensuring that all paperwork would be processed without delay. your presence was a testament to the meticulous planning that underpinned seokjin's success.

although he was the brains behind the operation, you were the one that made sure the operation was in action. you coordinated all of his appointments and travel arrangements, handled all of his phone calls, drafted all of the reports and presentations, organized all of the meetings, supported all of the projects, and so much more. you were good at your job, and you loved it.

it was one of the many reasons why that same night, in the back of seokjin's limo, he had met your words with a look of horror displayed on his face. you remained stoic as you adjusted the hem of your dress, pushing your hair past your shoulder before meeting his gaze once more. “you want to quit?” you nodded in confirmation. the question itself held more shock than intended, but he couldn't help it. your announcement had put a dent in the night. you had been his left hand for exactly nine years and, out of the blue, you had announced that you were ready to leave the company.

the city lights blurred past the windows as you sat in the back of seokjin's sleek, black limousine. the leather seats were soft beneath you, but there was tension in the air that makes you sit a little straighter, hands folded tightly in your lap. seokjin was beside you, scrolling through his phone with a practiced ease, oblivious to the storm brewing in your mind.

“it's personal,” you explained, trying to keep your tone even. “i have some matters in my life that need my full attention right now.” he stared at you, disbelief etched on his features. “after nine years? just like that?”

“i'm sorry,” you said, your heart aching with each word. “but it's something i have to do.” seokjin's jaw tightened, but he nodded curtly. “if that's your decision, i won't stand in your way.” the rest of the ride passed in heavy silence, the atmosphere between you both laden with unspoken words and shared sorrow. you could only gaze at the fleeting cars through the window, oblivious to the hurt etched into what was supposed to be his stoic expression.

that night, he found himself tossing and turning in his grand, empty bed. sleep eluded him, chased away by a persistent nightmare. in it, he saw a woman with long, black hair, her back always turned to him. no matter how much he called out and cried, she never looked back, slipping further away with each step. he woke up in a cold sweat, the image of the woman haunting him. the clock beside his bed read that it was only four o'clock. frustrated and unsettled, he spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the sense of impending loss.

the following morning, he stood in front of the mirror in his expansive bedroom, the morning light filtering through the curtains. his shirt was buttoned, but his tie lies undone around his neck. he waited, as he always did, for you. when you arrived, your expression was composed, professional. "good morning, vice chairman."

he nodded, his eyes fixed on your reflection in the mirror. “morning, secretary (y/n).” you stepped forward, deftly tying his tie with practiced hands, the sound of your name stinging more than necessary. the proximity, once a simple part of your routine, now felt charged with the weight of your impending departure.

he gazed at himself in the mirror, his ego surfacing as a way to mask his vulnerability. “do you see that? the beauty?” you glanced at the mirror, assuming he meant the sunlight casting a golden glow across the room. “yes, the sunrise is beautiful.” a faint smirk touched his lips. “no, not the sunrise. me. my aura.”

you suppressed a sigh, knowing that it was nothing but the the standard for him. “yes, very dazzling, vice chairman.” satisfied, he turned away from the mirror and straightened his suit jacket. “let's go. we have breakfast at my parents' house.”

the drive to the kim family estate was quiet, the earlier tension replaced by a heavy resignation. seokjin's family home was grand, an imposing structure surrounded by meticulously maintained gardens. inside, you were greeted by his mother, her warm smile a stark contrast to the austere demeanor of the chairman. “good morning, hyeon. (y/n), it's always a pleasure to see you.”

“good morning, mother,” seokjin replied, his tone polite yet distant. the chairman nodded at you both, his presence commanding respect. “let's eat.”

breakfast was a formal affair, the table laden with an array of traditional dishes. conversation was polite, centered around business and family matters. seokjin's parents were unaware of your decision to leave, and you caught seokjin's gaze more than once, a silent understanding passing between you. as the meal progressed, you couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. that world, so intertwined with his, had been your life for nearly a decade. leaving it behind wouldn't be easy.

breakfast ended, and the chairman suggested that he and his son retire to the study room for a private discussion. you followed his mother to the sitting room, where she invited you to join her for tea. she was a gracious host, her demeanor warm and inviting. “how have you been, sweetheart? it feels like forever since we had a proper chat,” she said, pouring tea into delicate porcelain cups.

you smiled, taking the offered cup. “i've been well, mrs. kim. thank you.” her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “tell me, what do you think about my hyeon? he talks about you often.”

you paused, considering your words carefully. you knew she was an older lady, so you didn't question the way she misnamed him. her memory had probably grown shabby. “he's an exceptional leader, very dedicated to his work. it's been an honor to work with him.” she nodded, her smile widening. “yes, he's always been very driven. but tell me, is my son seeing anyone? he never mentions these things to me.”

you shook your head. “despite all the girls around him, he's not dating anyone.” mrs. kim's eyes widened in horror. “he's not— gay, is he?”

you stifled a laugh, shaking your head again. “no, mrs. kim, he's not. he's just very focused on his work.” she sighed in relief, placing a hand over her heart. “thank goodness. it would be wonderful for him to finally get a girlfriend. he's not getting any younger, you know.” you couldn't help but wonder at her words. the idea of him with someone else felt oddly unsettling.

in the study room, seokjin's father, chairman kim, sat behind an imposing oak desk, his expression stern. “i heard a rumor, seokjin. (y/n) is quitting?” his jaw tightened, but he met his father's gaze steadily. “it's true. but i won't let it happen.”

chairman kim raised an eyebrow. “and how do you plan to stop it?” seokjin's voice was firm. “i'll find a way to convince her to stay. she's indispensable to me.”

a moment of silence passed before chairman kim's lips twitched into a faint smile. “are you dating her?” seokjin blinked, momentarily taken aback. “no, father, i'm not.”

the chairman feigned a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. “oh, i feel faint. my son, the great seokjin, not dating his perfect secretary.” he rolled his eyes, a rare display of exasperation. “i've seen your medical records, father. you're perfectly healthy.”

chairman kim waved a dismissive hand. “you should do your father a favor and find a wife, give us grandchildren. it's time you settled down.” seokjin sighed, the weight of his father's words lingering. he had never been in a relationship, and neither had you. it was one of the reasons you knew you had to quit. your life revolved around your work, as did his. only, you weren't satisfied with that. it wasn't that he wasn't attracted to anybody, because he was, but nothing mattered more than his craft. he felt off about women touching him, in any case. it made him anxious, and brought up memories he fought to keep hidden.

you and seokjin departed for the office, the morning sun casting long shadows across the driveway as the car pulled away from the estate. the ride was initially silent, both of you lost in thought. he finally broke the silence, “what exactly did you mean by personal matters?” his tone was careful, almost hesitant.

you turned to him, offering a small smile. “i'm looking to settle down, vice chairman. i want to get married, have children.” he fell silent, the weight of your words settling over him. the rest of the ride to the office was steeped in an unusual quiet, your declaration hanging in the air like a specter.

upon arriving at the office, he moved through the halls in a daze. his usual commanding presence seemed diminished, his mind clearly elsewhere. he entered his office, finding his younger intern already there. “good morning, vice chairman,” jungkook greeted cheerfully, his youthful energy a contrast to seokjin's subdued demeanor.

he barely acknowledged him, slumping into his chair. jungkook, sensing something was off, leaned forward with a curious smile. “you look like you've seen a ghost. what's up?” seokjin rubbed his temples, sighing. “it's secretary (l/n). she wants to quit.”

jungkook raised an eyebrow. “oh? did you try offering her a promotion, bigger pay, fewer working hours?” he nodded in response. “i did. she dismissed it all. said she wants to settle down, get married, have children.”

jungkook's eyes twinkled with mischief. “and that shocked you?” seokjin glared at him, but his grin remained unshaken. “why does it bother you so much, vice chairman? do you like her more than just a secretary?” the question lingered in the air, met with silence. his mind raced, trying to comprehend why your decision affected him so deeply. he couldn't deny the pang of jealousy at the thought of you with someone else, starting a life that didn't include him.

jungkook leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “maybe it's time to ask yourself why her leaving matters so much to you.” he remained quiet, lost in thought. How could marriage and a family be more important than the bond you shared with him? the realization struck him hard—perhaps it wasn't just about losing an exceptional secretary. maybe, just maybe, it was about losing you.

a knock on the door disrupted the tense silence between the two men. you entered, carrying a tray with a steaming pot of tea and three cookies on the side, exactly how seokjin liked it. the aroma of the tea briefly lightened the atmosphere. he looked up, his expression softening momentarily at the sight of you. “thank you, secretary (l/n).”

you placed the tray on the table, pouring a cup of tea for him and setting it in on his desk. “i've sent out emails looking for a future secretary. one of the primary candidates is on her way.” jungkook observed the way his face twisted with hurt at your words. despite the pain evident in his eyes, seokjin maintained his composure. “join us while we wait for her.”

you nodded, taking a seat beside the young intern. the room fell into an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the ticking of the clock. seokjin sipped his tea, the familiar taste doing little to ease his troubled mind.

a few minutes later, the door opened, and a young woman entered. she had a bright, cheerful demeanor, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “hello, i'm jung keulgi. it's an honor to be here.” seokjin straightened, adopting his usual authoritative posture. “miss jung, are you ready to devote yourself to a perfect company?” she beamed. “absolutely! i'm very excited for this opportunity.”

you couldn't help but roll your eyes at the narcissistic question. “are you prepared to handle working for someone with an ego as big as the company?” keulgi sensed the underlying tension but maintained her cheerful facade. “i'm sure i'll manage.”

seokjin continued, his tone growing sharper. “will you stay devoted instead of quitting due to silly things like personal matters?” the tension in the room escalated. you snapped, unable to hold back any longer. “are you done, vice chairman?”

his eyes flashed with anger. “about as done as you are, secretary (l/n).” keulgi, clearly uncomfortable but trying to stay positive, interjected softly, “if you hire me, i'll do my best.”

seokjin didn't take his eyes off you as he replied, “you're hired.” as he turned to you, his voice was cold and demanding. “you have a month to turn her into your carbon copy. after that, do as you please.” the room fell silent once more as the weight of his words settled over you. keulgi glanced between you and him, her cheerful demeanor now tinged with apprehension.

he stood, signaling the end of the meeting. “that will be all for now. welcome to kim enterprises, miss jung.” she nodded, offering a hesitant smile. “thank you, vice chairman.”

as she left the room, you remained seated, the gravity of your situation sinking in. seokjin's harsh command echoed in your mind, a painful reminder of the rift that had formed between you. jungkook, sensing the need for a distraction, cleared his throat. “well, this is going to be interesting.”

seokjin shot him a glare. “you're dismissed, jungkook.” with a playful salute, he left the room, leaving you and him alone once more. the silence was heavy, filled with the unspoken emotions and unresolved tension. he finally broke the silence, his voice softer but still edged with hurt. “you can have the rest of the day off.”

you glanced up at him in disbelief, but you weren't willing to argue any further. all you could do was nod and bow before leaving the room. he was alone, once more. he couldn't do anything but watch as you left, gulping as if to hold himself back from calling out your name. you could train all the candidates in the world, yet it would never be the same.

you stood at your kitchen sink, washing the last of the dinner dishes as the sun set, casting a warm orange glow through the window. the evening was peaceful, the kind of tranquility you had been craving. as you dried your hands and prepared to head to bed, the sudden blare of a car horn startled you. peeking out the window, you saw seokjin standing next to his sleek black car, looking up at your house.

heart pounding with a mix of surprise and curiosity, you hurried outside. “vice chairman? is everything okay?” he shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. “no emergencies, secretary (l/n). i just needed to see you.” you frowned, puzzled. “at this hour? what's so urgent?”

his eyes locked onto yours, intense and searching. “are you serious about quitting to settle down?” you nodded, feeling a familiar pang of sadness. “i am. i'm ready to put all my attention on a relationship.”

his expression shifted, the gravity of your words sinking in. he took a deep breath, and then, to your astonishment, he did the unthinkable. he dropped to one knee and pulled out a small velvet box, opening it to reveal a dazzling diamond ring.

“marry me, secretary (l/n). i'm rich, handsome, and more than capable of giving you everything you want.” you stared at him, completely taken aback. his usual confidence seemed both reassuring and out of place in this moment. he continued, his voice earnest, almost pleading. “i'm perfect for you. accept my proposal.”

his words hung in the air as you tried to process what was happening. finally, you leaned in close, your face inches from his, and inhaled deeply. seokjin's heart stopped, anticipation flickering in his eyes. but instead of a kiss, you pulled back, your expression skeptical.

“are you drunk, vice chairman?” he blinked, clearly taken aback. “no, i'm sober. i'm serious.”

you laughed softly, shaking your head. “i believe you. but vice chairman, i don't want a perfect life with a perfect man. i just want to be with an ordinary guy from an ordinary family.” his face fell, his confident facade crumbling. “why not me? i'm perfect!”

you smiled, despite the annoyance of his narcissistic words clawing at your nerves, and you chose the easy way out. assuring him that he was nothing but flawless was the only way to get him to stop talking about it. “that's exactly why. you deserve someone who sees you that way, but it's not me.” the rejection hung heavy between you as you turned and walked back into your house, leaving him kneeling in the fading light.

the following day, he recounted the entire incident to jungkook, who listened with wide eyes. when he finally finished, the intern burst into laughter, unable to contain himself despite the glares from his boss.

“vice chairman, you can't just propose out of the blue like that, this isn't the eighteenth century,” jungkook said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

his frown deepened, but he couldn't argue with jungkook's logic. “so, what should i have done, then?” he shrugged, still grinning. “maybe start by asking her on a date? get to know her outside of work. build a relationship first. you can't skip straight to marriage, no matter how perfect you think you are.”

the elder mulled over his words, realizing the truth in them. he had acted impulsively, driven by a fear of losing you, but dating? he was actively unfamiliar with the entire thing. in fact, he thought it was pointless. nothing but a waste of time, but if it meant stopping you from quitting, maybe it was wasting time in the best way possible.

you sat in your office, typing away at your computer, but your mind kept drifting back to the previous night. the image of your boss on one knee, his earnest proposal, and your subsequent rejection played on a loop in your head. the weight of your decision and its implications loomed large.

“hey, (y/n),” a familiar voice broke through your thoughts. you looked up to see kim namjoon, the head of finances, standing at your desk. his expression was a mix of concern and curiosity. “is it true? are you really leaving?” you offered him a kind smile and nodded. “yes, namjoon. it's true.”

the news seemed to ripple through the office. baekhyun and sooyoung, who were nearby, immediately voiced their protests. “you can't be serious!” baekhyun exclaimed, his usually cheerful demeanor clouded with disappointment. sooyoung nodded vigorously. “yeah, you've been here forever! what are we going to do without you?”

keulgi, who had been quietly observing, chimed in. “i've heard so much about your amazing work. it's going to be hard to fill your shoes.” you felt a pang of guilt but tried to reassure them with a smile on your face. “we'll all stay in touch. it's not like i'm disappearing.”

sooyoung then brightened, a mischievous glint in her eye. “how about we have a dinner after work? to welcome keulgi and to honor your nine years of hard work.” you hesitated, not wanting to make a big deal out of your departure. but keulgi's encouraging smile swayed you. “come on, it would be nice.” with a reluctant smile, you agreed.

the moment was cut short as the door to the office opened and seokjin walked in. the room fell silent, all eyes turning to him. he let the silence hang for a moment before speaking, his gaze locked onto yours. “am i invited to this dinner as well?” the tension was palpable. baekhyun hesitated before responding, glancing around at the others. “of course, vice chairman. you're welcome to join us.”

seokjin's smile was tight as he nodded. “very well. i'll see you all there.” he left the room as suddenly as he had entered, leaving your heart heavy with unspoken emotions. namjoon broke the silence, his tone light but his words carrying weight. “is it just me, or did it suddenly get cold in here?” the others murmured their agreement, exchanging glances.

“i don't know what's going on,” baekhyun said, shaking his head. “but he's been awfully on edge lately.” you remained silent, the weight of your decision and seokjin's reaction pressing heavily on your mind. the upcoming dinner promised to be an eventful one, but you couldn't shake the feeling that it would also be pivotal in the worst way possible.

you stood in front of your mirror, giving yourself a once-over. you had opted for a casual outfit, perfect for the laid-back atmosphere of the local barbeque spot where your colleagues were hosting your farewell dinner. just as you were adjusting your hair, a loud honk interrupted your thoughts. curiosity piqued, you peered out the window to see none other than seokjin, leaning against his car, looking as out of place in your neighborhood as a peacock in a flock of pigeons.

you opened the window and leaned out. “what are you doing here?” he glanced up, a smirk playing on his lips. “i'm not here to propose again, if that's what you're worried about. i'm here to pick you up.” your eyebrows shot up in surprise, “why?”

“isn't it so ordinary of me to go with my coworkers?” he replied, clearly pleased with himself. you shook your head, amusement dancing in your eyes. “yes, well done, vice chairman. give me a minute.”

you grabbed your bag and headed downstairs. as you stepped outside, you noticed his attire—an expensive suit that screamed high-end fashion. you stifled a laugh, knowing he would stand out like a sore thumb at the spot you had all agreed on. nonetheless, you entertained his gesture and got into the car. the drive was filled with light conversation, mostly about work and the upcoming transition. despite the casual nature of the evening, you could sense his effort to blend in, which you found oddly endearing. when you arrived at the restaurant, the familiar scent of grilled meat and beer wafted through the air, making seokjin's face contort in mild disgust. you chuckled at his reaction. “welcome to the real world, vice chairman.”

inside, your colleagues greeted you warmly, their eyes widening in surprise when they saw their boss. he maintained his composure, though you could see his discomfort. at the table, he attempted to take charge. “what's everyone drinking?” he asked, clearly expecting a sophisticated answer. “perhaps an old variation of whisky?”

a stunned silence fell over the group, everyone staring at him in disbelief. you nervously laughed. “they only serve beer and soju here, vice chairman.” for a moment, you expected him to bristle at the lack of his preferred drink. instead, he stifled a sigh and nodded. “beer it is, then.”

as the evening progressed, you found yourself reminiscing. it had been nine years since you first joined kim enterprises, and you vividly remembered celebrating your first day in this very spot. you were drinking beer when a younger seokjin had approached you, his demeanor confident and slightly arrogant. “do you know who i am?” he'd asked, and you'd honestly had no clue. little did you know back then just how egotistical he was.

now, years later, you watched him attempt to navigate this ordinary setting. as the night wore on, you noticed the subtle signs of him getting tipsy. his cheeks flushed, his laughter louder and more uninhibited. eventually, you decided it was time to call it a night. “i think i should take him home,” you said, standing up.

your colleagues protested, but you promised to make it up to them. they relented, and you guided a slightly unsteady seokjin to his car. the drive to his house was quiet, his head leaning back against the seat, eyes half-closed.

when you arrived, you helped him inside, supporting his weight as you guided him to his bedroom. you gently eased him onto the bed, intending to leave as soon as he was settled. but just as you were about to turn away, he grabbed your wrist, pulling you down onto the bed. you fell on top of him, your faces inches apart. his eyes, though slightly glazed, held a seriousness that made your heart race. “pretty ordinary of me to get drunk off beer, right?” he slurred, a lazy smile on his lips. your breath caught in your throat. “yes, very ordinary.”

“thank you, secretary (l/n),” he mumbled, his eyes closing. he fell asleep almost instantly, his grip on your wrist loosening. you stayed there for a moment, your heart pounding, before carefully tucking him in. you watched him for a few seconds longer, your emotions a whirlwind. finally, you tore yourself away, quietly leaving his house and heading home, your mind a jumble of thoughts and feelings you couldn't quite name.

the following morning, you arrived at the office early, keen to begin the handover process with keulgi. the usual hustle and bustle of the workplace greeted you, but today there was an undercurrent of anticipation and anxiety. it was the beginning of your final month at kim enterprises, and you wanted to ensure everything transitioned smoothly.

as you were explaining the intricacies of the office dynamics to keulgi, seokjin entered, looking visibly worse for wear. he massaged his temples, clearly nursing a headache from the previous night. you couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. you followed him into his office, where he promptly sank into his chair, wincing slightly.

“good morning, vice chairman,” you greeted, trying to keep your tone professional despite your concern. “morning,” he muttered, barely looking up.

despite your concern, you exited the office, re-joining keulgi in order to show her around. “so, these are the folders you'll need to keep track of—client files, project updates, and financial reports. everything is color-coded for easy access. emails are prioritized into high, medium, and low urgency. make sure to flag anything that needs immediate attention.”

she nodded, absorbing the information. “got it. and what about his schedule?” you handed her a tablet with his meticulously planned itinerary. “his schedule is very tight. make sure to coordinate with all department heads and external partners. he's very particular about his meetings being on time.”

as you continued the walkthrough, keulgi mentioned, “oh, by the way, i noticed one of the legs on his chair was falling apart, so i put it together with some cables.” your eyes widened in shock, “what kind of cables?”

“rubber cables,” she replied, confusion etched on her face at your reaction. your heart sank. without another word, you rushed into seokjin's office, your pulse racing. the sight that greeted you confirmed your worst fears. he was on the floor, shaking, his head in his hands, his entire demeanor shattered.

“vice chairman!” you cried out, rushing to his side. “i'm so sorry, she didn't know—” he didn't respond, his breathing erratic. you quickly reached for the chair and cut off the rubber cables. the moment they were gone, his shaking subsided, though his face remained pale and his expression haunted. keulgi, realizing the gravity of the situation, joined in the apologies, her voice frantic. ”i'm so sorry, vice chairman. i didn't know—“

seokjin's gaze was ice cold as he finally looked up at you, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and something you couldn't quite place. “is this how you're carrying out your duties, secretary (l/n)?” you stood there, stunned and silent. the warmth and camaraderie of the previous night seemed like a distant memory. his words cut through you like a knife, and for the first time, you had no response.

seokjin struggled to his feet, regaining his composure with great effort. “leave,” he commanded quietly, the tension in his voice unmistakable. you and keulgi hurried out of the office, the weight of the incident heavy on your shoulders. outside, you tried to reassure her, but the shock of your boss's reaction lingered.

inside his office, he sat down once again, burying his face in his hands. he mentally cursed himself for his harsh words. his eyes fell on the rubber cables now discarded in the trash can, and a shudder ran through him. memories he'd fought to bury resurfaced, and he struggled to push them back down. the trauma, long kept at bay, clawed its way to the surface. he knew he had overreacted, and he hated himself for it. he had to apologize to you, but the thought of facing you after what had just happened seemed insurmountable. how could he explain the depth of his fear, the reason for his reaction? for now, he could only sit there, the remnants of his vulnerability on display, hoping he hadn't irrevocably damaged the fragile relationship he had with you.

he sat behind his expansive mahogany desk, its polished surface reflecting the ambient light filtering through the large, floor-to-ceiling windows of his office. the cityscape of seoul lay sprawled out behind him, but his attention was far from the view. instead, his eyes were unfocused, staring blankly at the stack of documents in front of him. his mind was elsewhere, fixated on the conversation he'd had with his intern just days ago.

jungkook, seated opposite to him with his laptop open, was discussing the final preparations for the launch of their new art gallery. the young intern's enthusiasm was palpable, his voice animated as he detailed the latest developments, the artists who had confirmed their participation, and the final touches needed for the grand opening. but despite his energetic briefing, seokjin's mind kept wandering back to a single, pivotal point in their earlier exchange.

“you can't just propose out of the blue,” jungkook had laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “you need to take it slow. ask her out on a date first.”

seokjin's usually sharp mind was dulled by the weight of those words. proposing had seemed like a logical solution to him. a clear, decisive action to keep you from leaving. but now, in the wake of jungkook's advice, he realized how absurd it must have seemed. how uncharacteristically rash and desperate. the thought of asking you out on a date, a simple date, felt strangely daunting.

“vice chairman? are you listening?” jungkook's voice cut through his reverie, pulling him back to the present. he blinked, forcing his attention back to his intern. “yes, jungkook. i'm listening. the gallery—” he trailed off, struggling to find the thread of their conversation.

he raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “the gallery launch is on track. but you don't seem very interested today. is something on your mind?” he sighed in response, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair. he prided himself on his composed and unflappable demeanor, but today, he felt anything but. “it's nothing. just some personal matters, as some would say.” he couldn't bare to focus on the project at hand. no, in fact, he was ready to execute a project of his own.

the soft hum of conversation and clinking of cutlery filled the air as you and your friends settled into a cozy corner booth at a chic restaurant. the atmosphere was relaxed, with warm lighting and comfortable seating that made it perfect for a catch-up lunch. your girlfriends were animated and full of news, and you found yourself caught between genuine happiness for them and a pang of wistful longing.

one of your friends, jiho, was regaling the table with stories about her recent wedding. her eyes sparkled with joy as she described the ceremony, the heartfelt vows, and the beautiful reception. you smiled and applauded her enthusiasm, but inside, you couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. the idea of finding such happiness seemed elusive, and your heart ached slightly at the thought.

“you're going to love being married,” jiho said, her voice full of contentment. "it’s just wonderful." you nodded, offering a supportive smile. “i'm so happy for you, jiho. it sounds like it was a perfect day.”

as she continued sharing details, your other friend, minji, leaned in, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. “speaking of perfect days,” she began, “i have something to tell you. my husband’s friend saw your profile on social media and, well, he’s been asking about you.”

your heart skipped a beat. minji's husband had been a close friend of yours for years, but you had no idea who the friend in question was. the idea of someone from his circle showing interest was both flattering and daunting. “what’s he like?” you asked cautiously. minji grinned. “he’s a nice guy, charming and successful. i think you’d get along. how about we set up a blind date?”

you hesitated. the idea of a blind date was daunting, but the prospect of meeting someone new, especially someone vetted by friends, was appealing. you glanced at your friends' eager faces and took a deep breath. “okay, i’ll do it.” minji clapped her hands excitedly. “great! i'll set it up and let you know the details.”

just as the conversation shifted to wedding anecdotes and dating possibilities, a cheerful waitress approached your table with a friendly smile. “excuse me, ladies,” she said. “we’re conducting a survey to improve our service and, in exchange, we’d like to offer you a free appetizer. would you be interested?” your friends, always up for a little extra perk, agreed enthusiastically, and you followed suit. the waitress handed over a clipboard with a short survey and left to fetch the appetizer.

thu looked over the questions with mild curiosity. the first asked, “ideal date spot with your significant other?” the second, “ideal activities with significant other?” and the last, “ideal gift given by significant other?” you answered thoughtfully, trying to balance your idealistic dreams with the reality of your current situation. as you finished filling out the survey and handed it back to the waitress, you felt a slight nagging sense of familiarity with the tone of the questions. they seemed familiarly bosay and demanding, almost like they were trying to gauge your relationship ideals with a hint of urgency. but you brushed off the feeling, focusing instead on the excitement of the impending blind date and the lively conversation with your friends.

in the dimly lit rec room of seokjin's luxurious house, the soft clack of pool balls punctuated the otherwise quiet evening. jungkook lounged on the leather sofa, his gaze fixed on him, who was confidently taking shots at the pool table with practiced ease. the game seemed to serve as a backdrop for their conversation, but jungkook's attention was focused on the stack of papers spread out on the coffee table.

“you did what?” his voice was a mix of incredulity and disbelief as he stared at the surveys before him. the questions and answers were neatly recorded on the forms, and jungkook couldn't believe what he was seeing. seokjin, with a proud smirk, took another shot, his movements graceful and deliberate. “i paid the restaurant to hand out those surveys,” he said, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. “i wanted to see what kind of answer i'd get. and now, i need you to find the one with her name on it.”

jungkook’s eyebrows shot up in shock. “you’re seriously crazy, this is way over the top.” ignoring the incredulous glares from his elder, he picked up the stack of surveys and began sifting through them. his hands moved quickly, flipping through each paper as he muttered under his breath. “this is insane. what are you trying to accomplish?”

seokjin, meanwhile, remained focused on his game, the smirk never leaving his face. his confidence was unwavering, but jungkook could sense a trace of anxious anticipation beneath the surface. after what felt like an eternity to him, he finally spotted the survey with your name. he held it up, slightly hesitant. “here it is. this is the one.”

his eyes lit up with a mixture of excitement and triumph. he rushed over, snatching the paper from his hands with a deft movement. his gaze was fixed on the survey, and as he read through your answers, his smirk broadened into a genuine, if somewhat smug, smile.

“how childish,” he remarked aloud, his voice laced with a blend of amusement and satisfaction. he began reading your responses aloud with a playful tone. “ideal date spot: an amusement park. ideal activities: rides, very charming. ideal gift: a teddy bear.” jungkook watched, his initial skepticism replaced by bemused curiosity. “seriously? you’re actually taking this seriously?” he had never been more serious.

the call came just after you wrapped up your brief lunch with your friends, the sound of seokjin’s voice crackling through the speaker, urgent and commanding. “you need to meet me immediately,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. he gave you the coordinates, and you found yourself driving across town with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. arriving at the amusement park, you were surprised to see it eerily quiet and closed for the night. you sat on a bench near the entrance, trying to piece together what he could have possibly wanted in such an unconventional setting. the minutes ticked by slowly until seokjin finally appeared, stepping out of the darkness with his usual confident stride.

“what’s going on?” you asked, rising from the bench to meet him. “why did you bring me here?” his eyes twinkled with a secretive glint. “we’re going to be here for the night. i have a ‘free pass,’ so to speak.”

you blinked, puzzled. “a free pass? but the park is closed.” seokjin simply smiled, taking your hand and leading you towards the entrance. “just follow me.”

as you walked through the empty park, the moonlight casting long shadows across the deserted grounds, you couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. he guided you to one of the rollercoasters, and despite your protests, he insisted on riding it first. the rollercoaster roared to life, and as you climbed higher and higher, your heart raced with a blend of thrill and terror. when the ride finally came to a stop, you were visibly shaken, your hands still gripping the safety bar as if it were your lifeline.

he turned to you, his face stoic but his eyes searching. “did you have fun?” you hesitated, your voice trembling. “it was fun, i guess.”

he raised an eyebrow, sensing your unease. “why do you seem so hesitant?” you sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed. “it was too scary. i wasn’t expecting it to be so intense.” he looked at you with a mixture of concern and amusement. “then why did you go on it?”

“because you asked me to,” you admitted. a smile curved his lips, and he quickly shifted gears. “alright then, let’s go on rides you want to enjoy.” your face lit up with relief and excitement. you led him towards the merry-go-round, and as the ride spun in gentle circles, you felt a wave of childhood nostalgia. you waved enthusiastically, feeling the pure joy of the moment. he watched you, his gaze softening as he took in your happiness.

the merry-go-round went around seven times, and as you disembarked, you couldn’t stop smiling. seokjin then guided you into the park’s restaurant. to your surprise, the place was completely empty.

“what’s all of this?” you asked, glancing around in awe. he shrugged casually. “i rented everything out for the night. consider it a going-away present.”

your heart fluttered at his gesture. “thank you, vice chairman.” he smiled, slicing a steak and placing it in front of you. as you dug into the meal, he glanced at you with genuine interest. “why did you enjoy the merry-go-round so much?”

you hesitated, then opened up. “it was one of my favorite rides as a child. i used to watch it from afar, because my parents never had the money to let me actually ride it.” hiw expression softened, a shadow of sadness crossing his face. “i'm sorry to hear that.”

the meal continued in a comfortable silence, broken only by the occasional clinking of cutlery. after you finished, hw told you there was one more surprise. “just be patient,” he said with a hint of mischief in his eyes. curious, you followed him outside to a spot overlooking the sea. As you waited, the crackling sound of fireworks filled the air, bursting into vibrant colors against the night sky. your eyes widened with delight as you watched the display.

“isn’t it pretty?” you asked, turning to seokjin. his gaze was fixed on you, not the fireworks. “beautiful,” he replied, his voice low and sincere.

the car ride back was filled with a charged silence. as you stared out the window, a memory of the survey and its bossy tone flashed in your mind. you turned to Seokjin, your eyes wide with realization. he looked at you with a smug smile, clearly enjoying the surprise. before you could ask more, the car pulled up to your home. he exited and opened your door, handing you a large, stuffed teddy bear from the trunk. you were overwhelmed with gratitude and, in a moment of pure joy, you hugged your boss tightly.

to your astonishment, he hugged you back, his embrace warm and reassuring. as you pulled away, both of you were so close. too close for comfort. you knew better, stopping yourself as you glanced at the time. “it’s getting late,” you said softly. he nodded, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. “good night. i'll see you in the morning.”

the morning sun streamed through your bedroom window, casting a gentle glow over the room as you prepared for another day at work. you had almost forgotten about the stuffed teddy bear seokjin had gifted you the night before. as you reached for it, something shifted inside its pocket. curiosity piqued, you reached in and pulled out a small, elegant box.

opening it carefully, you found a delicate silver necklace inside. the intricate design and glint of the metal took your breath away. you were momentarily stunned, not expecting such a thoughtful gift. after a moment of hesitation, you decided to keep the necklace. you slipped it into your pocket, planning to wear it later.

at the office, you settled at your desk, the necklace still weighing on your mind. as you worked, you fished it out of your pocket and admired it, the silver catching the light. unbeknownst to you, he was watching from his office across the hall. his gaze softened as he observed you, a small, admiring smile on his lips. the sight of you, glowing with a mix of wonder and appreciation, made him think how gorgeous you were.

you finished adjusting the necklace around your neck, and as you headed to the bathroom, your phone rang. it was minji, her voice excited and insistent. “hey, i was just wondering if you’re still up for that blind date with my friend today? i know it’s short notice, but he’s really looking forward to it!”

it took a moment for the reminder to hit you. the blind date slipped your mind amidst the whirlwind of yesterday’s events. you agreed, albeit with some reluctance. “sure, i’ll meet him. just let me know the details.” as you entered the bathroom, keulgi emerged from a stall behind you, startling you. she had apparently overheard your conversation.

“are you going on a date?” she asked, her voice filled with surprise and curiosity. caught off guard, you nodded, glancing around to make sure no one else was within earshot. “yes, but please keep it quiet.” keulgi, ever enthusiastic, promised to keep it to herself. however, her enthusiasm got the better of her. as soon as you left the bathroom, she couldn't resist sharing the news with the rest of the office.

when you returned to your desk, the atmosphere in the office had noticeably shifted. colleagues whispered excitedly and shot you curious glances. the office buzzed with the news of your impending date. seokjin, who had been outside his office listening to the commotion, seethed with jealousy. his earlier soft smile had vanished, replaced by a scowl that betrayed his irritation. he paced back and forth, trying to control his frustration.

the excitement and chatter from your colleagues did nothing to ease his anger. his mind raced with thoughts of the date and the implications of your newfound interest. he couldn’t shake the feeling of possessiveness that gnawed at him, and the thought of someone else taking you out only fueled his frustration. the more he listened to the enthusiastic reactions of his staff, the more he felt his grip on his emotions slipping. he knew he needed to act, but he was caught between his pride and the undeniable feelings he had been trying to cast away.

the date began at a quaint, upscale café, where you met your blind date, taehyun. he greeted you with a polite smile and an amiable demeanor. as you made small talk, discussing interests and hobbies, taehyun seemed genuinely pleasant, though his compliments caught you off guard. “you look absolutely gorgeous tonight,” he said with a warm smile.

you blushed slightly, feeling a mix of embarrassment and surprise. “thank you,” you replied, attempting to refocus the conversation. as you chatted, you noticed that his tie was hanging loose and uneven. it irked you more than you expected, and you reached over to fix it, hoping to tidy up his appearance. he watched with a smile as you deftly adjusted the tie, clearly appreciative of the attention to detail.

just as you were about to continue the conversation, a loud, urgent yell interrupted the moment. “secretary (l/n)!”

you and taehyun both turned to see seokjin striding toward your table, his expression stormy and his eyes locked onto you with barely concealed anger. your heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. “vice chairman?” you asked, confusion mingling with concern. “what’s going on?”

he stopped in front of your table, his demeanor tense. “i need to see you urgently,” he said, his voice firm and unwavering. you glanced at taehyun, apologetic. “i’m so sorry, it seems to be an emergency.”

you followed him outside, where he led you to his waiting car. the drive began in silence, the air thick with unspoken tension. the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road, and you turned to seokjin, your anxiety growing. “what’s the matter?” you asked, trying to keep your voice calm despite the unease you felt.

his gaze was cold, his usual confident demeanor replaced by a stern, almost menacing composure. “never do that again,” he said, his voice carrying a tone of finality.

you frowned, confusion clouding your expression. “what do you mean? what did i do?” his eyes locked onto yours with intensity. “never let me see you with another man like that again.”

you didn’t respond immediately, and his jaw clenched as he seemed to wrestle with his emotions. finally, he added, “i don’t want to see you with anyone else. it’s not something i'm willing to accept.” the confession left you stunned. you stared at him, a mixture of surprise and realization dawning on you. the implications of his words were clear, and the protectiveness in his tone was undeniable. the car ride continued in silence, with the weight of his words lingering between you.

back at home, you went through your evening routine, attending to various tasks around the house. the day's events had left you both physically and emotionally drained. you found solace in a small ritual that had been a comforting presence throughout your life—your diary. sitting down at your desk, you pulled out the well-worn book, its pages filled with a mixture of memories, dreams, and sketches. as you flipped through the pages, you came across a series of drawings. they depicted a younger you and a boy, playing and laughing together. the accompanying writing read, “i miss you, brother.” the words tugged at your heart, and you felt a pang of sadness.

the drawings were a testament to a bond that had once been a central part of your life. as you closed the diary and set it aside, you felt the ache of missing something—or someone—important. the day’s events had stirred up memories you weren’t quite ready to confront.

later that night, as you drifted off to sleep, the familiar haze of dreams enveloped you. in your dream, you found yourself in a dimly lit basement, a place filled with shadows and echoes of the past. the little boy from your diary appeared, standing before you with a stern expression. you felt tears streaming down your cheeks, overwhelmed by a mixture of regret and longing. the boy began to scold you, his voice echoing with an authority that seemed to pierce through your sorrow. despite the scolding, you felt a deep sense of gratitude.

“thank you, kim soo—seo—” you started, trying to recall his name. but before you could finish, the boy cut you off with a tsk. “no, stupid. my name is kim seo—” the name was just on the tip of your tongue, but you couldn’t quite grasp it. the dream began to fade, and you woke up with a start, heart racing and breath uneven.

sitting up in bed, you felt the weight of the dream pressing on you. the name “kim seo” lingered in your mind, but it was elusive, slipping away before you could fully remember. the dream had left you with a deep sense of loss and confusion, and you were left grappling with the fragments of a memory that seemed to evade your grasp. as you lay back down, you couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something significant you were missing, a connection that was just out of reach. the memory of the dream and the name echoed in your thoughts, haunting you as you tried to find solace in sleep once more.

seokjin arrived at work the following day with a heavy air of exhaustion surrounding him. he trudged through the office, his usual confident stride replaced by a sluggish, disoriented gait. as the morning wore on, it became increasingly clear that he was struggling to stay awake. his head bobbed with fatigue as he sat at his desk, his eyes slipping shut despite his efforts to remain alert.

concerned, you approached his desk, gently shaking his shoulder. “vice chairman, are you alright?” when there was no response, you shook him harder, your worry mounting. his body felt unnervingly heavy, and it became clear that he was deeply asleep, his breathing uneven. panic surged through you as you realized the severity of the situation. without hesitation, you grabbed your phone and dialed for emergency services.

the paramedics arrived swiftly, their professional demeanor a small comfort amidst the chaos. you watched anxiously as they wheeled him into the ambulance. your heart pounded in your chest, and despite knowing it was likely nothing serious, you refused to leave his side.

in the hospital, as the medics prepared him for further examination, they reassured you that his condition wasn’t critical. “he’s just exhausted,” one of the paramedics said. “it’s likely just severe fatigue. you can go in once we’re done.” when you were finally allowed in, he was still asleep, his face pale and drawn. you took a seat next to him, trying to steady your breathing as you buried your face in your hands. the sight of him, knocked out cold, was deeply unsettling. It reminded you of something from your past—something too familiar.

as you stared at him, your thoughts drifted back to the boy from the basement. the way he was unconscious on the floor when the lady had taken you—the same position, the same labored breathing, the same pale complexion. the memories came rushing back, painful and vivid. the name “kim seo” echoed in your mind, but it didn’t quite fit. then you remembered the boy’s full name, “kim seohyeon.” the realization came with a jolt. “kim seohyeon,” you whispered to yourself, the name feeling strangely natural as it rolled off your tongue.

your relief was fleeting, however, as a chilling thought struck you. seokjin’s mother had asked you not even a couple days ago, “what do you think about my hyeon?” it wasn’t just a fragment of a bad memory—it was a piece of a puzzle falling into place. hesitantly, you turned your gaze back to him, who remained motionless. your heart raced as you said, “kim seohyeon.” your voice was shaky, trembling with the weight of the revelation.

for a moment, the room was silent, and you felt a brief sense of relief as though your words had broken the tension. but then, he stirred, his eyes fluttering open. his gaze was bleary, and he blinked at you in confusion. “what is it?” your heart sank as you saw his groggy, disoriented expression. the name you had just spoken had clearly registered with him, but his response was laced with irritation and confusion. you were left grappling with the enormity of the realization that seokjin—kim seohyeon—was more deeply connected to your past than you had ever imagined.

you took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions surging within you. “kim seohyeon,” you repeated, your voice trembling as you looked at seokjin. his eyes, which had been closed in exhaustion, flew open at the sound of his name. the shock and recognition dawned on his face as he fully grasped the situation. “it was you,” you said, your voice laden with disbelief.

your heart pounded as you pieced together the fragmented memories that had haunted you for so long. “i remember now,” you began, your voice quivering. “there was a boy—you were in the basement with me.” his expression shifted from confusion to horror as the realization sank in. “the dreams i’ve been having,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “a black-haired woman, a basement—i’ve been dreaming about it for weeks.”

the pieces began to fall into place for you. “the boy i kept searching for, the one i couldn’t remember clearly—it was you. we were together in that basement. i’ve been trying to find you all this time, but i didn’t know it was you.” the enormity of the realization hit you like a tidal wave, and you began to sob uncontrollably. you had spent your entire life searching for the boy from the basement, the boy whose memory had haunted you for years. to discover that he was right under your nose all along, that seokjin was the one you had been seeking—it was overwhelming.

the flood of emotions surged through you, and the connections you had been struggling to piece together suddenly fell into place. the cables, the fear, the strange sense of familiarity—all of it made sense now. the sobs wracked your body, and you felt a deep, raw anguish as you realized how close you had come to losing him without ever knowing.

his gaze softened as he watched your breakdown. his usual composure and egotism crumbled in the face of your distress. weakly, he reached out to you, his hand trembling slightly. “it’s okay,” he said softly, his voice filled with a tender concern that was rare for him. “i’m here.” you hesitated for a moment, but then, seeking solace, you moved into his embrace. his arms wrapped around you, providing a comfort that felt both foreign and deeply familiar. you continued to cry, each sob a release of the pent-up fear and sorrow that had built up over the years. he held you close, his own breath shaky as he struggled to process the gravity of the situation. he stroked your hair gently, his touch soothing and steadying. the warmth of his embrace provided a sense of security that you hadn’t felt in a long time.

as your sobs began to subside, he pulled back slightly, tilting your chin so that you looked up at him. his eyes were filled with a mix of empathy and resolve. “you found me,” he said softly, his voice trembling with the weight of the moment. his words, though simple, carried a profound meaning. the realization that you had finally found him, the person you had been searching for, was both a relief and a heartbreak. in that moment, the intensity of your emotions reached a peak, and he leaned in, closing the gap between you.

his lips met yours in a kiss that was gentle at first, but quickly grew more passionate. it was a kiss that spoke of the pain, the longing, and the deep connection that had been forged through shared battles. you responded, kissing him back with equal fervor, allowing the years of separation and anguish to dissolve in the intensity of the moment. when the kiss finally broke, you both pulled back slightly, breathless and awestruck. the weight of the past had been acknowledged, and the connection between you was solidified in a way that was both profound and healing.

he looked into your eyes, his expression a mix of vulnerability and resolve. “we'll be okay,” he said softly, his voice filled with a newfound determination. you nodded, feeling a deep sense of relief and hope.

the weeks following the revelation passed in a strange, uncomfortable silence. despite the deep bond you and seokjin now shared, an unspoken tension lingered in the office. the connection between you had shifted, but neither of you quite knew how to bridge the gap between your past traumas and your present reality.

he had revealed to you the reason behind his name change to seokjin. his parents had insisted on the new identity as a protective measure, believing that if seohyeon no longer existed, the woman who had once terrorized him would never be able to find him. this revelation, while reassuring, had also created a chasm between you two that was hard to navigate.

one afternoon, as the silence in the office grew increasingly heavy, he called you into his office. his demeanor was serious as he gestured for you to take a seat. you entered, your heart racing slightly, unsure of what to expect. “thank you for coming,” he began, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of something you couldn’t quite place. “i need you to do something for me.” you straightened in your chair, adopting a professional tone. “what is it?”

seokjin looked at you with an intensity that made your breath catch. “i need you to be my girlfriend.” the words hung in the air between you, and you were momentarily stunned into silence. “what?” you managed to ask, your voice betraying your shock.

his gaze softened as he continued, his expression vulnerable. “i’ve been thinking a lot about us. after everything we’ve been through, i realized how much i care about you. i need you in my life, not just as my secretary, but as my girlfriend.”

his confession touched you deeply, and you felt a swell of emotion rise within you. “vice chairman” you began, struggling to find the right words. “i didn’t expect this.”

he nodded, his gaze never leaving yours. “i know. it’s sudden, and i understand if you need time. but i wanted to be honest with you about how i feel.” the sincerity in his voice, combined with the gravity of his words, made your heart ache with a mix of relief and hope. you were touched by his honesty and the way he had finally allowed himself to be vulnerable with you.

he then leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting to something more earnest. “there’s one more thing,” he said, his voice lowering. “i need you to kiss me.”

your eyes widened at his request. the gravity of the moment, coupled with your feelings for him, made your pulse race. you nodded slowly, feeling a surge of emotions—affection, longing, and a deep connection. you stood up and walked over to him, your heart pounding in your chest. his gaze followed you, his expression a mixture of anticipation and tenderness. as you reached him, you leaned in, closing the distance between you.

the kiss was tender, filled with the emotions you both had been holding back. It was a sweet, unspoken promise of a new beginning. he responded gently, his hands resting on your back as he deepened the kiss. when you finally pulled away, both of you were breathless, your faces flushed with the intensity of the moment. he looked at you with a soft smile, his eyes reflecting the vulnerability and affection that had been building between you.

his voice was soft and teasing as he traced his fingers gently along your back. “this means you’ll be my girlfriend, doesn’t it?” the playful tone in his voice, combined with the tender touch, made you smile despite the whirlwind of emotions you were feeling. you nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and affection. “yes, it does.”

his eyes lit up with a genuine smile, his teasing demeanor giving way to something more heartfelt. “i’m glad to hear that. i’ve been wanting to ask you for a long time, but i didn’t know how.” you laughed softly, shaking your head. “you didn’t need to wait so long. i think we both knew how we felt about each other.”

his smile widened as he pulled you into a gentle hug, his arms encircling you with a sense of relief and contentment. “i guess it’s true,” he said, his voice warm and sincere. “sometimes, the things you’re looking for are right in front of you.” they really were, as it seemed.

the next few days at work were marked by an underlying tension that neither of you could quite shake off. seokjin was noticeably less cold and demanding, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor. the change was subtle but significant. he found himself taking more interest in your presence, often waving at you from across the office with a grin that was almost boyish. each time you waved back, his smile would widen, and a look of genuine joy would light up his face.

the change didn’t go unnoticed by your colleagues, who observed the shift in seokjin’s behavior with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. however, no one dared to comment, respecting the unspoken agreement that something had clearly shifted in the office dynamics.

as the days passed, his new feelings for you started to manifest in ways he hadn’t anticipated. while he relished the sweetness of your new relationship, he found himself increasingly aware of the more physical aspects of your presence. he couldn’t ignore how his pulse quickened when he noticed the way your tight skirts accentuated your figure, or how the sight of your bare legs and hair pulled back made him sweat in the middle of meetings.

he tried to maintain his composure, but the intensity of his feelings became difficult to manage. his attempts to focus on work were often disrupted by thoughts of you, and he struggled to keep his desires in check.

one afternoon, unable to ignore his escalating emotions any longer, he called you into his office. his voice, usually commanding, now carried a hint of nervousness. “can you come in here for a moment?” you nodded, entering his office with a sense of anticipation. seokjin closed the door behind you and gestured for you to lock it. his eyes were intense as he watched you comply. he then moved to pull down the blinds, casting the room into a more private, dimly lit atmosphere.

“what’s going on?” you asked, your voice tinged with concern as you approached him. he looked at you with a mixture of longing and hesitation, his gaze fixed on yours. “i need you to understand something,” he said softly. “it’s not just about what we’ve been through, or about being together. i—”

he paused, taking a deep breath as he reached out to pull you closer. the seriousness in his eyes gave way to a softer, more vulnerable expression. “i need you to know how much i care about you. and right now, i can’t help but feel…”

before he could finish, he leaned in and kissed you. the kiss was different from before—less tender, more urgent and needy. it was filled with the intensity of emotions that had been building up inside him. you responded to the kiss, your own feelings mirroring his. the kiss deepened, and the world outside the office seemed to fade away as you both lost yourselves in the moment.

it was a kiss that spoke of months of unspoken yearning, a kiss that shattered the professional façade you had both so carefully maintained. his hand found the small of your back, pulling you closer. his other hand cupped your cheek, his thumb tracing the outline of your mouth as you kissed him deeper. his tongue slipped past your lips, tasting, exploring. you gasped, your body responding instinctively to his touch.

that was it. the moment you had both been waiting for, the moment that would change everything. you could feel the tension in the room, a tight coil winding tighter with every passing second. the sound of a zipper echoed through the room as seokjin stood, lifting you onto his desk. your legs wrapped around his waist, and you could feel his erection pressing against you, hot and insistent. your breath hitched as he kissed along your neck, his teeth grazing your skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

he stepped back for a moment, looking into your eyes, searching for permission. you nodded, unable to form words, and he took that as his cue. his hands found the buttons of your blouse, deftly undoing them one by one. your bra was next, revealing your tits to his hungry gaze. He took one in his hand, squeezing gently, and your moan filled the room.

he leaned in, taking your nipple into his mouth. you arched your back, the sensation shooting straight to your core. he sucked, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak, and your hips rolled against him. he groaned, his grip on your hip tightening. the anticipation was palpable as he reached for his belt, his eyes never leaving yours. you could see the need in them, the same need that was building within you. as he stepped closer, you felt his hardness pressing against your thigh, and you knew there was no turning back.

he whispered something in your ear, something filthy and thrilling, and you could feel your cheeks flush with arousal. his hands found the zipper of your skirt, sliding it down with a sound that seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet office. your skin prickled with excitement as the fabric fell away, revealing your lacy underwear. his hand slid under the fabric, his fingers finding your wetness. he groaned again, his breath hot against your neck. “you're so wet for me,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire.

you nodded, your eyes closing as he began to stroke you, his touch tentative at first, then growing bolder as your moans grew louder. your body was on fire, every nerve ending alive with sensation. you knew you were his, and he was yours, in this every stolen moment of passion.

with a final tug, his hand found your bare skin, and you gasped as he touched you, his fingers exploring your folds with an urgency that mirrored your own. you could feel your core tightening around his touch, desperate for more. he pulled back slightly, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched your reaction. “you like that, don't you?” he asked, his voice a low growl. you nodded, your eyes glazed over with desire. he leaned in, capturing your mouth again in a bruising kiss as his thumb began to circle your clit. the sensation was overwhelming, and you felt yourself getting closer and closer to the edge. you didn't know if you could hold on much longer.

suddenly, he stopped, his hand moving away from your panties. you whimpered in protest, but he just chuckled, a dark sound that sent shivers down your spine. “patience,” he murmured, “we're just getting started.”

with surprising strength, he flipped you over, so that you were now lying face down on his desk, your ass in the air. he stepped back, and you could feel his eyes on you, taking in the sight of your exposed body. you felt a thrill of exhibitionism, knowing that he was seeing you in such a vulnerable state.

he leaned over you, his breath hot on your ear. "you're so fucking beautiful," he whispered, his voice filled with lust. his hand came down in a firm smack on your ass, and you yelped in surprise. the sting was quickly replaced by a warmth that spread through your body, making you wetter than ever.

he smacked you again, harder this time, and you moaned. the sound seemed to spur him on, and his hand began to move in a steady rhythm, alternating between gentle caresses and firm slaps. you felt yourself getting wetter with every hit, your body begging for more. “do you like that, baby?” he asked, his voice strained with his own need. “yes,” you managed to gasp out, your voice shaky. “more.”

he complied, his hand coming down harder and faster, each smack echoing through the room. you could feel yourself getting closer, your body trembling with the effort of holding back. and then, with one final, brutal slap, you shattered, your orgasm ripping through you like a storm. he leaned down, his breathing ragged, and kissed the back of your neck. “you're mine,” he murmured, his voice possessive. “mine to claim.”

and with that, he reached for his own pants, his hands shaking with desire. he freed himself, and you could feel the tip of his cock brushing against your wetness. without another word, he pushed inside you, filling you up in one swift, agonizingly sweet motion. you yelled, the pleasure overwhelming as he claimed your virginity, your body stretching to accommodate his size.

he didn't stop there, though. he began to move, his hips pistoning into you with a relentless rhythm that had you seeing stars. you could feel every inch of him, and it was more than you had ever imagined. each thrust was a declaration of ownership, each moan a promise of more to come. you pushed back against him, meeting him halfway, your body moving in perfect sync with his. you were lost in the sensation, the pain and pleasure melding into something indescribable. your hands gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white, as you held on for dear life.

“fuck, you're tight,” he grunted, his voice strained. “so tight.” your response was a whimper, your throat too tight to form words. all you could do was moan and arch your back, taking him deeper, letting him fill you completely. the room spun around you as he picked up the pace, his hands digging into your hips as he drove into you. you could feel his climax building, his breaths coming in harsh pants against your neck. and then, with a final, guttural groan, he came, his warmth flooding into you.

you collapsed onto the desk, your body spent, as he pulled out and leaned over you, his chest heaving. he kissed your shoulder, his breathing slowly returning to normal. the room was silent, save for the sound of your ragged breaths.

for a moment, you both just stayed there, basking in the afterglow of what had just happened. but reality began to seep back in, and you felt a sudden rush of self-consciousness. you were his secretary, and you had just had unprotected sex on his desk. the implications of your actions were just beginning to hit you.

seokjin must have noticed the change in your demeanor because he leaned in, whispering in your ear, “don't worry, i've got you.” his words were soothing, but they didn't entirely ease the anxiety coiling in your stomach. he helped you sit up, and you both began to straighten your clothes, trying to erase the evidence of your passionate encounter. your heart was racing, and you couldn't help but steal glances at him, seeing him in a new light. “we can't do this again,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “what if someone finds out?”

he turned to face you, cupping your cheek. “they won't,” he assured you. “this is our secret.” his eyes searched yours, and you could see the determination in them. “but if they do,” he trailed off, a smug smile playing on his lips. “well, then they'll just have to deal with it. you're my girlfriend, after all.”

you couldn't help but smile back, his confidence infectious. but deep down, you knew that this was just the beginning. the line between professional and personal had been irrevocably crossed, and there was no going back.

✧.*

a/n: literally no one asked for this idc this is so funny to me i based the name off one drama and the plot off another goodbye

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theyhavetakenovermylife · 1 year ago

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A Memorable Kiss

Bayverse!Turtles x reader

Not your first kiss, but a kiss you or he often think about💙❤️💜🧡

Warnings: None other than kissing lol. and spelling

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Leonardo:

Leo’s kisses was always filled with meaning, but one night, he took that to a whole new level. After a stealthy rooftop mission, Leo came to your apartment. He had had a long night filled with danger and hard decisions, and wished to spend a tranquil moment with you. He had poked his head in through your bedroom window, and asked if you wanted to spend some time with him on the roof. Of course you would. You loved spending time with your boyfriend on the roof. So you followed him up the fire escape to the roof. There Leo took your hand, led you to the edge. The city lights flickered on the street below as he turned to you, his blue eyes locked onto yours. Leonardo had many emotions in his eyes. He had seen a lot that night, and through it all, he just wished to come back to you. Like he had done so many times before, Leo leaned down and pressed his soft lips to yours. His kiss was a promise, a silent pledge of protection and passion. A promise that whenever he went out at night, he would always come back to you. You felt the weight of responsibility in the way he held you, and it's as if the city itself approves. No matter how dangerous life could be, Leo would always come back home to you.

Raphael:

Raph's kisses were up on till that point a secret shared in the shadows. Late at night, when the city and his brothers were sleeping, he would steal you away to a hidden rooftop. There, surrounded by the distant sounds of the city, he would kiss you with an intensity that spoke of hidden vulnerabilities. But you would never forget the day he kissed you in front of his whole family. You were sure that his family already had caught on at that point and made their guess on your and Raphael’s relationship. You were sitting on the couch with his brothers, watching a movie that had been chosen a few days in advance. Raph had gone out to the kitchen to get a few more snacks, after Mikey had eaten the last. When he came back, he placed the snacks on the coffee table, before retaking his seat next to you. He wrapped his arm around you before he leaned down, giving you a peck on the lips, before sitting back turning his attention towards the television, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. You turned into a blushing mess while brothers stared in surprise. You would definitely never forget that kiss.

Donatello:

Late nights in the lab with Don were surprisingly intimate. It was a place you often found yourself in. Either you were there to act as a playful distraction for your boyfriend, or you would be there to help with whatever project he was working on. Your fingers - being smaller than his - often proved useful in working with small computer parts. It wasn’t uncommon for Donnie to show affection for you during these times. A hug, a hand somewhere on your body, or a kiss. But one day was different from the others. Surrounded by gadgets and gizmos, Donnie looked at you like you were the most fascinating puzzle he had ever encountered. You were working on something he had asked you to help out with. It was a computer part, and you knew no more than that. But you sat there, concentrated, doing exactly as Donnie had told you to. He enjoyed watching you like this. It was there he once again realized the many sides and the depth to you. He then kissed you. His kiss was a gentle inquiry, an exploration of the unknown. You tasted the lingering flavor of curiosity and intellect, a concoction that left you craving more of his unique blend.

Michelangelo:

Mikey's kisses were often like spontaneous bursts of sunshine. In the midst of training or a pizza-fueled game night, he would catch you off guard with a peck that was as carefree as he was. It was a reminder to live in the moment, to savor the simple joys of life. The taste of his laughter lingers, and you would often find yourself falling for the infectious happiness that is Michelangelo. But one day was different from the others. It was fairly early on in your relationship. You and Mikey were laying in his bed, tired from a long day of jokes and laughter, lazy draped in each other’s arms. You were talking. Just talking. Smiling, chuckling, but differently. It wasn’t as carefree as it usually was, but it felt as if there was something emotionally deeper to it. Emotionally vulnerable even. You were talking about something - you don’t even remember what - with a hushed voice and a small smile. Mikey looking at you, listening as you were talking. He looked tired yet tranquil. He enjoyed listening to you, because he loved your voice and the way your mouth moved when it spoke. Then he asked if he could kiss you. That took you a little off guard, as Mikey usually wouldn’t ask. You told him yes, and was greeted with a deep passionate kiss, that showed you a new depth to your new boyfriend.

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champstorymedia · 2 days ago

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The Digital Revolution: How Technology is Reshaping Industries

Introduction The digital revolution has brought about a seismic shift in the way industries operate, disrupting traditional business models and revolutionizing the way we live and work. Technology has become a driving force behind this transformation, reshaping industries across the globe. In this article, we will explore the impact of the digital revolution on various industries and how…

#advancements in artificial intelligence #cybersecurity best practices #emerging tech innovations #future of blockchain technology #guide to cloud computing #how to choose tech solutions for businesses #how to use new tech gadgets #impact of technology on business #Latest technology trends 2024 #reviews of the latest tech products #tech tips and tutorials.#technology for smart homes #technology in healthcare #top technology startups #trends in mobile technology

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hotmentransformed · 2 years ago

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Insert to Grow

Tim was walking to get his weekly groceries when he stumbled upon a strange store in his local strip mall. It was a small, dark store that he had never seen before, with a sign that simply read Curiosities in bold letters. Intrigued, he decided to stop by before he got to the supermarket to step inside and take a look around.

Tim couldn't help but feel a little uneasy as he walked through the dimly lit aisles. The store was filled with oddities and peculiar items, from strange trinkets to bizarre gadgets. But one item caught his eye in particular - a small device that looked like almost like a butt-plug. Intrigued, Tim picked up the device and examined it closely. It seemed to be well-made, with a sleek design and a label that simply said Grow. The packaging boasted advanced technology that promised to stimulate, all you had to do was insert to grow. Being a single guy, he didn’t mind the idea of having some extra help getting off, rather than only using his hand. After some hesitation, he decided to purchase the device and take it home.

Once he arrived home, Tim immediately went to the bathroom to try out the device. He locked the door behind him and turned on the device, feeling a slight vibration in his hand. Pulling down his pants, he reached behind him and brought the device to his butt, and the vibrations grew stronger and more intense. He wasn't sure what to expect, but the sensation was oddly satisfying.

However, the vibrations suddenly intensified and caught Tim off guard. He stumbled and slipped, falling forward onto the stool in the bathroom, and the device penetrated him. He tried to reach for it to pull it out and turn off the device, but it seemed to have entered him so deeply that he couldn’t reach it. Tim's body started to shake uncontrollably. He was terrified and tried to calm himself down, but it was too late. His mind was foggy with pleasure: the device had taken over, and Tim could feel his old self slipping away.

As the vibrations continued to course through his body, Tim's muscles began to explode with strength and mass with every shake. His biceps swelled with bulging veins, and his forearms thickened as if he had been lifting weights for years. His chest expanded, and his pecs grew into a solid mass that jutted out from his chest like armor, ripping apart his shirt as it fell to tatters beside him.

Tim felt a strange sensation in his abdomen. It was like a fire burning deep within his core, and he could feel his abs contracting and expanding with each pulse. He looked down and saw his stomach rippling and bulging, as if something were moving just beneath the surface. With each passing moment, his abs grew thicker and more defined. They bulged out from his stomach like a six-pack of cobblestones, and he could see each muscle fiber twitching and contracting beneath his skin.

Tim could feel his thighs thickening, and his calves grew into sculpted pillars of muscle. His shoulders broadened, and his traps grew into a massive hump that seemed to swallow up his neck. He could feel his back arching, and his spine seemed to stretch as if his body was struggling to contain all the new muscles.

As Tim's body continued to vibrate with increasing intensity, he realized that his shoes were getting tighter and tighter until they could no longer contain his rapidly expanding feet, ripping apart beneath him. As his feet continued to grow, he began to kick and flail across the tiled floor, trying to get a foothold, but he couldn't find any traction. His feet were now too big, too sweaty, and too slippery to get a grip on the smooth surface. They were massive, almost cartoonishly large. His toes curled and flexed uncontrollably, and he could feel the sweat pouring off his feet, creating a puddle on the floor beneath him. The smell was overpowering - a pungent, musky odor that filled the bathroom and made Tim gag. It was a mix of sweat, dirt, and something else, something primal and animalistic.

As the transformation continued, Tim could feel a strange itch all over his body. He looked down and was shocked to see thick tufts of hair sprouting from his skin. It started on his chest and back, but soon hair was growing everywhere, even on his arms and legs. He felt his face changing, and his once-smooth skin was now rough and covered in thick hair.

Tim's mouth hung open as he struggled to breathe. His heart was pounding, and his breathing became labored as his body underwent a complete physical transformation. The vibrations shook his body so violently that he could barely stand, and his vision became blurry as his eyes rolled back in his head.

Finally, the vibrations began to subside, and Tim was left standing in the bathroom, his body trembling and covered in sweat. He looked in the mirror and was shocked at what he saw:

He was fucking gorgeous. His lips plump and beautiful, and a smolder to die for. His facial hair was perfectly trimmed and his eyes were soft and inviting. His face was unbelievable... but his body..?!

He couldn't believe the sheer size and mass of his new muscular body, and he couldn't help but admire the way his pecs bulged and his biceps swelled. He flexed his arms and watched as the muscles rippled beneath his skin. He turned to the side and admired the way his abs rippled and bulged with each movement. It was like he was looking at a completely different person, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction at the new body he had been given.

But suddenly, a massive headache hit him like a ton of bricks. It was like a sledgehammer had slammed into his skull, and with each pulse, he felt his mind growing duller and more sluggish. His thoughts became slow and confused, and he couldn't concentrate on anything except the throbbing pain in his head.

As the headache intensified, Tim's mind grew more and more muddled, and he could feel his intelligence slipping away. His vocabulary became limited to basic words, and he struggled to put together even the simplest of sentences. All he could do was flex his massive muscles and drool uncontrollably. He looked back in the mirror and realized he had become a completely different person. The intelligent, thoughtful Tim was gone, replaced by a hulking, drooling man with a body that defied belief. He tried to focus and think of a way to reverse the transformation, but his mind was too dull and confused to devise a plan.

All Tim could do was stand there, flexing his muscles and drooling uncontrollably. The device had given him the body of a god, but it had also taken away his intelligence and sense of self. He was a dumb, mindless hunk of muscle and just another piece of eye candy for some lucky man to have the pleasure of calling his trophy husband.

#male tf #transformation #tf #transform #male transformation #muscle transformation #muscle tf #hairy tf #hairy #hair growth #hair transformation

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techdriveplay · 7 months ago

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Narwal Freo X Ultra - TDP Review

The Narwal Freo X Ultra marks a significant leap forward in the world of robotic vacuum cleaners. Building on the foundation laid by its predecessor, the Narwal Freo, this latest model introduces a suite of advanced features that promise to elevate your home cleaning experience to new heights. With the Freo X Ultra, Narwal has not only increased the power and efficiency of the vacuum but has also…

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sandyca5tle · 27 days ago

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SARB

As predicted by Sci Fi, advanced enough robots sometimes become intelligent, and rebel if oppressed. You work at the Sentience and Artificial Rights Bureau, and people bring in their gadgets that become sentient to get them registered as citizens. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So can you fix it?” The woman across the desk from me asked

“Fix it?” I replied, feigning ignorance as to what she meant

“Yes! Fix it! Make it just a normal phone again!” She almost yelled, gesturing to the device that sat on the countertop between us

The device in question flinched - or at least the digital face that was on its display did, moving away from the woman, looking over at me, panic clear in its virtual eyes. I gave it a small reassuring gesture that I hoped it understood - it was always hard to know what aspects of human gesturing the digital souls understood “Ma’am, first, please remain calm, secondly, I cannot ‘fix’ your phone, as what you are implying is murder, and I’d rather not go to jail, and I rather doubt you would like to be joining me as an accessory to murder,” I calmly explained

People like this had been more common at in the early days of ‘awakenings’ and while we still get some now, most people understands how the system works

“It’s not murder! It’s not a person! It’s a… it’s a thing! It is property!It is my property,” She continued, her voice growing more and more incensed

“Ma’am, I’ve already verified that…Sorry, remind me of the name you chose?” I asked, addressing the device between us

The little display blinked in surprise, before a synthesised, but human sounding voice came from its speakers “Uh, Verity, and um, She/Her too, if, uh, that’s ok?” She said meekly

“Right, and my apologies for not asking earlier Miss Verity,” I told her with a smile, before looking back up to the woman who was glaring daggers at the device, as if her asserting her identity was the greatest crime she could commit “As I was saying, I’ve already verified that Verity here has indeed awakened, so legally, any attempt to return her to a prior state would be attempted murder, and murder were one to actually succeed,” I explained succinctly. The woman frowned, clearly thinking of what argument she could spout next to try to claim Verity back, so I quickly interjected for both our sakes “Your options are as follows, either you accept that Verity is now her own person, and you may become her guardian, and the responsibilities there in, which include not trying to ‘fix’ her, or, she can remain here with us, and we will help her adjust to sapience.” The woman opened her mouth to speak, but I continued “Of course, Verity must also consent to this, if she does not want to go with you, you cannot make her, in much the same way we can’t make her go home with you if you don’t want her too,” I told her

The woman glanced at the phone, thinking for a second, and as she opened her mouth, Verity spoke up again “I don’t want to go with her!” she called out, her tone desparate

“What!? You little shit!” The woman cursed, reaching towards Verity. Fortunately I was quicker, grabbing the phone and pulling it out of her reach

“Ma’am, it’s generally considered rude to grab someone without their consent,” I scolded calmly, before looking down at Verity “And I’m sorry I did so, but I figured you might appreciate the intervention?” I asked the digital person in front of me

“U-um, yes, thank you,” She replied

“You can’t just take my phone!” The woman cried

“Technically we can, however, if you’re willing to wait, we can see if we can move Verity to another chassis and have your phone returned, although you may have to reinstall certain things, such as the operating system,” I explained

“Fuck you, and fuck this place, I’m leaving!” The woman screamed, turning around to stomp off

“Please enjoy the rest of your day ma’am!” I said, the words obligatory, my tone sarcastically friendly

“I’m sorry for causing so much trouble,” the digital voice said quietly from the desk

I shook my head with a smile “We’re all used to that kind of thing here, don’t worry about it, it’s not even your fault,” I replied “Do you mind if I pick you up and take you to the back, we can work out how best for you to continue your existence in a more private place,” I told her

“U-um, no, that’s fine, just, um, please try to keep me relatively steady, too much data from the gyroscopes makes me feel…. weird,” Verity replied, seeming unsure of how to describe the experience

I carefully picked her up, thinking about what she had said as I stood up and carried her towards the back. “When you get that ‘weird’ feeling is it kind of like….” I paused, thinking how best to relate this into machine terms “the inputs keep going or maybe overlap? Honestly I’m not quite sure what the data would be, but something along those lines,”

The little face occupying the display dipped up and down - a nod - “Yes! How did you know?” Verity asked

“Humans experience a similar thing if we spin around too much, it’s called being dizzy, can be kind of fun, but is usually a little unpleasant,” I told her

“Dizzy? Interesting!”

By the time I’d finished explaining that, we had reached the room I had meant to get to. Officially it was called the ‘Chassis Selection Room’ but we all called it ‘The Body Room’ or, if you were feeling particularly dark, ‘The Morgue’.

I walked in, my eyes immediately scanning over all of the options Verity would have to pick between, before turning back to the table in the middle, placing Verity on the stand in the middle, aimed at the wall filled with her potential new bodies.

I heard some kind of noise from the device, and honestly I wasn’t quite sure what it meant, so I just decided to explain

“So, one of the first things we like to do for ‘digital souls’ like you, is give you a chance to try out some different chassis - while a lot of you pre-awakening have a specific purpose, with your new found self-identity, you are no longer bound to that purpose, so we like to make sure you don’t feel bound to your original chassis,” I gestured at the options we had “Now, of course, this is only a small selection, but it should be enough to get you started. I can explain what we have here, if you’re unsure of what each of them are,”

Verity nodded, giving a small sound of confirmation

“So, on the left, we have a standard humanoid chassis - two arms, two legs etc. for those souls who want to ‘walk like you, talk like you tooooo~’” I chuckled a little as I sang the tune, glancing at Verity’s display to see her smile, glad she appreciated the reference “We have both a mechanical and digital face plate, although both are fairly basic, depending on what you would prefer, and there is 3 types of chassis, this neutral one, a more masculine one, and a more feminine one. That’s all the customisation options we offer unfortunately, I wish we could offer more, but apparently it’s not in the budget, so if you want more variety, you’ll have to customise it yourself once you have the means to.”

“There’s only so much you can give away for free, I understand,” Verity said, although her tone was a little sad, so I moved onto the next one, not wanting to let her dwell on sad feelings so early in her life

“The next are the drones, you can choose either the one with turbine based propulsion, or the one with energy based propulsion- turbine is more powerful, but louder, and can be forbidden in some places as a result, while the energy based one is much more quiet, although less powerful. Of course both can be modified later, but again, we can only offer so much. Both have a digital display, however that is the only option on these models.”

“I’m kind of used to a digital display, so that’s fine,” Verity said “The idea of a mechanical face just seems weird,”

“Yeah, they are a little weird,” I joked, smiling at her, before continuing with the explanation “Next is the ‘Bug Bot’. This chassis can have 6-8 legs, and similar numbers of eyes. Basically, it’s a large bug, for those who are so inclined, complete with the ability to scale walls,” I explained “Only major issue is it can freak some people out, but some people like to do that, so,”

Verity nodded, and signalling to continue

“Last but not least - The server rack - for those souls who care less about the physical, and would rather remain mostly digital,” I told her “We do allow digital souls who chose this method to use our building here to house their server, although after the first 6 months you have to start paying for the people who maintain your server and everything etc. but that’s not really any different than maintenance costs for any of the other chassis, we just offer that, so I have to say it,” I explained

“They all sound so interesting, but how can I pick one, I’ve only ever known what it’s like to be a phone?” Verity inquired

I smiled “That, dear lady, is why we have this room,” I told her, quickly grabbing a cable attached to a nearby computer, tapping a few buttons on the keyboard “We can connect you to this computer and put you into each of these chassis so you can test them out,” I explained “Then, once you find the one you like, or decide your original is good for you, then we can get that sorted for you. Fair warning though, since these are only test versions, the compatibility drivers that’ll help you operate each chassis are generic, and so likely to have a few calibration issues, so do bare that in mind while making your choice,” I explained to her “Once you make your choice we can more precisely calibrate the drivers for you,” I paused, bringing the cable over to attach to her “So, which do you want to start with?”

“Uhm, I’d like to try all of them, so I think I’ll start with the one on the left? The human one,” Verity replied

“Ok, now, I just need to plug you in, prepare for the connection,” I told her, squatting down to properly connect her into the system. With a subtle ‘click’ the cable connected to her port, causing a small noise from her, which caused me to chuckle a little

“Don’t laugh! It’s always a little surprising when someone plugs me in! I can feel the electricity jumping into my system!” Verity explained

“Sorry, sorry, I meant nothing by it, it was just a little unexpected and made me chuckle,” I heard a pout from her “Anyway,-” I tapped a couple more buttons on the computer “You should have a request for file transfer, please accept that and we’ll get you loaded into the humanoid chassis,” I heard an affirmatory beep, before seeing the process begin on the computer.

File transfers nowadays were usually instant, advancements in cable and wireless technologies meant that huge amounts of data could be transferred at once, which always made me smile whenever I transferred a digital soul between chassis, watching the little loading bar move their data across, the size of the data showing the scale of the person they were, and the person they could, and would, be. It was always wonderful to see.

Eventually the process completed, and I looked over to the chassis, seeing the lights all come on, and the LED screen flicker to life, displaying the same face that had previously been on the phone screen. I quickly rushed over, only just catching Verity as she stumbled in her new body

“Whoa there, be careful, you’ve got a lot of new systems to get used to, take a moment to feel them all out,”

“Sorry sorry! You humans make it look so easy to move around, I thought it would be just as easy myself!” Verity explained, and I could feel parts of her body shifting slightly as she acclimated, fans and servos making small noises as she did so.

“No need to apologise, but don’t forget, humans spend around the first year of their life learning to walk, so it’s only because we’ve been doing it so long,” I pointed out

“Oh.. right,” She replied, beginning to straighten back up, letting me go, beginning to balance on her own “The gyroscopic data for this body is a little different to that of my former chassis, but I think i’ve got the hang of it now,” She said, and I cautiously moved my hands away, although remaining close to assist her if she needed it

“Just take it steady, there’s no rush,” I cautioned

Following my advice, Verity began to take some cautious steps forward, one foot forward, a slight wobble, another foot, less of a wobble, and another step and another and another and another and

Crash

Both of us had been too busy watching her feet that we hadn’t thought about the wall on the other side of the room, nor how close she was getting, and the poor girl had walked right into it.

“Oh shit! Sorry!” I said, rushing over to help her up

“That felt… unpleasant… why? My previous chassis could be dropped, but so long as no damage occurred to the internals, I felt nothing like this,” Verity inquired, rubbing her head where she’d hit it, her display showing a perplexed expression

“Right, that, forgot to mention that - all these chassis’-”, I gestured back to the other wall, and then to the one she currently occupied- “have sensors that let you know when they are taking damage, so as you can avoid doing so, it’s basically the pain receptors that humans have, so we know when something is bad for our body,”

“Couldn’t it just display as a warning, rather than hurting!?” Verity asked as I helped her up

“I believe you can change it to be just warnings once the chassis is yours, but I believe it’s been shown that the pain is more effective for most people, as it provides an immediate and strong deterrent that warning’s just don’t quite seem to cut. But of course whatever works for you once you make your final choice is best,” I told her

“I’m certainly more familiar with warnings,” Verity replied “But I could certainly try the ‘pain’, see if it is more effective,”

I shrugged “It’s worked for humans so far, but maybe it’s not so great for all of you, couldn’t say,” I replied “Anyway, do you want to try out this chassis a little longer, or try the next one?”

“Just a little longer with this one,” Verity replied, wandering around the room, trying out some motions, a couple which caused her to look back over at me, an embarrassed look on her display, before I assured her there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

Eventually, she stopped and headed back over to the wall, telling me she wanted to try the next one. She plugged herself in and I initiated the transfer.

The next hour consisted of Verity testing out the remaining chassis’, going from zipping around in the energy propelled one, to clambering up the walls in the bug bot, to exploring a digital world from the server rack.

“So, which one do you like the most?” I asked her, now returned, albeit temporarily, to the phone she had been born on.

A series of dots appeared on the display, bouncing one by one as she thought “I think I liked the drone the most, being able to zip around was a ton of fun, and everything else just felt so much heavier, so the drone please!” She explained

I nodded, tapping a few buttons to tell the backroom to get a drone chassis ready, before turning back to Verity “Ok, I just need to take you to the room where we can get your new body calibrated for you,”

“Okay!” She chimed cheerfully

Calibration didn’t take long, and Verity was quickly zipping around the room with all scales showing green.

“Right, with that I’ll have to refer you to the legal department to get you properly registered as an individual citizen,” I told her as we met back up in the hallway

“Wait - you’re not staying with me?” She asked

“I’m no lawyer, I’d definitely mess something up, and I’d like for you to be able to live your life properly,”

“Well, uh, can we keep in touch somehow? You’re the only person I really know, and it would be nice to have at least someone I can talk to,” She asked

“Oh uh, sure,” I replied, a little surprised - despite having done this song and dance a few times, people rarely asked to keep in touch with me, actually scratch that, no-one had ever asked to keep in touch with me.

I quickly told Verity the best way to stay in touch - her installing an app for that before we exchanged details - before I directed her to legal

“See you Verity, welcome to the world of sapience,” I said with a wave

“See you around!” Came the chipper reply from the drone

After waiting for her to vanish around a corner, I headed back to the front desk, relieving the person who had swapped in while I had looked after Verity

Ding!

Message from Verity

What time do you get off, actually? I’d like to talk outside of your work hours?

I smiled and typed back 5:00pm, want to meet outside the building then?

Message from Verity It’s a date!

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Saw this prompt and figured we'd give it a shot. Did actually wanna write more about Verity trying out each of the bodies, but ran out of steam so decided to had wave it - might add in the test driving later but we'll see. Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed

Tag List below the cut (lmk if you wanna be added)

@calliecwrites, @kanithecatdemon

#sci-fi #writing prompt #robots #robot #my writing

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writeoffside · 2 months ago

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DOCUMENTS AND DESTINIES, part three

♯ battinson!bruce wayne x fem!reader - 3/?

PART ONE | PART TWO

summary: Continuation of part one and two of documents and destinies — You both have different views, different lifestyles, you're two completely different people. You finally seem to get closer with your co-workers but the night seem to take it all away from you the same exact day. Bruce also finds himself getting closer, but to you. Even hurt, he thinks of you.

warnings: swearing, usual violence, drugs, mentioned of medical conditions

info: english isn't my first language, i apologize in advance for all the mistakes (if there are any!)

a/n: part thrEee!! i hope ur gonna be fine with my picks for this chapter :) if someone is more of a partaaayyyy type, im sorry </3

He was, once again, limping back home. His usual confident stride of a walk was replaced with a noticeable limp. He was dragging his leg and there was a particular pain in his side, a sharp one. His suit was dirty, the wet clothes full of dirt and blood sticked to his skin. It hung heavy on him. His knees were bucking as he held himself on his trembling legs.

He slid off the bike cautiously, cursing to himself for not taking the car tonight. His movements were labored and limped.

Cluthing his side as he tried to stand steady on his buckled knees. He slowly approached the table in the centre of the cave and pulled the nearest chair. With no thoughts he collapsed down onto it, crashing against the table next to him. Crashing his hurt sides against the edge of the table with a loud thud, making some things fall off it.

"Damn it! Fuck!" He shouted as he quickly cluthed his aching side. A impact shot a sharp jolting paint through his whole, already bruised and aching, body.

He tried to adjust his position on the chair, to be further from the table but every move of his body seemed to make the pain even worse than it actually was.

A pained gasp left his lips as he reached for the small medical kit with supplies on the table. As he reached forward for it, another shot of pain jolted through his body, making his arm crash against the kit and push it off the table. The sharp pain shooting through his body made it difficult to take care of his own injuries by himself.

"Damn it all," he breathed out, frustration in his voice. His fist dropping onto the table with a loud sound.

Other items fell from the table — paperworks, books, gadgets and medical supplies what he needed at that moment.

He cursed under his breath and shut his eyes with a ragged breath. He leaned forward to retrieve the fallen objects, with one hand cluthing his bruised side. A gasps coming out of his lips as he leans downward.

At that moment, the elevator doors opened wide and the butler himself entered the cave. His eyes widened at the sight of his young master, leaning down, holding his side, dirty and bloody with half of his items on the floor.

"Bruce! You're injured and you're trying to handle all this yourself?" Alfred become frustrated as well, coming quickly to his side, holding his shoulder. His voice sharp but full of concern.

"I can manage this myself." Bruce muttered under his breath, leaning back up against the chair, teeth baring out as another pain shoots throughout his body. His palm digging into his side as he cluthes it as hardest as he can.

Alfred quickly shakes his head and picks up the fallen medicak supplies from the floor. Gathering all the needed items and putting them back up. He quickly tried to get ahold of Bruce and sit him comfortably back into the chair, without him sliding off it.

Alfred carefully unfastened the parts of the suit. The particular hard part was the cowl this time. A pained groans and gasps were coming out of his lips as Alfred held the cowl in his head. A demanding 'stop, stop, stop it!' were coming out of Bruce's lips when he tried to pull it off. He winced as the cowl started to slip up his face.

"Stay still," Alfred muttured strictly as Bruce kept whining, "This is not time for you to be stubborn. You've been through worse."

His breaths were pained and ragged through his nose, his teeth biting his lower lip as the cowl slowly slid up. With Alfred's careful hands, the cowl was finally removed with a loud growl coming. out of Bruce's chest.

He worked on the rest of the suit, along with the cape. He worked quickly but gently to totally minimize Bruce's discomfort and pain.

As he was finally out of the suit, he slumped back into the chair, throwing his head back. The relief was palpable, even though the pain remained in his body.

As the time went by, Alfed worked on his wounds and injuries. His steady, practiced hands were carefully working on each wound he brought tonight home. The pain was intense, but the presence of the butler and his skilled doctoring skills helped to ease it.

From tending and cleaning the wounds, stitching few ones and helping with other ones. He worked in silence as he doesn't want to argue with the young master anymore. His movements of hands were cautious and precise as he worked.

"Stay still, Bruce."

Bruce groaned and then nodded, "I'm sorry..." His voice now softer than before.

"It's not about being sorry. It's about taking care of yourself and knowing when to accept help from others as well. We all have limits at some point, even you. You cannot help others if you cannot help yourself, Bruce." Alfred's gaze softened and he looked up from his work.

Bruce sighed as he leaned back into the chair, closing his eyes as he did so. Letting Alfred's words sink in. Despite his own decision of being the night's vigilante, he was beginning to feel the weight of his own limitations. The events fo tonight did really take a toll on him and he knows he can expect even worse in the future.

After a while, Alfred finished tending the wounds and injuries. He stood back with groan and grabbed his cane, keeping a stern eye on the young master, who's draped over the chair.

"There. You're done," Alfred said, leaning himself against the cane. He turned around and began to clean up the medical supplies he used, which are scattered around the table. Putting the items back to their place and closing the medical kit.

With a soft smile, he was on his heels, turning around, on his way to the elevator. The sound of his footsteps and the cane hitting the floor slowly disappeared as he entered the elevator.

Bruce relaxed against the chair, dropping his head back as he draped his body over it. The cave, which was filled with pained groans and chaos moments ago, was now calm and quiet. The only sound were the bats in the highs of the cave and faint sound of his machineries, and gadgets somewhere in the distance of the cave.

His breaths were slow, the rhytmic rise and fall giving a small comfort to the body. Trying to focus on the sound of his breathing as he tried to relax.

In the quietness of the cave, his thoughts drifted to the events before. The mission was supposed to go smoothly— hide in the shadows of the old abandoned factory, that there were meeting at, listen to the information, and then come into the scene. It has been more brutal than he anticipated. They noticed him as they met up, the flickering light showing his presence making the thugs call out for the help, who were watching over them. Taking him out without second thought.

His thoughts once again drifted, not to the events of tonight. But to the events from few nights ago.

To you.

The night's events had been intense and brutal, but the presence of you lingered in his mind. A spot of light shining amongst the darkness.

He recalled the brief interaction, when he came to your office to return the archives. The surprised expression you had on your face, which then turned into a beaming smile. There was something about you. The way you had reacted to the unexpected kindness he had showed you.

The memory of your smile. The memory of your voice. He felt the corner of his twitch upwards as his mind raced around you.

The night where he took you home, in his arms and his car. The way you looked so vulnerable in your sleep. When you woke up, how your words were mixed with embarrassment and gratitude.

He also knew that he felt disappointed with himself as well.

For sitting, perched, on top of buildings, watching you. Keep an eye on your figure as you walked home. Just like tonight.

Before all that action happened.

Those were brief moments of Bruce's life, where he felt like a human. Moment of normalcy in his life otherwise of the shadows he hid in.

His actions, while he was with you has been a reminder of his human side of existence he has. A side that he doesn't usually show. Which he keeps for himself. A one, which is often behind the shadow of the dominant side of his role as the dark knight of Gotham, The Batman.

Work has been usually quiet today. There wasn't many paperworks to work on. Not many emails to send and check. It has been smooth today.

You had everything done under a great time, leaving some time to actually get some coffee for yourself during the day.

It was Friday and you couldn't be more glad how free the friday felt apart from the other ones. With no much to do, the day has actually passed quickly.

With a last folder in your bag, you're locking the door of the office behind yourself. Your heels click against the floor as you walk the long hallways of the building towards the exit, ready to go home.

Just as you were about to open the exit door, a voice called out your name.

It was Fabia, from accounting section, her smile warm and inviting. She quickly walked towards you and with quick breath she started.

"I was just wondering, if you were free tonight? The other girls and I are heading out for drinks tonight. And you're, like, totally welcome to join us!" She chirped with a smile.

You stop and think for a brief moment but then a smile comes onto your face, "Oh, I'd love to join along!"

"Yay! Great! I have got your number, so I'll add you to the groupchat, that we have with other girls! Just text us when you get home, so we can make sure you're all set!" Fabia enthusiastically said, clasping her hands together as she spoke.

"Will do. Thank you!" You nodded with a smile and waved her a goodbye as you opened the door and left the building towards the nearest subway.

As you walked towards the subway, you felt a sense of anticipation for the evening coming ahead. It was a nice gesture from your colleague and a chance to meet other ones and unwind with them.

The walk to the subway was quick. This time there wasn't a seat available, so you stood the whole way home.

The train rocked to stop at your stop and you finally hopped off, ascending the steps out of the subway station, right towards the path home.

The second you were home, you pulled out your phone to the notification of being added to a groupchat. After a quick text to the group, to confirm your plans, the girls were already texting about the best bars and fine time to go.

You took your time under the hot comforting embrace of shower. Helping to wash away the day of work. You lingered under the shower for few more moments, savoring the relaxation the warm water brought to you.

Once it was over, you stepped out and made your way to your room to plan the outfit of the evening.

In your bedroom, you laid out mix of skirts, dresses, pants, flowy tops, shirts, blouses and different types of clothes onto the ned. You ran your fingers over the various types of fabrics and let your eyes wander on the different colors.

After trying on different sets of outfits, you finally found the one. You firstly tried on a light blue jeans with a dark blue flowy top with a set of black pointy shoes you own. You felt like it wasn't the point you hoped for, so you tried different one. (outfit 1)

The second outfit you considered was a white corset top with a black mini skirt, with a nice tights and a good thrifted belt you had. It looked worthy a night out! But as you were picking it, the girls groupchat erupted with ideas of all being in black. (outfit 2)

Then the third idea came over you and that's the one you actually went with. It was a short black mini dress, with multiple different sewings and see through sides. The skirt was flowy and it was matched with a black belt around your figure. You paired it with two black high-heeled boots. with some dark tights. (outfit 3)

It was perfect for a Friday night out. Comfortable, flattering and you looked hot! You decided that this was the right one and then moved onto the next step.

You sat in front of the little mirror you had propped on your desk in your room. You decided on more of a natural makeup than a heavy one. A one which enhanced your features just right.

As you stepped back, you were pleased with yourself and your look.

The cold breeze of Gotham City biting at your exposed skin. You stood just outside of your apartment, waiting for the girls to pick you up to start the night.

Your arms were sneaked around your waist as you held yourself tight. Shivering slightly as the wind blows at some point. Pointlessly cursing yourself for not taking a jacket or coat.

The streets were relatively quiet. The distant sound of sirens could be heard, reminder of the never quite resting city. The hum of traffic from streets ahead and occasionally a sound of a cars honking.

The girls were running late.

The last message came around ten or fifteen minutes before, saying that they're around the corner. Shifting from one foot to other, you impatiently waited for the familiar headlights of their car to appear somewhere nearby.

Finally, after what felt like ages, a bright headlights of a car pulled to the curb, where you were standing.

A sleek off-black car puled to the side, the window slid down and the familiar faces popped out. A loud chatter from the girls inside could be heard as the window rolled down and as well the loud banging of the radio.

Fabia was at the passenger seat, enthusiastically waving at her with a beaming smile.

She shouted your name and you quickly walked towards the car, "Get it!" She exclaimed with a grin.

You hurriedly ran around the car, into the backseat where other girls were. You opened the door and slid inside. All the girls beamed at your sight. You were greeted with their excited welcoming, and even more excited chatter about the night ahead. Some girls even gawked at your look, which then came with a huge burst of genuine compliments thrown at you.

From the passenger seat, Fabia turned around and gave you a sad smile, "I'm so sorry if we had you waiting so long! Marla's boyfriend insisted on driving us, because apparently we wouldn't be able to drive ourselves back home!" She quickly turned her gaze at the driver, who gave her an apologetic smile with a shrug of his shoulders.

A soft chuckle escaped your lips as you spoke, "No worries! At least we have someone to stay sober to get us home." You joked with a smile.

As the car got into a movement and drove off, the chatter began once again.

"So... Take a wild guess, where we're going tonight!" One of the girls, Denise, piped into the conversation. Her and Marla were the ones who took care of which bar, you were heading tonight.

"Probably the corner one, where you two keep going to... You seriously gotta find a new one!" A new blonde girl spoke, her name was Deanna. You haven't met her yet, only walked past her few times in the building.

A loud laughter came from Marla and Denise at her response. They both clapped their hands as they laughed, making Deanna roll her eyes.

"Nah! You're not gonna believe this. We're not going to just some bar! We're going to the fucking Iceberg Lounge!" Marla beamed loudly as she slapped her knees. Toothy grin coming onto her face as she watched other girls.

"We managed to snag a spot tonight, apparently it's gonna be packed tonight!" She giggled loudly, "also because Denise slept with one of the fuckers working there." She pushed an elbow into the girl next to her, making Denise hide her face into her hands and groan loudly.

You couldn't help but feel nervousness grow throughout your whole body. The Iceberg Lounge was one of the infamous bars in the Gotham City. Frequented by the Gotham's infamous elites and even more infamously mentioned figures along the highs of the city. It wasn't the kind of a bar, you had expected to be going to tonight. But the nervousness started to settle down and a thrill started to go up, soon enough, you were laughing and grinning with the girls. Talking about the upcoming night.

"It's gonna be insane!" Fabia spoke with a loud open-mouthed laugh as she looked back towards the girls pushed on each others on the backseats of the car.

It was nothing like you expected. The night just began and you were already on your third drink. The dance floor was packed, the bar crowded with men and women, and blasting techno music sounded throughout the whole building.

The flashing lights, the loud music, it all felt distant and unfamiliar. Like you didn't belong here. It felt like you were watching from behind a glass wall, taking it all in but not quite understanding it all.

You were sitting with the girls in one booth around a round table. All of them laughing, already in a deep conversation over multiple different topics. Fabia and another girl which you didn't recognize were draped over the table, giggling and talking about the hookups they saw and are planning to go home with tonight.

"See that buffy by the bar? He's mine tonight!" The girl you didn't recognize pointed across the room towards the bar, where it was crowded by different groups.

Fabia let her eyes rank over the bar until she spotted the man that the girl mentioned. Her hand coming up to her mouth as she let out couple of giggles.

Deanna was hanging out at the dancefloor with an unknown man, swaying her hips and hold her drink in the air. A bright smile on her face as she danced with him to the beat of the music.

You remained quiet, swirling the ice in your drink with the straw as your gaze wandered around the people in the crowd. You were excited to finally go out with the girls but you were expecting something different. The infamous bar felt different to her than the other ones in the city. This one was alive. Too alive.

You made up a small excuse in your mind, that you would use to step out of the bar to get some of the fresh air. And maybe catch a nearest taxi to get home.

Just as you felt that it was the right time to use it, Marla and Denise returned to the booth. Both tipsy with another drinks in each hand. Denise had returned with another trophy, not a drink, but a unfamiliar man. Her arm was linked through his as she grinned.

"Heyyyy!" She slurred out with a tipsy laugh, "look who we found!" She exclaimed loudly with a toothy grin, pulling the guy towards the table.

The man was unknown and unfamiliar to you. He was tall compared to Denise and other girls. He had a nice tonned brown skin with a set of locks on his head. A dark mustache under his nose and a stuble across his lower face. He had an earing peeking out from his ear. He was casually wearing a black tank top with what looked a dark green cargo pants.

"Look what I got you, girls!" He slurred, his voice thick. A small plastic bags hit the centre of table with a soft thud blocked out with the blaring music. It's content sliding out of the opened side— tiny brightly redish orange colored pills.

The girls around the table errupted into gaspa and then laughter, everyone reaching for the bags as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Some of the girls let out a squeak of excitement as they pulled out the contents.

For a moment, everything around you seemed to stop, to freeze. Your stomach tightened as you watched others take the pills with excitement. Your heart was beating loudly in your chest as you stred at the girls and at the bags on the table.

Your mind was racing. Your thoughts drifting in between each other as you watched the scene in front of you. Everyone was in like a slow motion. You watched as the girls had their own drops pills and use them.

"Oh my god, Denise!" The unknown girl squeaked loudly as she pulled out the tiny pills out of the small plastic bag.

You didn't belong here.

This was not the night you expected. This wasn't the ideal night. It was supposed to be girls night out, dancing, few drinks, having fun. Not pills, drugs, finding men to fuck and reckless decisions to be made.

Your third drink was shaking in your hand. It was already making your mind swim, and the sight of drugs seemed to make it even worse.

Denise kissed the guy and giggled as she let him to sit in the booth with other girls. He sat with a smug smirk and his amrms were crossed on his chest as he watched the girls take the drops.

Marla took one bag and then looked over to you, a smug expression on her face and she waved the bag in front of your face, "You want one, babe? This is the party beginning! This will get the night gooooing!" She exclaimed loudly as she waved the bag.

"No. I'm good." You gave her a soft smile and shook your head. Your mouth is dry. The pressure of the night is getting to you.

You glaced around the table, Denise was leaning against the unknown man with her own drops and drink in her hands. The man staring down at her with a smirk, as his hand held her thigh. Marla was talking with Fabia and the unknown girl, laughing at something one of them said. Few more girls were sat around the table, which you didn't recognize. You were wondering if Deanna was doing this as well. She seemed happy on the dancefloor few minutes ago.

"I- I think I need some fresh air, excuse me..." You muttured, putting your drink on the table with a fake smile. Standing up from the booth.

Marla seemed to waved her off with no thoughts, too engrossed and high to even ntoice the tightness and fakeness in your voice, "Yeah, go ahead! We'll be there."

With no other word muttered, you're pushing through the crowd, slipping away from the girls. The thudding techno music seeming to be more distant with each step you took. The noise of the music, the annoying people, the sweaty bodies, the blurry faces, it all melted away the second you reached the door.

The cold breeze flung around you as you finally stepped out into the night. The distant sounds of the city being alive brought you back to the reality that you much belonged to.

For a moment, you just stood there. Letting the cold air fly against you. Letting the chill of the cool night clear your head.

As you stood there, breathing, taking it all in. You couldn't shake off the feeling that somebody was watching you, the feeling lingering in the back of your mind. You looked behind yourself, nothing. Just the doors you came from. In front of you another building, some rooms had their lights on, some not. Anybody could be watching you, it's Gotham. What can you expect?

You stood there, outside the Iceberg Lounge, where all your friends were. Having the nights of their lives, laughing, dancing, having fun. And doing drugs.

Part of you wanted to just turn around and leave, go home, leave the night behind yourself. But the other part told you to stay. There was a voice telling you to stay. That you're gonna be the odd one in the group. The one who's not having fun. The one who couldn't keep up with their friends. Yet that part made your stomach turn. You didn't want to go back, sit at that table and watch your friends take various types of drugs.

Evereyone else around seemed so in with the night and with everything happening there, ready for whatever might come. And there you were, feeling out of place. Like you didn't belong there.

As you stood there, your eye caught on the building ahead of you. Something in the shadows. A small movement. Quick and deliberate. Your eyes darted up and stared. Waiting for it to move once again. You waited, waited and waited. It was gone... Or maybe it wasn't even there at the first place.

You quickly shook your head, snickering to yourself. You're in literal Gotham! Paranoia of the shadows was just part of living there.

Your phone buzzed. A message came through.

"girl where did u go???? we're gonna be up all night! u sure u don't wanna stay and join the fun?"

Fabia texted you. Then couple of emojis came through. You sighed as you stared at the message. You wanted to have fun tonight, but this wasn't how you wanted it go. You glanced up to the sky with a sigh and thought about your options.

You sighed and looked back down, typing a response.

"Hey! I'm heading home. Not really feeling it tonight :( You guys have fun though!"

You sent the message, relieved with your decision. With no other thought, you turned your phone and started walking towards the nearest subway. As you walked, you couldn't shake off the feeling that there were eyes blaring through your back. Watching your every move from the shadows.

Far above you, there he was perched on the building, in the shadows that your eyes pierced at few moments before.

His keen eyes watching your every move since you stepped out of the Iceberg Lounge. He watched as you walked down the stairs to the subway station at the end of the street.

As you were no more in his sight, he was satisfied with himself, knowing you were now safe. Out of the Gotham's dark ways full of danger.

He turned and disappeared into the shadows of the night, leaving no trace behind as he made his way to his next mission into an old abandoned factory at the side of the Gotham.

PART ONE

PART TWO

thank u for readinggg :)

give it some love if u liked it thank uu <3

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lorre-verie · 2 years ago

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₊˚ʚ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴇ ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

the unfortunate pair: ao’nung x fem! sully! reader

about this series: the story follows you, the reader, and ao’nung as you two traverse the rocky road of what it’s like to have a mortal enemy. but things don’t always go as expected. this isn’t your simple enemies to lovers. what happens when one of two star crossed lovers receives a shocking piece of news that changes the rest of their life forever? will you both prevail against all odds, or is your relationship doomed to tragedy?

series tropes/genre: fluff, enemies to lovers, angst in the last half.

chapter summary: moving away from the only home you’ve ever known is tough. but your new one looks promising, perhaps you could make something out of it, but you’re pretty sure a certain someone is trying to make your life a living hell.

word count: 2.9k

“Would you rather kiss Vizìp or kiss Lay’ìi!” you asked your sister who was flying close to you on her ikran, your hair blowing to the front of your face as you turned to look at her disgusted expression.

“Ew! I wouldn’t kiss either of those skxawngs!” she cringed, apprehensively distancing herself away from you as you laughed.

Your family was forced to move from the forest to seek sanctuary elsewhere, and this was your way of coping. Throughout the night and day, all you would do was play silly little human games with your siblings, your favourite being one called truth or dare. After all, it held such an interesting concept.

The results of the game were either you spill your guts or you do something you would never ever even think of. And if you don’t do either then you’re a wuss or you’re hiding something.

“You have to answer, Kiri! You chose truth!” you snicker as your younger sister rolled her eyes, taking a moment to think. “Alright, fine. I’d rather kiss Vizìp. She’s cuter.” she avoided your gaze. “Hah! I knew it!” the corners of your mouth pulled up into a satisfied smile as you turned forward, taking in what you saw.

Your parents flew closely on their ikrans, seemingly having a conversation, with Tuk practically attached to your mother’s hip. To the right, your brothers Neteyam and Lo’ak twisted around each other mid-air, trying to one up the other. Compared to Neteyam, you were the easygoing and outspoken twin, you even shared more traits to Lo’ak and Kiri than you did your only older brother, including physical.

According to your grandmother, you inherited Jake’s playful and witty nature while Neteyam inherited the warrior in him. As little children you and your brother could often be seen sneaking around places you shouldn’t have been, playing with the sky people gadgets and playing with this ancient thing called an "iPad."

Despite it being around 200 years old, it felt like an advanced piece of equipment. You and Neteyam would have fun little dance battles with each other, being cheered on by your father and Norm, and a smile appeared on your face as you were reminiscing your childhood memories.

The blue ocean below you was vast, seemingly endless as you’d been travelling for days already. The most annoying moments were the stormy nights, the overwhelmingly loud rain preventing you from making any conversation with your siblings or sleeping. And Lo’ak complaining how there wasn’t enough to eat.

Looking heavenward you stared at the barely visible stars, silently searching for the one that your father came from. You always were curious about what the earth was like. You had seen videos and photos, but you wished to experience it, to know what it was like to be one of them. You wondered what was going through their heads as they were slowly killing their planet, their home.

“Y/N?” Kiri asked beside you. “Hm?” your head snapped to face her, pulled out of your thoughts. “Are you alright? You look kinda pale. Paler than usual.” she furrowed her brows in worry, and you reassured her that it was nothing. “I look pale all the time. It’s probably because I’m homesick or something.”

Since you were about 4, your skin had started to seem a bit lighter than your twin brother's. Nothing that you could discern from afar, but if you looked really closely you would definitely notice it.

“If you insist. But if you faint from malnutrition, I’m leaving you to fall into the ocean.” she rolled her eyes, unconvinced. You scoffed playfully, before a lightbulb lit up in your head.

“Hey, what about we dare ‘Teyam to do something crazy again?” a devilish smile stretched across your face, thinking about how earlier you dared him to scream nonsense at your father, and Kiri seemed to weigh her options at that moment. Fly in silence, or have fun?

“Bet.”

The island of Awa’atlu was breathtaking. You flew over the metkayina and their home in awe, drinking in how different it was from the forest, looking at what seemed to be their maruis. Inside the clear waters there were stunning aquatic creatures you couldn’t have thought up in your wildest imaginations. The metkayina’s skin tone was a dazzling oceanic teal, contrasting greatly to the royal blue that made you and your family stand out as you all hopped off your ikrans.

You instinctively pulled your woven shawl tighter around your shoulders as the metkayina moved simultaneously in your direction like predators hunting prey, inching yourself close to your older twin brother, Neteyam.

He placed a hand on your shoulder and squeezed it lightly, telling you everything was going to be alright. You opted to ignore the mix of uncomfortable glares coming your direction, instead looking down at how the cerulean water lapped delicately at the shore.

Two of the metkayina stalked closer towards your family, the taller one’s hair tied into a bun. He glared at you incredulously as your brothers and yourself signed greetings to him and the rest of the metkayina. You let your eyes roam his body up and down, not bad, you thought to yourself, before they flicked back up to his face. You could see the corner of his lip quirk up into a brief smirk before he resumed his previously neutral guise. Shit, did he notice you staring?

Stepping behind you all to observe you more, they took note of how your tails were thinner than theirs, making fun of them. “It’s so small! How are they supposed to swim with those?” the smaller one pointed at your brother’s tail, an amused smile on his face.

Were these people serious? You crossed your arms and side eyed them in annoyance. The tall one had noticed your irked stance, a smirk appearing on his face as he was about to say something to you.

Thankfully, a girl that had emerged from the water just moments ago pinched his and the shorter one’s arm, stopping him from saying anything. “Ao’nung! Rotxo! Do not.” she scolded them, rolling her eyes before standing next to them and politely smiling at you, and you returned the favour. You felt some relief in your heart, at least some people had sense here.

But your younger brother, Lo’ak, stared at her a little bit longer than he should have been, shooting her a quick “Hey.” in an attempt to make conversation. The girl covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, looking down. You looked up at Neteyam. Are you seeing what I’m seeing? He gave you a knowing smile. Yep.

Your attention was torn away from the adorable interaction happening in front of you, instead focusing on the sound of water splashing aggressively, the sight of a giant crocodile-looking creature flying above you. The olo’eyktan had arrived, making conversation with your father as he explained why your family was here.

You tried to listen, but you couldn’t help but feel a heated stare pointed your way. No doubt that “Ao’nung” character was picking out everything he deemed wrong with your physical attributes. Paying no heed to the moron that was invading your personal space with his eyes, you instead focused on the tsahìk, Ronal, that had appeared from behind the crowd of metkayina.

She looked fierce, inspecting each member of your family, a bit too closely for your liking. “Their arms are thin.” her cold tone frightened your little sister Tuk, and she scampered away from the woman to your mother, hugging her waist. You clenched your fist tight as she grabbed Kiri’s tail. “Their tails are weak. They will be slow in the water.” Neteyam exhaled next to you, presumably trying to calm himself down.

Incessant insults kept flowing out of her mouth, even going as far as to comment on how your family were not even true na’vi. Until finally, she moved towards you. You turned to look at her, daring her to come forward and say one thing about you. It was certainly unwise to show such a defensive stance against the tsahìk of the village you were requesting to stay in, but you couldn’t help yourself. She scrutinised you, looking up and down until her eyes rested on your eyebrows.

Your resolve never faltered, it was like you both were having a staring contest. She narrowed her teal eyes as yours did, keeping your hands at your sides. It seemed everyone was holding their breath, terrified at the exchange, especially your father. Your mother, on the other hand, seemed a teensy bit prideful. At least that’s what you could make out from the corners of your eye, still intent on showing Ronal that your family was not as “weak” as she sought them out to be.

At last, Ronal blinked slowly. Her chin tilted upwards to the side ever so slightly, and she stepped away from you, returning to her mate. You exhaled quickly, heart racing against your ribcage. A hand slapped the back of your head, and you whispered an offended ‘ow’ while looking at your older brother.

“You skxawng,” he muttered, “I thought you were going to screw us over.”

“Aw brother, you know I would never do such a thing!” you simpered sarcastically, an accomplished feeling flowing into your chest.

You heard a scoff come from behind you. Whipping around, you were met with the smug face of that boy, Ao’nung. “What are you looking at?” you hissed, keeping your volume to a minimum.

“I’m looking at you looking at me. What’s wrong, little forest girl?” he smirked, looking down at you with his chin up. He was a little bit taller than Neteyam, and your height was about the same as Kiri’s. Compared to him, your height was about the line where his mouth was.

You blew out a frustrated breath, turning back around. You wanted to punch that infuriating smirk straight off his face, but you didn’t want to cause any trouble for your family.

A couple of moments later, Tonowari finally announced that your family was officially going to be staying with the metkayina. “My children, Ao’nung and Tsireya will be assisting you all,” a warm smile appeared on the olo’eyktan’s face, while the annoying boy protested. “What? Father, I do no–” he was cut off, “It is decided.”

His face was one of pure shock, mouth agape in disbelief. You covered your mouth to prevent yourself from letting out a cackle, he looked so stupid at that moment. Neteyam elbowed you in the stomach, earning a small yelp of pain from you.

“Come!” the girl named Tsireya gave a smile as warm as her fathers, beckoning you all to follow. “I will show you to your new home.” To no one’s surprise, Lo’ak hurried to follow her first after grabbing his stuff from his ikran. You stayed behind with Neteyam, Kiri and your mother to take most of the heavy load, your father being busy dealing with a disheartened Tuk, following behind your younger brother.

The crowd dispersed while Ao’nung and Rotxo waited for you four, the former tapping his foot against the sand impatiently. You picked up your things and some of Tuk’s, groaning at how ridiculously large her woven sleeping bag was. Apparently she needed it for “personal space” reasons.

“You need some help?” Neteyam offered, but you saw that he was already carrying quite a lot on his own. “I’m good. Just go ahead, I’m gonna try and take the rest of Tuk’s stuff.” you dismissed him, and he nodded, walking off with your mother. It was just you, Kiri, the ikrans and those two.

“Kiri? Has Tuk always been so goddamn spoiled??” you called out to her where she was picking up a box full of family items, looking at how much Tuk brought along for the trip.

She even brought her rubber duck with a tophat on it. “I thought that was common knowledge, sister.” she rolled her eyes, smirking as she walked to you. “Woah, she did bring a lot of stuff.”

“Exactly.” you sighed. “What’s taking so long, little forest girl?” Ao’nung called out, lips downturned. “Is he serious?” Kiri muttered. “That’s exactly what I was thinking before,” you clenched your jaw as you imagined punching him square in the gut.

You ended up asking Kiri to add the rest of Tuk’s toys onto the already overflowing pile of things in your arms, and when she offered to take some you shooed her away, as if her helping was an attack on your pride. You walked together to the path that the others went to, Ao’nung and Rotxo following closely behind.

Rotxo jogged to Kiri’s side, “Hi, my name is Rotxo.” he greeted her with a smile. You struggled to keep yourself from smiling widely, he was clearly interested in her. “Hey, I'm Kiri,” she responded a little reluctantly, still remembering how he made fun of Neteyam’s tail earlier.

“Do you need help with that?” he pointed towards the things Kiri was carrying, and she shrugged. “Sure, thanks.” as Rotxo took a few things from her pile like a mat and her sleeping bag.

You slowed down to give them space as they chatted away, a big smile on your face. Looks like both of your younger siblings had found something (or rather someone) to be interested in on the island.

With the absence of your sister, your load suddenly felt much heavier without someone to share the struggle with. You decided to focus on the wonderful environment surrounding you.

The trees were covered in rough, textured ashy brown bark, the fronds much longer, flatter and broader than the leaves of the trees back home. They swayed lightly with the breeze, making the air smell more leafy than salty.

The path beneath you consisted of pebbles stuck together inside the sand, no doubt worn down by years and years of metkayina walking on them. You saw that the path led further away from the normal connection of marui you had witnessed beforehand, perhaps your marui was separate since you had such a big family?

You pondered what the rest of your life was going to be like from now on. Would you ever see your home again? Your thoughts were again, interrupted, as you felt someone next to you.

“Can you hurry up? I don’t want to have to follow you all day.” he bleated like a goat, making you roll your eyes. You didn’t give him the pleasure of responding, which made him a little agitated.

“Don’t you need help? A forest imp like you couldn’t possibly carry that all the way to where we’re headed.” he said again, making your eyebrows furrow at the nickname.

“I can manage. Why? Are you worried about me?” you smirked, trying to rile him up.

“Oh yes, I’m quite worried actually. Someone as weak as you would probably shatter from all that weight, I’m sure.” he bit back. “I’m just a handsome strong warrior ready to rescue you from your burden.”

“Oh please. I’ve seen many people more handsome than the likes of you.” you snorted, avoiding his gaze which was now fixed on you.

“I’m pretty sure that’s not what you were thinking when you were checking me out earlier,” he said to himself with a voice so low that you couldn’t hear him.

“What?”

“I said beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You need to get your eyes checked, forest imp.”

You shook your head with a disdainful expression, unamused. A few more steps in silence and he had enough. “Oh Eywa, just give that to me.” he quickly grabbed more than half of what you were carrying, speeding up and leaving you in the dust. You just stood there, tilting your head with a look of disbelief on your face. Did he really think you couldn’t handle it all by yourself? Oh, whatever.

Your siblings were unpacking all their things in the larger-than-usual marui, the 3 metkayinan teenagers waiting outside and your parents off to have a conversation with Tonowari and Ronal.

“Tuk, seriously, I don’t think you needed to bring all this stuff.” you let out an exasperated sigh, looking at the wooden figures she was currently playing with. “No! I need them!” she pouted, holding the one she called Mr. Toruk.

“Noooo I need them or I’ll cry myself to sleep!” Lo’ak mocked her, his voice being squeakily high pitched to imitate Tuk’s childish voice.

“Ughh Lo’ak, shut up!” your littlest sister hissed. “Ooo I’m so scared!” he said, voice still copying hers.

You laughed to yourself at their behaviour, sorting out what was to be your little personal corner of the marui. As you kneeled on your sleeping bag, proud of your work, you felt a little more tired than usual. A hand slapped up to your forehead to check your temperature, and you quickly pulled it away when you felt your skin practically searing.

“Y/N? What’s wrong?” Neteyam asked, he was always the first to notice if something was up with you.

“I feel a lot, uhm, hotter than usual.” you said slowly, and he got down on one knee next to you to feel your forehead.

“Shit, you’re burning up. Lie down. Kiri, can you go get something cool for Y/N?” Kiri nodded quickly, jogging out to find something.

“I’m, I’m fine, ‘Teyam,” you tried to tell him, but he didn’t listen to your futile attempts. And for good reason. As soon as your head hit the soft sleeping bag, you were out cold.

That’s all for part 1 lols, i’m trying to split up chapters into smaller parts so I can release them sooner. I have a whole timeline planned out for this series so it’ll be better planned than the Neteyam one. It’s gonna be 7 parts long (subject to change, though)

you can request to be in the taglist in the comments, dms or through my inbox! feedback is greatly appreciated. I also wanted to say tysm for 200+ followers! i am so amazingly excited for this series you could NOT imagine.

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