#always reward loyalty
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on an unrelated note it's so funny to me that they keep making Heathcliff the defacto "we have an id who's in a position of leadership and we need someone to be their sidekick" sinner, guy who is so "hot dog or hamburger style boss" coded
#it's like. pequod multicrack full-stop kurokumo they when the. loyalty being an intricate part of his character and existence#txt#heathcliff lcb#limbus company#in game#to ramble for a bit bc im such a nerd ab gameplay (gee can you guess my major)#it is So funny to see among a sea of 'struggling' and 'hopeless' EGOs just.#a singular 'dominating' from FS heathcliff skill 3 rolling a casual 45#if no one got me FS heathcliff got meeee#he is honestly my favourite ID to use ignoring bias of. God damn who allowed him to do that much damage and that high rolling#when the. you're rewarded for paying attention and making good choices and punished for not#but the punishment isn't fatal as some other ids who want you to pay attention#Rcorp ishmael you'll always be famous to me lcb baby's first 3 star but Man#FS heathcliff is still decent pure win rating but evading when only s1's is soo there is No downside w/ FS hong lu bc of his melee suppor#off topic but like. I get why they didn't (it'd be broken) but i still think hong lu's no ammo skills should be slash okay like. I get why#but the animation makes you think you know and heathcliff melee support Is slash so--#but like fs heathcliff is sooo guy who just Wins#his biggest downside is in long encounters/waves but. w/ FS hong lu the empowering is so. Yes Hong Lu your skill 2 and 3 Will do a casual#300 extra damage#he's incredibly rewarding to pay attention to and i think that's awesome#adding in mirror dungeons w/ poise gifts or ones like the rusty coin its so. yeah sure every shot casual 200-1500 damage oh you know#guy who is giving me such a skewed sense of what a big number is#full-stop heathcliff you will always be famous to me#and also why is your uptie story kind of--- i am escorted out of the building#i could have thoughts ab them. anyway#infinity mirror dungeon got Hands though what do you Mean some random bloodfiend's counter staggers me. what do you Mean they have 2000 hp.#go my ego spam + heathcliff <- clown who's trying to achievement farm all at once#i Will have 15 rupture 15 charge and 15 tremor gifts when i have. a singular charge id w/ the rest being poise/bleed on my team
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"this is a sport not a fandom" discourse circulating again on twitter like do you want me to pull out my 24 slide powerpoint from 2020 called "fan behavior in pro sports" and talk you through it bc i have before and i'll do it again
#fantasy sports are fanwork by the way#you're just writing canon divergent seasons#buying jerseys and merch is fan behavior btw#i will hear arguments abt âthe kpopification of f1â re:ppl that coddle drivers and want to reward things like âdeservednessâ over results#BUT. what we're not gonna do is act like people having big feelings about sports results is the fault of âteenage girlsâ#all of my coworkers have admitted to crying when their team lost a big event at least once in their lifetime. all 25-35 y/o men.#i felt the same about lando in bahrain as i did when my nba team lost in conference finals#btw when a big name player is traded away from a team under shitty circumstances#EVERYBODY complains about the front office not ârewarding their loyaltyâ#see: karl anthony towns#see: luka doncic#(nba examples are fresh on my mind bc playoffs but i'm sure there are more in other sports)#sports is a BUSINESS but it is a business where the product is PEOPLE WITH FEELINGS#and therefore there's always going to be emotions involved#okay stepping off my soapbox now it's been a mf WEEKEND for things that piss me off about online sports fandoms
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Breathing into a paperbag thinking about the possibility of Elbaf digging the conflict from Water 7 back up again and maybe exploring some long-term repercussions of Luffy and Usoppâs fight that not even they themselves were aware of and and and and and-
LISTEN. the Water 7 Saga absolutely rewired the way I understood the crew and how each member views themselves and the roles they play. And itâs been some time since the Strawhatâs exploration of the New World has allowed them to really take time and consider themselves and each other like that again.
And Elbaf just sounds (MUAH) like such a wonderful opportunity to do exactly that, it sounds perfect, primarily in the way it ties all the way back to the Strawhatâs early days on the Grand Line. And when you look at the presence of the Giant Pirates in Little Garden and Enies Lobby, what they share is that both times the Giants Served the purpose mirroring the conflicts between the crewmates and highlighting the importance of loyalty and comradery. Shit writes itself. Come on Elbaf donât let me down. Come on Usopp I know you can hit us with another world shattering arc just take the stage love.
#remember when Dorry and Brogyâs story served to introduce us to Zoro and Sanjiâs rivalry#by showing that even though they fight constantly theyd break if they lost each other and deep down they are still crew#and now we have an unresolved death pact looming over the two of them#Remember when Kashi and Oimo taught Usopp that the cost of loyalty can b great and harrowing but it is beyond rewarding for the right perso#just when he was doubting wether he was truly strong enough to stand at Luffyâs side or at all capable of the bravery needed to be a pirate#and now heâs going to have to look these friends and allies in the eye and be the one to show them all that his decision to remain-#-a Strawhat has brought him#when asked to look at his journey so far and ask himself if heâs truly reached his ideals will he be able to smile wide and say yes?#or will the seeds of doubt and anxiety start planting themselves in his heart again?#hell you know what would be rlly cool for me. If throughout this arc EVERYONE began losing themselves to their own doubts BUT him#Like okay okay thats an exaggeration but do you get what I mean?#Usopp staying calm and collecting and making tough calls and getting back up again all without realizing-#-that heâs truly acting like the Captain he always wanted to be#thatd be so good. god i hope this upcoming arc hits harder than crack#one piece#elbaf#usopp#monkey d. luffy#strawhat pirates
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I think I still like cats more than dogs but boy. do I enjoy a good dog-coded character. even better if they have a master they serve
#just thinking thoughts...#KUDO!!! WOOF WOOF WOOF#sorry. I read a fic yesterday that was like. for hattori this is just his life. but for conan? it's all just a pit stop.#when shinichi gets his body back he'll return to his REAL life.#so hattori will just sit and wait like a good dog. no rewards for his loyalty... the way it's always been.#INSANE#and of course. sagisawa. LOLLLL#and OBVIOUSLY miguel but we all knew that already#I don't think sagisawa's even that dog-like. I think he's more like... a snake. or a fox. but Fox is already a fox so...#anyways. I think if karasuma was just a slight bit less empathetic and just a tad more machiavellan. he could turn him into a dog.#and miguel is literally a dog in canon I'm pretty sure. LIke I'm pretty sure man.#the rooftop convo with robin#that went more or less like#I don't get big things like justice or ideals... I only understand simple things. like rewards.#so use me as you will. just remember to reward me.#MAYBE THE WORD DOG DIDN'T COME UP. BUT IT STILL DID. YOU KNOW ?#*OK I JUST CHECKED. DOGS AND COLLARS WERE BOTH MENTIONED IN THE CONVO AFTER ALL!!! SILLY DOGGY <3.#bark bark doggie....
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I'm playing Crime Scene Cleaner and all that floor scrubbing got me thinking... Content: gender neutral reader, morally grey reader, organized crime, violence, murder
Yandere!Crime Boss who needs someone to clean up his frequent messes, and you happen to be in desperate need of money. He will reward your hard work handsomely; all he demands in return is loyalty. You quickly learn what it means to stray from his orders, carrying body after body, and mopping never-ending pools of blood.
Well now, you're not half bad, are you? He didn't think you had it in you. A regular, law-fearing citizen, now disposing of leftover bullets and hiding condemning evidence from the cops.
"What am I supposed to do with all these drugs and stacks of bills?" you ask over the burner phone, staring at the lavish table you'd stumbled upon during your latest cleaning service.
"Consider it your tip", he responds with a chuckle, somewhat taken aback by your honesty.
What a ridiculous twist. He finds himself trusting you more than his own men. You always do your job flawlessly, no questions asked, and for whatever reason you never fail to provide a full report of your findings. He couldn't care less if you left with a suitcase full of cash. He doesn't need the leftover scraps from some dealer who tried to turn on him. Bold of you to assume he even noticed anything of value in the first place. He merely drove over, pulled the trigger, and returned to his usual business.
"Did you bring enough body bags-" he begins, but his voice is cut short.
This must be the first time he's actually seen you in person. You're no longer a string of sentences over the phone. He certainly didnât expect you to be this cute.
"Uh huh, it's all here", you state casually, holding a bucket of water. You gaze at the gory scene and whistle. "It's going to be a long night", you add.
"Do you have anything to do afterwards?", he asks with an unfamiliar hesitancy, swiftly recovering himself. "Actually, it doesn't matter. Finish here, and I'll pick you up once you're done."
"What? Am I in trouble?" you ask, eyes widening in fear.
"Dumbass! I'm inviting you out. It's my treat", he huffs with indignation.
What an absurd implication. Why would he have any reason to threaten you? Surely you must know by now that as long as you behave, you've nothing to worry about.
You won't regret your obedience. He'll make sure of it.
[Part 2] | [More yandere stories]
#yandere#yandere x reader#yandere x darling#yandere x you#yandere imagines#yandere scenarios#male yandere#yandere crime boss
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Mars observation â€ïžâđ„


* FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY, ENJOY*
( nevermind i am a TWD fan đ)
đ„Mars in Capricorn tends to be so serious about their goals that they can come off as a little work-obsessed, but what most people donât realize is that they have a soft spot for organizing little surprises for the people they care about. Whether itâs a secret birthday party or planning a perfectly timed gift, theyâll go to great lengths to ensure everything goes smoothly and theyâll do it with military-like precision. They love being the quiet mastermind behind the scenes, and the joy of seeing someoneâs reaction is their reward.
đ„Instead of the traditional, action packed Mars energy, Mars in Pisces will often take a dream driven approach to goals. They might âdaydreamâ their way through challenges, letting their imagination be the guide. Theyâll spend a lot of time visualizing what they want, sometimes way too much and this often leads them to unexpected, highly creative solutions. If you're ever stuck on something, theyâre probably the person who will suggest a completely off-the-wall idea that turns out to be genius in a roundabout way!
đ„Mars in Virgoâs love of efficiency and perfectionism can make them amazing cooks (even if they don't always admit it). They might not go for extravagant recipes, but give them a few ingredients, and theyâll whip up something incredibly delicious and perfectly balanced. Theyâll even have a system for how to chop vegetables just right. Itâs like a cooking ritual for them every step is part of the process. And theyâll never follow a recipe without tweaking it to make it just a little more efficient.
đ„Mars in Scorpio is famous for their ability to keep secrets not just their own, but others as well. They have a natural talent for holding on to information, and theyâre not the type to spill the beans unless it serves a higher purpose. This ability to stay quiet even when they know things is both enchanting and slightly mysterious. But sometimes, they might hold on to information a bit too tightly, keeping their own emotions and thoughts hidden to the point where it can be a bit... overwhelming for others to navigate.
đ„Mars in Libra is gentle, polite, and often hesitant to create waves, but once theyâve decided to defend someone they care about, their protective side comes out in full force. Theyâll step in without hesitation, but theyâll do it with such grace and subtlety that it wonât even look like theyâre âdefendingâ anyone at all. Itâs like watching a charming diplomat put their foot down without ever raising their voice. Youâll only realize how strong their loyalty is when the situation is already over, and youâre left in awe of how they handled it.
đ„Mars in Aries has a strong sense of personal initiative, and they love jumping in to help other especially when they feel their âhelpâ is needed. But,they often step in without being asked, sometimes even when itâs not necessary. Theyâll see a person struggling with something and swoop in to save the day, even if that person had everything under control. Itâs like the classic âIâve got thisâ attitude...
đ„Mars in Taurus doesnât like being pushed or rushed into making decisions or taking action. If you try to hurry them up, they will likely dig in their heels. But If someone tells them they canât do something or that theyâre taking too long, Mars in Taurus will often react by going into overdrive to prove the naysayer wrong. Itâs like they didnât want to be rushed, but now that youâve challenged them, theyâre going to do it perfectly and on their own time. Itâs not about speed ,itâs about showing they can do it right.
đ„Mars in Leo is all about action, but sometimes beneath all that bold confidence is a soft, sentimental side. They may not always show it, but they do care deeply about the people and things they love. Theyâll take pride in making memories, creating meaningful traditions, and doing grand gestures for those they care about. It might not always be obvious, but they have a way of expressing love through actions that can melt your heart.
đ„Mars in Gemini doesnât usually want to feel too tied down or dependent, even in close relationships. While they enjoy companionship and conversations, they often need their independence and space to explore other ideas or activities. This doesnât mean they arenât invested, it just means their expression of affection may be more cerebral and less physical or emotional.
đ„People often misunderstand Mars in Cancer as fragile or overly sensitive, but in truth, their emotional depth gives them lasting resilience. They know how to protect themselves emotionally and are often much more psychologically tough than they appear. They may retreat into their shells to recharge, but they bounce back with an inner strength that is built on emotional wisdom and a deep understanding of what it means to nurture and care for others.
đ„Mars in Sagittarius has a natural skepticism about traditional authority and systems, and they may challenge ideas that feel too rigid or dogmatic. This can sometimes make them seem rebellious or contrary, as they want to explore ideas and beliefs outside the mainstream. While they are driven by a quest for truth, they can often appear dismissive of conventional wisdom, favoring instead a more personal, adventurous approach to discovering what works for them.
đ„Mars in Aquarius often comes across as cool, aloof, or even emotionally detached, but this doesnât mean they lack deep feelings. Instead, their emotional depths are often hidden beneath their rational, progressive exterior. They feel deeply for social issues, injustices, and global problems, but they may not express these feelings in a conventional emotional way.

đ„ Mars in 1°/13°/ 25° people might find themselves competing with authority figures rather than working alongside them. They donât like being told what to do and can have a hard time submitting to control.
đ„ Mars in 2°/ 14°/ 26° people might not make a lot of noise about their intentions, but their actions speak louder than words. They influence people not by being outspoken, but through their reliability, consistency, and practicality.
đ„ Mars in 3°/15°/ 27° people can be incredibly sharp-tongued or enjoy debating especially when they know they can outwit someone. They donât need to raise their voice or make physical moves to assert dominance. Their words and ideas are their primary weapons, and they can often win a battle simply by being the most articulate or quick-witted in the room.
đ„ Mars in 4°/16°/28° people often avoids direct confrontation. They might be more comfortable retreating into their shell or expressing their frustrations through passive means rather than engaging in a full-blown argument.
đ„ Mars in 5°/17°/29° people often seek validation and admiration, they often push themselves to be the best at what they do, which can lead them to overwork or overexert themselves in their pursuits. If their output does not meet their high standards, they may feel disappointed or frustrated, even if others donât see the imperfections.
đ„ Mars in 6°/ 18° people excels in roles that involve mentorship or coaching. Their ability to break down complex tasks into manageable steps and their focus on efficiency makes them great at guiding others toward success. They may not be the loudest voice in the room, but their leadership comes through their quiet, behind the scenes contributions that ensure everything runs smoothly.
đ„ Mars in 7°/19° people deep fear of disharmony or discord in relationships. This can sometimes lead them to avoid direct confrontation or suppress their own needs to keep the peace. Bro don't do it, just communicate otherwise you will feel burnt out at some point.
đ„ Mars in 8°/ 20° people may struggle with vulnerability. They are often fearful of exposing their true selves to others, and instead, they prefer to remain in a position of power and control. They only reveal certain parts of themselves to a select few.
đ„ Mars in 9°/21° people often has a constant feeling of restlessness, which can lead them to never feel truly satisfied with where they are. They are often driven by the idea that there is always more to discover, both in the world and in themselves. This can create a sense of unsettledness, even when things are going well in their lives, as they crave new experiences and growth opportunities.
đ„ Mars in 10°/ 22° people dislike waste, especially when it comes to their time and resources. Mars in Capricorn individuals are extremely efficient, preferring to channel their energy only into pursuits that have long-term value. This is why they are often great at building sustainable and lasting success.
đ„ Mars in 11°/23° people tends to reject routine, as their focus is always on new possibilities and big ideas. They can become irritated or disengaged by repetitive or mundane tasks. If they find themselves stuck in a routine, they may feel a lack of motivation or creativity, and may even sabotage their own efforts to avoid falling into boredom.
đ„when Mars in 12°/ 24° people feel emotionally invested in a cause or a person, they may find it hard to draw clear lines between their personal energy and the other personâs needs. This blurring of boundaries can lead to emotional overwhelm, especially if their drive and energy are used for causes that donât allow for personal fulfillment or rest.

Thanks for reading.....
- PIKO đ
#astro community#astrology#astro observations#astro notes#astro placements#astrocafecoffee#vedic astrology#astrology chart#love astrology#astrology community#astrology content#astro content#astro chart#astrocore#vedic astro observations#vedic astro notes#vedic chart#astrology birth chart#birth chart#natal chart
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How women influenced by different planets act in one-on-one relationships
Platonic, familial and/or romantic. Based on my own observations and traditional associationsđ planetary influence is present when a native has one or more nakshatras ruled by that planet in their big three(moon, ascendant, sun). If that or any other planet is conjunct sun, moon or ascendant in the chart, then it also adds its influence, but to a much lesser degree. I'd advise to read for your moon, but as always, use discernment and and do not take this information at face value.
Sun women
Krittika, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha
The women ruled by the Sun are often seen as confident, self-possesed, bright, expressive and measured.
The Sun is well-known to be a masculine planet, that does not make sun-ruled women any less worthy in their femininity.
Sun women might be surrounded by a lot of male energy in younger years. It could have been positive or negative but all in all, they're familiar and quite comfortable with it. I don't mean they were plagued by admirers, I moreso mean they had a father figure, uncles, brothers/male cousins(usually older), male friends around them. I might be wrong but I've seen this so much in real life and in art. If that's not the case, then they can fit in and hold their own in a group of men. It's true that they're not phased by trying to be more masculine themselves(like jupiter women do sometimes) or to completely lean into traditional femininity(like moon women). They usually get love and support from men that have doubted them at first.
That leaves sun girls with an abundance of masculine energy absorbed in themselves. In one-on-one relationships they enjoy a level of independence but they value loyalty immensely. They build relationships on certain rules that come from their personal values. They look for a partner in crime and an understanding confidante more than anything else.
That's why saturn-ruled people are best for them, along with other sun-ruled individuals. Ruled by the planet of dedication and longevity, Saturn dominants understand their detachment and fixed nature, and provide the cold, hard structure for their self-expression.
Their energy is not for abuse though. They are more vulnerable and sensitive than most realize. As they are women influenced by a very masculine planet, they might feel like they're giving too much sometimes, like they're being taken for granted. As Saturn is the planet that never takes anything for granted and works for its rewards, it is not going to discard Sun's warm and "life-giving" nature. Moreover, it is going to appreciate it, respect it and try to keep up with it as best as it can. Saturn's cool and careful nature is soothing to Sun women, making them feel safe to lean into their individuality with more confidence while prividing the essential balance for a full existence.
Moon women
Rohini, Hasta, Shravana
Moon women have a simplicity about them. Traditionally a feminine planet, moon is considered to be a soft, smooth and nurturing influence.
Moon women are easy to recognize. Moon is probably the most dependant planet. They are passive in their demeanor and easily absorb influence. They often have a group of people around them, if not a group, then at least or not two, just because. That can be explained by moon's receptive but also giving nature, that gives back the smoothed, mixed essence of what it has recieved that is easily digestible. But they don't have that energy within them. They can be very accomodating while not initiating anything at all. If they do initiate, it's something similar to what the other person has initiated.
So moon thrives on dependancy. They might enjoy groups, because that way their passivity and receptivity is not held against them, and they might feel like they contribute more that way. In one-on-one relationships, they are very easy and simple, but might become stressed and on edge. Moon rules masses and the subconcious, so they need an energetically abundant planet that does not mind being drained.
Moon is, in its essence, is vampiric, so they like Sun people. They might be quite comfortable around Jupiter people, and sometimes, with Venus people(the Shravana- Purva Ashadha pairing works particularly well).
Mercury women
Ashlesha, Jyeshta, Revati
Mercury is the planet of integration and manipulation, and women ruled by it are often multi-faceted, containing the potential for adapting and the willingness to to often do so.
Mercury can be described as the "hermaphrodite" sometimes, especially Revati nakshatra. Due to this highly analytical and adaptible nature, mercury women have the ability to morph themselves into different roles, depending on who they are interacting with. Their feminine energy is based on receiving and then skillfully using whatever is given to it. Mercury is the planet that is quite different in all three of its nakshatra stages. Ashlesha, Jyeshta and Revati all have different feminine qualities, due to the three stages that they wrap up being different from each other. Venus nakshatras are different from each other too, but to a lesser degree. What all mercury nakshatras do have in common is sensitivity and skill. They change and adapt to various envirmonments, and their resourcefulness is seemingly limitless.
In one-on-one relationships they need people who can handle that "manipulative" and "nervous" nature. All yoni consorts of mercury nakshatras(Punarvasu, Anuradha, Bharani) have a theme of passivity, they all want and need that "manipulative" energy. Similarly, Mercury women themselves can thrive with people who are energetically stable/abundant but want to move and adapt. Since Mercury women have a need for stimulation and variety, they maintain relationships with people who they don't find boring AND can provide loyalty. There is no single planetary energy that is generally compatible with Mercury people, but Venus and Mercury are traditionally friends, and Venus also heals Mercury. The best example of this is Revati and Bharani(elephant yonis), but other combinations can be compatible too(except Ashlesha and Purva Phalguni, due to them being enemy yonis).
Venus women
Bharani, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha
Venus_ the planet of beauty, sensuality and love is a well-known feminine force that is almost synonymous with the word.
Venus women are, before anything, choosy and exclusive. Their taste is very specific and particular, and whatever is "theirs", is theirs completely. Despite the outward serenity and composure, their internal nature is very fierce and even ruthless. That discriminating nature extends to everything in their life, where they have to be clear about the dividing lines of everything that they deem worthy, and everything else that they don't. There is also an inner drive to attain what they want/need/desire/love.
Their views on one-on-one relationships are unique, and they have very high standards, along with an attentive and giving nature. A lot of those relationships might have left them dissapointed. They seek a balanced give and take in any 1-1 bond. They might even blame themselves for not choosing correctly, since they're already very careful. They mainly want loyalty and support. As always, those relationships have to fulfill their personal desires. Someone considerate, attentive, and skilled is best for them.
There is no single planet type that will fulfill all three Venus nakshatras and most of their natives, but generally, Mercury people have what it takes to impress and keep them. They share a discriminating nature, but while Venus women are energetically abundant, loving and often passive(on 1-1), Mercury is actively "manipulative" and morphing into whatever Venus desires. The best version of this is Bharani and Revati(elephant yonis). Purva Phalguni feels best with Magha(rat yonis) and most likely will not get along with Mercurial Ashlesha(enemy cat yoni). Purva Ashadha is best with Shravana(vanar yonis). All Venusian lunar mansions are best with their uniquely preffered nakshatras. Besides them, they might form friendships with Ketu, Sun, Jupiter or Saturn nakshatras (with the exlusion of Purva Ashadha- Krittika/Pushya, Bharani-P.Bhadrapada and Purva Phalguni-Punarvasu pairs).
Mars women
Mrigashira, Chitra, Dhanishta
Mars_ the warrior planet that grants protection has been a symbol of masculinity since ancient times. That coorelation, although undeniable, does not exactly encompass the whole essence of that force, especially while considering women influenced by it.
Mars rules the energetic output_ how we spend our energy and life force. In many ways, Mars women, being the passive/feminine vessels for that triggering energy, are expressive and engaging. But unlike Mercury, that expression is geared towards the physical body. Unlike Venus, they do not have any inner discriminatory preferences that might make them that choosy. Their expression is very outward and shown on the surface, so while they can be confrontational or agitating with how they behave, they do it for protection, because that it their only mechanism of doing so.
Their heated but inwardly quite gentle nature can make them susceptible to unnecessary drainage. That's why they're another planet type that needs a giving person in 1-1 relationships. With them, that person has to not only give, but have a true consideration of their sensitivity.
Jupiter people are famously best for these women. Jupiter natives can give their excess energy to them and ensure that their vulnerabilities are not abused. The two latter Mars nakshatras both have Jupiter nakshatras as yoni consorts and Mrigashira's yoni consort is Rohini_ a fixed but soft-natured nakshatra.
Jupiter women
Punarvasu, Vishakha, Purva Bhadrapada
Women ruled by the great benefic, the planet of greatness, plenty and godhood can be big personalities. Jupiter has seemingly infinite energy that wants to give without end, and often, they do.
Jupiter women have a very enthusiastic, almost aggressive niceness about them. They might have been surrounded and influenced by male energy since their early life like Sun women, but their true feminine power comes from being open while giving and receiving, especially when around individuals who they think need their "help" the most.
Jupiter women are the one planet type that feel the best in groups, even moreso than lunar women, and unlike them, since Jupiter wants to give to all, they might feel very uncomfortable in 1-1 relationships. That being said, they're not exactly opposed to the idea of it.
They will feel best with heated and draining planets, especially Mars. Mars can take Jupiter's abundant energy and use it to build and protect. They're famously a good pair, but other planet types can be just as compatible with Jupiter. Ketu people also have a desire to take Jupiter's energy but unlike Mars, they won't drain it to use it outwardly, instead, they'll absorb the energy completely and integrate it into their spiritual essence. The exception would be Punarvasu(Cat yoni) and Magha(Rat yoni), because of enmity between yoni animals.
Besides them, Punarvasu nakshatra in particular will get along with Ashleshas, a Mercury nakshatra, due to them being yoni consorts (cat yonis).
Saturn women
Pushya, Anuradha, Uttara Bhadrapada
The cold planet of control and restraint is a passive but tough and unbreakable force. Saturn women find their femininity in stillness and silent, but resilient passivity.
Their strength is tested and it gains more layers through time. This kind of energy might become impossible to intimidate, so many might feel that Saturn women are never phased by life in general. More reactive or moldable people might distance themselves from them, even though on paper Saturn women are easy to like.
They find too much flux and chaos unbearable. Saturn's femininity is all about limiting and crystalizing whatever it receives, so the more stable that energy, the better Saturn women might manage in binding it, even though they can restrain and control any type of energy, no matter how messy.
Saturn ruled women might have dealt with a harsh, limiting, authoritative feminine energy in their younger years. They have learned how to manage themselves in various complicated situations. What they seek in 1-1 relationships is trust and loyalty, not too unlike Sun women. Saturn people are best with Sun people. Sun's warm influence will give their structure a heart and a "purpose". Sun is the planet that seeks out the cold, restraining influence of Saturn that matches its own stability and self-possession.
Since these women are the feminine variation of Saturnian energy, they might be extremely passive and unwilling to start anything themselves, but after they have something to hold onto, they can become actively bossy.
The similarly cold but also adaptable and changeable nature of Mercury might also be an easy and natural match for Saturn women. This pairing might be best in platonic or familial relationships, but the Anuradha-Jyeshta pair(rabbit yonis) is perfect in romantic couples too.
Rahu women
Ardra, Swati, Shatabhisha.
The north node of the moon, the dragon's/serpent's head is a shadow planet and only one half of the opposition that makes up the destiny of a person. The nodes are dependant on each other, and both of them are dependant on the moon. Even this fact gives them a very different kind of quality and essence. So, women ruled by them are a distinctive and very draining group of force.
Rahu women are the personifications of the illusion. For them it is easy to see and identify, to box and to define and label. They are adaptable, responsive, cerebral. There is a certain numb neutrality about them. They are very aware of and immersed in the material world. They can often become bored or overwhelmed by it. It is not unknown that Rahu ruled individuals might be prone to nervousness and anxiety.
Rahu women are easily susceptible to all kinds of influences, just because they absorb and then project everything around them. They can adopt behaviors from other people without noticing, but unlike Moon women(who also do this) they do not give anything back to anyone in particular, they just take it into their illusion and show it to everyone.
That is why they can be quite comfortable within groups. With personal, 1-1 relationships, difficulties can arise. They need a very particular kind of person that can handle their tense and sometimes chaotic nature and can direct their "hyper" essence towards something stable.
Ketu is the other half of Rahu and the only planet that can calm it down. The immovable and hot nature of its opposite shadow planet can help Rahu get out of the head stop its often actively paranoid behavior. Ketu can provide the spiritual substance for Rahu's material manifestations and can match its cold, active and outwardly discharging energy with its own heated, passive and absorbing essence. Obviously, the two pairs of them are yoni consorts, with Ardra(dog yoni) and Shatabhisha(Horse yoni) having Mula and Ashwini as yoni consorts, respectively. Swati can also easily get along with Ketu people, but Ashwini(enemy yoni) might be the exception. For Swati, the best match is its own yoni consort(buffalo yoni)_ Hasta, a very earthy nakshatra.
Besides Ketu, Rahu people can be very drawn to Sun people. Mythologically, Rahu always seeks to eclipse the Sun_ another discharging and active planet, the one that it wants to imitate. If, for example, a Rahu person also has a Ketu influence, due to already having that Rahu-Ketu balance, they might prefer Sun individuals who emanate that warm light from within themselves. In platonic relationships, Rahu people might find kinship with Jupiter individuals with whom they share an adaptible and "airy" nature, but can give their abundant energy to draining and discharing Rahu.
Ketu women
Ashwini, Magha, Mula
The other half of the dragon, the tail/body of the serpent, the absorbing shadow that rules over the past of the person. Also a shadow planet that drains and depletes, Ketu is the "conquerer" that establishes the very essence of a person or a thing. It is where an individual can find their true power, but also where there is a potential for great danger.
Ketu women are a very raw example of femininity. Their basic nature and behavior is the representation of femininity in possibly its simplest light. They absorb everything around them and instead of doing anything at all, they integrate it into their internal selves. Their power is their passivity. Their energy resembles a black hole_ a seemingly endless void that never seems to be satisfied.
They too have a numbness in them, but unlike Rahu, Ketu women might become overwhelmed with their own stagnant and heavy energy, struggling to properly express or define what they are, feel and know. Rahu can become confused from too much information, Ketu can become confused from a lack of it. In the end, they both might feel like they are missing whatever the other is/has. There is also a blindness to both of them, where each sees only their opposite side. But Ketu knows what it knows, and unlike Rahu, it does have stability. The danger with them is stubbornness, the inability to be moved by the outside.
Ultimately, Rahu people are the best match for them. Ketu women can be overly passive* and unresponsive in most 1-1 relationships. They can "hide" and assimilate better in groups but with just one another person they can become extremely disinterested, if the other is not on par with them. Rahu can break its stagnancy and help Ketu women to push their energy outwards.
Besides Rahu individuals, Ketu women might be compatible with Jupiter people, since they have an abundance of excess energy that can give to Ketu's hungry and absorbing nature. Ketu also heals Jupiter. Another dynamic that is possibly compatible for them is with Mars-ruled individuals, due to Mars and Ketu being similar in nature, but this might work best in platonic relationships.
*the passivity of Ketu is not displayed in an obvious way, at least, not all the time. By passivity I meant that it's very hard for them look outside of what they know and have decided. Their behavior might actually look very expressive and reactive, especially Ashwini's and Mula's. Ketu is the conqueror because it simply goes and acts without thinking. It's pure instinct. What it lacks though is the rational mind and awareness. In real life natives, this can manifest as willful or unintentional "ignorance", or simply intense self-focus that does not really allow outside input. With Ashwini, getting their way is a matter of protection, existence and survival, and their "ignorance" is the most unintentional out of all Ketu nakshatras. With Magha, it's about their sense of self-worth and influence. With Mula, it's about their core beliefs and an establishment of the ultimate truth. I think Ashwinis are mostly unintentional, Maghas don't even care to even look at that, and Mulas are aware of their "ignorance" but recognize the necessity of self-focus for their own basic sanity.
#vedic astrology observations#vedic tumblr#vedic#vedic astro observations#vedic astrology#vedic astro notes#vedic chart#astrology#planets#sun#moon#venus#mercury#mars#saturn#jupiter#rahu#ketu#nakshatras#sidereal astrology#astrology tumblr#astrology observations#astroblr#astrology blog#venusian women
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What loyalty gets you
Pairing: Na Baek-jin x female reader x Geum Seong-je

Summary: After a brutal fight, Baek-jin rewards Seong-jeâs loyalty by offering him the one thing heâs always wantedâhis girlâfor one night only.
Warnings: explicit sexual content, voyeurism, praise and degradation, power dynamics, possessiveness, jealousy, mentions of violence, mild emotional manipulation.
You swab gently at the gash on Baek-jinâs cheekbone, heart heavy with worry even as he sits still under your touch. The dim lamp in the corner of the apartment casts a low, golden glow over the cramped living room, illuminating the dried blood on his skin and the fresh bruises blooming along his jaw. Itâs well past midnight by now, and the silence is thickâbroken only by the quiet hiss of your breath and the occasional drip of antiseptic onto cotton. Each time you dab at his wound, his dark eyes stay trained on your face, unreadable but calm, as if your presence alone numbs the sting. You can feel the tension coiled in his muscles from the fight, see it in the rigid line of his shoulders, yet he softens just enough to let you tend to him. In this moment, heâs not the Unionâs fearsome leader, heâs simply your Baek-jin, hurt and exhausted, leaning subtly into your careful touch.
Across the room, Seong-je lingers by the wall, watching in silence. Youâre keenly aware of his presenceâhis heavy breaths still evening out from the adrenaline, the scrape of his shoe on the floor as he shifts his weight. He hasnât said a word since the three of you staggered into the apartment after the brawl. He insisted that Baek-jin take the only armchair while you fetched the first-aid kit, and heâs been standing guard nearby as if the fight might burst through the door after you. You steal a glance at him from the corner of your eye. Heâs got a split lip and a darkening bruise under one eye; blood mats a portion of his dark hair to his temple. But he seems oblivious to his own injuries. Instead, his gaze is fixed on you and your lover with an intensity that makes your skin prickle with heat.
You know that look. That lookâhungry, almost predatory, yet reined-in by deference. He isnât even trying to hide it at this point; his eyes follow the movement of your hands as you tilt Baek-jinâs chin to dab at a cut on his lip. You catch the faintest twitch in his jaw, the way his battered hands clench and unclench at his sides. In the quiet, you can nearly hear how his breathing deepens whenever your body leans closer to your man, as if heâs imagining himself in his place, receiving your gentle care. It sends a subtle thrill through youâa mix of power and excitement that pools low in your belly.
It wasnât always this way. There was a time he barely met your eyes at all, treating you with a polite distance as âBaek-jinâs girl.â But somewhere along the line, things changed.
âž»
You remember the first time you caught Seong-je staring at you like he wanted youâtruly wanted you. It was a few months ago, on another long night much like this one. Baek-jin had called a small gathering of his most trusted at a secluded rooftop to strategize union business. You had accompanied him, as you often do, lingering at his side while he delegated tasks in his cool, measured tone. The summer air was sweltering, humidity sticking your blouse to your back. You recall fanning yourself with a file and noticing him leaning against the ledge, eyes fixed not on his leader as usual, but on you.
At first, you thought you were mistaken. Seong-je was known for his brutality in fights and his unwavering loyalty, not for openly ogling womenâcertainly not his bossâs girlfriend. But that evening, in the haze of neon city lights, his gaze had wandered. When Baek-jin shrugged off his school blazer and rolled up his sleeves mid-discussion, you stepped forward instinctively to take the discarded jacket from his hands. It was a simple, familiar gesture. He rewarded you with a small nod of thanks, and you couldnât help a fond smile in return. Thatâs when you felt it: a prickling awareness along your spine. Seong-jeâs eyes were on you, dark and intent.
You glanced over and caught him squarely in the act. He didnât look away. For a heartbeat, he held your gaze, and the raw yearning in his expression made your breath catch. It was as if the mask had slipped from his face. His eyes dipped, almost of their own will, tracing the curve of that smile still on your lips, then lower to the line of your throat where a sheen of sweat clung, then lower stillâto the light swell of your breasts beneath your thin summer blouse. The air felt charged, heavy between you. A slow, hot flush crept up your neck at being looked at like thatâlike you were something to devour. And oddly, you didnât feel offended. If anything, you were intrigued, heart thumping faster with an excitement you pretended not to recognize.
Then Baek-jin spoke again, pulling everyoneâs attention back, and Seong-je finally tore his gaze away, face hardening back into impassivity. But you had seen the crack in his armor, however brief. That night, as you and your boyfriend walked home, you found yourself replaying his expression in your mindâthe dark heat in his eyes, the way his lips had parted slightly as he watched you. You wondered if Baek-jin had noticed it too.
He had.
Later that same night, curled up in his bed, you mustered the courage to mention it. âI think your right hand was staring at me earlier,â you murmured. Your head rested on his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart.
His fingers paused their soothing stroke through your hair for just a moment. âMm,â he acknowledged noncommittally. But you heard a hint of something in that soundâamusement, perhaps. As if he wasnât surprised.
You lifted your chin to study his face in the dark. âYou noticed?â
His arm around your bare waist tightened subtly, possessively. âHard not to,â he replied, voice low. A sardonic half-smile curved his lips. âHe looked like a dog eyeing a steak right off my plate.â
A startled laugh bubbled from you at his analogy. It was crude, but not wrong. You expected him to be angry, or at least annoyed at his friendâs lapse in discipline. But instead, he just shook his head, a soft snort leaving him. âI canât exactly blame him.â With that, he rolled over swiftly and pinned you beneath him, stealing your breath with a sudden, fierce kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes gleamed with a mix of pride and hunger. âYouâre exquisite,â he murmured, thumb brushing over your kiss-swollen bottom lip. âAny man with a pulse would look. Seong-jeâs just particularly bad at hiding it.â
Heat flared in your cheeks. You arched a brow in playful challenge. âAnd you donât mind? Should I start buttoning my blouses up to the neck around him?â
Baek-jinâs answering grin was sharp. âNo. Let him look.â He lowered his head, teeth grazing your jaw as he growled, âHe can look all he wants, as long as he knows you belong to me.â The claim in his voice sent a thrill through you. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders and surrendered to the possessive press of his body. That night, he took you rougher than usual, spurred on, perhaps, by the memory of his right-hand manâs persistent stare. And to your secret delight, at one point he actually mentioned Seong-je. As he drove into you, hand in your hair, he hissed against your ear, âThis what he was fantasizing about? Seeing you like this? Too bad for himââ His fingers tightened on your hips, ââyouâre mine.â
From then on, it became a private gameâone you and your boyfriend played without ever explicitly planning it. If Seong-je was going to silently yearn, then you would give him something to yearn for. At first it was little things: youâd wear a skirt that was just a touch shorter on days you knew he would be around, or casually apply lip balm during meetings, noting how his gaze darted to the shine on your lips. You werenât bare enough to be disrespectfulâjust enough to make his eyes linger and his throat bob as he swallowed hard. The real kicker was that Baek-jin encouraged it in his own subtle ways. Heâd smirk knowingly when he caught the other man staring, or drape an arm over your shoulder in front of him, fingers idly playing with the ends of your hairâflaunting what Seong-je couldnât have. It was all done under the guise of normalcy, but each shared glance between you and him carried the electric crackle of conspiracy. And each time you saw his composure slipâjust for a split second, a flash of desire quickly masked by a blank faceâyou felt a heady rush of power⊠and, yes, arousal.
Once, you even made him blush. It had been raining and the three of you ducked into Baek-jinâs car. Soaked to the bone, you complained about the cold and he immediately offered you his jacket. In the back seat, pressed between the two men, you shed your wet blouse right then and there to shrug into Baek-jinâs dry jacket. It wasnât meant to be a showâat least not entirelyâbut out of the corner of your eye you saw Seong-jeâs neck snap rigidly forward, his ears turning red as he fixed his stare on the dashboard. You could practically feel the heat radiating off him when your bare shoulder brushed his arm in the cramped space. Later, when you recounted in a whisper how poor Seong-je had gone mute and red as a beet, your lover had laughed under his breath. He traced his fingers along the curve of your shoulder and murmured, âMaybe I should really give him something to blush about next time.â The mischievous gleam in his eyes left you speechlessâand aching for him.
At the time, you thought it was just dirty talk, a little fantasy fodder for the two of you to spice things up. The idea that Baek-jin would ever share you for real seemed far-fetched. He was possessive to the core; even the thought of another man kissing you would normally have him seething. But with Seong-je, it was different. Seong-je was loyal, practically a trained attack dog at Baek-jinâs command. Perhaps thatâs why he never saw him as a threat, even as he noticed the way his eyes devoured you. In his mind, you suspected, Seong-je would never dare betray him or cross that line without permission. And he was rightâ the boy never so much as uttered a flirtation your way. He kept his yearning on a tight leash, thinking no one could see. But you both saw. And in the privacy of your love, you and Baek-jin toyed with that knowledge mercilessly.
âž»
Now here you are, months later, with that very tension thrumming in the air, stronger than ever. As you finish taping a bandage over your loverâs cheek, you chance another look at Seong-je. Heâs standing rigid in his corner, one shoulder braced against the wall, his hands now shoved into the pockets of his blood-stained school uniform pants. The cut on his lip has dribbled a thin line of crimson down his chin, but he doesnât seem to notice or care. Heâs too busy watching the delicate way you cradle Baek-jinâs face as you tend to him. Thereâs open longing thereâraw and undisguised in this unguarded moment. Perhaps the exhaustion from the fight has lowered his defenses. Or perhaps he thinks neither of you can see him in the low light. Either way, his desire is plain as day to you.
And Baek-jin certainly notices too. A soft hum escapes his throat, drawing your focus. Heâs been following your gaze; as you set aside the bloodied cotton, you see the hint of a smirk tug at his lips. His eyes flick past you toward his friend. Assessing. Even injured and tired, his mind is always working, plotting. Youâve learned to recognize that calculating spark in his expressionâand itâs there now. He reaches up, capturing your wrist lightly before you can withdraw completely.
âYou missed a spot,â he says, voice low and gentle. He guides your hand back to his mouth, to the cut on his lip. Obediently, you dab the last bit of dried blood from the corner of his mouth. His gaze remains locked on yours, but you know this performance is as much for Seong-jeâs benefit as anything. Sure enough, from the corner of your eye you see Seong-je shift, taking half a step forward as if on impulse, maybe to offer help. He stops himself short. His hands jerk out of his pockets, then freeze at his sides, fingers flexing helplessly. The poor guy looks like he doesnât know what to do with himselfâtorn between duty and the ache drawing him toward you.
A sliver of compassion twists in your chest. He really gave everything tonight. The fight had been brutalâan ambush by a pack of some thugs intent on cornering Baek-jin. You remember the chaos: the flash of knives in the alley, the thunder of fists; your man and Seong-je back to back as dozens of them swarmed. Outnumbered, the two of them still fought like hell, protecting each other with near-suicidal resolve. If Seong-je hadnât tackled that one guy who lunged at him with a steel pipe, his ribs might be shattered now⊠or worse. He took that blow instead, and many more. Heâd bleed himself dry for Baek-jinâs sakeâthat much has always been clear.
You chew your lip, regarding Seong-jeâs wounds again. The adrenaline of battle has long faded, and now he looks just tired and hurt, a man sagging on his feet. Under the smear of blood and dirt, his sharp features are drawn in fatigue. He catches you looking and quickly averts his eyes, as if embarrassed to be caught in weakness or in desire, youâre not sure which. Sympathy wins over your teasing impulses; you canât in good conscience ignore him.
Gently, you extricate your wrist from Baek-jinâs hold and rise from your crouch at his feet. âStay still, Jin,â you murmur to your boyfriendâusing the tender nickname youâd never utter around others. Only Seong-je is here, and heâs family enough. âIâll get you some water in a second.â
He tilts his head curiously as you stand. He doesnât protest, simply leaning back in the armchair and watching as you cross the small space to where Seong-je stands.
He straightens up the instant you approach, eyes widening slightly. âYou should sit,â you tell him softly. You nod toward the edge of the low coffee table. âLet me take a look at you.â
âIâm fine,â Seong-je rasps, his voice rough from hours of shouting and fighting. Up close, you can see the fine tremor in his arms from the comedown of adrenaline. His knuckles are split and raw, his white dress shirt spattered with bloodâsome his, some not. Stubborn as always, he insists, âItâs nothing. You donât have toââ
âSit,â you repeat firmly, placing a gentle hand on his forearm. His muscles tense under your touch, as if your fingertips sear him through the blood-soaked sleeve. For a second, he looks over your shoulder, toward Baek-jin, as if seeking permission. When Baek-jin gives a slight nod, he finally relents. He lowers himself onto the wooden table, wincing as he bends his bruised midsection.
âGood,â you say, offering an encouraging smile. You reach for the clean cloth in your hand, wet with antiseptic, and hold it up. âThis might sting.â
His dark eyes flick to the cloth and then to your face. He swallows. âIâve had worse,â he manages, attempting nonchalance. Yet when you step between his knees to get a better angle, he inhales sharply. You can tell itâs not pain that causes the reactionâitâs you, standing so close that your knees nearly brush against his thighs.
With a steadying breath, you take his chin in your free hand. His stubble scrapes your palm; he hasnât had the chance to shave since yesterday. Tilting his face up towards the light, you inspect the damage. The cut on his bottom lip isnât deep, but itâs still bleeding sluggishly. A purplish bruise is already swelling along his strong jawline. You gently dab at the blood on his lip, and he hisses softly through his teeth.
âSorry,â you whisper.
He shakes his head minutely. âIâm okay.â But his voice comes out strained. His gaze darts upward, meeting yours. The air between you feels charged again, that familiar crackle intensifying with each brush of your hand. You clean the cut as best you can, conscious of how his breath is fanning warm across your wrist. Heâs so close now; you can see a tiny faded scar across the bridge of his nose, catch the subtle scent of smoke and sweat clinging to him from the fight. His eyes are fixed on you unwaveringly, pupils dark and dilated.
You realize then that your positions have shifted the power dynamic, even if just for this moment. Here you are, standing over the gangâs most notorious enforcer, coaxing obedience out of him with a mere touch and a word, where others only get curt compliance through Baek-jinâs orders. His knees bracket your legsâwhether intentionally or not, youâre effectively between his thighs. The proximity sends a flush through you. One of your hands rests on his chin, thumb just shy of his mouth; the other dabs at his lip carefully, slowly. Itâs intimate, unmistakably so.
From behind you, you hear the soft creak of the armchair. Baek-jin shifts, but he doesnât interfere. He simply watches. You can almost feel his gaze burning into your back. Is he amused? Protective? Or something else entirely? Your pulse quickens at the thought that this is turning him onâthat seeing you tend to Seong-je, seeing him practically tremble under your gentle care, might be affecting Baek-jin in the same dark, twisted way it affects you.
âThere,â you murmur as you finish cleaning his lip. Itâs puffy and red, but at least no longer smeared with blood. Your hand lingers, fingertips unconsciously tracing the sharp line of his jaw where purple bruises bloom. âYou should really put some ice on this.â
He doesnât reply. Heâs too busy searching your face, eyes roaming over every detail as if committing this rare closeness to memory. His chest rises and falls in shallow, controlled breaths. When your thumb sweeps lightly over his uninjured upper lipâwiping a last smudge of bloodâhis eyelids flutter, a tiny falter in composure that makes your stomach flip.
He wants to kiss you. The realization slams into you as powerfully as any fist from earlier tonight. You can see it in the way his gaze drops to your mouth, the way his tongue darts out just briefly to wet his own cracked lips. The tension between you spirals taut. For a crazy moment, you wonder what heâd do if you leaned in, closed that scant distance. Would he give in and press his lips to yours, damn the consequences? Would he finally take something for himself?
Your heart thuds. The mere thought of his mouth on yours sends a forbidden jolt of heat down your spine. You recall all the times you caught him staring, all the nights you imaginedâprivately, guiltilyâwhat it would feel like if those intense eyes of his ever burned into you without restraint. Despite knowing itâs wrong, despite your unwavering devotion to your boyfriend , a part of you does wonder how Seong-jeâs touch would feel. Youâve wondered ever since the teasing game began, and each time Baek-jin growled in your ear that you were his, some secret corner of your mind envisioned Seong-je roughly pinning you in some dark alcove, acting out those lustful looks in heated, stolen moments.
It was all fantasy, though. You never truly intended to cross that line. Neither did heâhe wouldnât dare betray Baek-jin. And Baek-jin⊠well, Baek-jin would never allow it.
Or so you thought.
You clear your throat, stepping back slightly to regain some equilibrium. His hands hover as if he had the urge to hold your hips when you were close but resisted. Now he settles for curling them into fists on his own thighs. âThank you,â he mumbles, voice huskier than before.
You offer a small smile, trying to lighten the charged atmosphere. âWe take care of each other, right?â
At that, his eyes flick past you again, toward where Baek-jin sits. âOf course,â he says quietly. âOf course we do.â Thereâs a world of promise in that simple statement. For both of you he would bleed himself dry, as he proved tonight.
Baek-jinâs voice cuts through the quiet, smooth and authoritative. âSeong-je.â
You both turn to look at him. He is leaning forward in the armchair now, forearms braced on his knees despite what must be sore ribs. His tie has been loosened, the first few buttons of his shirt undone where you had checked his chest for bruises. Even battered and bandaged, he exudes control. His eyes flick from Seong-je to you and back. In them, you detect not anger, but a contemplative darkness.
âYou did well tonight,â he says. Itâs simple praise, but in his world, such words are rare and precious. Seong-je straightens further, spine snapping taut with pride at his leaderâs commendation. âYou protected me without hesitation. Fought better than any ten of those bastards combined.â His lips curl faintly. âI owe you my life, perhaps.â
Seong-je immediately shakes his head, winces at the pain that movement causes, and bows it instead. âJust doing my job,â he grunts. âYou know Iâd do anything for you.â Thereâs a tremor of emotion in his voiceâearnest, absolute truth. You believe it; your man believes it. Everyone knows his loyalty is ironclad.
Baek-jin regards his right-hand man for a long moment, fingers steepled as if considering something weighty. Then his gaze slides to you. A chill of anticipation skates over your skin at the look in his eyes. Itâs the look of a man who has made a decisionâa dangerous, irrevocable decision.
The next words that fall from his lips make your heart skip into your throat.
âI reward loyalty,â he says softly, leaning back. âAnd youâve been nothing if not loyal.â He tilts his head, appraising the younger man before him. âYouâve bled for me. Time and again.â Thereâs an undercurrent to his tone that makes your pulse thrum. He is building up to something. You hold your breath without meaning to.
Seong-je frowns slightly, clearly unsure how to respond. âSeeing you safe is reward enough,â he says carefully. He means it tooâever the dutiful soldier.
Baek-jin chucklesâa low, dark sound. âHumility⊠fine. But I insist.â He pushes himself up from the armchair with a grunt, gingerly testing his balance. Immediately, you step forward on instinct to help, but he holds a hand up. He stands under his own power, if a bit stiffly. Even banged up, his presence looms large in the small living room. Heâs only a couple of inches taller than the other man, but in this moment he seems to tower over both of you as he takes a few measured steps forward.
Your heart is hammering wildly now. Because you think you know what heâs about to say. You can sense it in the charged way his eyes meet yoursâa silent question, a warning, and a promise all at once.
He stops in front of you and Seong-je. You realize youâre still standing between Seong-jeâs knees, and he is facing the two of you like an appraising general. A mirthless smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. âWhat kind of leader would I be,â he says lightly, âif I didnât repay such devotion?â
Seong-je opens his mouth to protest that no reward is needed, but Baek-jin raises one finger, silencing him. The authoritative gesture makes him snap his jaw shut, obedient out of reflex.
A hot, nervous flush crawls over your skin. Is this really happening? Is he truly going to do what your gut says he will?
His hand reaches out and settles on your shoulder. His palm is warm and firm; the touch makes you realize how tense youâve become. He gives the slightest squeeze, a reassurance and a claim all at once. Then, meeting your eyes, he speaks calmly, as if proposing something as simple as a change in plans. âTonight⊠Iâm giving you something special.â His gaze drifts from your face to Seong-jeâs wide, disbelieving eyes. âYouâve been watching her for a long time, havenât you?â
The air in the room evaporates. All the color drains from Seong-jeâs face even as his cheeks flare red. âB-Baek-jinââ he starts, the stutter of panic and guilt obvious. His eyes dart to you in horror, then back to Baek-jin. âIâ I neverââ
âDonât lie.â His voice is dangerously soft. He slides his hand from your shoulder to the back of your neck, fingers threading gently into your hair. The gesture is protective, possessive. You feel a faint shiver go through you at the show of dominance. âWeâve both seen it. The way you look at my girl.â
Seong-jeâs throat works. He looks as though he might leap up and throw himself at Baek-jinâs feet in apology. âRespectfully.â he croaks, anguish threading through his tone. âI would never lay a hand on herââ
Baek-jin hushes him with a simple sound, a âtskâ of his tongue. âI know you wouldnât. Youâre far too loyal for that,â he says. Then, in a shocking turn, his lips curl into a true smirk. âBut you forgetâI donât blame you for wanting to.â His hand on your neck slides around to cup your jaw, tilting your face upward. He leans in and presses a slow, deliberate kiss to your forehead. The tenderness of it makes your chest ache even through the storm of anxiety and excitement swirling inside you.
He pulls back slightly, his face now close to yours. âBeautiful, isnât she?â he murmurs, almost in reverence, though the words are directed at Seong-je. You realize your entire body is trembling subtly beneath Baek-jinâs touch. Every nerve stands on edge.
Behind you, Seong-je releases a shaky breath. He doesnât answer out loud, but the answer is plain in his eyes. Heâs staring at you as if transfixed, the conflict on his face starkâguilt warring with desire and disbelief.
Your loverâs thumb strokes your cheek absently. You turn your head just enough to meet his gaze, silently asking if heâs truly sure about this. In response, he gives you an almost imperceptible nod. His eyes search yours, checkingâalways checkingâthat you trust him, that youâre okay. And God help you, you are. You are terrified and thrilled all at once. Your heart feels like it might burst out of your chest, but underneath the nerves, molten arousal is already unfurling. This is a line you never thought youâd cross in reality, but here you are, toes on the precipice, with Baek-jin himself offering to push you over.
His voice drops, thick with authority and something darker. âTonight,â he declares, âSeong-je gets what heâs been craving.â He holds your chin firmly, eyes blazing into yours. âTonight, Iâm letting him have you.â
A soft gasp escapes your lips. Even knowing it was coming, hearing it said so bluntly is electrifying. You feel Seong-je jerk behind you as if struck. The silence that follows is thunderous.
He is first to break it, stumbling over his words. âBaek-jin⊠what are youâ?â He looks at you, frantic and unsure, then back at his boss as if searching for any sign that this is a cruel joke or a test of loyalty.
He merely raises an eyebrow. âYou heard me.â His tone is calm but carries an edge that says he wonât repeat himself. âOne night. Just this once.â His fingers flex against your jaw, tilting your face slightly from side to side as if showing you off. âIâm feeling generous.â
Seong-jeâs breathing has gone ragged. You glance at him over your shoulder; heâs shaking his head, eyes wide with disbelief andâyesâpure hunger that heâs struggling mightily to contain. âI canât,â he rasps. Yet even as he says it, you notice his gaze dropping to your lips, your neck, the slope of your shoulders, like he canât help himself. âSheâs yours, Iâ I canâtâŠâ
Baek-jin lets out a low laugh. âYou can,â he corrects, almost cheerfully. âBecause Iâm telling you to. Consider it a reward. For everything.â His smile fades, replaced by a fierce seriousness. âTake it, or are you refusing my gift?â Thereâs a subtle challenge there.
âNo, Iââ Seong-je swallows hard. âI would never refuse you. I just⊠are you really ok with this?â His voice cracks on the last word, sounding so painfully vulnerable that your heart squeezes. Heâs caught between loyalty and longing, afraid one will betray the other.
Baek-jinâs expression softens a fraction. He slides his hand from your jaw to the back of your neck again, then down along your spine in a slow caress. You unconsciously arch into his touch, your body responding to him automatically. He noticesâof course he doesâand his eyes darken with approval. He speaks, addressing Seong-je but also reminding you both who orchestrates this. âItâs okay. Iâm in control.â A ghost of a smirk crosses his face. âI know exactly what Iâm doing.â
Your knees nearly buckle at his words. Iâm in control. Yes, he isâand paradoxically, thatâs what makes you feel safe enough to go through with this insanity. You trust him with your life, with your heart, with your body. If he says this is okay, if he wants this to happen, then you will obey. Not just for him, but because deep down, beyond the layers of taboo and nerves, you want this too. The truth crashes over you with sudden clarity: you want to feel Seong-jeâs touch, want to taste the forbidden desire youâve stoked for months. And you want to see Baek-jinâs face as it happens, to know that heâs watching every second of it, owning it, owning you, even in this.
Heat floods between your thighs at the thought. You bite your lower lip, eyes flicking from your partner to his right hand. Both men are looking at you nowâtheir attention combined is almost overwhelming, like standing in the center of a raging fire.
Baek-jinâs hand comes up to your chin, gently freeing your captured lip from your teeth. He runs his thumb over it, soothing the bite mark. âBaby,â he says softly, only for you to hear. The pet name sends warmth through you; he rarely uses such endearments, and when he does, it melts you. âDo you want this?â He searches your face intently. Even now, even holding all the power, he seeks your true consent.
Your throat is dry. Desire wars with anxiety inside you, but desire is winning by a landslide. You could say noâhe would drop the idea in an instant if you showed the slightest discomfort. But you donât want to say no. The aching dampness in your panties is evidence enough of your arousal, and the thrill pounding through your veins is unlike anything youâve ever felt. Still, your voice comes out a trembling whisper, laced with honesty, âI⊠I do. If youâre sure, Jin, Iâ I want it.â
He exhales, and you see something flicker in his eyesâa mix of pride and arousal and possessive satisfaction at your answer. âGood girl,â he praises quietly, the words rolling over you like honey. You nearly preen at the affirmation, cheeks heating.
Seong-je makes a strained noise, somewhere between a groan and a sigh, as if hearing Baek-jin call you that affected him too. You glance back at him; his face is flushed, chest rising and falling in quick pants now. He looks at you with open wonder, as though he canât believe you agreed, canât believe this is about to be reality.
Baek-jin steps aside, creating a space directly in front of Seong-jeâand guiding you subtly into it. You turn fully to face him, your knees nearly brushing his again. Heâs still seated on the low table, which positions you standing between his spread legs. The height is perfectâyour hips level with his. Your heart leaps into your throat as you truly take in his expression: he looks like a man on the verge of madness, holding himself rigid to keep from reaching for you. Thereâs fear in his eyesâfear that one wrong move might shatter Baek-jinâs permission and end this before it starts.
Behind you, Baek-jinâs presence is a reassuring shadow. He hasnât moved far; heâs just off to your right, close enough that you feel the heat radiating from him. Youâre hyper-aware of every detailâthe soft swish of his slacks as he shifts, the ragged way Seong-je exhales, the roaring in your own ears.
âRelaxâ Baek-jin says, almost kindly. He places a firm hand on your lower back, nudging you another half-step toward the trembling man on the table. âThis is what you wanted, isnât it?â
Seong-jeâs eyes flick up to yours, tortured. âI neverâ I didnât mean toââ
âShh.â You surprise even yourself by raising your hand to press a finger against Seong-jeâs lips, halting his faltering apology. His lips are warm and slightly chapped under your touch. He freezes, shocked into silence, eyes widening at your boldness. Itâs the first time youâve willingly touched his mouthâsomething deeply intimate about that realization sends a thrill along your arm. âWe know,â you whisper, giving him a gentle smile. âWe know.â That simple assurance holds volumes: we know how you feel, weâre okay with it, youâre not doing anything wrong now.
Slowly, you remove your finger from his lips. Seong-jeâs breathing is shallow and fast; you can see the rapid thrum of his pulse at his throat. His hands hover uncertainly in the air near your hips, as if he wants to grab you but doesnât dare.
You decide to make the first move. After all, Baek-jinâs given the green light, and he clearly needs another push to believe this isnât some cruel mirage. You reach down and take one of his hands in yours. He inhales sharply, eyes darting to where your fingers entwine with his. His hand is larger, rough and calloused from countless fights, but it trembles in your gentler grasp.
âItâs okay,â you murmur, guiding his hand upward. You flatten his palm against your waist, just above the curve of your hip. His fingers twitch, then curl, gingerly holding you. Even through the fabric of your thin tank top, his touch feels hot, searing into your skin. âYou can touch me.â The permission leaves your lips in a sultry murmur you barely recognize as your own voice.
He makes a strangled sound deep in his throat. He splays his other hand at your opposite hip, still moving as if any second he expects to be rebuked. When no rebuke comesâwhen instead Baek-jin hums in approval behind youâhis grip firms, pulling you closer between his thighs.
The first press of his body against yours is exhilarating in its newness. Where Baek-jin is all coiled restraint and calculated strength, Seong-je feels like a barely contained stormâevery muscle in him taut, trembling with need heâs denied himself for so long. Heâs warm and solid and alive against you.
Your hands find his broad shoulders to steady yourself. âHi,â you manage to tease breathlessly, a faint smile on your lips to ease his nerves.
A short, incredulous huff of laughter escapes him. âHi,â he echoes, voice wrecked and disbelieving. His eyes roam your face like heâs seeing you clearly for the first time.
Baek-jinâs hand on your back slides up to the nape of your neck, fingers curling possessively around it. You feel him step closer, his chest almost touching your shoulder. When he speaks, his voice is liquid fire: commanding and dark. âKiss her, Seong-je.â
He doesnât need to be told twice. The last thread of hesitation snaps. He surges forward, capturing your lips with a needy groan, years of pent-up desire pouring into that first kiss.
The force of it sends you stumbling back a half-step, but Baek-jinâs hand on your neck holds you steady, even as Seong-jeâs hands now grip your hips tight. He kisses you like heâs starving, mouth hot and desperate against yours. The coppery tang of his cut lip mixes with the taste of himâsmoke and spearmint gum and something distinctly him that makes your head spin. You gasp against his mouth at the sheer intensity. His tongue skims your lower lip, seeking entrance, and you part for him, a soft moan escaping as he delves inside, licking deep with a fervor that leaves you dizzy.
Itâs not a refined kiss by any meansâheâs clumsy with urgency, teeth clicking against yours briefly, breath raggedâbut itâs so damned genuine it makes your knees weak. You feel his reverence in the way one of his hands slides up your back, bunching your shirt as if to pull you closer still, and in the almost broken whimper that vibrates in his throat when you tentatively suck on his tongue in welcome.
Behind you, Baek-jinâs fingers tighten on your neck. âThatâs itâŠâ he murmurs approvingly, his breath ghosting hot at your ear. He hasnât touched him, but his presence is all around, an unseen puppeteer guiding the strings of this encounter. âHow does she taste, Seong-je?â
He tears his mouth from yours at the question, panting. His eyes flutter open, glazed with lust. For a moment he looks embarrassed, but then, locking eyes with Baek-jin over your shoulder, he answers in a voice hoarse with honesty, âSweet⊠fuck, she tastes so sweet.â His fingers flex at your waist as if emphasizing the point.
A dark, pleased chuckle rumbles from Baek-jin. âGood.â He brushes your hair aside and, to your surprise, presses a kiss just below your ear. You shiver, caught between two flames nowâthe heat of Seong-jeâs desire and the simmering dominance of your boyfriend at your back. âDonât be gentle,â he purrs, though who heâs talking to, youâre not certain. Maybe both of you. âShe likes it rough.â
A whimper escapes your throat at his lewd encouragement. He isnât wrongâyou do like it rough, a fact Baek-jin has taken full advantage of in your personal life. But hearing him tell Seong-je that, essentially giving Seong-je permission to unleash himself on you, sends a bolt of raw lust straight between your legs.
Seong-jeâs eyes search yours at Baek-jinâs words, as if seeking confirmation. His face is still mere inches from yours, his lips red and slick from your kiss. You nod almost imperceptibly, voice trembling but sure: âItâs okay. I⊠I wonât break.â A teasing glint sparks in your eye despite the shakiness in your limbs. âDonât hold back.â
Something primal flashes across his face. He grits his teeth, and for a beat you think he might actually cry from sheer relief and desire. Instead, with a low growl, he swoops in to claim your mouth againâthis time even more ferocious. You gasp into the kiss as he stands from the table in one fluid motion, arms banding around you. The sudden movement startles you, but Jinâs hand stays firm on your nape, keeping you grounded.
Now Seong-je is towering over you, one arm around your lower back pressing you flush to his front. You feel every hard line of him: the ridges of muscle beneath his battered shirt, the pounding of his heart, and lowerâoh. Oh. A thick bulge straining against his pants, grinding against your stomach as he pulls you into his hips. The realization of how aroused he is sends a hot flood of moisture to your core. You canât help it; you roll your body subtly against that hardness, a tiny mewl muffled by his lips.
âFuck,â Seong-je hisses at the friction. He breaks the kiss, breathing hard. Without warning, he ducks his head and latches his mouth onto your neck, sucking and biting with an unrestrained hunger. You cry out, head tipping back. Pain sparks where he nips at your sensitive skin, but it only fuels your desire. He soothes each bite with his tongue, then moves to mark a new spot, clearly intent on leaving evidence of himself on you.
Your eyes flutter open in the haze of sensationâand meet Baek-jinâs steady gaze inches away. He hasnât moved from your side. If anything, heâs drawn closer. Youâre effectively sandwiched: Seong-jeâs broad form in front of you, Baek-jinâs solid presence to your right, curving slightly behind. His hand on your neck tilts your head his way, exposing more of your throat to Seong-jeâs ravenous mouth. But Baek-jinâs eyes remain locked on yours. They are dark, nearly black with arousal. Yet beneath that, you see a flicker of emotionâcontrol, possession, and a flicker of pride. Pride at how you moan, at how Seong-je groans against your skin as he feasts on you.
Itâs all too much and not enough. Your hands claw at Seong-jeâs back, needing more contact. âJinâŠâ you whimper, not even sure what youâre pleading forâmaybe reassurance, maybe more.
Baek-jinâs response is to claim your mouth in a sudden, searing kiss of his own. You gasp into his lips, not having expected it. He hasnât kissed you since this began; the shock of it nowâright in front of Seong-jeâsends your mind reeling. This kiss is different from Seong-jeâs. Baek-jinâs lips move against yours with confidence and ownership, his tongue sweeping in to tangle with yours in a show of dominance. He tastes of copper from the cut on his lip and the familiar bitterness of black coffee that he downed earlier after the fight, and underlying it all, the taste that is uniquely himâintoxicating and addictive. You whine softly as he steals your breath, his fingers tightening in your hair.
Seong-jeâs mouth stills at your neck as he realizes whatâs happening. He pulls back just enough to watch. You can feel his panting breaths against the damp marks he left on your skin. The low curse he utters tells you heâs witnessing Baek-jin kiss you, and itâs turning him on. Baek-jin keeps kissing you deeply, almost as if reminding both of you that he is the one you belong toâthis kiss a stark contrast to the ones you just shared with Seong-je. It leaves you lightheaded and clinging to the front of Baek-jinâs shirt with one hand to stay upright.
When Baek-jin finally pulls away, your lips are tingling, swollen from the combined force of two menâs passion. He runs a thumb over your bottom lip, smirking as it comes away red with the smear of your lipstick and a tiny dot of blood from where either Seong-je or he bit you. âBeautiful,â he murmurs, possessive satisfaction dripping from the word.
Seong-jeâs hands flex on your waist, drawing your attention back to him. His eyes are half-lidded, fixated on your mouth and the string of saliva that briefly still connects you and Baek-jin. He looks utterly wrecked by the sight: the two people he most obsessively devotes himself to, kissing each other fiercely right in front of him. And now that same mouthâyour mouthâis turned back toward him, inviting him to claim it once more.
You give him a sultry, reassuring look. The desire blazing in his expression has burned away any last hesitance. When you lean toward him, he meets you eagerly, crashing his lips to yours with a groan. The kiss is hungry and messy; he sucks on your tongue, then your lower lip, as if trying to consume you. A growl vibrates deep in his chest, the vibration transferring to you and making you whimper.
While he devours your mouth, Baek-jinâs hands start to wander. He slides the hand at your nape down along your spine, over the curve of your ass. With a swift motion, he gathers the fabric of your skirtâoh, when had your skirt ridden up so high? You only notice now that his fingers are skimming the bare skin of your upper thigh. He rucks the skirt up to your waist in the back, exposing your panties to the cool air. Instinctively, you tense, breaking the kiss with Seong-je in a gasp. You glance around in surpriseâsomehow it hadnât fully registered that in all your teasing foreplay, youâre still largely clothed .
Baek-jin looks down at the expanse of your ass now on display and hums appreciatively. âThese are cute,â he remarks, snapping the waistband of your black lace panties against your skin lightly. âBut theyâre in the way.â
Before you can respond, you hear the unmistakable sound of fabric tearing. Your heart stuttersâhe has hooked his fingers into the delicate lace and simply torn your panties apart at the seam with one harsh tug. The shredded remains fall from your hips, fluttering to the floor.
A shocked moan escapes you, both at the sudden exposure and at how blatantly filthy it was for him to rip them off. The slight sting of the elastic snapping against your skin only heightens your arousal. Youâre naked under your skirt now, bare and wet and throbbing.
âFuck,â Seong-je curses, voice thick as he stares down. He canât see everything from the front, but he definitely saw Baek-jin toss aside the torn scrap of lace that was your underwear. The realization that only a thin skirt separates him from your most intimate parts has his eyes turning nearly black with lust.
You instinctively press your thighs together at the sudden exposure, but Baek-jinâs knee nudges between them from behind, forcing them slightly apart. âDonât hide, babe,â he murmurs into your hair. âNot tonight.â
One of Seong-jeâs large hands abandons your waist to slide down, fingers trembling as they brush the front hem of your skirt. Hesitantly, he lifts it, and your breath hitches as you permit him to see. A strangled noise tears from his throat when he realizes just how wet you are. The dim light catches the slick shine on your inner thighs. You flush with embarrassment and excitementâthereâs no hiding how aroused this has made you.
He drags his fingertips up your thigh, tracing through the moisture there in awe. âSheâs⊠soaking,â he reports in a ragged whisper, as if Baek-jin might not believe it without confirmation.
Your boyfriend groans softly behind you. âI can see that.â He slides his hand around your hip, then down between your legs from behind, cupping your sex possessively. Two of his fingers slip between your folds, spreading them. You jolt, a gasp catching in your chest as he deliberately exposes your most sensitive flesh to the cool airâand to Seong-jeâs ravenous eyes. âLook how ready she is for you,â he practically purrs, running his fingers through your slick without mercy. He doesnât enter youâjust glides them back and forth, gathering your arousal and presenting it. âThis all for him, baby?â he asks, nipping lightly at your earlobe.
You choke on a moan as his fingertips circle your clit teasingly. âIâitâs f-for both of you,â you manage to whimper. âI⊠I canât help it.â
Seong-je looks like a man on the verge of losing any shred of sanity. Watching Baek-jin touch you so intimately, hearing the wet sounds of your arousal on his fingersâheâs transfixed. His own hand has moved of its own accord to join Baek-jinâs. Tentatively, Seong-je brushes the backs of his fingers over your bared mound, feeling the slickness there. When he makes contact with your swollen clit, you keen, thighs trembling.
Baek-jin withdraws his hand, leaving you to Seong-jeâs touch. âGo on,â he urges lowly. âMake her feel good. Sheâs yours to please tonight.â
If his words are meant to encourage Seong-je, they succeed. Seong-je slides off the table to kneel on the floor in front of you in one swift movement, ignoring any pain it causes his battered body. Suddenly, you have the Unionâs most feared member on his knees, face level with your hipsâand the sight is utterly intoxicating to all three of you.
You can hardly breathe as Seong-jeâs hands firmly grip the backs of your thighs, just below your ass. He nudges your legs further apart, eyes flicking upward to meet yours briefly. His pupils are blown, face flushed; he looks almost worshipful and utterly depraved at once. âTell me if⊠if I go too far,â he says, voice rough and trembling with restraint. Itâs clear heâs on the brink of devouring you alive.
You bite your lip and nod, sliding a hand into his hair without realizing. His hair is damp with sweat, silky between your fingers. You tug gently, and the last thread of his resolve snaps.
With a guttural groan, he buries his face between your thighs. His broad shoulders push your legs further open as he presses in. The first hot swipe of his tongue against your cunt has you crying out, hips jerking forward. He licks a broad stripe through your folds, tasting you properly, and the feral noise he makes against your flesh sends vibrations thrumming into you.
âOh Godââ you gasp, hand tightening in his hair. The sensation is overwhelming; heâs licking and sucking with no hesitation now, as though he canât get enough of your taste. He closes his lips around your clit and suckles, and your knees nearly give out. Only his strong grip on your thighs (and Baek-jinâs steadying arm that quickly circles your waist from behind) keeps you upright.
Baek-jin curses softly near your ear. âThatâs it⊠eat her pussy good.â he encourages filthily. His crude words make you moan louder. His lips find your neck, kissing and nibbling at the marks Seong-je left earlier. All the while, his arm around your middle holds you firm, like an anchor in this tempest of sensation.
Seong-je devours you like a starved man. He alternates between plunging his tongue into your entranceâfucking you with it with sloppy eagernessâand sucking your sensitive clit between his lips until youâre seeing stars. The room echoes with the wet, obscene sounds of him lapping at you, slurping up every drop of your arousal as if itâs ambrosia.
Heat coils and tightens low in your belly at a breakneck pace. You realize with a thrill of disbelief that youâre hurtling toward orgasm embarrassingly fastâhis raw enthusiasm and skill (however unpolished) are undoing you. Itâs never been this quick for you normally, but the cocktail of circumstancesâhis mouth, Baek-jinâs voice and hands, the sheer depravity of being sharedâhas your body hurtling to the edge.
Baek-jin seems to notice, because he releases your neck and moves that hand down to join the fray. His fingers find your clit just as Seong-jeâs tongue spears deep inside you, and he rubs in tight, knowing circles, effectively teaming up to destroy you. âGo on, baby,â he murmurs in your ear. âCome on his tongue. Let him taste how sweet it is when you cum.â
His words push you over the precipice. With a wail, you shatter. Pleasure detonates, radiating out from your core in violent, ecstatic waves. Your thighs clamp around Seong-jeâs head as you buck against his face, your hand fisting in his hair. He growls in delight and holds you in place, latching onto your clit to prolong your climax, licking and sucking frantically as you writhe.
White-hot ecstasy surges through every nerve. Your vision whites out; youâd collapse completely if not for Baek-jin supporting you against him. You hear him whispering praiseââThatâs my girl⊠so fucking gorgeous when you cumâŠââhis voice thick with arousal. And beneath that, Seong-jeâs labored groans as he drinks you down, evidently in heaven as you soak his mouth and chin with your release.
It feels endless and all too brief at once. Gradually, the convulsions subside. You slump back against Baek-jinâs chest, panting, little aftershocks making your muscles twitch. Seong-je finally eases up, releasing your oversensitive flesh from his relentless mouth. He rests his forehead against your lower belly, still holding your trembling thighs. Both of you are catching your breath.
Heâs panting as hard as if he ran miles, and when he pulls back enough for you to see him, the sight is downright debauched: his face is glistening with your arousal, lips swollen and chin wet. His eyes are heavy-lidded, utterly drunk on you. âSo goodâŠâ he mumbles hoarsely, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to your inner thigh, almost in gratitude. âYou taste⊠fuck.â
His unabashed reverence sends a flush of pleasure through you. Instinctually, you stroke his hair, brushing damp strands back from his forehead. He leans into your touch, closing his eyes briefly as if starved for that affection.
âEnjoying yourself?â Baek-jin asks, voice laced with dark humor. You feel the hard evidence of his own enjoyment pressing against your backâheâs rock solid beneath his slacks. The fact that he got fully hard just from orchestrating this, from watching his friend ravish you, makes you clench with renewed need.
Seong-je tilts his head up to look at Baek-jin. Some of the nervousness returns to his expression as he wipes the back of his hand across his wet mouth. âYes, boss,â he says quietly, respectfully, though his voice still shakes with lingering hunger. âThank you⊠that wasâŠâ He trails off, apparently unable to find words for what that meant to him.
Baek-jinâs hand pets over your belly, then lower, making you jolt as he cups your still-sensitive sex possessively. âSheâs delicious, isnât she?â he says, almost conversationally, but thereâs an unmistakable pride thereâas if he deserves credit for how good you taste.
Seong-jeâs gaze drops to where Baek-jinâs fingers are now lightly playing through your soaked folds once more. His tongue peeks out to lick his lips, as though he canât get enough of your flavor. âYes,â he admits roughly. âShe is.â The way he says itâalmost reverentlyâmakes you keen in embarrassment and arousal.
His chest vibrates with a pleased growl behind you. âStand up, Seong-je,â he orders, a hint of anticipation in his tone. âYouâve earned a bit more than just a taste, havenât you?â
Seong-je obeys instantly. He rises from his knees, wiping his slick chin with the back of his hand. As he stands to full height, youâre suddenly very aware of how imposing he isâbroad shoulders and lean muscle, his chest heaving beneath that open school shirt speckled with blood. Thereâs something wild in his eyes, even as he stands awaiting further instruction. And then thereâs the not-so-small matter of the straining tent at the front of his trousers.
Your eyes drop almost involuntarily, and your breath catches. The outline of his erection presses hard against the dark fabric, looking almost painfully constrained. A rush of heat floods you at the realization that youâre about to feel that inside you.
Your boyfriend follows your gaze and clicks his tongue. âThat looks uncomfortable.â The teasing lilt in his voice makes your cheeks burn. âWhy donât you help him out, darling?â He releases you from his supporting arm and steps aside, allowing you to move freely. âOn your knees,â he adds, a razorâs edge of command under the smooth words.
Your stomach flips at what heâs suggesting. You drop to your knees on the carpet without hesitation, settling in front of Seong-jeâs feet. He sucks in a breath, and his hands flex at his sides as if unsure where to put them. Eye level with his hips now, you reach up with trembling fingers to unbuckle his belt. The metal clasp is sticky with half-dried blood, and it takes a moment to undo with how your own hands are shaking in anticipation.
He looks down at you with astonishment and raw desire. âYou donât have to, doll.â he begins, voice strangled, but Baek-jin cuts him off.
âShe wants to,â Baek-jin drawls, confidence in every syllable. He slides to sit on the edge of the armchair directly to your right, clearly deciding to enjoy the show from a more comfortable position. âDonât you, baby?â
You glance to him. Heâs leaning back, one hand lightly massaging the obvious bulge in his slacks as he watches you and his right hand. The sight of Baek-jin palming himself through his pants while he observes you preparing to suck another manâs cockâat his own command, no lessâmakes you whimper aloud. Your thighs rub together unconsciously. Turning back to Seong-je, you unzip his trousers with a slow, deliberate pull. âI do,â you answer finally, looking up at Seong-je from under your lashes. âI want to taste you.â
Seong-je curses under his breath, hips instinctively canting forward. You tug his pants and underwear down in one go, and his cock springs free, nearly smacking your cheek. You gasp softly, eyes widening at the sight before you. Heâs⊠big. Not that you hadnât expected itâhe is built like a brawler after all, tall and muscularâbut the rigid length in front of you exceeds what youâd guessed from touch alone. Long, thick, curving slightly toward his stomach, flushed dark at the swollen tip and already leaking a bead of moisture. A subtle musky scent hits your nose, masculine and intoxicating.
âHoly shit,â you breathe in awe, your tongue instinctively wetting your lips. You hear Baek-jin chuckle softly at your reaction.
Seong-je looks almost bashful for a split second, as if heâd apologize for his size, but any words die as you reach up and wrap your small hand around the base of his cock. His girth strains your fingers; heâs like heated steel wrapped in velvet. He groans, a deep animalistic sound, as your hand gives a gentle experimental stroke upward. The slick of his precum helps glide your hand, and his cock twitches in your grasp.
âIs it to your liking?â Baek-jin asks, mocking politeness, as if asking about a dish he suggested you try. You turn your head to respond and find his gaze laser-focused on the sight of you kneeling with Seong-jeâs cock in hand. He looks ravenous, lips parted slightly as he breathes a little faster.
In response, you lean forward and swirl your tongue over the bead of precum on Seong-jeâs tip, collecting it into your mouth. Itâs salty, male, not unpleasant. You hum at Baek-jin, âMmm.â Then you flash him a wicked little smirk and say, âDelicious.â
His eyes darken further. âWhat a polite girl,â he muses, voice thick with arousal. âShowing your gratitude so sweetly.â
Seong-je can barely stand still. His hands hover near your head, as if itching to grab your hair but not daring to without permission. âP-pleaseâŠâ he whispers, directing it to either you or your lover or both, youâre not sure. His thighs tremble with the effort not to thrust into your fist.
You decide to put him out of his misery. Maintaining eye contact with Baek-jin for a bold momentâbecause you know it drives him wildâyou finally turn fully to the task and take Seong-jeâs cock into your mouth.
You start slow, wrapping your lips around the sensitive head and sucking gently. The taste of him floods your tongue. He chokes out a broken moan, his hips jerking involuntarily. Encouraged, you bob a little further, taking more of him inch by inch. Your jaw stretches wide to accommodate his girth, but you relish the slight ache. One hand pumps the base that you canât fit yet, and your tongue presses along the underside of his shaft on each forward motion.
âFuck, fuckâŠâ he chants under his breath. Unable to resist, he entangles one hand in your hair, not pushing, just holding on as if to ground himself from the pleasure. His other hand grips the arm of the couch beside him, knuckles white.
Baek-jinâs voice slides over you like silk. âHow does her mouth feel?â
Seong-je groans, eyes squeezed shut as if he might lose control just from the memory of not speaking dirty. âSo warm⊠so fucking good. Soâahâtight and wet.â His breathing is ragged. âBetter than Iâfuckâever imagined.â
A rush of pride courses through you at his babbling. Hollowing your cheeks, you take him deeper, swallowing around his tip as it nudges the back of your throat. He outright curses, his fingers tightening in your hair. Tears prick your eyes from the effort, but you donât let up. You begin a steady rhythm: suck, swirl your tongue around the head, then slide down as far as you can manage before pulling back. Saliva gathers at the corners of your mouth, dripping down to your hand and his shaft, slicking your strokes. The lewd, wet sounds of your slurping fill the room along with his uncontrolled grunts.
âLook at you,â Baek-jin murmurs appreciatively. You flick your eyes up to see him palming himself harder through his pants, clearly restraining his own needs while he watches. âTaking his cock like a good little slut.â The degradation in his tone is deliberate and it makes you whine around Seong-jeâs length, the vibration drawing a strangled cry from above. You love when he talks to you like that, and he knows it. It sends a pulse of arousal straight to your core.
âS-shitâshe is,â Seong-je gasps, echoing Baek-jinâs words without thinking. âSuch a slutty mouth⊠so perfectâŠâ He looks down then, meeting your gaze, his eyes blown wide with lust and adoration. âYour mouth is perfect,â he says more softly, brushing a thumb over your cheek where a tear of effort escaped. âYouâre so fucking beautiful like this.â The raw sincerity in his tone melts you, and you reward him by taking him even deeper, straining your throat until you gag lightly around him.
âChrist!â he snarls, head falling back. âI-Iâm closeââ
âStop.â Baek-jinâs command cuts through the haze immediately. You and Seong-je both react on instinct; you freeze, and he stills his hips, though every muscle in his body is taut and quivering with the need for release.
You slowly, reluctantly ease your mouth off his cock, releasing it with a lewd pop. Youâre panting hard, saliva trailing from your swollen lips to his slick length. He whimpers at the loss of your warmth. His cock is throbbing angry-red, so wet with your spit it gleams. A string of saliva still connects the tip to your lower lip, and you quickly lick it up, which makes his cock twitch again.
He looks wrecked, like he might cry with frustration. âB-Baek-jin,â he pleads, voice wrecked and desperate. âPleaseâŠâ
Baek-jin merely smiles that wolfish smile. âNot yet. I didnât say you could cum, did I?â His tone is almost playful, but holds steel underneath. Seong-je shakes his head, chest heaving, trying to regain control. He still hasnât moved his hand from your hair, as though afraid letting go will mean this all ends.
âAs hard as it is to believe,â Baek-jin continues wryly, âthat was not the main event.â He stands up from the chair now, coming to stand beside you. With gentle but firm pressure on your shoulder, he urges you back to your feet. Your knees are a bit numb from the floor, and you wobble. Baek-jin steadies you, then pulls you flush against his side. âYou did well,â he praises quietly, pressing a kiss to your temple.
Seong-je watches the tender gesture with longing, chest still rising and falling rapidly. His cock juts out from his open pants, slick and quivering, neglected for the moment.
Baek-jin follows your gaze to Seong-jeâs predicament and smirks. âDonât worry. Weâre not done.â He guides you back a step. Then, taking you by the shoulders, he turns you around to face the armchair. In one swift motion, he pushes you forward, bending you over the arm of the padded chair. You gasp, gripping the seat cushion to brace yourself.
Youâre now bent at the waist, your ass facing Seong-je and your upper body supported by the chair. Your skirt, which was already rucked up around your waist, is no hindrance at allâyour bare ass and soaked pussy are presented to the open air.
Baek-jinâs hand caresses down your spine soothingly. âComfortable?â he asks, almost casually. The velvet of the armchair presses against your cheek as you nod. You wiggle your hips a little, silently begging for whatâs next.
Seong-je makes a tortured sound somewhere behind you. âOh, fuck me,â he groans at the sight of you bent over, practically dripping for him. âPlease, Baek-jin⊠Iâ?â
Baek-jin cuts him off with a dark chuckle. âYes, I think itâs time.â He steps aside then, allowing Seong-je a full, unobstructed view of you. âThere you go, Seong-je. Sheâs all yours. One night only.â
You peer over your shoulder, desire making your limbs tremble with anticipation. Seong-je stands a couple feet away, looking almost afraid to approach, as if youâre some mirage that will disappear. His cock is still out, flushed and hard and so ready it almost hurts to look at.
Baek-jin notices his hesitance and adds in a low, warning tone, âThis is what you wanted. Now take it.â A beat, and then, âFuck her.â The vulgar command sends a thrill shooting through you straight to your core.
That does it. He surges forward with a growl, both hands coming to grip your waist from behind. His touch is rough and feverish, fingers digging into your flesh as if to assure himself youâre real. You push back against him instinctively, raising your hips a little higher, presenting yourself for the taking.
âGod, youâre perfect,â Seong-je pants. His hands roam over your ass, squeezing, then sliding down to your soaked center. With one hand, he spreads your lips, groaning at the sight of your cunt clenching on nothing. âSo wet⊠Was this all for me?â He sounds genuinely astonished.
You manage a breathless laugh. âYes, ⊠all for you.â Your voice comes out needy as hell. âPlease, I need you. Inside me.â
âFuck,â he swears softly. One of his fingers dips into your entrance, gliding in easily from how embarrassingly slick you are. He pumps it a few times, and you moan, pushing back, wanting more. He adds a second, stretching you, and the slight burn feels divine. âYouâre so tight,â he rasps, as your walls grip around his fingers. âHow are you this tightâŠ?â
Baek-jinâs voice comes from somewhere to your right, tight with lust. âShe can take it.â Thereâs a hint of a smirk in his tone. âBelieve me, she can take it all.â
Your cheeks burn at the implication, but it only makes you more eager to prove him right. âI can,â you moan, echoing Baek-jinâs words. You twist to glance back at Seong-je. âI want you. Fuck me hard, Seong-je⊠IâI can take it, I promise.â
Whatever shred of control he had been clinging to snaps. He withdraws his fingers abruptly, grabbing your hips in both hands. You feel the hot, blunt tip of his cock prod against your entrance, sliding through your folds to coat itself in your arousal. The sensation makes your breath hitch. Heâs shaking slightly; you can feel the tremor in his grip on you.
Baek-jin steps closer to the chair, wanting the best view. He places a hand on your upper back and presses you down a little more, arching your spine deeper. âKeep your eyes on me, love,â he tells you. You turn your head to the side, meeting his gaze as best you can from your bent position. His face is flushed, hair falling into his eyes. He looks utterly enthralled, chest rising and falling with quick breaths. âThatâs it,â he murmurs. âEyes on me while he fucks you.â
You nod hazily, locking onto Baek-jinâs intense stare. This is the moment youâd all been building to, and your man doesnât want to miss a flicker of your expression.
Behind you, Seong-je lines himself up, the tip pushing insistently at your entrance. âIâm gonna put it in now, okay?â His voice is a shaky whisper, as if asking your permission even now.
âDo it,â you breathe, needing him so badly it hurts. âFuck me, Seong-je.â
With a strained groan, he presses forward, and the thick head of his cock breaches you. Even as wet and prepared as you are, the stretch is intense, bordering on pain. Heâs larger than your body expected, and your walls protest the sudden intrusion with a burn that quickly melts into fierce pleasure.
Your mouth falls open in a silent cry; Baek-jinâs hand on your back soothes gently, but his eyes blaze with excitement at seeing you take Seong-jeâs cock. He inches forward, sinking in slowly, inch by inch. His fingers tremble on your hips, sweat dripping from his brow onto your lower back. âOh, fuckââ he grits out. âSo⊠damn⊠tight.â
You feel every bit of him as he fills you, the pressure incredible. He pauses halfway, chest heaving. âAre you okay?â he manages, voice tight as a bowstring.
You nod frantically, pushing your hips back to encourage him further. âYes⊠more⊠pleaseâŠâ The pain of the stretch has already transformed into a white-hot pleasure that radiates through your abdomen.
With a guttural moan, he thrusts the rest of the way in, bottoming out inside you. You both cry out as his hips smack against your ass. The feeling of fullness is overwhelmingâyou feel like youâre being split in two and yet you crave it desperately. Heâs buried to the hilt, throbbing deep inside you.
âShit!â His shout echoes as he stills, completely embedded. âYouâreâ I canâtâ fuck, youâre squeezing me so much,â he gasps, voice wrecked. You can feel his thighs quivering against yours, the restraint itâs taking him not to cum immediately from the tight heat of your cunt enveloping him.
Your fingers claw at the cushion of the chair as you adjust to his size, nails digging into the fabric. âSo⊠big,â you whimper, the fullness bordering on too much, but deliciously so. Your body flutters around him, trying to accommodate.
Baek-jinâs hand strokes down your hair, gentle in contrast to the feral act. âYouâre doing so well,â he purrs. âTaking all of him. Such a good little slut for us, hm?â
His degrading praise sends a rush of arousal straight to your core, and you clench involuntarily around Seong-je.
âJesus,â he chokes, his fingers flexing on your hips. âC-can I move? Please⊠I canâtââ His voice is strained, pleading.
âYes,â you and Baek-jin say at the same time, though his tone carries the weight of permission. âFuck her,â he reiterates, low and rough.
Seong-je pulls out halfway, the drag of his cock along your slick walls making you both moan, then he thrusts back in, harder this time. The force knocks a grunt from your lungs and shoves the armchair a couple inches forward on the floor. âOhhâ!â you cry out, pleasure and a sweet burn mixing as he sets a tentative rhythm.
He pumps in and out shallowly at first, each movement sending sparks of sensation dancing up your spine. With every thrust, a lewd squelch of your soaked pussy fills the air, evidence of just how absolutely drenched you are for him.
âFaster,â you beg, meeting his next thrust by rocking back. The initial ache has given way to pure bliss, your body craving more. âFuck me harder, Seong-je⊠pleaseâŠâ
Groaning something unintelligible, Seong-je complies. His fingers dig in almost bruisingly and he begins to slam into you in earnest. The pace he sets is brutal and hungryâmonths of pent-up longing poured into every snap of his hips. He drives into you deep and rough, and it feels so damn good you think you might scream.
Your tits bounce against the armchair with each of his thrusts, the coarse fabric rubbing your hardened nipples through your tank top. The chairâs legs screech against the floor from the force of his pounding, but none of you care. Seong-je is panting like an animal, his breath coming in harsh grunts each time he plunges into your welcoming heat. âYou feel⊠unreal,â he growls, voice ragged. âSo fucking perfect on my cockâshitââ
The room echoes with the sharp slaps of skin on skin as he fucks you with abandon. You feel a droplet of sweat run down your temple; heâs working up a sweat too, the effort of restraining himself and pleasuring you making his body gleam.
Your boyfriend hasnât looked away from your face. You hold his gaze as best you can, your own vision blurring with tears of ecstasy. He looks absolutely debauched, one hand rubbing the prominent bulge in his slacks in slow strokes, the other occasionally reaching out to caress your cheek or throat lovingly as youâre railed from behind.
âDoes it feel good, baby?â he asks in a velvety murmur, thumb brushing your bottom lip. âGetting fucked by our loyal dog?â His words are filthy, but the underlying tone is almost affectionate.
âSo goodâahâso fucking good,â you babble, no longer caring what comes out of your mouth. âHeâs so deepââ A sharp thrust steals your words, your eyes rolling back briefly.
He smirks, clearly satisfied by your answer and the wrecked look on your face. âLook at you. You love this, donât you?â His thumb slips into your mouth and you instinctively suck on it, eyes fluttering. âBeing filled by a cock other than mine, while I watch. Such a nasty little thing.â Thereâs a dangerous edge of delight in his voice.
You whimper around his thumb, nodding as tears slip down your cheeks from the intensity of it all. Maybe you never consciously admitted it before, but yesâyou love this. The depravity, the intensity, the way Baek-jinâs presence and Seong-jeâs desperate passion combine to leave you utterly limp with ecstasy. Itâs overwhelming in the best way.
Seong-je changes the angle slightly, hooking one of his hands around the front of your thigh to pull your leg up a bit, opening you even further. The next plunge hits a spot inside you that makes you see stars. You scream, fingers scrambling for purchase on the chair.
âThere, huh?â he pants, having felt your reaction. He pistons his hips, now aiming for that spot with each stroke, and your screams turn to incoherent moans. Your entire body feels like itâs glowing, nerves lit up from head to toe.
Baek-jin withdraws his thumb from your mouth and instead grips your chin, keeping you facing him. âDonât close your eyes,â he orders softly. âI want to see everything.â His own composure is fraying; you can see his chest rising faster, the way heâs pressing down harder on his own erection as he watches his friend pound into you.
You force your heavy lids to stay open, focusing on his face as a grounding point. Itâs utterly eroticâthe contrast of his relatively calm upper body and the frantic movement happening behind you. His eyes flick to something behind you for a moment and his lips curl.
He addresses Seong-je, voice dropping to that commanding register that could make grown men soil themselves. âDonât you dare close your eyes either. Watch her.â
Seong-jeâs growl of affirmation indicates heâs complying. He was likely already watching your body intentlyâwhere youâre joined, the bounce of your ass with each impact, the arch of your back. But at Baek-jinâs command, perhaps he lifts his gaze to your face.
âSheâs so fucking beautiful, isnât she?â He continues, a possessive pride coloring his tone. âLook at her. Look at what you do to her.â
Seong-je lets out a guttural groan in response. âY-yes⊠sheâs⊠ahâamazing.â His pace falters just a half-second, the emotional weight hitting him, but then he recovers and keeps driving into you, albeit with a new layer of reverence amid the roughness.
Your heart twists at his words even as your body is being used for pleasure. Thereâs so much love in what he said, in how heâs orchestrating this not just as a show of power but as a deeply perverse gift he enjoys giving. It makes you love him even more, impossibly.
Between the intense physical stimulation and the emotional high of this whole scenario, you feel another climax swiftly building. Each brutal thrust from Seong-jeâs cock pushes you closer to that edge. Your toes curl against the floor, thighs quaking. The chair arm creaks under your grip.
âAhâIâmââ you sob, eyes locked on Baek-jinâs through a haze of tears. âJin, Iâm gonnaâohââ
His eyes burn into yours. âDo it,â he encourages darkly. âCum for us. Cum on his cock.â His hand slides down to grasp your throat lightly, not cutting off air but making you feel his hold. That small choke of pressure is the final catalyst.
With a wailing moan, you come undone. Your walls clamp around Seong-je like a vise, milking him. You convulse under him, vision whiting out as a tidal wave of ecstasy crashes over you. Itâs even more powerful than the first orgasm, amplified by the feeling of utter fullness and the depravity of the act.
You scream his nameââSeong-je!ââ and a string of incoherent profanities as pleasure wracks you. Your whole body shudders, knees nearly giving out. Hot gushes of fluid flood around his cock as your release splashes out; youâre dimly aware that youâre likely making a mess of both of you, but in the moment it only registers as toe-curling bliss.
âF-Fuck, sheâs cummingâsheâsââ his voice is wild, awed and desperate. Your orgasmic spasms clearly push him to the brink. He fights to keep pumping into you through your climax, but his thrusts turn erratic as your vice-like grip around him triggers his own end.
Baek-jin tightens his hold on your throat just a touch, forcing your eyes open through your overwhelming pleasure. âLook at me,â he commands. You do, your gaze bleary and fervent on his face as tears of pleasure stream down. He nods in satisfaction. âGood girl. Now, Seong-je,â he barks sharply, turning his attention to the man still pistoning into your trembling body. âCum inside her. Now.â
At those words, Seong-je lets out something between a roar and a sob. He slams into you one final time, burying himself as deep as humanly possible. His entire body goes taut and you feel itâthe hot rush of his release flooding your insides. He comes with shuddering, violent intensity, ropes of cum pulsing against your cervix, filling you to the brim. Seong-jeâs fingers dig into your hips almost painfully as he holds you flush against him, as if trying to meld into you.
A guttural groan tears from his throat, seemingly endless, as he empties everything he has into your welcoming heat. You moan at the sensationâthe wet warmth coating your insides, each pulse of his cock like a heartbeat against your sensitive walls. Itâs obscene and utterly satisfying.
Baek-jin watches, chest rising and falling rapidly. His hand slowly releases your throat as Seong-je collapses over your back, spent. âThatâs itâŠâ he says in a low, soothing voice, almost cooing at the both of you. âFill her up. Good job.â
Seong-je is practically whimpering as the last spurts of his orgasm taper off. âT-thank you⊠thank youâŠâ he rasps brokenly, forehead pressed between your shoulder blades, his body trembling with aftershocks. Youâre not even sure if he knows what heâs saying, if heâs thanking Baek-jin or you or some deity of fortuneâmaybe all of the above.
You breathe in ragged gasps, your body limp and utterly wrecked, pinned beneath Seong-je who still hasnât moved. You feel completely at peace in that hazy, blissed-out way, even as your cunt aches from the stretch and your combined juices trickle warm and sticky down your thighs.
The room is silent except for the heavy breathing of all three of you. Finally, Baek-jin breaks the quiet with a gentle clearing of his throat. âSeong-je,â he says, not unkindly.
He stirs as if waking from a dream. He realizes heâs practically draped over you and quickly straightens with a murmured apology. Carefully, he withdraws from you, and all three of you groan softly at the sensationâyour oversensitive walls twitch at the drag, and his softening cock slips free with a lewd wet sound. A gush of his creamy spend immediately follows, spilling out of you and dripping viscously down your inner thighs.
He makes a strangled noise as he sees it. Even Baek-jinâs eyes flare at the sight of your thoroughly fucked pussy leaking with another manâs cum. You flush, instinctively moving to close your legs, but his hand on your ass cheek stops you.
âDonât,â he says. He kneels down slightly behind you to inspect the decadent mess. You can feel his gaze like a physical touch. With one finger, he swipes up a droplet of the fluid thatâs running down your thigh. Between your utterly used state, his dominant care, and your lingering high, you can only whine softly at the sensation.
He chuckles and thenâto both yours and Seong-jeâs astonishmentâhe brings that finger to your mouth. Gently, he taps it on your lower lip. âOpen,â he murmurs.
You obey, parting your lips. He slips the finger inside, and you taste it: a mix of Seong-jeâs salty seed and your own tangy essence. Itâs filthy and intimate and so arousing even in your exhaustion that you moan around his finger, dutifully licking it clean without being asked twice.
âGood girl,â Baek-jin whispers, eyes heavy-lidded. He withdraws his finger once satisfied and stands upright again.
Seong-je looks like he canât believe his eyes, clearly aroused by the sight despite having just cum. But as reality seeps back in, he also looks uncertain, concerned even. His gaze flits between you and Baek-jin, trying to gauge the aftermath. His pants are still around his thighs, his cock now soft but still slick with your combined fluids.
The atmosphere shifts slightlyâstill warm, but the raw lust is ebbing, making space for other emotions. Satisfaction, relief, a hint of awkwardness perhaps.
You gingerly push yourself upright from the armchair. Your legs protest, wobbly from exertion, and you have to grab the chair back to steady yourself. Immediately, Seong-je steps forward, zipping up his pants hurriedly and reaching as if to help you stand, concern etched on his face.
Baek-jin is quicker. He loops an arm around your waist, pulling your spent body against his solid frame. âCareful,â he murmurs, brushing damp hair from your face. His other hand slides down to tug your rumpled skirt back over your hips, a gesture of modesty now that the deed is done.
You lean into him, melting into his familiar scent and hold. Heâs always run hot, and right now his body heat and steady heartbeat against your side feel like home. A sudden wave of emotion wells in youâlove, reassurance, an almost delirious giddiness that the three of you came through that intense encounter intact.
Seong-je stands a foot away, hands twitching at his sides, unsure where heâs allowed to touch or if he should even speak. His gaze lingers on you with naked tenderness and worry. âAre you⊠alright?â he asks softly. âDid I hurt you?â
His earnestness tugs at your heart. You manage a tired smile. âIâm okay, Seong-je. Just⊠a little sore.â You let out a breathy chuckle. âIn a good way.â
He exhales, relief evident. âGood. Iâ Iâm glad.â He rubs the back of his neck, clearly still processing everything that just happened, the post-nut clarity perhaps bringing a dose of nerves. âThat was⊠I mean⊠thank you,â he stammers, directing the gratitude to the both of you. âI donât even⊠I canât expressââ
Baek-jin holds up a hand, stopping his babbling. Thereâs a faint smile on his lips, almost fond. âConsider your reward accepted, then,â he says lightly. His arm around you tightens a fraction, a subtle signal: weâre returning to normalcy now.
Seong-je straightens, nodding. The dynamic is shifting back; Baek-jin is clearly reasserting his usual authority in the aftermath. But thereâs a newfound respect and camaraderie in his eyes as he regards his leaderâand also a lingering awe when he glances at you.
You feel Baek-jinâs lips press to your temple in a gentle kiss. âYou were amazing,â he whispers just for you, low and full of love. âSo perfect for me.â
Your chest swells with affection. Exhausted and sex-drunk, you turn in his arm and wrap your own around his torso, nuzzling into him. The slight stickiness of sweat and the faint copper smell of blood from his earlier wounds are still there, but none of it bothers you. Heâs yours.
He strokes your back soothingly, then eyes Seong-je, who still waits as if unsure what to do now. âGo get a towel, will you?â He says, nodding toward the small bathroom attached to the living space. âWet it with warm water.â
Seong-je blinks, then immediately moves to obey. He disappears into the bathroom, leaving you and your boyfriend briefly alone.
As soon as heâs out of sight, Baek-jin tilts your face up to his. His expression is tender in a way he rarely shows outside of private moments. âHow do you feel?â he asks softly, searching your eyes.
A wave of emotion washes through you. How do you even articulate how you feel? Physically, youâre deliciously sore, every muscle relaxed and boneless. Emotionally, youâre absolutely sated and maybe a bit overwhelmed. But most of all, you feel loved. Loved and known in a way thatâs staggering.
âI feelâŠâ you bite your lip, giving him a warm, tired smile. âIncredible. Loved. And very, very tired.â You chuckle weakly.
His face lights with a small genuine smileâone of those rare smiles that reach his eyes. âYou are loved,â he says quietly, brushing your lower lip with his thumb where you worried it. He then glances down, and his smile turns into a faint grimace as he takes in the state of you: your inner thighs sticky with evidence of what transpired, bruises already starting to form on your hips where Seong-je held you, the smear of mascara from your tears. He runs his thumb gently under one of your eyes, wiping a smudge away. âMy poor girl,â he murmurs affectionately. âWhat a mess you are.â
You huff a soft laugh, leaning into his hand. âWorth it,â you whisper.
His eyes darken with something akin to reverence. He dips his head and captures your lips in a sweet, lingering kissâso different from the hungry ones earlier. Itâs full of love and gratitude. You sigh into it, kissing him back tenderly.
When you part, Seong-je is just emerging with a damp towel. He averts his eyes slightly, as if worried heâs intruding on an intimate moment. Baek-jin doesnât seem bothered; he beckons Seong-je over with a slight tilt of his head.
The boy approaches, holding out the warm, wet towel uncertainly. Baek-jin takes it from him, then crouches down in front of you. To your surprise, he himself gently spreads your thighs. You flush with embarrassment as he carefully wipes the mess from your skin, cleaning the stickiness of cum and arousal smeared there. Heâs uncharacteristically tender with the motion, businesslike yet caring.
Seong-je watches, shifting on his feet. âI-I can do thatââ he offers hesitantly, perhaps feeling awkward that his boss is cleaning up his spend.
âIâve got her,â Baek-jin replies calmly, not unkindly but with finality. He finishes wiping between your thighs, then tosses the towel onto the coffee table. His hand caresses your outer thigh reassuringly as he stands back up.
That simple statementâIâve got herâspeaks volumes. Seong-je seems to understand. He nods, stepping back a respectful pace. The reality of the roles re-establishing themselves is almost palpable in the air. He is the right-hand man again, loyal and content, and Baek-jin is the one who holds you.
A heavy silence lingers for a moment. He clears his throat, a bit nervously. âThank you,â he says again, quietly earnest. His gaze flickers between you two. âTo both of you. I⊠I wonât ever forget this.â
You give him a soft, reassuring smile. âNeither will we.â
Baek-jin inclines his head. âYouâve earned it.â Thereâs a subtle finality in his tone, like closing a chapter. He then must notice Seong-jeâs busted lip again and the dried blood on his face from earlier, because he gestures. âNow, go wash up properly. Get some rest. Weâll debrief tomorrow.â
Itâs a gentle dismissal. Seong-je hesitates, eyes lingering on you one last time. Thereâs a flicker of emotion thereâgratitude, affection, perhaps even love in its own wayâbut he tamps it down and offers a small bow of respect to Baek-jin, then to you. âGoodnight⊠boss. Goodnight⊠and thank you,â he says again softly to you.
âGoodnight, Seong-je,â you reply warmly.
With that, he gathers his jacket from the floor and quietly slips out of the apartment, shutting the door behind him.
Silence settles in his absence. Only the hum of the refrigerator and the muffled sounds of the city night beyond the window remain.
Baek-jin exhales, the tension of performance leaving his body. He turns to you, and immediately his hands are on youâone cupping your cheek, the other resting on your hip. âYou sure youâre okay?â he asks, brow furrowed slightly in concern now that no one else is around.
You lean into his palm, covering it with your own. âI promise. A little sore, a little exhausted, but Iâm more than okay.â You grin cheekily despite your fatigue. âThat was⊠well, it was insane. But in the best way.â
He chuckles, relief evident in the way he presses his forehead to yours. âYes, it was certainly that.â He closes his eyes, and you stay like that for a moment, simply sharing breath, absorbing each otherâs presence.
After a beat, he pulls back and his gaze flits downward. âI should get you cleaned up more and into bed. You need rest.â Ever the caretaker beneath his rough exterior, at least for you.
You hum in agreement. Every bone in your body feels like jelly. A hot shower and curling up with him in bed sounds like heaven.
As he guides you towards the bathroom, you limp slightly, wincing at the ache between your legs. He notices and gently scoops you up into his arms without warning. You yelp in surprise and wrap your arms around his neck. âI can walk!â you protest weakly, though truthfully you relish being babied by him.
âShh,â he chastises softly, carrying you bridal-style with ease despite having fought earlier and indulged in strenuous extracurriculars. âLet me take care of my girl.â
My girl. Those two words are a balm, erasing any lingering doubt or insecurity that might have tried to creep in post-encounter. You rest your head against his shoulder as he carries you into the bathroom.
He sets you down on the closed toilet seat carefully. As he turns to start the shower and adjust the water temperature, you watch him with a content smile. He catches you staring and arches a brow. âWhat?â
âNothing,â you say softly. âJust⊠I love you.â The words come out quietly but firmly.
His expression gentles. He steps back over and tilts your chin up. âI love you,â he replies, and in his voice you hear the depth of his devotion, obsessive and profound. It makes your heart flutter. He kisses you once moreâslow, languid, reassuring.
The shower steam begins to billow around you, warm and inviting. He helps you undress fully, peeling off your rumpled tank top and unclasping your bra with practiced ease. As he slides the straps down your arms, he pauses to press tender kisses to the marks on your shoulder and neckâsome from Seong-jeâs earlier fervor, some older from Baek-jin himself. Each brush of his lips seems to silently say mine, mine, mine.
He peels your skirt off, and whatâs left of your shredded panties falls to the tile floor. He huffs a faint laugh, picking the ruined lace up with a finger. âI liked these,â he comments idly.
You giggle, feeling a blush warm your cheeks. âYou would be sentimental about the underwear you tore off me like a caveman.â
He smirks, tossing the scrap aside. âIâll buy you a new pair.â Then he cups your bare sex gently, making you jolt. Heâs just feeling the heat there, the tenderness. âMaybe Iâll keep these as a souvenir,â he adds wickedly.
You swat at his arm half-heartedly, laughing, and he finally stops teasing, helping you into the shower. The hot water cascading over sore muscles is pure bliss. He steps in behind you after shedding his own clothes, and pulls you back against his chest under the spray.
For a while, you both just stand there under the water, arms wrapped around each other. The heat soothes the aches, and being enclosed in Baek-jinâs embrace soothes everything else.
He washes your body with gentle thoroughness, massaging shampoo into your hair, lathering soap over every inch of your skin with his strong hands. Itâs not sexual; itâs intimate care. Occasionally you both steal soft kisses or share a quiet chuckle when he notes a particularly dramatic bruise or love bite. When he finds a clear imprint of teeth at the crook of your neck, courtesy of Seong-je, his eyes darken and he nips next to it, overlaying his own mark right beside as if reclaiming territory. You squeal at the sharpness but then melt as he soothes it with his tongue.
After youâre clean and warm, he dries you off tenderly with a fluffy towel, then dries himself quickly. You slip on one of his oversized t-shirts, too tired for anything else, and he pulls on a pair of sweatpants, foregoing a shirt.
Finally, he lifts you again and carries you to bed. The moment you lie down on the cool sheets with Baek-jin sliding in beside you, a deep sigh of relief escapes you. Your body is heavy and deliciously sated.
He switches off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into soft darkness. The faint glow of the city through the curtains outlines his profile as he turns toward you, gathering you into his arms. You happily curl into him, head on his chest, one leg thrown over his hip.
For a time, you just listen to the steady beating of his heart. Itâs a comforting rhythm, lulling you toward sleep. His fingers trace idle patterns on your back.
Just as youâre about to drift off, his quiet voice rumbles under your ear. âWas it really okay? Truly?â Thereâs a vulnerability in the questionâalmost imperceptible, but you know him too well to miss it.
You prop yourself up on your elbow so you can look at him through the dim light. Heâs staring at the ceiling, jaw tight, as if worried now in the aftermath that he might have pushed you too far or⊠hurt something between you.
Tenderly, you reach out and run your fingers through his damp hair. He finally meets your gaze, and you see it: the flicker of fear that perhaps youâll think differently of him or of yourself now.
âIt was more than okay, my love,â you whisper, leaning down to kiss the spot over his heart. âYou were right there with me the whole time. I never felt for a second that I wasnât yours.â The words spill softly but surely. âI loved every second of it⊠because it was what you wanted, what we wanted. And because you were in control, I felt safe.â
He exhales, tension bleeding out of him. His arm around you tightens, hugging you close. âGood,â he murmurs. âIâ I wouldnât have done it if I thought it would hurt you. You know that, right?â
âI know,â you say without hesitation. âI trust you completely.â
He closes his eyes for a moment, looking immeasurably relieved. When he opens them, some of the usual sly confidence is creeping back in. âAnd⊠if I said I enjoyed it too?â he asks quietly, a bit of wryness in his tone.
You grin. âI think that was pretty obvious.â
He huffs a soft laugh and nudges you. âBold of you, little minx.â A comfortable silence, then, âIt was definitely a one-time thing. I donât intend on sharing you like that again.â
Surprise flickers through you at his sudden seriousness, but itâs a comforting kind of serious. âNo?â
He shakes his head. âNo. This was⊠special circumstances. A reward for a very loyal ally. And a bit of a test.â His thumb strokes your arm.
âA test?â
He smirks slightly. âOf my own restraint, perhaps. Of trust. And⊠maybe a gift to you as well, since you clearly enjoyed teasing him all this time.â His tone carries a teasing accusation.
You bite your lip, not denying it. âWell⊠it certainly was one hell of a gift,â you admit with a soft laugh. âBut youâre right. This isnât something I need to repeat. I only need you, Baek-jin.â
He seems pleased with that answer. He rolls you both so that youâre on your side facing each other under the covers, noses nearly touching. âAnd I only need you,â he replies, voice a low murmur in the dark.
You snuggle into him, tangling your legs together. âIâm glad we did it, though,â you add, trailing your fingertips across his bare chest. âIn a strange way, I feel even closer to you now. Is that silly?â
He tilts your chin up to place a gentle kiss on your lips. âNot silly. I feel it too.â His dark eyes bore into yours, sincere and unguarded in the privacy of night. âWatching you, trusting you⊠it only made me love you more. Youâre everything to me.â
Your heart swells so much you think it might burst. You tuck your head into the crook of his neck, hugging him fiercely. âI love you, Na Baek-jin,â you whisper, voice thick with emotion.
He holds you just as tight. âAnd I love you. Always.â
With that final reassurance, you both let the exhaustion take over. Your breathing slows; his does too. Safe in each otherâs arms, the world fades.
As you drift off, one last image floats through your mind: Baek-jinâs intense eyes locked on yours while Seong-je moved inside you, the feeling of being utterly possessed and yet completely cherished in the same moment. A shiver of remembered pleasure and emotion runs through you.
One night only. One night that was more than enough.
Before sleep claims you, you press a soft kiss to his throat and whisper a silent thank you into his skinâfor his trust, for his love, for everything. He murmurs in his sleep, pulling you even closer.
Your eyes close, and you slip into dreams filled with gentle darkness and the steady heartbeat of the man who owns youâbody, heart, and soul. The man who, even in sharing you, never let you forget that you are, and always will be, his.
#na baek jin x reader#na baekjin#weak hero class fanfic#weak hero x reader#weak hero smut#na baek jin smut#geum seong je x reader#geum seong je#geum seong je smut
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Limerence (1/2)
AO3 Link
Pairing: Sung Jinwoo X Female Reader
Genre:Â YANDERE, smut, fluff
Summary: Being madly in love with your fiancée made you stay ignorant of the alarming signs Jinwoo had shown throughout the four years of your relationship with him. It was only until one incident happened that you realized that beneath his sweet smile and gentle demeanor lay a monster begging to be set free.
Content Warnings: graphic description of murder, gore, sexual scenes, implied sexual assault attempt (not by Jinwoo), severe obsession, power imbalance, emotional manipulation, dacryphilia
Word Count: 9K
@princeizuku wanted me to write Yandere!Jinwoo so this one's for you, Tina, I love you, baby đâ€ïž
This is a test, one that you donât realize until itâs all too late.
It will only dawn on you later, once you have your feet shackled, your hands bound, and your mouth gagged, that it is never a coincidence that your fiancĂ©e, Sung Jinwoo, whoâs always been so strict about not letting you out of his apartment without permission, left the front door unlocked this morning. It is a test of your loyalty, of your obedience. A test that will reward you with every nice thing the world could offerâa shelf full of your favorite books, dozens of pretty clothes, exquisite pieces of jewelry, and pleasure after pleasure in bedâif you agree to keep your oath to stay still in your room like the good girl he expects you to be.Â
But you donât plan on doing that, do you? You want to give in to temptation. You want to chase after your freedom, to live in a world where he doesnât have his black wings wrapped around you. As youâre not aware that itâs a trial he gives you, another heartless game he plays, you do just that, leading you to fail the test.
And every failure bears its own consequences.
***
You think itâs a miracle when you feel the doorknob turn beneath your fingers, not knowing that this is the beginning of what will be the worst mistake of your life. After passing through so many attempts, so many days and nights where you tried to unlock it without him knowing, you were so close to giving up. You didnât even bother to try at first. After all, Jinwoo would always ensure you were locked and secured inside his penthouse, giving you nothing to do except wait for his return.Â
No matter how chaotic his schedule was, he would always come home in time, just a couple of hours after the sun had set below the horizon. And you would greet him with a kiss on the lips and your legs spread wide open the way you were supposed to, the way you had always done without fail in the last six months heâd been holding you captive.
Yet, for some reason today, perhaps out of habit, you find your feet dragging you back to the front door, mulling to yourself as to why your fiancĂ©e hasn't come home yet when itâs already an hour before midnight. There has been no text, no call. It was as if he had forgotten about you.
You almost laugh at the thought. Jinwoo will never forget about you. No matter how much you wish for him to. And thatâs why you give it another try, your fingers twisting around the door handle, and suddenly⊠It clicks.Â
It clicks open.Â
Itâs hard to believe that the world, as vast as it was, finally appears before you, completely yours to touch, to be lived in. It leaves you spellbound to your feet, unable to do anything but stare.Â
Then, your mind starts to gyrate.
Jinwoo must have forgotten to lock the door this morning. He was in a hurry, after all. What was itâa dungeon break, he said? Thatâs your first thought.
No, heâs not stupid enough to make such mistakes. Heâs always meticulous when it comes to these things. But then why? Why is the door unlocked? Thatâs your second.
And as you grip the handle with a quivering hand and a thrashing heart, pushing the door open, your third thought sinks in, louder than the voice of the angel on your shoulder telling you to stay put.
Run.Â
Itâs the only chance for you to escape, to retrieve the rights Jinwoo has taken away from you. It could be a trap, another warning echoes through your head, but with adrenaline pumping through your veins, your lungs breathing in the fresh air, your tongue so close to tasting the freedom youâve yearned for, you decide to take the risk.Â
Anywhere is better than here. ***
Twenty-eight-year-old Sung Jinwoo, the guild master of the renowned Ahjin Guild, sits calmly in the quietude of his private office room with his black suit unbuttoned and his collar unfastened. His paperwork is left untouched, stacked into a pile, his mind revolving into something else entirely. Loosening his tie with one hand, he pushes back his raven locks with another, his smile gracing his lips. He leans back comfortably on his swivel chair, his legs spread, his elbow propped on its armrest. Heâs watching his favorite show.Â
You.
âThere she goesâŠâ A small smirk tugs at his lips as he observes your every move, his cobalt blue eyes turning violet as he channels through his power. They gleam eerily in the darkness, radiant compared to the pale, silvery moonlight that bathes his equally pasty skin. If thereâs one skill heâs eternally grateful for, itâs thisâthe ability to share senses with his shadow soldiers.Â
To share senses with the one heâs placed on you.
Through the eyes of his most powerful knight, Igris, he can feel a slight surge of amusement and excitement rising within him as he watches you run. Youâre trying your best to flee the home you share togetherâthe most expensive, gorgeous, sacred heaven he bought solely to be with you, to keep you trapped. Your gullible, foolish mind thinks you can escape him somehow, not knowing that he has eyes and ears everywhere, forgetting that the last time his prey tried to escape him, they were shredded to pieces simply by a flick of his hand.
But Jinwoo wonât hurt you. No, of course not. He loves you, adores you with every fiber of his being. He loves you, still, even now, even after you decided that the cruel world outside his embrace was better than the paradise heâd offered you. And he will continue to love you until the stars crumble to ashes.Â
Thatâs why he plans to keep you for eternity. Because he loves you.
Itâs a shame, really, that you donât see eye to eye. Instead of being grateful for the love he has given you, you choose to be terrified by the intensity of his affection, slipping away through his hand the second you find the chance simply because you think youâre not strong enough to handle being smothered by his love. But you are. Youâve always been more than enough.
No one could fit him better than you. No one could please him better than you do. You think youâre at your limit, but you arenât. He knows you could take more of him, the same way you always did when he pushed into you at night, stretching your walls with his cock, molding you until you became the perfect sheath for him and him only. You always said it was too much, too big, too painful, but you always took him so well, didn't you? Clenching around him so tightly as if you never wanted to let him go.Â
Jinwoo has memorized every detail of you like the back of his hand. He knows whatâs perfect for you: him. And you⊠You are the thread that keeps him sane. The center of his universe. Without you, heâll let everything burn to the ground. Without you, he'll destroy the heavens himself.Â
And yetâŠ
âI canât believe you actually left meâŠâ He brings his hand to his lips, veiling the sadistic grin that blossoms upon them. âAfter everything weâve been through⊠After everything Iâve done for youâŠâ He chuckles once, his gaze burning with the desire to dominate you. âYouâre breaking my heart, Angel.â
He leans back in his chair, his strands rubbing against the headrest. Through his shared senses, he watches you break free from the elevator and sprint through the lobby without looking back. Jinwoo nibbles at the corner of his lip, his vile grin threatening to grow.
Run, Sweetheart. Run as fast as you can. Because once I get my hands on youâŠ
His eyes flare, like purple torches shimmering in a black cave.Â
Iâll make sure youâll never leave me again. ***
Run, the word continues to chime throughout the labyrinth of your mind as you burst into the cold night air, your body saturated by the city lights. Although freedom is now within your hands, no fragment of your soul is ready to celebrate. Youâre still terrified, anxious, feeling like you were still imprisoned, dancing in his palm with blazing shoes.Â
I need to keep running. I need to be somewhere where he canât find me.
But⊠where?
Jinwoo observes you intently, his body set aflame both by the fury of being betrayed and the thrill born from the things he plans to do to you once he gets his fingers wrapped around your throat again. He knows he'll have you back. He can catch you now if he wants to, but no, not yet. He craves to see more, to let you be happy with this freedom you thought youâd obtained on your own.
Because the happier you become, the easier heâll break you down. Nothing hurts more than being entrapped in the crevice of hell after you descended from heaven.
And heâll do it. Oh, heâll break you apart until you can do nothing without him. Heâll make you grow so dependent on him until youâre left with no hope without his presence next to you, no desire to touch the outside world unless he guides you to. He wonât stop until you become his, entirely hisâbody, mind, and soul.
His smirk widens as he watches you run down concrete steps with nothing but your phone held tightly in your hand. You seem pathetic, adorably so. He can hear how your breathing starts to grow heavy, the untrained muscles in your legs begging you to slow down, to take a rest. Although you are oblivious to the fact that heâs closely monitoring your every move, you can feel dread chasing after you. You slip on the last tread, hissing at the pain bursting from your ankle. You didnât break it, thank God, but itâs definitely sprained. Still, you refuse to give up.
Youâre not yet certain where you should be running to; you just know that you have to before he returns to the neighborhood. You need to be as far away from his building as possibleâfrom himâeven if you had to chop one of your legs for it.
âTrying so hard to escape me⊠How cute,â Jinwoo utters aloud, his voice laced with mocking amusement at your little attempt. He enjoys watching you struggle, deriving some sadistic pleasure from witnessing the painful look on your face as your throat catches fire with each breath you take. He takes pleasure from it because he knows the more you hurt yourself, the more desperate youâll be when you beg him to soothe you afterward.Â
That pain on your ankle⊠He wants to kiss it away. His lips will move gently against your skin before he maps his way up to your knee, your thigh, your soaking cunt, and heâll torture you just like that, licking you nice and slow, leaving darker bruises than the one that blooms on your injury. Heâll watch you whimper, smiling in satisfaction when you start pleading with your eyes, needing him to give you something much thicker, much bigger than his tongue. And he wonât give it to you. No, he wonât do it until you cry. Until you crumble to your knees, seeking for his mercy with tear-stained cheeks. Until you promise him that youâll never leave him again.Â
âPretty. Youâre gonna look so pretty for me, Angel,â he breathes out heavily, feeling himself harden beneath his trousers at the thought. "So fucking cute, begging for me to ruin you."
But he needs to be patient. The game has just started. ***
Beads of sweat drip off your chin as your skin is bitten by the cold of the frosty night. Youâre so hasty in making your escape that you run only in the clothes Jinwoo had dressed you withâa beautiful white dress that brought your feminity to the surface.
White, heâs decided from the moment he laid eyes on you, is the perfect color for you. Purity, innocence, divinityâthese are the words it represents, the terms he constantly uses to define you in his mind. He wears darkness like a cloak, but you are the blinding light that sheds it away from him. You are his new beginnings, the goddess he reveres. Youâre not supposed to be tainted, but heâs a man eager to sin, and youâll allow him, wonât you? You love to be stained by his hands, by his teeth. You look gorgeous in white, but you appear heavenly with purple roses blooming on your skin, ones that he bestowed with his mouth and fingertips.Â
Shivers run across your skin as your lungs burn inside. You look up at the night sky above you, velvet black with no diamonds in sight. Winter will soon blanket the earth with its pure white snow. You can already taste the ice in the air with each breath you take.
How much time has passed since I left his building? Youâre not sure. But with no money in hand and no wallet set up on your phone, you canât travel far. If only Jinwoo hadnât confiscated your belongings, you wouldâve had something to purchase a train ticket to return to your home. All you have now is the silver ring heâs placed around your finger.
I can trade it, butâŠ
You shudder at the thought. Jinwoo has promised heâll never hurt you, and heâs kept his word in the last six months heâs been confining you inside the walls of his penthouse. You trust him, believe him to the point that youâre still somewhat assured that he will take you back without harming you, even if he catches you right now. But if you dare to toss away the token of his love, of the vows youâd exchangedâŠ
Heâll never forgive me.
The sight of your ring glinting beneath the yellowish glow of the street lamps causes you to recall the day when he sank down to one knee, proclaiming his eternal love for you. You said yes, didnât you? Without a sliver of doubt, you agreed to his proposal, your smile blinding, elation permeating your chest.
Why? You chastise yourself now as you drown in regret. Why was I so stupid? That time, you were so hopelessly in love with him, your mind submerged in the state of sheer happiness that you thought would last forever.
Jinwoo was perfect. Before he unveiled the monster hidden inside him, he was everything you ever wanted. Tall and handsome, modest despite possessing God-like powers, and above all that, he was a kind, respectful man. He was always so gentle with youâso, so gentleâembracing you like a porcelain doll, refusing to touch you unless you permitted him to. Every kiss was featherlight until you deepened it. Every caress was soothing on your skin until you begged him to bruise you. Back then, you wanted to be his, didn't you? You wanted to be the only one who could satisfy him in every way, to be the only woman who could wear his mark on your skin like a badge of honor. You thought it would be the sweetest dream to be claimed by someone as divine as Sung Jinwoo.
Until one incident happened, and it all turned into a nightmare, one that was everlasting, like the shadow that trembled beneath his feet. ***
It began six months ago, the event that changed everything.Â
You were stuck in your office that night, trying to meet your deadline as quickly as possible. The hours had grown late. Amidst the frustration you held against yourself for not being fast enough to finish your reports, you gave your lover a quick call, apologizing for not being able to come home in time to celebrate your fourth anniversary together.Â
Jinwoo, the perfect lover that he was, had already spent hours preparing for the special night. A set of your favorite dishes had been served, styled to perfection by his own hands. Romantic candlelights decorated the dining table, the perfect company to the crystal vase filled with fresh lilies to match your everlasting beauty. He had prepared two tall glasses and a bottle of your preferred red wine dipped in ice for a nice, romantic chat in front of the fireplace. Dozens of presents, filled with the items on your wishlist, were hidden in places for you to seek. And if you hadnât texted him to let you know that you had to spend another few hours trapped in your cubicle, your fiancĂ©e wouldâve been there with a bouquet of roses to escort you home the second you were off work. Everything was planned to perfection, as that was what you deserved. A perfect night for someone as perfect as you.
And there you were, ruining everything.
âJinwoo?â
âSweetheart,â he breathed out, almost longingly. As if just the sound of his name spoken in your voice rendered him weak. âHey. I was just thinking about you.â
Heâd never left your mind, and that sensual, husky voice of his was one of the reasons why. âHoney, Iâm so sorry,â you sighed into the phone, massaging the bridge of your nose as both fatigue and a heavy sense of guilt filled you to the brim. âI swear, I thought I could finish my report in an hour or two, but I made a mistake, and now I have to redo everything. Iâm probably gonna be stuck here for another hour or two. Is that all right?â
There were two seconds of silence that doubled the weight of your regret, but thenâ âAre you safe? Do you need me to be there with you?â Those were the questions he always asked, the only things that mattered. Everything else could wait, even his own feelings.Â
Jinwoo could be in the middle of a perilous dungeon break, protecting the citizens from the starving beasts, and he would abandon everything at once if you so much as called his name, needing his presence. Your safety had always been his first and foremost priority.
However, as wonderful as it was, you often found it overwhelming, especially when you felt his shadow soldiers following your every step. That was why you made him promise not to place one on you, to give you a room to breathe. It was a proposition that he initially opposed, knowing it was the safest way to ensure your security, but he had also grown aware of how much your privacy mattered to you. He respected that. He trusted you. And, so, with a reluctant heart, he made his vow.Â
You believed him, the way you always did.Â
But what you didn't know was that in order to respect your privacy, he sacrificed everyone elseâs.Â
Jinwoo had sent hundreds of soldiers to spy on anyone who could come in contact with you. Every family member, friend, co-worker, security guard, even a regular passerby, if they so much breathed in the air that you breathed, then a beast resided beneath their feet.Â
You promised him you'd be safe without him. He made sure you stayed true to your words.Â
âYes, Iâm safe,â you answered him through the phone. âDonât worry. Iâm just gonna be sitting here in my seat, doing these stupid reports.â And missing you badly.
âYou should quit your job. Iâll provide everything for you.â
It wasnât a jest. You knew he meant every word, but you tittered anyway. âMaybe I will, once you marry me.â
âPrincess, I would marry you this second, you know that. Just say the words, and Iâm yours.â
You smiled, your heart fluttering in delight. Honestly, taking a quick trip to the nearest church and pronouncing your vows in front of the priest and a janitor as your witness wouldnât be too terrible if it meant you could spend the rest of your eternity with him. âI want to marry you, too, Jin. I wanna marry you right now, butâŠâ
There was a quaver in his breath, his voice tight. âBut..?â
âI think Iâd prefer it better if my family could see me walking down the aisle in my wedding dress.â And seeing you standing so handsomely in your suit, waiting for me near the altar, watching me with devotion in your eyes, the way you always look at me⊠God, I would trade the world for it.
Jinwoo sighed, yearning for the image you envisioned. âYou in a wedding dress, huh? That is indeed a sight worth waiting for.â
âThatâs right,â you giggled. âSo, should we postpone it for a bit? Until I can find a dress that fits?â
âYou better not take too long. You know how impatient I could be, especially when it comes to you.â You could visualize his sultry smirk vividly in your mind. âNow that Iâm picturing you in a wedding dress, all I can think about is ripping that same dress off you.â
âJinwooâŠâ It was unfair how easily he could make you pine for him, your body needing his touch so desperately just from hearing his raspy voice. âDonât distract me like this, please. Iâve got work to do.â
âIâm sorry, love.â His voice, despite still sounding as soft as silk, turned deep, drenched with desire. âI just wish you were here with me right now. I know we spend every night and every morning together, but today, I just⊠I miss you so badly. Maybe itâs because weâre celebrating our anniversary tonight, but I havenât stopped thinking about you all day.âÂ
You nibbled at your lip, sharing the same need. âIâve been thinking about you all day, too.â
His breathing turned heavy before a confession followed. âItâs weird, Iâve neverâŠâ He tarried, a slight bashfulness growing evident in his voice. âIâve never felt this way about someone before. You drive me crazy. Itâs like I canât live without you. I need you, Angel. Desperately so.â
Need, never want. He never craved you solely for your body. He needed youâyour kindness, your smile, your kiss, your scent, your love, your everything.
âCome home, baby. Come home to me.â
You felt awful, devastated even, as you heard the wretchedness in his voice. It was your anniversary, for fuckâs sake, and you chose to stay miles apart from him instead of being in his embrace. And Jinwoo didnât even complain about it, not questioning your actions, your decisions, just simply stating how much he longed for you. Would you have been so nice and understanding if you were in his shoes? If you had spent hours preparing for the perfect night just to see him cancel your plan at the last minute? It wouldâve been difficult, for sure.Â
And thatâs why I want to marry him so badly, you thought to yourself as gratitude glowed inside you. You couldnât wait for the day to come, to have your heart etched with his name.Â
âIâll finish this in an hour,â you uttered with a new set of determination. âI promise you.âÂ
âYou donât have to promise me anything. I understand. I adore this side of you, too, how responsible and hardworking you are.â You could sense the proud smile in his voice, could envisage just how soft and beautiful it was. âJust make sure youâll always be safe. And text me when youâre about to finish. Iâll pick you up.â
You felt so loved, so taken care of. âI will. Iâll see you soon, okay?â
âMm. Iâll be waiting for you at home.â
Home. You loved that word more than anything. It was an abrupt decision when you'd agreed to move in with him a year ago, a joyful burst of âJinwoo, of course, Iâd love to live with you,â to answer the invitation he'd proffessed with a soft blush permeating his cheeks. It was sudden, yes, but when you spoke your answer, you knew for certain that it was a choice youâd never regret. Because why would you, when you got to spend every second of every hour of your life with the man you loved?
âI love you, Jinwoo.â
âI love you, too, Angel.â
You ended the call, and it almost felt like a part of you died with it.Â
The clock was ticking fast. 09.42 PM. You looked over to the stack of unfinished reports. Can I really finish all of these in an hour?
âOh, Noona. Youâre still here.â
A younger co-workerâa handsome man with deep obsidian eyes, a radiant, sunshine-esque smile, and spikes in his raven hairâpeeked his head inside your cubicle. Lee Minsung, his name was, and you remembered it by heart as he was always there to assist you with your work when everyone else chose to turn a blind eye.
He was a brilliant man. Humble and selfless, with a great sense of humor. Based on the rumors spreading throughout the building, he used to be an actor when he was younger, but his career went downhill after he was involved in a scandal. You didnât care enough to dig into more details, but if he was indeed an actor, he certainly had the look for it.Â
Although he was popular among the women, for some reason, Minsung chose to tag along with you instead, always asking to be put in the same projects as you if the opportunity arose. He said he could breathe easy when he was with you, probably because you only saw him as a friend and nothing more, unlike all the other women who were nice to him to get a sliver of his affection.
âYeah,â you grumbled. âIâm still here.â
âYou havenât finished yet? Itâs almost ten.â
âI wouldâve finished a while ago if I hadnât inputted the wrong numbers. Iâm basically redoing everything now, and I still have four more reports to go.â You were close to crying at this point, frustrated. âIâm sorry, Minsung, I donât have time to chat. Iâm in a hurry.â
âSo cold,â he joked with a chuckle. Leaning back against the partition with the sleeves of his navy blue shirt rolled up to his elbows, he flaunted a charming smile. âHow about I offer you some help, then? I was about to head home, but I could stay here for you if you promise me you'll treat me to some steak.âÂ
That was a cheap offer. You didn't have to think twice about it. âYes. Yes, please, help me.âÂ
There were only the two of you in the room, and you were aware of that, but as soon as you handed him one of your files, Minsung returned to work in his own cubicle, providing some distance between you, and you felt safe. He really was just trying to help.
Half an hour later, he came over with a haughty grin. âDone,â he said, leaving you gaping in awe at his work. Not only was he fast, he did everything so neatly and efficiently, much better than you did.
âOh my God, youâre my life savior,â you uttered in gratitude before you glanced at the clock. 10.21 PM. Only two more reports to go. With his help, you could finish this sooner than you expected. And then you could go home to your fiancĂ©eâs arms, the man youâd been longing to reunite with from the second you kissed him goodbye that very morning.Â
âIâll help you with the rest,â Minsung promised. âBut letâs take a break first.â
You didnât have time to waste. âSorry, I donât think Iââ
âPlease, Noona?â He pleaded with his big, sparkly doe eyes. âJust to get some coffee. It will only take ten minutes max.â
âMinsungââ
âFive. Five minutes. Please?â
You exhaled heavily through your nose; your bottom lip caught between your teeth. You had no choice but to agree as you desperately needed his help. You figured a ten-minute break wouldnât hurt. If anything, you needed a chance to stretch and unwind your muscles after sitting non-stop for hours. âFine. Iâll treat you. Letâs go.â
Following his lead, you took the stairs to the next level above you. The lights for that floor had been shut down completely from the main operating room to conserve energy. Using your phone as your flashlight, you stepped into the pantry area. Seeing no one around felt a little eerie, as the space was always crowded during the day, and being shrouded in darkness only multiplied that sensation.
Fortunately for you, the vending machine was still operating as always, providing enough lights for you to make out the shape of Minsungâs affable smile as he talked about the upcoming projects. You felt nervous, still, but you made no complaints. You werenât going to be long anyway.Â
Besides⊠You looked up at the ceiling, feeling your heart at ease once you spotted the surveillance camera strapped to the corner of the room, observing your every action. Weâre not necessarily alone.
Minsung followed your gaze, simpering as he stuffed his hands inside his pockets. âWhat, Noona, are you scared of being alone with me?â
âNo,â you answered promptly, and it wasnât a complete lie. He was a friend youâd known longer than a month. You trusted him in a way. He didnât give you any sense of danger, but you couldnât deny being left alone with a man made you feel slightly anxious. âI was just looking around.â
âThank goodness. I was worried that I made you feel uncomfortable.â
âNo, of course not.â
Tossing you another smile, he walked right past you, his shoulder brushing against yours as he whispered, âItâs not working, by the way. The camera. None of them work on this floor since they plan to install new ones tomorrow. So, itâs just you and me, Noona.â
You quickly grew restless over the news, but you chased your agitation away when you saw him grinning puckishly. Heâs just messing with me.
...right?
Minsung, always the gentleman, beat you to the vending machine. He slipped his money inside, purchasing two warm cans of coffee, already memorizing your favorite brand. âHere you go.â
âThanks.â You took the drink from his hand, your palm warming up instantly from the first touch. âYou shouldâve let me buy this for you.â
âDonât worry, Iâll make sure to order a super expensive Wagyu steak to make up for it.â
âAll right.â The soft peals of your laughter chased away the silence in the room. âThank you, Minsung. Seriously. I wouldâve been stuck here for another hour without your help. Iâm running late as it is, so⊠It really means a lot, thanks.â
âYou have somewhere to go?â
You nodded your head, taking a sip of the caffeine. âItâs my fourth anniversary today, so my boyfriend and Iââ
âWhat?â
You stiffened. There was a sudden change in his tone, like a flare of anger mixed with surprise, but when you whirled your head toward him, no such emotion was written on his face. Was I imagining it?Â
âI didn't know you had a boyfriend,â Minsung continued. There was something different about his smile. It felt somewhat⊠alarming. âI donât think youâve mentioned him before.â
There was a reason why you never did. As the sixth national-level hunter, Jinwoo was almost as well-known as a world-class celebrity. Everybody had heard his name; most of them admired and worshipped him as their hero, and you were just⊠someone who happened to meet him by chance at a coffee shop. The difference in status and fame between you could attract unnecessary attention. You could already imagine the amount of journalists that would swarm you with questions if they knew you were engaged.Â
Fortunately for you, Jinwoo agreed to play along. Your comfort remained his first concern, after all. He probably figured it would be better for your well-being, too, if there werenât many people informed about the special bond you shared with him. You wouldnât be targeted as much, both by the probing reporters or the beings who wished to strike him down.
âYeah, umm, I donât really like talking about my personal life,â you responded with an awkward chuckle. âBut yeah, I have a boyfriend. A fiancĂ©e, actually.â As an elated smile flourished on your lips, your hand absentmindedly pressed against the pendant dangling around your neck, hidden by the collar of your blouse. It was your engagement ring, an extravagant diamond placed upon a silver band. You wished you could let it adorn your fourth finger the way it was supposed to, but doing so would defeat the purpose of keeping your relationship a secret. You didnât wish for your co-workers to start asking questions about it. You could lie, sure, but⊠You were never a very good liar to begin with.Â
Silence filled the spaces between you. Without knowing why, the tension suddenly turned palpable, almost smothering. âUhh⊠Minsung, I think we should head backââ
âWhat a fucking joke.â
Your heart plummeted from the sudden switch in his demeanor, the change so abrupt and vivid that it brought ice to the atmosphere. Resentment and disdain were engraved firmly in his tone, his voice harsh and deep, making your stomach churn in fear. He laughed once, bitter and cold before he turned to look at you. There was no warmth in his eyes, his expression indecipherable, but you could tell something was wrong, terribly wrong.Â
Instinctively, you took a step back, your senses on full alert. âMinsungââ
âI canât believe I wasted so much time, so much effort to get your attention,â he walked toward you, slow and steady, but with each step he took, you heard the siren in your mind turning vehement. âJust to find out you have a fucking fiancĂ©e?â
Still shocked at the sudden twist of the situation, you found your spine pressed against the wall. Minsung caged you with his body, your head trapped between his arms. âYou know I like you, right, Noona?â His face hovered a mere few inches above yours as he gazed down menacingly. Perhaps the rumors of him being an actor were true. Never in your life would you have thought that a man as bright as Minsung would possess such a cruel, horrifying personality beneath his prince charming smile.Â
âI-I didnât,â you said, quivers in your voice. You werenât lying. You were completely unaware of his feelings. Your gullible mind just thought he wanted to befriend you, that he was just naturally kind, the type of person whoâd find joy in helping others.
âDonât lie to me.â His words flew past gritted teeth, heavy with threat. âYou think someone would act so nice to you without wanting anything in return? All this time, you knew how I felt about you, and you enjoyed my attention, didnât you? Is it fun for you? Toying with other peopleâs feelings?â
âIâve neverââ You flinched when he grabbed you by the neck, your eyes shut closed as pain jolted through your stream. âM-Minsungââ you choked out, your fingers twisting around his wrist, trying to pry him off of you. It was no use. He was a man nearly twice your size, with the strength of an A-rank Hunter if the words on the street were true. âLet meâgoââ
âOr what, hmm?â He snarled behind his wolfish grin. âPretty girls like you always do whatever you like, donât they? Taking advantage of people and tossing them away like theyâre nothing. Well, tell you what, darling.â He peered down at you with hunger in his eyes, the desire to hurt, to break you.âI can do the same thing, too.â
Terror engulfed you at once as your mind wandered through all the frightening possibilities he could do to you in this empty space, hidden in the dimness of the room. Panic brought tears to your eyes, blurring your vision as your heart desperately sought a savior.Â
Jinwoo! You wanted to cry out. Jinwoo, please!
Help me!
âLook at you,â Minsung chuckled, loving the dread in your eyes. âStarting to fear me now, arenât you, Noona? Too bad, no oneâs gonna come to save you. Didnât I tell you before? Itâs just you and me here.â His face hovered close, his breath hot on your cheeks. âSo, letâs make that count, shall we?â
Despite the overwhelming fright, you refused to give up, not yet. Clasping your jaws together, you clawed against his wrist with your nails, marring his skin until blood trickled to color his pallid skin crimson.
âFucking bitch,â he growled, hissing at the wound you inflicted on him. âYouâre gonna pay for that.â
He lifted you up the wall, forcing you to stand on your toes. âStopââ You gasped out as Minsung tightened his fingers around your neck, carving bruises and crushing your windpipes. You kicked around, desperate to regain some distance. âI said, STOP!â
You heard it before your mind could register what your eyes witnessedâthe sound of a humanâs skull being crushed. Your eyes closed in reflex as splatters of blood and bits of flesh drenched you to your toes. A sudden eerie silence descended over the room, ruined only by the sound of your restrained breathing. Slowly, with your heart caught in your throat, your lids fluttered openâ
And you saw Lee Minsung standing before you. Limp. Headless.
Thick blood painted the marble floor, coating the white walls black beneath the looming darkness and smearing scarlet all over the glass. His body was frozen in place, floating a few inches above the ground as if there was an invisible hand seizing him by the neck. By the next time you blinked your eyes, it toppled onto the floor with a heavy thud. More blood oozed out of the corpse, pooling around your feet and soaking your shoes with its revolting warmth. Â
You couldnât scream, trepidation filling every bit of your nerve as you stared at the scene, striking you to your bones. In that brief moment, time seemed to slow down. Your rapid heartbeat rang clamorously in your ears as your mind gravely tried to process the situation.
Then, you heard footsteps closing in.
With trembles running through your entire body, you turned your head to the side, following where the sound reverberated from. You felt a pair of arms pulling you into an embrace before you could take a glimpse of their owner, his touch so tender and careful, rivaling that of a mother. As your face fell upon a sturdy chest, your senses greeted by a familiar warmth and the pleasant scent of cedarwood and musk, you knew this was the home you wished to run to just a few seconds ago.
âSorry, Iâm late,â Jinwooâs deep, soothing voice felt like cold water pouring onto scalding skin. âYouâre safe now.â
Except he didnât feel like home anymore, or your savior. He was the Angel of Death, one that just took the life of a mortal without batting an eye.
A part of you felt relieved, gratefulâand you shouldâve, right? He saved your life, protected you from the man who planned to break you apart. But as your lover drew you closer to his chest, his gentle fingers threading through your hair, pacifying you, your stare returned to Lee Minsungâs mangled body on the floor. Jinwoo had killed thousands of beasts before, and you knew how merciless and brutal he could be in the face of his opponent, but you never thought he would act the sameâno, worseâto a human.
Minsung was a despicable person down to his core, and you wished he would get caught and rot in jail for what he did to you, but never, never in your life would you wish for him to end like that. To end with his head⊠exploding to pieces.
âJ-Jinââ Your words stuck in your throat the second you witnessed the fury in his eyes. Youâd never seen it beforeâdidnât even think it was possible for such consuming rage to reside in the pair of the gentlest sapphires youâd ever seen. He wasnât looking at you, not at your face. His gaze was fixated on the bruise that had besmirched your neck, forming in the shape of another manâs fingers. He breathed out heavily, his wrath threatening to take over and destroy everything around him, but when he caressed his fingertips along the marks, they were as light, as cold and gentle as the first snow of December.
âI shouldnât have killed him,â Jinwoo spoke through clenched teeth, his voice the quiet rumble of an impending storm. âI shouldâve tortured him.â
Your heart freefell to your stomach. This side of him appalled you so terribly it left you tongue-tied. Before you could react, your lover suddenly lifted his head, his sensitive ears catching the sound you couldnât hear amidst the gale raging in your mind, but his concern over your well-being caused him to notice it a second too late. A patrolling security guard strolled by the door with a flashlight in hand, completely stupefied as he witnessed the gruesome scene unfolding before his eyes. You panicked, your mind in a rush to find a way to escape the situation, but before you could even draw another breath, Jinwoo raised his handâ
And the manâs head was severed from his neck.
Bile quickly rose to your throat as you saw it rolled onto the floor. Splotches of blood bathed Jinwooâs dark trench coat; some spilled onto his cheek, which he nonchalantly brushed away with his knuckles. His posture remained calm and composed, with no emotions written on his face, as if the act of killing an innocent man was never a dire sin in his book.Â
He brought your body flushed against him, holding you protectively against his chest to avert your gaze from the human remains. âIgris,â he summoned, his voice heavy with authority. âClear the evidence.âÂ
As black fog materialized in the darkness, you, yourself were consumed by one.
The Angel of Death wrapped his black wings around you and took you away. ***
The next time you fluttered your eyes open, the scene had changed. You had returned home, to the beautiful penthouse you had been living together with him like newlyweds. The blackness of the night shrouded the living space, blanketed every piece of furniture that carried the beautiful memories you shared with him, placing veils upon the photo frames that showcased the romantic smiles and the amorous gazes he directed at you. It was as if the world refused to remind you of the man you loved, forcing you to accept the monster standing before you.
You stood still in the heart of your living room, trapped within his arms. Hot tears emanated in your eyes, filling your sockets and drenching your cheeks. They were not tears of relief, nor were they proof of your gratitude. They were born out of horror, your fear of the man whose name was engraved in the silver ring you wore above your heart. And that man, at that very moment, had you within his clutch. To hold you tenderly or to shatter you to dust, it was all up for you to decide.
He loved you. He loved you now. But if you made one wrong move, one unforgivable mistake that severed the red thread between your fingersâŠ
Will I end up like them? You pondered dreadfully, not realizing how he was capable of doing more. There were worse things than death that you didnât know yet. But he did.Â
And he was ready to give it to you should you choose to abandon him.
Feeling you trembling against him, Jinwoo slowly unwound his arms from you, examining your face with careful fingertips. The glimmering city lights from below seeped faintly through the windows, illuminating one side of his handsome features while leaving the rest for the darkness to embrace. âYouâre still shaking⊠How can I make you feel better?â
His compassion, his soft, caring gaze, the way he carefully brushed his thumb against your tearsâeverything remained the same, and yet, all you could think about were the ghastly corpses he left on the floor.
Just what kind of a monster is he to be able to do something so cruel without any hesitation?Â
Your strength began to trickle out of you, your legs wobbly beneath your weight. âAngelââ You untangled yourself from him, not wanting his help. Sinking to the carpeted floor with your body and clothes still dampened with blood, you felt so weak you could barely speak.Â
Jinwoo went down to one knee before you, his eyebrows sewn in deep concern as he reached out a hand to take yours. âLet me carry you to the bedââ
You backed off from him as best as you could, falling to your behind as you jerked away from his touch. You didnât want his hands on you, not a single finger, not after what he did.
Your action stunned him, but seeing your fear-stricken face, he didnât take your rejection to heart. He fathomed the trauma you just went through but not understanding that he was the biggest factor that caused it.
âHey, itâs all right. Itâs just me, Sweetheart. Just me.â He assured you with a smile, as saccharine sweet as usual. It felt off-putting as if it didnât belong there on his face anymore, even if it looked the same. It had been stained by the fact that his hands were now drenched in another manâs blood.Â
âIt was scary, wasnât it?â He softly swept your hair out of your face, tucking the damp strands behind your ear. âBut itâs over now. Nothing can touch you while Iâm here. I promise.â
What he offered as reassurance became terror the moment it reached your ears. If no one could touch you if he were with you, then there would be no one to save you.Â
Frantic tears still glazed your eyes, threatening to fall and join the others that had dripped down your chin. âY-YouâŠâ Your breathing quickened, your heart rate escalating rapidly. âThose men⊠You k-killed themâŠâ
To your horror, his thin lips bowed, forming a smile so angelic, it felt like heavenâs kiss. âI did,â Jinwoo replied, his tone sweet, almost romantic, his gaze soft without a glimmer of remorse. âAll for your sake, my love.â
For⊠For my sakeâŠ?Â
This is all⊠my fault?
âI⊠I never asked you toââ Your words came out in chokes as another surge of panic filled your system. âI neverââ There was a pain in your chest that you couldnât wash away no matter how tightly you clutched your hand over your heart, the world spinning so fast around you, depriving you of oxygen.Â
âBreathe,â he urged gently, gathering your face in his hands. âYouâre panicking, Sweetheart. You need to calm down first, all right? Focus on me. Focus on my voice.â He kept one hand on your cheek, his thumb rubbing soothing circles along the bone beneath your eye as his other one ran up and down your arm, pacifying you. âThereâs no need to be afraid anymore. I'm with you. I'll always be with you.â
The more you listened to him, the more intense your fear grew inside you. It didnât occur to him that you were afraid of him. He believed he did the right thingâsaving you, protecting you.Â
âMatch your breathing with mine. You can do this.â
He was a bigger monster than you thought he was.
Despite every nerve of your body begging you to flee, you stay put, focusing to compose yourself, to even your breathing the way he guided you. Colors slowly returned to your face, your heart no longer pounding just as hard.Â
âThere you go, Angel.â He planted a soft kiss on your temple, his own muscles unwinding as relief washed over him. âThatâs my good girl. Youâve done so well.â
Brought back down to earth by the same man who showed you a glimpse of hell⊠You felt sick to your stomach.
âLetâs get you cleaned up, okay?â he offered with a smile, a soft caress of his digits on your cheek. Unable to do anything, you let him take control. With one arm supporting your back and the other hooked behind your knees, your lover carried you to the bathroom.Â
You kept yourself mute as you dwelled in the aftermath of the incident, trying to overcome the shock and the horror of his actions. Jinwoo remained patient with you, not forcing you to speak or do anything you werenât ready for. He simply took off his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his button-down shirt before he sat you down on the edge of the bathtub.Â
âLift your hands for me?â He asked before he removed your blouse, never forgetting his courtesy even after four years of leaving nasty lovebites on each other skin. You did as you were told, your body going on autopilot, complying with your puppeteerâs command.Â
Jinwoo stood on one knee before you, wiping the blood off your skin with such tenderness that it wouldâve lulled you to sleep had you been able to chase away all the terrorizing thoughts. But how could you when he was still there right before you, acting like the sweet prince that he was while his victimâs blood still stained his shirt and cheek?
âYouâre doing great, love,â he praised your obedience, peeling off your stockings one by one. He removed your skirt next, leaving your legs bare, and for a split second, you thought he would pepper butterfly kisses on your thighs, the way he never failed to do, worshipping your body every chance he got. But he didnât. He showed compassion, giving you space to breathe, not wanting to remind you of the horrifying way Minsung had touched you before.Â
Now fully undressed before him, Jinwoo bathed you, starting by washing your hair, taking a moment to ask whether the water was too warm or too cold for your liking. You didnât answer. A piece of his soul shattered as he watched how crestfallen you were, another part burned with the self-loathing he held toward himself for not being there sooner to save you, and the rest⊠The rest of him was consumed by the fury he had not yet fully released. Still, with caring hands, he proceeded till the end, scrubbing all the crimson away from your locks and skin before shutting off the water.
Seeing you cleansed and all warmed up, Jinwoo swathed your body with a bathrobe. He lowered himself to his knees once more, meeting your eye level as he dried the excess water from your hair with another towel. You looked so small, so vulnerable that he couldnât help but gaze at you with his heart breaking in his eyes.
He removed the towel, pushing the stray strands behind your ear. âCan I hug you?â He questioned, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand rested on your knee, his thumb rubbing little circles there, waiting.
The hands you settled on your thighs slowly curled into fists as your emotions overflowed you like a broken dam, your lips quivering in your attempt to fight back the stinging tears. You were scared of him, so terribly scared, but there was a part of you that was still aching for comfort, for the solace that he could only provide. You cast your stare down to your lap, your body trembling as you tried to contain your sobs.
âOh, SweetheartâŠâ He brought you back into his embrace, his lips caressing your temple before he settled his chin on your head. âItâs all right, youâre okay now. Youâre safe with me.â
There was promise in his words, one that you could easily believe if this incident ever happened. But all you could think right then wasâ
How can I truly feel safe with you when youâre no longer the man I know?
âJinwooâŠâÂ
He carefully pulled away, relieved that he could hear your voice again. âYes?â
âThe two men from beforeâŠâ You shakily began, catching the way his body turned still almost immediately at your words. You hadnât gathered enough bravery to hold his gaze yet, but it didnât stop you from forming the question gnawing at your chest. âWhyâŠ? Why did you do that to them?â
It took a second for him to respond, stroking the back of your head. âSweetheartââÂ
âWhy did you kill them?â
His gaze hardened, seemingly conflicted as he mulled over his answer. You werenât sure if he were concerned of how his honesty might affect you, or if he just simply refused to reply, not wanting to reveal more sides of the monster he kept inside. âI was trying to protect you.âÂ
âProtect meâŠ?â Incredulity washed over your face as you watched him rise back to his feet, his demeanor still poised while you were shaking to your core. âIf you wanted to protect me, you couldâve just stopped him. You didnât have toââ
âI had to.â A layer of his patience snapped, his voice turning frighteningly low. No storm was darker than his gaze when he looked down at you, smothering you more than the brimming anxiety inside you. âHe laid his hands on you. On whatâs mine.â
Your heart plummeted to your stomach. The way he said it⊠It was almost as if you were his possession, an object heâd bared his teeth at anyone who dared to touch.Â
He killed Minsung because⊠he couldnât stand seeing another man play with his toy?Â
Your fingers gripped tightly against the tub's edge as gravity seemed to double beneath your feet. âThe other man⊠T-the security guardâŠâ
Jinwoo tightened his jaws, his voice rivaling the frostiness of the blackest winter, a telltale that he had lost a shard of his humanity a long time ago. âI couldnât afford to have a witness.â
Collateral damage. That was how easily he waved it off. A sinless manâs soul, treated as nothing.
The air turned heavy as silence came to join your company. He walked away from you to set away your towel, accidentally catching a reflection of himself in the mirror as he did. The bloodstain was still there, coating his prominent cheekbone, a stroke of crimson over flawless white canvas. He turned on the tap, drenching his fingers with water; his expression remained unfazed. You watched him wipe the dry blood with his thumb as if it were just another stain, not rememberingânot caring overâthe lives he took when he got it.
âI did what I had to do,â Jinwoo uttered, popping open the top buttons of his shirt before he rested his palms on the edge of the sink. His gaze, colder than the oceanâs depths, was glued to the running water. âHe deserved it.â
Deserved it? No one deserved to have their heads blown to pieces! âYouâve gone too farââ
âAnd Iâll do it again.â He met your gaze in the mirror, stifling your breath. âIâll kill anyone who touches you. Youâre mine. Youâll always be mine. No one can have you but me.â
Your fear of him intensified as anger radiated off of him. You couldnât avert your gaze away, feeling like he had you by the throat. The glow in his eyes, the conviction⊠He meant every word.
Heâs insane.
Heâs insane. Heâs insane. Heâs insane.
I need to run. I need to go somewhere. Far, far away from him.
It might have been a rash decisionâfoolish, tooâbut it was what your instinct told you to do, and you were caught too deep in a frenzy to think straight. You tried to return to your feet, your movement hasty, uncoordinated. It was then that you realized you could barely feel your legs.
The panic attack you'd suffered through before had taken a toll on your body, forcing it to betray you. Combined with the terrifying realization of the monster he had becomeâno, the monster he always wasâyour limbs turned feeble no matter how much you tried to steel yourself. Losing your balance, you fell onto the ceramic floor, water saturating your bathrobe the same way horror pervading every line of your face.
No, move. You beseeched yourself, your vision blurring with hot tears. Please, move!
You heard the tap handle turning before his calm, steady footsteps followed. âYou need to rest,â Jinwoo said, his tone leaving you barely any room to argue.
Still, fueled by your will to survive, you shook your head. âNo, I need toââ
âSweetheart.â The sudden firmness in his voice staggered you. It was never a suggestion. It was a command. "Do as I tell you to."
You couldnât do it. You had to leave. Now. The urge for it possessed you stronger than before. With a shot of adrenaline bursting through your system, you pushed yourself off the ground. Youâd crawl your way out of there if you had to. You swore it.
One step. One step away from him was all he allowed you before he captured you with one hand wrapped around your waist, dragging you back to him.
âJinwoo,â you started pleading, your hands fisting the fabric of his shirt. âJinwoo, please, letââ His lean fingers reached toward you, a gentle curtain falling over your eyes. As darkness embraced you, your consciousness began to seep away. âme⊠goâŠâ You fell into his arms, your body limp, your lips ajar as your words died in a whisper.Â
The last thing you witnessed before everything turned pitch black was a pair of glimmering purple orbs replacing the blue in his eyes. ***
Your damp strands soddened the pillow as Jinwoo placed you gently onto the sheets. He brushed his thumb against the tear that slipped past your wet lashes, his face contorting in sadness. He didnât mean to do it, to use his magic on you, but you were panicking again, werenât you? He couldnât bear the thought of you suffering through another attack should it worsen.
âIâm sorry,â he murmured, bestowing a kiss on your cheek. âYouâll feel better tomorrow. I promise.â He covered you with the duvet, letting it shroud you with its warmth before heâd replace it later with his embrace. âIâll be back in a minute, Angel.â
There was one thing he needed to do, something to douse the blazing fire within him.
Peaceful in your slumber, you failed to witness the way his entire expression shifted as his eyes landed once again on the marks around your neck. With his jaw tautened and his eyes gleaming in the darkness, the Lord of the Undead stepped into his realm.
âMy liege,â one of his most faithful shadows, Beru, greeted him with a deep bow as his king graced him with his presence. Endless soldiers stood on their knees behind the generals, awaiting his order.Â
"Heal her bruises. Make sure she's not in any pain. Igris," his voice, enough to make all shadows tremble at the sound, rumbled deeper through the air as he turned to address the other general. âBring him to me.â
The silent knight vanished and returned within the blink of an eye, dragging Lee Minsungâs headless corpse beneath his claws and presenting him like a gift. Jinwoo stood tall with his hands stuck inside his pockets, his gaze piercing, unforgiving.
The raging desire for vengeance rose within him once more, and this time, he knew the perfect way to satisfy it.
âArise.â
Read the deleted scene here
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How to Get Rich Using Astrology:
Jupiter in Aries
You become wealthy by taking bold, fearless action. Your luck shows up when you jump into new ventures without overthinking. To maximize it, follow your impulses and stay physically active to fuel your drive. Trust your gut to lead you to opportunitiesâyour courage will always pay off.
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Talk your way to fortune. Networking, communication, and versatility are your wealth magnets. You thrive when juggling multiple ideas or projects. Keep learning and sharing knowledgeâpublishing, teaching, and media can be major income streams. Stay curious, and your quick mind will always find new avenues.
Jupiter in Cancer
Nurture your wealth by creating safe, supportive spaces. Real estate, family businesses, or caregiving professions attract abundance. Your instincts guide youâfollow your feelings when making financial choices. Emotional security and loyalty to your vision will naturally lead to long-term success.
Jupiter in Leo
Be the star and wealth will follow. Your creative self-expression, confidence, and charisma attract success. Donât hold back from showcasing your talents. Performance, entertainment, and leadership roles are your money-makers. Embrace your spotlightâyour passion inspires others to invest in you.
Jupiter in Virgo
Details are your gold mine. Build wealth by mastering your craft and monetizing practical skills. Your luck shows up when you organize, refine, and serve others. Focus on health, productivity, and precision to attract consistent growth. Efficiency and helpfulness will always be rewarded.
Jupiter in Libra
Partner up to prosper. You thrive in balanced collaborations, art, and aesthetics. Wealth comes when you build harmonious connections and focus on fairness in business. Style, beauty, and diplomacy can be lucrativeâyour charm naturally draws in support and resources when you keep the peace.
Jupiter in Scorpio
Wealth comes from embracing depth and transformation. Investments, psychology, and uncovering hidden truths bring fortune. Donât fear intensityâuse your passion to fuel ambitious goals. Face your fears and work through challenges head-on. Your resilience attracts power and financial stability.
Jupiter in Sagittarius
Think big, travel far, and expand your horizons. Your luck shows up when you take risks, explore new cultures, or share wisdom. Wealth grows when you align with your truthâpublishing, teaching, and global ventures are key. Keep your spirit adventurous and follow your passion for freedom.
Jupiter in Capricorn
You build wealth through hard work and discipline. Authority and respect are your assets. Structure your goals, stay practical, and climb steadily. Professionalism and commitment attract long-term success. Patience is your powerâmaster the grind, and rewards will follow in time.
Jupiter in Aquarius
Innovation brings wealth. Think outside the box, embrace tech, and build communities. Your luck shows up when you challenge norms and pioneer new ideas. Networking and social causes can be profitable when you stay true to your vision. Share your insights to inspire changeâand success.
Jupiter in Pisces
Dream your wealth into reality. Creativity, compassion, and spirituality attract abundance. Follow your intuition and tap into your imagination. Healing work, art, and helping others elevate your life. Let go of rigid plans and trust that flowing with your dreams will manifest prosperity.
Get an Astrology Reading With me : https://www.tumblr.com/astroxrion/784631769533136896/o-my-readings-the-rion-code-o?source=share
#astrology#astronomy#numerology#spirituality#twin flames#spiritual awakening#spiritual growth#spiritual healing#spiritual journey#intrusive thoughts#Aries#Gemini#Taurus#cancer#Leo#Virgo#Libra#Scorpio#sagittarius#capricorn#aquarius#Pisces
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3 More Character Types the World Needs More Of
Or at least, I do.
1. The denied redeemed villain
I need this. So badly right now. So, so, so many âredemption arcsâ are half-assed and carry undertones of guilt by the heroes, gaslighting them into thinking the villain âwasnât all that badâ right before they make some big heroic sacrifice, as if thatâs ever enough to make up for the damage that was done.
But you know what I never see? A villain whoâs done some awful shit, wakes up to reality, tries to apologize and⊠is denied. No, itâs not enough to be sorry. No, youâre not absolved of your crimes just because you cry really hard on your knees. Yes, you have to work for it. Yes, even if you work for it for the rest of your whole life, those you hurt are not obligated to forgive you.
Example that sadly did not happen in canon: Enji Todoroki
2. The liar revealed who loses
This fucker lies and cheats his way into his loverâs arms (and liars revealed are always men, because their love interests are always women put in the place of âbut he tried really hard and you need to forgive him uwuâ unless itâs gay). Similar to above, no, you do not get rewarded just for feeling sorry.
This character builds an entire relationship (and itâs specifically romance that I take such an issue with) on a lie. They are not who they say they are, specifically, they lie about their identity because they know their lover would not let this happen if they knew the truth.
Itâs one thing to lie about something inconsequential, or to lie about something unrelated, but to lie deliberately to present yourself as the perfect suitorâand these are never little white lies, these are usually entirely false identities, or secrets so damning that risking the truth could mean arrest or even deathâjust. Why?
Yeah, okay, you never thought youâd get this far. Cool. You donât have to tell her the truth, but you have to leave before you trick her into sleeping with you.
Itâs just. So squicky. And the lesson always is that he deserves love, that he makes up for it with everything else, that heâs just got a winning personality. She always forgives him, even if they fight about it, itâs so, so predictable.
Examples that did not lose: Aladdin, Evan Hansen
3. The paragon who loses faith
I donât know that we need a whole bunch of these characters, but so many paragons are painted as heroes with unshakable loyalty to their causes and Iâd love to see a devolution of character where they just canât keep smiling and pretending itâs alright. That there is a limit to how much shit they can take.
They donât have to go full villain, but maybe they just stop caring, maybe they get cynical, maybe they just donât show up for work the next day, maybe theyâre not there when theyâre needed the most.
Thereâs a few stories I can think of where the masses realize theyâve screwed up and show the hero that their faith has been rewarded (Nolan Bats being one of them) but I mean really a hero who just cannot take it anymore, throws in the towel, and walks away knowing itâs the hardest thing theyâve ever had to do.
Example: (kind of) Captain America
â
Sorry this list is kind of a bummer. Itâs a bummer kind of week.
#writing#writeblr#writing a book#writing advice#writing resources#writing tools#writing tips#character development#character design#archetypes
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Blood Bag â Chapter 1
"Shh, drink." â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«
âá°. summary. youâre a vampire, you need blood. sylus is the most powerful man on this side of the planet. he has what you need. âá°. cw. youâre a vampire/sylus is a human, yearning sylus, depressed sylus, lonely sylus, luke and kieran are side characters, not unrequited but maybe a little, ANGSTY, erotica, lots of pining here bro, sylus will get more pathetic as the chapters go on TBH
âá°. wc. 9.7k âá°. a/n. alright this is gonna be a several part series (nothing over like 3 or 4), because this baby is heavy packed with story. the story is told in sylusâs pov and this first chapter is a lot of character building for sylus. some things are written in-between the lines here and itâs something youâll just have to figure out as you read more.
also apparently i have a tag list of one? woaahh, crazyyyy.
@phisen hey girl whats up

â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â« to be in power means to wear the crown of the wind - ruling unseen, yet felt everywhere. there is a jurisdiction through those in power; created by them, and mandated by their people. with great power comes great responsibility, but with great power comes great reward as well. some sovereignties relish in riches or authority because that was the reward of power. owning, succeeding. other sovereignties revered obedience and the autocratic nature of their title, because that too was the reward of power. authoritative, commanding. the only reason empires fall, and people scatter is because their sovereignties could not hold up the weight of their responsibilities. it is the well-established, deliberate ones that have continuous reign. but we live in a world filled of trade-offs; so, while reckless sovereignties get to be reckless because their trade-offs are rebellion and destruction, what do the sensible sovereignties get? loneliness. loneliness is their trade off. the most revered sovereignties are only that because they are the most sound and practical. they pay for longevity with isolation, and not by choice, no, but by necessity. trust is earned. happiness is earned. in order to stand today where he does today, the standing sovereignty of onychinus has lived by this philosophy for centuries. besides his two (rather immature) underlings that have pledged their loyalties to him, there is no other soul that has taken up space in his life. sylus was all too venerated as a leader to care about abundance anymore. every trade was always carefully scrutinized by him to ensure that he and his organization received complete satisfaction; but the only deal sylus has never acknowledged is the deal he made trading his heart for his position. since the first day of creating onychinus, he unknowingly sold off the heart once given to him for the reason of structure, for protection. protection was now evermore a necessity than before, though. while threats of danger always loomed in the empire that was the n109 zone, the recent outbreak within neighboring empires was causing tension. the n109 zone was strictly regulated and monitored as per onychinus's rule, so they barely even felt a scratch from the epidemic, but that was all the more reason to invade them. originating from a lost civilization called linkon, the outbreak was said to also have vanished to time. as their empire fell so too their people and the horrifying disease they carried with them. horrifying by today's standards, that is. what was formerly called their "disease" is now more modernly known as vampirism. vampires weren't creatures, no, as they stemmed from humans and could also carry human genetics - but they weren't human enough to be considered normal. back when their first began as a sub-gene (or "subspecies") of humans, they were accepted rather easily into normal civilization. differences were put aside for the sake of community building as "sovereignties" and "empires" didn't exist as we know them today. but as the saying goes, "one bad apple spoils the bunch." veering off the animal supply stashes the vampires kept stored within their solitary caves, a few rogue vampires decided that the next best thing to animal blood was human blood. it was a very practical thought - humans were much more well-nourished and they had more blood to take. surely, their blood was better than pig's blood. surely, the one or two humans that would be sacrificed would understand that this is for hunger. and surely, their communities would understand that they were doing justice to the greater good. and surely enough, it did not end well. the incident in which vampires betrayed the hospitality shared between them and humans for the sake of blood was dubbed "the first bite." at the time, no one had no way of knowing it - but the bite of a vampire wouldn't take a life; rather, it would alter whoever was bitten to turn into a vampire as well. when this revelation was made, things were more than "not well", they were catastrophic.
the details of it are spared now in history books, but the way of the word says that for the better part of the eon there was enough bloodshed to coat forests red.
in the end humans won was what essentially a war with their biggest ally being the sun. most vampires were innocent in any betrayal, but the frenzied attacks that came after the first bite were targeted at the entire sub-gene of vampires, causing panic and retaliation. an unfortunate set of circumstances, really, but since their supposed extinction their existence was only to the world through tales. a cornerstone story of betrayal and human triumph.
that was until now, though.
it was only a few decades ago that a new surge of vampiric traits emerged untraceably in humans. the sun was scalding to their skin, their complexions ghostly and gaunt, their bodies rejecting normal meals. this rise was declared a state of sovereign emergency and due to mistrust and anxiety welling within people, this was where tensions between empires began.
n109, being the biggest trader and distributor of modern weapons and protective gear, were in high demand. the issue was, sylus was not a man who was willing to bargain that easily with other empires even for the sake of an outbreak. what about him and the people he took care of? even if these people are criminals, mobsters, drug dealers, outcasts of society, they were still established in his area. to put into simple terms, sylus was and is a hardass. he could be called greedy and intransigent by as many news outlets as the world wanted, but he was stern and consistent in his ways. which is why he is the sensible sovereign others cannot be.
he gave up his heart for this position. he gave up half his soul to be where he is. and he'll be damned if he loses it all once again. â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â« "boss says no, sorry!" luke chirps from behind his mask. he gives the merchant a small shrug, completely resigned in his words.
"nothing we can do it about it!" kieran chirps in the same tone. the merchant in front of them furrows his brows together in clear disdain. the impatient expression that he wore on his face for the past two hours only evolved into a newfound emotion of anger that threatened to burst. the twins exchange a knowing glance at each other but then quickly refocus their attention onto the greying, tall old man in front of them. "why not?" the merchant asks with restrained tension in his voice. the binders of death reports and files he's lugged over city lines for the simple purpose of showing the head of onychinus were now useless. "do you understand what you're denying right now? it's aid! it's humanitarian assistance! what gives anyone the right to deny people life?" the twins exchange another glance. "we aren't denying anything, sir" kieran responds amusedly while flicking his finger back and forth between him and luke. "we are simply the boss's messengers. nothing we can do about it." "yeah, yeah," luke agrees while crossing his arms, "don't go being all bitch-y to us. take it up with the boss." the merchant clenches his fists until his knuckles turn visibly white. the anger was almost a little humorous to the twins, but they kept their faces in check - even with the crow masks on. "how the hell am i supposed to take it up with him if he won't even see me?! why doesn't he bless negotiators with his presence especially after we've gone through days of his intensive security procedures? is he mad?" kieran stifles a laugh so luke decides to answer for him. "don't take it so personally. boss doesn't er... 'bless' people with his presence if he doesn't believe the conversation is worth his time. you're the fourth outlander this month with a proposition about weapon trading for the outbreak. guess what boss said the other three times? i think you have a good idea." "and so how exactly are us smaller states supposed to acquire artillery to fend off these vicious vampires?! the n109 zone has more than enough weaponry to go around without becoming insufficient themselves." "how would you know that?" kieran asks suddenly, his giggles gone in an instant. luke tilts his head at the merchant and shakes it in displeasure. "you're very bold to assume the business of the n109 zone, especially when the case files you've brought us clearly skew the deaths in your area. the elderly dying of regular, human sicknesses is not an issue. yet many of the death files you've brought make it sound like the 'sickness' was vampirism. you can't half-truth your way into a conversation with boss." the merchant shakes his head rapidly and clutches onto the binder of cases. he flips it open and swipes through the papers with haste, determined to explain and prove himself to the twins for the sake of his dignity. "you don't understand, of course you don't! you haven't read the files fully! the elderly-" "nope," luke interjects, "we're not here for a debate. like we said, boss gave orders and we're relaying them. when boss says no, you take a leave." he pats kieran on the back once with a small laugh, an indication telling the brother he had to get the guards this time. kieran sighs softly and steps aside for a moment while luke continues his argument with the merchant. he clears his throat, steps into position, and flails his arms while making cawing sounds to the air.
the immediate embarrassment that flooded kieran was almost enough to make him stop but the incoming of mechanical birds hidden away in the corners of the estate told him he did enough. the birds swooped in and pinched the various corners of the merchant's clothes before dragging him away with disgusting strength. "w..what's happening? get these birds off of me!" he yells while scrambling to catch his flying papers. the twins simply watch the scene with a bit of awe in their gaze. the snail trail of reports falling from the binders, the panicking merchant that were glad was finally out of their hair, and the mechanical crows all flying and pulling in uniform fashion. they giggled. "see? i told you our training on the birds worked," luke cheesed while nudging kieran, "they know our calls now, we're like crow papas to them." kieran stares at his twin for a moment and just very subtly shakes his head in disbelief. "you're weird." "you too, crow head."
"look at what you're also wearing on your head right now." "hey... no bickering! boss wants us to report back to him soon. let's get the crows to pick up and throw away the papers." kieran sighs in surrender and nods. it didn't take long for the mechanical bird army to come flying back from around the corner and into the common room the merchant waited in. with a few more embarassming squawks from the twins, the birds begin picking up the left-over, tattered piece of papers that had clearly gone through a lot from the journey to the n109 zone. "hey luke," kieran mumbles while tidying up the papers on the long, matte-coloured table nearby. "maybe we shouldn't throw these out? boss didn't get to see most of what that guy brought. it might be good if we bring it to him." luke stands straight and tilts his head. "why's that?" "well if these are legitimate death files from states that are suffering from vampirism, then it'd be good private intel for boss to examine. maybe it'd help him gain more... yknow... intimate insight on what's happening beyond the n109. not just bullshit TV news and all that hargon-jargon." "i mean..." luke murmurs while scratching the side of his mask. it wasn't like sylus to give time of day to outsider intel. he preferred getting it his own way, impractical or not. but death reports were a new one. "if he doesn't want them then he can just throw them out. no harm no foul?" kieran nods in agreement and turns back to the papers in hand. time to go find boss.
â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«
"come in," sylus murmurs while not sparing the door of his office a glance. his eyes were trained on the case of guns that was sat up on his desk. he takes a long sip of his herbal tea while tracing his fingers over the cool metal that shaped each ridge of his babies. but his attention was quickly stolen away though, as the noise of ruffling of papers emerged through the door.
"hey boss," kieran greets first while holding the door open for his brother. they both had a handful of messy, floppy papers in their hands that almost threatened to slip out of their order again. sylus quirks a brow as the twins set down the papers causally beside his gun case and step back. "what is this?" he asks with a neutral yet slightly annoyed tone. he slowly closes the gun case and looks up at the twins with a boring expression. he looked exhausted, almost. "death reports from the merchant that came in earlier," luke chuckles nervously, "he dropped a few pages as he left, and we thought you might like to see them." sylus furrows his brows slightly but not out of annoyance. this wasn't like the twins, to bring him something from the negotiators that popped in and out of his estate. "why? didn't i tell you two to dismiss him? why do i need his papers?" "well you don't need the papers," kieran adds on, "but we've never received death reports from any state or empire up until now. it's like an inside look on the effects of vampirism going on. we know you're old boss, but you're not old enough to remember the first vampires, right?"
sylus crosses his arms and looks to the side briefly. "no," he simply answers. "how do you know these aren't faked in some way? or completely illegitimate? what if they're from some other empire that isn't that merchant's place of origin?" the twins look at each other and shrug. kieran speaks up first. âwell we donât. we know some of them are but the rest looked real when we went through them.â
luke follows up. âlook boss, you donât have to give it a second thought if you donât want to. you look pretty tired anyway, have you been getting any sleep?â
kieran stands on his tippy toes to peer over sylusâs desk. a wave of gratitude washes over him as his eyes catch a glimpse of the familiar green liquid in sylusâs cup. âhey, youâre drinking the herbals we gave you. theyâre good arenât they? youâve been needing something to calm you down, boss.â
sylus glances over to the steaming mug on the edge of his desk. with slight hesitation he picks it up and brings it to his lips for a small sip. the twins watch him quietly, almost in awe that sylus was actually enjoying something they suggested. the cup finds its way back onto the desk as sylus picks up the reports right next to them. he heedlessly flips through them, eyes scanning every few words on every other page but not fully registering any of the contents. with a sigh, he throws them back onto his desk and waves his hand.
"this is an afterthought to all the weapon modifications and security checks we're running right now. these fucking⊠vampires - they're making my job harder than it needs to be. and now i have people coming in and out the n109 zone like it's a game of hopscotch, begging for my mercy like im some sort of fucking saint." sylus squints his eyes and bares his teeth in frustration. the empire, the organization he built up from the ground wasn't charity - even in times of crisis.
all these people were cruel. a life so distant to him now still prominently held the ache of rejection in his chest. why does he have to help them? who helps sylus now?
sensing the frustration and indignation welling up in sylus, the twins quickly step forward and snatch the reports off the desk to put on a side table, away from sylus's immediate gaze. "boss, hey, hey, take a deep breath," luke coos, "you're so tense today, is everything alright? when was the last time you slept?"
kieran glances between his brother and sylus and frowns behind his mask. "it's been more than today, you've been at your wits' end for a long while now, boss. we can't remember the last time you⊠you weren'tâŠ" kieran trails off, feeling as if he were over-stepping in his words. he steps back as a subtle sign of submission, but sylus notices the sudden tension between his underlings. he sighs and thuds back onto his desk chair. his head was buried in the large palms of his hands as an exasperated groan left his lips.
"look⊠it's not something the two of you could understand unless you were in my position," sylus murmurs into his palms. he pulls away from his hands and lays back in his chair, arms tense on their respective rests. "don't go worrying about me when you both have your own responsibilities to adhere to. the n109 zone, onychinus, me, i wouldn't have lived this far if i wasn't okay enough. you two are naive to these feelings. you have your youth, each other, and aren't constantly endangered by your line of work. i make sure of that."
"and you have none of that?" luke mumbles rather somberly, his head tilted down to the floor.
"of course not," sylus replies, "you two have known me long enough to know that. now -, " sylus stands to full height from his chair and briefly looks at the twins before focusing elsewhere. the obvious dejection in their postures made him feel bad, but knowing it was because of him made him feel worse. yet for some reason, an apology, explanation, or anything of the sort couldn't come out of his mouth to reassure them." - i'll need you two to leave. i need some time to myself. have the guards initiate lockdown and get ready for bed. the estate should be quiet."
the twins don't bother picking up their heads and simply nod at sylus's words. luke leads out and kieran follows him through the office door. the tense air they were just suffocated in stalked them even through the corridors of the estate, far from where sylus was. as they pressed for an elevator to descend, kieran turns to luke and lets out a small noise to get his attention. "what do you think?" he asks rather neturally.
luke returns kieran's gaze and takes a moment. "i think boss is depressed."
not long after the twins left his isolated office, sylus returns to work inspecting the weapons on his desk. they were placed so gently in their matte-case after their polishing and refinement, which scratched an itch in sylus's perfectionist brain. these were new prototypes that underwent intensive scrutiny before landing in sylus's hands.
the only difference about these prototypes was that they weren't regular technological maintenances on older weaponry; but rather, modifications made on the best artillery within onychinus. this case of guns were only scrap pieces of what was currently in network within his bases. and this was what other nations were at the door begging him for. weapons made specifically to fend off vampires. alloyed in the coldest type of steel, onychinus' series of vampiric artillery was nothing short of effective as they were nothing short of perfection.
sylus slowly grazes the edges of his guns with his fingertips, reveling in the sleek feel of them before picking up the smaller of the three. he holds it up, points the gun at the end of the room and stills in his stance. the gun was snug in his palm and surged power through sylus's veins. it felt good, it felt more than good. he produced perfection again and that accomplishment was especially honorable when knowing that the rest of the world was in trying times while he, he was succeeding. a brief but telling smirk tugs at sylus's lips. he relaxes and puts the gun back in its mold in the case. while closing the top of the case, his eyes flit to the side to the scattered reports on his side table. he should really get rid of those, he thinks. they're a ridiculous eyesore, he thinks. something as inevitable as death shouldn't be used as a guilty-trip, he thinks. but his hands betray his thoughts as they reach out to the discarded pile. in a similar fashion to earlier, sylus skims through the papers with mild interest and moderate annoyance. he wasn't sure why he felt a boiling upset in him whenever he was reminded of the outside world, but his cryptic mental problems were of no use to figure out when he had real-world problems. the pile almost reached its end when sylus's attention was piqued by something ... familiar? he wasn't sure what exactly was familiar about this report. it wasn't the name, nor the date and place of birth. it wasn't the occupation nor address; nor was it the reason and specifications of death. it actually wasn't any personal details of this person, he noted, but rather something more tangible. their face. her face. sylus bores his eyes at the rectangular photo of the woman on the top left of the report. he isn't sure if he's ever seen her before, but no other face in the reports had warranted a reaction from him like this. his eyes scan over the full document once more before narrowing at the place of birth. philos. if there was one nation sylus hated with vigor it was philos. hate was a strong word for him. even to his mortal enemies he wouldn't say he hated them - more like pitied them for their passion of hating him. philos was the only exception from this moral code of hate, though, as the birthplace of sylus's hate was from philos itself.
he quelled his anger quickly and focused back on the womanâs face. what was it about her that provoked his interest and why did the fact she was from philos leave him unsettled? the questions floating around in his head were suddenly frustrating, causing sylus to grit his teeth and throw the paper back onto the desk.
as if he didnât have enough stress and paperwork in his life. as if philos hadnât meddled in his life enough.
he groans softly and firmly picks up his weapons case off of his desk. he strides to the middle of the room and held the case up, eyes scanning his surroundings for a familiar bird.
âmephisto,â sylus calls with a scratchy voice, âtake the case back to base.â
a dark crow flies out from the corner and caws as itâs claws grip onto the heavy case with concerning strength. the mechanical bird flaps its wings and glances down at sylus, its beady red eyes tracing his figure.
mephisto, in a way, was the only thing that could be above sylus.
the bird flaps in place for a moment before flying toward the office door with its package. sylus watches mephisto with a twitching lip, a few more words pending in his head.
âand mephisto⊠tell base those guns fucking suck.â
â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«
the atmosphere was quite mellow. sunday was the best day to visit the bar; all the nerduwells and wannabe vigilantes in the n109 zone had exhausted their energy for the week, leaving the streets and establishments somewhat peaceful.
somewhat.
the recent epidemic of vampirism in neighboring sovereignties caused a spike of anxiety even here. even if the n109 was one of the most established empires in modern day, humans were prone to worry about what-ifs.
what-if n109 defenses werenât enough to stop an army of blood-thirsty vampires?
what-if the security checks done on visitors overlooked someone?
what if the demand for the n109 zone's involvement in the ongoing epidemic increased, resulting in them making enemies with former allies? what if, what if, what if? but sylus didn't have the energy to worry about the what ifs. he only worried about what is. what is happening in onychinus's bases? well that would be massive weapon modification and revamping. what is sylus's role in the ongoing vampiric invasion? his only role is acting as the head of onychinus and as a protector of the n109 zone. what is currently happening in the main estate sylus worked in? well that would be a reinstation of a better, more thorough built-in security system.
which is why sylus was stuck here in a nearby bar that he frequented. well, frequented is a strong word - he more so popped in and out from time to time and only racked up a tab when he really needed it. the bartenders knew him, of course, and upon seeing the laundry list of a tab he was currently racking up, they felt a little concerned. but sylus was in no mood to talk, drinking was his conversation right now.
one shot empty meant give me another. two shots empty meant give me another. three shots empty meant give me another. four-maybe this language sylus was speaking was limited... but the bartenders understood it well. sylus puts down another shot glass and groans. "give me another. balkan this time, no chasers." "the balkan isn't meant for straight consumption," the bartender informs rather straightforwardly, "we can offer you finger foods with it, on the house." sylus flits his intense gaze from his glass up to the bartender. the frown on his lips and the twitch of his eyebrows communicates more than the empty glasses this time around. the bartender turns to his female co-worker. "balkan, no chasers." the 57th shot is when sylus called it quits. a man of his stature, strength, and age could not be toppled over easily. dragons drank for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on occasion. he was just reliving those days, it seemed. sylus stands and rubs his eyes in exhaustion. he wasn't sure how long he'd been sat at the bar for but the crowd that was here when he first stepped in was now entirely replaced. his gaze was only slightly distorted, but it was enough to make him stumble here and there. he reaches into his shirt pocket and slides out his black card with his fingertips, but is met with refusal from the bartenders. "we have your card on file," the female bartender smiled. "would you like us to call your drivers to take you back to your estate, sir? your renovations are most likely done by now." sylus raises an eyebrow at her. fuck, he must've mumbled on about his current pathetic life affairs to these poor workers and had somehow given them his driver's numbers. but the usual slight sense of embarrassment that would creep up on him was sputtered out by intoxication. he nodded slowly at the girl and sat back down as she left to the back for what he assumed would be a weird call to his chauffeurs. he waited for a period of time completely unknown to him. was the alcohol really screwing with his head this much? 57 was lightweight to him most days, but these days as of late weren't like most days. sure, the vampire epidemic had been going on for a few decades now, but the true climax of the crisis was just now beginning. meaning the true number of headaches sylus got was also increasing. there was a direct correlation to him. he looks down at his hands and frowns. in a drowsy, hazed state, a clear and lucid thought parts all other muddled words. what have i become? his mind goes back to the nonsensical fog that was there prior. it was only until he heard the familiar voice of the female bartender telling him that his ride was outside that he finally focused. he stood, strode assuredly through the doors of the bar, and exited the establishment with none of the emotions he amassed inside left behind. after a short, silent car ride, his destination was reached. the security system of the estate was fully renovated once sylus stepped inside. new DNA sensors, identification scans, ID processors, infrared lights, and an abundance of other authentication protection devices were established. all of which sylus knew by heart. he was the one who had ordered these to be built, after all. this type of security was what he wanted in the near future for all the vulnerable spots within the n109 zone. vampires aren't going to thrive in his empire if he has anything to say about it. sylus only makes it a few steps into the estate before he's beckoned. "boss, boss!" luke and kieran chirp from around the hall. they almost topple over each other trying to get to sylus first. "boss, look at these new ID cards base gave us!" luke giggles, "we had to take a whole shoot for these but they got our best angles!" the twins hold up two ID cards each, one with their masks on and one with them off. it was almost endearing to think that only sylus knew what they really looked like.
"yeah! and because of them, our faces can be sensed without taking our masks off! these new scanners were really worth the money!" kieran adds on with an obvious smile lilting his voice.
but the excitement in the twins' voice quickly die down as they noticed sylus's hazed, apathetic stare toward them. they slowly lower the ID cards and avert their gaze from such a dreadful sight.
"boss?" luke murmurs, "you alright?"
sylus keeps quiet. his eyes were half-lidded and pink and his stance was uneven. he looked a little annoyed but was mostly uncaring of what the twins had to say. the tension that always followed sylus was back now, and at his silence, the twins back away and apologize profusely before vanishing around the corner.
"boss is drunk," kieran simply remarks, childish joy gone from his voice.
sylus turns back to the corridor and walks himself to where an elevator was awaiting his arrival. he steps in, clicks a floor button, and was swiftly taken up directly into his bedroom. his button-up came off first and then his belt alongside his pants. he then slips out of his boxers, shoes, and then socks, all before stepping into his grandiose bathroom for a shower.
while sylus's mouth was quiet this entire time, his head was anything but. a looming sense of forlorn simmered in his chest as his thoughts journeyed him through regret. being in this position with his much power was what he wanted from day one as a baby dragon. and with that dream ripped away from his former self, why did it feel so terrible now to pursue it?
maybe this outbreak incident of vampires was what was needed to remind him of how vulnerable he is. his trade-off for stable, consistent power was this dread that he was feeling now. he once flew through skies free as a bird, now the closest thing he had to free flight was mephisto. maybe that's why he likes crows. they take the flight he can no longer chase. the shower turns off 45 million thoughts later and sylus steps out just as dazed as he stepped in. those shots were something persistent. even his tolerance was withering away, it seemed. he groans softly as he grabs a towel and dries his limbs. every movement felt ache-y and sloppy, but his body was soon dry enough to slip into his robe. before continuing his routine, he takes one good, hard look at himself in the mirror. that was him, surely, but why? why did that have to be him? sylus, leader of onychinus and protector of the n109 zone, a sovereignty of power and advancement. those titles felt isolating, for some reason. but that wasn't anything new. isolation was nothing new.
before he could vomit at the dizziness caused by focusing his eyes too hard, he steps back from the mirror and rubs his head. slowly, sylus's body moves out of the bathroom and into the main part of the bedroom. he slugs toward his bed and sits on the edge before fully twisting his body on the mattress. he doesn't bother lugging the blankets on top of his body, in fact, his skin was scalding. even the robe felt uncomfortable tied around his body like this, but he thought against removing it.
a familiar sense frustration grew within him again. the mere thought of being uncomfortable in his own body was unsettling, it only served his insecurities about becoming vulnerable. he slowly picks up his hand and rubs the side of his face.
"what the hell is this feelingâŠ" he mumbles to himself.
with a resigned sigh, he lets his hand fall back to his side. he closes his eyes and tilts his head back on his pillow. a mixture of exhaustion and pain simmers within his body as he submits to fatigue and let's sleep sweep away his foggy mind.
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the n109 was special in the fact that there was no morning. everyone had their own sleep schedules, but the entire empire was nocturnal, in a sense. sylus himself didn't need much sleep. unlike most humans that needed seven to eight hours per night, he only needed about three or four to fully function, but he could also go days without it. that's why when sylus woke up eleven hours after his night of drinking, he felt a little confused. he squints at the clock on his bedside table to fully ensure that he wasn't imaging the time. no, it had actually been eleven hours. damn, his tolerance was really degrading. he pushes himself off the bed and steps into his slippers. he simultaneously felt better and worse from the night before. his headache was gone for the most part, but the heat under his skin was still there. actually, his skin was so hot that it was a bit itchy. sylus scratches at his face for a few moments before deciding it was somehow the consequence of drinking so much. the alcohol boiling in his body was probably making his body temperature rise, causing this weird sensation. he walks to the bathroom, hoping a cold shower might help mediate this problem. in the back of his head, the myriads of labor waiting for him today laid. he had to run inspections on his new security system to ensure its upkeep, and once he was satisfied, he would go to base to discuss a more widespread implementation of it.
but despite being awake for all of four minutes, it was seeming like nothing was going to plan today. sylus steps into his bathroom and disrobes himself with one tug at his belt. he moves to the shower and turns on the water before staring at himself in the mirror. as he waited for the temperature of the water to drop to the coldest setting, his eyes traced his bare form in the mirror, top to bottom, over and over again. it was almost like he was judging himself. but something catches his eye on his third round of scrutiny. he steps closer to the mirror and leans into his reflection, eyeing down his skin with suspicion. he narrows his gaze on his neck and almost flinches back in shock as he spots something inconceivable. four scarred over circles on the side of his neck, a bit darker than his normal skin tone. a vampire bite. his hands quickly come up to grasp at the patch of skin. he runs his fingertips over the blemishes, but he feels nothing but smoothness there like normal. the bites were healed, but they weren't there the night before, he would know.
vampire bites didn't heal that quickly, but sylus's body was strong enough to recover in record time. in fact, most his scars disappeared after a day or so - but that only further supported the idea that these bites happened recently. most definitely in the eleven hours he abnormally slept. this realization makes sylus stumble back until his back presses against the bathroom wall. "is this some sort of joke? are the twins doing this?" he mutters to himself in disbelief. "how... there's no possible way a vampire could've gotten into the n109 zone, there's no possible way one got into my... my fucking house." a wave of fear washed over sylus. fear was an emotion long forgotten by his brain but in this moment, with the possibility that the security of the entire n109 zone was jeopardized, he felt true fear. quickly, he swipes his robe off of the floor and turns off the shower. he leaves the bathroom and scours his room with intensity, throwing various furniture and items around like a man gone mad.
where was the little piece of shit? how was he supposed to know at what point a vampire got into his estate - bypassing all his new security - and then feasted on him like he was free meat. the mere idea of his privacy and defense being knocked down so easily after everything... everything he's done, it was insanity. there was no vampire in his room, obviously. he figured that as soon as he flipped the bed upside down only to find his bedframe. but there was the entirety of the estate left. in fact, there was the twins left. the thought of the two suffering from their transformation shot panic through sylus, causing him to fly toward the elevator in his room and bang its button to beckon it. at least his body was strong enough to repel the actual mutation of vampirism, and even then, he was suffering obvious side effects. but the twins? they were just boys to him; they weren't anything close to being capable of handling that type of pain. sylus rides the elevator down a few floors to where the twins' room were and then bolts out at soon as the doors open. please, please, please. luke. kieran. bang. bang. bang. "luke, kieran! are... are you guys in there?!" bang. bang. bang. "luke! kier-" "boss, what the hell?!" sylus turns his head toward the end of the hall where luke and kieran were standing. they wouldn't lie, sylus was scaring them a little. a wave of relief washes over sylus as he sees their normal, healthy forms. albeit, they were flinching a little but they were normal. "you two..." sylus whispers, "you two are okay, right?" the twins glance at each other and then turn back to sylus. they nod. "y...yeah?" kieran stutters unsurely. "why? did something happen?" sylus tenses but shakes his head profusely. he lowers his arms off their adjacent bedroom doors and steps slowly toward them. "no, no, nothing happened. i just... had a bad dream about you two. i... wanted to make sure you guys were safe." the twins make another glance to each other. "really boss?" luke remarks, "you had a nightmare? that's never happened to you before. are you sure you're okay?" sylus almost wants to smile at luke's naivety, but he remembers the situation he is in. "that's what you're focusing on?" kieran chimes in, sounding rather happy. "boss is back to caring about us! yay! we don't have to worry about being orphan crows anymore!" luke shoves kieran's side with his elbow, reprimanding him for so openly talking about their fear of abandonment to sylus like this. "ow!" sylus watches the two for a moment, thanking the skies that they weren't harmed. but this revelation opened up a new basket of questions. why did this vampire only target him? were they only trying to take him out? before he could ponder on these questions for any longer, he once again reminds himself that it was only him who knew about this - as far as he was aware. at the very least luke and kieran didn't know, and he intended to keep it that way. "guys," sylus murmurs with tension creeping up in his voice. he tries to quell it, but he couldn't exactly ignore the fact that he had been bitten. so fucking stealthily too. "guys, i'm going to need you two to stay in your rooms for today. i... have to run security checks on the estate and i just need... i just need to go through everything alone. no distractions." "hey we won't dis-" "please," sylus pleads, "please just listen to me. your chores at base today are cancelled, stay in your rooms." the twins seemed genuinely shocked at sylus's uncharacteristic begs. for the first time in a while, the despondent aura that sylus held was gone, now replaced with something they couldn't name. they felt an urge to listen. "okay boss, we'll stay in our rooms," kieran murmurs. luke doesn't verbally respond but nods. they passed by sylus and both headed into their respective rooms, leaving sylus alone in the hall. with a deep breath, sylus looks to the elevator and smiles in anger.
"i'm gonna find you... and then i'm gonna kill you with my bare hands." â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«â«
desperate was the understatement of the century. sylus was in absolute shambles. he checked every fucking camera outside of his estate and nothing came about. he checked every security verification, every sensor, every authentication that was implemented in his estate and still nothing. but his estate wasn't his only concern. he called base to inquiry about the border security checks and for a list of every single person who entered or exited the n109 zone within the last two days. every single name on there was investigated on thoroughly, and still nothing. he was running on fumes at this point. despite his long, restful slumber, restful was the last thing sylus felt. the horror that ensued upon seeing his bites and then the fury that followed it were draining to his already exhausted body. but he could get no peace until he figured out what the actual hell was going on. the good news was, there didn't seem to be any reports of vampire bites within the n109 zone, as well as no reported cases of vampire sightings. that meant whoever was doing this wasn't attacking other people.
maybe not yet, but sylus would rip their limbs apart tortuously before they even got the chance.
this also meant this vampire was probably the only vampire within the n109 zone. statistically speaking, if there were a group of vampires that had infiltrated the empire, someone or some security check would've at least raised one warning flag and sent off a tip-off to base. but there were no such reports at base. in the same way the twins being safe drove sylus equally mad as he was relieved, these new findings did the same. "so you're telling me..." sylus chuckles incredulously under his breath while flitting his gaze between the various screens in front of him, "that little bitch snuck into my land, my territory, and into... ha... my bedroom... to bite me and only me. eager way to assert your dominance... going straight for the top dog." sylus was talking to himself as he had been the last several hours of investigating. he was equal parts fearful, frustrated, impressed, and an innumerable of other feelings. how was he supposed to catch what was seemingly a new breed of ghost vampire? and how was he supposed to feel secure in his position - in his home - knowing that a vampire had snuck into the n109 zone and infiltrated his estate, all while bypassing security. the disbelief of a smile on his face morphed into a grit of anger. sylus stands up from his chair, almost knocking it over with force, and clenches his fists. the security room in his estate was dark and was only illuminated by the white and blue lights that came off of the camera screens. this new room was a part of the mansion upgrade, and yet all of its capabilities served fruitless. "fuck, i can't do anything. i can't... do anything. how can't i do anything?!" sylus's voice was getting progressively louder and more frustrated with every realization. arguably the most powerful man on this side of the world couldn't do anything. he begins to pace. "i can't let anyone know," he murmurs to himself, "fuck, if anyone finds out then my entire empire comes down. if it was found out that a vampire infiltrated the n109 zone and my estate under my watch, it'll be absolute mayhem. i can't. fuck, what am i supposed to do?" the fumes must've been working overtime in sylus's brain, because an idea that makes him halt pops up. "base." he rushes to the intercom by the computerized table in the security room and makes an urgent call to the base of onychinus. he waits for a few seconds anxiously but soon hears a familiar voice. "yes, sir?" one of the heads officers of base answer, recognizing sylus's call. "all the vampiric prototypes you have, and i mean every single weapon, send them over to my main estate. i'm giving you all 2 hours maximum to send them or else i'm coming down there myself and ripping all your contracts in front of your faces. then iâm kicking you to the curb."
âbut sir, i thought you said you werenât satisfiââ
âsend. them.â
the resolution in sylusâs voice was something not to be trifled with. the voice on the other end keeps quiet for a moment but then responds the next.
âthey will be there in the hour, sir.â
the officer was wrong. they were delivered in the half hour.
the sheer amount of prototypes that were hauled down to sylusâs security room was impressive. sylus watched every single second of the process until every shipment that base brought with them was stashed in the room. they were organized by weapon and then by size, having all the small handguns in one corner and then all BMG sniper rifles in another corner. the room was an eyesore of metal cases, but each case housed a weapon that could potentially kill that vermin of a vampire with efficiency and ease. the sight brought premature retribution to sylus's soul. god forbid he comes face to face with the poor creature. he'll commend them for being so stealthily and intelligent but then kill them in the next breath he'd take. killing so intimately was not sylus's forte, but that's what he felt reduced to at this point.
after base made their final rounds of delivery, sylus was left alone in the security room with his new weapons of vengeance. he steps forward toward one of the cases in the silver section of the weaponry. silver was said to be a vampire's weakness, but also hard to source. carefully, he opens one of cases housing a silver assault rifle and admires the shine on the barrel. it came with silver high-caliber bullet tips and a silencer. in one go, he found his main weapon. sylus smiles to himself and stands with the case, leaving the rest of the cases in the security room for now. he would put those to use at some point, but overloading himself with weapons around the estate would only cause him more trouble. he needed one good gun. he now has one good gun. despite mumbling to himself for the past few hours and feeling like he was slowly going insane, sylus was now quiet in the ride up to his office. his vulnerability was now masked by his armory of weapons, and he would put all of them to use if needed. walking into the room, sylus places the case down on his desk and looks around suspiciously. being paranoid was new too, wasn't it? slowly, he strides around and pulls one of the cabinet drawers to take out a small handheld mirror. he's refused to look at himself since he first found the bite. he raises the mirror and angles it toward his neck, right over the area where the bite was. the scar was almost completely gone now but the discoloration was just faintly there. he could almost visualize the arch of the vampire's teeth sinking into his skin and making him bleed a dinner out for them. it makes him shudder and groan in frustration. quickly, he places the mirror down and swallows. as much as she wanted to get to the bottom of this now, he needed to wait. there was no finding an untraceable vampire. he sighs and slowly lowers himself onto his desk chair. the heat and dizziness that plagued him that morning was practically non-existent now. other than his frustration, sylus felt no different physically. it brought him some sense of reassurance to know he couldn't easily be transformed, but not everyone was like him. in fact, luke and kieran were still practically hidden away in their rooms because of that very fact. "mm, god im exhausted," sylus rumbled with a hand rub to his temples. when his eyes adjust open again they catch a glimpse of something on his desk. he furrows his brows and reaches out for the stray paper, bringing it up to his face. it's that woman again. the one from philos. the one dead. he frowns. "you're torturing me too, yknow?" he chuckles hollowly, "why can't i seem to... know you? you should know your people were horrible pieces of shit. were you a horrible piece of shit like them? you probably were, everyone there was. everyone but..." he trails off, a distant memory in his head failing to reach him. "i don't know actually. hopefully you weren't as miserable as the people of philos. you're too..." he trails off again and stares at the woman's picture. "too kind-looking."
sylus continues to stare at the report for a few more moments before realizing he was talking to himself again-or rather, to a piece of paper. a death certificate. he places the paper down and tilts his head back, softly laughing at himself. "i've gone fucking crazy."
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over a week had passed since the initial incident. every "morning" to "night", sylus spent his time obsessively watching the cameras in his home and scouring the area with his rifle. the twins were quarantined in their rooms for hours on end at a time, and neither of them got a straight answer as to why. right now, sleep was not an option. losing his empire was more important than losing sleep, and this one son-of-a-bitch was threatening the safety of his entire sovereignty. sylus's days dragged on endlessly with routine checks and guarding keeping his body awake at every hour. as much as he hated to admit it, the lack of sleep was genuinely getting to his already muddled brain, making it harder to think properly and function. his human body had limitations his former self didn't, it seemed. his movements were fussy and staggered. he thought it had been days but what if it had been weeks since the bite? was he really worried about something that happened so long ago? he could no longer be sure. but the safety of his empire, of luke and kieran, of his life was not a joke. sylus makes his 73rd round down the same hall that his office was in. the mess inside was cleaned sometime during his manic state, but he couldn't properly remember. his legs grew tired and ache-y from all of his patrolling. it felt like he was being tortured but all of this was his decision to do. slightly defeated, even more-so exhausted, sylus slid down the wall of the hallway and held his silver rifle tightly in his hands. he could still patrol with his eyes of course, just right here. his eyes moved back and forth from one end of the hall to the other, slowly, attentively, drowsily. he kept his sharp ears open for any noises but all he heard was the ambience of his estate. he had worn himself out to the bone. sylus was more susceptible than he thought. his eyes closed.
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"boss! boss! boss wake up! boss!"
sylus's eyes shoot open to see luke and kieran standing over him. their gloved hands were firm on his shoulders and arms as the two shook him with vigor. "boss! there's someone in the estate! boss!" a surge of panic and adrenaline pump into sylus's veins. he quickly stands to his feet and tightens his grip on the gun. "where?! where?! tell me, where are they?!" "we caught them!" kieran yells. "they were in the security room, but we brought them to your office and caught them!" luke adds on. sylus's eyes widen. he figured the twins brought whoever the hell this was to his office because it was the most heavily secured placed in the estate, so the idea of this perpetrator being just a few doors down made sylus triumph. he would thank the twins later. "stay right here. don't even think about moving an inch." this newfound sense of both relief and excitement empowered sylus and every footstep he took toward his office door. slowly, carefully, he unlocks the door with his facial and finger scans before ensuring the twins were still in their same position and then clicking it open. the gun was held up, ready to fire at any given moment once he saw the source of his torture behind his door. the door opens fully and then closes behind him. his eyes scour the area before landing on the anomaly in the room.
a person.
a girl. you. tied up and blinfolded in the corner of the room, unmoving but breathing. he grins and inches closer to you until a mere few feet away. "thought you could play around with me?" he gruffs. "you don't know what you've gotten yourself into. who are you?" you don't answer. he notices your breathing is slow and a bit labored, which was strange given your circumstances. what was stranger was the complexion on you wasn't gaunt or grey-out like a vampire at all, but you still werenât supposed to be here. sylus narrows his eyes at you and grits his teeth. if you weren't going to answer he would get the answers himself. he leans down to you and pulls the blindfold around your head off with an aggressive yank. the moment it's gone you look up at him, eyes half lidded and drained of energy. soulless. empty. sylus knew that type of look in someone's eye. the look before death. "who are you and how did you manage to bypass my security?" sylus repeats, tone just slightly softer. "answer me or i'll torture it out of you." he watches you open your mouth only for no noise to come out. you were obviously struggling, but with what? sylus didn't know. sensing there was no immediate threat, sylus lowers his gun and knits his brows together in confusion and agitation. "what is it?" he asks.
no answer. "are you playing some type of game? you bypass my security, sneak into my estate, and what? now you're dying? fucking joke right?" you open your mouth again but no noise. this time around, sylus spots it. your teeth, sharp canines on both the top and bottom rows. vampire. a low chuckle escapes him. this was near unbelievable. "vampire. you're the goddamn vampire who bit me and somehow got away with it for all this time. i should thank you, though, you taught me im not as weak as i thought i was and that you're not as strong as i thought you were." you twitch slightly and cough. "b...blood... p...please..." you sputter out in an extremely hoarse voice.
sylus was almost taken aback by your words. you were asking for blood. from who? from him? he didn't believe you had the audacity, but it seems like you did. "blood? blood?" he laughs heartily and clutches his chest. "what makes you think i want to feed you and keep you alive? do you hear yourself?â the surprises just kept coming as tears fell from your face. your clenched expression and obvious pain were a sight to behold, a sight that sylus couldn't exactly bring himself to enjoy. he didn't like seeing torture, if he killed, he did so instantaneously to avoid torturing anyone. but you looked like you suffered just as much as sylus had. he frowns in disgust at his empathy but it was all quickly replaced by keen interest. he squints his eyes at you and feels an unsettling sense of familiarity crowd his chest. where... where did he know his feeling from? sylus quickly stands and rushes over to his desk to grab the rogue piece of paper that never left from there. he brings it back to your form and holds it up to compare the faces. it was uncanny, unreal, unbelievable.
you were the woman in the death reports? nothing made sense anymore. maybe this was the final stage of insanity. but before sylus could even register another thought he hears your voice again, this time more broken and desperate. "blood... p..please blood... please." he stilled. what was he supposed to do? at this point he knew he couldn't let you die, not with all this mystery around you, but what he supposed to do?
you cry out again, using all of your left energy to plead. "pl..please... blood... please! p..please!" he slowly puts down the paper and stares at you. despite knowing this was you in the death report, he still couldn't shake off the feeling he knew you from somewhere. he could almost feel you. deep inside his chest somewhere he felt your presence there.
you weren't some ordinary "person" that was for sure.
he almost thought against it, but his body moved before his brain could catch up. slowly, he crouches down and inches toward you up until your face was hovering over his shoulder. he cups your head from behind and pushes you further into his form. "shh, drink."

a/n: thanks if u made it this so far, lol. chapter 2 soon!
#lads x reader#lads#love and deepspace#love and deepspace x reader#lads mc#l&ds#l&ds x reader#lnds#l&ds mc#love and deepspace sylus#sylus x reader#lnds sylus#lads sylus#sylus#sylus smut#l&ds sylus#lnds smut#lnds x reader#vampiric#vampire#sylus x mc#sylus love and deepspace#loveanddeepspace#love and deep space#love and deepspace smut#lads smut#lnds mc#angst#fluff#navydoves
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I can honestly say that my favorite part of Yellowjackets Season 3 was the evolving dynamic between Misty and Natalie. Their relationship has always been intriguing, but after the Season 3 finale, itâs taken on an entirely new weight. Iâve already found myself going back to their scenes in Season 1âs adult timeline, and they feel so much richer now with a history that I couldnât fully grasp the first time around.
What this show does so brilliantly is play with the audience's perspective across timelines. In the wilderness timeline, we often know more than the charactersâwe know where they will end up in 25 years, we know who will live and who will die, and we know how bad things are going to get for them. But in the adult timeline, it flips: the characters are carrying decades of shared experiences and secrets that we, as viewers, havenât yet been fully let in on. That narrative structure creates these incredibly rewarding moments when new information is revealed and suddenly a conversation, a glance, or even a moment of silence from Season 1 takes on an entirely new meaning.
Thereâs something so satisfying about how the show trusts its audience to come back, to rewatch, and to re-evaluate. Misty and Natalieâs relationship is a perfect example of that slow-burn payoffâwhat once felt like mere antagonism or dark comedy now reveals itself to be a tangle of resentment, understanding, grief, and a deep, unspoken form of protection and loyalty.

#gonna be thinking about them non stop for the next two years I guess#yellowjackets#natalie scatorccio#Misty Quigley#Yellowjackets spoilers#Mistynat
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Helloooo! I just loved the old west gang. Traumatized? Yes. Curious? Yes. But specifically the Lakota wrangler caught my attention, and oooh this part:
"""Don't be. You're my reward, my reparation." He brushed his knuckles across your cheek again.
"I've waited my whole life for you."
You wanted to ask why. What made you so special? Why did he want to keep you? ""
VAL, TELL ME WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WHAT'S HIS STORY? WHAT'S HIS DEBT?
OH MY GOD HIS PART IS SO đđđđ
TELL US THEIR BACKGROUND PLEASE đ„čđ„čđ„č
Yandere Outlaws - The Wrangler's Past + the gang hearing about you for the first time
I think the wrangler probably has one of the most interesting backgrounds. We all know that the Wild West era was no fun at all for Native American tribes. Manifest Destiny and all the terrible things done in it's name saw Native tribes being confined to smaller and smaller reservations, with stricter and stricter rules. Bison were disappearing, the railroads were cutting across hunting lands, and permanent settlers were coming west in droves.
I think in the face of all that, the wrangler felt like he had to adapt or die. Set out on his own and try and make it in the white man's world.
I reckon he falls in with the boss after a nasty bar fight. Him against some cowboys who feel like a Lakota on "their" turf is blasphemy.
Things don't look good at all. He's a strong fighter but numbers almost always trumps skill. He's going to end up dead in the mud and no one will give a damn.
Well, until the boss arrives. Maybe the boss is an old quick draw and when the smoke settles the cowboys are down for good. Or maybe the boss just has that look to him, that keen eyed glare that makes dumb cowhands think better of their bravado.
Either way, he hauls the wrangler out of the mud and offers him a job.
"Need a man for my horses. I'll pay you good to stick with us for coupla weeks."
The wrangler agrees. Because hell, what else is there to do? And if the older man looks hard edged and hard eyed, how much does that really matter? This is the West. You either get tough or get buried.
I think one way or another, the boss earns his loyalty. He gives him a sense of belonging he hasn't felt since he set out on his own. Gives him a purpose. And well, robbing banks and derailing trains and sticking it to old Uncle Sam is about the best he can do to make up for what his tribe has been through. Just one more outlaw pricking Washington in the thumb.
And as for you, sweet thing that you are, oh, you're what he's waited for all his life.
A girl to call his own. Soft and kind, to keep the cold away. Looking in your eyes makes it so easy to forget all the shit he's been through, all the shit he's done. He's been through his share of trouble and then some. He deserves a place to rest his head, a person to call home.
So what if you aren't willing? The world has gone out of its way to take what should have been his by right. The bison, the land, the open sky and flowing water. All of it divvied up and fenced off. He's not letting anyone get in the way of the one good thing he can finally call his own.
I think the thing that initially attracts him to you is the story of you and the second in command. The second is Chinese and he hasn't had it easy either. He could either work the railroads or die in a ditch. Not the best options, but just about the only ones open to an immigrant's son.
If you were anyone else, you'd have screamed your head off when you found him bleeding in your barn.
You didn't. Instead, you put him back together and kept him safe from your pa.
When he first heard the story, it was a cold night out on the planes. They'd just pulled off a job and were sleeping rough, trying to throw the law dogs off their trail.
The second kept looking out to the west. Maybe he was keeping an eye out for pursuit, but they'd pulled their job off back east. Marshals would be coming from that direction, if at all.
Finally, he gave in to his curiosity and asked the man what the hell he was looking for.
"My girl," he said simply. "My girl stays out that way."
The outlaws grew quiet around the fire.
"I didn't know you had one," the boss said, elbows on his knees as he sharpened his boot knife. "Is that where you go off to when we're in town?"
"Mm-hmm. I like to check in on her."
The gunslingers leaned forward then, as in sync as coyotes.
"She must be one hell of a girl, if she can put up with your ugly mug."
"Is she pretty? Got those nice eyes that look up at you all sweet?"
He ignored them and went back to looking west, like he could somehow see over all those miles.
"Do you love her?" the wrangler asked suddenly. He didn't know why he asked that, just that it seemed important.
"More than I thought possible. Every time I see her it's like my heart is breaking. If I can't have her, I think I'll go mad."
The boss looked up for a second, blue eyes catching the firelight. "You gonna marry her then?"
The second laughed, uncharacteristically nervous. "She doesn't even know I exist."
The boss stopped sharpening his knife. "How do you know you love her, if you ain't never talked to her?"
"She saved my life. That's how I know."
The wrangler looked up at the sky and wondered who would go out of their way to save an outlaw.
The boss stuck his knife in his boot. "Tell us the story."
Maybe if anyone else asked, the second would have refused. You were his girl. He didn't want to share even the memory of you with other men.
But you don't say no to the boss.
When he was done telling it, the outlaws were quiet. Lost in their own thoughts. All of them thinking how sweet it would be to have a girl like that. Feeling for a second what he felt every time he thought of you.
It was the wrangler who broke the silence, only half aware he was speaking. "I'd do anything to have a girl like that. Someone so kind..."
The dark skinned outlaw leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "She sounds too good for either of you."
"And you're any better?"
He didn't get to answer. The green eyed gunslinger cut in, his voice low and mean.
"She sounds real innocent. Kind of girl who'll cry when you fuck her for the first time."
The second in command stood with a snarl, already reaching for his rifle.
"Don't."
The boss, quiet but no less dangerous for being so.
"We're all men here. We're all gonna think somethin' like that when you tell us 'bout a girl so...untouched."
The second sat back down stiffly, his jaw clenched tight.
The boss continued, "Ain't like we're gonna steal your girl from you. Let it go."
The wrangler didn't let it go though. Not even when they were back in their hideout, a whole lot richer than they were a week ago.
He stopped the second in command when he was saddling up his mustang.
"Take me with you. I want to see this girl of yours."
If it was anyone else, he'd have said no on the spot. But the wrangler had a quiet gentleness about him that made the second agree.
They watched you from a hill overlooking your father's ranch. Just two shadows against the setting sun.
One of your horses had taken sick and you were walking it around the corral. Stopping every little while to stroke its neck or rub its nose, whispering encouragement. You were patient, gentle. The hem of your skirt tucked into your belt and showing off a sliver of thigh as you moved.
The wrangler sighed and stroked his horse's neck.
"I understand now."
"Understand what?"
"Why you keep looking for her, even if you're a hundred miles away."
As they rode home, he found himself doing the same thing. Looking over his shoulder like he could somehow see you one last time.
And the first time he saw you up close? Backed up against the kitchen table, corned like a vixen at the hunt? That's when he realised exactly what you were.
You were his reward.
The one good thing he'd struggled all his life to find. You were going to be his peace. His home.
And the first time he had you? On your knees, kissing his cock, your eyelashes still wet with tears? That's when he decided he'd keep you, no matter how cruel it was. No matter that doing it would strip him of any claim to goodness. A good man wouldn't get hard seeing you cry. A good man wouldn't fuck you when all you wanted was to go home.
But then again, how could he stay a good man in a world that hated him? That wanted him dead and gone?
When he kissed you, he signed away his last bit of honour. It doesn't matter that he holds you so gently, that he touches you like a lover.
He'll never let you go. And ain't that just a bitch?
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can we please get a buring spice x fragile reader, like they want to help and fight/hunt but physical can't because they are that fragile, simply bumbing into another cookie could cause them to crack!
Do Not Go Gently
[Burning Spice Cookie x Fragile Reader]
I was inspired and tried something a little different with this so I hope you like it! and Burning Spice redemption anyone? B)
The life of a Wild Spice was fraught with constant struggle and danger. If you were weak, you would be ground into dust, either by one of the other tribes or by the Great Destroyer himself. And you happened to be one of the weaker spices.
Delicate and fragile by nature, your main ingredient was parsley. The harsh desert winds of your homeland often left your leaves and dough brittle. The stronger Wild Spices almost always belittled you and your small tribe as you barely etched out an existence. You weren't tough and built with natural armour, like the Pepper Pangolins, or strong like the Saffron Buffaloes. But if there was one thing you were, it was tenacious.
When the Great Destroyer returned, you feared that your inherent frailness only spelled ruin for you and your tribe, soon to join the scattered remains of your ancestors. Despite the risks, you boldly joined the other Wild Spice leaders and offered your loyalty and service to Burning Spice Cookie.
He had looked over you and laughed, calling you weak and pathetic. As you knelt there, showing your sincere devotion, you thought it was all over for you. Still, Burning Spice miraculously passed over you and left you be. The Great Destroyer was not known to spare those he thought weak, so you could only imagine that he saw something in you that you hadn't. Since that moment, you were inspired by the Great Destroyer, not out of fear but admiration. You knew he didn't care for you. With a sweep of his hand, he could wipe your existence from this earth in seconds. But still, you fought hard and trained harder until your dough was cracked and crumbling to show that you had a right to continue living. Burning Spice Cookie had spared you. Your life had to mean something to him.
The little thing kneeling at his feet was pathetic. A Cookie so fragile that their dough cracked at the mildest of strikes was not worthy to be in his presence. And yet, instead of hiding from his inevitable fury, here you were. Burning Spice had to admit, you had guts. He didn't want to waste his time crumbling you himself when he knew you wouldn't put up a good fight. It would be far more entertaining to watch you struggle, only for you to fall to your unavoidable fate.
And yet...
That moment never came. Regardless of how grievous your wounds or the crumbling of your dough, you threw yourself back into battle again and again. Unafraid of the death that awaited you. Burning Spice Cookie found himself almost... fascinated by you.
You were so fragile, doomed to fail. And yet... you fought to cling a little longer to your short, pathetic life.
It reminded him of a time long past.
One day, after Burning Spice had enough of the annoying thoughts of you buzzing around his head, he decided to pay your tribe a visit. All the inhabitants of your tribe weren't as tough as you, which was somewhat of a disappointment. They scurried into their homes, terrified of him, or fell to their knees, grovelling at his feet for mercy. But you... you remained standing, like a resolute warrior, poised as if death were coming to claim you. You were unafraid. You had accepted it, but that did not mean you would go without a grand fight.
He approached you, ignoring the rest of your tribe, and you bowed your head in respect to the Great Destroyer. You didn't bow as deeply as you used to, but Burning Spice let it slide.
You had changed. Your eyes held a solemn understanding, and your dough was now riddled with scars, honourable rewards of fighting to see another day.
Burning Spice Cookie watched you, realizing he had no words. Why had curiosity brought him here to see you? He couldn't come up with an answer. His previous excuse of being amused by your antics had faded into something... else.
You broke the silence and invited Burning Spice Cookie into your humble home, and he accepted. Your tribe was astonished at their leader, who stood fearlessly in front of the Great Destroyer, and he had not razed their village to the ground in retaliation.
"Well, this is a surprise." Burning Spice Cookie mused. It was still surprising to him. Destruction was the end of all things, whether by his hand or not. But you stood in the face of it and fought it. Refusing to meet it on its terms.
"That I'm still here?" You replied bluntly, an amused smile on your face. Burning Spice Cookie would usually have felt excitement upon discovering a Cookie like you - someone who could ignite his passion and provide a worthy challenge now that you had grown stronger against all odds. However, thatâs not how he felt at this moment. It wasn't even boredom. Instead, he felt the same solemness reflected in your eyes.
Burning Spice Cookie asked you to be his right hand. The request came so suddenly that it left you momentarily stunned. All the strife and gruelling work you had endured had finally paid off in a way you never could have imagined.
"Yes, I would be honored, my lord. Thank you." You said, quickly bowing your head deeply in gratitude.
Burning Spice Cookie knew that your luck was going to eventually run out and your fragile dough would crumble, slipping through his fingers like the sands of time. Like with all things, it was inevitable, regardless of how hard you fought to cling to your pitiful life.
But he would be there when it happened, he would watch you. He would burn your rage into his mind as you descended into the endless night, fighting and spitting for just one more day.
Once you joined your ancestors, he would remember you. Always.
#cookie love letters đ#Anonymous#cookie run#cookie run kingdom#crk#cookie run x y/n#cookie run x you#cookie run x reader#x reader#x male reader#male reader#trans man reader#cr x reader#burning spice cookie#burning spice x reader#writing this made me emotional. don't ask why đ§ââïž idk hfjfhgjfh
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something you do that they love
headcanon!
characters: Monster trio + Usopp, Ace, and Law
Luffy
He loves it when you play with his hair. Especially if he can lay in your lap while you do it. Luffy isn't one to sit still but when your hands move through his dark locks, he finds himself melting in the moment. It's a simple soothing touch that brings a smile to his face and enough comfort that he could just fall asleep. This gentle act of affection makes him feel connected, cherished, adored, and maybe even a little pampered. It's one of the few things that can make him pause from his boundless energy.
Zoro
He might seem stoic and unbothered on the outside, but something about you holding onto his arm stirs something within him. There's a quiet pride he feels when you reach out to him that way. It's somehow different than just holding hands. It's like it brings you two closer. It's as though you're saying, without words, that you trust him completely as feel safe at his side. It brings out his protective instincts and reminds him that he has someone precious, feeling like a king beside you somehow. Although he'll never openly admit how much he loves it.
Sanji
This man is swept away whenever you grab both sides of his face when kissing him. There's something incredibly intimate and captivating about you taking control in this small, tender way. You want him close and that both of your palms on his cheeks is electrifying, making him feel like he's the only person in the world, leaving him head over heels every single time, further fueling his devotion.
Usopp
He enjoys the warmth and reassurance of a hug from behind. It makes him feel seen and appreciated, as sometimes he worries about being overlooked by his powerful friends. That gentle unexpected embrace reminds him that someone values him for exactly who he is. With your arms wrapped around him, he feels like he's more than enough. A comforting reminder of your love and a confidence boost he secretly treasures.
Ace
He finds himself surprisingly moved whenever you give him a compliment. Whether it's about his strength, kindness, or loyalty, he knows it's genuine and your words have a way of reaching past his defenses and self-doubts. He's never been great at taking praise often scoffing, brushing, or laughing it off. But coming from you, it feels different. Your compliments make him feel seen for more than his reputation or past. They remind him that he is worthy of love and admiration.
Law
He comes off as quite guarded but laying your head on his shoulder is very comforting. It always surprises him. He's got a habit of being self-reliant and keeping people at arm's length but your act of affection breaks down his defenses. It lets him know that you lean on him, not just physically, but emotionally, as if you are saying, "I feel at ease with you." It feel rewarding knowing that he provides a comforting presence and a safe space for you.
#one piece#one piece headcanons#one piece hcs#monkey d luffy x you#luffy x reader fluff#luffy x reader#roronoa zoro x reader#zoro x reader#sanji x you#sanji x reader#usopp x reader#portgas ace x you#ace x you#law x reader#trafalgar law x reader#op headcanons
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