#ah yes s*x is peak romance

[yazthebookish]

You know what's funny about the arguments that Gwyn is not the one Az wants to go to town on?

At least he made a comment on how he noticed Gwyn's growth and ongoing healing since her rescue. He found her irreverence charming and felt a sense of calmness around her. She challenges him and he finds it amusing since he also has a vicious competitive streak to match. The image of her joy made him smile and he tucked it deep in his chest, he didn't choose to put it away or discard it but kept it.

So thank you for pointing out that we have higher standards than just sex for the romance we want for these two characters and that we rather Azriel sees Gwyn as a person first before anything else.

The couples in this series aren't just about hot moments and sex, they grow and challenge each other. They face all their ups and downs together. They work on their relationship. They go on a healing journey together.

[whoree321]

Hey, I believe your requests are open, so, could you please write smth were reader and Tech are friends with benefits?

Also, I’m in the same dilemma as you, cause everyone already forgot tbb and I’m still obsessed??? Like, were is everybody excitement about the show, it was gone so fast…

Anyway, thank ya <3

hello friend! this is a delicious request and i am more than happy to oblige! i’m not sure if you wanted like pure angst or like sexy successful fwb but above all else i am a dirty dirty slut for happy endings so i went light angst, heavy fluff, mild smut to get a little of everything lmaooooo. this also got a little out of control and i’m not sorry.

and literally i am suffering so much in this ever increasing drought of bad batch excitement. like i feel like the person at a party when everyone else is tired and wants to leave who’s still just way too hyped and is like “NO WAIT GUYS LETS HAVE MORE SHOTS AND PLAY TRUTH OR DARE COME ON ITLL BE FUN”. i am in absolute agony. but anyways!

a mutually beneficial arrangement (tech x gn!reader)

it was purely sex. just two friends helping each other relieve some stress occasionally. just two friends who happened to have sex with each other. until it wasn’t.

warnings: fwb, mild smut, reader is gender/genital neutral but they are penetrated by tech (amab)

word count: no idea but it’s pretty long

***

In hindsight, it really shouldn’t have shocked you that this was how things played out.

It’s not like you’d ever been friends with benefits with someone before. It’s not like you didn’t know how easily you could develop feelings for people. It’s not like you didn’t know you were maybe just a little too interested in Tech non-platonically before any of this even started.

No, you knew all of those things going into it. You made the conscious decision to be the biggest dumbass in the galaxy.

When Tech had first suggested a friends with benefits situation, it seemed like a much better idea than it actually was. You had been assigned to Clone Force 99 for a few weeks at that point and had already developed fast friendships with all of them (Crosshair even sometimes acknowledged your presence with neutrality and that definitely felt like at least an acquaintanceship). You were closest with Tech, and one tipsy night at 79’s found the two of you making out in a hallway near the bathroom. You could still remember the way his mouth tasted like whiskey as he pressed you up against the wall

He paused his assault on your lips to look at you, breath fanning lightly across your face. You whined at the loss of contact, not noticing in your haze the intensity in his eyes as he studied you, as though if he took in enough of you he would have the answer to an imposssible question. He migrated lower, planting kisses and sucking lightly on your neck until he made his way to your ear.

“Have you ever heard of people being platonic sexual partners?”, he asked low in your ear. You shuddered at the feeling of his breath and the deeper tone to his voice before you answered.

“You mean like friends with benefits?”

“Yes, that is exactly what I mean,” Tech clarified as he moved to once again nibble on the sweet spots of your neck. Had you had a little more sense, you would have warned him not to leave any noticeable marks, lest you suffer the teasing of the rest of the boys.

“I’ve heard of it, I’ve never done it before though. Why?”

“Well, given our current circumstance,” his response was punctuated by his ministrations on your pressure points, “it may be mutually beneficial for us to enter into that type of arrangement.”

You stopped him for a moment, and lifted his face so that you could make eye contact. Tech stood up a little straighter, hands running up and down your sides lightly as he gazed down at you.

“You think that we should be friends with benefits?”

Tech nodded, one hand moving to brush a strand of hair out of your face.

“I believe it would be an advantageous relationship. We could have relations while still maintaining our successful platonicity, thus eliminating the need to alter the dynamic of the squad with the complications of some trivial romance. It would also be physically beneficial. Sexual intercourse has been shown to successfully alleviate stress, as well as…”

He kept going, explaining the health benefits of sex, but it was hard to pay attention to his rambling while you tried to clear your head of the alcohol and the intoxication of his touch and figure out where you stood on his proposition. In that moment, everything he said made total sense. Granted, that part about “trivial romance” stung a little, but you could still fuck him without ruining the squad or your friendship with him, and Maker did you want to fuck him…

Uncharacteristically cutting off his rant, you responded. “I accept your offer. I would love to be friends with benefits with you.”

Tech grinned, a lust forming in his eyes at the new promise of the benefits the night was leading to.

“Splendid”

From that (mind-blowing) night, sex became a very regular thing. A mission went poorly? Frustrated sex. A mission went well? Celebratory sex. The Batch got leave time? Vacation sex. The Batch hadn’t gotten leave time in too long? Cabin fever sex. It really had started out pretty platonically, but after the first few times you could feel yourself falling head over heels for him. You knew you should stop it, Tech would never hold it against you or be upset if you changed your mind. You told yourself again and again that you would just break it off with him, but then his hands and his lips and his body would be on you, and the hungry way he looked at you would knock the air, and any ideas of making him stop, out of you.

In your defense, it wasn’t like you were the one who had suggested it. Tech had to know the likelihood that your “platonic sexual relationship” would only stay platonic for so long. Actually, you were surprised he hadn’t done a little more analysis of the situation. If he had taken into account all of the factors (the rate of failure in friends with benefits situations, each of your levels of emotionality and past relationships, the effects of living and working in close quarters, etc), you can’t imagine he would have thought it was a smart idea. If Tech had crunched the numbers like he normally would, it wouldn’t have produced favorable results. So for him to want to do it anyway, or to not even analyze it beforehand, must mean he had some sort of feelings for you, right?

This was one of the various problem in your current situation. Tech would always do things that were just on the line between “friends” and “more than friends”. He would go out of his way to do little things for you, he would share info and jokes and side comments with you that he never tried to share with brothers, he would blush when you complimented any of his work, he would stand just a little too close to you or let his touch linger just a little too long. He would suggest a sexual relationship that was highly statistically improbable to be successful.

And while Tech offered nothing but mixed signals, you took it a step further and let those mixed signals fester in your brain until you had warped them into one very clear signal: he liked you as more than a friend. You were so sure of it too. Why would he do all of those things if he didn’t like you like that? It’s not even like he treated you like some one night stand when he fucked you. He cared about making you feel good (usually it seemed like he cared more about you getting off than him), he would clean you up after and you always stayed the night together, cuddled and whispering late into the night about nothing and everything.

There was nothing friendly about your intimate nights together, come to think of it. Friends that just fucked would never treat each other so tenderly or lovingly. It’s not that completely unbelievable to think you would accidentally blurt out that you love him. Tech should have expected that.

But it was out there, unfortunately. You had committed the cardinal sin of being friends with benefits and you couldn’t take it back.

Tech’s brutal pace never faltered as he pumped in and out of you, your moans growing louder and louder as you began to approach your peak. He gazed down at you, locking eyes, and the emotion you could feel behind them was overwhelming. You could tell that he was close, with all the experience you had with him you knew his body better than your own, and he brought his hand up to softly caress your cheek.

“You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe I get to see you like this,” he huffed out, brow furrowing as the rhythmic slamming of his hips against you brought him closer and closer to the edge.

At his words, you reached your climax, and as you came undone words of ecstasy slipped from your lips between wails of pleasure.

“Kriff Tech… ah…. Tech..fuck…I love you”

You didn’t even realize it at first, too caught up in the moment, but Tech did. His eyes grew impossibly wide, and he was finishing inside you before either of you could fully process what you had just said.

As you both came down from your high, the gravity of your admission settled between you. Tech pulled out and flopped down next to you wordlessly, and for a few minutes you both just stared at the ceiling in torturous silence. And then he got up and walked to the refresher, not even looking at you once, and you felt like that was all the confirmation you needed that you woefully misinterpreted your entire relationship with him.

You lept out of his bunk, threw your clothes on, and left as silently as possible, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill down your cheeks. At least you could spare yourself the embarrassment of your words in that moment, and both of you could just forget it and move on.

Of course, you knew that pretending it didn’t happen would be impossible. You told him you loved him, and he said nothing. For several minutes. And then hid in the fresher. That was a clear rejection, and while it devastated you, you were still hoping that the two of you could just move on and be friends like you were before the benefits were added.

Apparently to Tech, you had offended him beyond repair. He never spoke to you (unless it was specifically mission oriented), he rarely looked at you or acknowledged your presence, and he positioned himself as far from you as possible at every opportunity. It had been two weeks since your slip up, and he hadn’t even made eye contact with you once.

It was agony. You missed him. You didn’t even really know what it was like to be on this squad without keeping him company while he made repairs or asking him questions about the next place you were going just to hear him talk. You missed making snide jokes with him. You missed admiring the way his goggles magnified his gorgeous caramel eyes.

The other boys noticed the shift very quickly. They had suspected the two of you had some sort of arrangement, and they knew how close you were, so to see it change so abruptly was concerning. Hunter had tried talking to you about it a few times, but you just reassured him that everything was fine and it was nothing he needed to worry about. Wrecker and Crosshair tried to pick up the slack, and started filling in the holes in your routine that Tech used to occupy. Crosshair would sit next to you in the mornings and during briefings, sometimes trying to make little comments in your ear like Tech would. On missions, Wrecker would always aim to pair up with you, and afterwards would try to do something fun like find a sweet treat or rent a good movie.

You appreciated so much what they did for you. But no matter how hard they tried, nothing could take your mind off the wall of ice Tech had built between you. You loved the other boys, but trying to share happy moments with them when all you could think about was how much better it would be with him was becoming unbearable. You didn’t want to leave them, but you couldn’t stay with Tech being so close to you and yet lightyears away.

As you filled out your transfer paperwork, you chuckled wryly to yourself. Even without the “trivial romance”, the squad was still disrupted. In a bittersweet way, it felt good for Tech to be wrong.

***

Tech had really done his best to analyze the evidence and make an informed decision based on his findings. He had been crunching his numbers with you since the day you joined the Batch, after all. Back then, it was the probability of your attraction to each of them. Tech was fascinated with you, and right off the bat he wanted to know his odds- just out of curiosity of course (for the record, they were pretty highly in his favor).

He knew there were pros and cons to the possibility of a relationship with you. First of all, it was technically against regulation for any clone to be involved in a romantic relationship. Second of all, it was likely that such a relationship would have the potential to cause countless rifts and points of weakness among his squad (regardless of the relationship’s success). Then there was also the very possible chance that the relationship wouldn’t work out anyway, leaving both of you hurt and irreparably damaging your friendship. As much as Tech may have wanted you, the costs unfortunately outweighed the benefits.

But then he kissed you at 79’s. And you kissed him back. And there he was, kissing you at 79’s, memorizing the sweetness of your lips on his. And he knew he should stop. He had studied the data and it’s conclusions were not very good, and if he had any sense at all he would stop. But he pulled away and looked at you, took in the flush on your cheeks and the dazed look accompanying your dilated pupils and the swell of your bruised lips. And he couldn’t bring himself to part ways with you. So he offered the closest thing to a relationship he could think of: friends with benefits.

A friends with benefits arrangement would be a more than adequate solution, Tech had decided. He could be physical with you in the proper moments, and then outside of those moments everything would be just as it was before. The squad’s dynamic and mission proficiency would remain consistent, and technically no regulations were being broken since they only specified romantic relationships. Of course, it wasn’t truly what he wanted, but in this arrangement he would get to enjoy you so much more than he currently was.

Unfortunately, he had made a critical oversight. In the dim haze of the club hallway, Tech had only considered how casual sex would compare to a full blown relationship. He didn’t think to analyze it singularly. And he certainly didn’t calculate the logistics of a friends with benefits agreement when one of the friends in question already had romantic feelings for the other friend.

But Tech knew himself. He knew he could have feelings for you and not let them get in the way. He could accept what he was able to have and make peace with what he couldn’t. Casual sex seemed like a good idea when his emotions were the only ones he took into account.

He wasn’t expecting you to fall in love with him.

When you had said it, Tech thought his heart was going to stop right then and there. In the heat of the moment, he couldn’t have imagined more precious words falling from your lips, and instantly it had him spiraling over the edge into ecstasy. But then the moment ended, and you didn’t say anything. He wanted to end the silence, to find out if you really meant it, but his brain was moving too fast to figure out what to say because he really hadn’t considered this would happen. It was naive of him, he supposed, but he really had thought the two of you could have done it without the emotional complications. Part of him, of course, was thrilled, but the other part of him, the logical part, was thrown into absolute chaos at the implications of your statement and what it would mean and all the statistics and probabilities he had calculated and

And you still hadn’t said anything. Tech could see you out of the corner of his eye, face red and chest heaving with emotion. You looked embarassed, regretful, and the realization that maybe you didn’t mean it hit him like a brick to the face. Maybe it was just something that slipped out, something your orgasm-addled mind had conjured up against your will and now you didn’t know how to take it back, didn’t know the right way to tell him you don’t actually love him.

It was too much for him to process at once, and he ran to the refresher in the hopes that he could clear his head and actually think coherently about the situation for a moment. Tech couldn’t have been in there long, maybe a few minutes, just long enough to splash some water on his face, look himself in the eye, and come to the conclusion that he needed to just have a conversation with you instead of playing with hypothetical numbers in his head. But then he came back out and you were gone, and that seemed like all the answer he needed. You didn’t mean it.

That was good, right? You didn’t mean it, and the two of you could keep going the way you had been.

But the ache in Tech’s heart said otherwise. You didn’t love him. He loved you, he knew he did, and he could be ok with pretending he didn’t when he didn’t know how you felt. But he knew now. And it hurt.

It hurt everytime he talked to you, so he stopped talking to you. It hurt everytime he was near you, so he stopped being near you. It hurt everytime he looked at you, so he stopped looking. The squad’s performance hadn’t been altered, so Tech concluded that the awkwardness could be tolerated until your presence didn’t feel so much like a blaster shot to his chest.

But just like pretty much every other choice Tech had made in regards to you, that plan only worked until it backfired horrifically.

***

The Batch were back on Kamino in between missions. Tech had been vaguely aware of Hunter being called in to a meeting of some sort, but he offered his full attention as Hunter stormed back into their room and huffed his way to Tech’s workbench.

“I don’t know what you did, but you need to fix things with Y/N. Now”

At the mention of your name, Tech pretended to return to his work, fiddling with a tool and avoiding eye contact.

“I do not know what you are referring-“

“Like hell you don’t Tech! The two of you haven’t even looked at each other in weeks and now they’ve put in a request to be transferred to another unit, so don’t tell me there’s nothing going on between you.”

Tech shot up, tools abandoned and stool knocked over with the force of his standing.

“They requested a transfer?”

“Yeah, they did. Now, I don’t know what happened, but I know your little silent treatment has been hurting them a lot. I don’t want to see them go, and you don’t either. So go talk to them and fix it, or I’ll have you transferred instead,” Hunter ordered, finger pointed at Tech’s chest. The threat was empty, of course, but it had fallen on deaf ears regardless.

Tech all but sprinted out into the hall, desperate to change your mind before you left them for good. As much as it pained him to be near you, the thought of being without you was somehow so much worse. He reached your quarters and unceremoniously burst in, barely giving the doors enough time to slide open before he was moving past them.

You jumped at his sudden entrance, hand coming up to clutch your chest.

“Maker, Tech you scared me!”

“Please don’t leave”

You stared at him, taking in his appearance for the first time. His chest was heaving, like he’d just run a marathon, and his eyes were frantic and impossibly wide behind his goggles. You didn’t think you’d ever seen him so disheveled, even when you’d slept with him.

You wanted to look away, but you were conscious of the fact that this was the first time you had made eye contact in Maker knows how long and you couldn’t bring yourself to do it.

“Tech, I-I can’t stay with the way things are. I’m sorry about what I said, I know it was just supposed to be a friend thing and I shouldn’t have fallen in love with you. I really tried not to, but I did and I ruined everything and you can’t even look at me anymore so how can I-“

Tech took step closer, cutting off your rambling as his brow furrowed.

“You fell in love with me?”

He spoke so quietly, it was barely above a whisper. You nodded, confused at his surprised considering the whole issue was that you told him you loved him and he didn’t feel the same. That was the issue, right?

You could practically see the smoke coming out of his ears as he tried to process what was happening.

“I thought… I thought you didn’t mean it”

Now it was your turn to be confused.

“Why would you think that?”

“Y-you didn’t say anything. You confessed your affections for me while in a compromised state and didn’t say anything else afterwards. Your body language indicated regret and-and you left. I concluded that you said it by accident, and did not actually mean it,” he explained as calmly as he could in his rattled state.

“I left because I told you I loved you and you locked yourself in the fresher! And then you wouldn’t talk to me so I figured you were mad at me because I have feelings for you and you don’t feel the same way!”

Tech’s face broke out in a huge grin, and just as you were about to ask him why he was so happy all of a sudden, he rushed forward and passionately slotted his lips against yours. You gasped into him before immediately reciprocating the kiss, and you tangled your hands in his hair as his fingers desperately clutched your hips. Of all the kisses you had shared with him, none had felt the way this one did. There was an emotion pouring into it, one that had always been on the verge of spilling over but never had before. Eventually you broke apart, and you cursed your lungs for needing air.

He leaned his forehead against yours as you both caught your breath, and broke the silence after a few moments.

“I love you, too. I have for a significant amount of time. When you left that night, I incorrectly assumed you did not share my affections. I avoided you after because I… I was hurt. I apologize for misinterpreting your actions, and for allowing you to think that I was upset with you. I assure you, that could not be further from reality.”

You laughed giddily, bumping his nose with yours as you relished in his confession.

“If you loved me, why did you just want to be friends with benefits?”

Tech blushed and look down, a sheepish look overtaking his features.

“Well, I performed a cost-benefit analysis on engaging in a romantic relationship, and the potential complications were too great. A platonic sexual partnership offered a less risky alternative. Although, I must admit that I failed to properly calculate the possible outcomes of such an agreement between two individuals in our specific situation,” he elaborated.

“We might be the two dumbest people in the galaxy,” you joked with a giggle.

“Technically, it is statistically impossible for that to be true, given-“

You cut him off with another deep kiss, your hands coming to rest on his arms as they kept you in his iron-clad grip. He had never loosened his hold, as though he thought if he let you go, you would disappear.

Abruptly, the kiss ended as Tech pulled back slightly to look at you.

“Does this mean you are no longer transferring out of our squad?”

You grinned.

“That depends. Does this mean we can have a real relationship, not just sex?”

Tech brought one hand to rest on his jaw as he looked upwards and pretended to be deep in thought.

“Well, according to my calculations, we have already experienced nearly all of the possible complications of pursuing a romantic relationship, so I have no objection to enjoying some of the benefits,” he concluded with a playful smile.

You leaned up to kiss him again, pausing just before your lips made contact with his to make a sly comment.

“And we know how good we are at some of those benefits already”

[owaowabetch]

Minecraft pt. 1 (Sykkuno x F!Reader)

Oneshot (maybe part of a series??? idk we’ll see): Even though you’ve never played minecraft, you still manage to build a great house with your basement buddy. Friendship with a hint of romance. This is season 1 of the OTV ftb server (Pre-relationship; part of Uh-oh & Impasta)

“Ok guys, so today’s stream is going to be a lil different” You chat to your stream “We are going to be playing Minecraft with the OTV gang and other people we’ve played among us with!” Waiting for Minecraft to load on your pc, you continued on chatting “We will be playing GTA later on in the stream, we have a few jobs lined up with some people, so hopefully we get a lot of money from that” 

You minimized your face cam into a corner as your character appeared in a random spawn area near quite a few people. You saw multiple boxy players run around and hitting each other. So, you walked around picking up flowers  and with the help of some members of your chat, you managed to collect wood.

“OH! HEY Y/N!!” A loud crunchy voice yelled terribly into your ear causing you to cringe visible and immediately start hitting them with the wood in your hand.

“Your mic is dank man” You continue hitting them, which turned out to be Leslie and she starts to hit you back with a laugh. You guess her flowered hand overpowered your wood and hungry state, because you died and respawned to where you first showed up.

“Ah fuck” You complained before another boxy figure showed up infront of you and you recognized the blue shirt and green striped scarf, so you cheered. “Sykkuno!”

“Hey, Y/N!” His character moved his head up and down “What happened? How did you die?”

“Leslie’s mike was..crunchy?? And then she killed me!” You jump around

Sykkuno laughs “What? I’m surprised mobs havent got you. I’ve been killed many times by them” and in comedic fashion poki ran by screaming for help as she was being chased by a giant spider. You both watched as she would turn and hit it before continuing on her run.

It killed her. She puffed into smoke and in her place was a grave.

You both laugh as Sykkuno gasps out her name and you both run to her grave.

“Is this part of the mod? Or is it part of minecraft” You ask crouching on her grave and read her name.

He jumped around you with an answer “ Uh no it’s a mod that abe put in. If you break it the stuff you died with will spawn out”

“Oh” Continuing the crouch and uncrouch “What now?”

“Well i was going to find some of my graves, but I’m gunna find wood to make tools and find food” He answered and with that you decided to follow him

You collect the fruit from the near by trees and kill some of the animals with an axe that Sykkuno made you. Along the way you collected flowers and wood.

“We should find a house before it gets dark and more mobs come and kill us” Sykkuno walks to you then throws a stack of wood on the floor “Or maybe you build us a house. I’m not good at that type of thing”

You stare into your cam and do the debbie ryan “Oh my god, living together?” You pick up the stack of wood and start building a small house “Is that good?”

“Ya, that’s great! I’ll put the door down and I got us some beds, so we now have a spawn point. So when we die we just end up here” He explains doing so

Nodding along to what he said, you start putting the flowers you collected around the house before entering the house. He put the beds down next to each other. Making sure to mute yourself, you do the finger point and with a ‘tch’ sound you smile “ Oh my God Chat! Our beds are next to each other !?! How crazy. Heehee”  

The house was lit up with torches. “Click on the bed” He tells you and you do so. Your characters laid there side by side and your chat was hearing you make embarrassing noises. “Chat better not be telling him how embarrassing I’m being please. This is a desparate plea for you guys not to tell him!! Like Im joking guys please” With a laugh, your character gets off the bed and you walk out.

“Oh!” In Sykkuno’s hand was a flower “I noticed you picking up flowers and I know that [Flower/Name] is your favorite, so i picked some up for you”

You can’t stop the smile that appears on your face nor the flush on your cheeks “You are so fucking cute”

“Wha-?” You interrupt him “This is so sweet, honestly Sy.”

He throws them on the ground “It’s no problem. Just saw them and remembered how much you liked them “ and you pick them up, putting them at the entrance of the door “I love it!!! Thank You Sykkuno!!”

He hums and jumps around. You check chat, when a donation comes in telling you to check it, and read that he was purposefully was looking for the flowers because he knows how much you would’ve loved them. You don’t believe them at first, telling them that while he is nice, going around looking for a flower doesn’t seem like a productive thing to do. So, someone from your chat sent a clip of him telling his viewers that he was looking for your favorite flower to give to you. His excuse was that this as your first time playing minecraft, so he wanted you to enjoy it and thought it would be a great present until he can find diamonds.

“Guys! No!! That is so sweet!” You cry out blushing even further

“Hey guys!” A voice called out. A voice you immediately recognized to be Liliy’s “Come look at my house!” Looking up you see her stood further up from the both of you. She started making her way down and gasped “Are those [F/N]!?! Where did you find these! The look so pretty!”

“Yea” You jumping once more “Aren’t they cool?”

“YES! Can I have one?” She asked standing next to them “Is this your house? I love the flowers around them”

“I guess this is where we live now” You respond

“Both?” Lily questioned “You and Sykkuno are living together!?!”

“Yea! He actually gave me the [F/N]s, so you can’t..have them..” You respond to her awkwardly

Lily turns to Sykkuno and hits his character “You fucking simp”

He gasps “Lily” but she ignores him “I’ll take a different flower as a housewarming gift. Now follow me!”

“Y/N, why don’t you go see it while I gather up more materials” Sykkuno told you

You follow her up the small mountain? And there laid her pink house and you gasped “There is pink wood!?!”

“Yea, you just need pink dye. I have a bunch left if you want some” She offered you

“I don’t know if Sykkuno would want to live in a pink house” You enter her house and notice chests and peak into them

“He’d want what you want so just go for it.” She places the flower she took from your house next to hers. “Those chests belong to other people, but here’s mine.” She hits the chest in her house “I think i have like 20 of the pink wood left, so you can just take the rest”

You took the stack from her chest “Awesome! Your house is nice! It’s big too! I’d have to remake our house into something bigger”

“Yea, it’s kinda ugly since it isn’t pink” She tells you causing you to laugh

“It was a last minute thing to hid in during the night” Holding the pink wood in your hand “I’ll probably look up some building tips and stuff later to make a cool place, but thanks Lily!”

You hung out in her house talking with people as they came and went as Lily went to find more flowers to surround her house in. Though someone interesting came in, wearing the generic steve skin with a slightly creepy face.

“Hey Miyoung!” Lily called from out her house

“Hi Lily” She responded “I’m just letting you know I’m putting a death trap in your home. Please don’t tell the victims”

You snorted in amusement “Can I help with that?”

She moves towards you in her crouched state, so you respond in kind. You both just stared at each other in your crouched position circling each other “Okay, so I have a bucket of oil, so I want to dig a hole in the ground and push people into it”

Nodding your head “Clean, my chat was telling me that there is a trapped door, so why not put one on the ground above it and just have people walk in it?”

“We should also put a sign down there, so as they’re slowly sinking to their death, there’ll be a sign that mocks them” Nodding her characters head “I have some signs already, I’ll make the trapped door”

Taking a shovel from your hotbar, you dig a hole 6 blocks down, digging the other side as you make your way down. You then walk to the other side and start to make your way up.

“You should leave an open space for the sign, maybe 2 blocks open?” Miyoung tells you as she eyes you from above. You jump out of the hole you created and shovel 2 dirt blocks. She places a sign down and covers it up with a wood plank that matches the floor of Lily’s house “Wait I need to put the oil down”

So, she breaks the floor once more and jumps in to put the oil in before making her way back up. “I just put RIP on the sign, I think it’ll help them realize that they will die, so..”

“Alright clean clean” You jump around and watch as she places a trap door on the floor above it and placing a sign in front of it.

“We should probably look for victims” Miyoung tells you

You make your character swing their arm around towards the chests in Lily’s home “Well people have stuff in here, so maybe we should wait for someone to come in to grab something and lure them”

“Sounds good” She says and as she says this Sykkuno comes barging in.

“Hey y/n!” He cheers “Oh hey Miyoung! Lily told me that she has a bucket in her chest that she’ll let me borrow. So, I’m just trying to find her chest. Don’t mind me” He rifles through them “Can’t seem to find them “

You open the trap door and look at him before he turns to you two “Oh is it in here?” and down he goes. “Oh!? IS THIS A TRAP”

You start giggling as he starts to panic laugh “y/n? miyoung? Help!”

You both just crouch above him and stare as he slowly sinks “Guys, any help? please? y/n?”

Miyoung just closes the trap door and walks away and in the little chat says that Sykkuno died in due to [Sticky Dipping], so you type in an apology as you make your way back towards the house. You meet him and apologize to him once again.

“It’s no problem. It was actually kind of funny, but check in the chest I have in the house. I got some more stuff for you for the house” He tells you  “I’m gunna go back to get my stuff and the bucket, so i’ll catch you later!”

“Alright, see ya Sy!” You cheer back to him and make your way into the house.”Alright chat, let’s see what he gave us! I’m not reading what you guys, say so no spoilers~”

You open the wooden box and inside were more pink wood planks, glass, stairs, torches, other house materials to make building easier, and some more of your favorite flowers.

You feel your chest tighten as the butterflies appear in your stomach. You smile largely and giddy, opening and closing your mouth trying to gather the words to express how you felt, you were pleasantly surprised by the things he left you.

You wanted to squeal at how nice he is. It is hard to come across a genuinely nice guy that wanted nothing but friendship with you. So, it was easy to fall for Sykkuno; but it was hard to admit to yourself your growing feelings for him, because love is scary and being in love with your friend is even scarier. Once those feelings come out, you can’t take them back and things just become different. So, it is safe to say that you’ll be keeping them to yourself.

“By the way” Sykkuno starts causing you to jump in real life, as you were sat pondering to yourself “The server is making a town square a few blocks away, so why don’t we move the house there?”

You start collecting the items in your inventory “Yea! Are you going to need help carrying the rest of the stuff there?”

He starts breaking the items in your old home “If you have the room for some that’ll be great! yea!”

Once you both gathered the things you wanted to take, you guys bound towards where the Town Square was being made.

“Oh! By the way, can I request you build a basement for me in our house?” Sykkuno asks

The thought of him referring to the house as ‘ours’ made you smile “Yea, but can I ask why you want one?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t build anything that’ll blow up our house” Sykkuno dodges the question

‘Our’ house. Maybe one day that can be a real life possibility. You couldn’t contain the smile growing on your face even further. Maybe one day you’ll have the courage to tell him how you feel.

As you start building near Leslie’s house, a thought suddenly pops into your head ‘Sykkuno there is a girl into you’

[joontier]

Subliminal in Scrubs | V1;  report viii

pairings: dr. jeon jungkook x female reader

chapter rating: NC-17 | genre: humor, romance

warnings: someone will be leaving...temporarily....

word count: 2.3k

g/n: sorry for posting this late sdfasdfa

[taglist]: @nottodayjjk @ditttiii @zeharilisharaban @btsbunny07 @turquoiseandplaidinautumn @aamxxrii @codeinebelle​

Subliminal in Scrubs (the records) |  navi. | m.list

There’s a knock on your door, one you instantly recognize as it’s a catchy beat you exclusively share with one person alone: Ayoung. “Mind if I came over?” she asks from the other side of the door. You roll your eyes, chuckling as you walk to your doorway, “I don’t even know why you even bother asking, honestly!” 

“Unlawful entry happens when a private person enters the property of another without consent from the owner. The same shall be punished by…” 

Ayoung pauses her sentence midway as you open the door. “And does that count when said owner had long given such private person the passcode to her door, Attorney Shin Ayoung?” 

It’s Ayoung who fondly rolls her eyes this time. She raises her hands, fingers turning white as she clutches onto two bags full of food. Your face lights up at the sight.  Whoever said that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach was severely mistaken - that, or he or she hadn’t taken a woman’s true source of wellbeing into consideration.

“What’s on our menu today?” 

“Oh you know our go-to review food. Seori halmeoni’s jjajjangmyeon house special!” Your mouth falls agape, astounded at how she even managed to get those when halmeoni’s special dish always sold out in the middle of the day. 

“Please don’t tell you lined up for hours for these...” 

“What if I told you I didn’t have to?” Ayoung winks while she takes her shoes off.  You grab the food from her hands and start setting the table. “What do you mean you didn’t have to?” She chuckles at your creased forehead, knowing you’re talking about the minimum one-hour waiting time of halmeoni’s stall - and that’s on off-peak hours.

“I think the landlady might’ve mentioned me moving to a new apartment, so when I was coming home from school today, she called me over to her stall and handed me these care packages.” 

“Awh, that’s so sweet of her!” Your chest warms at the thought and the reminder that your lovely neighbor was going to move away. Not to mention Chohee has similar plans too. 

Ayoung lets Netflix pick out a random movie, adjusting the lighting of your room enough for you to eat your dinner while watching. “Right, speaking of, won’t the hospitals be sending out acceptances for your post-graduate internship?” 

Pushing your laptop to Ayoung’s side of the table, you show her the screen of your mail - the same page you have been refreshing for hours now. “Well, let’s just hope for the best then, shall we?” 

Forty-five minutes into Miss Congeniality, a notification from your mail app lights up your phone screen. You see the header display that it’s from Woocheon, and it’s as if your heart drops to the ground, and your fingers are simply glued to the side of your phone, leaving you staring at it until the screen turns black again. 

Ayoung notices your silence and pauses the movie. “You okay?” the sweet girl places a comforting hand on your shoulder, shaking you gently to wake you from your trance. Gulping, you look at her expectantly. “It’s an email from Woocheon.” Her eyes widen along with yours. “Well, aren’t you going to open it?” 

“What if I didn’t make it?” 

“Unnie, you wouldn’t know unless you do.” 

With one eye closed, you turn to your laptop and click on the new mail. “Besides, they’d be a fool if they didn't accept the application of the same woman who topped the exam now, wouldn’t they?”

Just then, Chohee’s caller ID lights up your phone. 

“_____________!!!!!!!!!” Your best friend’s voice rings in your ears, your barely comprehensible name loud and clear with Chohee’s shrieking.

“I’m already positive you got accepted to Woocheon because I had this gut feeling and you know my gut never lied to me - plus I had it confirmed by a fortune teller…” Chohee starts, then takes a breather, “BUT guess what? I also made it to Daegu Medical Center!! GAH _________ I’m literally crying right now!!” 

“I’m so proud of you Chee, I really am,” your voice wavers, and you bite on your lip to keep yourself from pouring out all your feelings. “Don’t go me emotional right now, young woman! I’ve got makeup on, and my parents and I are going out to dinner, and I can’t ruin my cute outfit with tear-stained cheeks now, can I?” 

Typical Chohee. You smile. “Of course, Chee. I know. We’re gonna be actual doctors! You go ahead and enjoy your family time. Young-ie has come over with jjajjangmyeon.” 

“It’s jjajjang-night and none of you even bothered to send me an invite?! So much for our so-called friendship huh!” 

“Well, if you’re willing to drive three hours all the way from Daegu after you have dinner with your parents, you’re free to come. Otherwise, we’ll have to finish halmeoni’s recipe all by ourselves.” 

Chohee sighs from the other end of the line, while Ayoung watches your conversation with your best friend with the fondest of smiles. Chohee doesn’t stay long after that, declaring that she has to go. As soon as you put down your phone, Ayoung asks about your best friend, “If you don’t mind me asking, why did she choose Daegu Medical Center? I thought Woocheon was like the most sought after hospital for internships?” 

“Actually, DMC is being managed by Woocheon too. If I’m not mistaken, it’s also equally as hard to enter Woocheon. Plus her parents work there too, so DMC was the only hospital for her.” Ayoung nods her head in acknowledgment, then presses a button on the remote to continue the movie when an unknown number sends you a text.

Out of all people, you weren’t expecting Soomin to send you a text. You’d been meaning to hear from her so you excitedly send her a text back. 

Just the same as the last time you went here with Chohee, the tiny bell dings when you open the door to the cafe. Soomin instantly hears the sound and waves you over to her table. As you near, she rises from her seat with a big smile on her face. 

“________! Long time no see!” she exclaims, extending a hand outward to offer you the seat across hers. 

“Soomin! It’s been some time, hasn’t it? Would you believe it’s been months since we were reviewing our notes under strobe lights and loud music? Out of all the places to review though!” you laugh, setting your bag down. While Soomin goes through the menu, you take the opportunity to look for Jimin if he was around so you could introduce them to each other too. After all, there’s no harm casually meeting your workmates before meeting them formally as coworkers right? 

“You know, I was really looking forward to this day - especially when you had invited me to this lovely place for brunch…” A smile graces Soomin’s youthful features. “I actually know someone who world here...I’m not exactly sure if he’s working today though…” Once more, you glance over Soomin’s shoulders, hoping you’ll catch a glimpse of Jimin’s golden locks. Ah, yes. Speaking of goldilocks. 

“Wow! Just in time.... He’s actually here today! Jimin!” Your calling his name surprises him, immediately causing him to look for the source of the voice. He’s sporting a wide grin when he recognizes you from the counter, until he sees who you’re with then diverts his attention somewhere and walks away quickly. 

Absolutely taken aback by his reaction, you sit there for a moment with your mouth agape until Soomin clears her throat discreetly. “Um...o-okaayy, that was awfully strange...I’m sorry - he’s not usually like that.” You discreetly hide the disappointment in your voice, wondering if Jimin just literally pretended to not see you when you had even waved him over. 

“Oh really?” 

“Yeah...um...I’ll try to approach him later…” 

“Perhaps he’s uncomfortable meeting strangers?” 

Highly unlikely. Not when Jimin had no problem interacting with the other oath takers that he managed to get the whole group and your families away from the maze they called the convention center. Plus, he’s really good with the customers too who generously fill up the tip box after experiencing Jimin’s exemplary customer service. Jimin’s ability to handle social interactions is out of the question. 

“This Jimin guy,” Soomin starts, pointing a thumb towards the till, “how did you get to know him?” 

You pause for a moment, recalling your memories. “Honestly, I just realized it now, but I actually met him the same night I met you. He was in the same club we were dragged into, and when you convinced me to approach the cute guy at the bar, he actually saved me from a spiked drink - from the dude I was supposed to hit on. The next time I met Jimin was when Chohee and I went here for brunch too and we saw him working here, so I guess that’s how we all came to be friends…” Jimin’s cold-shoulder just moments ago appears in your thoughts. “....I guess...at least that’s what I thought.” 

You figure this apparent ‘friendship’ with Jimin wasn’t exactly as real as you thought it was.

It’s all the more surprising that Soomin seems to be the least interested in your meeting, or, that she already knew who Jimin was. She was simply nodding her head as you talked, occasionally sneaking a few glances at Jimin while he was serving orders to the other customers. 

You start patching things up, trying to put two and two together to see if it would all make sense. No way. Could it be? That these two had history? 

Just then, Soomin stands to excuse herself and heads over to the toilet. The moment she disappears from your sight, you hastily call Jimin over. “Are you okay? Was there a reason why you couldn’t come over earlier? I wanted to introduce two of my friends to each other, but one doesn’t seem to be so willing....” You cross your arms over your chest, murmuring your hurt feelings loud enough for Jimin to hear. 

“I’m sorry, ________. But your ‘friend’....she’s not really just someone uh…” 

“Was she your ex-girlfriend then?” Pursing your lips, you egg him to go on with a raise of your eyebrow. Jimin’s eyes widen and he shakes his head back and forth. “No! No...it’s not like that...she’s actually my boss.” 

His hesitant explanation doesn’t convince you one bit. Surely, there’s all the more reason for him not to blatantly ignore you when his boss was seated right in front of you the whole time, wasn’t it? 

Jimin sighs as he watches your reaction, knowing his clarification didn’t suffice. “Well she isn’t my boss, per se, but she is the daughter of the woman who owns this cafe. Wait, they own the whole building, really.” 

Oh. 

“And uh…” Jimin gulps. Hard. “....the other day…” He looks around warily. “...I might have spilled coffee all over her dress...which was white…” 

Oh. 

Shit. 

“Why didn’t you just quit? It would have been easier.” 

“I couldn’t. Not when Woocheon’s results weren’t out yet. I need my allowances too!” 

Just as if on a terrible cue, out of nowhere, Soomin appears beside Jimin. You weren’t about to abort from your original mission though. “Hah! Perfect timing! Um, Soomin, this is Jim…” Before you even finish your sentence, Jimin bows quickly, apologizes, then turns on his heel, declaring that he still had to get back to the kitchen to do stuff. 

Soomin remains silent, getting back to her seat quietly. You suddenly feel bad for her, seeing how Jimin makes every attempt to ignore her, and gets away with it every time. 

Unfortunately and unlike Chohee, you are unable to get out of an awkward situation in a snap of a finger, so you apologize in Jimin’s stead first. “I’m so sorry, uh, he can be really shy at first…” Hopefully that wasn’t a complete lie?

Much to your surprise, Soomin waves it off with a smile. “It’s no worry, really. He’s probably still bothered with him spilling coffee all over my dress but I assured him a couple of times that it wasn’t that big of a deal. And that I always have extra clothes stashed in my car.” 

Soomin shrugs as she takes a sip of her lemonade. “I told Jimin it was nothing afterwards, but he wouldn’t stop apologizing...and now he won’t look at me too.” You’re at a total loss, amazed at how she calmly and easily handled that situation like a true boss. 

“Besides, dwelling on such a small thing won’t be worth it. Not when we’ll be spending an entire year together…” 

You go over her statement again, partly confused. An entire year together? She meant the internship, probably? And above all that - she knew about Jimin too, even when the boy won’t even let himself get five meters close to Soomin?” 

“Ah yes, I’m sure Jimin has told you about Woocheon as well right?” 

Well, you were aware of that, but you weren’t so sure about how she knew about yours and Jimin’s applications. “Yeah...um, but….I’m sorry, was there a list online that mentioned all the chosen applicants for the internship program?” 

“Oh right - I sort of know some people from Woocheon who have told me about those who got accepted...It still feels like it was just yesterday when I was registering my classes for med school and now we're finally here!” 

The two of you toast the future, clinking your glasses of lemonade together. Nothing could get better than having your friends become your workmates too. Surely, it’s a sad fact that Chohee won’t be going to the same hospital as you would, but you’re beyond elated that she got into DMC where she’d always wanted to work at. 

At least you’ve got Jimin and Soomin by your side now, and hopefully, new friends you’ll meet along the way.

© joontier 2021

[jessikahathaway]

Under the Covers

DON’T OWN THE PHOTO!

Pairing: Kim Taehyung X Reader

Genre: Romance, Spy!AU, Action

Warnings: Graphic depictions of sexual intercourse (Drunk), guns and violence, birth (not too graphic), Character Death, Blood (Not really any gore). If I forgot anything please let me know!

Words: 23.4k 

Sorry I have been absent but please enjoy this spy!AU that’s been in my WIP forever and a half. Love you guys! ~ Jess

The day had been dull, hours ticking by slowly mocking you. You’d recently been put on probation because of irrational thinking out in the field... So, now you were working in the boring section of the office, filing papers and trying to be on your best behavior. 

It wasn’t your fault! 

Your partner was being a damn coward and wasn’t willing to take the shot! You had to or the damn criminal was going to get away with everything... You didn’t mean for an innocent to get caught in the crossfire.

Accidents happen, variables get scewed and people get hurt. But how many more would’ve been at risk if you hadn’t done what you did? At the end of the day somebody has to take the burden, and if it had to be you then so be it.

Although, being forced to live this life day to day was incredibly mundane... How did the office agents do it? Did they enjoy the monotone, unlively plane they were existing in? You were having a hard time believing that. Life was so short, why play it safe when you could lay everything on the line. Risk it all. 

You were a field agent from the International Espionage Agency, stationed in Seoul, South Korea at the moment. This is where you were receiving your punishment. The Seoul office was one of the calmest ones in the entire Agency. Some thought it was due to lack of talent, others thought it was due to the sheer drop in crime rates since the Agency was founded there. There was nothing to do, no one to fight. And not nearly enough booze.

A sweet desk assistant, Lisa, you think her name was, approached you. “Ma’am? Director Jin wishes to speak with you, if you’d follow me please?” she requested. You jumped at the chance for a change in scenery and followed behind her quickly. 

The clacking of keyboard keys resounded in your brain as you and Lisa meandered through the desks and identical office cubicles. People whose eyes were glued to their screens as if it were their last breath. You shuddered to think if this were to be the rest of your life. Had your blunder been that bad?

Lisa finally led you to a deep mahogany door that stood taller than you deemed necessary. However, interior decorating had never been your strong suit. She knocked softly, a deep come in followed. “Please enter,” she announced, opening the door for you. Awkwardly, you nodded your head before dipping inside of the room. The center of attention had never been your place. Much preferring to stick to the edge of walls and ducking behind counters and desks as bullets flew past your head was where you longed to be. 

The door shutting behind you made you jump slightly, before you stood face to desk with Kim Jin, Director of the Seoul Espionage Agency. 

“Sir,” you said, bowing in respect.

“Please, sit,” he offered, doing so himself. You moved to comply and seated yourself in the plush seat provided. Jin cleared his throat before pulling open a file.

“Sir, if I may be so bold, under what circumstances am I here?” you questioned, trying to look at the folder in his hands. 

A sharp clap echoed through the room that made your skin crawl in nerves. “You were sent here for punishment, am I correct in this statement?” he asked, already aware of the answer. 

“Yes, Sir,” you confirmed. 

“And why did you receive punishment?” he quizzed again, sounding like a school teacher scolding a disobedient child. 

“Because of poor thinking in the field as well as doing harm to an innocent,” you answered back. 

“Correct,” he doted. You tried to keep your grimace in check, although it was getting harder by the second. “So, after all of that. Do you feel that you have received a fair punishment? Being sent to, “the most uncharacteristically dull” agency?” he said, finally lifting his eyes to yours. His glare was so dark you couldn’t keep eye contact any longer.

“Sir, I-”

“No bullshit excuses D3!” he growled, using your rank against you. Designated 3rd rank was your official title given by the agency. Field operative in the highest order. You were surprised you hadn’t been demoted. “I don’t know why your main office sent you to me, but ever since you got here you’ve been nothing but an eyesore in my office,” Jin stated.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” you offered lamely.

“If you were sorry then you’d actually do the work assigned to you. How many reports have you blown off or given to my other office workers, because you ‘don’t have the time’ for it? As I see it, you have plenty of time to fuck around on your phone or go out drinking in the afternoon? If you’re here on punishment, why are you acting as if you’re on a vacation?” he said, throwing pictures of your reckless behavior in your face. 

“I had to take that shot!” you defended. “If I hadn’t then the biggest drug lord in the Western Hemisphere would’ve walked right out of that damn store! I couldn’t let that chance go!” 

“You didn’t have to go through an innocent woman to get to him,” Jin growled dangerously. “You’re ten times smarter than that, I know you are. All of your testing shows me you knew better than that. You took the easy shot, not the best one,” he accused. 

“Where else was I supposed to shoot? Through my fucking knees? Sir, if there was another way I assure you that I would’ve found it!” 

“The door frame,” he stated. “It’s made out of a steel and titanium reinforced support system. It could’ve ricoheted and hit the target in the eye. No innocents harmed,” he stated, holding up the store blueprints you’d seen hundreds of times before that night. 

Fuck...

He was right. 

“What do you want me to do Sir? I can’t make it right, so what’s the point in rubbing my nose in it now?” you questioned, staring at the papers before you.

“I’m going a little off the rule book for you, considering how you are a special case indeed,” he stated. “Taehyung, you can come in now,” Jin announced.

The large doors opened to reveal a taller male, lithe frame and bronzed skin gracing him. His hair was a soft brown, gently billowing against the breeze the door created. You looked to him then back to Director Jin.

“Who is this, Sir?” you asked, peaking at the man he called Taehyung. 

“This, Y/N, is my best field agent Kim Taehyung,” Jin stated proudly.

“Pleased to meet you,” he said, giving a small bow before lifting his gaze to Jin. “Hyung,” he greeted. 

“Sir, what does he have to do with me?” you questioned. 

“Listen,” he growled in a warning. You shrunk back into your seat before nodding. “You and Taehyung are to be partners in a new mission,” Jin explained. You couldn’t help the excitement that flooded through you. Finally, out of this fucking office and into the field again!

Jin must’ve noticed your excitement. “However, Taehyung will be taking the lead on this mission. You are to follow his orders to the letter, am I understood?” 

“Sir-” 

“Am I understood?” he asked darkly. You nodded numbly, not wanting to get into any further shit. “Good, Taehyung has already been briefed on this assignment. But a refresher won’t hurt you. Taehyung-ah,” Jin stated. Taehyung nodded in understanding and sat down in the chair next to you. 

You examined him closer and you were slightly stunned. He was rather beautiful to behold. His skin was smooth and seemed to glow in the sunlight. His hair appeared soft to the touch. Although he wore the signature D3 smirk. He knew he was better than you, and he planned on rubbing that in the whole time you two were partners. This was turning out to be more of a punishment than you originally believed.

“Are you aware of this man?” Jin questioned, setting a picture down on the desk in front of you. 

“Of course,” you stated. “That’s Zhao Feng Tong, White Snake of Chinese politics... But what does that have to do with our assignment?” you questioned. 

“Feng has been getting his mutts to attack Korean Intelligence forces. As well as some state side. The IEA requested that I assign my best man in taking him down. However, we are in need of cover. Your specialty is undercover work, is it not?” he asked, directing the question to you.

“Yes, Sir,” you responded. 

“Perfect, you see that is the only place my best man lacks. He has no cover. So, you are to become Taehyung’s cover,” Jin explained. You quirked an eyebrow in confusion.

“Excuse me, Sir, but how am I to do that?”

“Patience is a virtue, one you’re lacking my dear,” you silenced yourself yet again. “As I was saying, you are to be Taehyung’s cover. Feng has his claws deep within the local government of a small town out in the country. You and Taehyung are to be a newlywed couple that are just moving to the town in hopes of starting a family. Feng is known to come during election time, once he’s there you are to eliminate him. These people are very wary of newcomers. I expect you to play your role perfectly, Miss Y/N,” Jin stated. “Otherwise you will be released from the International Espionage Agency permanently.”

Married? To Kim Taehyung?

Oh fuck.

---

You woke the following week with a wedding ceremony to attend. Pictures and things of the like were necessary in order for the new home to be believable. Stories, memories things all newlywed couples had a plethora of.

Taehyung, however, seemed less than enthused. 

Something you’d learned quickly in the time you’d spend with Taehyung was that he didn’t play nicely with others. It was a common theme among D3’s, not enjoying partnership and just wanting to get the job done alone. However, this time your livelihood was resting on you performing well. And like fuck you were going to let that happen. 

You walked into Jin’s office that morning to be greeted by a very bored looking Taehyung. He was looking at his phone and Jin was typing on his computer. You cleared your throat to announce your arrival. Jin looked up and nodded at your arrival, Taehyung remained focused elsewhere.

“There’s the blushing bride, has Lisa contacted you about the photography and the shoots?” Jin asked, you nodded obediently, not wanting to get in trouble before your assignment had even started. 

“Yes, a car is waiting for Taehyung and I out in the lot. We’re going to get our wedding and engagement photos done today. As well as anything else you can think of that couples have,” you declared. Jin nodded in approval then clicked his tongue at Taehyung. 

“Tae, I expect you to be on your best behavior for Miss Y/N, this is her area of expertise. Play nice,” he warned. Taehyung nodded and stood up, placing his phone in his pocket. 

“Come on then, let’s get married.”

---

The day passed uneventfully, as did the following weeks. You’d been put through so many outfits and fake smiles that everything was simply exhausting. However, the real work was yet to begin. You were packing your clothes up. Some of them are worn in photo shoots to prevent suspicion. 

Your phone was removed and a new one took its place. Photos of you and Taehyung as well as simplistic snapshots every girl had on her phone. You were assuming Taehyung had been given a similar set up. 

Tomorrow, you were to move across the country with this man and live as his new wife, until election time... Which was almost four months away. Of course Feng would be around the town doing campaigning and things of the like, however, that wouldn’t be the time to strike. You’d have to be patient this time. Think things through. 

You can’t slip up again. Looking through the photos on your new device you found one of Taehyung that you had taken in the park where you were getting your wedding photos done. He’d found a wildflower that had peaked his interest for the time being and was admiring it. You took the opportunity to capture the moment, one where he wasn’t ignoring you or putting you down for negligence. He was simply existing in nature.

You made it your screensaver and shut the device off for the night. Turning your head to your nightstand you saw the glittering jewels of your wedding and engagement rings. The delicate silver and diamonds wove around simplistically. Nothing too extravagant, but enough to show you were spoken for. Taehyung also had a similar ring, just a touch understated. 

Images of the prior weeks of preparation made your stomach clench in nerves. You hadn’t been part of such a big operation that relied heavily on your trademarked skill in years. Would you still have what it took? Could Taehyung rely on you as Jin said he could?

These doubts were misplaced of course. You were you. An Designated 3rd Ranked Officer of the International Espionage Agency.

And you weren’t going to fail again.

---

The morning sun blazed in your eyes as you and Taehyung drove through the countryside in silence. Your ring glittered in the sunlight as the roads wound on and became more treacherous. Taehyung had picked you up early, before the birds had even begun to sing, and definitely before you were willing to wake up. 

“Get up, we leave in ten minutes,” he said, throwing your pillow on the ground. You heard his footsteps receding into your living room. No doubt to collect the boxes you had placed there the night before. 

Taehyung was hard to get along with. A gruff exterior made it difficult to approach him and he held an air of superiority that was hard to breathe in. All in all, Taehyung really irritated you. 

He held your freedom over you like a stick and was quick to put you in your place. Sometimes more than necessary. During your wedding shoot, he’d pointed out that if his bride ever wore the dress you were wearing he’d leave them at the altar. That stung a bit seeing as how you had felt rather confident in the dress up until that point. 

The photos following his comment were unusable. 

For a top operative, he was a massive dick. 

Although, for the moment, he was silent. Focused on the road and not on you, which was preferable. 

Until he opened his Goddamn mouth. “I’m killing Feng,” he declared as he rounded a sharp corner. 

“I’m aware,” you sighed, looking out the window. 

“I don’t see why we have to go through this ridiculous game,” Taehyung said, looking at his ring with contempt. 

“Feng is a creature of caution. He’ll be on high alert during election season... We need to infiltrate now and make our presence less interesting than if we moved in a week before the election. We need patience,” you explained. 

“You’re one to talk about patience,” he sneered. You bit your lip harshly, not wanting to get into it with him right now. 

However, one prod can be too many. 

“I heard she died.”

Dead silent. 

“Pull over,” you breathed. 

“What?” he asked, straining to hear you. 

“I said pull the fucking car over!” you screamed. Taehyung jumped in his seat before doing as you asked. Before the moving truck had even come to a complete stop you opened the door and got out, stumbling slightly on the uneven ground. 

“Come on, are you really going to pitch a fit right now?” Taehyung asked, getting out of the driver’s seat to follow you.

“I don’t give a damn if they fire me, working with you is next to impossible. I didn’t know someone could be so egotistical and rude until I met you,” you growled, stomping down the road. 

“Where are you going? We’re miles from the nearest town,” Taehyung stated, standing with his arms crossed. 

“Perfect, maybe I’ll die out here and it’ll save Jin the trouble,” you glowered, walking closer to the guard rail of the road. The crunching gravel behind you signalled Taehyung’s approach. 

“Knock it off, we’ve got a job to do and I’m not leaving till it’s finished,” he said, grabbing your wrist. You turned quickly and faced him, cheeks red in anger.

“Then do it without me, you’re the one who said you could do this yourself. Money where your mouth is time, prove it.”

With that you yanked your wrist from his hands and kept moving down the road. “Jesus fuck you get on my nerves. Jin will be pissed if I show up to that house by myself. Come on Miss Undercover, get your ass back in the truck,” Taehyung stated. 

“No, Taehyung. I will not be getting my ass back in the truck, you can forget it!”

“Fine, you know what? Fine. I give up, you stuck up bitch. Walk to the next town for all I care,” he growled, heading back towards the truck.

“You are such an asshole!” you screamed, turning to start walking in the opposite direction...

When you slipped.

The gravel beneath your feet gave way as you began sliding underneath the guardrail. You were high in the mountains during this portion of the trip, and the roads weren’t well taken care of. 

Gravel ingrained new lacerations on your delicate flesh as you tried desperately to save yourself from the fall. Your calves were sticky with hot blood and dirt was clinging to the open wounds like a bacterial infested beauty.

Quickly, you latched onto the metal of the guardrail and attempted to pull yourself up. However, your wrist burned in the effort, scratched up due to your fall. The hot, sticky sensation of blood running down your arm made your hands slippery.

“Taehyung!” you screamed, hanging off of the weakened metal in fear. 

There was no response. Blood was pounding in your ears at the thought of death so close. You’d never feared it until now... Because now it was a possibility. 

“Taehyung, please!”

“Y/N?” Taehyung’s voice echoed in mild concern.

“Help me!”

The sound of dirt crunching at the approach of Taehyung’s footsteps sent relief through your veins. Taehyung’s face appeared before you as he wrapped his arms around your elbows and hauled you up onto the road. You were trembling in fear and exhaustion and Taehyung fell backwards, you on his chest. 

You hadn’t realized it before... But you were crying. 

“Fuck, your arm,” he said, sitting up. “Looks to be superficial, I think if we just-”

A loud sob broke through Taehyung’s sentence. His eyes went from your arm to your face as fat tears rolled down your cheeks. Suddenly you were crying loudly like a child, unable to stop. All the frustration and pent up emotions of the past months coming forward in the form of water flooding your eyes. 

Taehyung watched in shock as you broke down in front of him. “Hey, Y/N, are you hurt somewhere else? What’s wrong?” he asked, trying to figure out how to make you stop. 

“I-I ju-st-” and before you could finish your sentence cries won out. Taehyung looked at you quickly and confirmed that you weren’t injured anywhere else. Although you were still crying. 

“Hey, shh,” he soothed, wiping your cheeks with his sleeve. “We’re not getting anywhere like this,” he sighed, looking down at his knees. 

Eventually, your tears stopped and you were able to speak without cries interrupting your phrase. 

“I’m sorry, I went too far,” Taehyung said, wrapping your arm in a bandage. You swallowed hard as nodded in acceptance. “Allies?” he asked. You took his hand as he pulled you to your feet.

“Allies,” you confirmed.

---

You pulled up to your new house roughly three hours later. Taehyung and you had come to a mutual understanding.

Help me help you. 

You still weren’t particularly fond of him, but now working with him didn’t seem impossible. 

The place you were going to be calling home for the next few months stood before you. A modest house painted a pale yellow greeted you and Taehyung. The garden out front wasn’t thriving, but all wasn’t lost. Then the shutters had been painted a soft blue, complimenting the structure wonderfully. 

Maybe living here wouldn’t be so bad after all...

“Now, remember what we discussed,” you stated.

“Newlywed couples are very affectionate. We’re nice people, but cautious. Flirtatious but not disgustingly so. We are in love, first and foremost,” he repeated. 

“Wonderful,” you smiled before planting a kiss on his cheek. Taehyung nodded before getting out of the truck.

“Oh Tae, it’s amazing!” you yelped, looking at the house before you. 

“I’d certainly hope so,” he stated, coming to wrap an around around you comfortably. You leaned into his touch, looking at the house in its entirety. 

“Can we go inside?” you asked, looking at the key in his hands. 

“Of course babe,” he said, walking forwards and unlocking the door, but before you could walk in yourself, Taehyung wrapped his hand around your wrist. 

“What?” you asked, disappointed. 

“It’s bad luck for me not to carry you over the threshold,” he said, grinning. Your heart thudded for a moment. Taehyung’s boxy grin melted you, unprepared for the attack. 

“Hang on, I don’t know if I-wah!” you said as Taehyung lifted you into the air. Seeing some of the neighbors come out at the commotion you quieted down. Slowly, Taehyung carried you bridal style into the home. Your heart stuttered lightly as you crossed over the threshold. 

“Here you are,” he said, setting you down. You flushed pink and cleared your throat. 

“Alright, looks like we need to start getting the big furniture first, then we can worry about the decorations later,” you blabbed on. Taehyung watched you with muted interest, appearing to be caring however you knew there were probably fifty other things he’d rather be doing.

“Can’t we rest? I was just driving for over eight hours,” he whined, sitting on the floor in defiance. 

“You can sit all you’d like but I’m going to start bringing boxes in,” you stated, turning and heading towards the truck. 

You examined the perimeter when exiting the building. The neighbors that had come out of their house when you and Taehyung pulled up had since hurried back inside. Perhaps they were merely minding their own business or watching. This was a tight knit town. People didn’t move in nor did they move out. People stayed the same here, you’d be a large topic of conversation amongst these people. 

Taehyung walked up behind you and rested his head in the crook of your neck. “What do you see?” he asked. 

“Nothing much,” you announced, a smile on your face as if he just said something endearing. “I’m certain they are playing the waiting game. Seeing how interesting we are, how cautious they need to be. Push and pull, when they push we pull,” you stated. 

“I hate waiting games...”

“Get ready for four months of waiting.”

---

The night air blew through the home in slow waves. You watched as the street was lit with a flickering lamp roughly twenty feet away. No one had shown up at your abode, and you didn’t think they would for a while. 

This wasn’t an American sitcom where the new neighbors move in and everyone starts baking pies. This was a strategic move on the townspeople and Feng’s part. Allowing time for observations and possible encounters was a key part in the beginning stages of any sort of stake out/undercover mission. 

Feng was already suspicious. You didn’t have to know anything about his involvement in the town for that to be a solid fact. His most devout following, holed up in a small town now being invaded by outsiders? Background checks were no doubt in progress.

And they’d find exactly what you wanted. Lives painted like pictures in a story book. Rocky beginnings for Taehyung, where he grew up on the streets but was adopted into a good home and cared for until he met you in college. Love at first sight turned into marriage. And here you were, married, a home to call your own. No doubt children in the future. Perfect, but Taehyung’s dent was what made it less suspicious. A crime record thrown in for good luck. You having one parking ticket...

One you definitely refuted. 

Before the two of you had went to sleep you managed to get your mattress in your bedroom and Taehyung unpacked a box of dishes. Although the emotional day had taken its toll on the pair of you. Grabbing your sheets you made the bed and you and Taehyung collapsed down onto the mattress happily.

Although, the same nightmare kept running through your mind...

The day you made your mistake. 

The day you hurt an innocent. 

The very reason you were in this mission right now, was because you were impatient. You wanted the glory of taking down a criminal, not caring about the life that would be at risk because of your greed. That day haunted you...

You were sitting up in bed, looking over your phone to distract yourself. Cell reception wasn’t the greatest here so you’d settled for scrolling through pictures. Photos of you and friends that had been given names and assigned cell phones as well. A mother and father, a sibling for good measure. So many people strung in this elaborate web of lies. 

You fell on a photo you didn’t recognize. One of you, drinking coffee in the office. You looked flustered, stressed and not wholly interested in what you were doing. Your eyes wandered to Taehyung who was sleeping in the bed beside you. 

He seemed peaceful, which was impressive seeing as how you were struggling to catch an ounce of sleep. 

“If you keep staring I’m going to think you want something from me,” Taehyung murmured.

You flinched at his voice, but otherwise remained passive. No wonder he looked so peaceful.

“Can’t sleep either?” You asked, locking your phone and setting it on the floor. Your bed wasn’t on the frame yet and your bedside tables are still in the truck.

“I don’t sleep much no matter where I am,” he sighed, sitting up and rubbing his face. 

“It’s quiet here,” you announced, eyes casting over the moving truck in the front yard and for sale sign gone from the lawn. Taehyung lazily rested his head on your shoulder. You did your best to subtle the flinch from the unexpected contact. You had to get used to Taehyung’s displays of affection. People could be watching you at any moment.

“These people here are creepy, almost like they aren’t real,” he whispered. 

“We technically aren’t real either. Fake lives made for us like a script for a play,” you concluded. 

“But we’re using our real names, isn’t that a big taboo for this sort of work?” he asked. 

“Perhaps, but, you respond naturally to your own name. Even a variation of it, if I were to call you Kihyun or something, your response would look forced. Unnatural. But calling you Taehyung,” you said, looking at him. 

Subtly he tilted his head towards you, waiting for you to continue. He acknowledged his name without registering it in his brain. Something very common that a lot of people don’t notice. But, it’s easy to observe if you know what you’re looking for.

“Interesting notion,” Taehyung mused. 

“Pseudo-Science. Barely science,” you joked. Taehyung breathed a laugh before pulling you back down into bed with him. You squealed unattractively while struggling against his embrace. Taehyung hissed in disapproval.

“You know, I’ve never seen a new bride so unwilling to let her husband hold her,” he reprimanded.

“Perhaps if you played the role of a husband better, I wouldn’t be so unwilling,” you scoffed. Taehyung just rolled his eyes and kept you in his arms. 

“Just shut up and go to bed, before you give me a fucking headache,” he complained. 

“Good night Taehyung.”

---

The next morning you woke to the smell of coffee brewing. You got up and found the mattress empty beside you. Taehyung was already awake and the smell of food also alluded to his state of alert. You grabbed your robe from atop the boxed besides your mattress and pulled it on, heading towards the kitchen.

Taehyung stood next to the stove with two mismatching mugs and silverware that definitely didn’t belong together. 

“Don’t you dare bring out my mother’s nice ceramics for this,” you warned, smiling and wrapping your arms around him. Taehyung bumped your hip with his while handing you a mug. 

“I put creamer in it, I hope that’s alright,” he smiled. You nodded and took a sip, already warming up from the chill of the morning. 

“It’s awesome, thank you,” you sighed. “Fuck it’s going to suck getting the rest of our shit in here,” you whined. Taehyung’s eyes bulged at your vulgar tone. 

“Perhaps we could hold off on that for a while and eat breakfast?” he asked, holding a plate up for you. Quickly, you took it and hurried towards the island to eat. Taehyung laughed as you jumped up on the counter and used the built in appliance as your couch. 

“This is so good,” you moaned, licking your lips. The thick coating of grease from the bacon made your lips shiny and Taehyung found himself staring, despite not wanting to. You wiggled a little, bobbing your head back and forth while you ate. 

“You’re, like, dancing on our island,” Taehyung said, rubbing his face in disbelief. 

“Food is good, sometimes you just gotta dance with the good things in life. Like this bacon, deserves a quality head shimmy,” you noted. 

“I’m glad I could provide you with head shimmy worthy bacon this morning,” Taehyung stated.

“My head shimmies are only for the most elite pieces of bacon, so consider yourself lucky,” you snarked. He laughed and began to eat his food as well. 

It was silent, save for the clinking of your utensils on mismatched plates. 

You were thinking to yourself about your performance. Had anyone seen you so far, they would assume you were a happy couple. However, you weren’t that touchy feely. Newlyweds normally couldn’t keep their hands off each other. If you didn’t increase intimacy, then no doubt your facade would start to crack. 

“We should probably have sex today,” you noted, hopping off the counter. 

The sound of Taehyung choking filled the room. 

“Babe?” you asked, hurrying over and rubbing his back. Taehyung’s face was red and he was obviously startled by your statement. 

“Jesus, fuck! Are you trying to kill me?” he asked, while you got him a cup of water. 

Well, a bowl of water is what you managed. He gulped down the liquid as his breathing evened. 

“Taehyung, we’re a couple. That just got married. We live alone. What else do you think we would be doing?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Well, probably setting the house up? Starting to investigate a litte-”

“Taehyung, there are no doubt people watching this house. If we don’t act like we love each other, then we’re already doomed. We aren’t going to have real sex, just throw a blanket over us and then dry hump me or something,” you said, trying to think of ideas. 

“Really? Dry hump you? Under a blanket?” he said. 

Taehyung didn’t find the idea of dry humping you repulsive, it was just less fun than actually getting to fuck you. Because, oh boy, hate fucking you would be incredible. Although, it wouldn’t be the passionate love making that you were probably trying to convey. 

“Okay, but I can’t promise that I won’t get a boner in the middle of it,” he sighed. 

“Taehyung I will bite your ear off,” you warned.

“So kinky already, darling,” he breathed. 

“Okay, you stink, go take a shower,” you demanded, pulling away. Taehyung huffed and pouted, following you closely.

“Baby~” he whined, wrapping his arms around your waist. 

“Taehyung,” you smiled, however your voice was severely irritated. 

“Let’s have fake sex, then I can go take a shower, yeah?” he urged, pulling you against his body. 

To an on looker, it was no doubt a boyfriend or husband trying to coerce his wife into getting frisky. But you did want to get more of the truck unpacked. 

“Not now, shower then come help me unpack some more,” you stated, placing a hesitant peck on his lips. 

Taehyung frowned before pulling you in for a deeper kiss. You fumbled lightly on your feet, getting pulled closer into him. Taehyung wrapped your body up in his arms and moved his mouth against yours aggressively. He sucked on the delicate skin of your lips, so hard you were certain they’d bruise. 

“Ouch, Tae,” you winced. 

“Mmm, you actually kiss pretty good,” he murmured, moving back in to seal his lips against yours. 

“Loving, tender kisses Taehyung. Not trying to fucking eat my face.”

Taehyung moved away and tried to act playful when he smacked your butt before heading to the bathroom. You rolled your eyes before going to get the keys for the truck.

Again the morning was just as silent. They really must be scoping the situation out. Much like you and Taehyung were. There were a lot of variables right now. Many ways for the whole plan to go wrong. It made you uneasy. But this was your specialty.

Making a new life here was going to be difficult. However, right now wasn’t the time to be doubting your skills. There was too much at stake. You weren’t going to be the reason more people died and another criminal got away.

You started pulling in more boxes, managing to get the frame of the couch out of the truck and into the living room as well. You were sweating and your poor arm stung with a fresh scrape from the day before. You looked at the couch and decided that right there would be good enough for now. Running out to the truck you grabbed the couch cushions and throw pillows so you could sit down for a minute and relax.

After placing the last pillow down the sound of the water shutting off made you turn your head. Taehyung emerged shortly after with his boxers on and drying his hair with a towel. Rendered speechless for a moment, you cleared your throat before turning back to the box that was being used as an impromptu coffee table. Lots of picture frames sat inside.

Many of you and Taehyung and some of you with your family. Taking out your wedding photo you smiled. You knew that Taehyung was pissed in the photo cause you had just stepped on his toe in your heels.

Warm arms wrapped around your waist and you relaxed into his embrace. “Bathroom isn’t bugged, so at least we have that privacy,” he murmured into your neck. 

You nodded and set the picture down. Bending forward you grabbed a couple other frames and moved to place them in different areas.

“Didn’t you say we should bring in the rest of the big furniture before putting the fragile stuff up? We don’t want it to get broken baby,” Taehyung scolded.

“It’ll be alright. Plus I want to look at these now,” You pouted. Taehyung took a couple and started helping you put them up as well. 

You two started decorating and joking around. From the outside it was a happy couple having fun. However it was a strategic move. Making the two of you look non threatening was the most important role right now. Taehyung was set to start his job at City Hall in four days. You were to start working at home as soon as you could. 

But there was much more preparations to make. Like lunch.

“Baby, want some lunch?” You asked, turning to him. Taehyung shrugged and brought his hands to your stomach.

“Mm, not hungry for food babe,” he spoke as he brought you into his embrace. You wanted to cringe but forced your body to relax in his arms. 

“Honestly, you can’t keep your mind from what I said earlier,” you whispered.

“Hey, if we want to make it believable you should just let me fuck you here in the living room,” he growled.

You felt a shiver run down your spine, despite your best efforts. His voice rattled your bones and made you want to break. Newlyweds normally couldn’t wait to set up a bed nicely...

You could fake it here in the kitchen. 

Out of the corner of your eyes, you saw a reflection of light. It was either a camera or binoculars. Someone was watching you both right now.

Bringing your mouth to his ear, you stated instructions. “Taehyung, there’s someone watching us right now. Reflection at 11:00 o’clock,” you informed.

“I noticed,” he said, furrowing his brow to make it appear as if you said something intimate.

“We need to do it out here,” you stated.

“This seems like a lot of work,” he moaned.

“Kiss me and I’ll continue,” you murmured. Taehyung brought your mouth away from his ear and connected it to yours. You moved against his body eagerly, rolling your hips against his. Taehyung groaned and buckled against your body, biting your lip as you whined into his mouth.

“How do we do this?” He asked as he came away for air, moving to kiss your neck and shoulder longingly.

“The couch, I’ll ride you. Your back will be to the observer. So, we’ll mime the action of you and I having sex. But really we’ll just be dry humping,” you explained.

“Okay, I’m going to pick you up and take you there,” he announced. 

You blushed. You realized you’d much rather Taehyung grind against you on a couch for an audience than carry you to the couch. You were a special agent, specialized in camouflage and undercover operations... yet you still fussed when your jeans didn’t fit the same. You still got mad at yourself for eating the whole tub of ice cream... again...

“Taehyung wait a sec-ah!”

You were hoisted in the air and Taehyung carried you to the couch. You clung to him like a child and you couldn’t help the unattractive squeak you made as he threw you onto the cushions.

“You’re not going to convince them you love me if you’re acting like a teenager with stupid insecurities,” he whispered. You pulled him in for a kiss to conceal the frown and no doubt rude remark that would escape if you allowed yourself the option.

His lips trailed your jawline, making you squirm underneath him. Taehyung grinned at your pathetic reactions to his actions. You gripped his shoulders, pulling him out of view of your observer... well the one you knew of.

“I’m going to take off my shirt,” you said. Taehyung nodded, holding your hips as he kissed your lips with longing. You reached for the hem of your shirt and pulled it over your head, throwing it to the floor. Taehyung made an odd noise at the back of his throat, making you raise your eyebrow in confusion.

“God, I didn’t know you were hiding those under the stupid office uniforms, holy shit,” he complained.

“Taehyung!”

“How far can I go?” He asked, coming in to kiss your neck.

“T-this is as far as I want, are you okay?” You asked, making sure his comfort was recognized too.

“Absolutely,” he breathed, coming towards your chest with open mouthed kisses. You tangled your fingers in his hair, encouraging him to move more.

“T-Taehyung,” You whimpered as he bit at your bra.

“One day I’ll get you out of this,” he growled before hauling you up and onto his lap. The straps of your bra fell down onto your biceps and Taehyung’s pupils blew up.

You leaned down and placed a delicate kiss on his nose, cheeks and finally one to his lips. He adjusted his hold on you and you nodded. Grabbing your pathetic shorts you mimed moving them out of the way, then you moved to get Taehyung situated too.

“How should I...?” He asked, raising a brow.

“Just, I’ll dry hump you. It’s fine,” you breathed. He seemed like he was going to protest when you gripped right above his pelvic line. His hip jolted, miming the reaction of you taking him out of his pants. Giving a demure smile, you slowly shuffled forward to place your center against his lap.

Taehyung breathed in sharply, biting his lip hard. “What’s wrong?” You asked, placing a hand on his cheek gently.

“I’m fighting every urge in my body right now, so just hurry up,” he growled. A small shudder ran down your spine as his words took weight in your head.

Would it be so bad for you to give in and let him fuck you here?

Yes, yes it would.

“Sorry, sorry,” you apologized lamely, moving your hips against his gently.

“Fuck,” he croaked, gripping your waist tightly.

“A-Ah, Taehyung,” you whimpered, placing your hands over his. You looked up at the ceiling, as if you were in utter bliss.

“So good baby,” Taehyung encouraged, “keep going.”

“Fuck, Taehyung,” you growled. 

This was bad, your mind was starting to cloud with the burning arousal beginning to raise in your stomach. You really were starting to want him. The way his brow furrowed, it really looked like he was filled with pleasure at the moment. 

“I might come in my boxers,” he huffed out as you ground down particularly hard against him. 

“That’s fine, a real orgasm is better than a fake one,” you rationalized out loud.

“Shit, babe, Y/N,” he moaned, bringing you in for a sloppy kiss. You open your mouth and let his hot tongue slide in to greet yours. 

Kissing Taehyung was quickly turning into a drug you didn’t want to give up. Fuck, it felt so good. His plush lips against your own, practically forcing your mouth to mould with his. Taehyung was gripping your hips, almost as if he was using your body to get himself off. It was so dirty, raunchy and hot. Hearing his soft whimpers made you wet, cheeks bright red at the idea.

You cried out for real when your clit bumped the growing bulge in his boxers.

“That’s the hottest sound I’ve heard, fuck I love you,” he growled out. You squeaked out an ‘I love you too,’ soon after. Taehyung planted slobbery kisses along your collarbones and chest as he panted harshly against your skin. 

“Cum inside me, Taehyung,” you moaned out, feeling a climax brewing in your lower stomach. 

“Ah fuck!” Taehyung sobbed out, bucking his hips wildly against your own. You just needed that little push, something to get you over the edge. 

“So close, so close,” breathed into the air. Taehyung heard your silent pleas, because soon you felt the bulge of his hot erection directly against your little nub, sending you spiraling into the precipice of bliss.

Taehyung cried out your name, holding you closer to his frame. You collapsed against him, feeling your panties sticking to you uncomfortably. Taehyung shivered, his hot breath fanning across your cooling skin.

You shakily ran your fingers through his hair, kissing his sweaty hairline with a tenderness that could only be given in post-orgasmic bliss. Shit, what have you done?

“Tae,” you said, urging him away from you. 

“Hmmm?” he whispered, groggily. 

“You and I both need to clean up,” you said, coughing in discomfort at the end. 

“Oh, shit, sorry,” he said.

Helping you up you took a glance at the window in your peripheral. They weren’t watching any longer. “We’re clear,” you said, rushing towards the bathroom to clean yourself up. 

You shut the door and slid down in, trying not to let your heart beat out of your chest wildly. The sound of the other shower turning on again signalled that you were clear to exit, going to the bathroom before heading out to get another pair of panties and shorts on. 

You were certain you wouldn’t sleep at all tonight.

---

The day finally came when Taehyung began his first day at work. You fussed over him all morning. Tying his tie for him, making him a travel mug of coffee and breakfast for him. Taehyung had to admit, it wasn’t so bad having you for a wife.

“Baby, I really gotta go or I’m going to be late, on my first day!” 

“Okay okay, just one more thing,” you smiled before leaning in a placing a delicate kiss on his cheek. “Have a great day,” you encouraged. 

“I will, don’t miss me too much,” he teased. As he unlocked the front door you were both surprised to find two men standing there.

Taehyung immediately shut the door off a little more, protecting you from their view.

“Can I help you gentleman?”

“We’re here on behalf of Mr. Feng. He wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood,” they both presented Taehyung with some kind of campaign propaganda. 

“Thank you, I’m going to be late for work. Baby, have a good day. Gentleman,” Taehyung said, taking the flyer and shutting the door. You watched as Taehyung moved down the driveway, the men in suits following behind him like a funeral procession. Your eyes followed your husband until he was out of sight, making you shift with unease. 

This would be the first time you’d be apart since the whole mission began. For some reason your chest was tight, something you hadn’t been expecting. It was ridiculous. The only reason you were feeling this way is because you weren’t really alone. There was always someone watching. You were certain that was the cause of your unease. It had to be.

Taehyung texted you a few times throughout the day. Making your chest loosen slightly, knowing he made it there safely. Even if he was a jerk, that didn’t mean you wanted anything bad to happen to him. Well, nothing too bad...

You started your day by moving some more furniture around, getting the kitchen table put together and all set for later on in the evening. You were going to make dinner tonight before Taehyung came home so he had something to eat after a long day at work.

You couldn’t place it, but knowing someone was coming home to you was... comforting? Even if it was the pain in the ass Taehyung, the thought didn’t bother you as much as you believed it should. 

The rest of your day passed by uneventfully, doing some data analysis on your laptop for work. Something Taehyung no doubt picked out for you to do because of your detestment of data worksheets back at the office. Dick. 

But the company you worked for didn’t know anything but you were a newlywed needing some extra cash on the side while her husband went out to work for the day. Plus, this gave you another set of alibis if needed. She was on her computer at such and such a time. Because no doubt it was being tracked. 

You pulled up your messages and sent a quick one to Taehyung. He responded quickly, sending a few hearts after he told you he’d be home soon. 

Quickly you headed to the kitchen and began the real test. Cooking. You weren’t a bad cook by any means, but you usually cooked ramen noodles and things of that nature. So a full fucking chicken was a little intimidating.

Cutting the vegetables and starting the oven went smoothly. You buttered the chicken, slathering the meat in butter and garlic, throwing some thyme in there for good measure. You remember Taehyung mentioning that his mom used to make a recipe similar to this. One he loved. 

The idea of a small Taehyung sitting at the counter, begging for some food made your head spin. W-What are you thinking? This is just a mission, and Taehyung is just a guy who is assigned to be your partner. That’s all this is. All it ever will be. 

Taehyung came home just as you were pulling the chicken out of the oven. He came over and pressed a sweet kiss to your cheek before looking at the mashed potatoes, broiled vegetables and chicken that were being placed on the table by his wife. You bent over after dropping something on the floor. His mouth watered at the sight. The food also looked good...

“Baby, look at all this. Did you really make this stuff?” he asked, coming over and setting his briefcase on the counter.

“Yeah, it was a bitch and a half to make though, let me tell you what. This chicken here, if it weren’t already dead I would’ve taken my pistol and shot it,” you huffed, remembering the tying and stuffing and everything that made you aggravated with cooking the damn thing in the first place.

“Well, it looks great, can I have a seat?” he asked.

“Yeah! Go for it, I’ll get us some wine,” you said. Running over to the cabinet and pulling out two wine glasses.

“I see we’re going fancy tonight,” he said. 

“Well for my husband, anything,” you smiled.

“Thank you baby,” he answered as you set a wine glass next to him.

“Next, do you want red or white?” you asked.

“Red,” Taehyung said, marveling at the domestic nature of this interaction.

Is this what normal people did? Came home to a freshly cooked meal by their significant other and just talked about casual things? Not coming home to an empty house. Stitching themselves up after a bad knife fight. Watching as their blood went down the drain... Was this the marital bliss he heard about?

You came over with a bottle, popping the cork and pouring him a sample to see if he liked it. “How does it taste? Want a little more?” you asked. Taehyung took you in during this moment. You were beautiful. Cheeks flushed and looking flustered as you tried to play your role of dutiful wife. It made him want to paint again...

“Yeah, I’ll have a glass. It’s good, you should have some too,” he said as he watched the berry colored liquid fill the glass.

“I will,” you announced, sitting across from him and pouring yourself some as well.

Taehyung looked at you as you swallowed down some of the bitter sweet liquid in your glass, throat bobbing as it pushed the alcohol down and into your bloodstream. Cheeks turning pink he smiled as the two of you continued to drink. 

“Y/N, honestly, this meal was fantastic,” Taehyung said, looking at you as the second bottle of wine overwhelmed him.

“Thanks, I tried,” you stated, swallowing down the remaining wine in your glass.

Taehyung leaned forward on the table, looking at you with interest.

“What did you want to do before becoming part of the agency?” He asked, nonchalant.

You looked up at him, eyes bigger than your head. 

“Tae! What if-“

“No one is listening, believe me,” he said, grinning at you with his boxy grin.

“I don’t think-“

“Don’t be such a priss, tell me,” he urged.

“I’m not a priss!”

“Whatever, just, tell me something about yourself. Something interesting,” he pleaded.

“Fine, fine... I-I wanted to be a ballerina okay?” 

Taehyung’s eyes widened.

Then he snorted.

“Aren’t ballerina’s supposed to be graceful and shit? You tripped putting on your pants this morning,” he smirked.

“I’ll have you know that for seven years I danced five days a week for four hours a day,” you protested.

“Prove it,” he scoffed.

“Fine, I will,” you said, standing up. 

Slowly bringing yourself together you started a familiar routine you did all the time as a child.

Lifting your leg up you grabbed your thigh, straightening your leg above your head before lowering it to your other thigh, spinning slightly before getting up on pointe. Taehyung’s eyes were watching your every move. It looked like you needed a partner. He stood and grabbed your waist as you stretched your arms out. 

Jumping in his grasp you turned to look at him.

“Taehyung, what are you-“

“Just feel, keep going,” he said, taking your hand in his.

You weren’t sure if it was the wine or your own emotions taking over, but before you knew it, your lips had crashed onto his. Taehyung grunted in surprise. You wrapped your arms around his neck and urged him to kiss you deeper. Licking at his lips, begging for entrance. Taehyung didn’t hesitate. He opened his mouth and greeted your tongue with his. The wet smacking sounds had you throbbing beneath your jeans, something you were desperate to get out of. 

Grinding against his front Taehyung lost his breath to you. “Fuck, mm, like that babygirl.”

You whimpered when you felt his prominent bulge for the first time this evening. Shit your panties were sticking to you at this point. But Taehyung pulled away a few moments later. 

“We shouldn’t do this,” he murmured against your swelling lips.

“Why not?” You whined, gripping his hands as they settled against your hips.

“We can’t go back once we do this. Having interpersonal relations in the field, it gets messy. What if I get hurt or kidnapped? Then they have leverage on you,” he explained.

“Let me at least suck you off,” you complained. Taehyung groaned in the back of his throat. 

“Fuck, we shouldn’t,” he stated, brushing the hair away from your face.

“Please, please let me taste you,” you begged, your wine addled mind taking over. “Do you not want my mouth?”

“Fuck... Yes, I do want that mouth on me more than you can believe,” he said, running his thumb along your wet lower lip. Taking his thumb in between your lips you smiled and tugged on the flesh gently. Taehyung growled at your teasing before looking at you with his dark eyes. “Get on your knees for me,” he commanded. You nodded frantically before falling to the floor in front of him. Taehyung watched with rapt attention as you undid his slacks and brought out his semi-hard erection from his underwear. 

Your mouth salivated at the sight of his thick cock sitting in your warm palm. Taehyung hissed when you ran your hand over his sensitive length for the first time. Your heart was pounding in your chest. Blood rushing to your head, making it spin. But all you cared about was pleasing the man in front of you. Without much hesitation you gave a fat lick from the base of his cock to the head. Taehyung moaned, his head lulling back slightly. You brought the head into your mouth, suckling gently, moving your tongue around the sensitive area.

“Don’t tease me,” he snarled out, looking down at you with dangerous eyes. Complying with his demands you brought a majority of him into your mouth and throat, coughing lightly when he hit the back. He groaned in pleasure, finding your hair and pulling it into his fist. “That’s it baby, suck my dick like a good girl,” he praised, watching as strings of slobber started to form from your mouth to his cock. Bobbing your head back and forth, you built a rhythm for him. 

You hollowed out your cheeks, moving your tongue underneath his shaft and around to stimulate him. Taehyung huffed, trying hard not to come down your throat already. He was intoxicated not only by the wine but by you as well. Your beautiful eyes looking at him underneath your lashes. He could barely breathe when you looked at him like that. Those big eyes sparkling with lust and want.

Taehyung rolled his hips forward slightly, gauging your reaction. You moaned at the force promised behind those hips of his, as he pushed himself further down your throat. 

“Can I fuck your mouth baby? Would you let me fuck that goregous mouth of yours?” he asked, sprinkling praise in with his request. You nodded fast, relaxing your throat and giving him the thumbs up to go ahead. 

He didn’t wait a moment longer before he pushed himself into your mouth and down your throat. Taehyung whined at the tight feeling of your mouth and throat closing in on him, feeling like a vice against his cock. Pulling back out he let you suck in a couple breaths before picking his pace up again. You gagged on his dick, making noise and moaning in pleasure. Taehyung was lost above you, focusing on the sensations of your moaning against him.

“Mmm, fuck baby, just like that,” he breathed out, watching and drool collected on your chin. It was filthy, messy and perfect. You took him entirely, nose touching his pelvis and you swallowed hard. Taehyung cried out, gripping your shoulders and pulling out of your throat and mouth. You coughed at the actions, not suspecting for it to be so intense, but god if you didn’t want him to cum in your mouth. You needed it.

“Tae~” you whimpered, shuffling forwards on your knees to try to put him back in your mouth. But he stopped you.

“Listen baby, this is going to go one of two ways. Either you keep going and I cum down your throat, or I can shove this cock in that pussy and cum inside you that way. Which would you prefer?”

Your body shook with want at the second option.

“Inside my pussy,” you said, already moving to shrug your sweater off and stepping out of your jeans. 

“Come here then baby,” he said, opening his arms for you. You rushed forwards, bringing your lips to his before you could even think about anything else. Taehyung opens his mouth and licked your lips perversely. You opened your mouth at once, letting him take full control of the embrace. 

“Taehyung, bedroom,” you urged. He at least heard part of what you were saying, because the next thing you knew, your body was being lowered to the mattress in your room.

“Let’s take this off shall we?” he said, removing your tank top and looking at you in your bra. “Fuck baby you have pretty tits,” he growled. You moaned at the praise and eagerly un buckled the back and let the offending material fall off your arms and onto the floor. Taehyung was in action before you could blink, taking a nipple in his mouth and sucking on it harshly. 

The sensation sent tingles right to the tips of your toes, making them curl and stretch from his warm mouth on you. With his free hands he held your hip with one and groped your chest with the other, stimulating your body and causing you to arch up into his touch. Taehyung smirked against your skin, laving his tongue against your pert nipple, making you hiss in reaction.

“Such pretty noises you make for me, isn’t that right precious girl?” he said, trailing his lips down your body.

“Taehyung, please don’t tease me. Give me your dick, please,” you whimpered, rolling your hips up against him.

“Tsk tsk, little one. So greedy already,” he smiled.

“Please give me your cock, Taehyung, please,” you begged. “Want it so deep in my pussy, stuffing me full until I can’t breathe. Please please please, give me your cock.”

“Fuck, how could I deny such a sweet request. Alright baby, let me just warm you up a touch okay?” Taehyung pulled your panties down your legs, revealing your wet center to him. “You’re drenched babygirl, who did this to you?”

“You, Taehyung, you did,”

“That’s right precious girl,” he said as he lowered two fingers to your entrance. You relaxed when he ran his middle and pointer finger up your slit, before sinking them inside of you. Taehyung watched as you took him right up to the knuckle. He groaned at the feeling of you, tight and hot around his fingers. He could just picture how you’d feel around his cock and it made him throb with desire.

“Taehyung!” You cried, gripping the sheets underneath you desperately.

“Gonna come?”

“I-I don’t-hah-Taehyung,” you whined out.

“I’ve barely touched this sweet little pussy and I can already feel you clenching like crazy, do you want to come baby? I’d love to see what you look like when you come, I bet you look beautiful,” he said, picking up his speed.

“Taehyung, hngh, please,” you begged, looking at the ceiling with tears forming in your eyes.

“Come for me, come all over this bed darling,” he cooed, using his thumb to stimulate your clit before watching your body tense and finally-finally-release.

“Taehyung!” You cried out, back arching off the bed, shuddering in your orgasm as your mind went blank from everything except the feeling of unadulterated pleasure.

Taehyung smiled at your fucked out face, eyes misty with tears. 

“What a good girl, you came all over me shit, that was so sexy,” he growled. You whimpered and reached for him, wanting his hands on your body.

“Give me your cock now? Please Taehyung?”

“Whatever you want darling, absolutely,” he agreed, lining his cock up with your sopping entrance.

“Fuck!” You cried out when his cock finally entered you. It was so thick, filling you up so well. Taehyung gripped your hips. Letting you ease onto him so he didn’t hurt you. 

“That’s it, what a snug little cunt you have,” he grinned, pressing kisses to your shoulders while he pumped himself inside of you deeply. Taehyung has a hard time thinking clearly like this. The wine and you making him drunk. 

“Taehyung!” You cried out. “So big.” You felt his cock rubbing that spot inside you that made you see stars. Everything was blurry as Taehyung fucked his dick into you harshly. The lewd smacking sounds of skin on skin made your mind whirl with lust. Taehyung wasn’t in a much better state. Watching as he fucked you, tits bouncing and your ass hitting his pelvis in just the right way. 

But he wanted to see your face when you came.

“Lie on your side for me,” Taehyung said, easing out of you gently.

You hissed at the loss, but did as he asked, laying on your side. 

“Leg up,” he encouraged, nestling down beside you. You raised your leg as he instructed, moaning loudly when his cock re-entered you from this angle. 

“How is it? How is getting fucked by my big dick baby? Can you handle it?” He asked, laying his hand flat against your lower stomach.

“I can take it, I’m-I’m a big girl,” you huffed, head lolling back into Taehyung’s neck.

“I know you can take it, does my baby want it harder?” He questioned, giving a few deep thrusts against you, making your pussy clench down hard.

“Anything, I want anything you’ll give me Taehyung,” you pleaded. 

“Anything you say, well then, hold on,” he stated, running his hand between your legs and toying with your throbbing clit. He nestled his head against your cheek, kissing and nipping at your tender flesh.

“Ta-ae-hyung,” you whimpered out. “Feels so good.”

“You too, so fucking tight around my cock. Can barely move... I should’ve fucked you with three fingers to get you ready for this dick huh? Or do you like a little pain with your pleasure, huh?”

Crying out when he pushed against your little nub forcing you back on his dick. Taehyung smiled as you ground your ass against him, trying to get whatever you could from him like this. He didn’t care about tomorrow, all he cared about was you right now. A beautiful woman losing yourself on his dick.

“Taehyung, so close, right there. Yes!” You whined, gripping his hand for some kind of stability.

He interlocked your fingers, using his other hand to continue abusing your clit. “Right here baby, like this?” He questioned.

“Yes! Yes yes,” you said, tears forming in the corners of your eyes for the second time that night.

Taehyung breath came in soft pants against your neck as he worked himself up as well. Your velvet walls were doing him in. Normally he’d last much longer, but with you he couldn’t help but see bliss right around the corner.

“Baby gonna cum,” he warned you.

“In me, cum inside me,” you blabbered out, gripping his hand tightly.

“Fuck-shit!” Taehyung cursed, letting instinct take over as he fucked into you aggressively. It was hard to think straight. 

Not too soon after a shot of warmth encompassed your stomach. That sent you over, eyes blacking out as you slumped against Taehyung who was still cumming.

Giving a few more weak thrusts, Taehyung pulled out, looking at the mess the two of you had made. 

“Fuck you look pretty full of my cum like that,” he commented, kissing your shoulder softly.

“Mmm, Taehyung?”

“Yes baby,” he said, moving his head up to peer down at you.

“Washcloth, I-I don’t think I can walk right now,” you said, turning pink at the notion.

“I’ll be right back, hang on,” he said, standing up and heading to the bathroom.

As the light flicked on, you felt your eyes fall, heavy with the need for sleep.

---

“What the fuck are we going to do?” You yelled at Taehyung.

The pair of you woke up the next morning, dazed and confused. Taehyung was the first one to notice you two were royally fucked.

“I came in you, shit,” he said, looking at the obvious stain on the bed.

“Taehyung!” You cried out, smacking your forehead with your palm.

“Hey don’t get mad at me! You’re the one who initiated all of this!”

“Don’t pin this all on me, you could’ve rejected me!” You said.

“I tried! But you looked at me and then I-uh... Well... Here we are,” he announced.

“Taehyung, if we fuck up this mission I’m a dead woman. That includes me getting pregnant!”

“Can’t I just go buy you some plan b or something like that?”

“We’re married, if they caught you buying plan b then our facade is over!”

“Then I don’t know what you want me to do! I can’t undo what we did!”

You rubbed your temples, trying not to stress over the fact that you could possibly be carrying Kim Taehyung’s child.

“We have to go with this, just, remember our mission. Now hug me, cause we argued,” you said, opening your arms.

Taehyung moved forward, wrapping you up in his embrace.

“Whatever happens, we’re allies. I’ll cover your back if you cover mine,” he said, fingers splayed across your back.

“I got your six.”

---

The following weeks were surprisingly calm. Taehyung went to work and came home. You usually had a meal ready for the two of you. It was domestic ‘bliss’. 

Except for the fact that you and Taehyung wouldn’t barely look at each other. It was hard, feeling the anxiety and panic and not having anyone to bounce it off of. Taehyung was affectionate when you said to be, and the two of you acted your part when you were out in public but... things were different now. And there’s nothing either of you could do about it.

Taehyung came home a little later than usual, you sipping on some wine and staring off into space. He walked over and set his bag down, before kissing your head and pulling you in for a hug. 

“I have some good news,” Taehyung said. 

“Yeah? What is it?” you asked, not looking at him.

“I’m in the running to become mayor!”

Glass shattered on the floor.

“Oh shit,” Taehyung said, stepping back so as not to step on any glass.

You were frozen in place.

“Taehyung do you know what that means for these people? To Feng?”

“What? Like you honestly think I’ll win? You’re crazy,” he scoffed.

“Taehyung what if you do win? What’ll they do when this mission is over? What will they do when they find out their mayor-” he quickly moved in for a kiss. You wiggled against him for a moment before going still. Taehyung worked his mouth over yours with ease, something you weren’t expecting, but weren’t upset over either.

“God you are so annoying sometimes. Listen,” he said, moving so he could start cleaning up the glass you dropped. “If I get an inside position, show Feng that I’m serious about wanting to be loyal to him? Then I’ll get inside information that’ll be influential in his takedown,” he explained.

“Taehyung if you think they’ll give it to an outsider than you’re dumber than I thought,” you sneered.

“You don’t see them the way I do. Don’t interact with them the way I do. I’ve gained their trust, Y/N, something you haven’t done,” he said matter-of-factly.

“I’m a housewife, what do you expect me to do?” you said, placing your hands on your hips.

“The guys and I are going out to dinner tomorrow night. Be my date, and play nice with their wives. See if you can get any information out of them,” he offered.

“Okay, I can play the doting wife role,” you said to him, standing up.

“Hey watch out!”

“Ouch!” You hissed in pain as a shard of glass cut deep into your heel.

“Y/N, watch where you walk I wasn’t done cleaning yet,” he said, rubbing his face.

Then, his face went pale as he saw the crimson liquid coming from your body.

“Ow, fuck,” you whimpered, using the counter to balance as you looked at your foot in pain. Taehyung quickly swept up the rest before he was kneeling down to take a look at you.

“It’s pretty deep, I think you need stitches,” he said, examining your bloodied heel.

“I-I’m fine,” you whispered, trying to keep the dizzy spell from taking over.

“No, you’re not. You need to go to the doctor. Come on, the clinic is like not even a fifteen minute drive. Get your ass in the car,” he demanded.

“No, I’ll wrap it in gauze and it’ll be fine,” you declared.

“Y/N,” Taehyung warned.

“Taehyung,” you mocked.

“I’m not fucking around,” he said, standing up.

“Neither am I,” you countered.

“Fine, be that way you little shit,” he said before bending down and picking you up bridal style in his arms.

“Taehyung! Put me down!”

“Not on your life,” he said as he grabbed his keys and walked towards the door.

He got you in the car, a towel wrapped around your foot before he took off down the road.

The pair of you were silent as he drove, just going through the night without anything being said. Taehyung looked at your foot and picked up the speed a little bit. You looked out the window, not wanting to look down and see the bloody mess that was your foot. It ached so much, making you want to whine in pain. But you ignored it, keeping a poker face the whole time.

Taehyung pulled into the parking lot, undoing his seatbelt and coming over to your side. Before he could pick you up again, you held your hand out to stop him. “I can walk,” you argued.

“Don’t get stubborn now, just let me take care of you,” he said, sounding moderately annoyed with you. But you couldn’t help the fluttering that took over in your chest. Taehyung leaned down and brought you into his arms, fussing with you for just a moment before he started to walk inside.

“Hi, how can I-Oh goodness!” The nurse who was sitting at the front desk jolted as Taehyung brought you to the counter.

“Can my wife please get some help? She stepped on some glass at home and now I’m worried that she needs stitches,” he said, calm and collected.

“A-Absolutely, let me just page the doctor and Martha get them a wheelchair for her!” 

Soon Taehyung was settling you into the wheelchair, wrapping his blazer around your shoulders to keep the chill of the night out. The pair of you waited for less than five minutes before the doctor came out and greeted you both.

“Good evening you two! Taehyung! It’s great to see you,” the doctor said, giving Taehyung a firm handshake.

“I wish we could meet under better circumstances,” Taehyung said softly.

“Now, let’s get you back to an examination room and take a look at that foot,” he said, beckoning Taehyung to follow him. You felt him push you forward carefully, not getting too close to the walls or anything of that nature.

When the pair of you were in the examination room the doctor started the questions.

“Name?”

“Kim Y/N.”

“Age?”

“21.”

“Marital Status.”

“Married.”

“Are you pregnant?” he asked. You bit your lip for a second before answering.

“I-I’m not sure,” you said, worrying your lip with your teeth. You chanced a look at Taehyung in the corner, but he seemed as calm as he was driving here.

“We’ll get a blood draw done then, just to double check. But there are certain antibiotics we don’t use if you’re pregnant so we’ll steer clear of those ones okay?”

“Okay,” you whispered.

“Now, take me through what happened,” he said.

“I dropped my wine glass and stepped on the glass on the floor,” you said, wincing at how stupid it made you seem.

“Well certainly did a number, so I’ll get that glass out and flush the wound. And I’ll need to get a few stitches in there. Next we’ll do your blood draw then a shot of antibiotics and steroids and you should be all set my dear!” he said, smiling.

“Thank you,” you said, gripping Taehyung’s jacket tightly.

“I’ll be right back, just sit tight,” he said, leaving the room.

“You seem nervous,” Taehyung said, sighing.

“Of course I’m nervous, who isn’t when someone is about to stab you in the foot repeatedly?”

“Please, the needle is so thin you won’t feel a thing,” Taehyung scoffed.

“Shut up, it still hurts,” you whimpered out.

“I’m right here,” he said, reaching over and taking your hand in his. You stared down at your joined hands, not so sure what to think.

Then the doctor came back, a tray of utensils in his hands.

“Alright, the nurse will come back with your shots. But we’re gonna do the stitches first,” he explained putting some gloves over his hand.

You tensed as he approached, Taehyung adjusted himself so that he was directly behind you. His head brushed your shoulder as you stared down at the doctor. 

“Baby, look at me,” Taehyung’s low voice echoed in your ear. On instinct you turned to face him. Taehyung rested his forehead against yours, rubbing soothing circles into your wrist. “Just focus on me baby, no one else is here, just us two.”

“Tae,” you whimpered, gripping his hand. 

“It’s alright, shh, it’ll be alright I’m here,” he said, kissing your forehead and bringing your head into his neck so you wouldn’t look.

“On the count of three I’m going to pull the shard out, I want you to take a deep breath on three for me okay?”

You whispered an answer, too focused on how good Taehyung smelt and how warm his body was against yours.

“One, two, three,” the doctor said, calm as could be.

You yelped in pain, Taehyung right there to soothe your cries.

“Look at that, you did so well baby. It’s alright, he just needs to clean you up,” he said softly.

A burning cold and numbing took over your heel as Taehyung continued to keep your focus on him and him alone. Whispering sweet nothings into your ears and placing gentle kisses to your head and face. The doctor continued his work diligently and before you knew it, the gauze was in place and you were almost ready to go. 

The doctor performed a quick blood draw and Taehyung stayed with you through the whole thing. Holding your hand and rubbing your knuckles as he drew even more blood from your body that evening. Once he had what he needed the doctor bid the two of you farewell, saying to drop by the pharmacy for your medications.

“Thank you hyung, it means a lot that you helped her out,” Taehyung said, standing to give the gentleman a fond farewell.

“Anything for you Taehyung, after getting that grant for the clinic, I’ll help you in any way I can! Now, Mrs. Kim please be careful to not walk on your foot for at least two weeks. Taehyung you should take a few days off until she’s settled into a routine. Nice to meet you Mrs. Kim, Taehyung landed a keeper,” he said before exiting the room.

“A grant for the clinic huh?” you said, raising your brows at him.

“Yeah, part of my job is delegating where the money goes,” he said, shrugging off your many questions.

“Fancy pants over here,” you said, scoffing.

“Yeah yeah whatever,” he replied, never letting his fingers leave yours.

A few seconds later a nurse came in with a tray of shots lined up.

“Hi sweetheart, we’re just going to give you an antibiotic, painkiller and a steroid, does that all sound okay to you?” she asked in a kind voice.

“Yes, that’s fine,” you agreed.

“Okay I just need you to drop your pants for me. Are you her husband?” she asked, looking at Taehyung.

“Yes,” he said.

“Would you help her get up on the table and then step outside please,” she requested,

Taehyung nodded, getting you up and out of the wheelchair and up on the table without much fuss. It was when he turned to leave you panicked a little.

“Tae, you’ll be right outside right?” you asked, biting your lip.

“Yes baby, I’ll be right outside the door, just a few pokes and we’ll head home,” he said, kissing your hand before stepping out of the room.

“That’s quite the man you have there, Doctor Namjoon said he was very sweet while putting in your stitches,” she said, wiping your butt with alcohol swabs. 

“He’s a keeper,” you smiled.

A couple pokes later you were out the door, Taehyung behind you.

“Now the painkiller we gave her is pretty strong, it’ll make her a little loopy, so just keep your eyes on her,” the nurse said.

“Got it, thank you so much for your help,” he said, before wheeling you out into the parking lot. 

Your head was spinning lightly from the painkiller, making you giggly. Taehyung picked you up and set you in the car buckling you in for good measure.

“Taehyung~” you laughed.

“Yes?” he asked, looking at you in confusion.

You burst into laughter at the sight of his face. Taehyung simply sighed before putting the car in gear and taking off. 

The ride was mainly your laughter and Taehyung trying not to smash his face into the wheel. But when you got home Taehyung carefully pulled you from the vehicle, careful not to bump your foot or head when extracting you.

You wrapped your arms around his neck easily, cupping the nape of his neck with your palm. He didn’t falter as he carried you into your home, shutting the door with his foot. He kept you in his arms, carrying you all the way to bed, setting you down gently. But before he could remove your arms from his neck, you brought him in for a gentle kiss.

It was different than all the others you’d shared.

It wasn’t passionate or steamy, no lingering touches or wanton desires fueling your actions. You wanted to express your gratitude for him. Just saying thank you because you couldn’t put your thanks into words. He’d changed so much since you first met him. Even though he was still closed off and could be a massive dick sometimes, you were still excited to see him when he came home. Loved hearing the genuine compliments about your food. It was all Taehyung. And you wanted to know more. Any little detail he’d slip you’d take it. Because you really weren’t sure if you wanted this mission to end as much as you did before...

Pulling away, Taehyung breathed against your lips softly.

“What was that for?”

“Just... Thank you, for what you did tonight and-and thanks for coming home to me every night and putting up with me and I really want you to know that-”

“Sure, what else would allies do? If I was cold and cut off to you in that hospital it would blow our cover, I did what I had to do. Namjoon is pretty good at detecting bullshit so sorry if I laid it on a little thick. But he bought our act, so good job to you too,” he said, scratching his neck.

It was like a glass of cold water was dropped onto you. 

Allies...

That’s right. That’s all you were to each other. You weren’t actually husband and wife. The marriage was a sham and you would get it annulled the second the mission was over. At least that’s what you wanted before...

“But I’m going to take a shower, so rest up, I’ll call work in the morning and let them know what happened. Night,” he said, standing up quickly before closing the door behind him.

Tears stung in the corner of your eyes, but you forced them back. You wouldn’t cry over him, not like this. Not now...

But before you knew it, tears were racing down your face as you cried yourself to sleep. Dreaming of a marriage to a man who’d never think of you like that.

---

You were sick again this morning.

Taehyung felt the bed shift as you got up and hobbled your way to the bathroom to puke up whatever dinner you’d made last night. This had happened for the fourth day in a row. You getting up, getting sick then coming back to bed as if it never happened. You hadn’t said a thing to him about it, but he knew. And he couldn’t help the way his stomach clenched when he thought you could be pregnant.

This morning was the last straw. 

He sat up and waited for you to walk in and when you did his heart lurched. You looked sleepy, and like you were parched. But most of all, you looked scared.

“Taehyung,” you said, looking down at the floor nervously.

“We need to get those results,” he said dismissively.

“No shit sherlock,” you snarked. “But ever think that I might have the flu or something?”

“Influenza is coughing, what you’re talking about is a virus.”

“Okay doctor, sue me. My results should be at the clinic. We can go there and get them,” you said.

“I’ll pick them up after work today, is that alright?” he asked, raising a brow at you.

“Yeah, whatever works I guess,” you said.

“Alright.”

It was silent.

“Taehyung?” you asked, coming towards the bed, your heel almost back to full strength after the incident a few weeks ago.

“Yeah.”

“What do we do if I’m... well if I-uh,” you stammered.

“If you’re pregnant? Well... We’ll deal with it, I guess,” he said, sighing and rubbing his forehead.

“They wouldn’t be an it, Taehyung, they’re a baby, a person,” you said, getting a little worked up.

“Listen, we’ll deal with it when the time comes, this mission is over in a month and then you can go and-well...”

“You aren’t suggesting what I think you are, are you?” you said, hurt flashing across your features.

“Y/N, think about it. We’re spies. Espionage Agents. Do you think our lifestyle is one suited to having children? Leaving them with a nanny all day and then not knowing if your parents are going to come home, them leaving you in the care of strangers while they move you all over the world? It’s the loneliest life I could imagine,” Taehyung said, eyes not meeting yours.

“Taehyung were your parents...?” you trailed off, not wanting to believe the truth.

“My parents were D3s with the IEA. They died when I was thirteen, I didn’t even know they were gone until three weeks later when the agency showed up at our door. I know that life, Y/N, I know that hurt. I don’t want anyone to feel that way. Not because we were stupid,” he breathed.

“What if I kept the baby, left the agency...” you thought aloud, trying to calm your racing thoughts.

“Y/N, think about what you’d be doing. You never really leave the agency. They always know where you are, threaten you with what you did in your past over your head. When you sign up, you’re in it for life,” he explained.

“Taehyung I couldn’t do what you’re asking, I can’t,” you said, tears falling down your cheeks.

“Listen, we don’t know for sure. Let’s wait until we know the facts before we start making scenarios up in our heads.”

“Okay...”

---

Taehyung was driving home, your test results in the passenger side.

He couldn’t open them. As much as he hated to admit it, he was scared shitless too. What was he supposed to tell you? How could he get you to see, that this wasn’t a good situation. But, nothing was set in stone until you opened that packet.

Walking up the driveway he saw you in the window, putting some finishing touches on dinner. His heart swelled with something. Something he’d never known before. He couldn’t place this feeling, but he didn’t hate it... He didn’t hate you.

As much as he tried, you wormed your way into his mind frequently. What you were cooking for dinner, how your heel was feeling, if you really were pregnant with his child or not. All of these and more were taking up space in his normally focused brain.

But when he walked in the door, he discovered a glorious sight.

You, in a dress that he hadn’t seen before. Yellow and covered with flowers at the bottom it was flowy. But what he noticed first was that it accentuated areas of you that usually were understated.

Like your stomach. A tiny little bump visible to his eyes suddenly knocked the wind out of him as he dropped his briefcase, making you jump.

“Taehyung! You scared the piss out of me,” you complained, placing your hand over your heart, feeling it beat wildly against your chest. You saw his distress and immediately came to his side. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling faint? Did you eat today? What have I told you about skipping lunch-”

“I-I’m fine,” he said, shakily holding onto the wall and pulling himself together.

“Are you sure? You look pale,” you said, cradling his face in your palms.

Moving away from you he nodded.

“Yeah... Just... Your test results are there,” he said, pointing at the coffee table he collapsed into when he saw you.

“I’ll look at them, you sit down and eat. You worried me,” you said, moving towards the coffee table slowly.

Your heart was going insane inside your chest. You weren’t sure how you’d react to either situation. But Taehyung had already sat down, waiting for you to open it.

Carefully you ripped open the envelope, pulling out the papers inside with delicate fingers. You looked through your bloodwork, noticing nothing of severe importance. But then your eyes landed on the pregnancy test results. 

Pregnant: Yes.

The little circle of red around the three letter word made you want to hurl. But at the same time, you were oddly at peace with the idea. It had taken a lot for you to come to this conclusion, but, if it was meant to be then... So be it. 

“What does it say?” Taehyung asked, looking at your calm demeanour. 

“I’m pregnant,” you say softly. Taehyung’s head snaps up, looking from the paper to your stomach where his child was for certain growing now.

“Fuck,” he said, sitting back in the chair, looking up at the ceiling.

“What do we do Taehyung?”

“We need to call Seokjin, immediately,” he said, standing up.

“You’re right,” you said, nodding slowly.

“I’ll call him now,” he said, standing up.

You wait patiently as Taehyung puts the call on speaker phone.

“Yah, do you know what time it is you little punk, why are you calling me?” he asked.

“Hyung, we’ve got an emergency,” Taehyung said, leaning closer to you.

“What is it?” he asked, mildly concerned now.

“I’m pregnant, sir,” you said, biting your lip.

“You’re... what?”

“Hyung she’s pregnant and...”

“And let me guess, you’re the father Taehyung,” Seokjin said through the phone, distress in his voice.

“Yes, hyung that’s right,” he said, pink tinging his ears.

“Get her out of there Taehyung, that’s an order,” Seokjin said, not sounding at all like he was joking.

“Sir, I can still-”

“I’ll be sending a envoy to come and collect Ms. Y/N by the end of the week. Taehyung if anyone asks you where she went, she went to stay with her sick mother for a while. That should provide you with enough cover until Feng is in town,” Seokjin instructed.

“Yes sir,” you said, head hanging low.

“And Ms. Y/N,” he said, making your ears perk up.

“Yes, sir?” you responded.

“I’ll accept this as your resignation from the company. Goodbye you two.” With that he hung up, leaving you and Taehyung bewildered.

“What?” you screamed.

“Y/N-”

“Taehyung you motherfucker!” you shrieked, taking off your shoe and chasing him around the house with it. 

“Y/N! Please hang on a second!”

“What am I going to do you son of a bitch?!”

“Hey listen, I’ll-ow!” he hissed when you chucked your shoe and it hit him square in the butt. 

“No you listen, I just lost my job because of this! What am I going to do, Taehyung? I’m alone, pregnant and scared out of my fucking mind. What. Do. I. Do??”

“You aren’t alone,” he said, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

“Taehyung when they force me to leave the agency because of this I get a limited amount of money, not nearly enough to support me and a baby,” you said, rubbing your temples.

“I-uh, I can pay child support or... something like that,” he said, coughing at the end to hide his discomfort.

“Taehyung,” you said, already stressed at the idea.

“I’m serious, I’ll send you a check every month. How much do you think you’ll need?”

“You aren’t listening to me,” you said, exacerbated.

“What do you mean?”

“Taehyung, what if I don’t want to take money from you?” you said, placing your hand on your hip.

“I’m confused,” Taehyung complained, continuing to look up at the ceiling.

“I’m so fucked,” you murmured, looking down at your stomach in concern.

Taehyung glanced over at you. Eyes brimming with tears as you cradled your stomach in fear. He felt sick to his stomach. You were both to blame for what happened. He should take responsibility, ease some of your worry. But what would he do? Could he be a good father for this child? Could the two of you work together to make this okay? Did he even want to try?

Yes, he did want to try.

Because you were his wife. Through an agency or not it was still an honest to God marriage on paper. So, you both kinda fucked up, but how you handled it would be paramount for the child.

“Let me help you,” he said, standing up.

Looking up from your tummy in shock, you weren’t sure if you believed him. “What are you talking about,” you said.

“I’ve got your six if you got mine,” he announced, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

“Taehyung a baby isn’t easy. It’s a lifetime commitment. We’d be bound together for life,” you explained.

“Sounds good, I accept this mission,” he said, smiling.

“Taehyung!”

“Let me take care of you, and in the future if something happens, take care of me,” he reasoned.

“Tae this isn’t-I don’t know about this,” you whimpered.

“Trust me, Y/N, trust me this once,” he asked, walking over to you.

Staring into his eyes you didn’t see a hint of a joke or humor in them. He... He was serious?

“Okay Taehyung, I’ve got your six if you’ve got mine,” you sighed.

“Partners?”

“Partners.”

---

The envoy was dispatched to your location a few hours ago. A female agent, playing your sister, would be picking you up and taking you back to the IEA. Taehyung had been almost glued to your side the previous days, saying that he didn’t want anything to happen to you.

“Taehyung,” you groaned, laying in bed around twenty minutes before the car was supposed to arrive. He came into the room, looking at you with a neutral expression.

“Yes?” he asked, eyes locking with yours.

“I-I’m nervous,” you said, twiddling your fingers.

“The envoy will take you to the airport and then you’ll have a meeting with hyung, he’s not so bad. Especially since you’re pregnant. Hyung might be a jerk sometimes, but he’s not heartless, you’ll be safe Y/N, I promise.”

“And the second Feng is dead?”

“I’ll be on my way back to you,” he said firmly.

“Thank you Taehyung, for everything,” you said, feeling emotional.

“Don’t cry, jeez,” he admonished, coming to wipe your tears with his sleeve.

“Sorry, I’m just going to miss you,” you sniffled. Taehyung smiled softly at your tone, placing a gentle hand on your stomach.

“I’m going to miss you too, and your food. Honestly did you refrigerate some of that broccoli soup you made? If you don’t I might starve to death,” he complained.

Giggling you nodded your head. “Yes Tae, there’s at least four servings in there, just don’t eat it all in a row, I don’t want you to get sick,” you warned.

“Yes dear,” he said, rubbing his soft fingertips into your skin. “How big is the baby right now?” he asked, keeping his eyes locked on your little tummy.

“I’m about eight weeks so around the size of a kidney bean,” you explained.

“Our little bean,” he said, smiling.

“Yeah,” you grinned back.

The sound of a car door shutting came from up front. The two of you turned your heads and sighed. “Come on, I’ll get your bag for you,” Taehyung said, lifting what was supposed to be a little weekend bag filled with the necessities. 

You nodded and let Taehyung do the heavy lifting while you went to gather a couple things from the bathroom. Your sister, played by Yeri of accounting, came walking up smiling brightly. The two of you embraced quickly, hugging for a long time before Taehyung huffed like a little kid.

“Okay, off my wife,” he said, pulling you back for a second.

“Sheesh Taehyung, didn’t expect you to be so possessive,” she joked.

“Alright baby,” he said, ignoring Yeri all together, “I promise the second this is over I’ll come to get you,” he said smiling.

“Okay, I’ll hold you to it,” you beamed back.

“C’mere,” he said, pulling you in for a sweet kiss. Taehyung and you hadn’t really been as touchy feely recently, so to finally have his lips on yours felt amazing. Wrapping your arms around him contentedly you could hear Yeri gagging in the background.

“Come on kids, time to go,�� she said, clapping her hands.

Breaking apart Taehyung tucked your hair behind your ears, “I’m gonna miss you,” he said, genuine sadness creeping into his features.

“I’ll miss you two, we both will,” you said, holding your stomach. Taehyung knelt to the ground and placed a kiss on your stomach.

“You both better behave,” he warned, shooting you a heated glance before standing up to give you a final hug.

“See you later, Taehyung!” you said, getting into the car.

Taehyung waved as the two of you drove down the road.

Time for phase two.

---

The drive between you and Yeri was quiet.

“Thanks for coming to get me,” you said softly, looking at your thumbs.

“Don’t mention it,” she said, waving her hand.

“Does the whole office know that I’m...” you trailed off, thoughts wandering.

“Pretty much everybody knows, sorry, Director Kim came out looking like he had just gone through an emotional rollercoaster. We all were kinda thrown for a loop when he said an envoy needed to be put together and stat. Everyone kind of murmured when Hoseok from HR spoke up about the reasoning for paperwork. And it sorta slipped that you had a bun in the oven,” she explained.

“Aw man,” you said, rubbing your face with your palm.

“I’m sorry that you got fired over this,” she offered.

“I knew that if I fucked up this mission in any way that it would get me terminated. Just didn’t think fucking would be the problem that got me fired,” you sighed.

“So, you and Taehyung huh?” she asked, eyes focused on the road.

“Oh, we’re not... like, serious or anything,” you scrambled.

“Serious enough to stick with you for a baby, that's a big time commitment,” Yeri commented.

“Well, we’re partners, we watch each other’s back and help when the other one needs it,” you repeated what Taehyung had told you nights prior.

“But with a baby? I don’t know Y/N, I’d just keep your eyes on the skies and head on the ground for right now. Try to readapt to civilian life,” Yeri suggested.

“I don’t see why we couldn’t work,” you mumbled, leaning your head against the window.

“Taehyung isn’t exactly a people person, how do you think he’ll react with a little people showing up in his world. Crying at all times of day, demanding feedings and toys and affection. It’s going to be overwhelming for the both of you,” she said.

“I-I get it, Yeri.” 

“Sorry, Y/N, I didn’t mean to be such a jerk about it. You know Taehyung better than probably anyone at the agency. If you believe him, then I don’t see why the two of you can’t make it work in a healthy manner,” she soothed.

But the damage was done.

A sense of unease settled over your stomach as you felt your heart clench painfully. Nothing was keeping Taehyung from going out and getting another woman. Someone prettier, a better agent who wasn’t so sensitive, someone who could handle him and his intense personality with ease. Not you who would bicker with him every chance you got.

“Y/N, put your head down,” Yeri demanded suddenly.

“What? Why-”

BANG!

A gunshot ran out over the road, taking out Yeri’s review mirror. The car swerved as Yeri tried to keep it from becoming an easy target. 

“Fuck!” Yeri screamed, hitting the guardrail on the other side of the road. 

“Yeri! Please be careful!” you said, holding your stomach in fear. 

“I can’t do much when someone is shooting at us Y/N!” 

“Who would be shooting at us anyways?!” you screamed, grabbing the bar above the window to stabilize yourself.

Another shot rang out, hitting a tire and causing a blowout. The car wobbled, fishtailing as the back end was no longer stable. You gripped onto the bar tightly, remembering your training and attempting to remain calm.

“Yeri, do you have a gun in here?” you asked.

“Yeah, glove box, why?” she asked, trying to drive with a blown tire.

“Because I know exactly who these people are, and they fucked with the wrong person,” you said, pulling the pistol out of the glove box and throwing the magazine in before rolling down the window.

“Y/N! What the fuck are you doing!”

“Saving our lives, maybe,” you said, pulling yourself up and out. Wrapping your leg around your seatbelt stabilized you, giving you better aim. 

Firing you nailed the passenger who was shooting in the head, watching as if flew back against the seat. Glass shattered from the bullet’s entry into the windshield. Next you aimed for the driver, shooting threw the broken windshield, hitting him in the throat. The car swerved behind you, hitting the guardrail and flipping before coming to rest on it’s side.

Smirking you pulled yourself back into the car, looking ahead of you. Only for your stomach to drop.

Dead ahead were three more cars, waiting.

Yeri slammed on the breaks, sending you forward into the dash. 

The two of you were fucked, blocking your only path out with a blown up car. Yeri seemed to notice because she pulled out her holstered weapon, aiming at the guys standing outside the car. The next thing you knew, the windshield was shattering, Yeri’s head slumping forward against the steering wheel, laying on the horn.

“Yeri!” You cried, gripping her shoulder and shaking her aggressively. 

The men swarmed the vehicle, grabbing at you and pulling you out of the vehicle kicking and screaming.

“Let me go you fuckers! I’m going to kick all of your asses!”

Once they finally got a good grip on you, you were held kneeling in front of...

“Doctor Namjoon?” you asked, eyebrow raising.

“Y/N, how pleasant to see you here,” he said, kneeling down to your level.

“What are you-how-when...?” you asked, confusion taking over your entire being.

“Well, you see Y/N, Mr. Feng would like a word with you and your husband.”

“What?”

“Mr. Feng, the one who supplies our town with everything it needs. The one who built our clinic, the one who set up the adoption center in town, would like to speak with you and your husband. We wouldn’t want to keep the good man waiting would we?” he said, standing up and motioning to the other men standing around you.

“Wait, Doctor Namjoon! There must be a mistake, what did we do? Why does Mr. Feng want to speak with us?”

“Because your husband has just won the election for mayor.”

---

Taehyung couldn’t believe the news.

He was now mayor.

Finally he could take down Feng and restore peace.

His co-workers were blowing up his phone non-stop. But there wasn’t a single message from you. Not that you had to message him or anything, but... it’d be nice to hear from you. Taehyung was caught up in his thoughts about you he almost didn’t hear his phone ringing.

The caller ID was yours.

“Hello? Y/N? Where are you? Did you make it to the airport alright?”

“Taehyung!” You screamed.

His blood ran cold at the desperate sound in your voice.

“Hear that little man? We managed to get ourselves a visitor,” a sinister tone echoed over the phone.

“Feng,” Taehyung growled.

“Now now, Taehyung, wouldn’t want to upset me. I’ve got two for the price of one after all,” Feng’s low voice warned.

Taehyung felt sick. You and the baby were in danger.

“What do you want?” Taehyung asked, desperate to save you.

“A resignation letter, brought to the address in the message that will follow this call,” Feng demanded.

“And if I refuse?”

“Two birds with one bullet,” he said, laying it out.

“Is she safe?” He asked, gripping his pant leg, anger suffusing his entire body.

“For now, the clock is ticking Taehyung.”

And with that, there was a click and the line went dead.

Taehyung flew into action, grabbing his bag and throwing on different clothes. 

“I’m coming baby,” he promised into the air, hoping to God you heard him in your heart.

---

Your body ached, hands tied behind your back without any care to blood flow or being able to feel your fingers. 

You were tied to a flimsy wooden chair, feet taped together. Feng and his men were surrounding the area, everyone seemed to have a position. You tried to find points of weakness, something to exploit, but there weren't many flaws in the way these men were placed. If Feng was good at something, it was security.

Looking around at the several areas of escape, you were disappointed to discover men stationed at every one of them. Of course, it would be a rookie move for them to leave any exit open around someone like you. Although you weren’t sure if they knew your true identity or not.

The likelihood of them knowing wasn’t high. They hadn’t pressured you or asked you any questions since your arrival. They’d merely tied you up and left you to wait. It was agonizing to sit still for the longest time, your hands burning from the rope being tied too tight.

The men around the warehouse were all milling around, all keeping their eyes on the doors. Feng was not a patient man, something you’d figured out. As he stood there, staring at the entrance where Taehyung could come through any moment.

“Boss, we should just kill her then kill him. We have the numbers on them,” one person spoke up, looking bored at the back.

“And what good would that do me? Taehyung is respected in the community, if he dies then the people won’t trust me anymore. Do you want my people not to have faith in me anymore? Do you want me to constantly be battling like this against stupid people who try to work against my tide? I am going to rule China one day, and it won’t be because idiotic people like you tell me what to do,” Feng growled out.

“S-sorry sir,” he whimpered out.

“Shut up and go check the perimeter,” Feng said, barking a few more orders before the men scattered like pool balls.

You sat there, silently observing everything going on. They had a standard set up, something two D3s could liquidate easily. But with one of you being compromised, it made it a little harder. Hopefully Taehyung had a plan.

“Worried that your husband won’t come for you?” Feng sneered, looking at you with disgust.

“When my husband shows up, you all should be very concerned about what you do next,” you warned, glaring harshly at Feng with as much venom as you could muster.

“Taehyung is a man of politics and sweet talking, not action. Although, he must have some action to have you end up in this state,” he scoffed.

“I’m known to be a man of action.”

Both yours and Feng’s heads snapped in the direction of the voice.

“Taehyung,” you breathed, so relieved to see him here. But at the same time fear coursed through your veins. This was a volatile situation with lots of variables, you both had to play this perfectly for it to work.

“Y/N,” he answered, coming to walk forward.

You felt cool metal touch the side of your temple and Taehyung halted in his steps, staring at the gun pointed to your head.

“I believe you owe me something, Mr. Taehyung,” Feng said, holding out his hand. 

Taehyung retrieved something from the inside of his jacket, holding it up before setting it down on the floor and kicking it over towards the two of you. Feng bent down to pick it up when you struck.

Lifting your tied legs up you bashed your heel over his head, causing him to collapse onto the ground. Taehyung rushed forward, quickly removing your bindings around your wrists and feet.

“Taehyung we don’t have much time, a majority of the guards will be back soon after checking the perimeter. Once they see your car they’re gonna book it back here,” you warned.

“I know, you act like this is my first rodeo,” he remarked, sounding mock hurt. 

Finally the restraints came off, falling to the ground in a heap. Taehyung didn’t hesitate to pull you into his embrace, quickly claiming your lips with his.

“Mmm, Taehyung, not now,” you said, pulling away after a few pecks. 

“What the fuck is going on here?” A guard asked, raising his gun and pointing it at you. Taehyung immediately put his body between you and the gun. 

“Feng is just taking a nap,” Taehyung pulled out his gun and shot at Feng, three times. “Permanently.”

“You son of a bitch!” 

Bullets started raining down on the two of you. Taehyung interlocked your fingers, taking off down the warehouse floor. You could hear the metal bullets flying past your ears, making them ring in irritation.

Taehyung continued to pull you down the alleyway, running fast as he could. Your legs burned with the effort to carry your body. You were frightened, adrenaline pumping through your veins at the idea of something happening to you. Taehyung or the baby. But you couldn’t think that way here, it was flight or fight time. And it’s time to fight.

Grabbing Taehyung’s gun you fired off a few rounds, hitting a couple guards towards the top of the railing. But with you standing still, you got a nick in your shoulder, a bullet grazing your delicate flesh.

Taehyung ripped the gun from your grasp and pushed you in front of him, sending your body hurtling forward. “Taehyung let me handle this,” you screamed.

“If you handle it that way you’ll wind up dead, and I won’t have that!” He yelled.

“Taehyung trust me,” you begged, going further ahead.

“I trust you with my life, but not yours,” he said, moving towards the car. Bullets flew past the two of you, one hitting the car tire dead on, having it pop like a balloon. Taehyung cursed as he sent a few rounds off back into the warehouse. You watched as a few men dropped like flies. His aim was deadly, no wonder he was one of the top operatives of the team.

“We need to find transport,” you said, looking at Taehyung.

“I know, but my car is around back, we’d have to fight our way through,” Taehyung said, looking dead ahead.

“Let’s do it,” you said, grabbing his hand and interlocking your fingers.

“No, I can’t risk you getting hurt,” he denied.

“Taehyung give me a gun and let’s get them. I’ve got your six if you’ve got mine,” you said, smiling brightly.

A few moments later, a pistol was place in your hand and Taehyung started moving ahead.

“Cover my back, I’ll go in first, you get any that I miss. Extra magazines are in my pockets,” he instructed as the two of you walked down the suspiciously empty hallway.

A few steps in Taehyung fired his first round. You both kept moving, hands interlocked and moving as one. You two were partners, and you both were going to get out of this unscathed if the other had anything to say about it. Taehyung felt your wedding band rub against his fingers and a new found strength gripped him. 

He wouldn’t fail.

Not today.

You saw movement in the room next to you, taking aim as you fired the round, watching as a man collapsed behind the door. A smirk left your lips as you saw the crimson fluid spill from under the door. Another one bites the dust.

Taehyung fired again, making sure to clear the rooms before heading down the hallway. Suddenly, two men appeared from the hallway in your direction. You squeezed Taehyung’s hand, he instantly flipped the two of you around, firing off two shots in their direction. You heard the distinct thud of bodies hitting the floor when you also took three shots at men coming towards you the new head of the movement.

Two went down easy, the third struggled on the floor, aimed and shot, shooting through the ceiling right in front of you. Running forward you crushed his wrist with your heeled shoe, shooting him through the head for good measure before Taehyung came back, bringing your hands together once more and taking the lead.

“They just keep coming,” you exclaimed, fingers already hurting from the recoil of the gun.

“Hang in there, just a few more, then we’re home free,” Taehyung said, shooting down the hall once more.

“Okay,” you agreed, letting the years of your training take over your body.

“That’s my girl,” Taehyung smiled, rubbing his thumb against your knuckles for a moment before pushing forward through the building.

The pet name sent liquid fire through your veins. You were his girl, you were the one carrying his child, no one else. It was the two of you against the world right now, and you were going to win.

“I see the door, I’m not sure if there’s an alarm on it or not, but be prepared to run,” he said, approaching the metal door with an air of caution. He checked around the seal, not seeing any wires or things of that nature that would trip an alarm, nor did he see any sensors that could also send a signal back to the main area of the warehouse.

“I think we’re in the clear. The car is right around the corner when we get down the stairs, okay? You go ahead of me alright. In case this door does trigger an alarm, I want you to get in the car and go. If I’m hit or I go down, you go without me, you understand?”

Panic suffused your body. Leave? Without him? Never.

“No, I won’t go unless you’re there with me,” you argued.

“Listen, if I go down there’s no way you can get me in the car by yourself. You’re carrying precious cargo baby, best not to risk anything,” Taehyung explained.

“Tae I’m not going to leave you,” you said, shaking your head.

“Baby listen to me, I need you to make it out of here. If I lose you now I-I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said, looking at you with concern.

“You won’t lose me, and I won’t lose you. We’re getting out of here together, Taehyung,” you said.

“Then let’s go,” he announced, opening the door. The two of you bolted down the stairs, not waiting for the alarm to trip or anything of the sort. Your heart was hammering in your chest, blood pounding in your ears. God, it had been so long since you felt like this.

The fear, the adrenaline.

It all made you realize what a crazy few months this had been. Originally, you hated Taehyung, hated what he represented. Everything you couldn’t be, just a reminder that you had failed. But in reality he was always there. Like no one else had been. Sure at the beginning it was by force, but after a while, you enjoyed having him around. He ate your dinners with gusto, complimented your appearance, was there for you when the rest of your world fell apart. 

Sure he could be a dick, but there’s a good person under all the bullshit. You wanted to discover that person. The one you had a glimpse of during these months. The one who smiles at every dog, who doesn’t like bitter things, who needs to sleep holding onto you.

Taehyung was the only person you could rely on, and you for him. The pair of you made a pact, all those months ago. Help me, help you. And the two of you were in it for the long haul now, a child on the way changed how you saw your life going. You never expected to be a mother.

But if it was with Taehyung, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe the two of you could make it work in a healthy way for everyone involved...

You saw the car, parked just off the road and in the ditch slightly, enough so no one would see it. Another shot rang out as you two booked it across the open dirt clearing around the warehouse.

Making it to the car you flung the driver side door open, when you realized Taehyung wasn’t standing beside you.

“Taehyung!” You screamed.

Looking behind you, Taehyung was there holding his side as if he had run too fast, but you saw it.

Blood.

Everything slowed down. You watched as he brought his hand before his face, staring at the crimson liquid coating his fingers. His eyes looked to yours, clear orbs that stared into his soul. Fuck, he fucked up. And he fucked up bad.

“Go on baby,” he said, falling to his knees.

“Taehyung, no!” you screamed, running over to his side.

“Y/N, get in the fucking car and go now,” he said through gritted teeth.

“No, I can’t just leave you here are you crazy?” you said, holding his side as well.

“Y/N, I’m serious. Leave me now, they’re coming,” he said.

True to his word you heard footsteps coming down the stairs that the pair of you had just run down yourselves. It sounded like a death march approaching you two. Taehyung was shuddering, white button up during red with proof of his injury.

“I’ll fend them off,” you said, holding his head with your other hand.

“No, you won’t. Go now, while you still can baby please,” he begged.

“Please don’t make me do this without you,” you cried, tears streaming down your face.

“I’m sorry, I wish I could... Be there for the both of you,” he said, placing his hand on your stomach. “Daddy loves you... Both of you,” he whispered. Before he went limp in your arms.

“Taehyung, no! Please please come back, I love you too please!” you screamed.

“There they are!”

“Get the bitch!”

With a final kiss you bolt up, firing a few shots at the men before you took off into the car, wiping your tears with the back of your hand.

Throwing the car in gear you peeled off down the road, hearing furious screaming behind you. But all you could hear were those words that’d haunt you for the rest of your life.

“I love you too, Taehyung.”

---

“It’s been five months, Y/N, you need to take it easy,” your friend, Park Jimin, said, helping you stand from your seated position.

“I’m only seven months, I got two more to go,” you said, rubbing your swollen belly with affection.

When you returned to the agency without Taehyung, Seokjin immediately knew what happened.

“Was it short?” he asked you as you appeared before him.

“Yes, he didn’t suffer,” you said.

Daddy loves you... Both of you...

Thinking about him still hurt, made your head spin with the memories of everything the two of you did together. 

His body laying in the dirt alone, as you ran to the safety of the vehicle.

Tears sprung to your eyes and Jimin rushed over, shushing you and rubbing your back.

Taehyung apparently had written a will out while the two of you were living in Feng’s little compound. Saying that anything and everything was to go to you. His apartment, his stocks and his trust that his parents left for him. It was all under your name now.

You could easily support your child and send them to any college you wanted without lifting a finger, but you knew that couldn’t work. So you got a job at a local convenience store. Something to pass the time while the baby twirled and kicked in your belly. 

People that came in and cooed over you, asking how you were and how the father was. You put on your brave face and told them he passed, but you were still doing well regardless. An old grandmother approached the check out one day...

It had been slow, no one really coming in except for a few college students and a couple middle aged men. Your feet were heavy with the weight of your pregnancy, but other than that, the day was alright.

Slow days like this were always a little harder on you. It gave you more time to think. Think about the past, the daunting cloud that was the future hanging over you. You must’ve looked distressed because a little old lady came up to the counter, a simple bottle of water in her basket.

“Are you alright dear?” She asked, looking at you with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine,” you said, wiping your eyes lightly to get whatever emotion was there out of them.

“Are you sure about that?” She questioned, looking deep into your heart.

And before you knew it, the floodgates opened. 

“No,” you whimpered out, tears falling freely from your face. 

“Oh my sweet, come here,” she said, opening her arms.

Running around the counter you took the embrace. It was the first time since Taehyung died you felt this level of comfort. Jimin tried his best but, nothing compared to the touch of a mother, someone who knew what you were going through. 

“You don’t have to talk about it, I know that pain. My husband passed before the birth of our third child. I know how badly you must hurt, but my dear, we must live on to celebrate their memory. There's sadness that comes with every passing, but we need to be happy for them. Be joyous in their memory, so that they can live on in us.”

You’d never cried that hard in your life you were certain.

But the old lady you’d never met just hung onto you, keeping you close and patting your head until your cries stopped. 

“Y/N, are you listening to me?” Jimin asked as he sat at your feet, rubbing them after your long day at work.

“Nope,” you said, popping the p for effect.

“I was saying, that we should make a nursery soon. You can’t put it off much longer. The baby is going to be here before you know it,” he said, rubbing out a knot that had been bothering you since near the beginning of your pregnancy.

“I can’t touch his stuff, Jimin, I can’t,” you whisper.

“Then I can-”

“Go in that room and I’ll cut your hands off Park Jimin,” you warned.

“Okay, okay. Then we should at least set up the cradle in your room,” he said, trying to compromise.

“Fine, but can we do it later, I’m super tired right now.”

“Yeesh, you’re such a little baby. Fine we’ll hold off until you have your next day off. Then we’re doing it,” he said.

“Okay okay, whatever,” you complained.

Jimin’s phone rang. You whined at the loss of his hands on your feet but let him go take his conversation. You looked down at your big, swollen belly and rubbed your hands over the flesh there. You didn’t want to know the gender of the baby yet. You weren’t sure what you wanted, but you knew that if they looked anything like Taehyung, your heart would break in the best way. 

Big eyes like his, that boxy smile, broad shoulders and large hands that held yours just so. Tears made their way into your eyes as you thought about him. After five months it still hurt. Not to wake up and have his arm over your waist. Hearing his soft singing in the shower. Not having his snarky comments and kinda rude attitude was even something you missed.

You just missed him...

“Hey, Y/N-oh shit, are you alright?” he asked, coming forward and touching your knee comfortingly.

“No, Jimin. How am I going to do this by myself? I can’t raise a child without him. I’m going to fuck it up, it’s going to go so wrong and I... I don’t know if I can do this,” you whimpered.

“You can do this. You aren’t alone. You know that Joy and I will do everything we can to help you out. Trust in us, we’ll be there every step of the way,” Jimin said, trying to comfort you.

“I miss him... So much,” you cried out, tears flowing freely down your face at this point. Jimin pulled you to his chest, trying to shush you, to comfort you in any way that he could. But it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t Taehyung. 

After a few minutes you finally calmed down. Jimin explained he had to leave and with a kiss on your forehead he was gone.

You sat on the couch, trying to watch some TV but nothing was getting rid of that feeling. The feeling in your gut that you knew. It was familiar. But you couldn’t pin it down.

Getting ready for bed you brushed your teeth and washed your face. Getting into bed you wrapped up in the blanket. It had been increasingly difficult for you to fall asleep as your pregnancy progressed. Too big to lay on your stomach and back you had to settle for sleeping on your side, something you weren’t used to. And trying to sleep without someone next to you was difficult.

Tossing back and forth all night you didn’t really fall asleep.

You kept hearing noises and having nightmares. 

Watching TV did little to ease your nerves.

You’d been spending time like this recently. So tired you’re desperate to sleep but you know in the back of your mind that sleep is so far away. 

Giving up you decided to go on a walk.

You lived in a decent neighborhood, mainly filled with older couples with no children, so you decided that a nice brisk walk in the fresh spring air would do you well. Struggling to pull on your shoes you heard it.

A rustling outside in the bushes. You waited a few moments before you heard it again. It was large, possibly a young bear, but you weren’t sure a bear would be this far into the suburbs. Again, you listened, this time a cough rang out as you waited.

A person.

Running to the bedroom you opened your bedside drawer and pulled the gun that sat under the false bottom. Gripping it tightly in your hands you moved slowly.

You knew how ridiculous this must look, but you were pregnant, alone and not taking any chances. Worst comes to worst you shoot a bear and call the cops saying you thought you were being robbed. You had a license, nothing would come of it. 

But bears don’t cough like that...

Slowly you approached the door, gun aimed low. You walked with purpose, keeping your posture straight as to be prepared in case someone came up behind you. If this was a robbery, it was likely not just one person. You didn’t want to call the police just yet, because maybe it was dumb kids deciding to take on a defenseless pregnant woman. Easy pray.

Normally.

However, as you approached the door you heard the rustling stop.

You laid your hand on the door knob, preparing yourself for the onslaught of what could be beyond the cherry hardwood. 

Quickly, you pushed the door open, aiming your gun at-

“Meow.”

“What the fuck?” you asked, looking down at a black and brown cat that had situated itself on your front doorstep.

“Meeeooowww.” It drawled at you, looking up and into your house with interest.

“No. Shoo,” you said, waving your gun carelessly into the night.

“Meeeoowww,” it said again, gazing at you with such tender eyes that it made your stomach drop.

“You need a place to stay, is that it?” you questioned, looking down at the animal.

It merely meowed again and moved passed you, strutting into your house like it owned the place.

“Sure, come on in,” you joked, walked back inside only to be stunned by what you saw.

The outline of a man, standing in the middle of your home.

Instantly the gun went up, locking onto his head with deadly precision.

“Who the fuck are you,” you growled, waiting for the intruder to turn around.

“Y/N?”

The gun clattered to the floor.

“What...?” you asked, staring into the face of the man you thought you’d never see again.

Taehyung stood before you, hair much longer than the last time you’d seen him. He looked thinner, but not grotesquely so. You couldn’t help yourself, you walked forward.

“This is a dream, a really cruel dream,” you whispered to yourself as you reached him.

“Baby,” he whispered, as if he was in the same place you were. Star struck.

“Taehyung what are you...” you said, reaching out and touching his face. There were a few scars here and there, but it was the same face, the same man you’d fallen in love with, standing before you.

“Feng’s top operatives are dead, the whole system is shut down, all thanks to us,” he said, as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

SMACK.

Taehyung’s head whirled to the other side as your hand collided with his cheek. Coming back with a confused look on his face he faced your anger.

“What the fuck do you call this?” you asked, glaring at him.

“What do you mean?” he said, holding his cheek in offense.

“What are you doing here, you’re dead Taehyung,” you growled.

“No, Y/N, I’m right here, I didn’t die,” he said, moving towards you. 

You placed your hand out in front of you, stopping him in his tracks. “Please Taehyung, don’t do this to me,” you begged.

“Don’t do what? Can’t you see me? I came back for you, for us,” he announced, like a grand scheme that had all gone to plan.

“What us, Taehyung? We never really had an us,” you explained, thinking back to your memories with him.

“The us we wanted to have,” he said quickly.

“Is that even possible for us, Taehyung? Did you think about that? About all these men that are going to be chasing you? And you brought them right here? To me?”

“No, baby, listen. I killed each and every one of them. I made sure that no one would hurt what I want to build with you,” he said.

“And what is that, Taehyung?” You asked, wanting to hear him say it.

“A family, Y/N. I want to build a family, a life with you,” he divulged, looking like an embarrassed school boy.

“Do you really think that’s possible? That your work won’t follow you-”

“I quit the agency,” he said, running his fingers through his hair. 

“You what?” you asked, looking at him in disbelief.

“I quit, Y/N, I’m done with espionage,” he said.

“You’re never done with the agency, you told me that yourself,” you accused.

“No, please hear me out. I wiped my record, everything. They don’t have access to anything anymore. Hyung won’t try to find me, I promise,” he begged.

“You can’t make a promise for someone else Taehyung,” you reminded him darkly.

“How can I convince you that I want this, that I want you more than anything?”

“I don’t know,” you whispered, dropping your gaze to the floor.

“Please, tell me how to fix this,” he pleaded, cradling your face in his hands.

“I don’t know if you can, Taehyung. It’s all so messed up,” you said, tears starting to well up in your eyes.

“God, Y/N, I’m so sorry. I did this. This is my fault,” he said, rubbing his face.

“It’s not just your fault, Taehyung, I didn’t help the situation any,” you said, trying to ease his pain.

“I was so hell bent on getting revenge... I could’ve stopped but I didn’t. I didn’t stop until every last one of them was gone, and it took me too long. I mean, look at you,” he said, gesturing to your stomach. “If I had waited any longer our child would be born and I... I could’ve missed that because of wanting revenge. I’m disgusting.”

“Taehyung stop.”

“Y/N it’s my fault that you’re like this. It’s my fault that you had to suffer and it’s my fault that we-”

You wrapped your arms around his neck as you kissed his lips with passion you hadn’t felt in a long time. Taehyung took the opportunity to wrap his arms around your hips, pulling you closer than you were before. Your stomach pressed against his and your baby swirled and kicked and tumbled inside of your stomach. The air wooshed out of your lungs as you felt them wiggle around. Never had they been so active before.

Taehyung pulled away, looking at you with sheer adoration. “I can feel them,” he said, holding the side of your stomach gently. “Can I?” he asked, looking at you with desperation.

You nodded your head, looking down as he fell to his knees in front of you. Taehyung’s hands pushed your shirt up to expose your full belly. His eyes misted up as he wiped at them furiously. “You’re so beautiful, honestly,” he said, placing his lips against your soft skin.

“You’re so full of shit,” you said, laughing. “I’m the size of a whale,” you complained.

“No you aren’t. You’re pregnant, with my baby, fuck that’s so hot,” he groaned, tilting his head back.

“Yeah?” 

“Yes, fuck...” he said, resting his head on your belly. Your baby kicked, making Taehyung’s head pop up quickly. “They kicked! Oh my God, Y/N!”

“Yeah, our baby tends to do that, a lot at night too,” you told him softly.

“Really?” he asked, looking genuinely excited.

“Mhmm,” you said, gazing at Taehyung’s sparkling eyes.

“Y/N,” Taehyung swallowed hard, “can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” you agreed.

“C-Can I stay... with you?”

“What?”

“N-evermind! I’ll get a hotel room or something. Maybe Jin-Hyung will let me stay with him for a while but-”

“Taehyung,” you shushed. He quieted almost immediately.

“Yes?”

“You can stay,” you said softly, “I want you to stay.”

“Really?” he said, astonished.

“Yes, but I’m laying down some ground rules,” you said.

“Of course,” he announced.

“You have to sleep in the same bed as me,” you started. Taehyung simply smiled. “You have to rub my feet when I ask, the first time I ask. And I want you to wash my hair for me,” you said, adding on that last one just to make him annoyed.

“Okay,” he agreed easily.

“And,” you said again.

“And?” he waited patiently.

“And I get to pick the first name of the baby,” you said smirking.

“Can’t we atleast get a list of names we both like together?” he asked, pouting.

“Fine fine, we can do that,” you agreed.

“So I can stay?” he asked, looking for any hesitation in your eyes.

“Yes, Taehyung, you can stay. I want you to stay,” you said again, moving to wrap him in your arms tightly.

“So we’re doing this, officially?”

“I thought it already was?” you asked, holding your hand up to reveal your ring, the one you hadn’t taken off since Taehyung ‘died’.

“You didn’t take it off?”

“How could I? It was one of the only things you ever gave me, besides this,” you said, pointing to your stomach with a laugh.

“I’m not going to apologize,” he said, smiling.

“Don’t want you to,” you said, grinning back.

“Let’s go to bed, my pretty wife,” he said, taking your hand and leading you into the bedroom.

The pair of you laid down, not even wanting to change. Taehyung comfortably wrapped his arms around you, pulling you back towards his body. 

It felt like being whole again, everything was right with the world.

And everything was going to be okay.

---

Everything was not okay.

“Taehyung I swear to fuck if you hit one more goddamn bump in this road I will slit your throat,” you growled, hanging onto the bar above the window for dear life.

“Baby I’m going as smoothly as I can,” he argued.

“Bullshit, it’s like you’re doing it on purpose!” you accused.

“Y/N,” he countered.

“Do not Y/N me right now Kim Taehyung or I will fucking kill you!”

It had started about an hour ago. 

Your baby was quiet, Taehyung and you sleeping soundly when you felt it. A distinct cramp coming from your well... down there.

Readjusting yourself you thought that might help and make it go away. You’d been cramping a lot lately, something the doctor told you was totally normal in your stage of pregnancy. But if it got any more intense then you should probably come in.

Then a sharp stabbing pain made you jolt up in bed. Taehyung was quick to get up too, looking blearily at you in concern.

“What’s wrong baby?” he asked, rubbing your shoulder soothingly.

“Nothing I just-ah!” you gasped, feeling another sharp pain shoot through your body.

“Y/N?” he asked, turning to face you more directly.

“I-I think I’m having contractions,” you paled.

“Are you sure they aren't braxton hicks?” he asked, trying to narrow down the issue.

“No. These feel completely different than those, I-I wanna go to the hospital,” you said, moving to stand up when a rush of fluid went down your leg. 

“Fuck, Y/N,” he said, staring at your soaked legs.

“Get the car.”

That’s how you wound up driving to the hospital at three in the morning on a Tuesday. 

Pulling into the parking lot Taehyung came around quickly to help get you out of the car. You took his arm, legs feeling wobbly as you tried to stand. Taehyung helped you the whole way, listening to you curse him out while you made your way across the parking lot.

It was a blur from there. Taehyung’s voice the only thing you could clearly make out.

You were in a wheelchair and you could feel the urge to push, you needed to push.

“Taehyung,” you whimpered, reaching for him desperately.

“It’s okay, Y/N, you’re going to be okay,” he said, wrapping his fingers around yours as you made it to the room. 

Doctors were in a flurry around you, people poking and prodding at you, adjusting this and moving that when you finally had enough.

“Stop with all the fucking around and just help me push for fucksake!” you screamed.

Everyone stopped and the doctor towards the back seemed to catch on.

“She’s dilated she needs to push,” he said, coming forward and adjusting your legs in the stirrups so that you could have better leverage.

“Okay sweetheart now take a deep breath and push,” the nurse behind you said. 

Pushing was so hard, it was like nothing you’d ever felt before. 

It was as if no matter how hard you pushed nothing would happen.

“Taehyung,” you whined, making a grabbing motion for him. Soon a big hand was wrapped around yours, warmth enveloping you as you felt the urge to push again.

“Come on baby, push, just like they said, you can do it,” Taehyung encouraged.

“I can’t. Taehyung it hurts too much,” you whimpered, grabbing onto him desperately.

“I can see the head! You’re doing amazing!”

“See? They’re almost here baby, just a little more,” Taehyung said, tears in his eyes.

“Do you got my six?” you asked, looking at him with misty eyes as well.

“I got your six baby, till the end,” he nodded.

One more big push and you felt instant relief. 

“Sir, do you want to cut the cord?”

Soon Taehyung’s warmth was replaced by a small body being placed on your chest, crying was all you heard. Instinctually, you brought them to your breast, letting them latch on and drink their fill.

Then a small kiss was placed to the top of your head.

“Baby she’s beautiful,” he cried, nestling his head into your hair.

“She? It’s a girl?” you asked, looking up at him.

“Yes, it’s a girl,” he acknowledged. 

“Oh my God,” you cried, wrapping your arms around your baby, coddling her to your chest. 

“What’s the name?” A nurse from the back asked, probably getting a crib for her ready.

“Rose,” you said, instantly knowing the name was perfect for your child.

Taehyung made a small whimpering sound from behind you, and you knew he liked it too.

Turning slightly you brought him to your lips, a sweet kiss being shared between the two of you. 

“I love you Taehyung,” you said, wiping a single tear from his eye.

“I love you too, Y/N, both of you.”

[krsnlove]

Red Dress

Notes: This is set in the Book 1 of The Royal Romance. The Ball where Liam will choose Riley 🥰. This is right after Leo and Maxwell leave Liam to be alone with Riley in the ballroom.

Inspired by Magic!’s Red Dress here.

Pairings: Liam x Riley, Drake x Olivia

Rating: PG

Tagging: @alj4890 @thecordoniandiaries @lodberg @rafasgirl23415 @texaskitten30 @penguininapinktuxedo @vickypoochoices @sirbeepsalot @cora-nova

The brooding commoner casually leaned against the back wall of the ballroom. Another borish event he had to endure. Another night of countless faces with smiles so tight one would think they were attending a botox convention.

Though he wouldn’t mind being at one right now.

Literally anywhere else but the royal palace.

Yet, here he stood with his tired gray suit and scuffed brown dress shoes watching members of the royal court in their frivolous ball attire.

The earlier conversation he had with Riley is fresh in his mind. She needed to at least be warned of the many downfalls the Cordonian royal life could bring. He loathed the idea of her changing by what came when one chose to live this life.

A decision he knew Riley would not hesitate to make if it meant being with Liam.

And Drake knew how hard his best friend had fallen for the fellow American.

“I’m in love with her,” Liam confided in him. “Fate has granted me a chance at love and I’m allowing myself to be selfish this one time.”

Drake sips on the glass of whiskey before him, reflecting on the words spoken by the man he has considered a brother for most of his life.

By the end of the night two of his best friends would become engaged. It was strange to consider a newcomer like Brooks as a close friend. Must be losing my touch, he mused.

“Drake-o!”

He turns to the familiar voice breaking his thoughts and sees Leo striding towards him with Maxwell closely behind.

“Leo,” he greets the former Prince. “Long time no see. What brings you here?”

“Everyone keeps asking me that same question. Have I been that horrible of an older brother to surprise everyone by my attending his coronation?”

“I mean you did print out fake adoption papers for Liam to find when we were younger,” Drake reminded him. Leo’s face brightened with mirth as he let out a hearty chuckle.

“Classic favorite,” Leo added.

“Or the time you put green food coloring in his toothpaste.”

Leo’s grin stretched across his handsome face. “Ah, yes. The visiting dignitaries thought he had rabies. It was quite amusing.”

“How did you do even do that as a child?! I’m all grown up--,” Maxwell began to say before Drake interrupted.

“Man-child,” he corrected.

Maxwell ignored the comment before continuing. “--Grownup, and can barely get away with anything without Bertrand catching me.”

“Bertrand sounds like Father,” Leo nodded in understanding. “You pick up on a few things after being caught so many times. You’re almost forced to become creative.”

“Any tips?,” Maxwell asked with a look of total admiration at the former Prince.

“God help us,” Drake muttered as he took another sip of his drink.

“I may have abdicated the throne but my duty to help another Cordonian in time of need is one I take seriously,” Leo said with a sincerity Drake had never seen before.

As Leo began a vivid discussion with an attentive Maxwell, Drake stared absentmindedly into space totally oblivious to the excited voices surrounding him and quietly sips his drink.

In the corner of his eye, he notices wisps of the color maroon flourishing a few feet from him. He didn’t bother to look who was dressed in the hideous shade of red.

He knew.

The one who would choose to dress in that color would be here tonight he thought grimly. His grip around the glass in hand tightened. The mere idea of the woman drove him to the brink of insanity.

The sound of her voice carries over to his ears emitting a low groan to escape his lips. It was becoming difficult to hide his contempt for her these days.

Leo stopped talking mid-sentence at the noise. Both he and Maxwell looked at Drake.

“Problem?”

Drake’s attention snapped back to the two men beside him.

“No. Just…,” words fail him until eventually he grows silent. The damned woman affected his speech too he thought bitterly. He let out a frustrated grunt before Maxwell’s whistle caught their attention.

“Olivia did not come to lose in that dress,” Maxwell said slowly nodding his head in approval.

“Little Livy isn’t so…,” Leo turned to see the red-headed Duchess, “Wow.”

Several seconds in silence pass as the two men stared at the figure Drake could sense was still standing a few feet away. With his back to her, he focused his attention to the other guests in the room.

“Good for her,” Leo finally said breaking the silence.

“She kind of scares me sometimes,” Maxwell muttered.

Leo chuckled at the comment and pats Maxwell’s shoulder in a comforting manner.

“A true Nevrakis through and through. Isn’t that right Drake?,” Leo asked as he turns back to him.

“Whatever,” Drake mumbled right before the gold-embered liquid touched his lips once again.

It isn’t long, much to Drake’s dismay, before Leo and Maxwell’s attention is back on the frivolous subject of bypassing Bertrand.

After several minutes however, the sound of Leo’s voice followed by Maxwell’s in an animated dialogue began to fade when the figure clad in the maroon colored gown crossed his line of vision.

Drake’s throat suddenly felt dry despite drinking back to back glasses of his favorite brand liquor. He pulled at the tie around his neck, loosening the knot as a result. The air suddenly felt thick in the ballroom. He looked around expecting to see Neville since the air always felt odd around that imbecile.

But no Neville in sight. Drake felt a twinge of disappointment at that.

His attention is again shifted to the figure in maroon walking across the ballroom. She seemed to glide across the marble floors. The high slit of her dress seemed to tease him with just a small peak of her porcelain skin thigh. The top of her gown wrapped her chest in a manner that highlighted her bosom leaving no room for doubt in anyone’s mind that she was no longer the young orphaned Duchess of Lythikos.

She is a woman.

And a damn good looking one at that, Drake concluded. A fact he had somehow missed this past social season. He mentally kicked himself at missing how attractive Olivia is and how her personality unmatched what his eyes is seeing tonight.

“I’m not the only one with some tips,” Leo’s voice cuts into Drake’s thoughts again, “ask Drake. He’s pulled off quite a few pranks in his day.”

Drake stared blankly at the two men beside him, each looking at him expectantly.

“Let’s hear it Drake,” Maxwell said eagerly.

Leo’s lips formed a sly smile, noticing the loose tie on Drake and the familiar look of being caught red-handed.

“Yes, let’s hear it. You have been paying attention, haven't you?,” Leo asked. Drake shot him an annoyed look.

“Listen,” Drake admitted, “I’ll be real. I haven’t processed anything for the past hour or so.” He held his glass of whiskey into the air and shook it a bit to make his point.

“A whole hour?,” Leo asked in a mocking tone. “Pray tell who has held your attention this long then?”

Before Drake can form a response, Olivia somehow looks directly at him from across the ballroom. He locks eyes with her for a moment and he could swear Olivia’s lips curved into a smile before she exited the ballroom.

Despite the hideous personality she possessed, Drake thought quietly, her smile is...nice.

“Hello? Drake?,” Maxwell’s voice broke his attention from the red-headed Duchess.

“He still isn’t processing things Maxwell,” Leo remarked. “Give him a moment.”

Drake shot back the last of his drink before setting the glass back on the table. He pulled at his tie again, this time tightening the knot and smoothed the lapels of his suit coat.

“Give it a rest Leo,” Drake told the former Prince. “I’ll see you two later.”

Maxwell and Leo stares after him as he makes his way towards the exit of the ballroom.

“That’s the same exit Olivia just used. I hope they don’t run into each other,” Maxwell observed. “My ears are still ringing from the last time they were in the same room.”

“Number one tip Maxwell, a great prank is always unexpected.”

“Should I write that down?,” he asked.

“No,” Leo replied, “But if we hurry and follow Drake and Olivia we might witness one of the greatest pranks in Cordonian history.”

[writinginstardust]

After The War | Chapter 3

Pairing: Dorian Havilliard x reader

Warnings: mention of injury/death

A/N: Welp, that took a while but like it’s done so that’s all that matters as far as i’m concerned. Look i’ll admit i’m not 100% happy with this chapter but I don’t actually hate it and I really enjoyed having more of Yrene to write so that’s where we’re at. In case it’s unclear there’s a just over 2 week time skip from the last chapter. Word \Count: 2908

*

“Holy gods that feels amazing,” I groaned out as Yrene's magic soothed the aching muscles in my leg, the tension washing out of my body on waves of relaxation. She looked up at me and smiled, pleased to be helping, before frowning as her magic probed further.

“This isn't as good as I'd hoped it would be by now. You really need to remember to use the salve I gave you. Have you used it at all since you arrived?”

I averted my gaze guiltily. I hadn't in fact used it once since leaving Orynth and probably hadn't for about a week prior, too busy preparing for the journey. She could read all that easily on my face and fixed me with a look that could probably scare a Valg Prince into submission.

“(Y/N), you have got to take care of yourself. This is never going to heal properly if you don't look after it when I'm not around.”

“I know. I'm sorry. I'll try and remember to do it more often.”

“I'm getting your maid to remind you every night, it's the only way.” I sighed and rolled my eyes but she was probably right. “Oh, and no over-exerting yourself, especially once we start more therapy in a couple of days. Yes, that does mean no long evening walks with Dorian, you two will just have to find some other way to occupy yourselves.”

I tried not to show it but I felt myself deflate at that. Those walks had become my favourite part of the day. I could still spend time with Dorian I supposed, but it wouldn't be the same. The gardens were peaceful in the evening and I found myself more relaxed than I had in a long while with nothing but Dorian and a light spring breeze for company. Again Yrene noticed and couldn't suppress her smirk, she had become far too intuitive to my emotions.

“Alright, I'll take it easy for a while.”

“Good. We can get started in a couple of days, Chaol said it's practically back to back meetings until the Eyllwe royals arrive but that you'll all have a lot more time after that. Trust me, you're not going to want to be doing much between sessions.” I shuddered at the thought of what might be coming but it was a necessity if I was ever going to be rid of the last remnants of the war. “Relax, you're undoing all my work worrying about it.”

“Sorry.”

“And stop worrying so much anyway, it's not good for you or your recovery.” She sent a fresh wave of healing magic through me pulling the tension from all my muscles rather than just my leg.

“I'll try, though it's a bit difficult when I'm in charge of my Kingdom's foreign affairs at the moment.”

“That's understandable but you're doing an amazing job, you really needn't be concerned about messing up. Nox won't let you and neither will Dorian or Chaol, they're on your side in all this and they don't plan on letting anything go wrong for you and Terrasen.” She smiled reassuringly and withdrew her magic, resting a comforting hand on my shoulder. “And neither do I.”

I felt myself welling up at her kindness and had to swallow a lump which had formed in my throat before I could choke out a soft “thank you”.

“Don't mention it. You're like a part of the family now and family looks out for each other.” The soft smile she'd been sporting spread into a mischievous smirk. “Another thing family does is tease each other about their love lives. So with that in mind, how's everything going between you and Dorian?” I almost choked on air at the question and tried to fight down a blush at the knowing glint in her eye.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“I think you do. You forget I was there when you were out of it and you had no filter. You may have confessed some secrets to me, and guess who some of them involved?” Stomach dropping, I hid my face in my hands and peaked at her through my fingers.

“Oh gods, tell me no one else heard?”

“Don't worry, no one heard most of it though I think you should know that you told Dorian he was pretty the first time you two met.”

“Please tell me I didn't.”

“Unfortunately for you, you did. Dorian appreciated it though, he was unbearably smug about it actually.” Yrene herself looked pretty smug about it too.

“Well that's got to be just about the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me.” Before Yrene could reply, Dorian strolled in, his smirk making it evident he'd heard my last comment. I just hoped that was all he'd caught.

“Now that's a story I'd love to hear.”

“Oh you already know it, better than she does actually.” I shot a betrayed glance at Yrene, feeling my cheeks heating up even more now that the star of said story was in the room.

“Ah so we're talking about the time she ran around naked and shouting her undying love for me?”

“I may not remember most of what happened but I know I didn't do that,” I said around a laugh. “Aelin would have never let me hear the end of it.”

“That's true. I assume you're talking about her calling me pretty when we'd only just met then?” Yrene nodded. “That's not embarrassing, in fact it's a rather common occurrence. You get used to it when you're as pretty as I am.” He winked and flashed us both a charming smile as we rolled our eyes.

“Pretty damned full of yourself maybe.” I muttered under my breath, as Yrene made a similar comment. Playing along, Dorian clutched a hand to his heart dramatically.

“Such cruel words from such lovely ladies, however shall I survive the wounds you inflict?”

“Drama Queen,” Yrene teased.

“I am not! Tell her (Y/N).”

“I'm with Yrene, you have a rather large flair for the dramatic.”

“Not you too!” He groaned in mock despair, “I thought we bonded, how could you betray me like this?”

“You call that bonding? Yrene saved my life and nursed me back to health, you're going to have to do something spectacular to top that and get me taking your side.”

“Well it looks like I have some catching up to do.”

“Good luck with that.” Yrene fixed him with a challenging glare, clearly not ready to lose my favouritism yet. This little battle was going to be most enjoyable.

“I don't need luck. Bonding starts now, (Y/N), you ready to go?” I blinked at him in surprise.

“Go? Go where?”

“It's 5:30, thought you might like a walk in the gardens like normal.”

“No. She's not allowed until I'm done with her leg so no walks for a while.” She smiled a deadly sweet smile at him. “I know that's your bonding time...how unfortunate...Are you sure you don't need some of that luck?” He scowled back at her but reached for my hand to help me to my feet anyway.

“You underestimate me Yrene. Come on (Y/N), I have another idea. You like reading, right?”

“How ever did you know? It's not like I've ever spent an hour gushing about books with you.” I somehow managed to keep a teasing tone despite my internal freak out that he kept ahold of my hand and mentally congratulated myself on that achievement.

“No, that's never happened, I must just have excellent intuition.”

“Yes, I'm sure that's it.” I rolled my eyes. He was still holding my hand!

“Glad you agree.” He smiled and pulled me towards the door, calling out behind us, “See you at dinner Yrene!”

“Bye!” I added with a little wave, “and thank you!” A quick goodbye from Yrene followed us out of the room and I giggled as Dorian continued to pull me down the hall, a determined look on his face.

“What's the rush for?” I asked, for Dorian had yet to slow his pace and I was struggling to keep up.

“What? Oh, sorry, sorry!” He slowed to a more regular pace and I smiled my thanks. “That better? I didn't realise I was walking so quickly.”

“It's fine, I just don't think Yrene will be pleased if I mess up my leg right after she told me to take it easy. She's scary when she wants to be.” I felt Dorian's shudder through our clasped hands.

“She certainly is.”

We arrived at the library and only then did Dorian seem to realise he'd been holding my hand the entire journey. He stuttered out a surprised apology and I could have sworn I saw a light blush spread across his cheeks as he pulled his hand away and pushed open the library door. I silently mourned the loss of the comforting warmth from his hand in mine. It had felt so natural to have them slotted together like that. It felt right. As if it was a basic fact of existence that they were meant to be together. ...Maybe that was a little excessive. But those weren't the kind of thoughts I was meant to be allowing myself though so really it didn't matter. At all. My heart certainly wasn't leaping at the thought that maybe this was meant to be something more all along. Well maybe it was but my head remained in control...for now at least.

“So, I was thinking,” Dorian's voice brought me well and truly back to the moment, “with all the meetings and dinners and everything going on, I've had almost no time at all to just relax with a book and I doubt you have either.”

“You're right there.”

“Which is an absolute travesty, and since I treasure our time together I thought what better way to solve this little problem than by reading together? I'm a genius, am I not?”

“Not far off I suppose, I see one flaw though if your plan was ‘bonding’.”

“And what might that be?” He raised an eyebrow, which seriously, how does he do that?, and I flopped down onto one of the plush couches in the centre of the room.

“Reading is usually a solitary activity, we can't bond just sitting in silence.”

“And that, my dear, is why I'm going to read to you. You can make all the delightful sarcastic comments you like and keep me entertained while I read.”

“Does that mean I'm allowed to make fun of your horrible romance novels then?” I couldn't keep the grin off my face at the thought of that.

“They're not horrible,” he said with a scowl, “but yes, just this once you can say whatever mean and untrue things you wish about them.”

“Excellent! Get reading then pretty boy.” I smirked as he rolled his eyes and wandered off to find some suitable reading material.

2 hours later I was woken by a gentle shaking and the searing heat of Dorian's hand on my shoulder. I blinked at the dim light of the room, unable to recall the afternoon light fading into the darkness of another evening.

“And finally she wakes. Gods, (Y/N), you sleep like the dead.”

“Wha-? When did I...fall asleep?”

“About ten minutes after I started reading. I’m disappointed, you only managed two snarky remarks before you drifted off, am I really that boring to listen to?” In my state of only semi-wakefulness I didn’t register the joking in his words and quickly tried to stutter out an apology.

“No-no, sorry. You’re not...boring, you’re- you’re actually very pleasant to listen to. I just- Yrene’s healing tired me out a bit...I think...maybe… But you’re not boring, I promise. I like listening to you, you have a,” a yawn interrupted me and I let my eyes stay shut as I shifted to get more comfortable on the couch, “really nice voice, very soothing.” It took a few seconds in the silence that followed for my mind to realise what my mouth had just decided to say without permission of my rational thought. When it finally registered my whole body tensed and i could barely bring myself to crack open an eye and gauge Dorian’s reaction. Why did you say that!? That’s weird! ‘A really nice voice’? (Y/N) why would you say that!? Well at least that finally woke me up fully.

....Actually, that was not a good thing. Being totally aware brought to my attention just exactly what position I was in, pulled into hyper-focus how close Dorian was to me and everywhere his body touched mine. Legs draped across his, sides practically pressed together, a hand still resting on my shoulder and the fingers of the other brushing lightly against my own on the couch. His face and that heart-stopping grin were way too close, mere inches away from me and the ridiculous notion that it would be so easy to just lean up and kiss him flitted about in my otherwise currently empty mind. That was a dangerous and ill-advised thought and I tried desperately to push it out but with Dorian so close it was impossible to do so entirely.

“Dorian! (Y/N)! Are you in here? Are you sure they haven’t left for dinner yet, Yrene?.”

“Of course they’re still here, you think either one of them would willingly leave the library unless there was some kind of emergency?” Yrene and Chaol’s voices broke our silence before Dorian could say anything and we quickly moved a little apart before they rounded the last book case and spotted us.

“What did I tell you? They’re predictable.” Yrene had a triumphant glint in her eye as she addressed her husband before turning back to us with a raised eyebrow. “Are you coming?”

“Of course!” I quickly stood and walked towards the couple, jumping on the excuse to get out of such close proximity to Dorian before I did something foolish.

Together the four of us made our way to dinner and with every step I felt calmer and less inclined to act on any of the impulsive thoughts i’d been struggling more and more to control. The closeness to Dorian was always easier to bare around the others and I sent up a thank you to the gods I knew listened no longer for their presence. That had been too close in the library. Too. Close. I had a sense that my emotions were only going to get more difficult from here on and that instilled in me both dread and a strange excitement. Gods, why did I have to go and fall in love?

*

Dear Aelin,

Oh things are getting too good! I mean, slightly unbearable for the rest of us because they're both oblivious and also refuse to do anything about it, but still good. Dorian even told Chaol he likes her but he's worried so that's something we're going to have to deal with and (Y/N) all but admitted it to me today. And...gods, they think they're subtle, they think no one notices the way they can barely keep their eyes off each other, how they go out of their way to spend time with each other, how they're so obviously happier when they're together. It's so frustrating but obviously no one really wants to pressure them into anything so we'll see how it all plays out (we're not going to stop meddling when we can though!).

Although, saying that, I'm not sure we need to meddle much. Chaol and I walked in on the cutest scene in the library earlier, (Y/N) and Dorian were pretty much cuddling while she slept (my fault, healing takes it out of you) and gods you should have seen the way Dorian looked at her, it was so gentle and loving and I swear if they don't get it together and get together I might have to smack them both. Anyway, she woke up and I'm sure I literally saw Dorian ascend because he found her so cute but we all really needed to get to dinner so we had to interrupt. Honestly if we'd left them long enough I think they seriously might have given up and just kissed but alas the timing was terrible. It's going to happen though, I'm sure of it.

I'm rambling too much about them but my point is we definitely did a good thing, they're perfect for each other, Even Nesryn and Sartaq have said so and they've not even been here a week. They say hi by the way!

Oh and you'll be happy to know (If (Y/N) hasn't already told you), you've got yourself a nice little trade deal and it's worked out well for you as far as I can tell (I'll admit I don't pay a whole lot of attention to the more boring matters).

I hope Ren and Evangeline got back okay, tell them we miss them and we miss all of you too, I'll keep you updated with the Dorian/(Y/N) situation when anything good happens but I doubt they'll be anything for a while as I'm finally going to fix up her leg properly. Still, with them you never know! Everyone sends their love and hopes you're still well.

Love,

Yrene

[hypnoidvoid]

Key to the Jungle (Reddie AU): Chapter 2

A/N: I’m so fucking stoked with the amount of attention I’ve received for this fic, just after one chapter. I love you guys. In the chapter notes there are visual aids! 

Summary: Ecologist!Richie and Nature Photographer!Eddie. Eccentric Dr. Richard Tozier has graduated with his Ph.D in Ecology and was given grant money to conduct his own research in the Amazon basin. He gets a research team, one of them being the very talented nature photographer Eddie Kaspbrak of National Geographic. They could not have predicted the beauty and chaos of the adventures that will ensue.

Pairings: Richie Tozier x Eddie Kaspbrak,  Stan Uris x Bill Denbrough

Word Count: 4,334 words

Warnings: Fuck is said a lot ahahaha

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4

// Link to Read on Ao3 //

[Chapter 2: Mimosas]

[Monday, February 24, 2018]

If I looked all over the world,

And there’s every type of girl

But your empty eyes, seem to pass me by

Leave me dancin’ with myself!

So let’s sink another drink

‘Cause it’ll give me time to think

If I had the chance I’d ask the world to dance

And I’ll be dancin’ with myself!

OH OH dancin’ with myself!

OH OH dancin’ with myself!

Billy Idol’s “Dancing with Myself” could be heard blasting at a deafening volume from the 14th story of Eddie Kaspbrak’s apartment flat, with an even louder Eddie straining his voice to sing along. The twenty-two year old was frolicking, strutting, and gyrating with fervor around his entire creative space. With a whisk in hand as a microphone, purple glitter boa constricting his neck and black heart-shaped sunglasses sitting on the edge of his nose, Eddie was indeed dancing with himself and indulging in every single second of it. His oversized baseball jersey swayed with him with every motion, completing his bold fashion statement. Highly acclaimed and respected nature photographer Edward Kaspbrak, that could capture awe-inspiring emotion through his photography, was a giggling mess of euphoria at the moment.

And he was a drunken, hot mess; a vibrant hurricane of soft masculine energy that sent shockwaves through his walls, reverberating towards the city beyond. He leaped to place himself dead center of his trifold mirror,

“WheLLLLL Eddee Eddee, aren’t yew lookin’ finE tooday…” he trailed off, while esteeming in his reflection. He did a 360° spin and gave himself a playful *SMACK* on his ass, followed by an open-mouthed wink.

Eddie had jubilantly slammed 8 mimosas by 9:36 AM on a Monday. He had the day off from work, and it was the last day he would be spending in New York City for a few months. Bags were packed, all his necessary paperwork was completed, logistics and timings for flights were solidified, so Eddie had a rare day of freedom from the usual weighted obligations. The preceding night he inquired at his work desk (which was smothered in vintage polaroid photos), composing a list of some of his favorite things he wanted to do on his day off. In order of importance, he wrote his agenda:

Mimosa(s) and French toast for breakfast

Reading a romance novel in Central Park

Go to a baseball game

Work on Silver

Stargaze from balcony

_____________________________________

Eddie Kaspbrak grew up in New York City, being constantly surrounded by the ubiquitous metal structures that surpassed the sky itself. The love he had for this city penetrated deep into who grew into as a person, with the mayhem of the city entwining itself into Eddie’s own being. He loved to be out late at night swimming in the crowds of people at unique bars, riding his motorcycle across the city bridge, and searching for moments worth immortalizing through photography.

As a teen he would participate in the local baseball league (and well into highschool), hiding it from his mother the entire time. He was even quite talented at the sport. How he wished he could have shared this part of his life with his mother, but he decided to hide many aspects of his life to avoid the scrutiny of Sonia Kaspbrak.

Eddie Bear, you’re so fragile! A boy like you does not belong in sports! Please, I don’t want you to to get injured, that would break my heart, she would wail. She would cry out even if it was as simple as attempting to learn to ride a bike. Nothing particularly life threatening.

See, Eddie once had an overwhelmingly overbearing mother, who treated him more as a crystal vase than like a child; a crystal vase that had a hundred different allergies, sensitivities, and predisposed conditions. The facets of his vase were seemingly faltered, and needing consecutive medical attention through her perspective. The only ailment she had been slightly correct about was his mild asthma, resulting in him keeping an inhaler glued to his side in case of emergency in his camera bag, or fanny pack. And no grown man has ever made a fanny pack look more chik and trending than Eddie Kaspbrak. He rarely used the inhaler, only utilizing it for comfort when an anxiety attack peaked. But he took a liking to the aesthetic and convenience that his fanny pack gave him, and settled on keeping it as his signature accessory.

Eddie had no shame and he needn't have any, because there was none to have. The majority admired his bold attitude, his outward confidence. And he was confident. But the selectively exuberant man had his vulnerabilities, and few would be able to break through that barrier of stubbornness. Not his close friends, not even his mother.  

Sonia kept him on a psychological leash for years, until he was able to consciously acknowledge that there were serious dysfunctions present with the way he was raised. Her gaze had been searing, and unrelentless with insane concern entangled with harsh criticism. Despite Sonia’s flaws Eddie loved his mother, and remained kind to her through her tyrannical dictatorship of his childhood. There was no father figure in his family, and he appreciated the love he was able to receive (even if it was oppressive love).

When she passed, it was an excruciating evening for Eddie. This was a woman that had sacrificed her mental sanity and personal identity to keep him out of harm’s way, even if harm’s way was a blade of grass.

However, when his mother’s presence left this earth, he felt a burdening weight lift off of his shoulders. The sudden realization ignited that he was able to do whatever he wanted, without guilt.

Fucking whatever, he wanted.

He could go bungee jumping. He could go on that road trip to Miami he always wanted to. He could verbalize how much of a snack another man looked in his basketball shorts jogging past his apartment complex without receiving a cold sneer. Fuck, he could walk down the block to buy a street-vendered hot dog without guff. Even with moving outside of his mother’s non-humble abode quickly after entering college, he was contacted incessantly by Sonia. She was exhausting. She left you fragile and wanting to crawl into a hole just thinking about her.

But this.This was a new sensation.

There was no one to order him around. No one to ‘suade him into doing what they wanted out of culpability. He was an individual with a lasso that could wield it around the world and make anything his bitch.

It may have been due to growing up in a concrete jungle and having “the grass is greener on the other side” syndrome, but his favorite settings to capture were those devoid of human contact: mountain ranges, open fields, flowing streams, any place that wreaked of natural genuity and untouched innocence. And he loved being able to memorialize beauty without getting his hands filthy. He would cautiously navigate scenery to snap his pictures, then flee to an open space where he could sanitize his hands and feel comfortable enough to revel in the moment. His mother may have passed, but the wounds she left in Eddie’s faux hypochondriac mind remained.

When his supervisors at the National Geographic headquarters in New York offered him the position on a research team heading to the Amazon basin one month ago, Eddie obliged quicker than a strike of lightning:

“Eddie, how do you feel about taking a three month trip to the rainforest in Ecuador?” his manager nonchalantly asked. There was a moment of silence, with a wild-eyed Eddie staring in reverie.

“....whaT?

“You’re a very talented young artist, and we would love for you to document an upcoming research trip that is embarking in late February, conducted by uhhhhh….. Hmmm let me see. Ah, yes! Dr. Richard Tozier. Our magazine is taking a particular interest in this so if you feel inclin-”

“YES”, he abruptly stated, then coughed into his fist sharply to regain a professional character. He rolled his shoulders back to obtain his highest stature that a 5’7” man could, eyeing his boss.

“Yes, I’m in. Sir, you have no idea how much this means to me.” Eddie was failing wildly at keeping his composure from the excitement that arose in his chest.

Richard Tozier? Sounds like an old homophobic goober.

A grin widened on the older man’s face, and he placed a gentle hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “That pleases me to hear Mr. Kaspbrak. I expect quality content when you return. I will make arrangements for your trip tonight, and send details to your email when I have them”. He began to walk away, but slyly turned towards Eddie without making eye contact. “.....they’re lucky to have you, Eddie”. As the man walked in the opposite direction towards his own office, he glanced over his shoulder once more to witness Eddie doing a “happy dance”. And he smiled to himself.

  Over all the sceneries that he’s dreamt of witnessing, Eddie desired to see the purity of the night sky undisturbed with city lights in it’s vast entirety. Basking in light of the stars from thousands of miles away seemed ethereal, and for him in this seemingly small existence, thus seemed surreal. Humankind had interfered amongst planes where they simply did not belong, he knew it. The opportunity to escape to a truly wild ecosystem that had been honored with the freedom to be undisciplined only heightened his wonder.

The night sky held untold mysteries of persistence, of death, rebirth, and explosive uncertainty. Stars danced in the atmosphere and created their own love stories. They encapsulated the interest of so many individuals that they wrote stories about their endeavors, and Eddie gaping from his balcony on the 14th floor of the Wyndham building***, would envision tales of his own. A precept he believed to be truth was that the more time he spent gazing into that infinite space, the higher likelihood he would have of being able to unravel it’s wisdom. Like those spheres of carbon fire, he yearned to create a love story of his own, so he continued to gaze and listen to what the night had to teach him. He would often be found humming to himself, while craning his neck up towards the heavens.

________________________________________

After taking a much needed impromptu nap, around noon Eddie begrudgingly awoke to the sound of “Saved By the Bell” reruns on his television from the futon where he had passed out. And if you haven’t theorized by now, Eddie has a hankering for 1980’s pop culture. He did not even grow up in the 80’s, but felt a close attachment to the art that was produced during the decade. He owned about 3 different models of polaroid cameras, obsessively listened to synth/new wave pop, and would spend hours on the internet ordering the ideal parts for his motorcycle that would make it functional, yet retro. After seeing the 1987 RoboCop film Eddie felt he was destined to own a FXSTC Softail Custom Harley, and when his mother passed, he mustered the confidence to purchase his dream ride.

He would name her Silver. Silver wasn’t even silver in color, but he loved the aura that the name gave off. It was a name of power. Stability. And dependency.

Weakly pressing himself from the couch, he glimpsed menacingly through squinted eyes towards his microwave to see that the time read “12:13 PM”.

“Fucking hell….”.

He stumbled to the bathroom to inhale three IBuprofen tablets and a glass of water he had so graciously left himself a few hours ago. He glanced in the mirror and noticed he had the remnant of a sleep induced boner lingering, so a boiling shower was necessary before he could continue his day of self indulgences; the steamy shower being one in itself.

Well. If I’m going to do this day right I might as well start with a happy beginning at noon.

After his shower, Eddie threw on a pair of perfectly fitted jeans and a yellow polo shirt, covered by a jean jacket that had some adorned patches on it. It was still late winter after all, he didn’t want to freeze while riding his his bike. Scrounging through his bathroom drawers he retrieved some hair mousse and wrestled with his grown out, wavy chestnut hair until it held up to his expectation. He knew the mousse would keep the shape for the short distance he had to ride of his bike, even with the helmet. And before he placed the hated helmet on his locks he reviewed his own constructed mantra in his head:

May the hair not be greasy

The curls not go flat

Not fall for a man who’s sleazy  

Amen

Eddie may not have been the religious type, but he believed in sending his thoughts out into the universe. After all, maybe one day by some greater power his thoughts would be answered.

With his mantra internally spoken, and helmet strapped firmly to his head, Eddie Kaspbrak zoomed off to complete his list of favorite shenanigans to do around New York City.

________________________________________

Richie and Stan decided to share a hotel room at the Crowne Plaza*** close to LAX airport the night before their departure, Stan refusing to take part in the possibility of any delays or inconveniences. He was a poignant adult, unlike Richie, who probably would have been hungover and missed his plane if it weren't for Stan. Since they would be inhabiting the jungle for a few months in the middle of fucking nowhere without the luxuries of home, they splurged on spending their last night in Los Angeles in an above average hotel. The room even came with a mini fridge stock-piled with little bottles of liquor and candy bars.

This here, this is tha’ suppa’ of champions! The only thing missing is a pack of cigs in this damn mini fridge. Now THAT’S a well balanced meal, crossed Richie’s mind.

Both Stan and Richie were resting their heads on their pillows of their separate beds, lightly quarreling as usual:

“ Stanny boy, I am quaking with excitement for tomorr’a. I think we’re really going to make a scientific breakthrough here…...ya know? We’ve talked about this since we were lil’ spermies. It’s always been you and me bud. My liaison of adventure. Stanley Manley”. Richie shifted his head and emitted an elated smile towards Stan.

“Jesus Rich, enough with the bullshit nicknames. How many times have I told you I hate that?  But heck ya, I am just as excited as you are. I’ve never seen a quetzal or a hoatzin in the flesh, and I know how much of a dominant presence they have there. There’s a good chance I’ll be able to see those and more….. shit, maybe even a mot-mot! Remember the list I kept as a kid?”

“Yessir, the famous color coded mess book of beaks. Gunna whack the ones off that you can? Before I left your mom yesterday, she also let me whack off-”

“Richie.”

“Apologies, bird boy.”

Richie slinked off of the bed to to comically make his way towards the mini fridge, imitating the movements of an inchworm. With one eager hand he piled all of the personal sized bottles of liquor into the bottom of his shirt, using it  as a pouch, and dumped them onto Stan’s bed.

“Let’s have a good night, dude. Here’s to the future”, and Richie cracked open a mini bottle of José Cuervo silver to knock it back with the slightest shudder. Stan obliged, and chose a bottle of Jack Daniels to do the same, but without the shudder.

They ended up reminiscing for hours about times they spent together as kids while lounging on Stan’s bed, shrieking with laughter at certain moments of their own stupidity. Their neighbors were not pleased with the amount of noise the two grown men were making at 2 o’clock in the morning.

“Sta-an, do you rembembER the first time I wh-ent bird watchin’ with ya?”, Richie asked.

“You were so fucking annoying, I swore to myself I-I would never take you again. But I guess I’m no good at keeping that promise, huh?” Stan followed with a chuckle, and drained another bottle of whiskey. This memory was a particularly fond one shared by Richie and Stan.

[Wednesday, April 29, 2003]

Stan sat with his legs crossed against a douglas fir tree, peering eagerly above into the deciduous tree forest. His ‘North American Field Guide to Birds’ book rested in his lap, opened to page 455 to reveal a picture and notes about the northern cardinal.  

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Cardinalidae

Genus: Cardinalis

Species: Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Normally he would find himself alone to search his surroundings for flying creatures, but today was different. He brought along his best friend Richie for the first time, wanting to share his favorite hobby with his only friend. He hoped he wouldn’t regret his decision.

“Richie, can you PLEASE keep still for like two seconds? I’m trying to see a cardinal, and you’re just going to scare everything away. To be a good bird watcher you need to be still and sil-”

Richie darted to chase away a group of dark-eyed juncos while howling with laughter. On his walk back to Stan he whistled and gently kicked a rock until he was satisfied with where it was placed.

Stan exhaled under his breath a long “Fuuuuuuuuuck”. Richie eventually placed himself next to the other boy, also using the tree as a back rest, and kept quiet after many pleas from Stan. He would twiddle his fingers the whole time, however.

They were silent for probably twenty minutes before a little red bird perched itself on a branch directly in front of them. Richie snapped his neck to his right to look at Stan who had eyes so wide he mustn't of had eyelids. Stan slowly moved his hand to his pocket to retrieve a small pair of binoculars. He would peer into them for a few minutes, and excitedly passed them to Richie.

“Isn’t he awesome?” Stan whispered.

“How do you know it’s a guy?” Richie asked with his voice just as low as Stan’s, while still looking through the binoculars.

“Well, males have a big crest on the top of their head, and they’re vibrantly red. The females are pretty boring looking”, and he pointed his finger at a picture of a drab female cardinal.

“Yeah, he’s actually kind of pretty. Want to look again?” RIchie asked.

Stan snatched the binoculars back and took another long look before the bird chose to fly away in a northern direction.  

“I must be your lucky charm, huh Stanley?!”

“Shut up Richie, you’re the worst”, Stan remarked with an eye-roll but couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He couldn’t wondered if Richie really was a good luck charm. He had placed himself in this exact spot for weeks to see the cardinal but never saw it. He knew very well that seeing this species of bird was rare in Maine, especially during this time of the year, and couldn’t help but look at the rambunctious buck-toothed boy and thank him silently.

_____________________________________

[Tuesday, February 25, 2018]

“RICHIE ARE YOU DONE IN THERE”, Stan shouted as he banged against the bathroom door.

“Hold on princess, I’m just buttering moyself up fo’ ya!”, Richie quickly shot back in a butchered cockney accent. He needed this long shower, in particularly to soothe the mind splitting headache that ravaged his entire body, from last night’s drinking escapades. He combed his fingers through his dark, curly mane and massaged his temples under the scorching water. His eyes were closed, body still, but his thoughts were deafening. As excited as Richie was for these upcoming three months, he was anxious as well. Undeniably Richie had anxiety issues, but was too stubborn to ever go to a professional for a diagnosis. He didn’t ever want to cloud his mind with anxiety relieving drugs, after personally observing the way it had turned his mom into a Prozac induced zombie. And he hated those drugs for effecting his beloved mother like that. He would use classical music instead to soothe his body during anxiety episodes. Richie took a particular liking to Mozart’s compositions.

After Richie stumbled out of the bathroom, Stan went through his morning tasks to prepare himself for the flight to come later that day. He would also face the day sporting knee-high rain boots, as would Richie. Nerves heightened and hangover lingering, they walked to the terminal entrance with their luggage to meet Beverly.

“Professors, it’s so good to see yo-, holy shit you guys look wrecked. I mean, you look put together, but damn. Where was my invite to this party?”

“We would have invited you Bev, but unfortunately we were too fucked up to even exist. Next time, I promise”, Stan replied.

“Ya you goons better, I’m genuinely offended right now” she huffed with an over exaggerated pout. Beverly hated missing out on a fun night, especially involving alcohol with her favorite people.  They boarded their plane, and as expected Stan and Richie slept the entire plane ride into the Quito terminal, until Bev shook them both with angst to wake up. Stan had resisted to sleep with extreme persistence out of a fear of flying, but his body failed him and he drifted into a deep rest. Richie snored for the entirety of the flight, and his snores in concordance with the sounds of the crying child in the seat behind him created a symphony of annoying mayhem for the rest of the travellers on the airplane.

Once off the plane, the trio searched for a man holding a sign that read “Dr. Richard Tozier”, and piled into his taxi. The loading dock for the first boat into the rainforest was located 3 hours out of Quito, so they settled themselves comfortably in the backseat of the taxi, with Stan pulling out his copy of “Ready Player One”, Beverly finally taking a nap after not being able to on the plane, and Richie listening  to Van Halen while resting his head on the window to look out the window. Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solos never ceased to amaze Richie.

Around 5 PM in the evening, the biologists rolled up to the docking port to a group of anticipatory faces that were arranged in a half circle around each other with a decent amount of space in between them. None of these people knew each other after all, and were only about an hour in to being acquainted. Their guide, Mike Hanlon, opened up the back passenger door where Richie was sitting with a welcoming grin plastered to his face.

“Mr. Tozier! I’m honored to be able to finally meet you in person. Do you need help with your luggage?”, he said as he gestured to the trunk.

“Call me Richie, Mike. Mr. Tozier is the man that impregnated my mother”. A shit-eating smile crossed Richie’s features and in the twinkle of his eyes, behind the thick horn-rimmed glasses. With heated cheeks Mike nodded his head, and continued to open the trunk of the taxi to retrieve the luggage of Stan, Beverly, and Richie. With their bags in hand, Stan, Beverly, and Richie headed over the rest of the party awaiting their arrival by the boat dock.

On his short walk over, Richie linked eyes with one of the individuals of his research team. And despite keeping his feet moving in a forward direction, he felt utterly paralyzed. The man was undeniably handsome, was impeccably dressed, and held a captivating stare from hazel eyes. Richie’s lips parted to exhale a nervous breath.

Mike began to zealously introduce Richie’s research team to the new arrivals, as so:

“It is my pleasure to introduce Ben, our medic for the trip. I trust that he’ll keep our asses safe. He’s been to my reserve before too so y’all have nothing to worry about”. Ben raised his chin and smiled bashfully at the group, raising a hand to wave while one hand remained in his pant’s pocket.

Mike looked over sweetly to a man named Bill, and continued with “ This is Bill Denbrough, our botanist. A man with a wild imagination, and intelligence”.

Bill unexpectedly coughed out of surprise, being flattered. “H-h-hi I’m Bill. I’m glad I could c-c-come on this trip”. Stan beheld this man differently than Richie and Bev. He was a tall man with straight auburn hair, and held a confidence that was respectable. Stan had never met this man before, but Bill carried a sense of home with him. Comfort. Stan looked at Bill with a gaze that resembled that of a person who hadn’t seen their best friend in 10 years.

“And this is Eddie Kaspbrak, a renowned nature photographer from National Geographic. A born talent”. Richie and Eddie glued eyes to each other. Electricity singed between these two pairs of eyes. Richie stared at the chocolate waves gliding across Eddie’s forehead, and noticed at a closer view that his left pupil was keyholed.

Woah.

There was a moment of silence and Mike shoved Richie in hopes he would have a response after his brief introductions, “....Richie?”. Richie returned to a state of mild authority and reached out a hand to shake Eddie’s.

“I’m Richie Tozier, pleased to make your acquaintance buttercup”, Richie said while wiggling his eyebrows flirtatiously.

Eddie had previously thought that this man was going to be old, boring, and with a stick up his ass just by his name. He hadn’t even bothered to look him up online.

Holy motherfucking shit was he wrong. This man was nearly his age, brilliant, and hot. He hoped he wouldn’t be in trouble with pining for the lead scientist for three months.

“I’m Eddie. Nice to meet you, cherryblossom”.

____________________________________

CHAPTER NOTES:

I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 2! I will be providing visual references in the chapter notes as an addition, because fuck, it’s fun. Let me know what you think, and thanks for reading :) Reblog, comment, send me thoughts as always!

***the Wyndham building is not fictional and is actually located in New York City

How I imagine part of Eddie’s apartment:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CALEAI_enUS790US790&biw=1366&bih=654&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=tNvGWtugGOGY0gLs9qfgBw&q=new+york+apartment+interior&oq=new+york+apartm&gs_l=psy-ab.3.5.0j0i67k1j0j0i67k1j0l2j0i67k1j0l3.34133.36013.0.39862.15.8.0.7.7.0.116.779.5j3.8.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.15.866....0.sasZGuvXVLk#imgrc=MCgjbHAm5ZWH9M:

Eddie’s motorcycle:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CALEAI_enUS790US790&biw=1366&bih=654&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=uwrHWoiRLMeQ0wLNnYioBQ&q=FXSTC+softail+red+Harley&oq=FXSTC+softail+red+Harley&gs_l=psy-ab.3...39077.39355.0.39521.3.3.0.0.0.0.95.244.3.3.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.mn9dCDoiZxo#imgrc=7L01cKyX67Cf6M:

***The Crowne Plaza; Richie and Stan’s hotel room:

https://www.google.com/search?q=crowne+plaza+lax&rlz=1CALEAI_enUS790US790&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicwrSgyqTaAhVT6Z8KHQHiDa0Q_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=654#imgrc=MXY4GWD9CFRgxM:

Taglist: 

@byersfever @speakslowtellmelove @thetheatregal @creamy-brown-eyes @chairsocks @was-i-even-reddie @addimagination @kaspwitch @guacfinn @skeletonscribbles

[sodoyouknowbts]

Yoongi x Reader - Fake Love

Summary: It wasn’t as if you hated Min Yoongi, it’s just you both never quite got off on the right foot. However, after lying about your relationship to his ex, you find yourself having to play out a fake marriage with him. You slowly develop feelings for him but can’t be sure if he feels the same way, or if it’s been an act the whole time.

Pairing: Yoongi x Reader

Genre: Fake marriage! Au, romance, fluff

Author: Pilot

You slowly come to a stop at the traffic light and glance at your rear view mirror out of habit. That’s when you see it. A spider. Crawling on your rearview mirror. It’s not small either. You jump in your seat and let out a scream, accidentally pressing your foot down onto the accelerator sharply. 

The car rear-ends the car in front of you. You quickly pull the hand break up, unbuckle your seat as you keep your eye on the spider taunting you from the mirror and jump out of the car. You can't stop feeling squeamish.

“Ya!” Came a gruff voice from in front of you. You pay zero attention, instead trying to check that the spider hadn’t somehow crawled onto when you had gotten out.

“Hey, you! Crazy lady jumping around! You just hit my car!”

You freeze, your arms around your body. You point at yourself and brush the hair out of your face. “Me?”

“Yes. You!”

You squint your eyes and hold your hand up to your face to block out the sunlight. Your vision clears. The man crouches down in front of your car, inspecting the damage.

He brushes his hands and stands up. He’s reasonably tall, or at least, taller than you.  He’s wearing a white t-shirt, black slacks and a long black coat. He looks away from the damage done to his car. His piercing eyes bore into yours and all you can think is just how handsome he is. Then you see the scowl on his face.

“Give me your mobile and license details.” He says, simply.

You glance back at the car. Your bag is seated on the passenger seat.

“Uh…” You say, looking into the car. He senses your hesitation.

The spider has moved. You just don’t know where.

“Is that your bag?” He’s standing by your car, peering through the open door. You hear beeps behind you. A number of cars have started to form a line behind yours. The man sighs, leans past you and pushes your emergency button on and the lights of your car flash. He waves the line on past you, clearly bothered by this additional work he has to do.

“That’s your bag right? Get me your license details. I need them for the insurance.”

You nod.

Okay, here goes nothing. You think. You slowly lean in, your eyes focusing on the rear-view mirror, then the ceiling, then the hand break. You’re not quite sure where the spider has gotten to.

You reach for the bag and pull it out. Breathing a sigh of relief, you turn to the man and begin to open the clasp of your bag. That’s when you see it. It’s the damn spider.

You scream, let go of the bag and jump to the stranger, grabbing him and burying your face into the stranger’s coat.

“S-spider!” You barely manage to get out. You weren’t afraid of most things, but spiders? Spiders were deal breakers.

He grabs you by the shoulders and pulls you off him.

He looks down at your bag and sees the spider scurrying away on the road. He picks up your bag and a couple of items that had spilled out, lipstick, your wallet and phone. He puts the items back inside the bag and hands it to you.

“The spider is gone.” he says. “Details?” He asks impatiently.

“Uh, sure.”

You dig around, bring out your license and hand it to him. He holds the license up next to your face. He pulls his phone from his pocket and snaps a photo of you while you’re not looking.

“Number?”

You recite your number, annoyed. His attitude was beginning to get on your nerves.

“Thanks, Y/N.” he says, handing you back your license. He turns to walk away.

“Hey!” You call out to him. “Mister! I need your details for the insurance too.”

He keeps walking and waves backwards at you. “You’ll hear from me.”

He gets into his car and drives off, leaving you standing there. Dumbfounded. You scoff. What a spoilt brat. You think, noting the fancy and flash car.

***

You walk around the ice sculpture. Sure, the cake looked amazing (and delicious but you weren’t going to admit that to anyone), the flowers were beautiful and the set up was grand - but you still didn’t see why you had even been invited to Crystal’s engagement party. 

You were self-proclaimed sworn enemies. To be honest, she had always bullied you throughout high school. She was lucky, coming from a wealthy family who basically paved the way for her education. You on the other hand, had to work hard for it. Because of that you had become super competitive in your own right to out-perform and out-achieve her. 

You poke at one of the cupcakes on the dessert table. You fold your arms and look around. This engagement party was lame. You would have preferred not to show your face, but you had promised your friend that you’d drop off a gift on behalf of her. If your friend hadn't been in hospital you would have stayed home.

“I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

You narrow your eyes. You turn around and bump into him. It’s the stranger who you rear-ended.

You look up at him. He’s still just as gorgeous. He dusts off the shoulder of his red blazer. You can’t help but notice he was wearing a crisp white dress shirt and black pants. His earring glinted in the light. Shit this boy could dress well.

“You never got in touch.” You snark.

“It’s been one day.” He retorts.

“Still. So tell me. What’s your name?” You grumble.

“Min Yoongi.”

“Min Yoongi.” you repeat. You look up at him and notice just how pretty his eyes were. Perhaps you had misjudged him and he wasn’t actually sort of a dick. Determined to stop the bickering, you smile, flip your hair and throw your hand out for a shake.

“I’m Y/N. Sorry about the car. Please make sure you get the details from my insurance company. I hate unsettled things.”

“So do I.” He just looks at your extended hand and doesn't take it.

“Well. If that’s that.” You say, shrugging off his rudeness and walk over to the champagne table. You scoff to yourself. What is with him? You go to grab yourself a glass and remember that you probably should dump the present in the present pile first. You walk around in search of it.

You spot Crystal standing next to the gifts. Just my luck. You think. And although you’d hate to admit it, she is looking good. Her hair is swept over her left shoulder, curled and long. She’s busy talking to someone and showing off her ring. You make eye contact and you quickly turn around.

“Oh! Y/N!” Crystal calls out to you.

You stop in your tracks and turn back around. Crap. She’s seen you. You laugh nonchalantly and wave, gift still in your hand.

“Crystal!~” You say sweetly and go in to give her a hug.

You look to your right and realise that she had been speaking to Yoongi.

“Oh, Yoongi!” You say.

Crystal cocks her brow. “You two know each other?”

“Yes - he -" You pause. You didn’t want to reveal the fact that you had rear ended him, that was just plain embarrassing. Nor did you want to reveal that you were a) still single b) not ready to mingle and c) that she was clearly still doing better than you were.

“He’s my husband!” You say, almost surprising yourself with your ingenious idea. You just hoped he would play along, and that he actually wasn’t already married or dating anyone otherwise the lie wouldn’t work.

Yoongi’s jaw drops and he looks at you.

“What - ?!” He exclaims.

“Oh honey,” You say, quickly linking your arm with his and moving his hair out of his eyes. You shoot him a look and lean even closer when he tries to wriggle out of your grasp. Yoongi catches on and looks back at Crystal, clearing his throat.

“What, do you mean to tell me you’ve been keeping our marriage to yourself?” He says. Nice save. You think. His eyes though, tell you that he’s about to kill you.

“Yes… I wasn’t quite ready to share the secret.” You encourage him.

“Clearly.” He says, taking a jab at you.

Crystal watches on, confused. “I don’t see a ring…”

“Oh, it’s just being re-sized and his - his is being cleaned. You know how it is!” You say.

Yoongi smiles half heartedly at her.

“Yoongi, I’m really happy for you! I never thought you’d settle down. And with Y/N of all people.”

“Neither did I.” he says, through gritted teeth.

“I’m glad you’ve found someone.” She continues. Boy, she did not sound sincere at all. “Especially after we broke up a year ago - I thought you would never find anyone. I was starting to think you were still in love with me!”

You furrow your brow at her. Sure, Yoongi was a bit rude to you and a little cold on the two occasions you had met, but still, what kind of person says those kinds of things?

Yoongi says nothing to that and brushes it off. “Come on, we have to go - some things to discuss.” He says and he pulls you away.

As you both turn around, Crystal continues. “Still doing that book course?”

You stop and turn to face her. “Yes - my Masters in Literature, actually.”

Yoongi’s interest peaks.

“It’s a pretty useless degree.” Crystal laughs and places her hand on her chest. “I mean, that’s only my opinion.” 

You bite the inside of your cheek and just continue to smile sweetly. 

“Ah I almost forgot. Here.” You untangle yourself from Yoongi’s arms and shove the gift into Crystal’s chest. She scrambles to grasp it to prevent it from falling. 

You raise your brows at her and run back toward Yoongi, who is waiting for you.  Yoongi places his hand around your waist. You look at him and look down. It felt... good. Comfortable.

Crystal sneers, holding her drink and the gift, which she lets fall onto the pile next to her.

As soon as you’re both out of sight, Yoongi pulls you behind the water fountain.

“What was all that!?!” He hisses, letting go of your body.

“I don’t know what the big deal is. You hate your ex. I hate your ex. It’s win-win.” You say, straightening your dress.

“I didn’t realise we ran in the same bad mutual friend circles.” he retorts, glaring at you.

“I grew up with her in high school and she used to bully me so I guess it was a jerk reaction…”

He sighs. “What if I actually had a girlfriend?”

You panic. “Do you?”

“No. But you took a gamble with that lie, especially knowing nothing about me. I know more about you from your license than you do about me.”

You shrug. “It worked out okay? We just need to both attend the wedding, be seen and then we can go our separate ways.”

“Why? This was all your dumb idea. We could have both just separately declined the invitation without complicating things!” Yoongi says, annoyed.

“Look, yes my quick thinking got us into this mess but it won’t be that bad.” He didn’t have to be so rude about it. You look up at him. He’s pouting as he thinks.

“We don’t have to do this - we could just say we’re both sick for the wedding. It’s in four months anyway.” You add. You were okay with not attending the wedding. Any excuse to have as little to do with Crystal as possible was a good one.

“We’ve already said we are together. Let’s just go through with it.” He responds, surprising you.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’m too proud to not pull through on my words.”

Yoongi reaches into the pocket of his pants and pulls out his phone. You watch as he dials a number. Suddenly, your phone vibrates in your purse and you pull it out. Unknown caller ID. You answer.

Yoongi hangs up. “That’s my number.”

He extends his hand and you give the phone over to him. He edits the contact and takes a quick selfie. He smirks at his own photograph and hands it back over to you.

You look down at it and can’t help but let out a laugh. The audacity. He’s edited his contact with hearts and flowers. Min Yoongi. You hate to admit it, the photo does look good.

“Y/N, look up.” he says. You do, and he snaps another photo of you and adds it to his exisiting contact.

“Why are you always taking photos of me?!”

“If we get caught, we need to at least act the part.” he says, shrugging. “I’ll be in touch in a few weeks to sort the rest of this out with you.”

He turns to leave.

“Wait! Shouldn’t we leave this party together?” You say in a low voice, “You know, in case anyone sees?”

Yoongi sighs. He extends his arm again and you link in with him. Your heart flutters a little at the contact. You both reach the front door and exit onto the street.

You recognise his car from the other day, the bump still visible in the rear fender. Letting go of his arm, you wave goodbye.

“I’ll be in touch.” He says and swiftly gets into his car, leaving you on the sidewalk with nothing but his mobile number and a good looking selfie.

***

You knock on the door of his apartment.

The door swings open. He’s leaning against the frame.

You smile, “I brought chicken!”

He nods and turns into his apartment. He waves at the table. “Put it over there.” The coffee table is sitting in the middle of the lounge, in front of the couch.

Scowling, you take off your shoes and slip into his guest slippers. What was his problem, was he always so rude? You scurry over to the table and open the bag and unpack the two boxes of chicken, hoping it hasn’t gotten soggy. It hasn’t.

Yoongi moves around in his kitchen and brings out two glasses, holding two bottles of soju and a can of beer tucked under his arm.

“The only way I can get through this ‘get to know you’ is if I drink.” He plonks them on the table and sits down quickly, cracking open a bottle of soju.

“Same here.” You retort.

“We’re only here because of you.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. Quit any time.” You say, rolling your eyes.

You still didn’t quite understand why Yoongi agreed to go through with this fake marriage situation. Moreover, he had suggested you both meet to get to know each other more.

Yoongi pours you a glass and you move to the kitchen and get some plates.

“Yah, what are you doing?” He calls from the table.

“Getting plates, sheesh.”

He settles down. You frown at him and pull out two plates from the kitchen and sit back down at the table.

You gulp the soju down in one shot. From where you’re seated in the lounge room, you can see the kitchen and doors that seem to lead to his bedroom.

Yoongi watches you as you look around. His apartment is clean, white and black. The kitchen has shiny black cupboards and a black marble counter. His lounge is spacious, for the most part, empty, bar a large tv screen, surround sound and a bookcase of books and CDs.

“What’s beyond there?”

He turns to look behind him. “My bedroom, the bathroom, my studio...”

“Studio?” You ask.

“Yes. I produce music for a living.” He chews lazily on a chicken drumstick.

“Any songs I’d know?”

“Not sure if you have any taste in music.”

You shoot him a look. “Try me.” Your competitive edge is back.

Yoongi leans back against the couch and stretches out his legs. “Wine. By Suran.”

“Wine… Suran.” You rack your brain. “Oh?! Really? You produced that song? It’s awesome.” You say, excited.

“Eh, don’t lie. It took you a while to remember the song.”

“What? No. It goes like this.” You begin to hum some of the song. Yoongi is a little impressed but tries to hide it and nonchalantly takes another sip of beer.

“See, I’m right.” You say, triumphantly. He shrugs it off. It’s quiet again. You pour yourself another cup of soju.

Yoongi leans forward, pulling a small box out from under the table and places it down in front of you.

“Open it.”

Curious, you slowly untie the pale blue ribbon and pull open the lid of the box. In there sits a beautiful cut diamond ring. It’s a single stone on a silver band.

“We have to look the part.” He says, simply. Taking a piece of pickled radish with his chopsticks from the container on the table.

“You didn’t have to - I didn’t get you one.”

Yoongi holds his left hand up.

He’s already wearing his ring, a simple and somewhat thick titanium band. It fits well on his slender fingers. “It’s sorted.”

You fumble with the ring as one hand has sticky chicken sauce on it. Getting impatient, he takes your left hand in his and swiftly slides the ring onto your finger.

He smirks. “Glad it fits.”

You inspect the ring. It’s a perfect fit.

***

Two hours in and you know the ways each of you sleep, bad habits, youthful dreams and favourite songs.

Three hours in and you’re both drunk.

“I can’t believe you did that!?” You laugh, pointing at him as you hold your stomach. “Ah that is so funny!” You roll on the floor and wipe your eyes. 
You know, he wasn’t that bad when he had a couple of drinks. He was less haughty, less uptight.

“Stop laughing at me!” He exclaims. He points his chopsticks at you. Yoongi was enjoying himself.

“Okay, okay.” You sit up. Yoongi leans on the coffee table and carelessly rifles through the empty boxes.

The conversation lulls and you find yourself admiring his face.

You scoot forward, crossing your legs and move closer to him. Yoongi looks like he’s about to fall asleep. You tap his shoulder.

“What was our first kiss like?” You say to him. “Like, when did we have our first kiss?”

“No one is going to ask that.” He says, eyes closed and head propped by his arm.

“They might.”

He scoffs. “You’re not the type of girl I would usually go for.”

This side comment gets to you. What does that mean? You frown. Something in you urges you to kiss him, just to prove a point. You skull your glass, place it down on the table and wipe your mouth. He’s watching you with an incredulous look on his face, somewhat entertained at your actions.

You reach for his cheeks, pulling his face towards yours, startling him. You move in and place a kiss on his lips. His lips part slightly and his eyes open wide.

You move back and laugh. “Let’s say our first kiss happened exactly like this.” You stretch your arms up and fall back onto the couch, happy with yourself and proud that you managed to unsettle the ever cool Min Yoongi.

“Yah! What was that for?” Yoongi says, shocked.

“I don’t know. Who cares?”

“You’re so spontaneous. It’s scary.” He can't help but lick and bite his lower lip. He looks away, embarrassed, hoping you didn’t see.

“So I presume Crystal is your type of girl, then?” You say, snarkily.

“Hm?” he’s distracted.

“You. Crystal.”

Yoongi stretches out, laying down on the carpet and props his head underneath his arms.

“We were together for two years.”

“So who broke up with who?”

“I broke up with her.”

“Why?”

He turns and looks at you. Yoongi takes a moment to respond. “She cheated on me with the man she’s marrying now.” He says, softly.

“Oh.” Your heart ached a bit. “That…that sucks.”

Yoongi shrugs. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Do you still have feelings for her?” For some reason you’re nervous. You shouldn’t be, and you shouldn’t care either, but you do.

“No.”

***

“Ugh, get up. You’re so messy.” He pokes you with his foot. “Do you know how loud you snore? I had to move to the other side of the lounge.”

“Huh?” You sit up, rubbing your eyes. Your hair is a mess, drool has crept out from the corner of your mouth and your clothes are twisted. You let out an unattractive yawn.

“Is it morning?”

Yoongi is standing, looking down at you with a frown on his face.

“Here.” He thrusts a cup of coffee in front of your face.

You look down. You didn’t remember falling asleep on the couch. Yoongi must have picked you up. You even had a pillow underneath your head. You look over at the other couch. There’s a blanket there too. He must have stayed in the lounge with you last night.

“The bathroom is through there.”

He heads back to the kitchen, opens the fridge and pulls out a tray of eggs. He turns on the stove and bends down, pulling out a fry pan. You watch him for a moment, working his way around the kitchen.

You had learnt a lot about him the night before, but you still felt like you had only scraped the surface. 

“Stop staring.”

You blink, recompose yourself and cough. You head to the bathroom.

After washing your face, you can’t help but do a bit of snooping. You come across his bedroom. A king-sized bed sits in the middle of a plain and simple room. You notice another door. It’s closed. You turn the handle and push it open.

It’s his studio. Awards line the shelves, a couple of posters and some collector edition bears. An old CD player sits by the door, a pile of books on the desk and a jacket flung over the computer chair.

You look through his music collection and come across an untitled CD that particularly catches your eye. You pick it up. You head over to the old CD player you had noticed when you first entered the room and put it on, pressing play. It’s a beautiful and somewhat sad, whimsical melody.

Yoongi rushes in and turns it off. “Who said you could come in here?”

“Oh I was just…”

“You were just?! What is with you? You’re so intrusive.”

“What do you mean? I am just trying to get to know you.”

Why were you both continuously butting heads and bickering? If the past 24 hours were anything to go by, you actually had similar interests.

“Food is on the table. Eat at your leisure.”

You sheepishly head back out to the kitchen, where you see he’s made some toast, sausages and eggs. You pull the chair out and take a seat. Your half finished coffee is on the table too. Yoongi had warmed it back up for you. You pick at your food with the fork. 

When was he coming out? Giving in, you eat and don’t wait for him. You take your plates over to the kitchen and begin to wash up. As you do, you stare at his breakfast, which is getting colder by the minute. You dry and put away the plates and go to wrap his breakfast up, putting it in the fridge.

You collect your things and head back to the studio. Knocking on the door, you open it a crack.

Yoongi is seated on his computer chair, flipping through a book.

“I’ll get going now. Thanks for breakfast.”

He doesn’t bother to turn around or say goodbye. You spot a packet of post-it notes by the door and quietly grab the packet. You pull a face at his back and shut the door. 

You head back out to the kitchen, peel off a post it note and dig a pen out from your bag. You hurriedly scrawl “Sorry.” and stick the post on his breakfast.

***

The late afternoon sun is warm on your face. You swing your legs on the bench as you bite down on the sugar coated cream puff you had bought yourself. You watch as the couples move in and out of the coffee shop across the road.

It had been a tough few weeks for you. Your exam results were coming out soon and this was going to dictate whether or not you had wasted the last few years of your life studying for your Master’s degree. You sigh. Crystal’s scorn still in your mind. Maybe she was right. Why did you care so much anyway?

You take another large bite from the cream puff. You had already eaten two and this was your third. You let out a wail. You had gained a bit of weight from all of the stress, your rent was due, you were exhausted and you were sick of experiencing this quarter-life crisis of yours.

You look down at your feet. A shadow passes over you and blocks out the sun. Another pair of shoes meet your vision.

“You’re early.”

You look up. Yoongi is looking at you with a bemused look on his face.

“I got us coffee. The line is always long there but they’re well known for their cream puffs!” You say, mouth full.

“I can see that.” He crouches in front of you, one hand over his knee. He lets out a small laugh and you can see his gummy smile. He brings his other hand to your cheek, brushing off the excess powdered sugar you’d somehow gotten on your face. Your eyes meet. You pause and almost choke on your food.

He quickly stands, flexes his hand and sticks his hand in his pockets. He’d done this a few times, the contact had become almost a casual reflex. 

Yoongi makes a point of ignoring your spluttering and gasps for air, suddenly aware of his act.

“Let’s go.”

Yoongi walks ahead and you quickly gulp your coffee in an attempt to wash down the cream puff that had gotten stuck.

You follow behind him, the two take away coffees swinging in the carry tray.

He pauses and you hold your breath, stopping in your tracks, wondering what he’d do next. He takes his ice coffee out of the carry tray and sips on the straw. You place your hand over your chest and breathe a sigh of relief.

This was just one of the multiple outings you had had in an attempt to get to know each other better. Each one of them were his idea. The more you spent time with each other, the more you let your guard down. Yoongi though, well - his guard was always up. 

Every so often you’d get caught up in the moment, find yourself admiring him wistfully and having to remind yourself to snap out of it. All this time with his was doing something to your feelings. It had been a few months since you realised you were growing feelings for Yoongi. You realised it when you found yourself stopping at his office on the way to your lectures, coffee in hand. Sometimes Yoongi met you for lunch.

On a few occasions, he had accidentally brushed his hand against yours. You had gotten a little too close and accustomed to the touches. Was it just because you’re both in this fake relationship? As soon as we break this off, I’ll get over this feeling. You had been telling yourself this for days. 

“Where are we going?” You ask.

“We need to get you a dress for the wedding.”

“Right. The wedding.” It was in two days.

You follow him to a boutique store. Its high ceilings and chandeliers scream elegance and expensive taste. Silk lines a number of racks, tulle and chiffon on another.

Yoongi makes himself comfortable on the circular velvet seat in the middle of the store.

“Go pick some dresses out and try them on.”

You make a face. “Hold my food.” 

***

“What about this?” You ask.

You hold up a white and a yellow dress.

He’s sipping his iced latte through a straw while trawling through his phone. Yoongi tilts his head and makes a face that you can only presume means ‘terrible.’

He waves you away. “Just go get changed back into your clothes.”

You sigh, head back into the change rooms. Yoongi calls one of the store assistants over. She knocks on the change room door and hands you a dress through the crack as you’re pulling on your shoes.

She gestures to Yoongi. “He suggested this.”

It’s a blue velvet dress. The cut doesn’t allow for a bra. You pull it on, but require some assistance zipping it up.

“Um, excuse me?”

Yoongi gets up from the seat, hearing your request for help.

He leans against the panel near the door. 

“Come out, I’ll help you.”

You get nervous. “Ah no it’s okay.”

“Come out.”

You nervously unlock the door and step outside. You turn your back towards him and face the mirror. The zip on the dress is situated at your lower back. Yoongi is careful with his fingers not to touch your skin. He hesitates. 

Yoongi brings the blue velvet material together, places a hand on your waist as leverage for the zip and slowly pulls the zipper upwards along your back. Finally, he clasps it at the hook at the nape of your neck. It’s the best dress you’ve tried on so far.

You let go of your hair and step forward, turning around to face him. It’s almost sensual. His hand lingers on your waist for a moment.

Yoongi inhales and is about to say something when a laugh interjects.

“Oh Y/N. You look great.”

Yoongi frowns and looks over his shoulder. 

“Crystal.” he greets her. You can’t say the same.

“Ah. I’m just here picking up some last minute bridesmaid dresses.” She says. No one even asked you what you were doing. You think to yourself.

“Pity - it’s such a lovely dress. I don’t think your body shape suits that dress well.”

This was actually one of the few dresses you felt comfortable in. You turn to look at the mirror again, your eyes getting teary. Why of all days, did you have to see her again? Your confidence takes another hit. You were feeling bloated and gross and were greatly regretting that third cream puff.

“Actually, it’s the dress that doesn’t suit her body shape. Not the other way around.” Yoongi says. You shoot him a thankful smile. 

His phone buzzes and he takes the call.

“I’ll be back.” he says, stepping outside, leaving just you and Crystal and the shop assistant alone.

Crystal steps closer to you.

“You know, I thought you were faking it at the beginning but I can see he actually does have feelings for you.” She nods in his direction, as he stands outside on the phone. She eyes your ring on your finger.

God don’t play with my feelings. You think.

“Madam? Your dresses are ready.” The shop assistant calls from behind the counter.

You bite your lip, trying to fight back tears. 

“Anyway, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night.” She says, collecting her bags from the counter. You return back into the dressing room, trying your best to unzip the dress on your own. You close your eyes, feeling your eyelids get hot. It wasn’t too late to bail on the wedding.

You poke your head outside. Thankfully, another assistant has started her shift and helps you unzip the dress. You change back into your clothes in a flurry, hurriedly hanging the dress back on the coat hanger.

Yoongi gets off the phone and heads back into the boutique. Crystal intercepts him and gives him a hug goodbye. He doesn’t return the hug, instead clenching his fist by his side.

Yoongi cooly nods at Crystal and turns to face you.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

He places his arm around your shoulder and leads you away from Crystal and to the exit of the shop. You begin to open your mouth to say something about the fact that his hand is on your shoulder. 

“I would hold your hand but that would ruin my bad boy image.” He says.

***

You get into the car and buckle your seat, quiet on the way back. Yoongi glances over at you a couple of times. He can see your face is red but he doesn’t say anything.

He unlocks the door to his apartment and holds it open for you as you head straight to the bathroom to cool your face down.

You sit on the bathroom floor and pull your legs up, hugging yourself, leaning against the bathtub. You fail to stop the tears. Your confidence was shot, your anxiety levels peaking and you couldn’t bear the thought of facing Yoongi like this.

Yoongi knocks on the door to the bathroom, after having noticed you’d been in there for far too long.

“Y/N?” He asks.

“Mmm? Just a minute.” You say, voice muffled.

You don’t move, hoping he’d go away. He doesn’t. You can see the shadow from the crack under the door.

“Y/N.” he says again, trying the door. It’s locked.

You watch as his shadow disappears. He comes back and you hear the door click.

He’s holding a teaspoon that he’s used to unlock the door. You peek at him from behind your arms. Your eyes are puffy and your face is flushed.

Yoongi puts the spoon down on the floor next to him and sits next to you. You’re puzzled by the spoon and how he had unlocked the door.

He’s still for a moment. He then takes your hand in his and pulls you to him. You’re surprised by the act. You can’t help but let yourself be held in his arms. You cry into his shoulder and he strokes your hair, not saying a word.

“I don’t even know what I am doing. She has a point. My degree, my whole life. I feel like everyone is moving ahead in their lives.” You say, between sobs.

“And I’m just stuck. Stuck in some loop. I was afraid of moving on with my life so I decided to do a master’s degree. And what is this degree going to do for me? I’m giving all my money away for a piece of paper and some fleeting idea of a career.” You wipe your nose. 

Half of what you’re saying are just questions you had been asking yourself for days. This was the first time you let out all of the thoughts that had been consuming you for the past few weeks.

“I don’t know. I just. What am I doing with my life? In comparison? Instead I am getting myself stuck in fake relationships with random people and going around in circles.”

Yoongi tenses next to you. Your comment about your fake relationship somehow getting to him. You ignore it. “Will I ever be good enough for someone? I’m so pathetic.”

“Why do you care what other people think?” Yoongi says softly.

“I just... I mean...” You choke back tears. “I don't know what I have to do.”

“You should learn to love yourself. You’re doing the best you can. That’s all any of us are doing.”

He wraps his arms around you tighter. You sit there together in silence.

“Are you feeling better?” he asks, your head resting on his shoulders.

“Mmm. Yes.”

You look up at him and give him a small smile. “Thank you for -”

“Don’t mention it.”

He brings one of his hands up to your face and wipes away a stray tear that’s fallen on your cheek. You can only imagine how good you must look now. He brings his hand behind your head and pulls you to him. Yoongi places a gentle kiss on your forehead. He moves back and returns a smile.

Before you can react, he's bringing you to a stand.

“Come on. I’ll get dinner ready.”

***

You just needed to get through tonight. Sure, over the past few months you had developed strong feelings for him. You were confused and unsure of how to deal with the arrangement coming to an end and the way Yoongi was acting confused you even more.

You were feeling particularly vulnerable, especially after having freaked out yesterday. You touch your forehead, where Yoongi had given you a light kiss.

After dinner last night, he drove you home. It was fairly uneventful but you slept well, not realising just how exhausted you were. You place one of your old dresses onto the couch in Yoongi’s apartment. He had told you to meet and get ready at his. It wasn’t the best, was a bit big but did the job, you were at least comfortable in it.

You had thought he was proud, arrogant and heartless. But as you got to know him you realised you admired his strength and his no-nonsense attitude. He was so hard-working. Your stance on him had gradually softened over the past few months.

Yoongi on the other hand, was particularly unfazed today. Was he trying to bury that interaction from yesterday? You weren’t sure where you stood.

“Follow me.”

He enters the studio and you follow him. The door slams behind you. You had pulled it a little too hard.

Yoongi takes off his glasses and rubs his eye. He blinks and puts them back on. You can’t help but let your eyes wash over him. He’s looking too ridiculously good in that black turtleneck.

He picks up a medium sized pink box, tied close with a large ribbon. Yoongi throws it at you and you barely manage to catch it. 

“Here.” 

You put the box down on the table. He watches you nervously. You slowly untie the ribbon and it falls around the box. You pull up the lid, met by tissue paper. You carefully pull back the tissue paper, trying not to rip it and gasp. It’s a beautiful, simple and long satin black slip dress.

“You should go and get ready.”

You nod and turn to open the door. You pull at it and it doesn’t budge. Frowning, you push on it, expecting it to open. It doesn’t.

You sigh, exasperated and turn to face Yoongi, worry kicking in.

He steps towards you and closes the space between your bodies. He reaches his arm behind you.

“What do you think you’re doing?” You ask, breathless.

Yoongi moves closer still and brings his lips to your ear. “I’m opening the door.”

He pushes down on the handle, hard and the door gives way.

Yoongi walks past you. “You can use my room to change.”

You breathe out, holding the box close to you, you walk to the bedroom.

You place the box on the bed and lift the dress out by the straps. You carefully undress and pull the dress on. It hugs your body, the material caressing your skin lightly. He’s got good taste.

Shortly after applying your make up, you hear a knock on your door.

“Come in!” 

He opens the door and stands there, admiring you. He can’t stop looking at you. You can’t help but admire him too, his tousled hair, his sharp grey and black patterned suit and black tie.

You put on your left diamond drop earring and lastly, place the ring on your finger.

You stand up and walk towards him.

“How do I look?”

His eyes wash over your body and you look away, feeling hot.

“Good.”

You smile to yourself. 

“Do you like it?” He asks, referring to the dress.

“Yes, the dress is beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful.” You think you hear him say.

He clears his throat. “Let’s go, wife.”

***

You take a few sips of water. Although you weren’t wearing much, your body was feeling incredibly hot. Yoongi glances at you as you fan yourself. You smile at him, encouragingly. You had both decided to skip the ceremony and only show up for the reception. 

Crystal takes the hand of her new husband and they move onto the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. A soft melody moves through the speakers.

Where had you heard this before? You close your eyes and rack your brain. Yoongi’s studio. The song. You open your eyes. She had the nerve to play the song that Yoongi had made for her years ago? For their first dance?

You look over at Yoongi, whose jaw is clenched and his hand is tapping on the table loudly. He seems really uncomfortable. You slowly go to take his hand in yours, squeezing it ever so slightly.

Yoongi is surprised and looks at you. He doesn’t move away.

You watch as she spins around. Finally, the dance finishes and the rest of the bridal party join. Yoongi gets up.

He looks down at you and extends his hand.

“Coming?”

You place the napkin that was sitting on your lap onto the table and follow him.

He leads you out to the dance floor. He lets go of your hand and walks up to the DJ. He whispers in his ear and the DJ nods. Yoongi moves back towards you, and places his hands around your waist, pulling your body into his. You instinctively wrap your arms around his neck.

A soothing and slightly upbeat melody fills the garden. The two of you sway to the music.

You place your head on his chest as the song comes to a close.

Your heart is beating like crazy. He smiles. You stand there still a little while after the song finishes.

“That song ... that was beautiful.”

“I wrote it for you.”

“Thank you.” is all you can get out. You’re almost tearing up at the thoughtfulness.

You bring your arms down to your sides and he takes your hand, leading you back to the row of tables and your seat as others choose to continue dancing.

You reach for the water and gulp it down.

“Okay?” he asks, concerned.

“I think I’m fine, I just feel really light headed?”

Yoongi frowns at you. 

“You’re burning up.” he says, placing the back of his hand on your forehead.

“I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Come on, let’s go home.” Yoongi insists.

***

He pulls the thermometer out from your ear. “Slight fever.”

You’re sitting in his bed, watching him move in and out of the bedroom, coming with water, a cold and wet flannel and even food.

“I’ll be sleeping in the lounge, okay?” He says, handing you a glass of water. You accept it, your fingers touching his as you take it from him.

“Stay with me?” You ask, boldly.

He gazes at you from the side of the bed.

“I’ll stay.”

End.

[themanicgalaxy]

SPN 4X5 Monster Movie

ohohoho wait the title sounds promising

I like Meta Movie Shit it’s like 15% of my personality at LEAST at this point leave me alone

look I know I complain about filters but DAMN does the black and white make the Impala look nice

AHAHA NONDIAGETIC TO DIAGETIC MUSIC AND THE CHARACTERS COMMENT

wow I spelled that wrong but I don’t wanna check it 

save the world like the good old days? no I didn’t miss anything tho?? what?

heh “black and white case” THAT’S SO N E A T WITH THE FILTER

listen while I do think that Dean being in Hell should probably affect him more, him playing it for comedy is just so good

I hear “Agent young,” I sing “I hope Neil Young will remember” and then...hell maybe that was the reference

ah ~tourist season~

this shit is so twin peaks-y I love it

oh my god Anne Rice getting name dropped is WILD

“ok maverick” SSAKSKA

“he looked like a vampire” ah stellar witness I see

damn you you’re giving Eastern Europe a bad name

...ah agent young is Dean

ok so no scars, he seems excited

...re..hymenated..DEAN WHAT?

...see the dialogue...has just shifted to old timey, right? and so did the scenery

at least the girl is smarter

it’s ABSOLUTELY hilarious that this is all stuff they hunt so they have a problem with finding it as it imitates the on screen animals

THE MORGUE VISUALS! STUNNING!

seriously this playing on their expectations is SO NEAT

IT’S SHOT LIKE OLD TIME HORROR I S W E A R THERE’S A DIFFERENCE IT’S GREAT

~spoopy mummy on the loading dock~

I LIVVEEEDD BITCH

also it’s absolutely hilarious that the reason we no longer have a lot of mummies around is cuz Rich Europeans ate them

and really fucked up but also funny

oh NO NOT FINAL GIRL TROPE

GOD D A M M I T

DRACULA!!

they did the lighting thing!! HELL YEAH

PEPPER SPRAY HIM! YES GIRL!

hahaha he broke character

JOHNATHAN HARKER AND MINA REFERENCE!!

THAT’S WHAT I NAMED MY CAT AFTER

I don’t remember a romance with Mina in there but fine whatever creative license

Dean almost got bit by a Male Vampire huh

INTERMISSION AHAHAHA

Shapeshifter!!!

“the x files is a tv show, this is real” in the black and white filter...oh so tongue and cheek 

God I was half expecting a wink at the camera

MINA WASN’T THE INTENDED BRIDE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LUCY 

WHO THE HELL APPROVED THIS 

ok voyeuristic camera angles really Add to the horror damn

heh the ~responsibility burden

it’s nice Dean gets to talk about how much this sucks

Dean if you shut off I’m going to KILL you I want to know what’s going on

A mission from God!! 

I don’t care if that’s a blues brothers reference or not, I’m taking it as such

At least he’s found some purpose, although...hm I wonder where this is going

the ~phantom~!!

THE FUCKING SHIFT TO THE OTHER OPERA MUSIC AHAHA

Sam that’s his own fucking ear calm down

very Sinister Shots for Sam this scene I liked em

It’s Lucy? the Evil Woman of Dracula I’m telling you

aha and they were drugged! neat

the practical effects are So Neat tho!

oho, Frankenstein?

LiFe aIn’T a MoVie Dean you got something you want to say

listen, I get escaping into the glamor of a movie, I do

Man and Dean used to reference movies all the time :(

THE FUCKING DOORBELL

also “the monster wins” OHHH NO

I HAVE A COUPON HA

mention in recap: Dean+movies, monster winning, Lucy+dracula imagery, also the followup about hunters from the last one

bleh stupid controlling niceguy vampire

shit that dress does look good tho

ah yeah in real life this fucker gets killed near everywhere, but they’re famous on movies

kinnie but also Ow

sir you can’t coerce people into your life that’s not how that works

Sam: *pokes fun at his brother after he nearly got bbq’ed

Dean: SHUT UP

awwww

VAN HELSING’SSSS SERIOUS FACE

holy shit Jamie!!!

bitch why are you holding onto this, how?

sir you were a monster and you still got killed and OH I don’t like that wait

dammit Jamie and Dean are fun

Sam has been Suffering fOR 12 Y E A R S ok I’m done

Dean: It’d be nice if life was a movie AAAAA

and ends on a cute sibling note and the end? neat

okok I have meta: 

1. Listen listen listen, the “monster”(shifter) living in Real Life where he nearly gets killed all the time just for existing, has to fight to survive etc, finding monster movies and emulating them, but with the key difference of “the monster wins?” holy hell. It’s such a cool thing about how movies are our chance for escapism, and toss in a nice morally gray area for the monster as well. Like people use movies to escape, so we probably all relate to the monster a lot more anyway? like that’s such a compelling motivation it’s so cool!

and the fact that the monster still dies at the end is like. Ok you can either approach it as yknow, them saving the day or whatever, but I kinda felt it was like. He got to go out like those monsters in the movies? he clung to that reality, and got to go out in his version of dignity, while still feeding into the tragedy, because the monster really did die. It was the expected ending(monster dies in the end) but he seemed...to enjoy it(continued monologue right up until he died with a cool-ass shot)? he got to go out like his role models? Like you feel for him, but he did also kill people, but then the killing was also the role models. Like, complex motivation/story for this “monster of the week,” I thought it was interesting. And also, well done.

2. Also. Direct contrast to Dean. Dean’s the “references” guy, he always makes movie references. Or Ig he made them before he got jettisoned to Hell and had to figure himself out. If movies are positioned as Escape by the monster, Dean rejecting them in front of the monster, claiming real life is not that simple...feels like him stepping up to take on that Godly Responsibility. Especially because in this episode, Jamie says that “bro hunting sucks as a profession”(which is entirely true) and Dean says “yeah I thought that too”(aka the reference stage). Like the movies(and their rejection) show how Dean’s kinda stepping up to the “Ok, I’m a hunter, I’m here, I can't just check out or pretend this is a movie, this is real.”(As seen with his willingness to accept his “mission from God” and CALLING it as such when he was at first skeptical). Dean and the shifter are set up as foils, which is ALSO interesting because the last shifter also shifted into Dean. There’s probably something there(blend into whatever he’s been told to be by his Dad, by God whatever) but that’s not the thesis I’m going for here.

3. Worth noting, just little lore thing here, that Lucy is the Evil Woman in Dracula(the one that got turned into the vampire) and she ends up being the villain. And NO Mina was not Dracula’s bride, but she WAS lucy’s friend, so I’m going with Lucy/Mina because...no yeah that makes way more sense. 

4. sidenote, lamp shading that this is a show, how this is supposed to be Real(and highlighted with shifts from diagetic, the camera angles are Extra Theatrical, it’s a literal Black and White movie). But that lamp shading of the story+old movies like...was kinda integral to the plot, which. Yeah that’s how you do a Referential thing. It was done for a reason(on both ends, both Dean and the Monster have some kind of thing with movies), spotlighting it with Dean and Sam makes it show how this is a movie(although for what purpose I wasn’t really paying attention for) and also a nice homage on top. Cool use of meta style, I liked that a Lot and it looked really fucking good.

5. And this is just a little carry over from last time, but the fact that Sam and Dean don’t know about the rougarou kid is kinda a part of the inherent tragedy/revenge porn of hunting. They had no trouble believing Travis just Went for it, which doomed them not to ask the questions of Why, which doomed that poor kid and his mom. Their distrust and craziness and thirst for revenge is actively harming their mission, godDAMMIT one of you fuckers learn empathy and communication and teach it with the class.

Anyway. Movie Meta is my Shit so...yeah