#almost decided not to post this one either

[yourtypicalhuman09]

Same anon who gave the 5 ideas here.

I'm so happy you loved my ideas I'm so happy!🥹 (I feel a bit anxious about asking, I'm not good at social media cues so I normally just read in silence)

I do have some more ideas that I didn't want to put so my post will not be too long. And I want to share them with you.

1. (I don't know if I gave that one yet or not) Reader and their friend (s) being game development studio. it'll also make sense because Reader knows how to code and hack and because they know psychology, that will help them develop great characters and storylines that will touch people hearts in both good and bad ways.

2. If the Reader ended up teaching their friend to code and hack (especially hack) that will show a great deal of trust in them because in reality hackers don't trust each other and it's hard to make a hacker teach you hacking.

3. (Connected to 1) The first game reader and their studio made was bad (but the idea of it was good) because they were just training and trying and decided to let the world see it and judge, criticize, give advice. They even asked for advice on how to make games in the first place and it ended up with some cyberbullying, but more people given a lot of advice, from other game developers, authors, artists, and every random stranger on the internet you can find, Some were from the Batfam. The studio listened and made the game great in the end, making it one of the most downloaded games. And one of the biggest reasons is the fact that people love having a part in making something, it makes them feel connected to that thing. (Maybe that was the reader's idea using the knowledgeable psychology.) imagine the reader seeing Tim praising their game to one of the bat siblings not knowing that one of its makers are living with him. Imagine when he finds out.

4. When Alfred notes that reader doesn't seem to be chasing the families approval anymore and seems to find their peace of mind and healing he feels happy for them, because them being happy makes his job easier and he still cares about them somehow (even when they are at the bottom of his list of priorities).

5. I don't know if the reader will move out or not but imagine if the family of the friend help them move out, get a job if they don't have one? move to college?

6. Imagine the Batfam finding out that the reader spends every holiday and occasion one should spend with their family with the family of their friend for years apon years. Imagine them breaking into the house of the family of the friend and finding so many family pictures with Reader in them were either seem to fit in perfectly like this is the true family. Finding they almost have no picks with Reader, and even the only family photo reader was in with the Batfam, the reader is there at the corner, with some space between them and the batfam.

7. About the funeral of the father friend of the reader. Imagine the reader talking about the father stepping in the shoes their own father refused to step in. How he did teach them every single thing a father is supposed to teach his child, and more. And how even though this man is not their father by blood he is their father in every other way and no one can replace his place in their heart.

Thank you for reading I hope it's not that long

And can I be known as "anon 🌞"?

Ahhhh 🌞anon tysm for sharing more of your brilliant ideas! Like i said i love hearing from my readers whether its good or bad things because i know i can always improve and add onto my original idea and Jesus you don’t disappoint. thank you for another set of amazing ideas! Honestly don't be afraid to send in any kind of ask (though i do know its easer said than done😅).

This totally makes sense and its a really good idea! I'd love to include this in my story but if it doesn't fit i can always write another fic later with this plotline.

This is really smart i never thought of it that way. You're so clever!

This is very detailed, I've said this to 🍰anon but you should definitely consider writing this! I'd love to write my version of your concept but you know the concept better than me and I'd totally read your idea! If you still want I can still write it for you after i finish my main fic!

This is a good perspective on reader and Alfred's relationship but I already have something in mind. thank you for sharing though!

Wow are you a mind reader or am i just that predictable😅. I was actually planning on doing this so good on you for figuring it out!

OMG as always you have such good angst ideas! I love the idea of the Batfam being jealous of friend's family.😂

Ahhh you did it again! I absolutely love this idea! Again if you don't mind I'll probably use it.

Don't you worry about the length of your asks I love your ideas! Feel free to ask anything 🌞anon have a good day/night!

[lucrativesoul]

Fresh Meat

summary: when fear of a dangerous animal hits your small home village, outsider Leon joins the team to help them take on the hunt. the lurking creature is not the only secret hiding in the forest.

pairing: leon kennedy x fem!reader

word count: 14.8k

tags/warnings: fantasy/sci-fi, mentions of animal death, vague smut (non-explicit), questionable consent

a/n: let's hear it for me returning ! if you read the blurb i posted along with the sneak peak of this fic, yes, it is very plot heavy, and by the time i got to the end where the smut would have been, i decided a full fledged sex scene felt very out of place in this. so, i did omit details but there is still something at the end, so i apologize for anyone who reads for that purpose alone. i have an idea for my next one, so i will make it more worth it next time, lol. anyways, if this is up your alley, i hope you enjoyed it and i will see you all when i come back with another one!!

The rabbit was still warm when it showed up at your front door.

It was an odd hour for someone to be out hunting, but with the sun getting ready to enter a state of near dormancy for four months, you took it as a sign that someone was trying to keep your small population fed for the winter.

Bringing the crate with a small, bloodstained bundle into your home, you pondered about who had left this here for you. You were fairly certain that your neighbors were all still home, either that or they were only just now helping dock the ship that arrived with grain. They had been known to occasionally leave you with an animal, but it was usually in the early hours, and the wind chill would lower the carcass’s temperature significantly before you could rouse and bring it in. 

Nonetheless, you didn’t strain yourself over it, as acts of kindness regarding food supply were warmly welcomed before the darkness settled in.

This winter was much like the ones you had seen before–adults of the town strapping down their own food supply, whether that be buried in the ground or in an underground cellar if their cabin was big enough, the children running around only during peak hours when the air was just warm enough that the wind wouldn’t sting when it hit you, and carriages full of leaking meat ready to be skinned and fileted arrived, preparing to be stored with whatever else could last through the winter.

This was routine now, and a small gift like a warm rabbit to eat for the night was one you would not turn down any time soon.

You looked over the animal; the fur was clean, the kill was neat, and it didn’t look harmed. Job well done. You hoped it didn’t suffer for long. As a token of thanks for it, you would save the pelt for a cowl.

You had a decent sized storage for food this winter, you were only feeding yourself and you could survive off of the grains and winter vegetables that were available for as long as you could. Saving the rabbit would be nice, but you knew the winter market would be held shortly, and that is when you did your stockpile. This one would be tonight’s treat.

Leaving the creature on the counter, you whisked yourself over to the front door, sliding your arms into a big woolen coat, your feet into boots, and shoved your hands into your pockets to make the quick walk across the square to your acquaintance’s home. Hissing when the cold made your eyes water, you latched the door shut and raised your shoulders, bringing the collar of the coat up to protect your neck. Such a quick walk made the full winter apparel unnecessary, though at times you do wish it wasn’t so painstaking to put on. The walk would be much better if you weren’t contorted to stay warm.

The sound of the gravel under your feet mixed with the children yelling at one another as they ran around, dodging and weaving wagons and carriages coming into the square. You almost shouted a warning to them, fearing they would get hurt by the large wheels or the horses’ hooves, but selfishly enough, you were too cold to make any extra effort. You knew the other women of the commune were smart enough to do it themselves, you just liked going the extra mile to help neighbors.

The house you were seeking arrived at once. Quickening your pace, you jogged up the jagged walkway of stone and rapt on the door four times. You heard the sound of thundering steps on wood floors within, and the door opened instantly and you walked inside without waiting for verbal permission.

This was your closest ally's house; neither of you were to need permission to enter under any circumstance, though knowing her family was home, you had the kindness to knock anyway. Being a solo woman of the town meant you spent the majority of your time helping her and her family, as you were well off enough with supplies to keep yourself alive. Today was no different, and with her husband out in the woods lowering the population of multiple woodland inhabitants for the winter market, she could use the extra person to run the home for the night.

You shed your coat and propped it up by the door, quickly unlacing your boots and doing the same to them. You followed her wordlessly to the kitchen, not needing instruction.

“I’m worried,” She then said timidly, and you had to turn around from your position at the chopping block to be sure you heard her correctly.

“Worried, did you say? What for? You know he’s out there doing just fine, every market always keeps you all well fed, warm, and whatnot. Is it the children? Have they become interested in wanting to go?” 

You recall her confiding in you that she was anxious of the day her children were old enough to want to follow their father into the woods to join the group of their annual winter gathering. She knew her husband would teach them right, and you had no doubt they were being raised as well mannered children, eventually able to handle firearms for this purpose, but naturally, her mother's instinct would kick in.

“No, not quite…” She paused a moment, opening the floor hatch and pulling up their storage box with chilled greens for supper. You walked over and took a cabbage, placing it back on your board. The cold made your fingertips ache. “I believe this won’t be a great season. He’s told me there’s oddly less game this year than the previous few.”

You furrowed your brow at this. “Well, I suppose it can’t be great every season, no? You know how much you need now, and his catch will be able to provide you with that and more.”

She sighed. “Yes, but��� they are growing now. It takes more to feed them. The cold feels like it lasts a lot longer than it used to.” She began chopping, her knife making rhythmic knocks against the wooden slab. You cut your own cabbage in half, leaving it open by the stove to thaw the center.

“I think you’ll be alright. You have the support when you need it, I always have the extra to spare for you.” You looked over at her earnestly, and before she could reply, you both hushed as the door swung open. Seeing it was just one of her three children, she ushered him off into the main room to warm up, not before chastising him about being outside with barely enough on. She shook her head as she walked back into the kitchen.

“They don’t ever listen about their heavy coats. I can’t make them learn.” She sighed again and looked back over at you. “And don’t be ridiculous, please. You need your food.”

You breathed a small laugh. “I’m well off enough to keep myself going with what I have. One small deer is a month of meals for me, you know that. Let me go back to my house, I have a fresh rabbit, we will eat it tonight. I’d rather share it.”

She turned her head sharply, but not out of scorn. “Fresh? From who? No one has come back yet. You certainly didn’t go out.” You laughed again at this, knowing she meant no insult by it.

“I really don’t know. It wasn’t there this morning when I went to the well. I don’t even remember what I was doing in between this time, I had nothing to prepare, I was waiting for the men to come back with meat. I opened my door for something, I don’t even remember what, I just did. And it was there, in a crate.”

She halted her chopping, staring off, pondering. “You didn’t miss it this morning? You know there’s those few that get the dawn’s catch.”

You shook your head, peeling back layers of cabbage that were thawed enough now, pausing to warm your fingertips in the pockets of your apron, loaned by your friend. “Couldn’t have missed it… didn’t see a single soul walk by my window all morning.”

Silence fell between the two of you, and you knew she was also wondering where this could have come from, knowing every man that hunted in the village was not to return until almost sundown with their catches. After a while, she just shrugged.

You nodded your head in agreement. “Meat is meat. Here, let me go get it, I’ve just been letting it sit. This needs to thaw more anyways.” You abandoned your station and walked over to the door, re-suiting up for the walk back. You heard her footsteps behind you. “Would you like the children in? I know they should be all coming back soon, the last thing they would need right now is children becoming more stones under the horses hooves.”

She hummed from behind you. “Yes, that would be great, they should have been back an hour ago now.” 

Having fastened the last button on your coat, you swung the door open. The sky was quickly descending to a deeper shade of gray, indicating the sun was setting against a clear sky the town has not seen in months now. You were about to turn and give her another verbal confirmation of finding her remaining two children when a loud cry from the square stopped you. You turned, and you felt your friend step out to watch as well, unable to ignore the sudden break of the square’s silence.

“I… I’ll go see what’s going on, stay here.” You took a step down and crunched the earth under your boot.

“Nonsense.” She turned to grab her own coat off the hanger, and she shouted inside at her one child home to stay put and not to move. You both hurriedly walked further into the commotion, the other townsfolk creating a barrier around the one who shouted. A break in the human wall opened up, and you were on the outer ring watching the drama unfold.

The man, who undeniably drew attention as he was on his knees and had his hunting gloves ripped off, blood drying and cracking over his cold hands, was recognizable as a man of the hunting group that was soon to be back with their catch for the upcoming market. You looked around as much as you could, past the opposite wall of people concerned for what he was going to say, but you did not see any other carriages arrive with any game. In fact, you did not see even his.

You heard him mumbling something to himself, and one of the elder councilmen came over and took a knee beside him, desperate to figure out what was troubling him. You watched, tense, as they spoke, nods and headshakes and gestures of confusion being traded between them. The anxiety of it all made you forget the rapidly dropping temperature.

The councilman suddenly stood, putting a hand on the man’s shoulders, but he shook it off. You gasped, worried for a violent outbreak that you were sure the whole town wanted to avoid. 

The man stood on his own now, free from what he deemed and feigned support from the councilman.

“I am not saying these things to place fear!” You were shocked at the booming delivery of his statement. Everyone was silent now, not expecting the situation to take the turn it did. “I witnessed it on my own, and though no one else but me did, it does not mean what I saw was not real! Who knows how close it will get to us? Who knows if it will stop not only at our game but turn us into its own?!” 

If the air could somehow grow colder, it did in that moment. You, obviously, as well as the other nearly hundred people surrounding the man, had no idea what he was letting on about, but the sound of what he was saying plus his strained, clearly fearful tone was enough to put you on edge as well.

You felt your friend grip your wrist–you were sure she was suddenly fearful for her husband, who could have been in the way of whatever monstrosity this man claims to have seen. You weren’t sure you even wanted to know yourself.

“Nonsense!” Another elder walked into the circle and up to the man, gripping his shoulder suddenly and speaking to him closely, the words undecipherable. Your attention was diverted to the right, where the elder had come from, the sounds of hooves clopping and wheels churning over rock growing louder. The hunters had come back, and surely someone had filled the rest of the councilmen in on what was going on. Whether or not the townsfolk would also be filled in, remained the question. 

“Everybody!” One of the hunters strode into the center, whom you recognized as their lead, bringing quiet amongst the curious whispering. “I apologize on the behalf of my team for invoking any sort of fear just now. We had a… peculiar encounter on our journey today. With market approaching, the stress of needing a hefty catch along with the preparation of rationing for the hibernating months takes a toll on all of us, some more than others.” He projected his voice with ease, breath coming off in plumes of translucent steam. The scene was entirely chiaroscuro from the rapidly dimming sky and the square lamps up above. “A quick dash by a wolf may scare some of us if we did not see the beast to begin with. Rest assured, we have returned unharmed, and the market will commence this upcoming weekend with enough game for each family’s share. Goodnight!” 

Though a few patrons on the outside of the circle began to disperse, you could see that many did not want to, as drama such as what just transpired was not common in this village. There were no liars, or dramatics, and if there were, it was taken care of so fast that news never got its chance to travel to you. The crowd thinned, but you and your friend stayed put, watching the wagons roll in with slumped deer, hanging rabbits and flayed birds. You felt her grip loosen when her husband sat atop his own wagon now rolling in behind the rest, but you were watching the silent scene happening beyond the newcomers. 

The man who had drawn the crowd was speaking, in what looked to be a rather tense manner, to the man who addressed the audience. Speaking to him as if he betrayed his word, as if he were calling him a fool, or a liar. Whatever was being exchanged between the two was not that of civil camaraderie, but something eager to be settled and swept away. Whatever the intended goal of the man's words to dispel the crowd were, you knew the effect was opposite on you and many others standing around. You knew you would be thinking about it until the market has come and gone, and possibly until whatever threat was out there was defeated.

–

Dark corners of your house had you jumping like never before, even when you could walk through it with a blindfold on, and backwards. 

Admittedly, though being half-heartedly reassured that what he saw out there was nothing more than an unfortunately large wolf, your aquaintance’s husband was kind with his intentions in not spreading a mass hysteria, which he claimed was going to happen if no one tried to counter the claim made in the square the night prior.

The crowd dispersed not too long after that, and after hearing that you were offering up your own portion of meat to share with a family of five, her husband insisted you kept it for yourself, and you joined them for a cut of fresh venison that he just secured that day. 

Though you were now fed for the night and had the animal to spare for the next few, it did you little good in resting your growing worries about a potential danger outside of the town. You knew the men go far to hunt, further each day to find greater populations, but who knew how fast it was? Who knew how strongly it would be drawn to a whole commune of people? Was it carnivorous? Was it big enough to eat a human? Ravage a whole town?

You knew these worries were now getting out of hand–if this were the case, hunting season for the market was about to end and every man willing to kill an animal would be at every corner of the town. But whatever was living in the forest was well adapted to roaming in the dark…

You slept after a while, only after making sure multiple times that the door was locked and the windows bolted tightly. Your heart rate increased at the squeaking floorboards, sounds you were well accustomed to, sounds that now felt like they were intrusions. You now wish you had not gone out to your home that night, if you hadn’t heard this yourself, if you only heard of what went down from someone else, you would have been much more comfortable. But having been there, having heard his tone, your skin would not settle.

And truth be told, you believed what he claimed. Granted, what he was claiming was very vague, and no one had anything better to clear it, but it took a very skilled trickster to sound that convincing. You knew it was no lie.

Knowing there was no one else to turn to for this, though, you had to live as if that is exactly what it was. A deception, an illusion, a truly unfortunate mistake. What else?

This is what you repeated to yourself all day. An emergency would have been declared by now, and the men went out hunting at dawn like they always did during this season. Things were fine. It would be taken care of, you had to believe it.

The next day brought the same as yesterday, minus the showcase. The men left once again for hunting, and you were popping around the square finding neighbors to help them prepare for either their market stall or their rations for the freeze. The incident was mostly off of your mind while you stayed busy, but it was brought back to the forefront once again when the horses pulled their wagons in much too early, and the men rounded the square in what looked to be a secret meeting.

Like the previous day, minus the crowd, everyone around the town fulfilling their own chores stopped and stared, knowing this was out of the ordinary for any hunting season. There would be no reason for the men to return early, and there was a next-to-zero chance that there was no game frotting about in the forest. 

You grew cold, a sensation unrelated to the weather surrounding you, the type of cold that traveled through your veins and wrapped around your bones. You recalled what your friend had said over the vegetables yesterday, “I am worried… He’s told me there’s oddly less game this year than the previous few.” 

Could that be the issue at hand? Were there really no animals left to catch? Couldn’t be… this had never happened, and you knew the whole commune was conscious about their meat intake, giving the populations the whole year to recover their numbers, and the men chose different cardinal directions to travel each season; it seemed impossible. And yet, why were they back with empty carriages?

You spotted your friend’s husband among the men, and felt a surge in your curiosity. You gently parted from the mother you were helping to carry in grain and stalked over, your footsteps becoming quicker with each strike to the ground.

You called out to him and he turned, not being a part of the group conspiring with the councilmen.

“What is it? This can’t be good.” Your breath was ragged from your pace in the biting weather. That, and the addition of anxiously waiting for the answer.

He shook his head and looked around. “I… I don’t know what I can say. There was…” He paused for a moment longer than needed. You nearly shoved him to get it out. “A beast.”

You would have gasped had the air not stung your windpipe. The shock felt like one of the horses had slammed right into you, and yet, you felt as if you knew this would be the answer all along. You believed the man yesterday, no one here had any good reason to lie about the safety of the home he resided in. The thought of that was absurd.

“There was another encounter by multiple of us this morning, it ran off very quickly, but there was carnage.” This time you really did gasp, but he raised a hand to cut off any interjections. “No men down, it was eating deer. But we walked around the area it was found once it put acres between itself and us, and there were carcasses everywhere. It was eating what we could be eating. That is what has been affecting our numbers.” 

And thus, your friend was right. He must have been seeing this all winter so far to clue her in on his personal conspiracy, and here it was being proven true. A skilled hunter he was, he would surely notice when count was declining. 

“What was it?”

He was silent for even longer this time, and you were unsure what to make of it. Once he spoke, it was not words you were expecting to hear.

“It was no wolf. Please, don’t spread it, I’m sure they will come up with some creature to tell everyone, but, I trust you’ll keep my word. It was uncanny. Quadrupedal like wolf, fur standing on end down its back, muzzle black and leather with blood over its body, but it ran like a man. It scaled trees with inches long claws, it had no howl of a wolf, it was so deep, an octave no human could dream of reaching. I felt it in my chest. My eardrums were going to rupture, I was sure of it.”

You stood still, sure your body had turned to stone. There was no way the words he was speaking were true, but the situation holds solid here as well: why would he lie? This man knew you well, you were always round their house to share meals and extend help, he wouldn’t think about putting an irrational fear into you. It made no sense. Yet, that meant this is truly what he had seen…

“Do not say a word… I know they will tell the town something else but someone must know what I have seen. You understand…” 

You did understand, after all, how could he burden his wife with the knowledge of what he had seen? She would become eternally frightened, she would never let her children outside, possibly never want him to partake in a hunt again. You decided to bear this weight with him, it was the least you figured you could do.

“We crossed a squadron of men from another town, out east. We told them we were having some… trouble. They confided in us the same. They did not give away any details but I’m sure that they saw the same creature. Anyway… they offered to help us hunt it down. They should be arriving shortly.” He paused again and looked around. The group of men was now thinning, and you saw many looked to be in distress. You did not know what you could do for them, or for the safety of the community. “It’s safe right now while we are all here, but once we depart again go right back inside, you know.” He stalked away from you to join the rest of the men still discussing with one another. You sighed.

You felt no better knowing this now, obviously; you had to move with caution and you could not take any chances. You didn’t often leave your home during the winter once the sun had set but now you must be certain to remember it. This would be a tough winter, and you hoped the hunters would have it taken care of immediately.

In no world did you think such a beast would exist. You weren’t even sure what to call it, how to describe it. The closest word, without having seen this cosmic beast, was werewolf; you knew there were some legends of werewolves existing within this region, but these are oral tales passed down to scare children into staying in their houses at night and to not run off too far during the day. Tales made to keep them obedient, they were not supposed to be warnings.

Swallowing the lump of fear now present in your chest, you returned to your duties, saying not much at all when asked what was going on. You kept your word, and besides, who would believe you?

Working away the thoughts, they were once again drawn back to the present when the sound of heavy footfall echoed from a trail between town buildings. You looked up and waited for the sound to grow closer. The hunters all convened at the moment they heard it as well, and there entered another 20 or so men from what you assumed was the eastern town that he had been telling you about. They didn’t look much different from the men of your village, save for their primary choice of hide was a deeper brown than your town’s standard tan. 

You felt a slight weight off your shoulders at the sight of all of the men, equipped with their individual weapons slung across their shoulders, but you worried for their safety once they were set out on their mission to defeat the beast.

More talking and strategizing ensued, and you stood to the side to watch them sort themselves out into small groups, presumably to cover area faster. While scanning the tableau, your eye caught a sight of your friend off to the side, two of her children huddled behind her large skirt. You padded over to them.

Once you approached, speaking in a hushed tone, you addressed her, “This is the state of things then?”

She sighed and shook her head. “I can’t believe it. If they find nothing until the market, most of the catch from yesterday will be ours. We don’t even know how much we will be able to trade off. Not like this…” You turned to look back at the men. There were five groups now, and one was making their way over to where the two, or four, of you stood. Her husband was at the front.

They spoke together softly for a moment, and you took the time to discreetly survey the rest of the men who followed him over. 

Again, they all looked similar to your eyes; similar stature, and dress, and they resembled those of your own village as well. You figured that luck was somewhere among the indescribable chaos they witnessed to have run into reinforcements. 

He started talking to you, and you noticed a few of your other neighbors were standing by. He was introducing them all by first name and their village. All standard, you expected this if there were going to be nearby.

There were 6 men to this group total, four of them being strangers. “You’ll see us around, so don't hesitate to also ask for our help,” One of them spoke, voice much deeper than the man you were familiar with. “We are stronger as a unit.” You wrapped your arms around yourself, holding in the cold, and also seeking some inner comfort, as the severity of the situation was starting to dawn.

You were about to walk away and lock up at home when a voice interrupted, “Excuse me. I am late… I apologize. I have been added to your group.”

The group of men parted as they turned around to stare at the newcomer, who you could only assume was someone from their village. They were absurdly quiet for the first moment, letting him take the spotlight from the others.

This man looked nothing like an ordinary villager.

While the men surrounding you were equipped with thick hide jackets lined with fur for warmth and the most contrast to be seen on them was the white trim to their dark hair, this man stood out and would possibly never blend in. He had a deep blue jacket, buttoned and belted together, looking like it awfully lacked in layers, yet he gave no sign of being cold at all. His black pants were accessorized with pockets up and down both legs, and he wore black leather boots, the kind you only saw in mainland areas much further south. He did not get any of this dress from here, nor within hundreds of miles from anywhere around here. 

After scrutinizing his wardrobe, you raised your eyes to await the next words he spoke. Yet, the looks of his face solidified the fact that this man was not only not a villager, he was certainly no native to these areas.

His hair, compared to everyone’s around, was a shocking deep blonde, a hair color you hadn’t seen in years, and had only seen on young children. He was uncharacteristically clean, no signs of having been hunting at all this day, and while most men chose to sport thick facial hair for weather protection, only the light skin and harsh contours of his face were present. And his eyes… those bright blue eyes…

They locked on yours. Heat seared through your veins, the rings of your vision fuzzed, the sky whited out, blood was racing into your head then back out, a wave of dizziness hit you at full force, your fingers went numb then regained feeling all at once, your chest constricted, your knees were about to give out–then he looked away. The chill of the winter returned. You were standing on solid ground.

You were breathless. No one seemed to notice any shift in the atmosphere, except for you. Your hands clutched your jacket even tighter.

“Where are you coming from? I know of no towns that look like… not us.” One of the men said, avoiding the obvious state that he was clearly not local.

“No, I am not from here. I am from much further north. I was passing by and heard word that there was a hunt that needed assistance and… I have no further pressing issues. I am dedicating myself to your cause. My name is Leon.”

Voice like butter, it slid through your ears and caressed your brain, Leon stood with a confidence unknown to you. He held himself as if he were the biggest man in the town and to you, it appeared he was, standing at least 3 inches or more above everyone in this commune. This man was an enigma. Leon was a complete mystery to behold.

“Well,” Your friend’s husband spoke from next to you, making you jump slightly, forgetting he was even involved with this. “We are glad to have you then, Leon. We hope to have this under control within the next few days, we need to keep our market tradition alive.” He clapped the other men on the back and they huddled once again, ready to take off until evening.

You breathed in deeply, not feeling any pain you may have expected. You figured you were suddenly feeling down, from what, who knew, but you were not well. You turned to your friend.

“I… I am not feeling too well, I think I am going to go for the night. I would stay, but I don’t think I should.” Your voice felt feeble, but she seemed to detect no indifference.

“Oh, are you sure? I can bring you what we have left, don’t stress yourself.”

You shook your head. “No, no, don’t worry about me, I have plenty. I need to lay down. Thank you, though.” With a nod from her, you turned your back on her and speed walked across the square, ducking through all of the patrons standing around just as confused as you felt earlier. There was still confusion, but for an entirely different reason.

Who was Leon? There was no way he was simply passing through from a village up north, which introduced more confusion into the equation, because it certainly did not explain the dress. Why would he be dressed for much higher temperature climates up north? There was just no reason…

And those sensations… they were unexplainable to you, yet you had to write them off as coincidence of timing, the shock of seeing the newcomer, some other third party element that caused you to take ill. There was no other way to explain it. It was a mix of unfortunate timing, and he was another man helping the search to keep the grounds safe. Just another man.

But that face was persistent behind your eyelids.

–

The men set out on the hunt officially the next day.

They spent the previous night mapping out routes and directions that each of them would take to avoid overlap and to cover as much area as possible. Your friend came by your house that morning to check on you; she relayed the information her husband had told her later that night, and you felt at least relieved that they were getting out there.

That night you were restless, you tossed and turned and were certain that you got little to no sleep at all. Your body wanted the rest so bad, but your mind would not let you.

You kept feeling the shock of connecting your gaze with Leon’s. You felt like you were at the edge of a nightmare every time you started to drift, and terrified to wake up in one, your mind subconsciously refused. You wanted to sleep, but you knew you could not sleep the day away. Maybe, you supposed, hard work today will put you to sleep tonight.

You finally brought that rabbit up that you had been delivered a few days ago. After the family insisted that you kept it while you shared some of their venison with them, you put it in the underground storage, where it was chilled enough to preserve, yet not freeze. You laid it on the counter, pleased to see you could still save the fur. Your gaze lingered on it.

Its eyes were closed. There were four puncture marks around the head and neck, they didn’t bleed too much. It looked as if it were just sleeping; the position did not suggest any signs of rigor mortis. Eating animals and having to skin them never bothered you–it was how you were raised. Putting too much thought behind it makes things unstable, you begin to question morals, you begin to question the world, but you supposed that was the inherent position of man on Earth.

Who had given you this rabbit? That had still gone unanswered, and you weren’t sure you would ever find out. Nonetheless, you were not going to run in circles to find the mystery gifter when you were hungry, and there was fresh meat on the table for dinner.

You were seated to eat dinner alone after a day of doing last minute preparation before the winter market. It was slated to happen in two days, you were helping mothers around the square fill their grain portions and make room in their storage chests. You did all of this for yourself in between, but as you’ve said to your friend multiple times before, you were only one person, and you could ration it should you need to.

You made the whole rabbit. It was small enough, and you could eat the other half tomorrow. It would cool down just fine in the underground storage overnight. 

The candlelight on your table flickered. You were suddenly afraid of it going dark, you had to have your matches nearby in case of this happening. You already knew you would be caged with fear, unable to move, any sense of navigation in the dark stripped from you.

Putting the rabbit in a cloth wrap, you placed it into your underground storage, making a mental note to bring it up in the morning to prevent it from freezing through. You extinguished the candles, but not before setting a small fire in the hearth, enough wood inside to provide you with light until you were able to fall asleep, but nothing too big to risk a hazard.

You hoped with food in you and a fire going slowly would ease you off to sleep, and let you rest thoroughly this time–it was everything but.

Your eyes shot open. You faced the dark, unable to gather your bearings for a moment. You pushed yourself up onto your elbows, feeling the pinch of pine needles under your clothing. You looked down, desperate to figure out the situation. Hearing the wind howl and not feeling the warmth that your home would be providing you, your vision returned slowly, and your mind pieced it all together.

You were in a forest. Where exactly, you could not tell. You did not often journey into the forest, there was no reason for you to be out there. This aside, out there you were, and you had to find a way back.

Your legs were unsturdy, but you forced them in place, holding your balance upright as you took weary steps over the foliage. The wind occasionally whipped your face and you squinted to avoid it, eyes getting teary and fingers growing numb.

All around you in each cardinal direction was nothing but the dark blanket of night and more trees. You could see the tips of leaves up on the canopy painted by moonlight, and now that you adjusted to the dimness, she was your guidance.

The lack of sound should have been comforting, yet you found it ultimately disturbing. There should be more life around you, yet among the vast acres of wildlife, you were somehow the only one making any noise, the only one to exist here. It was wrong. Something was deeply wrong.

A twig snapping caught your attention. You held your breath in a silent gasp and turned, trying to source the cause. You held as still as the wind would render you, but fear was your driving force, and you became an impenetrable wall while facing the danger. 

Seeing nothing and hearing no more, you turned, ready to continue your trek. Mere seconds after you took another step, yet another branch snap rang out, this time, it was only a handful of paces in front of you. Your ears were not deceiving you, you knew this was not a sound that you had produced, meaning there was something, someone else out there. They could see you, no doubt about it, yet you were blind to them.

Your body refused to cooperate. You could not take any more steps forward despite possibly being in direct vicinity of the danger. As much force as you applied, your limbs never gave way, and you were rooted to the ground, eyes peeled on the ages old trees in front of you, watching as the darkness uncovered itself.

A shadowy mist separated itself from the trees. It hung, suspended in midair, not making any attempts to move, until after a few seconds, it began to evolve, tendrils of smoke solidifying into body parts, horridly long body parts and skin that shone under the moonlight, a sheen to it that was not possible for any human to achieve. Ice blue eyes pierced the vast emptiness, and as you stared into them, for whatever creature they belonged to began to take shape. You witnessed in your peripherals arms and legs, bent to support the hunched body on the ground, muscles undulating and flexing under tightly pulled skin, fur sprouting from its back, claws digging into the dirt, teeth shining like stars from a face as black as the void. It was set on you. There was no outrunning this cosmic beast.

It took no steps forward, yet you felt it’s spirit enter your proximity like a snake tightening on its prey. Your body started to tremble, tears streaking down your face, unblinking, expressionless, save for your mouth slightly agape in a silent gasp. You felt it get closer, but it physically remained, your chest tightened, and you felt the pressure on your skin. Its eyes were glowing white, saliva pooling off of its teeth, its jaw unhinged, and your brain went blank, ears ringing from the deep, droning growl it emitted. It was not felt only with your head, but your chest vibrated, your eyes blurred, you fell to your knees.

You opened your mouth finally in a blood curdling scream.

With a gasp that wracked your whole body, you shot up, hands gripping the fabric underneath you as you stared up at the dark ceiling.

A nightmare. 

You sat still, allowing your heart to steady and slowing your breath down, taking a moment to reground yourself. Nothing of what you just saw was real.

You slowly lowered yourself back down onto your bed, listening to the rustle of the blanket and the distant crackle of the dying fire. As much as you told yourself it was just a dream, the feeling it left behind was more real than you had ever felt.

You jumped again when there was a sudden series of knocks on your front door.

You bolted upright again, staring out into the dark in the direction of the door. Whoever was standing outside was not knocking again, but you had a feeling that they were not walking away when you did not answer. Though you were afraid in this moment, there was no reason you shouldn’t trust a neighbor coming to you at this time. It could be dire. You had to find out.

You lifted yourself out of bed and wrapped a light blanket around your shoulders. The fire was nearly out now, and you paused to throw another log onto it, but made that a task for after you helped who was at your door.

Your hand hovered over the doorknob, making second guesses, wondering if you should just turn around and pretend you did not hear it. But that is not how things operated in this town–everyone helped everyone.

You twisted the knob and slowly opened the door, only enough to peek your face through and observe who was standing at the doorstep.

Your brow furrowed immediately when you deduced who it was. You locked eyes, and you expected the wave of intense emotion that came with it, but nothing happened. You spoke.

“Can I help you?”

He nodded curtly. “I am sorry to have woken you. I got a tad distracted on hunt today, spent a little too long down at the parlor… I don’t have anywhere to stay for tonight. If you had the room… but please don’t hesitate to close the door on me should you feel so inclined. I understand this situation I am putting you in.”

You blinked at him. You opened the door a bit more. “You… you aren’t staying at the inn?”

He looked to his left in the direction of the square. You supposed, putting a mental puzzle together right after you said it, that the inn was full from the other villagers aiding you during this time. “No vacancy.” As expected.

You stared at him for a moment longer. A breeze hit your face, and you shuddered. You figured he was faring much worse wandering outside in this weather.

“Okay… I have a mat I can pull out by the fire. I need to throw more wood onto it.” You swung the door open fully, and he stepped over the threshold. Hanging his jacket and outerwear on the hooks, you felt his eyes follow you as you opened your wardrobe and unrolled the spare mat you had. You suddenly felt pressure to perform in your own home. Shaking your head, you threw two small logs onto the fire and waited for it to come to life.

“Again, I am sorry to wake you. You know, your comrade has spoken of you highly, and I figure a full house such as his would not have kindly taken me in at this time.” You turned to look at him, having followed you to the fire, taking a seat on the floor on top of the mat. The angles of his face created harsh shadows under his brow bone. He looked unscathed. Hadn’t he been outside all day?

“It’s alright, I… I had just woken up anyway. Don’t sleep fully through the night sometimes.” He nodded, but did not speak. You poked the last log fully into the embers for it to ignite, warming the house for a few hours longer. “This season is more stress than it usually is, I imagine that has a lot to do with it.”

“Yes, I can tell many of these men are unsure about how to conduct themselves right now. I can’t say I blame them though. I’m sorry, my name is Leon, by the way, I should have started with that before asking for your hospitality.”

You nodded. “Yes, Leon, I remember,” You spoke wistfully. “How did you get to be wandering this late at night? Everything should have closed hours ago if I know what time it is.” He blinked slowly at you, no expressions on his face. 

“I am much accustomed to the darkness. I like to spend some of my time wandering around and seeing what is open, where I can go, and if that results in nothing for me, then I turn and leave. But, I came here for a reason and I cannot abandon the cause that I volunteered to contribute to, and it seems the inn I had last spent time in was already housing those from the east who are doing the same. I came from there. They had a small parlor, but I was forced out once their latest hour of operation came.” Leon shrugged. “And as I said, I recall having heard the introductions of those who live nearby. My first gamble paid off.”

You said nothing to this. His voice was sliding through your head like silk, and his face moved as if it were a statue enchanted. His aura was unlike any other you have encountered, and you found yourself wondering if this is what people from farther regions were truly like, or if there was something about him that no other could replicate.

“Well, I have a half of a rabbit left that I ate for supper if you are hungry. I would rather it get eaten while it has just recently been cooked.”

He looked over to the kitchen, shrouded in shadow. Pieces of his hair stuck together in blades of blonde, yet it looked purposefully tousled and cleaned. The bare white tunic he wore was clearly too light for the winter weather, yet he seemed unbothered by it.

“I would be lying if I said rabbit weren’t my favorite, but I will decline. I am fair off for the time being. I can snatch one up tomorrow.” He scooted himself back so he was resting against the wall, still facing the fire, where you were sitting. The heat of it was licking your skin now, lulling you back into a drowsy state. As much as you wanted to return to the loft bed to sleep, you couldn’t abandon company.

“So, where do you come from Leon? I remember you saying north but… I have not encountered any northerners for quite some time, I honestly forgot there was anyone up there at all.”

He shrugged again. Before he started talking, you moved from the fire, fearing the heat may put you back to sleep right where you sat. “I do come from the north, but I have always been a roamer. I have visited various villages and small cities, anything that the forest wraps around. I explore. I lend my help when needed.” 

“You’re nomadic? How is that possible in the weather the north gets?”

He rolled his head to the side from where it was resting on the wall. His face was painted orange. “I have learned to adapt. I much prefer living that way.”

You stared again, aware that he was aware of how long you were looking at him. Every answer he gave only puzzled you more. “It doesn’t seem possible.”

He quirked his mouth in a small smirk. You ignored the sudden heat surge from the fire that was surely not growing any larger. “I find a way to make everything possible.”

A spell of silence fell over you. You could feel the sleep creeping back under your eyelids, and wanted to return to the loft.

“Do you need anything else? I’m sorry I don’t prepare for visitors too often…” Leon had closed his eyes, hands wrapped around the blanket off of your small sofa and a spare pillow. 

He shook his head slightly. “It is more than enough, I can’t come into your home at dead of night and demand more than you’ve given me. It is plenty for me to be ready to set out with them in the morning.”

You nodded your head and went to stand. Before you even made it a few paces away from him, you turned again, a sudden fear overcoming you.

“Do you think you’ll be able to catch… it? It’s been driving me crazy, it feels. It’s making my mind reel.”

He turned his head and looked over at you now, half of his face hidden in shadow. A few pieces of his yellow hair fell onto his forehead. “I do believe so. If there is anything to catch out there at all.”

Your brow scrunched. “Do you believe there is nothing out there?”

He sighed. The light made the rise and fall of his chest visible. You watched the way his shirt tightened around his torso with the movement. “I think the case is, more often than not, that one person spreads a moment of hysteria and it catches on. There might be something out there, there might not.”

You recall the conversation you had had with your friend’s husband the other day. He had seen it himself, and you knew he wouldn’t lie. Were Leon’s experiences the only premonition he was speaking from? You could only assume that was the case with him. But as to how he could have been nomadic his whole life and never come across a wicked beast… you couldn’t imagine the likelihood of that scenario.

“I feel that the fear that man held was not fake when he told us all what he saw… I believe him.”

Leon stared at you. The fire glinted in his eyes. They looked impossibly dark and deep from where you were standing. “What do you think it was out there?”

You breathed in and cast your gaze down. You honestly were not sure what you believed. Your logical mind, and the mind that wanted to keep everyone safe, told yourself that it was a wolf. A large wolf that was not afraid of people. But the mind of yours that likes to wander is a different story.

“I think… I think there is an animal. And it is getting closer. So, it makes me worried.” Leon nodded as you spoke, but he offered no insight. “There’s rumors.”

“Rumors? Spread by the men on the hunt or the children eager for more legends to pass on?” You could hear the smirk in Leon’s voice without needing to look up. It made you clench your jaw.

“Rumors that it is otherworldly.” You shrugged. “Who am I to deny the existence of that which I cannot claim to have proof of it not?” You looked up again to Leon, who also had his eyes cast down. A chill washed over you despite the fire still burning. “Could be a werewolf.”

Leon’s eyes snapped up at that. Your head seared with a sudden migraine spike, and your vision went blurry. Your muscles and organs felt ice cold yet your skin burned, both sensations merging to keep you rooted to the spot. All the air left your lungs, and your throat went dry. You felt your knees grow weaker until they could no longer bear your weight, and you registered the sound of your body hitting the floor, but felt none of the pain from the impact. Your vision went black.

When you awoke again, the sun was peeking over the horizon and you were in your bed. Leon was not in the house.

–

You carried an air of confusion with you for the better part of the day. You had not seen Leon once since he left your house, and the only evidence left behind that you knew he was there for sure was the spare mat out on the floor, the blanket folded neatly and the pillow stacked on top of it. You didn’t hear him leave, but then again, you don’t remember going upstairs at all.

Did you black out? Have a fainting spell? That could be the only explanation–what else could you attribute it to? This was a new experience for you, as you had never had any issues like this before with your health (that you knew of) and had no past encounters that would offer you any sort of explanation other than a sudden bout of fainting. You were at least glad that Leon was there; he was the only person around to have put you back into your bed, unless you really had woken up and lost your memory of it.

And Leon–you could barely even remember the conversation happening when you fainted in the middle of it. Though you were not this kind of person and always think the better of everyone, you mind did of course do a mental checklist of everything that could have been blamed on Leon. You drank nothing and ate nothing while he was in the house. You offered him half your rabbit, but he declined. You kept your eyes on him at all times while he was in the house, save for the obvious part when you were unconscious, and he left the house in no state of disarray when you woke. Your body felt intact and unharmed, and you mentally felt comfortable with the idea that he simply carried you back to your bed, and hopefully returned downstairs. You hated that train of thought, but you had to cover all bases.

Today was the final day before the market. There was a group of men going out to finish a hunt while the rest of those who usually go out were split up to finish coverage looking for the wild animal that some had seen. You felt increasingly nervous when you thought about this hunt, taking into account what your friend’s husband had told you he had seen. It sounded like an alien. That thought terrified you, knowing something was roaming about that you had no relation to, no knowledge of its existence, and not a clue at all on what it could do to you or the others around. A true monster.

You stopped short, having been struck with the memories from last night. Leon arriving at your house asking for shelter was not the only odd thing that happened–you had a nightmare.

You rarely dreamed at all, nevermind having a nightmare. You can vividly recall what transpired now, though, as you think back on it. You remember being in the woods alone; cold and dark and the infinite stretch of trees the only other things out there with you. And that beast… it felt far too real for you to be comfortable with. 

The image of it was now seared into your brain, and every noise coming from the town made you jump. Was this what was out there? Was that the monster to behold? If that answer was yes… you decided you would be better off if you didn’t know.

A shouting was heard from across the square. Through the clearing of the trees, you saw a wagon being pulled in. You were brought back to a state of confusion once more at seeing this, knowing it was much too early for anyone to return. You stalked closer to where it would be unloaded, only growing more worried and anxious when you saw there was no game upon it at all, but rather, a body.

You gasped and stopped walking, instinctively reaching out to those walking next to you to stop them from seeing as well. You heard more gasps and whispers, felt others grabbing onto you and you grabbed back for support. You watched as they lifted a man from the back of the wagon, looking utterly pale, limbs swinging back and forth as he was carried to a makeshift gurney that someone had rushed out. You felt at a loss for breath. What had happened on this hunt that caused a lost life?

Some people beside you started shouting to those coming in from the hunt. Asking questions on what had happened, who else was hurt and lost, was anyone coming back at all, and was it the wolf that had done this.

One of the men walked closer, chatting with a man from the council. He was speaking loud enough, purposefully, to let everyone know what had happened.

“We saw it, and we were close to taking it down. We had our rifles pointed and ready, and… by god, I don’t know, but we were ready and suddenly we lost track of where it went. I blinked and everything disappeared.” More whispers broke out from next to you, you almost turned and shushed them so you could hear. “It popped up again through the trees, running, someone shot and we thought it hit. It took a hit on the side of its head, its ear… but it kept going, kept running, then it got to one of our men somehow.” He shook his head. “It… it got his neck, and he bled out so fast, he…” He brought his hand up to swipe at his chin, clearly in distress from seeing one of his men go down. You closed your eyes, you could not stomach to listen anymore.

You turned and made haste back to your home. You wanted to be inside suddenly, safe from the outside. You would go seek the comfort of your friend, but you knew you would have to put on a face not to worry her children. You did not have that energy in you right now, you needed to be alone.

You had hoped for positive news on the return of the men, but hearing this, you knew nothing good could come out of their mouths next. If whatever was out there was taking down the men that were sent to protect those who live within these communities' walls, then who is to say how safe anyone inside is now…

Your mind was reeling as you shut yourself into your home. You found yourself no longer wanting to be outside, no longer wanting to help out of your own selflessness due to the fear of that being the last time you would help anyone, or worse, witness someone else’s unfortunate end to their destiny. The mess this has become was too much for you to swallow. You were nearly drowning in your fear.

You didn’t move positions all night, watching the sky go from a dimly lit gray to a dark one, then deep navy, then black. You weren’t sure what time it was, but you had no intention of moving. Emotion gripped your stomach, making you unable to eat, not wanting to, not wanting to simply get up.

The fire was dying slowly, and the only motivator for you to move right now was the threat of being in the dark. You pushed yourself up off the mat you had not yet put away to throw another couple of logs on the fire. You stared, hunched, as they began to catch fire and watched as their layers were peeled back by the flames, as the bark curled and crumbled to ash, and your face was basked in intense heat that you almost couldn’t free yourself from.

Deep in a trance, you were startled when a series of knocks sounded at the door. Your head whipped in the direction of the sound, blood flowing like a rushing river, knowing who would be behind the door but still being afraid to make the move and let him in.

Your brain was yelling at you to get up and move, to be a good person, the person you were, but something inside of you was still terrified. Terrified that if you let him in, the beast would sneak in with him.

You finally stood, deciding to do the right thing, and perhaps, having some company below you while you slept might ease the worry.

You grasped the cold door handle and turned slowly. Through the light cast from the fire, a sliver of his face was illuminated. Part of his eye was clear under the shadow from his brow, and he looked to be glistening in what you guessed was sweat, but you couldn’t imagine how he could be sweating in this weather. Strands of hair were falling over his face. He looked menacing in this moment, yet he waited for your invitation to even speak first.

“You’re here again.” You spoke in a low whisper, knowing he could hear with the silent world around you.

“You’re awake to greet me again,” Leon’s voice was a low rumble, clenching your heart with emotion, untangling the strings of fear in your ribcage. “I fear I must ask for safety from you once more. It is… the same situation as yesterday with none of the outsiders leaving your grounds yet.”

You breathed in, feeling the cold air of the outdoors fill your lungs. It cleared your head a little bit. Last night was fine, it was you lending a hand to someone who needed it and it did you no harm. There was no reason to turn Leon down this time.

“Sure. I still have your setup by the fire.”

Swinging the door open let in a rush of cold air, but you welcomed it for a moment, feeling yourself calm down from the heat of the house and the mental mess you have been creating. Leon shed his jacket and boots and walked himself over to the mat on the floor, collapsing into a barely sitting position, resting his upper body on the wall behind him. From where you stood in the kitchen after closing and locking up the door, you could see his shirt was almost soaked through.

You swallowed, carefully studying the curves of his arms and the way his back flexed to accommodate his new position, head tilted and exposing the flesh of his neck to you, oranges and yellows dancing over the sheen on his skin, bringing it to life. You took careful steps over, taking a seat by the fire once more.

“Did I wake you again?” His voice was low and raspy, and without moving your eyes from the floor, focusing on nothing, you knew he was looking at you.

“No,” You shook your head. “I was already awake.” 

He hummed. “Another nightmare?” He questioned. You swallowed, not liking the unwelcome recollection of that dream, trying to focus on the present and the tangible person in front of you, not the wretched beast of your darkest dreams. Anything to be distracted from… everything.

Your breath caught in your throat at once, however, upon a dawning realization: Leon should not know about the nightmare.

You suddenly shot your gaze upward, ready to question him, when your thoughts completely derailed.

You gasped. “Leon! Your ear… you’re bleeding…” You stood up and ran to the kitchen, wetting a rag in your basin. Wringing it out, dripping on the way over, you pressed it to the right side of Leon’s head, taking his face in your other free hand. He did not resist, rather he let you pamper him; he seemed to not care about the dripping and drying blood on his face and clothes.

You cleaned his skin to a degree, the wound still looked fresh, but it stopped dripping blood for now. The rag would have to be thrown away.

“How did this happen, Leon? Did you get hurt on the hunt?” You tried to wipe away some of the fresh blood from his shirt, but it merely smudged it. You sighed and stood, deciding to leave it, knowing he didn’t seem to care either way if he was covered in blood or not.

You heard him breathe in deeply. “You can say that.” You glanced back over your shoulder, growing a bit weary to see he was barely moving positions. It would be crazy from what looked to just be a flesh wound on his ear, but you hoped that luck would not have it so he would die in your home on you.

You walked back over to him and crouched slowly again, still by the fire, but closer to him, in case of more blood emergencies. His skin was unnaturally shiny; you could tell he was wet, but the fire was not nearly strong enough for it to be sweat.

“Is everything alright? You seem ill, I think you should see the medic–”

“No, I’m fine.” He cut you off. His tone was much more stern than he had been with you just prior, and the night before. You watched the muscles in his throat contract as he gulped. He was clearly unwell, but you would not push it anymore. “It’s just been a long night. I should start listening to my body when it is telling me enough is enough.”

You nodded, holding yourself back from getting up and fetching all the blankets you had left in the house. Sweating this profusely while it is not nearly the correct weather for it could only mean a fever. But this was still a man you did not know well enough, and you did not want to push on any boundaries where you didn’t know where the line was.

“Leon…” You started gently. He turned his head to regard you. His gaze was as hot as the burning logs beside you. He said nothing, eyes urging you to continue. “I worry that you are unwell. Please tell me what I can do for you. Or… tell me what you would like me to do for you.”

He quirked a smile at this. You felt a rush of cold under your thick wardrobe. “I need you to stop worrying. I know I look ill but I give you my word that I will be just fine. I would have let you know if this was new for me… but I have seen it before.” He shook his head and turned away again. “I will be fine come morning.” He fell into silence again. You watched the veins in his neck dip and bob with the breaths and swallows he took, feeling torn between two distinct emotions inside of you, knowing one came from the humanitarian you were raised to be, and the other, a deep, twisted lust that you felt crawling back up from the grave you buried it in a long time ago.

The fact of the current, unfortunate, situation was this–Leon was a very attractive man. This you could not deny. No amount of strangeness between you two would make you blind to this fact. There was no arguing against saying this as a statement, this man was taller than any other man you saw daily, he was nearly twice their size as well. His face was carved of the smoothest marble, and the way his hair sat brought even more emotion than there already was to the deep inset of his brow bone. With his shirt dampened with sweat, it clung to the hills and valleys of his pectoral and abdominal muscles, and your eyes were glued. You felt a wave of guilt rise, knowing you were taking pleasure in your viewing when he was in such a state, but you could not look away. You just could not.

After what felt like long, agonizing seconds of admiring his build, your eyes drifted upward again to meet his, and you felt a wave of shame pass over as you realized he was already looking at you.

“So astonished by meeting someone like me?” He looked smug without so much as a hint of a smile, his blue eyes practically radiating in the firelight.

“I’ve never seen anyone like you around here.” You choked out, suddenly barely able to speak. 

“No surprise there. There is no one else like me to come wandering by.” He barely moved as he spoke, save for the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed raggedly. “I know no one here has seen someone like me before, in fact. It is all the same from years past when I came through the first time. It is like history is re-living itself.

“You’ve been here before?” You asked with mild shock, knowing no one has ever alluded to a mysterious traveller who has stopped by. Word would have gotten around no matter how long ago it was–even when you are greeted by others of villages far, they look much more similar to you than they do to Leon.

He stared at you for a moment longer before continuing. “Many, many years ago. Nothing has changed. Not that I would have expected it to, the method of living here has worked for decades so why alter it? Why come in and destroy a civilization like I’m stepping on an anthill just because it is in the way of the path I travel? I could have. I didn’t, though. It’s more fun to be the looming threat over the colony and lead a single ant or two astray, leaving the rest wondering if anything ever happened at all years down the line.” 

You felt your body tense with each word he spoke. What was he saying? How had he been here before, long enough before to know decades of history about the commune? Not even you had that many years of life itself to be able to speak for.

This time, a grin spread on his face. You were confusing the emotions blooming inside of you again.

“I…” Chest constricting, you tried to talk through it. You could only muster a loud whisper. “I don’t understand.” 

“How could you? It’s more than one person can bear witness to. The legends always have some concrete event to back them up.” He shifted, brows furrowed as if he were in pain. You felt yourself slightly less inclined to want to help him. The glow of the fire against his skin was turning him even more golden, it seemed like it was happening without help from the flames. “Still have that rabbit?”

You blinked, thrown off by the sudden change in conversation. “No, I ate it already. I am sorry if you wanted it.”

Leon shook his head in response to this. “No, I didn’t want it. Just curious. It was for you, not for you to share.”

You sat up straighter, leaning forward toward him only an inch. “The rabbit was from you?”

He breathed a laugh at this. “Well, who else do you think left it?”

You shook your head. “But… you weren't even here when that was left for me. You didn’t show up until nearly two days later. How?”

Leon sat forward to meet you. He was now inches away from your face, and while on the surface rippled a thin layer of fear, you were far braver than to back down in front of him. The swelling heat of emotion inside of you was enough for you to keep your stance. “I’ve been here. I am not new, and I never have been.” You stared in defiance at him, trying to untie whatever knot he was creating with his words. “I might be new to you, but these grounds are not new to me. You are my ants. I stand over you and watch how you behave in my shadow. Generations come and go from the anthill, but I am always outside watching how tall it gets. Waiting for it to collapse. Seeing how many ants can wander away before the whole colony is gone.”

You tried to shake your head, but you were rooted in place. His eyes burned a hole through you, and they almost unnaturally glowed. He took a deep breath in and rolled his head back, and you unabashedly watched the languid movement the skin of his throat made against the stretch. 

“I… like to watch it and yet… I can’t help but play a game with them every once in a while.”

His eyes were back on yours now. His face showed no signs of discomfort, or any sort of illness it seemed he was sporting minutes ago. The shadows and contours of his face gave him a harsh look, and his stare felt like he knew everything about you. The longer you looked into them, the more you felt yourself unravel, the more unsteady you felt in your own body. A shock passed through you at once, and you were unsure if this was natural, or a phantom being taking control. 

“Game?” You finally managed to get out.

He hummed, and you felt it in your core. “Joining in on a game of hide and seek, trying to find the one that won’t appear, yet the whole time, it is hiding right under their noses. They let it seek with them. Why would they think it hides among them?”

You did not like what he was insinuating with his words–you hoped you were misconstruing them, but you kept up rapidly, and made the connection all too easily. 

You wanted to disbelieve, yet you said it yourself: Who are you to deny the existence of that which you have no proof of living? You have the proof now. He was in front of you.

Wanting to object to his words, you opened your mouth to shut down what he was saying, but you were left speechless. No matter how hard you tried to utter one word, the effort was useless. You felt a wave come over you again.

It felt as if the oxygen in the room had thinned. Now, not only could you not speak, but you could barely breathe. You began to feel dizzy, not sure if you were swaying in the spot you were sitting or truly falling back to the floor. Your vision blurred, and all of the harsh, strong lines defining Leon’s body from the rest of the scene went soft and fuzzy, but the irises of his eyes were a beacon through the fog. They never left your gaze.

You felt the pressure of a hand around your throat, but even through the rapidly unfocusing and refocusing of your vision, you could see Leon was not touching you. Despite this, the sensation never let up, and you felt it get tighter, warmer, and you heard yourself wheeze in a breath around the grasp.

“I must say… I appreciate the mind you had to not cast aside the outlandish ideas you have heard being thrown around regarding what was happening amongst your woods… it made it all too easy for me to take residence inside you.”

The voice, Leon’s voice, was being spoken inside your brain. Your ears were only registering the crackle of the fire, but the deep reverberation of his voice was bouncing around in your head, echoing within, opening your mind to a realm of new possibilities–ones you had previously assumed impossible.

The next time your vision cleared, it stayed that way, and you felt a wash of relief upon having your sight back. The relief was short lived, however, when as your consciousness recentered itself, Leon sent you falling backwards onto your floor with one swift push to your shoulder. He was quicker to reangle himself and send his hand flying to meet your head at the point it would have collided with the hardwood, and you could only gasp as you registered this happening all too slowly for your liking.

Your back was flush with the floor and Leon was hovering above you. You felt the back of his hand underneath your head, the cushion from the wood, and your skin felt alive from his gaze as if he were touching you with invisible hands a million times over. There was no longer firelight dancing on his face, he was swathed in darkness, turning the hollows of his eyes and contours of his cheekbones even darker. But still, his blue eyes emitted a soft glow.

“How easy to lure a rabbit into a false sense of security by standing still until it forgets it saw me. How easy it is to become a presence in the mind of those that had no armor to protect themselves against me in the first place.” This time, as Leon spoke to you outloud, the voice inside your head was still tumbling around in there, making him sound as if he were in too many places at once. You felt so scrutinized under his gaze, still feeling the edge of movement restriction around you, surely still the work of him somehow.

Making as stable eye contact as you could muster, your voice returns for seconds long enough for you to choke out, “If choosing to fight a battle with those that are helpless is how you conduct your strategy, I don’t think of you as worth any nobility we had to offer you.”

He lowered himself closer to your face with swiftness unseen by human capability. “When did I say I was anything of a nobleman?”

As if unleashed by his words, a sensation similar to a boa winding itself around its prey consumed your body. You struggled to breathe in again, back arching off the floor, feeling your torso meet with his as he still held himself above you, watching you obey his command. You tore at the edges of this invisible confine, eager to fight back and prove you were not so easily controlled as he seemed to have a hunch about.

He shook his head slowly above you, laughing in a low, tumbling, growl-like sound that nearly left your ears ringing. “Fight harder. Don’t put your walls up now when I am already inside.”

At this, you stuttered in your movement, trying to make it unnoticeable, but even after it happened you thought this was stupid, as he caught the very moment you faltered. He removed the hand that was pillowing your head and put it on your chest, pressing you back down onto the floor. It was impressively, and embarrassingly, easy for him to do so considering your own struggle against it. He kept his hand there, and whatever trance he had you under made you still at his touch. As much as you wanted to fight it, your body went completely unmoving under the pressure of one hand. 

“Enough…” You rasped out. “Just take what you wanted from here and go. You took our animals and hurt our people, was that not enough?”

Leon smiled in your face. It was simultaneously horrid and mocking as it was suggestive and flirtatious. “I told you already. All I wanted was the game.” He leaned in closer once more, bringing his face into the crook of your neck. You felt his breath paint your skin, and you felt a trail of shivers race down your body at it. While you were fighting against his hold, you were also fighting to get closer to it. The hand that was pressing into your chest snaked upward, and you felt the chill of his fingertips creep up your throat and onto your chin, holding your jawline in between his thumb and forefinger, tilting your head to the side with the lightest of touches. You gasped at the movement, and your breath fluttered when his lips made contact. Your hands curled into fists at your side, inwardly wincing when you felt the pinch of needle-like teeth scraping the skin. His mouth came up to your ear, and the heat from his proximity filled your veins. “I am not leaving without the trophy.”

His teeth, sharp fangs like vampires, sunk into the tender flesh where your jaw connects to your skull, and you gasped, body finally able to move again, writhing against him on top of you, and it was as if he were injecting a venom into your bloodstream, you were hit with another wave of his mind control.

Any fear you had lingering turned to a burning lust. Dizziness ebbed and flowed throughout your limbs, the contact you had with Leon at any point of your bodies burned as if you touched a hot iron. Your hands were covered in pins and needles as they reached up and grabbed onto the thick bicep of the man over you, squeezing as hard as you could muster, but losing any feeling seconds later.

Leon detached himself from you and sat back on his knees; you tried to push yourself up to meet him but your body was utterly unresponsive. His lips were coated in your blood, a shade so dark you were stunned to assume it came from you at all. His eyes were shaded over completely, ice blue irises gave way to black voids, and visible blue veins spider-webbing across his neck and near his eyes. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, still soaked to the touch, and he glistened as he was backlit by the fire still burning, still heating you as if nothing were wrong.

He reached his hand out and grabbed your chin again, your eyes rolling back at the searing pleasure shooting through you at his mere touch. He tilted your head backward, and the lightheaded sensation returned. He held your face firmly rooted away from him, you were now completely turned away from him, left only the sensation of touch as he rooted his other hand up your leg from under your long skirt, settling himself in between your legs. 

Your hand came up to wrap itself around his wrist, needing something to stabilize yourself as he brought himself lower upon you once more. 

You felt him return to the side of your head. “The choice is yours. Will you be the trophy of my choosing or will you pick another to make the sacrifice?”

You breathed in as deeply as his trance would allow. Your vision continued to dart in and out, blinking feeling like a process that took whole minutes rather than seconds. Your hand slowly moved its way up his forearm, feeling the flex in the muscle as a response to your touch. That alone solidified it, him reacting to your actions below him was enough.

“It will be me.” Your words came out closer to puffs of air rather than a sound, but the clarity of the delivery was not what Leon was concerned with. “It must be.”

He hummed, turning into an almost carnal growl, before transforming into a deep bass you felt in your chest, making you feel as if your ears were sure to rupture. Your whole body vibrated along with his call, both of your hands clawed upward in an attempt to grasp onto any part of him. They found purchase on the frail cloth of his shirt, ripping holes you knew he was surely not to care about as you pulled him closer. He obeyed, and you felt the prick of his teeth on your neck once more as the weight of his body crashed on top of yours, feeding delicious pleasure when he ground himself into you, locking you in a dance of lust tinged with fear as you needed him closer, needed to feel him in every regard.

The hands of his that were trailing up your skirt ripped apart with a swift motion the thin leggings you had under to sleep in for warmth, feeling the cool air grace your skin as you were now burning from the physical heat and from the heat within. You felt his tongue trace patterns across your throat, and you almost thought he had ripped out your vocal chords and you were unaware–as no matter how intense it felt like you were sighing and moaning from his pleasure, you never uttered a sound.

Your head rolled to the side as the energy to keep your body rigid fled from you, with wave after wave of your own satisfaction mixed with the toying you knew he was doing to your brain. You felt like not yourself, yet when you felt his touch, it was the only thing you could focus on. The weight of Leon on top of you paired with his roaming hands, hands that felt cold from an unhuman skin, and exceptionally warm from the friction between you. 

He now had an arm under your leg, seating himself perfectly between your legs and pressing all of his weight onto you. You felt like prey in this moment, and you knew there would be no way out here.

“I fear that when I keep going I will have no control left to stop… but I am far to gone to pretend I can back out now.” His growl was ever present in your ears, hearing him beside your face as well as inside your head. His voice alone had your eyes rolling back into your skull, your hands losing grip where they sat on his thick arms and sturdy chest.

He swiftly scooped up your fallen wrists into his own hands, pinning you down to the floor, leaving you with no energy to try and fight his strength–but you knew in your mind you did not want to try this. Regardless of whatever spell of his that had you in a clouded state, that deep emotional awakening coming from within you was telling you now, as you were pinned underneath this man-monster, I will accept that this is my way to go.

Wearily, taking in every sensation there was to feel, you brought a hand up to grace the side of his head lovingly. He moved his head further up your body again, locking eyes with yours. You felt the swell of dizzying tides take you away, reveling in the heat that you felt his body throwing off.

You fluttered in and out of consciousness, seeing his mouth dripping crimson every time he came up for air from your neck and body. You could not tell what the temperature was in the room any longer. You registered in pieces his hands still roaming over you, the sounds of his human pleasure when he reveled in your body and thrust himself deep into you, your own mind being clouded from the lust emerging through your trance. You poked back to the surface at your own climax, nearly feeling weightless from the way Leon brought it to you. 

You let Leon have you. After all, you are who he chose.

–

It was on the rising dawn of the next morning you came back to the present. You were not in your home.

You could not move an inch, but your eyes were working normally past a thin layer of fog that you couldn’t differentiate if the source was your own vision or the atmosphere around you. The leaves and twigs poking through the ground went unfelt by you, and you were unsure if you were numb, or you had been there for so long that you no longer felt it.

In your haze, you saw a small movement out in the distance.

Leon’s voice reverberated through your head. “The extent of my heart and gratitude goes to you for allowing me to exist. I will repay your honor in my many years to come.” A blanket of warmth came down onto you, surely Leon’s doing, and an exhaustion took over your senses. You sighed.

The small bundle of movement came closer. You were so still, the rabbit approached you with no caution and all curiosity. It was perfectly round. It would make the perfect meal come nightfall.

[bitchface24-7]

Could you do part 2 of Yanderes Viktor and Jayce, please... What would it be like if the reader chose one of the boys to follow?

(Maybe you could do what it would be like for each route, for Yanderes Jayce and Viktor)

THE CHOICE IS NO LONGER YOURS PT 2 - VIKTOR X READER | JAYCE X READER

synopsis: you couldn't choose who to side with, so they decided for you. Here are the routes if you went with either Viktor or Jayce. Hopefully, everything goes well…

warnings: yandere V + J, possession, obsession, suggestiveness, angst, Grammarly is my beta

genre: m/f or m/m

p.s. this is pt2 to “It’s time to choose…” but I wanted to name it something different that still applies to the first fic. Thisll be under pt1 in my masterlist. Hope y'all enjoy our boys being unhinged for us!

VIKTOR X READER

You don't know who to choose, so they choose for you.

Viktor takes one of your hands and leads you out the lab as you look back and see an enraged Jayce watching you two. His jaw is clenched and his fists are shaking at his side.

Viktor just continues to walk, ignoring everything around him but you. He ignored the people in the academy, the people out and about in Piltover, and walks down to Zaun.

He heals Huck, he becomes a well-known miracle, a desperate plea many have prayed for. He heals the land, builds a forge, and a commune. He becomes a messiah. He becomes the Herald.

And you're right there by his side. You're his. His right hand, his partner, his heart. Everyone knows not to mess with you. You're essentially royalty to the commune.

You help Viktor keep his humanity, your very presence fights back against the arcane. The arcane whispers to Viktor to be rid of you, he’ll never listen to it.

You're his and his alone, nothing will change his mind.

He cares for you, loves you, and worships you. He's unbelievably perfect. Sometimes you miss Jayce, and you tell Viktor. He always grimaces and looks upset, but he admits the same.

Vi, Jinx, Isha, and Vander show up for some healing, it almost works. Then everything kind of goes wrong. You fight, you live, your life continues on.

The two of you are quite happy at the commune, until Jayce shows up to kill Viktor.

You won't let that happen.

He's yours, and you're his.

JAYCE X READER

You don't know who to choose, so they choose for you.

Jayce's arm wraps around your waist as Viktor leaves solemnly. You ache to reach out and grab him, force him to stay; but Jayce's grip on you is too tight.

The two of you are despondent as you watch Viktor’s frame exits into the darkness of the unknown.

The two of you have work to do.

You aimlessly search and research into the arcane. You try your best to find the answers you are desperately seeking.

You don't find it.

Then you go on a wild goose chase with Jayce, Ekko, and Heimerdinger, getting touched by the arcane, and you all split up.

Ekko and Heimerdinger are no where to be found as you and Jayce are transported to a post-apocalyptic version of Piltover.

Its horrifying, terrifying. The humanoid monsters, the wasteland that was once the city of progress. You're not sure how it happened, everything was happening to fast for you to process anything; but you both fall into a cave of a canyon. Two massive rock walls surrounding you, and the only way to escape is up.

Jayce cushioned your fall, and his hammer broke his leg. You try your best to care for him, but there aren’t many supplies you can use.

The two of you get extremely close. Huddling for warmth alongside the fire, tending to his leg and helping him destroy his hammer to make a brace, carving on the wall as you feel like you’re losing your mind, crying together.

Eventually the two of you slowly climb the rocks, helping each other out to the best of your abilities. The two of come across a stone figure that looks eerily familiar, and a mage that shares a face with a man you thought you’d never see again.

He tells you that in all timelines, and all possibilities, only we could show him this. And that we must stop him.

We must kill him.

The stone figure gives Jayce a modified version of his hammer, and you’re sent back to your timeline.

Your bond is intrinsic, unshakeable. But the two of you hesitate to harm Viktor. He’s changed, but he’s still your partner.

You’ll stick by Jayce no matter what, but you can’t be there when he kills Viktor. You almost lost Jayce and freaked out, you don’t know what you’ll do if you see a friend die.

But you’re Jayce’s rock, his pillar, his shield. You’ll be there to pick the broken pieces up.

He’s yours, and you’re his.

Jayce’s is longer accidentally. I did just post about herald Viktor x reader and I guess my brain went “i don’t think many people want to read the same thing twice.” So yeah… hope y’all enjoyed this pt2!! ❤️❤️

[thestraybunny]

The Landing|Y.JH Part 1

Pairing: Guide Singer Jeonghanx Afab! reader Full WC: 11.7k Genre: Non-Idol AU, Neighbors to lovers, Rated: M (18+, MDNI) Warnings: Smut, Angst, Fluff, Unplanned Pregnancy, unprotected sex (practice safe sex yall), idiots in love (and I mean they are idiots), Reader is in denial of her feelings and the obvious, reader is a single mother, toxic ex, mentions of past abuse, drinking, smoking. (Will add more as parts go on and please let me know if I miss any)

Summary: Jeonghan is an asshole. He is blunt, rude, and sometimes its wondered how he had friends at all. But the thing is. He is an asshole to everyone, but two people. A single mother and her son in his building.

A/N: Thank you again to @gam3bo17 for beta reading this. It means a lot! *Reader is a 95er like Jeonghan* As I said in my teaser I contemplated posting this, but I worked hard on this and I am very proud. You will see mentions of Joshua's installment (she is named in this), and you are going to see hints at some future fics, but these fics can be read as stand alone. I hope you enjoy! Please be sure to read my rule/guidelines Rules/Guidlines K-Series Masterlist

**September**

Baby🍑: Hey, Hanni! Can you do me a huge favor??? Baby🍑: I am running late here at work, and Ren is nearly home from tutoring. Mom won’t be able to get him for another hour and I don’t know when I will be getting out of here, could he hang out at your place until either me or her get there? Jeonghan: Of course! I just got off the subway and almost home. I’ll be there soon. He knows to let himself in, he has the code. Baby🍑: You are seriously such a life saver! I will be home soon, and I’ll bring the beer tonight.

Jeonghan smirked as he read your response, before slipping his phone back into his messenger bag to make his way through the crowded subway station; not needing to respond. Picking up his pace slightly once onto the street leading to his apartments since he didn’t want Ren, your eight year old son, to be waiting for him for too long. His place may be a young boy’s dream, he would rather not leave one free to roam in for too long.

Plus, he couldn’t wait to see either of you.

--

“I am so very sorry,” You gasped out, finally reaching your floors landing, only to find Jeonghan handing off Ren’s backpack and weekend bag to your mother. Both looking to be packed like it was every week he went to his grandparents. The three of them turned toward you before you spoke, already hearing your feet on the staircase.

“Mama!” Ren yelled out with excitement, releasing your mother’s hand to run to you, nearly knocking you back. His arms wrapped tight around your waist, your eyes dropping right to the thick dark mop of hair, a wide smile gracing your lips as you plant a kiss on the top of his head. Making sure to hug him back with all your might. “Mr. Jeonghan got a new Lego set and says he’s gonna wait until I come home so we can put it together. It’s a spaceship.”

“That is so nice of him,” You respond, glancing up toward the other two, catching a glimpse of the dark haired man leaning against the door frame of his apartment, arms crossed as he watched you both. You could see he was fighting a smile before he finally tore his gaze from you. “Thank you so much again for watching him.”

Jeonghan shot you a wink before bidding you all a good night and closed his apartment door. Leaving the three of you alone on the landing. Turning your attention to your mother, you could see the knowing look she was giving you as she walked toward you and Ren. Your son’s bags in one hand as the other reaches for the boy’s hand.

“I’ll pick him up after work Sunday afternoon. That way you and dad could have the evening to relax.” You tell her, letting her pull Ren from your arms and gave her a half hug.

“Don’t worry about it. Me and your father have decided to close the shop Sunday and Monday. So, we can keep him, and I’ll walk him to school.” She waves off your words, looking down at Ren with a smile. He was staring off into space, absentmindedly swinging his and his grandmother’s hand. When she looked back toward you, you were wearing a look of worry, and she waves you off again, “Don’t give me that look. It’s nothing. Your father wanted to take Ren fishing Sunday, and you know with his hip and leg, he won’t be able to move much the next day. Plus, he didn’t want me to open and work the shop alone. He ran the numbers and found it won’t hurt us to be closed a day or two. So stop that worrying now.”

You gave her a doubtful look, not sure if you should believe her or not. Your parents have been running the small restaurant since before you were even born, it was only closed a total of six times in your life. Your birth, when you got appendicitis, important school events like graduation, and the day that Ren was born.

“Besides, I’m sure you would like to spend some extra time with your boyfriend without worrying about Ren here,” She whispers, making sure that Ren was still off in his own world before speaking. This only earned a sigh from you.

“He’s not my boyfriend, Mom, it’s nothing like that at all. He’s a friend and neighbor who helps me out with Ren sometimes,” You shake your head, keeping your own voice low but you wouldn’t look at her. “I don’t want Ren to get the wrong idea about us.”

“You mean, you don’t want to get attached,” She challenges, straightening her back, and this made you look at her, feeling like you were looking at your future self. “I don’t mean or want to sound cruel, but as a single mother, your chances at finding a husband is slim. Most men wouldn’t look at you twice once they learn about Ren, and this man looks at you like you walk on water. I wouldn’t ignore that if I was you.”

“Thanks for that Mom,” Your voice had a dry tone to it, shaking your head again and adjusted your bag onto your shoulder. “He doesn’t look at me in anyway, nor is there anything between us. He’s my neighbor and a friend.”

“Mmmhmm, I made you some dishes, and they are right there,” She points toward the bright pink bundle on the ground next to your front door. Filled with containers of different foods your mother would make you. Always making enough that you didn’t have to worry too much about cooking through the week. “I was going to put everything away, but Ren’s things were already packed. If nothing is going on, then I would be concerned that he has such easy access to your apartment.”

“Me and Ren have just as easy access to his too.” You cross your arms, trying to not show that your statement was not helping your case whatsoever.

“You must be very good friends then,” Your mother quipped, and it was then Ren snapped out of his daydream with a look of confusion. “I’d call you later, but I am sure you will be busy.”

“Mom!” You gasped, as the two of them started down the stairs.

“Bye Mama!” Ren called out, and you had to lean over the railing to make sure he saw you waving.

“Bye Ren baby. Bye Mom.” You yell out before turning to look toward Jeonghan’s closed apartment door. Your mother didn’t know what she was talking about.

--

There was a knock a few hours later, a soft one that Jeonghan was surprised he was able to hear over the music. Pausing the random song that was playing on his Spotify, the dark haired man stopped briefly to check his reflection in the mirror. Making sure his clothes didn’t have any stains on them, his hair wasn’t too wild, and that he looked good before opening the door. Knowing full well who was on the other side.

In attempts to look cool and sexy, he leaned his arm against the doorframe while wearing his best lazy smirk. Bottom lips between his teeth, and his eyes raking over his guest with interest.

“Stop trying to look cool, you look silly.” You tease, making his eyes look back up to your smiling face, though he wanted to go back to checking you out in the little black tank dress you were wearing. It was one of the ones you would wear when you were home, along with your favorite fluffy bunny slippers. The way it clung to your body made him nearly lose his mind, and it was so easy to slip off you. In one hand you had your phone, and in the other was a six pack of his favorite beer.

Holding up the case of beer, you spoke again proudly, “See, told you I would bring the beer tonight.”

If it was anyone else who told him that he looked silly, Jeonghan may have had a smartass remark ready, or even would return the joke with a more brutal comment about their appearance, but with you, he couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, he just let out a small laugh as he let you into his apartment but grasped your wrist when you went to walk past him, likely to the kitchen to put the beer away, to make you face him.

The smile on your face softened to a sultry smile, one that didn’t help his sanity one bit, before you closed the distance to kiss him. Quick, but it made him want to grab the back of your head to pull you into another. One that would involve his tongue teasing yours and would probably cause you to drop what was in your hands, but he let you go instead, not wanting to clean up broken glass and spilled beer. Letting you continue your journey into his kitchen to put the beer away. Sans the two that you kept out for you both to drink.

His dark eyes followed you as you walked, loving the way your hips naturally swayed or how the dress hugged your ass. Heat rushed over his body straight to his cock when you bent forward to put the beers away, the dress riding up only slightly to give him more of a glimpse of your thighs.

He couldn’t fucking wait to pull it off you.

“Did you help Ren pack his things today?” You asked him when he joined you into the kitchen, handing him a now open beer. Your phone left upright on the counter, only ever close in case there was an emergency with Ren.

“Yeah, he wanted to show me his new dinosaur collection that you got him, so I figured might as well do it while we were at it. One less thing for you or your mom to worry about,” He answers with a shrug, before looking at you with a look of concern, trying to not show a small wave of panic rushed through him. “Was that okay?”

“More than okay.” You tell him, taking a swig of your own beer while leaning against the kitchen counter. Jeonghan moves to join you, taking another swig. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to though. I don’t expect anything like that from you. Just watching him when I need it is enough.”

“Just that?” Jeonghan questioned you, the bottle barely brushed against his lips, looking at you from the corner of his eyes. Setting your beer bottle down, you push off the counter and stood in front of him.

That sultry smile back on your face, your hands reaching out to touch his chest and the tips of your fingers brushed over the skin that was exposed under his oversized button up. Enjoying that he would leave the several buttons undone, making it easy for you to tease the exposed skin. Soon your arms around his neck, and he moves his beer to the counter to place his on your hips. Bunching your dress in his fists, pulling it up enough that the bottom curve of your ass was exposed.

“When it comes to him, yes. However, for me…” You drop your gaze down to his lips, and Jeonghan’s grip tightened on the stretched fabric of your dress. He held his breath as he watched you move your lips closer to his, heart pounding in his ears every time you were this close to him. He wanted you to run your fingers through his dark hair, commenting how much it has grown since you met, and that you loved the length. The hair barely brushing the bottom of his neck.

He wanted you to tell him how much you wanted him. How much you missed his touch. He just wanted you to tell him anything so you would keep touching him and he kept touching you.

“For you what?” The was a husky tone to his voice.

“Well, for one, there is so much you could be doing to me right now.” Your voice was low, almost a whisper and fuck did it feel like silk wrapping around him like a blanket. Your breath hitting his lips, and he could smell the little bit of beer you drank but he didn’t care. He wanted you to tell him so he could act on it. “And with those things, I expect plenty of orgasms for both parties involved. I heard that the neighbor isn’t going to be home tonight, so we know she won’t be making any noise complaints.”

This made him laugh, since you were the neighbor, a smile on his face that one was designated for you, before kissing you. He loosens his grip on your dress to move one up to the back of your neck, the other staying on your hip. Your own hands moved to cup his face, your tongues gently teased each other’s. A low moan starting to erupt from the back of your throat.

It ignited a fire inside him, his craving to have you taking hold. He wanted you in so many ways that night, and well into the morning. To pull you back into bed when you try to slip out and back to your apartment, trying to claim that you needed to get things done while Ren wasn’t home. Except you never resisted when he did pull you back into the comforts of his arms and his blankets. Starting all over again.

Both of you never able to feel sated long, continuing to chase that feeling well into the morning. Keep going until you were laying together, just staring at his ceiling. He didn’t think that nearly a year ago, that taking pity on a little boy sitting on the landing next to his apartment would bring him here. With you here in his arms, and the happiest he has ever been. All thanks to you and Ren.

The only thing that he would make him even happier, and wished different was your relationship. Or lack thereof. You were neighbors/friends with benefits, two people who found friendship and the comfort of being in each other’s. Nothing more than that.

Ren didn’t know about the two of you, nor did you want him to know. You didn’t want to confuse your son, and that effectively cutting off the possibility of anything more than this.

If this was all you were able to offer, then he would take what he could get.

--

**almost a year ago**

“You need to fucking talk to her about this shit, not me.” Jeonghan scolded into the phone, absolutely over his best friend calling to complain about his girlfriend and the problems they were having. Problems that could easily be solved by just fucking talking. It was driving him nuts. “At this point, I can’t stand either of you. I am honestly considering changing my damn fucking number.”

Jeonghan loved his best friend more than words could describe, he hated watching him and the girl of his dreams have issues, but he could only hear so much. Especially when the other man wouldn’t take his, Seungcheol’s, or anyone else’s in the group’s advice. Which was just be honest and talk to her. What he would give for a night without hearing Joshua’s problems.

It wasn’t a good look on his usually calm and collected friend and took away from Jeonghan’s all-round cranky glory. It was quite annoying as much as he felt for him and was honestly just effecting his own mood.

“Blah blah blah. Call Coups about this. Maybe you’ll finally take his advice instead.” Jeonghan snapped, fed up about hearing it any longer, and hung up on the other man as he reached his door. “Fucking stubborn ass couple. They’re meant for each other.”

He was so focused on his call and the desire to get into his apartment with a cold beer that he didn’t see the young boy sitting against the wall next to his door. It wasn’t until he went to put in his code that he noticed him, probably no older than seven or eight, with a manga open in his lap. Except the boy wasn’t reading, he was just watching Jeonghan with curiosity. His bangs were falling over his eyes and the glasses he was wearing, still in his school uniform.

He had seen him a few times in passing. His neighbor’s kid.

“What are you doing out here?” Jeonghan found himself asking without thought, his hand still hovering over the keypad. The boy continued to watch him for a moment before finally speaking.

“My mom told me that the battery died on the lock’s keypad, and she’s not able to change it until tonight, so I needed to remember my key.” The boy answered, before looking down sheepishly at his book. “But I forgot them when I left for school this morning. And she’s still at work.”

“Why don’t you go to her work?”

“It’s far away and I don’t know how to get there.”

“And you can’t call her?”

“I’m seven. I don’t have a phone.” He answered, and Jeonghan let out a soft chuckle. He had him there.

“She gonna be home soon?” Jeonghan didn’t know why he was talking to the boy, or even why he even cared so much, but there was something about him that struck something in him. Not liking the idea of him sitting out on the landing until his mom got home. The boy looked at his watch.

“It’s four-thirty, she doesn’t get home until six.” He tells him. If he remembered correctly, primary school students get out around one in the afternoon. Has he been out here this whole time?

Now he really didn’t feel comfortable leaving him out there alone.

“How long you been out here?”

“Not long. I went to play with my friend Soobin at the park for a bit, but he had to go home to help with his baby sisters. He has three!” He held up three fingers, “I didn’t remember that the lock was dead until I got home, or I would have asked him if I could go with him. I managed to get some of my homework done though.”

“Well, if you want, you can come hang out with me until she gets home. Use my phone to call her,” The dark haired man then offered, and the boy watched him carefully. Clearly weighing his options and trying to gauge if it was wise to go into a strangers apartment. Even if it was his neighbor.

Jeonghan didn’t think he was giving off any creeper vibes, but he couldn’t fault the boy for considering his choices. Sure that his mom had educated him to be weary to strangers.

“You promise to not kill me?” He then asked, and this made Jeonghan snort a laugh. Simply because he was caught off by the question.

“I promise that I won’t kill you, kid.” He assured, and the boy scrambled to his feet, grabbing his backpack in the process to follow Jeonghan into the apartment. The moment he had walked through the threshold of Jeonghan’s, his eyes grew wide at the different kinds of posters, figures, model vehicles and buildings, and other things that he loved to collect. Closing the door behind them both, Jeonghan pulled his messenger bag off and moved toward the kitchen. “You got a name?”

“Of course I do!” The boy chuckled, turning away from one of the large displays to look at the older man. “My name is Ren.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Jeonghan.” He turned to pull out a couple of sodas out of the fridge. “Thirsty?”

After getting them both drinks, Jeonghan gave Ren his phone to try and call his mom to let her know where he was but only got her voicemail. He left one and the two of them hung out for that hour and a half, with Jeonghan checking periodically to see if his mom had made it home yet. It wasn’t until six-twenty when she had trudged up the steps. Exhaustion and what looked like defeat playing over her features, bag nearly falling off her shoulder, and a large bag of takeaway in her hands.

Clear signs she already was having a long day.

She looked relieved to see Ren when he came out of Jeonghan’s apartment, looking like the weight lifted off her when she saw him. Setting the bags down, she engulfed the boy into a tight hug, and just watching the two made Jeonghan smile. Then she looked up and met his eyes, and the world around him shifted. Everything else disappeared and it was only her. You.

It was the night you and Ren walked into his life.

--

Your eyes felt like they were permanently rolled back as Jeonghan’s cock thrusted into you, filling you and hitting the right spots from this angle. Legs hooked at the bend of his arms, pressing you flat into his mattress, completely open at his mercy. Being filled over and over by his thick cock, bare and felt every inch. It was heaven to you have him inside you like this, your moans and whimpers of his name and praises louder as they were mixed with breathless curses.

Truthfully, it was an incredibly stupid move on both your parts, but neither of you could bring yourselves to care. Too lost in each other’s bodies, too busy trying to reach peak after peak together. Ones that no one had ever brought you to, let alone putting you ahead of their own, instead of leaving you behind. 

Jeonghan’s eyes stayed fixed on your face, his own moans leaving him with his own string of words. Validation while mixing traces of names that would otherwise offend you, encouragement as he watches you come undone under him. Telling you how good you were for him, how gorgeous you looked taking him the way he had you. Begging you to cum for him, that he wanted to feel you around his cock. Coating it with your own release.

“Where do you want me to cum, baby?” His question sounded a little strained, before letting out a moan that sounded like beautiful music; melodies that were only meant for you. You watch his bottom lip find its way firmly between his teeth, his face unable to hide how good you felt, how good he felt as your orgasm rushed over you. Clinging to him that brought him closer to his.

“In… Inside… please…” You pant out, not wanting him to cum anywhere else. Jeonghan and you had only been with each other since starting this, the last time you were with anyone else was three years previous, and you both were clean. You were on birth control, and it wasn’t like this was the first time he had finished in you.

It was a regular thing.

You had to admit it too, you loved the feeling of being full of him, even after he pulls out of you. It felt like he was leaving his claim in you without the world needing to see. That in a way you were his. Something that only the two of you shared, and it was the closest you would allow yourself with him.

His mouth captures yours into a kiss, tongues tangling, as he picks up his pace. With each thrusts growing sloppier and more desperate. Pulling away, Jeonghan’s forehead pressed up against yours, his eyes squeezed shut as he filled you. Coating your inner walls with stripes of his cum and refused to slow down until he had nothing left to empty in you. Leaving you full like you wanted.

Something he loved doing just as much as you loved him doing it to you.

Unhooking his arm from one of your legs, the dark haired man’s hand reached to cup your face, both of you trying to steady your breathing. Strands of hair tickling your skin as you stayed that way, neither of you making any moves to detach yourselves from each other. Staying attached while you both came down.

It was you who opened your eyes first, seeing him with his own shut but his face was now relaxed instead of the look of pleasurable concentration he originally had. There was a sheen of sweat over your skins, and you’re spent for the moment. Both of you trying to grasp for your bearings. This wasn’t the last time that night you were going to be in this position, or any other one for that matter, or even well into the morning.

Around Ren, the both of you were able to keep your hands to yourselves, giving off the illusion that you were just friendly neighbors. But he was gone to your parents, and it was just the two of you, it was a different story. Neither of you could keep your hands off each other, only able to go so long without going at it again. With all it taking is a simple look from you, the tips of Jeonghan’s fingers brushing over your skin just right, or when either of your lips would find a weak spots. Ready for each other quickly.

“I got to pee,” You finally broke the blissful silence, your body being the one to decide that it was time to part. Jeonghan made a noise of protest but reluctantly agreed.

Both of you groaned when Jeonghan finally pulled away from you, sensitive to the touch, before flipping onto his back to stare at the ceiling while you got up to hurry to the bathroom. He joined you a few minutes later after you finished cleaning yourself up, to do the same for himself.

“You hungry?” He asked once the two of you were now relaxing comfortably back on his sofa, you back in your dress (just no underwear), and him in a T-shirt and boxers. You had barely taken a swig of a freshly open beer, and not getting a chance to respond before he had his phone out to pull up the delivery app. Checking out all the options available.

“I can eat.” You answer him, picking up the remote that he had tossed to you. Letting you pick what to watch against his better judgement. “What were you thinking?”

“If I felt like leaving, I would suggest we check out this little food stand that my friend Mingyu knows of. He’s been talking about taking all of the guys for over a year now but disappears to go see his girlfriend before the nights over. It’s only open a few hours a night, but we been drinking and I don’t feel like walking. I am sure you don’t either.” He then shot a glance toward you, his eyes raking over your frame with a smirk, “I also plan to have that dress off you again and keep it off you for the rest of the night. Plus it’s cold so that would mean more clothes to pull off you.”

“That is a lot of reasons to not go. I’m good with whatever you want.” You nodded, flipping through the different apps to find something to watch. Pretending to not see the mock dirty look he gave you, since he knew full well that you had every intentions on having him choose. In the entire time you had been seeing each other, he had yet to pick something that you didn’t like and vice versa. Well unless it’s your taste in movies or television according to him, but for the most part, you trusted his judgement. “You have any idea of what you want to watch?”

“I’m good with whatever you want.” Jeonghan retorted back, and you shot him your own look, seeing the playful smirk playing over his lips; ordering from the same little restaurant that you always ordered from. “No fun, is it?”

“You have good taste in food, while you tell me I have bad taste in movies and T.V.” You retort, earning a chuckle from him. “You can’t complain on what I pick then.”

“Of course, I can. I can complain all I want. Maybe so much to the point you will need to sit on my face to shut me up.” The way his tongue ran over his lips as the smirk switched from a playful one to a suggestive one, adding a wiggle to his brows. This made you snort before bumping his shoulder.

“I think the term is ‘kiss me to shut me up.’” You tell him as he turns his phone toward you to make sure you were okay with what he was ordering, which you nod your approval. He places the order.

“I mean, technically I am telling you to kiss me. Just with your other lips.” This time he earned a smack on the shoulder, a gentle one, but he still feigned injured. Only he wasn’t able to hold back his laughter as he tossed his phone onto the coffee table and grabbed the remote from you. “I’ve reconsidered letting you pick.”

--

**November**

“You didn’t call me back last night.” Joshua spoke up after swallowing a mouth full of ramen, looking up toward Jeonghan from across the table. It was their weekly dinner with their other friend, Seungcheol. So far the conversation consisted mostly about Joshua and his girlfriend getting back together, or Seungcheol complaining over work and wedding planning.

Jeonghan, however, had just stayed quiet and listened to the conversations in front of him with very little interest. Focusing mostly on his food and his fourth beer of the night. He gave his input when needed, which was mostly a snide comment or when a call out was needed, but he kept to himself mostly.

“And you still haven’t answered my texts from two weeks ago, but here you are responding to Luci’s messages in front of me. I would say me not calling you back is pretty damn warranted. So, what’s your point?” Jeonghan shot back, catching the way his best friend’s skin tinted a little red at the call out. Seungcheol could only watch the exchange, gauging the situation and Jeonghan’s temperament while chewing his food.

Jeonghan wasn’t just withdrawn at this dinner, but it has been going on for the last month and a half. Especially after his birthday, and this had not gone unnoticed by the other members of their friend group. Choosing to stay home more than usual or appeared checked out when he was around them. At least more checked out than usual. Always appearing to be lost in thought with whatever it was that had been on his mind. Which he was.

You had been pulling more overtime at work to cover a coworkers workload while they were on vacation, so you were working late until they had gotten back. Even having you go in on your days off to keep up with it, which made it hard to match up with Jeonghan’s own schedule. Making it harder to see each other.

Ren had been staying at your parents’ more, either staying late or just staying over completely most night, so Jeonghan had not gotten to really see either of you. Going from seeing each other near daily.

You and him did your best to work something out, but it didn’t feel the same. Instead of spending your free evenings and days off together, enjoying beers and each other’s companies, it was quickies before you had to get some sleep or if Ren was there. Trying to be quick in case he woke up to catch Jeonghan slipping from your bedroom.

What didn’t help was you weren’t feeling well either, unsure if it was a stomach bug, stress from work, or something else entirely. Jeonghan had considered the possibility, and considered bringing this up to you, but he wasn’t sure it that was something to casually ask between quick hellos on the landing or quick hooks ups where the main goal was to just cum. Eventually, he just went with the idea it was likely from stress with work.

Though the thought did linger at times.

But it ended up putting Jeonghan in a bad mood. He missed you. Missed both you and Ren. It put him in such a funk that he didn’t want to go out or really do anything for that matter, just sit around and mope. Hell, he didn’t even want to be at this dinner with the other two ninety-fivers of the group, but he needed to get out of his apartment. Do something other than wait around hoping he would get a text that you were coming over or you would knock at his door.

“You doing okay, Hanni?” Seungcheol then asks, and Jeonghan only sat back from his meal, grabbing his beer to drink in the process.

“Have you ever thought, I know it’s a hard concept for both of you, that maybe that I just don’t feel like talking? I been recording guides all day for other artists instead of recording and releasing my own music. Maybe I just want to rest my voice.” He didn’t stop the annoyance from coming through either, the other two men just watched him pull his phone out.

Acting like he was checking notifications, but really he was opening and checking your messages. Stupidly hoping for a text from you. It was pathetic.

Only the last text that he had gotten from you was telling him to enjoy dinner with the guys and that you were having an early night. Ren was with your parents that weekend, like he usually was, and you had refused to let Jeonghan cancel his plans to spend the evening with you or even come after he finishes up. Stating you were beyond exhausted and still was not feeling too well. Work had taken it out of you more that week than usual and was worried you would bore him with how much of a dud you were feeling.

Which would be so far from the truth, because if it was, he wouldn’t be looking at his phone constantly. Hoping from a text from you to come over. He didn’t give a shit about having sex, it was nice, but he just wanted to see you and maybe fall asleep with you in his arms. Just so he could wake up next to you the next morning. He just wanted to spend time with you, have you around him. This new arrangement was eating at him.

It went from the two of you seeing each other regularly, spending nearly every weekend together, to quick hookups, hellos on the landing, or an exchange of flirty/risqué texts. It was selfish of him to feel this wasn’t enough, finding himself spoiled for getting as much as you as he did. Especially when you weren’t even his. Fuck did he miss you.

“That’s you normally, but nothing like this.” It was Joshua that answered this time, and Jeonghan went to shoot daggers toward him until he saw the genuine concern over his best friends features. It was written over Seungcheol’s too. “You’re more withdrawn than usual, and more irritable then normal. We all have noticed this change. What’s wrong?”

“Why does there have to be something wrong for me to be in a bad mood? I could have slept wrong, or the barista this morning could have fucked up on my coffee order. I could be in a bad mood for the hell of it. Doesn’t mean that something has to be wrong.” Jeonghan closed his phone as he says this, tossing it onto the table with more vigor then he intended, knocking over an empty beer bottle in the process, “Don’t read too much into that.”

“And I am in love with Coups.” Joshua retorted back, earning a look from Seungcheol as if asking why he used that as a response. The other two just ignored him as they continued their back and forth.

“Luci is going to be very disappointed since you two barely got back together. Pretty sure Meg is gonna fight you for Coups here.” Jeonghan didn’t miss a beat, showing he was still on the ball and not that distracted. Joshua and Seungcheol only rolled their eyes at this, while he let out a proud chuckle at the comment. “I would pay money to watch a showoff between them and you two. My money is on them though.”

“Yeah, yeah. You just want us to get our asses kicked by our girls. In all seriousness, though, we are a little worried about you. Both of us know that you aren’t normally in this much of a funk unless something was bothering you.” Seungcheol pointed out before signaling to have a few more beers delivered to the table. “It is work? Family? Girl Problems…Guy? Problems?”

“Nothing is wrong.” Jeonghan sighed, finishing his beer before setting the empty bottle back onto the table, wondering if he really should say something about you and Ren. How he’s been casually sleeping with you for seven months, how perfect you are to him, how much he likes being around your kid. How he’s both the happiest and the unhappiest he has ever been, because he fucked up and fell in love with you. Was he even ready to say it out loud? “I’m just tired, okay? You’re making me regret not bailing on you guys.”

“Liar. If nothing is wrong, then why do you keep checking messages between you and this Baby?” The oldest of the three asked, placing one of the freshly delivered beers in front of him, and Jeonghan’s whipped his head toward him. Eyes wide. The normal cool demeanor briefly shattering at the mention of your nickname in his phone, giving himself away before he could recover. “So, it is…”

“It’s not. She’s literally no one.” The words were so bitter on his tongue, a blatant lie because he was panicking. He had wondered if he should tell them, but now that the moment had presented himself, he realized he couldn’t do it. What would he even say anyways? That he made what should be an easy arrangement more complicated? That you didn’t want anything more than what you had.

No, he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t face that look of pity from either of his friends. That he was pathetic to put that as your name in his phone and now was backed into a corner.

“If she’s no one, then why is her name that in your phone?” Joshua asked, and Jeonghan now wouldn’t look at either of them. All the color appeared to be drained from him, his mind scrambling.

“She is no one. Just someone I fuck on occasion,” He hated the words that came out of his mouth, even if you were someone he was fucking, but you were so much more than that. It made him feel like shit saying those things and maybe it would have been better if he just was honest. To say the words at the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t do that. So he did what he did best. Deflect. “How about you two worry and focus on your own shit then try and pry into my private life because you think you know what’s going on. If I have anything important to tell you, trust me, I would fucking tell you. Nosey ass bastards.”

“You’re an asshole most of the time, but fuck are you a mother fucker when you’re like this.” Seungcheol shook his head while Joshua did the same, finishing his beer in front of him before standing. “Whatever you and this Baby has going on, do what we kept telling Shua with Luci. Fix it, or whatever, because you are unbearable right now.”

“You’re leaving?” Joshua asked, sounding surprised, and Seungcheol nodded.

“Yeah, Meg is waiting for me so I can help her with the guest list and seating arrangements. I am already pushing it by having another beer.” Seungcheol pulled on his jacket and before patting Jeonghan’s shoulder to show there were no hard feelings, but just hard enough to drill in he still thought he was an asshole. “Dinner is on me, my friends. You know where to find me if you need me. Whether I will be brain dead from all this planning is up to fate.”

With that, Seungcheol bid them both a goodbye before exiting the restaurant. Leaving the two men at the table, while Jeonghan didn’t attempt to look toward Joshua. He knew that if he did, he would be met with a look from his best friend, and he might spill everything. He couldn’t and wouldn’t do it.

Joshua already had enough on his plate then to sit around and listen to the problems he created himself. Him and his girlfriend barely got back together and were still working on their relationship. Him, Jihoon, and Hansol were helping their youngest Chan on his new album, and he was looking for a new place since his lease was up at the end of the year. Even with all that going on, he knew that Joshua would take on Jeonghan’s plight while shouldering his own. Try to help him find a solution, and he didn’t want that. He didn’t want his help.

Jeonghan had been the one that everyone in their large friend group would go to, he was the problem solver as much as he was an instigator. He wasn’t used to being the one who needed to go to someone for his problems, even to his best friend. He planned to just shoulder it all, since there was nothing to help with anyways. What the two of you had was all he was going to get, and he couldn’t lose that.

“Want to go back to my apartment to hang out? Get wasted and watch T.V.?” Joshua then asked, and that was when Jeonghan looked at him. The other man had sensed his reluctance to talk so he wasn’t going to push, even if he was wanting to know what was wrong, and if it had anything to do with this Baby. But he wasn’t going to make Jeonghan tell him anything he wasn’t ready to say. Instead he offered something that he could get onboard with.

Jeonghan’s eyes flickered to his phone, checking one final time to see if you had texted, but there was nothing. Maybe you actually were asleep, and maybe a night away from the apartment might do him some good. Not sure if he wanted to spend another night knowing you were only on the other side alone in your own bed.

Passing out drunk in a random spot at his best friends sounded a hell of a lot better than falling asleep holding one of his pillows. Wishing it was you.

“Sure, why not.”

--

The timer ticked down painfully slow, seconds feeling like an eternity each, and all you could do was pace through your living room. Trying to hold down the vomit that was threatening to come up, this time from nerves and stress of waiting for you to be told what you already knew. It took everything in you not to throw up.

The sound of your phone then sounded off from the bathroom, the chosen sound blaring indicating that the countdown was now at zero.  

You didn’t actually need to see the results though, you didn’t need to look at the two sticks on the counter waiting for you. Waiting to confirm a cruel fate. You had been through it nine years previous, knowing your body well enough to feel this change, but instead of listening, you chose to be in fucking denial. That your body was just playing tricks on you, and you weren’t. You prayed that you weren’t.

Even though you knew you were.

If only you could go back. Go back all those weeks and do it differently. Not be idiots and wear a fucking condom. Or fucking remembered that you missed a few days of pills the week before. You wouldn’t be in this situation.

The sound of your alarm continued to sound off as you stared into the bathroom from where you were rooted, staring at the counter that was awaiting your fate. You never been so scared to step through that threshold, just to see a word and a set of lines mocking you.

“Just fucking rip the band aid off,” You tell yourself softly, taking a few deep breaths and tried to swallow the lump and bile that was sitting in your throat. “Maybe it’s all in your head, and you’re just fucking insane. It’s all from stress is all. Or just confirm that we are both fucking stupid idiots.”

You wish that since you were already suspecting it, that it wouldn’t feel like a punch to the chest, but it was. That word and two very clear lines mocked you worse then you thought they would, like some sick twisted joke.

Hot tears pricked your eyes, and this time you couldn’t hold back the sick that was coming now, finding yourself hunched over the toilet. Emptying the little contents you had in your stomach.

This couldn’t be happening again. You couldn’t possibly be that stupid to do this to yourself again. You should have been more careful, you should have remembered that you had forgotten to take them a few days the week before and taken the precautions. Both of you should have thought to use protection.

But you didn’t and now here you were.

Pregnant again. This time with someone you weren’t even in a relationship with and was your fucking neighbor.

Jeonghan is galaxies better than Ren’s father ever was and will be. He treated you and your son well even though he didn’t have to, but that didn’t make him yours. He couldn’t ever be yours, like you couldn’t be his. You drew that line when this all started, you were clear that this was nothing more than a good time. You both agreed. It protected everyone that way. Or at least it did.

You both got too comfortable with each other, threw out rules that was set when this all started. God sloppy and too trusting of each other. To trusting of yourselves.

You didn’t how the fuck you were going to tell him, or how he was going to react to this. He had put his trust in you, and you fucked it. You and your stupid ass desire to have him cum in you. That little claim that wasn’t for the world to see will be making itself known.

There wasn’t much in your stomach to begin with, having not been able to stomach anything other than a donut that morning in the office, so you ended up mostly dry heaving and once you managed to stop you found yourself falling back against the bathroom wall. Breaking down and you sunk to the ground. Not knowing what to do, not knowing how to take this information. You didn’t know how you were going to tell your parents, family, or even Ren.

You didn’t want your son to know what was going on with you and Jeonghan. You didn’t want him to think it was going to be anything that it was. You didn’t want to give him hope. He adored the dark haired man so much, and you didn’t want to set him up for disappointment. Now you were going to have to tell him he was going to have a sibling. And that Jeonghan was the father.

Jeonghan… fuck. The very thought of him caused you to spiral more, unable to even know how you were going to begin to tell him. How was he going to take this? Did he even want to be a father? Neither of you ever touched on that topic, it felt like it was building possible expectations that you couldn’t deliver. You told yourself that this didn’t matter to what you were doing, you weren’t going to spend forever together.

But it did.

Everything was changing, and you were hating it. This temporary change with your hours was already terrible and you couldn’t wait for it to go back to normal. Where you got to spend your nights without Ren with Jeonghan, feeling like you were more than just a mother, and truly seen. You were someone when you were around him. You were you. And now you were going to lose that.

You didn’t want to think about that, you didn’t want to think about the pain in your chest at the idea of losing him or doing all this over again. Broken and alone.

The very thought made you want to vomit all over again.

--

**Seven months ago**

“I’ll be by Sunday after work to get Ren.” You tell your mother, walking her and Ren out of your apartment, handing off his bags to her. Jeonghan had just reached the landing, appearing to be getting home from work, as you were giving your goodbyes.

“Hello, Mr. Jeonghan!” Ren called out with excitement at the sight of the dark haired man, a large smile on his young face. Jeonghan returned the greeting with a smile of his own, and a ruffle of the boy’s hair as they pass. You stood there at your door watching them disappear down the steps. Ren telling your mother all about your neighbor and his cool apartment.

“Kid-free weekend?” Jeonghan asked leaning against his door frame, his arms crossed as he watches you mimic his stance to face him. Taking in the way his dark brown hair fell over his eyes, then over his beautiful face, noticing a little mole on his cheek. He was in loose fitting pants and a black shirt, oversized on his lithe frame, and his messenger bag lazily hanging off his shoulder. There wasn’t anything special about how he looked, but you couldn’t take your eyes off him.

“Yeah, sorta. I have to work early Sunday,” You answer him, and he nods, “It does give me a break though. Plus, my parents love having him over, and would take him every weekend if I let them.”

“Got any plans? Hot date?” He teases, and all you could do was roll your eyes.

“Oh totally. I have them beating the door down. Nah, just a couple of beers, enough food from my mom to feed an army, and maybe a really bad movie or two. Just relax.” You tap your chin, as if you were pondering how many movies to watch; conveniently leaving out the plans you had with your vibrator since you had the apartment to yourself. “What about you?”

“Same. Except the food is going to be takeout, and the movie or two will be just Youtube.” He shrugs, a lazy smile playing over his lips, and you pushed your tongue into your cheek. “Had the chance to go out with some friends, but something was telling me that staying home sounded like a better idea.”

You watch him, catching the way his eyes dropped down to your green tank, and how it was showing more cleavage then you had intended. He didn’t hide the way he licked his lips at the sight of them, before reconnecting eye contact. There was a flirt to his words, it had been the last few times you had ran into each other on the landing. It was subtle at first, but now it was becoming more obvious. An invitation, as well as a request from you, and it made you consider a few things.

A very stupid idea.

“Oh, well, I was just going to see if you wanted to join me. I got plenty of beer, and enough food to feed an army. Maybe save you a some won, and have a home cooked meal. It’ll also be less food to throw out.” You suggest slowly, the offer lacing through your words, and were ringing loud and clear. “But I totally get wanting to stay home and becoming a vegetable.”

“What kind are you?”

“A potato,” You laugh with your answer.

“Nah, my friend Mingyu is. I wouldn’t say you were a vegetable, maybe something sweeter. A fruit maybe. Like a strawberry, or banana.” Jeonghan retorted, that tongue was now pressing against the corner of his mouth but did nothing to ruin or hide the lazy but flirty smile he was still wearing. “I said staying home from going out sounded better, but I didn’t have a specific home in mind, nor did I specify one. I’d love to hang out but let me get washed up and change. I’ll even bring dessert.”

“That actually works out for me. Ren left a disaster zone in there with his toys and books. And conveniently forgot to clean up like he was supposed to.” You confess, trying to not show you were a little embarrassed by it. Mess comes with kids, but it still felt embarrassing to admit. “I got to get that cleaned up, so maybe we can meet in an hour?”

“Sounds good. Meet you in an hour then.”

An hour later, Jeonghan was knocking at your door, with his own pack of beers and some ice cream that looked like he dug out of the back of his freezer. Ready to start the night. You two had spoken often on the landing, whenever you would run into each other, when Ren would find his way over to his apartment to hang out, or when he watched the boy a couple of times after that night you met. Friendly, with hidden tones of flirting, but you were not quite friends yet nor had you hung out past those chats.

It didn’t feel like it though, both quickly comfortable with each other, and settled into the evening like it was something that you had done all the time. He was easy for you to talk to, he listened while being full of stories over the years with his friends, and the flirting got heavier. Moving from subtle comments, to finding reasons to ‘brush’ up against each other.

The offer was there, it was written all over both of you with the way you looked at each other, so it wasn’t a surprise that by the time the first movie ended, he was face first between your thighs. Nor was it a surprise that he didn’t leave your apartment, mainly your bed, until well into the afternoon the next day. It quickly became a regular thing with the two of you. Spending a lot of your free nights together, with the agreement that Ren couldn’t find out and there was no possibility of something more.

The line was clear from the start. And it worked for you both, until you both started getting closer than just sex.

Some rules you agreed on were broken, you found yourself looking forward to being just in his arms, to just seeing him. It led you down a dangerous road. One where you were falling in love with him, which only opened you up to being hurt.

--

“Are you just getting home?” You stop at the top of the stairs when you caught sight of Jeonghan walking up them. Clothes wrinkled, and you didn’t recognize the shirt that he was wearing; it was actually Joshua’s because he spilt beer all over himself. Hair was shoved under a beanie, and there were dark circles under his eyes.

He looked like he had a wild night out and was doing some kind of walk of shame. The idea didn’t sit right in your gut, briefly considering this notion that he had spent the night in someone else’s bed since he couldn’t spend it in yours. It made you sick to your stomach, but you had to push that down. Even if he did, it shouldn’t matter to you because you weren’t together. It wasn’t your business, nor was it your right to feel anyway about it.

“Went back to Shua’s after dinner. Got pretty drunk and passed out on his living room floor. He passed out in the tub. It was brilliant,” Jeonghan chuckled as he reaches the top step, before rotating his shoulder slightly. Over exaggerating his wince from the sore muscles. “Not the most comfortable though. I’m so sore.”

“Well, you’re not in your early twenties anymore. Hit the age twenty-nine and you might as well be in your thirties.” You answer with a chuckle, and you didn’t miss how his hand almost reached for you. Whenever you tease him in the comforts of your apartment, Jeonghan would like to grab your wrist to pull you into his chest so he could tickle your sides until you begged him to stop; only stopping with a payment of a kiss.

But this isn’t the inside of your apartments, this is the landing in front of them. Even if you were the only two apartments on this floor, it wasn’t like a neighbor would see either of you, but it crossed one of the many lines you drew. One of the few lines you held firm too. Going out to dinner or somewhere to hang out was one thing, something friends do, but touching, holding hands, or even kissing was only for the apartments.

You knew he hated it, and you did too, but you already let too many lines get blurred. Putting you in this exact position you are in now.

“True, I think I might need a massage though,” He teases back, the flirty suggestion heavy in his tone until he saw you were dressed in a pair of jeans, a black shirt, boots, and your large winter jacket; instead of your usual little tank dress you wore when home. You had your bag hanging from your shoulder, and an earbud in, the other in your hand. “Where you going?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I… I have some errands I got to run, and then I’m gonna help my mom out with the restaurant for a few hours. Dad’s hips acting up where he can hardly move and the most he can do is run the till.” You scramble to give him an answer, unable to tell him the truth just yet, and Jeonghan caught that you wouldn’t meet his gaze. The made him take a chance to reach for your forward to catch your chin. Tilting your head up, he made you look at him. Your eyes meeting and you had to look away quickly, scared he would know just by your eyes. “Jeonghan… not here…”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He asked, and you nod a little too quickly. Too quickly and it looked like he was having a hard time believing you. At all. The doubt was heavy in his voice as he said your name softly, and you tried to look everywhere but him. “Why are you lying to me?”

“I actually don’t need to tell you when I come and go, or where I go, it’s not really your business and should be happy I fucking tell you anything.” You grimace as you instantly regretted snapping at him like that, more so when you saw the taken aback look on his face. “I’m sorry. I’m not in the best of moods. I didn’t sleep very well last night, and I wasn’t exactly planning to spend my day the way I am.”

“If you aren’t feeling good still, then you need to stay home. Not push yourself. It only prolongs getting better.” He tells you, his tone as tense as his jaw was at that moment. It was his turn to not look at you and you had to swallow back what felt like a fresh wave of tears. You thought you ran out of those hours ago.

“I’m okay, I promise. I actually have been feeling better, I have just been under a lot of stress with work and didn’t sleep well. I’m about to grab an energy drink at the store.” You cast a glance toward him, knowing that you were going to have to tell him as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t going to be in the right frame of mind, maybe spending an evening with him again will help. Maybe it will be easy to tell him. “Maybe if you are up to it, we can hang out when I get home… I miss hanging out with you.”

Jeonghan didn’t respond for a long moment, looking at a spot on the wall before turning toward you. Regarding you with a steady gaze, and you weren’t sure if he was considering your offer or if he was just trying to decide if he wanted to tell you to go fuck yourself. Which you deserved from your comment. Then he finally spoke, “I miss hanging out with you too.”

Hearing that almost broke you, your chest aching and bursting at the same time. He has told you this before in text, when you both were wishing each other a good night, but it was always different to hear him actually say the words. You needed to hear them, but with what you were going to be telling him when you did hang out, you wondered how much longer he would feel that way.

“Just text me when you get home,” He nodded as he spoke, his words and jaw were still tense, but at least he wasn’t refusing to see you. Reaching out, you squeezed his arm gently even though all you wanted to do was throw yourself into his arms. You let your touch linger for moments longer then you should’ve, eyes glossy. Jeonghan noticed this too, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” You answer, finally pulling your hand back, starting down the stairs. “I’ll text you when I’m home!”

You didn’t look back to see if he was still standing there, even though you wanted to.

--

You hurried through the crowded streets to your destination, trying to not run into anyone and spill the two hot drinks in your hands. You were late, running into Jeonghan had thrown you back several minutes and then the coffee shop you stopped at was packed, and it didn’t help your already guilty feeling mood. Your cousin was doing you a huge favor by opening the clinic for you and your predicament, after getting a panicked text from you once you were able to pull yourself up the floor. The least you could do was be on time.

“You’re late,” Wenhyun muttered when he unlocked the front of the clinic to let you in, his voice sounding more tired than annoyed. His short hair sticking in all directions, wearing a pair of track pants and a hoodie, and didn’t look like he owned the small clinic.

“I’m sorry, I got caught in line at the coffee shop. I texted you my ETA,” You retorted, handing him the hot coffee you had gotten him. The only payment he would accept from you, or any member of your family in fact. Originally you had texted him asking him if he had an opening that Monday, when the clinic was open, but he didn’t want to wait. “Thanks for seeing me. Are you sure you’re okay with seeing me today?”

“Shut up,” He mumbled motioning you to follow him to one of the examination rooms, drinking his coffee as he went, “My mom has been helping out through the week, and I am pretty sure you don’t want your parents to find out through her. It’s better this way, and she won’t see that your charts been pulled. Plus, if you break down and shit again, I can comfort you then have to rush you out or hide you in my office until after I see the next patient.”

Wenhyun was over ten years older than you, son to your mom’s older sister, but he was more of a big brother to you. He had been the one who had confirmed your pregnancy with Ren and saw what was happening with his dad before anyone else. He had also been the reason for where you were now, getting you and your son out of the situation you were in. Your apartment, your job, and even Ren’s tuition was because of him. You were the youngest of five cousins, with him being the oldest and by default like a leader of you all, and you were always his favorite of them all. Even his own siblings.

You barely sat your bag and hot tea down when he was shoving a cup in your hands.

“I don’t think I have to tell you what to do,” He points in the direction of the bathroom, cutting you off before you could even form the words, “From what you told me in that rushed ass text, date of conception, last missed period, the pregnancy tests we already know it’s very likely going to be positive. I still got to do my own test though. It also gives me time to finish get everything together. We’ll be doing an ultrasound too, but that’s gonna cost you.”

“How much is it going to cost?”

“I’d say you’re first born child, but Ren is a little too attached to you at this point, so I’ll just settle for another coffee. Now go,” Wenhyun waves you off, and you do as he requested. Returning a few minutes later with the cup partially filled and closed. “Go sit.”

You take a seat on the examination table, wringing your fingers together nervously.

“Who’s the guy?” Your cousin suddenly asked, his back to you but you knew what he was doing. Doing his own pregnancy test. “It’s not…”

“Oh, god no. I haven’t seen him since he tried to crash Ren’s sixth birthday. Last I heard he was bumming it somewhere in Busan with some woman, but that was almost a year ago. It’s…” You trailed off and he turns to look at you. There was a look of realization on it, because you never said out loud what the two of you were doing. Your mother had suspected, but you never said anything.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but can you at least tell me that you’re okay. And safe?” He didn’t push you, but there was worry written all over his features.

“I am more than safe, I’m the safest I probably have ever been when I am with him. I just… never actually told anyone about us,” You confess.

“Is he a secret boyfriend? Or a friend?” He took the chance to turn back around to check the results.

“I guess you can say he’s a friend, and also… my neighbor,” You said the last words slowly, and this time he whipped around with a look of shock.

“Excuse me,” You winced when your full name fell from his lips, in a shocked but scolding manner, “Are you actually telling me that you’re fucking sleeping with your neighbor?”

“Yeah?” Finally looking away from his disappointed gaze, “His name is Jeonghan. He helps me out with Ren sometimes, letting him hang out at his place on the days I’m running late from work, or if I have to work late and Mom can’t help keep an eye on him. He’s literally Ren’s favorite person in the world… and… he’s also mine. We been seeing and sleeping together for seven months now, mostly when Ren is at my parents. We’re normally pretty careful, but sometimes we…” You didn’t continue that sentence, sparing your cousin the details. He was still family after all, “Let’s just say we became Icarus after a few beers and flew too close to the sun.”

“I prescribe you birth control, don’t you take it consistently?”

“I normally do that too, but…”

“What? Forget because of life? Work? Stress?”

“Yeah…”

“While I do understand this, life can get hectic, it still isn’t a good enough excuse. As your doctor, I have to stress the importance of using protections. More than one form if needed, because I am about to confirm you are in fact pregnant!” He tells you, exasperation heavy with every word, and you could feel yourself deflating like a child in trouble, “From the information you provided me, I would put you at around twelve weeks. I’m gonna have to have you come in sometime this week to get blood tests. Fucking hell, why didn’t you come to me sooner?! When you started experiencing symptoms. Or even, I don’t know, when you missed your period?! Even if it was just to rule it out!”

“Because when the symptoms started, work started getting more hectic with Gunyu going on this month long cruise. I thought it was from stress,” You realize that all you were doing now was grasping at excuses at this point, and Wenhyun knew it too. You knew better, you should have ruled this out before anything else, but instead you chose to ignore the obvious. Trying to hide behind work, “Or I am just stupid.”

“You are stupid, but as your cousin, I need to think that” He retorts, and you give him a dirty look. “Does he know?”

“No,” You tell him, finally feeling your face wet from tears that were now falling involuntarily, “I only found out last night, and I saw him briefly in front of the apartments. Didn’t think ‘oh hey, how are you? I am heading to the clinic to confirm I am carrying your child, okay call you later!’ was a smart idea. I wanted to see you first about this before I tell him. I’m telling him tonight.”

“Are you in love with him?” This question took you off guard.

“We’re not together.”

“You don’t have to be with someone to be in love with them, don’t deflect. I asked, are you in love with him?”

Hope you enjoyed! Part 2 is almost done being written and Hoshi's installment will be out soon! If you like my series, and want to be updated when I post, I am created a tag list.

More one shots and drabbles coming.

[lsunstreakerl]

I have the slight impression that if it weren't in a fic, Charles' little ✨️possessive✨️ and ✨️kind of obsessive✨️ thing wouldn't be very healthy.

That said, I'm looking forward to seeing more of this side of Charles, because for Max this is normal (he's an unreliable narrator), and the only times we can see how possessive he is is when we see someone else's POV, like Daniel.

Eu realmente quero ver mais da perspectiva de Charles para que eu possa ver como ele pensa, a maneira como ele é obcecado por Max desde a infância e o fato de que Max provavelmente nem sabe disso, e em Appendicitis temos uma citação de Max na qual ele diz que é leal a Charles há muito tempo, mas que ele acha que Charles é leal a ele há muito mais tempo. Este pode ser o momento exato em que Max percebe isso.

looking forward to seeing their relationship from Charles' perspective

this got kind of long sorry!

thank you for picking up what I've been subtly putting down! yeaaaaah they've both got problems, it's just that charles' tend to manifest in attachment issues- attachment to ferrari, attachment to his ghosts, attachment to max. (yes, max is an unreliable narrator. so is charles.)

if either max or charles were more well-adjusted, it wouldn't be a healthy relationship by any means, but they kind of balance each other out from what would be toxic otherwise. max with the unrelenting need to not be left behind- he almost demands that charles stay with him in search history. charles with the possessiveness that max is only his, no one else can have him.

they fit together- charles provides the obsessive dedication that max needs, and max provides almost complete devotion to charles. (you see it a bit in chapter 18 of SH, where max thinks about how he'll be whatever charles needs, without regard for himself.) (you also see it throughout SH- charles is always there. He's either there, or he's flying out, or he's following after max. if you take a step back, you'll realize sometimes charles is on his way before max even needs him- he was going to show up anyways.)

the only time you see a shift in that dynamic is when daniel is involved. this has to do pretty completely with what daniel has done for max, and the way he was there when charles wasn't. charles isn't a fan of anyone else meaning that much to max by any means- but he can see where daniel has helped support and teach max, and he can see that they have a special relationship.

he does have his own fair share of issues with it (walking in on them at the party) but he grapples with those a bit in 1+1+1, where the three of them actually navigate a dynamic together.

I believe the "Appendicishit" quote you're talking about is this one:

"He's starting to think Charles has been loyal even longer."

max has finally realized in that quote that he and charles have been intertwined in their relationship for longer than he initially assumed- max only starts thinking about charles in an admittedly romantic way when he gets his tonsils taken out in "Dad- I mean, GP-", and even then it's begrudging, not something he's willing to admit. (not sober, anyways.)

sober max vs drunk max!

you'll notice in the charles POV I posted that max kisses charles when they're younger, and that's pretty much the moment charles locks in and decides that yes, it's max, it's always going to be max.

this is obviously a couple years before max figures that out, because max doesn't remember kissing charles, so he's a little bit behind in that sense. charles also struggles while in F1 about not wanting to love max, because bad things happen to people he loves.

max only allows himself to think about charles when he's intoxicated or otherwise under the influence (daniel and carlos have heard a lot about charles).

I may write an outsider POV of someone else where they're a liiiittle bit concerned about just how intertwined max and charles are. debating on who would be best to showcase that at the moment.

[canary-curse-57]

Hellooooo everybody, it’s CC back again with my favorite pastime:

ANALYZING JIMMY SOLIDARTIYGAMING’S (WILD LIFE) DEATHS

In this post, I talked about why I thought he could win the life series, and I analyzed his deaths from every series (excluding Real Life and Wild Life) (THIS HAS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO BE ALMOST AS LONG AS THAT ONE). Now that Wild Life has been over for a while, however, I’ve decided to analyze his deaths from Wild Life, as there’s one in particular that completely doesn’t fit in any previous categorization I had. 

As a quick recap, my previous categorization system consisted of Bad Luck, Silly Decision, and Accident. One death could be more than one category at the same time. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment/ask!! I love yapping about the life series :D

Anyways, let’s get into it!!!

First death - Creeper - Bad Luck/Silly Decision:

This is one of a handful of deaths that he’s had over the course of the series that I genuinely think could potentially fit in all 3 categories, but I ultimately feel like leaving off Accident because it doesn’t fit quite well enough. Either way, this is one of many incredible examples of Jimmy Solidarity’s Unbelievably Bad Luck. I mean, to have not just one, but TWO creepers sneak up on you from completely opposite directions while you’re trying to fight a zombie is just INSANELY Bad Luck!!!! 

So while Bad Luck is easily the primary category here, I’m also including Silly Decision because I am of the firm belief that going ANYWHERE on your own at night is not the best choice, and doing so has gotten Jimmy killed/knocked out of previous series before (For example: his death to the enderman at the end of Double Life) so he really should’ve started avoiding this type of situation a while ago. 

Second death - Creeper - Accident/Silly Decision/Bad Luck:

What’s this? Our first triple category death? A shocker, I know, and I’m honestly not entirely confident in it. Here are my reasonings anyways:

Accident is quite simple, really: Jimmy accidentally misses his second hit on the creeper that kills him. If you slow down the video, you can see that the second time he engages with the creeper, he swings his sword at the creeper three times, landing the first hit, missing the second, and seemingly hitting the third. However, the fact that he misses his second hit means that the creeper doesn’t die, and still has enough HP to explode and kill Jimmy. There is also an element of Bad Luck at play in this specific moment too. 

Silly Decision honestly comes from what he was doing before this death: messing around and letting three whole creepers explode in front of him, blocking the explosions with his shield. Doing so is a little bit of a Silly Decision, one that Lizzie even reprimands him for, although I feel like transferring from that method of killing creepers to actually hitting them to kill them may have caused him to somehow let his guard down. (This, too, feels a little like Bad Luck, but in the specific way of the universe not taking kindly to him messing around)

Again, this is one I'm a little shaky on, so I might edit/change this up in the future. 

Third death - Snail - Accident/Silly Decision:

For the most part, this is an accident, pure and simple. Jimmy didn’t know the snail would kill him, he got a bit too close to it, and whoops, there he goes! However, I’m still adding a small amount of Silly Decision to this, because I personally feel like getting close to what is clearly the wildcard is a biiiit of a risky move, especially when you don’t know what it is/what it does yet. 

Fourth death - Snail - Silly Decision:

Jimmy knew the snail kills you the moment you touch it/it touches you, and yet he still decided to try and get incredibly close to it and get it to lunge at him. Silly Decision to the max /pos

Fifth death - Creeper - Bad Luck/Accident:

Damn, I always forget about just how rough of an episode this was for him!!! He dies four whole times in the span of ~7 minutes of video time. That’s almost one death every two minutes what on EARTH. I also very fondly remember this session being released the week after I posted my original analysis post about why I think he could win the life series someday. Absolutely hilarious timing to me lfhwejkfhwjkefhwjkhf

ANYWAYS, analysis time!! 

This is a lovely lovely example of Jimmy’s Bad Luck creating absolutely hilarious moments/the universe deciding it hates him! Oh, you want to talk to the only other yellow on the server about how it stinks to be yellow? Creeper from behind!!

I’m only adding an Accident classification in here because I watched this moment from Skizz’s POV, and he had enough time to warn Jimmy had he noticed the creeper, so I feel it gets a slight Accident rating. 

Sixth death - Dripstone - Accident:

Aaaaand here we have it folks: the death that could’ve taken Jimmy out of the series if not for Ren sacrificing himself in episode 3!! The craziest thing about this death is that it’s an accident, plain and simple. Martyn didn’t think there was really a trap, mined the block for funzies, and caused Jimmy to plummet to his death. Could you imagine if that was somehow the way Jimmy went out??? One could make an argument for Bad Luck, but I don’t really feel like it fits. 

I also strongly considered adding a Silly Decision to this one. I mean really, who stands on top of their own trap?? There’s always a chance someone might break it, and in this scenario that chance occurred!! However, in the end I feel like it classifies as more of an accident, because really, this one’s entirely on Martyn. 

Seventh death - Falling/Ravager - Bad Luck:

Ah, yet another death that I briefly considered adding Silly Decision to. I ultimately decided that it didn’t fit at all; after all, no one had any clue what could happen if you got the answer wrong at this point, so really you weren’t sure how careful you needed to be around Trivia Bots. That being said, going up into the tower miiiiight’ve not been the best choice, but ah well.

This death really felt like it was mostly Bad Luck to me because Jimmy really should’ve survived the fall!! Had it not been for his ender pearl hitting Martyn & the tree being right beneath him, I firmly believe he would’ve either teleported away safely or managed to hit a water bucket clutch (he got the water down right before he landed, it just didn’t save him because leaves (leafs?) waterlog)

Eight death - Snail - Accident/Bad Luck/I don’t even know dude this death made me lose it:

This death was quite possibly the most PAINFUL DEATH I HAVE EVER HAD TO REWATCH EVER. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! The fact that he just WALKED into the SNAIL has me LOSING IT like DUDEEEEEE AUGHHHHHHH

Anyways creepers and snails are now tied for Things That Caused The Most Amount of Deaths for Jimmy, with 3 each!!

But yeah. Accident all around, with maybe a smidgen of Bad Luck thrown in there because how.

Ninth death - Bloop (Iron Golem) - Accident/Silly Decision:

Sigh. It wouldn’t be a Jimmy SolidarityGaming Life Series without multiple deaths that hurt your soul /lh

Anyways, yet another Accident. Obviously he didn’t mean to hit Bloop. But ALSO this is VERY MUCH A SILLY DECISION!!! Jimmy. Jimmy why would you try to kidnap an iron golem. Jimmy. Please. You know the universe likes to take the mick out of you dude (no i’m not british idk how else to put it tho 😭). You laughed at Mumbo’s grave and Grian basically made Bloop to be Mumbo cause he was lonely, of course it would go wrong /lh. 

Sigh. C’est la vie ig. Anyways, it’s this next death that’s the whole reason why I’m doing this,,,,,,

Final death - Grian/Explosion - ?????????????????:

There is only one other death in the entirety of the life series that I consider to be uncategorizable for Jimmy, and that one was when Tango died while they were soulmates.

So this death? This death is special.

It wasn’t an Accident. Grian had sworn for a long time that he would take Jimmy out of the series. Grian always holds tight to the promise of death. This was intentional. Planned.

It wasn’t Bad Luck. Jimmy wasn’t in the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn’t randomly have tnt spawn around him. This was intentional. Planned.

It wasn’t a Silly Decision. One could argue that it wasn’t one singular Silly Decision that got him to this point, but multiple small ones, stacked up high enough that Grian decided to act. And I could almost bring myself to agree with that, were it not for the fact that people have done worse to each other in this series and been spared. This death was completely out of Jimmy’s hands. It was unexpected. Intentional. Planned.

For the first time, Jimmy was the main target. For the first time, he wasn’t just caught in the crossfire. For the first time, he didn’t instigate right before his death. 

For the first time, he was viewed as someone who should be taken down.

Admittedly, it’s quite a stretch to say that Grian viewed him as a threat. I honestly don’t think Jimmy will be viewed as a threat anytime soon. The legacy of the canary curse lingers far too close for now. 

But think with me, for just a moment, about what may have been. He was surviving. Others had died to the combinations of wildcards thrown at them, yet Jimmy was surviving. How far could he have made it? How long could he have lasted, had Grian not taken matters into his own hands?

I’m in no way saying that I think this was Jimmy’s best season, or that I think he could’ve won if not for Grian. This was one of the most unluckiest seasons he’s had in a while, and the silly decisions and accidents added on top of that were a recipe for disaster.

But this was the first season where he really truly showed fight. Getting kills, celebrating, gloating; for a moment, he didn’t just survive. He thrived. 

If you combined his survivability from the first 5 sessions of Last Life with the killing power he had in Wild Life, I truly think you would have a winner. 

So despite the 10 deaths, despite the silly decisions and the laughably bad luck, despite the highest highs and lowest lows, I am not left with a lack of hope for Jimmy. 

If anything, this season has just made me believe in him more. 

[night-night-stories-before-bed]

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Warning ⚠️; mention of killing.

Pairing; Dean Winchester/Demon!Male!Reader

Summary; You were a fearful reckless demon who terrorized hunters and humans alike for fun. Until Dean crossed your path and softened you. You had the opposite effect on him.

Note; So here a sweet very small story because I’m still healing from surgery, no infection I’ve always been a slow healer and the tumor was pretty deep in my arm it doesn’t help, so sorry for posting slowly. I’ve also decided to try and decor with the lovely banners from cafekitsune, I hope you will find it pretty!

Credit @cafekitsune

For centuries you had walked this Earth, terrifying all who crossed your path. You enjoyed the destruction and pain you left behind you, becoming the bane of the hunters. They feared and avoided you, running away at the simple mention of your name. Even John Winchester had taken all the precautions to never cross your path.

Failing miserably because you were the one who sought him out. Until his death, his body still bore the marks of your encounter. He had lived only because you had allowed it, wanting him to share just how monstrous you were.

Only for his eldest son to throw everything out of the window and turn your world upside down.

Dean Winchester was the epitome of what a hunter was. Fearless and strong-headed, that young man was a force to be reckoned with. Even before you met them, you heard of Dean and his brother and their achievements. You did not care about the youngest, leaving him to Azazel. No, your attention was on Dean.

And his was on you as well.

You were shocked the day Dean Winchester outsmarted and trapped you. How humiliating but exciting too. No one had ever managed it, but there you were, trapped while a bloodied and bruised Dean chuckled on the ground admiring you, his catch.

The first time he trapped you, but not the last.

You escaped barely, but took the time to trash their car before fleeing to lick your wounds. You were both impressed and insulted by how easily you had fallen. You swore it would never happen again, yet knew it was inevitable.

And so began a dance, a chase between you and the brothers. You encountered each other over and over through the following months and you knew you had become the prey. You felt no fear, just excitement for having found a worthy opponent. Sam was more careful, unlike Dean who was reckless in trying to either kill you or send you back to Hell.

The more you crossed paths with Dean the more you grew fond of the hunter. There was something about him that you admired, respected even. He was the only mortal who had become a worthy opponent to you, cornering you like no one else before.

It was no surprise when Dean sought you the night Sam was murdered.

You allowed Dean to capture you, walking willingly into his trap. Seeing the hunter's broken, eyes dead and empty, filled you with something you couldn't truly describe. Having lost your humanity, it was almost impossible for you to put your finger on those emotions, but you hated them. It was as if someone clutched at your heart while knives stabbed your guts. Yes, seeing Dean like that was a sight you hated.

Dean didn't had to ask, beg or do anything for you knew what he wanted.

You immediately agreed to make a deal with him. Anything just to bring back the hunter you knew. It was the perfect price for the humiliation he put you through, you tried to lie to yourself, but in reality the simple thought of another demon claiming Dean’s soul filled you with jealousy.

Dean was yours and yours alone.

It was without surprise that Sam took the deal terribly.

You remembered how he cursed at the both of you and how you had laughed. How was it your fault exactly? But anger often blinded people and you and Dean knew Sam was latching out of anger. It didn't take away the pain Sam’s words caused Dean and you watched as the brothers separated.

It was obvious they would mend their relationship, but until then you stuck with Dean. At first, you wanted to torture him and rub salt in his wounds. A cruel way to seek revenge, but in the end, you actually enjoyed Dean’s presence.

It brought you a sense of comfort… of belonging.

And as the weeks passed you bonded more and more with Dean. At first, it was little things; watching over him as he rested at night and bringing him some pie or beer. Dean looked the other way when you changed body, giving no comment when you returned with a new face.

Then it evolved.

You began following him during his hunts so you could have his back as Dean grew more and more reckless with each passing day. As for the hunter? He acted as if nothing happened each time you killed someone or even another hunter. Dean even allowed you by his side when he slept, his back pressed against your leg and hip as if seeking comfort.

As weeks passed you watched as Dean wasted away. The hunter deteriorated as if being away from his brother was killing him. Dean had always taken care of Sam and now his brother haad turned his back on him and left for God’s knew where. It worried you. You didn't want Dean to die so soon, didn't want to lose him.

So you contacted Sam, told him his brother needed him in a message you left on his phone. You held no hope and yet Sam came back, but not alone. A demon was with him.

You and Ruby stayed in a corner watching the brothers interact. They were contradicting themselves, both happy yet angry at the other for obvious reasons. As for you and Ruby? A single stare from you sent her a clear message; fuck off.

And she did after calling you out, saying you were getting soft.

Her storming off caught the brothers off and they stared at you. Dean grateful while his brother was clearly pissed off. You understood him; why could Dean have a pet demon and not him?

Because Ruby had no good intentions toward them. Well, neither did you seeing how you now owned Dean’s soul, but unlike her… you were actually growing a soft spot for the brothers.

That was the day your reputation was destroyed. A small price to pay to win over Dean’s trust. Since then you stayed by Dean’s side no matter what. Being around the brothers changed you, taught you how to be human once more and you indeed grew softer. But Dean? Dean took the opposite path. You and Sam noticed how he grew colder, crueller even toward the monsters and creatures you three hunted.

It was as if you two had made a trade. Dean giving you a part of his humanity while you gave him the ruthlessness of demons. Yet, toward you and Sam, Dean stayed the same. Well, toward his brother, but you? You two grew closer until you couldn't deny it any longer.

This wasn't just a strange friendship anymore.

Your possessiveness and jealousy, weren't just about owning Dean, but because you cared more than you should. Because you, a demon, somehow fell for Dean Winchester.

And Dean was the same, falling for you. A relationship that no one saw coming, not even the prophet Chuck nor the angels. A relationship that shifted Dean’s fate beyond what anyone could have imagined. By being by each other side, you became a fearless duo, facing whatever got in your way, protecting each other back.

[bonne-chanson]

Have you ever seen one of those videos of Tigers or other big cats playing with a pumpkin that's been filled with meat?

Here's a cute one if you've never seen that before. https://youtu.be/fFOPhelZxPU?si=5jR3eDQg5BU4QBjC

Anyway can you imagine as Atsushi Starts to feel more comfortable and safe around the agency He starts displaying more big cat mannerisms. Because he knows the others won't judge him for it or think he's less human.

Imagine getting him to feel comfortable and safe enough that he starts playing. I think that would be fun.

a/n: THAT’S ADORABLE OMG honestly atsushi deserves to play around every once in a while outside his agency duties given his traumatic childhood :(( i think it’d b so nice seeing him relax a bit and just be the kid he never got to be. here’s some headcanons i think might fit into ur idea !!

atsushi hcs: big cat behavior!

✑ character/s: atsushi nakajima, mentions of other ada members

✑ short desc: just atsushi being the big cat he is.

✑ content includes: general headcanons ; focus is on atsushi ; no warnings, just pure fluff

✑ word count: 1.3k words

i think as much as atsushi may have been portrayed as being on the more timid / wary side in the beginning of the series when he first joined the agency, he was also almost always on high alert / defensive mode a lot — typical cat behavior

after the whole shenanigan with the black lizard breaking into the agency’s main office (and them being thrown out promptly after lol), that’s when his trust in them solidified a little more and he decided then and there that they were the people he could always come back to no matter what

hear me out for this one: although the popular choice for the person able to loosen up his screws a bit more is dazai, i genuinely think that both the tanizaki siblings are one of the most responsible for helping him relax a little around the agency

when both jun’ichiro and naomi aren’t being weird (ahem) or when they aren’t on the job, i’m pretty sure they act the same way all typical teenagers do — they have interests outside of work / school that they spend time with, like to go along with trends, and they socialize a lot with people their age

and because the tanizaki siblings are the closest age-wise to atsushi, i think he learns to act his age around them as well. they probably hang out every once in a while and do normal stuff that don’t involve the use of abilities or crime-solving

hanging out with dazai is a little more different; i don’t want to make their relationship seem shallow because i know there’s more to them than meets the eye, although branching out in this post might make me go off topic, so we’ll just stick to saying that beyond them having a mentor / supervisor and student relationship, dazai seems to be able to bring out a much more honest and open side to atsushi

dazai’s words of encouragement and points of advice allow him to grow from being stuck in a circle of self-pity and learn to slowly move on from the events that traumatized him as a child — that being said, atsushi learns to unfold himself a little more with dazai’s guidance, which in turn helps him become a more honest version of himself around others

outside agency duties, i hc dazai to be the more chaotic of the two, often dragging atsushi into whatever shenanigans he has planned. he probably lures atsushi into playing pranks on kunikida, who very likely finds them irritating at first (schedule issues) but i think kunikida has the heart to let them off easy every now and then given he’s well-aware that they never had the easiest upbringings either. and if he scolds dazai / atsushi, it’s really just because he cares about them

with ranpo, i think atsushi is probably the more mature of the two. i hc that whenever they get paired together for a mission and are sent out of yokohama for that same reason, they often stop by candy stores to bond over buying sweet treats after accomplishing their tasks

yosano comes off as quite strong to atsushi at first, and the whole operation thing probably still scares him to death, but her kindness and care towards everyone including atsushi helps put him at ease. he’s at comfort knowing that someone is there to patch him up as well as the other people he cares about at the end of the day, even if his ability allows him to regenerate his limbs

he learns to become an older sibling figure through both kyouka and kenji. there’s more responsibility taken for them outside their jobs (older brother duties), but the innocence that comes with playing games with them or simply chatting about whatever topic pops up helps him hold onto his own innocence

and then there is fukuzawa — stern as he may appear, i’m sure he genuinely cares for the well-beings of all his employees. his ability says it all: it gives his subordinates all the control and freedom needed to ensure that their abilities are under full command of themselves. from atsushi’s side, there is gratefulness (especially after making peace with his own ability), but from fukuzawa, there is a lot of parental care outside duty (also because atsushi is part cat and fukuzawa likes cats lmao)

that comfort from having peers he can socialize with without the fear of being bullied or messed around with allows him to feel a little more at peace with himself at some point later on, and because he is part-tiger, he eventually ends up becoming more playful around everyone when his feline instincts come out

i like to imagine everyone sees it as a little inside office joke at first when they buy him toys like those cat scratching pillars or the little fishing rods with the feathers at the end, and he gets embarrassed about it initially, but he’s around people who care about him and don’t judge him for what he is, and he figures hey, why the hell not?

so now, it becomes the norm for one person every day to bring a new cat toy for atsushi to play with

it’s kenji who brings the pumpkins to the office (which earns him a few side-eyes of confusion, not to his knowledge), and at first, atsushi doesn’t really know what to do with them until one day after a particularly stressful mission, he finds himself gnawing at the pumpkin to help relieve himself a bit

it’s a strange feeling at first, but being able to sink his teeth into something that (thankfully) isn’t human flesh really helps him relax

sometimes he’ll use his tiger claws to slash at the pumpkins and mess around with the insides if he doesn’t feel like using his teeth

nobody at the agency really says anything about it aside from the occasional joke about it here and there but it’s all light-hearted and they seem to really enjoy watching him be himself around them

there is now a supply of pumpkins specifically for atsushi, and the roof garden above the agency now also has a pumpkin patch (run by kenji and kyouka, of course, and supervised by fukuzawa every now and then) so they don’t run out

remains of the pumpkins aren’t wasted. somehow the rest of the agency members (or at least the ones who know how to cook) find different pumpkin recipes to try and now they have a mini cookbook in the communal kitchen where the main ingredient for every dish is a pumpkin lmao

i’d imagine that if they do celebrate halloween, atsushi’s in charge of gnawing out the insides so the rest of the members (and he himself) can carve their decorations on the pumpkins respectively

when atsushi is sleepy, he’ll rub his face around on the surface he’s laying on or the person nearest to him (kind of like cats in general) and i think that a lot of the other members find it adorable so nobody makes any comments about it when he does that

sometimes dazai will bring one of those laser pens around when he’s bored and when he points it at a wall (or kunikida’s forehead), atsushi instinctively goes up to try and “catch” it lmao

i think he really enjoys playing hide-and-seek with the kids (and ranpo) especially when he’s “it”, primarily because of the feeling of the chase / hunt (which big cats seem to enjoy)

to no one’s surprise, fukuzawa enjoys playing with him a lot when he’s in his big cat form. i feel like he spares a few of the sardines he keeps in his yukata for atsushi as well. he probably carries around one of those fishing rods with a toy fish / feather at the end for atsushi (and atsushi enjoys it anyway lol)

everyone thinks it’s very enjoyable seeing him be himself. even if the whole found family dynamic turns out to not be true in canon, his happiness will still remain their happiness because they’re all still part of an organization that supports each other and are understanding of one another’s upbringings

atsushi with big cat behavior is so cute :>

a/n: i think i enjoyed myself a little too much with these and got carried away LMAO feel free to let me know how i did!

[commandertartarsmoocher]

This is not an AC/DC reference

Two versions because I think both are neat!

[s0fter-sin]

rewatching s1 and in ep2 w*ndigo, dean makes a joke about not bringing provisions into the woods just to pull out a bag of peanut butter m&m’s and stick with me here, it’s why the later seasons’ “goofy dean” loses me

this moment is clearly a joke but if you think about it too much, it also makes some sense; a family size bag of peanut m&m’s is calorie dense and even the high sugar is good to keep you moving which they need on an overnight hunt. it also shows how due to their upbringing, they’ve had to eat lower quality food, things they always had access to that was cheap and also in bulk

what does dean eating ghost pepper jerky then tipping water on himself exist for other than to be a cringy joke? what does smelling old chinese food, testing to see if it's still good then shaking his head with cabbage hanging out his mouth when it isn't serve? it's just to make him look stupid and contrast sam's healthy/clean diet (and superiority but that’s another conversation) which has always existed but it used to be nuanced and natural

we see dean as a child give up the food he wanted to eat so sam could eat it. (“i’m sick of spaghetti-os,” “you’re the one who wanted them,” … “i want lucky charms!” “… there’s only enough for one bowl and i haven’t had any yet!” proceeds to give them to sam, 1x18) we know he hustled and stole food to ensure sam ate. (“so, what’d he take?” “get this- peanut butter and bread.” 9x07)

we also see throughout the early seasons dean teasing sam about his salad or healthy choice while he eats some form of burger or other fast food (or notably, cheerfully eating prison food that sam won’t touch, 2x19). it's typical sibling teasing but it also shows that it isn't new for sam to eat like that and for dean to know he eats like that

sam being picky isn't just a character trait they chose for him, it's a result of how dean raised him; he raised him to like and want healthy food and be food secure enough to reject food he didn't want

but dean eats anything he is given and seeks out unhealthy - cheap, plentiful, filling - food

he is the opposite of picky to the point of it being a consistent bit; they show him multiple times eating when it's socially frowned upon to do so eg. questioning a grieving victim when they're trying to be discreet (1x14, 2x15, 2x18)

a similar moment to the chinese food is in 4x19; dean wakes up in the car while sam brushes his teeth outside and is hungry. sam says there's a sandwich in the backseat, dean smells it and recoils bc it's an old tuna sandwich. the moment is funny on its own but it also exists as a comparison of their lives to adam's; he has a loving mother, goes to school and importantly, a steady stable childhood

it’s a joke with a purpose

it also supports dean's food insecurity; he wakes up and is immediately hungry, enough to complain about it and seek out food before anything else

dean is always hungry bc he never has access to nutritionally rich foods bc he got used to using the money he earned to buy sam's more expensive food. he got used to his cheaper, denser foods and grew up with (and continues to live with) intermittent access to said foods. think of how long it takes to drive from one state to another; how many hours it can take to see another town that offers food, if you arrive at a reasonable enough time for anything to be open. also think how they can’t keep any food beyond what fits in an esky; nothing that needs defrosting, nothing can be heated up. it’s bags and jars and take out for as long as they can trust it

then they get the bunker which has its own kitchen

dean even describes himself as "nesting" when he decorates his room, something he hasn't had since he was four years old, and he uses said kitchen to cook a burger from scratch that he is proud of. he is food secure for the first time in his life and it shows in how often he cooks for both himself and sam

so these moments where they have him acting goofy regarding food are no longer character driven and only exist as a joke which is why they come across as cringy and out of character compared to similar earlier moments

a lot of my issues with dean's characterisation started when they introduced the bunker. the argument can and is made that the reason these jokes happen is bc he feels safe in the bunker, that bc he now has a home he can relax and unmask but that still doesn't feel sufficient. they crank up these sillier moments for both of them, giving them a sort of playing house comedy vibe of two roommates with completely different personalities but it doesn't feel like an authentic progression. it feels forced; an attempt at humour for humour's sake

food stopped being an informed part of their characters and their trauma and instead became flanderised; sam is the judgy vegetarian health nut and dean is his borderline slovenly carnivore counterpart

[galactaknightyaoi]

When I first got into Kirby, I didn't expect to like, actually get into it. I thought it'd be like any other hyperfixation I'd had up to that point, that it would go away within a few months and I'd never think about it again.

Given I was so deeply in denial, I didn't care about being fully accurate and had some stuff that was really goofy and/or underdeveloped and unexplained. Stuff I'd made up to just work for the limited time I would be there.

Still, I came up with a few headcanons that I got attached to, and when I started realizing this was here to stay, I still chose to be stubborn and had to work backwards to keep these stupid headcanons, but adapt them into something a bit more fitting and polished.

It led to some cool stuff, like for example, my orbs aren't very magical, this was something I had settled on early on. But after I got invested, I had to think about what that actually meant and the implications of it like, how can they do this without magic? And what about that? What about this canon thing, how do I explain it?

I found decent enough explanations for all of these. But as a result of my unserious beginnings and continued stubborness, now I get really embarrassed at the time to actually talk about my headcanons and the stuff I've come up with.

Because what do you mean your Galacta Knight is half-dragon?

[gideonisms]

THE number one most irritating thing about life is deciding when you're meant to speak or make eye contact and when you're not, and for how long and how many phrases you're meant to say at a time

[pagesofkenna]

Ratfish pt 2 spoilers

we've truly come full circle

[wonder-worker]

"As for the government of the kingdom, [Edward V] had complete confidence in the peers of realm and the queen."

"According to the Crowland continuator, [Elizabeth Woodville] seems to have taken the king's place in listening to his council immediately after Edward IV's death. It does appear that she expected to have some role in her son's kingship, and the Crowland continuator’s report of the letters sent to her by [Richard of Gloucester] indicates that she had good reason to expect to be able to work with him and the other councillors: 'the duke of Gloucester wrote the most pleasant letters to console the queen; he promised to come and offer submission, fealty and all that was due from him to his lord and king, Edward V, the first-born son of his brother the dead king and the queen'."

"[However], in what was Gloucester's first coup, Edward V was separated from his household and Woodville advisors. When the young king questioned the move, Buckingham was reported to have told the boy 'It is not in the business of women but men to govern kingdoms'. The blunt remark referred to the authority of Elizabeth Woodville as queen and the power she must have anticipated within the new political climate left by Edward IV's sudden death [...] While the veracity of this scene is questionable*, the words attributed to the duke no doubt seemed plausible to Dominic Mancini who believed they exemplified the popular sentiment held by men [...]."

— Dominic Mancini, The Usurpation of Richard the Third / J.L. Laynesmith, The Last Medieval Queens: English Queenship 1445-1503 / Alexander R. Brondarbit, Power Brokers and the Yorkist State, 1461-1485

*One of Mancini's key sources seems to have been Edward V's own doctor, John Argentine, who attended to him in the Tower. It's very likely that he was the one who recounted this scene to Mancini, which suggests that it should probably be considered more credible than not.

[thestraybunny]

The Landing| Y.JH Part 1 Teaser

Pairing: Guide Singer Jeonghanx Afab! reader Teaser WC: 1.1k Full WC: 11.7k Genre: Non-Idol AU, Neighbors to lovers, Rated: M (18+, MDNI) Warnings: Smut, Angst, Fluff, Unplanned Pregnancy, unprotected sex (practice safe sex yall), idiots in love, Reader is in denial of her feelings and the obvious, reader is a single mother, toxic ex, mentions of past abuse, drinking, smoking.

Summary: Jeonghan is an asshole. He is blunt, rude, and sometimes its wondered how he had friends at all. But the thing is. He is an asshole to everyone, but two people. A single mother and her son in his building.

A/N: *reader is the same age as Jeonghan 95* I contemplated posting this, thought about writing something different, but I worked hard on this fic. I also did mention in my k-series summary about starting families. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I do hope some can enjoy it. If you want to be tagged when the full fic is posted, just let me know. Thank you, @gam3bo17 for beta reading this. Masterlist Rule/guidlines

**September**

Baby🍑: Hey, Hanni! Can you do me a huge favor??? Baby🍑: I am running late here at work, and Ren is nearly home from tutoring. Mom won’t be able to get him for another hour and I don’t know when I will be getting out of here, could he hang out at your place until either me or her get there? Jeonghan: Of course! I just got off the subway and almost home. I’ll be there soon. He knows to let himself in, he has the code. Baby🍑: You are seriously such a life saver! I will be home soon, and I’ll bring the beer tonight.

Jeonghan smirked as he read your response, before slipping his phone back into his messenger bag to make his way through the crowded subway station; not needing to respond. Picking up his pace slightly once onto the street leading to his apartments since he didn’t want Ren, your eight year old son, to be waiting for him for too long. His place may be a young boy’s dream, he would rather not leave one free to roam in for too long.

Plus, he couldn’t wait to see either of you.

--

“I am so very sorry,” You gasped out, finally reaching your floors landing, only to find Jeonghan handing off Ren’s backpack and weekend bag to your mother. Both looking to be packed like it was every week he went to his grandparents. The three of them turned toward you before you spoke, already hearing your feet on the staircase.

“Mama!” Ren yelled out with excitement, releasing your mother’s hand to run to you, nearly knocking you back. His arms wrapped tight around your waist, your eyes dropping right to the thick dark mop of hair, a wide smile gracing your lips as you plant a kiss on the top of his head. Making sure to hug him back with all your might. “Mr. Jeonghan got a new Lego set and says he’s gonna wait until I come home so we can put it together. It’s a spaceship.”

“That is so nice of him,” You respond, glancing up toward the other two, catching a glimpse of the dark haired man leaning against the door frame of his apartment, arms crossed as he watched you both. You could see he was fighting a smile before he finally tore his gaze from you. “Thank you so much again for watching him.”

Jeonghan shot you a wink before bidding you all a good night and closed his apartment door. Leaving the three of you alone on the landing. Turning your attention to your mother, you could see the knowing look she was giving you as she walked toward you and Ren. Your son’s bags in one hand as the other reaches for the boy’s hand.

“I’ll pick him up after work Sunday afternoon. That way you and dad could have the evening to relax.” You tell her, letting her pull Ren from your arms and gave her a half hug.

“Don’t worry about it. Me and your father have decided to close the shop Sunday and Monday. So, we can keep him, and I’ll walk him to school.” She waves off your words, looking down at Ren with a smile. He was staring off into space, absentmindedly swinging his and his grandmother’s hand. When she looked back toward you, you were wearing a look of worry, and she waves you off again, “Don’t give me that look. It’s nothing. Your father wanted to take Ren fishing Sunday, and you know with his hip and leg, he won’t be able to move much the next day. Plus, he didn’t want me to open and work the shop alone. He ran the numbers and found it won’t hurt us to be closed a day or two. So stop that worrying now.”

You gave her a doubtful look, not sure if you should believe her or not. Your parents have been running the small restaurant since before you were even born, it was only closed a total of six times in your life. Your birth, when you got appendicitis, important school events like graduation, and the day that Ren was born.

“Besides, I’m sure you would like to spend some extra time with your boyfriend without worrying about Ren here,” She whispers, making sure that Ren was still off in his own world before speaking. This only earned a sigh from you.

“He’s not my boyfriend, Mom, it’s nothing like that at all. He’s a friend and neighbor who helps me out with Ren sometimes,” You shake your head, keeping your own voice low but you wouldn’t look at her. “I don’t want Ren to get the wrong idea about us.”

“You mean, you don’t want to get attached,” She challenges, straightening her back, and this made you look at her, feeling like you were looking at your future self. “I don’t mean or want to sound cruel, but as a single mother, your chances at finding a husband is slim. Most men wouldn’t look at you twice once they learn about Ren, and this man looks at you like you walk on water. I wouldn’t ignore that if I was you.”

“Thanks for that Mom,” Your voice had a dry tone to it, shaking your head again and adjusted your bag onto your shoulder. “He doesn’t look at me in anyway, nor is there anything between us. He’s my neighbor and a friend.”

“Mmmhmm, I made you some dishes, and they are right there,” She points toward the bright pink bundle on the ground next to your front door. Filled with containers of different foods your mother would make you. Always making enough that you didn’t have to worry too much about cooking through the week. “I was going to put everything away, but Ren’s things were already packed. If nothing is going on, then I would be concerned that he has such easy access to your apartment.”

“Me and Ren have just as easy access to his too.” You cross your arms, trying to not show that your statement was not helping your case whatsoever.

“You must be very good friends then,” Your mother quipped, and it was then Ren snapped out of his daydream with a look of confusion. “I’d call you later, but I am sure you will be busy.”

“Mom!” You gasped, as the two of them started down the stairs.

“Bye Mama!” Ren called out, and you had to lean over the railing to make sure he saw you waving.

“Bye Ren baby. Bye Mom.” You yell out before turning to look toward Jeonghan’s closed apartment door. Your mother didn’t know what she was talking about.

[mcchicken-scratches]

Found a couple old fics I forgot existed. I dunno if I should bother with trying to finished them up or just leave them to rot (especially since my writing skills have improved since I wrote them, so I'd had to do a bunch of rewriting to make them satisfactory, or just post that part of them as is.)