#and 2) if it was on their radar even a little bit. they would have avoided it bc of Problematic Implications | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

gotham-daydreams · 1 year ago

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Not Now (PT. 1)

[Platonic! Yandere! Neglectful Batfam × Gender Neutral! Sibling Reader]

[Warnings: Mentions of Neglect, Mild General Yandere(ish) Behavior, Mild Arguing, Awkward Tension(?)]

(Sorry, forgive and forget isn't an option anymore. Sort of proofread and lightly edited. If you thought the 2nd chapter was long, you're in for a little treat. A little more focus on Dick this time with some sprinkles of the others, and a bit of Tim in the beginning. Meeting some of the reader's friends now. The 2nd part is longer... and sort of where the 'real' stuff happens, but this part of the chapter is still important imo. Take your time reading this, and remember to take breaks!)

Tags: @bigcandlesmolbrain, @d4mi3nn , @mindscape123, @143637-hrrm, @lilyalone, @ceramic-raven , @bruhfan-3 , @i-thirsty-boi , @yandere-enthusiast , @1mawh0re , @vanessa-boo , @agent-nobody-knows , @myeagleexpert , @waitingforanarchicaddiction , @mottysith , @simpingfor-wakasa , @imjustheretogetalif , @toast-on-dandelioms , @instantmiraclekryptonite , @luvr0cksadie , @littlefeather345 , @generosityheart , @emmbny , @sereinitysmind , @love-zami , @angstylittleb1tch , @kiiyoooo , @andrasia , @aenishas , @gyarukitti , @ash1 , @samohxt2-0 , @books-are-everything , @kurai-hono-blog , @veryrascalbiscuitbagel , @lavender-moony

@vikkus-main, @ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhha, @iloveanimeandkpop7, @spacecerealbowl,

If you aren't tagged then I'm sorry! I may have missed you, or tumblr was being weird and it wouldn't work :']

Chapter 3 of this post. Chapter 2. Part 2. [Series Masterlist]

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The night was young when everything went to chaos.

The streets were empty for a change, with no one daring to step outside. With those who once roamed them making an effort to quickly step inside, and wait out the rest of the night. Deciding to be more careful, and not tempt fate one too many times for once.

There was something different about tonight, that much everyone knew, but what exactly was going on was anyone's guess. Something was in the air that made it thicker, and harder to breathe. The atmosphere felt different, and weighed down on the city's residents. No civilian or thug was safe from the sudden change and the effects it had on Gotham. Not to mention that the vigilantes — the people who dared to protect Gotham during its darkest hours — seemed more focused than usual.

Not in the way where they were more focused on targeting crime in Gotham, and getting rid of her more corrupted and infectious roots, but in some… other way. Like they were focusing on one particular thing, and ignoring everything else in the process.

What that thing is, no one knew, but most were wary and cautious enough to not get in the way. Unwilling to find out what would happen if they got caught in the crossfire of whatever was happening.

However, this is still Gotham. Where some saw danger, others saw opportunity. So they tried to start something, thinking they could sneak right past the heroes of the city, and fly under their radar more easily compared to previous nights because of how focused they seemed to be on something else.

Yet, just as the fire began to lit, it was snuffed out.

A heavy stomp stopped the flames from even daring to light, killing it before it could even think to rise. The stomp itself coming down much more swiftly and heavier than before, digging the thugs it hit into the ground. They, the vigilantes who dared to protect Gotham and their citizens night after night, were harsher that way. More brutal than the city had ever seen them before, and that was quick to kill off some sparks that were trying to light. They were quicker, faster, and hit a whole lot harder. As if just wanting to get things over with, and quickly move on.

It was almost like they were rushing, and whoever thought that wouldn't be entirely wrong.

They just wanted to put all of their time and energy into finding you, but still had half a mind to take care of the crime in Gotham. Since, they'd have to deal with it anyway if they wanted things to go as smoothly as possible. Not to mention the off chance that some thugs could be messing with you, and so they'd get to swoop in and save you if they ever ran into such an altercation. Though, they didn't want to run around and just hope for that chance, so they also chose certain places and people to interrogate and search for. Taking out any and all thugs as well as minor criminals along the way.

As if anyone in their way was doomed from the day they were born, and dared to step foot in Gotham. As if they were cursed the very moment they dared to live in this damned city at all.

Nevertheless, some went after your teachers while others went to search through places you had been to for one reason or another. Whether it was for a performance or otherwise, it didn't matter. The fact that you had been there before was the only detail they cared about.

Finding you, and any information about you came first. Everything else was secondary.

That's why Tim was more focused on trying to find more… personal information about you. From your email, to where you lived, and who your friends are �� he wanted to know everything. Even if he already had your phone number, you weren't responding or picking up whatsoever. Which wasn't exactly helping him calm down.

If only he could track your phone somehow-

["You have any new information yet?"]

Jason suddenly spoke up, making Tim scoff and narrow his eyes at the computer screen he was looking at, as if it was Jason's face.

How annoying.

"You've asked that question several times in the last fifteen minutes."

["And? Do you have any new information, or what?”]

Tim could only roll his eyes, having been scrolling through so many social media posts and pages, that he had lost count of exactly how many he had gone through or looked at. All he knew was that the total amount was quickly approaching triple digits.

Anything mentioning you caught his interest, and eventually he had found your public account — which, as expected, just held dates for your performances and when a new album or song of yours would be coming out. There were also a few previews of songs you would be playing at the time, had written, or both, and as much as Tim would like to listen to them all, he couldn't. Not right now anyway. He had to focus, for you.

… Though he'd keep it in mind for later.

"Besides more places where Y/n has performed, and when? No. Who could've guessed."

Jason scoffs, which almost made Tim smile a little but he quickly wiped it off his face, focusing again.

["Guys, let's not fight, alright? Just focus on finding Y/n."]

Dick suddenly spoke as well, the sounds of a fight slowly dying down could faintly be heard in the background.

["I'm not trying to start a fight, but y'know what would help with finding Y/n? Some fucking new information."]

["Language!" Dick sighs before continuing, "Look, just calm down-"]

["I am calm."]

["-and focus. We'll find them."]

Jason clicks his tongue, clearly getting upset.

Tim couldn't say much, seeing as he's already a bit upset himself, but that wasn't really saying much either. All of them were getting progressively frustrated and annoyed, but it was the source of those feelings that were different for each and every one of them. You were a big part of it, of course, but their anger wasn't directed towards you — not for Tim, anyway. Never.

Rather, it's the factors that surrounded you, and maybe their hate and guilt towards themselves, and what they've missed in your life — is what really drove them to try as hard as they are now. They all want to see you, but they have their own separate reasons despite how similar they may seem.

["How the hell can you be so sure? They could be getting killed, or being tortured right now. We need to find them as soon as possible- and you'll never guess what we need for that to happen."]

Tim could practically hear the eye roll in Jason's voice.

["We're all trying to find Y/n as fast as we can! Have a little faith, they can fight-"]

["You don't actually believe that, right?"]

["..."]

Dick's silence spoke volumes, but some of them understood it better than others, because they feel the same way. Fighting in tournaments and in controlled environments is different than fighting out in the streets, and in Gotham no less. No amount of trophies or medals could change their minds on that. Nothing could.

["See? Even you don't believe it."]

[Dick sighs, "Look, let's just keep looking while Babs and Tim grab more information, alright? We have to be patient."]

["That's reeeal rich coming from the guy who rushed out of the fucking Manor, the very second he heard Alfred didn't know where Y/n was. Weren't you the first one to start looking for them in the city?"]

["Y/n isn't going to be dead in the next few minutes, Jason-"]

["You don't fucking know that."]

Again, a brief silence passes as Dick just sighs again.

["Grayson does have a point, Todd."]

Damian spoke up, causing Tim to roll his eyes almost instinctively. Just remembering that he was technically working with the youngest Wayne, made his mood worsen. Though he just pushed his annoyance to the side, and continued his search.

If it were up to him, he wouldn't be working with half of the family, but that's the thing — he didn't have a choice. None of them really did. Finding you was just that important to them. You, in general, had become that important to them, and in just a few mere hours no less. Even if it left a few of them biting their tongues, and hiding their clear distaste for having to work with certain people. Still, they tried to work together to the best of their ability.

Tim just took a breath, still listening in on the conversation as he scrolls through even more websites and pages. A collection of photos and announcements leading him down a rabbit hole of posts, and finding some accounts that Tim was beginning to think belonged to your friends with how often they commented, the things they'd say, and how you'd respond. Even if the majority of those comments were on older posts, it was still something. So, he dug deeper.

Eventually, he came to the conclusion that your personal account was private. Since, he found one of the accounts he thought belonged to one of your friend's, and they mentioned an account Tim couldn't access. Of course, he hacked it and got in, but there still wasn't anything of use from what he could see. The occasional pictures were nice, even if they didn't show your face too often, but they didn't give him any information he could use to locate you. Hell, even the account itself didn't have a set location listed, and nor did your email. With the only thing he could gather from posts you privated being that you were still in Gotham, at the very least.

However it did seem like you not only didn't post too often, but were careful about what you posted even on your private account. Not to mention who you posted about as well, and how you worded things. As if you knew someone would be looking through your posts someday, and try to find you. As if you knew Tim would be looking through your page, and try to find you by the little bits of information he thought you'd accidentally leave behind. However, all he found was mostly inconclusive with his current objective. The most he could gather was that you either lived in an apartment, were staying with a friend, or settling at various hotels and such just to have a roof over your head. Though not much else.

Sighing, he kept looking.

Just where are you?

["Oh yeah? How so, demon spawn?"]

["Jason-!"]

["L/n knows how to fight, they can surely take care of themself for a few minutes." Damian states. Cutting off Dick, and ignoring the name Jason used to refer to him.]

["Oh, so you believe that?" Jason scoffs.]

["I haven't been given a reason to think otherwise."]

["Right. Okay. So let's say that Y/n isn't dead for a second here. Do you know how many enemies they could potentially have? Or just how many people want them dead? They're known as a Wayne kid, and a musician too, apparently. Anyone could be after their head, or want to squeeze some money out of them for all we know. How are they supposed to fight against threats like that?"]

["And you think they aren't prepared for that? With how much time has passed, I doubt they'd still remain ignorant to such risks. Especially with the career they've chosen as well." Damian scoffs, as if frustrated and offended on your behalf, "No wonder L/n left."]

["Damian!" Dick exclaims, the youngest Robin's words clearly uncalled for.]

["What? You don't truly believe they just ‘ran away’. Do you, Grayson? Even Father doesn't believe such nonsense."]

Tim could only remain silent, but he had suspected as much as well. He didn't particularly enjoy agreeing with Damian, but for a change, it seemed that they were on the same page.

After all, the more Tim looked, and the deeper his research went, the possibility of you having left, instead of ran away, was turning into a clear certainty. Not to mention that various details he noticed in different posts, seemed to indicate that you had no intentions of coming back home, further proving that thought to be true.

It wasn't really even through posts you made either, but instead posts your friends had made. Various pictures and videos shared on their accounts showing the pieces of your life that the family had missed out on. Showing Tim what he had missed out on.

From parties and celebrations that were held for your accomplishments and your friend's, to events you attended with them instead of someone from your family. To smaller things such as various study sessions that were held, sleepovers and all the fun activities you did with your friends, to sneaky photos taken of you practicing, and how nervous you used to be behind stage — only to later show how confident and comfortable you had grown in more recent pictures.

He saw your life and nearly every part of it he had missed through someone else's eyes. Through the camera lens that captured how much fun you had, or just how happy you were during the time the photo was taken, or how calm you looked as you set up your instrument and prepared to play it, and how focused you became when you did. Videos that showed you getting into the zone, and displaying your amazing skill and talent that Tim never saw up until now. That the rest of the family never knew about until recently, just because they couldn't put a few seconds to the side to even try and give your music a listen. Just because they never made time for you, and now they were finally paying the price for it. Finally realizing what they had truly lost, and why the occasional, soft melodies that would play at night had stopped entirely.

They had pushed you away, and you left. That was the true reality of the situation.

Yet the others didn't seem to believe it, or maybe refused to. Seeing as no one dared to say anything else for a few moments.

["... Bruce?" Dick hesitantly spoke up, he clearly didn't want to think about it. Let alone consider it.]

A heavy sigh could be heard before Bruce said anything.

["It's a possibility." His cold, calculated voice pierced through the air. It was less clear, but he didn't seem too fond of the idea either.]

["'Possibility'? Father, you can't be serious-" Damian tries to speak up, only to get cut off.]

["Exactly! Yeah! It's only a possibility, and we won't know for sure unless we find them." Stephanie pitches in, clearly trying to stay a little positive despite the situation.]

["Right…" Dick took a breath, "Well, what do you think, Tim?"]

"..."

Tim's silence said everything, and besides, he was much too focused on a particular thing he managed to find to really be paying attention anyway.

["... Tim?"]

["To think that Drake would be the only other sensible person here. Unbelievable."]

["Look- we don't know for sure, okay? But anyway, how did the interrogation go? Find out anything?"]

The rest of the conversation fell into the background. Tim would roll his eyes, but again, something else had caught his attention, seeing as he found a rather peculiar post.

On one of your friends' accounts, there was a post that showed you and two other people. All of you were wearing formal clothes, and stepping out of a theater that Tim recognized. The person taking the selfie had an arm wrapped around your shoulders, and he noted that they were the owner of the account. The other person was hugging your arm, and did bunny ears behind your head. All of you were smiling, and you looked so… happy..

Tim shook his head, and just focused on the individual hugging your arm. He didn't recognize them, not completely anyway, but noticed how their account was tagged in the post, and how it was an account he hadn't looked into yet. So, he went to their page and scrolled through their various posts. A particular detail already catching his interest as he scrolled down.

This person seemed to spend a lot of time with you…

Not that your other friends didn't, but this person seemed to have more posts with you in them, compared to the other accounts Tim has looked through thus far. There were many photos of you both hanging out, with some other personal posts sprinkled in here and there — but Tim isn't here for that. He's looking for you, so of course he ignored posts that didn't involve you.

Most of the photos showed you both hanging out and doing various activities together. With Tim's heart squeezing the more he saw, and further began to realize just how much of your life he had missed. Though he pushed it all to the side, just as he has been doing this entire time.

He could feel terrible about all the nights you spent away from home, and how no one noticed, later. He could feel guilty about all the time he's wasted not being with you when given the chance after he found you.

Only then, once you were safe again, once you were home, would he allow himself to feel the full weight of all he hadn't done. Though only when you were home, would he let himself fully see and realize just how little of an impact he had on your life. How he may as well have just been nothing but a figment of your imagination with how often he was present, along with everyone else.

Though, for that, he had to find you first, and he will, so he kept looking.

Eventually, he did stumble across a curious post. One that not only confirmed his suspicions, but also gave the most important piece of information Tim could've found right now.

It was another photo taken without your knowledge, seeing as your back was facing the camera, and a bit of your friend's face could be shown. You were moving some boxes into a building, and your friend seemed to be covering their mouth with their other hand — as if they had been laughing and were trying to cover it up. The caption of the post said how you lost a bet, and now had to move in most of the boxes yourself, but how they'd help you if they saw you genuinely struggling. Only to put in parentheses how viewers of the post shouldn't tell you that.

However, what caught his interest was the text on the image itself, and what parts of the building were shown.

['First day of moving in!!! Already making my bestie hate me by having them do all of the work♡ They're the best! Look at them go ♡♡'] The text in the photo read, with the building itself having a number, among various other details to suggest that it was an apartment building.

Tim felt his heart leap to his throat. No way, had he really…? No. No, he couldn't get his hopes up, but he searched for the building by using the other photos your friend had taken that eventually got him a street name and number. It didn't even take him a minute to find the exact building that perfectly mirrored the one in your friend's photo.

He tried to not work himself up too much, as he didn't waste any time finding the building's security system, and hacking into it. He didn't want to get his hopes up, only to end up disappointed. He didn't want to think about certain things or make up assumptions, only for them to turn up untrue. Yet, his heart rate increased as his hands began to shake despite his efforts.

No way, he thought. No way.

Getting into the system was a breeze, but Tim could hardly focus on that as he immediately looked through the building's security footage. He matched the dates of both the post and footage, and found you bringing in boxes, just as the photo had shown.

He watched you go into the elevator and took note of what floor you went up to, and eventually what apartment you walked into as well once you got there. Tim even observed as you took a second to yourself, sighing before going back down, and doing the process all over again — and even how you had to use the stairs at one point. Seeing as your friend had the bright idea to 'race' you, and see who could get most of the remaining boxes to the apartment in the least amount of time. It was a close tie, and your friend had won, but that's besides the point.

Tim went through other footage just to make sure he had the right information, and knew for certain that you lived in this particular apartment with your friend. For all he knew, you could've just offered to help them move in that day, so he had to be sure. He had to be certain. He couldn't afford to be wrong this time around.

Yet with all the footage he was able to review, and all the dates getting closer and closer to the current day, he was able to confirm it. He saw you walk in and out of that exact apartment on that exact floor, and leave and enter that exact building multiple times. With the amount of time that's passed, it made sense — even if Tim couldn't figure out where you had stayed between the few weeks you had presumably left the Manor and when you moved in with your friend, but that hardly mattered now. What did matter is that he found out where you live, and now had your address.

He almost couldn't believe it, staring at the document where he has been listing all of the information he's gathered from this search.

Having just finished writing down your address, it all felt so unreal.

He's done it. He's finally done it.

"Holy shit." Tim cursed under his breath, disbelief clear in his voice.

["Language, Tim."]

Bruce's voice suddenly sounded, causing Tim to jump before he quickly tried to settle down.

"Right, sorry." He apologized, placing a hand over his racing heart. God, that scared him more than it should've.

["Did you find anything?"]

Someone tsked at the question – while Tim just looked at his screen, still processing all that's happened, and suddenly feeling unsure.

Should he just keep this to himself, so that he could go after you? The others didn't know where you live… they didn't have to know yet. This was a golden opportunity — should he really be giving this up?

["With how long it's been? And all he's been able to find out? We'll be lucky if he even knows if Y/n is dating or not."]

["Jason, c'mon.." Dick tried to pitch in, dragging on.]

["What? I'm just saying-"]

"I know where Y/n lives." He found himself blurting out, Jason's words irritating him more than they would've. More than they should've.

["... Really? Where are they, Tim?" Dick didn't waste a moment to ask.]

["Yeah, just spill already so we can go get them."]

["Send me their location."]

["Send me the info too!"]

Tim could only sigh, rubbing his temple as he tried to collect his thoughts. Of course he just had to run his mouth before thinking things over. Of course he had to let that little comment get to him. Of course he just had to allow it to get to him so much that it made him give up the most important piece of information he had found out tonight.

Of course. Just great.

["Guys, I don't think it's a good idea for all of you to just go and see Y/n."]

Barbara finally spoke up, voice calm and collected.

["Why? I mean, I get that seeing the whole family all at once might be a little overwhelming… but I don't see why a few of us can't go." Dick questioned.]

["Because it's been months since they've last seen any of us? There's a reason why they haven't gone back to the Manor, and still haven't picked up your or Tim's calls."]

["... You're not saying-"]

["I'm just suggesting that maybe only one of you should go to kind of… test out the waters. We can't be sure of anything, and the best way to see how we should go about things is to know how Y/n feels about us first."]

["But we need to bring them home, they're not safe out here." Jason pointed out, already not liking the idea.]

["I know, but we can't just show up and expect them to comply because we're family. For all we know, they might-"]

["Okay! Um, I think we get it now." Stephanie interrupted, the idea already bothering her.]

["Fine, then I'll go." Jason proposed, sounding like he was just finishing up taking out a few thugs, if the faint noises in the background were anything to go by.]

"And why's that? I already have the location, so I'll go." Tim pointed out, already gathering his stuff, preparing to leave as quickly as he could.

["Because if they try anything, I'll be able to stop them. What're you going to do with your scrawny, lanky arms?"]

"They won't fight me, Jason." Tim sighed, as if that was obvious, "and besides, I thought you didn't think they could fight anyway?"

["I don't, but anyone could take you down without even trying."]

["Jay! Ugh," Dick groans, "Look, I'll go, okay?"]

["Oh yeah? And why should you go instead of me?"]

["Because at least I won't scare them off, and if anything happens then I can handle it too."]

["I'm going." Bruce stepped in, speaking as if the decision was already made.]

["If Father is going, then so am I." Damian chipped in.]

["The last person Y/n needs to see right now is definitely you, demon spawn." Jason scoffed.]

["You'll just scare them before you even get a word in, Bruce!" Dick tried to reason.]

["Hey, um, what if I go instead? At least I won't intimidate them or push them to come with us too hard." Stephanie suggested.]

Tim sighed, "Look, I can go and reason with them. Again, I already have the location so it makes sense-"

["No." Bruce said flatly.]

"But why!?"

["Father already said that he and I are going to see L/n," Damian stated, as if it was obvious, with a small scoff. Adding on, "Todd may also have a point."]

"So?! I already have the information, and I already said that Y/n won't fight me!"

["We can't say for sure what they will and won't do," Dick said, trying to deescalate the situation, "like Babs said, it's been a while. We don't know how they'll react or how they feel about us."]

["Is this you just trying to seem reasonable, so you can go see them first?" Jason asked, unconvinced.]

["What?! Of course not-!"]

["You're not really convincing anyone here, Dick…" Stephanie pointed out.]

The back and forth went on for a while. None of them could come to an agreement, as they all want to see you. They all want to be the first to actually meet you, and to experience what they all have found out about you first hand. Even if certain individuals were more guilty of that than others, the point still remained.

They just want to see you so much, could you really blame any of them?

Barbara sighed at the chaos, the arguments and defenses just getting more and more ridiculous. Eventually, just boiling down to certain people trying to prove that they want to see you more compared to others, and therefore should be the first to see you.

They all miss you, or desperately want to see the idea of you that they had created in their heads, but that wasn't a valid reason for why they should go and see you either. Especially considering how important this meeting would be. Since it would change and determine a lot of things, depending on how well or awful it went.

"Guys, look, just- whoever's the closest to the location should go." Barbara suggested with another sigh, which thankfully caused the constant arguing to stop for now.

["Fine, alright then." Tim agreed, albeit reluctantly.]

Barbara could only be a little thankful for the cooperation, but slowly grew confused at the silence that followed.

"Tim?" She asked, only to get another sigh as a response.

["It's Dick."]

["What? Really?!" Dick exclaimed, clearly happy at this turn of events.]

["Yes." Tim confirmed with a small groan, the frown evident in his voice.]

"Well, that settles it. Dick, you're going. Tim, send him the address. The right address, okay? We don't need more arguments or complications on this." Barbara says, "Don't push them too hard. The last thing we need is for their opinion of us to get worse, Dick."

["I know, I know. It'll be fine! I've got this!" Dick still sounded a little too happy, before suddenly going quiet.]

Barbara could only hope for the best at this rate.

["Did he seriously just turn off his comm link, and leave?" Jason asked as his voice rose, clearly upset.]

["Seems like it. Can't say I'm surprised since he sounded reallly happy to be able to see Y/n." Stephanie confirmed, sighing softly.]

["This is going to go poorly." Damian grimaced with another scoff.]

["Yeah, well, we can only hope he doesn't mess up too badly."]

["Let's try to think a little realistically, Tim." Jason said.]

Barbara just let out a huff as she looked at the screens in front of her. A little hope never killed anyone, but really, she didn't have a good feeling about this.

Maybe Dick really wasn't the best choice.

—

You were still calmly sitting in your apartment, messing around with the instrument in your hands. Since you've been switching between the ones you have every now and again, trying to find a particular melody you were looking for, but hadn't found just yet. You didn't have easy access to as many instruments as you did a few months ago, but you learned to work with what you had. Having taken home the very first instrument you bought yourself, and a few more of your favorites that could fit in the apartment that you managed to get your hands on for a decent price.

Sure, you did have other places you could go to that allowed you to play the other instruments you didn't have, but you liked to play at home if you could help it. There was just something about being in a comfortable space while composing a song or melody, that just felt nice. You truly felt at home, a feeling you didn't realize you missed until you left the manor and finally had a space that you could truly call your own. A feeling you didn't want to let go of, if you could help it.

Your life was still busy but it was beginning to slow down. You dedicated more time to things you actually enjoyed, but also made an effort to take care of yourself and hold onto good habits you had developed over the years. Though you were still trying to let go of some bad ones, you were making progress.

You felt… happy here. At peace, even.

You were surrounded by people that saw you and even recognized you, and were beginning to see that you had a family of your very own all along.

Unlike the family you were adopted into, your friends showed their care and support — and if anything, made sure you wouldn't forget it. With you showing the same care and support back, and your efforts being recognized instead of pushed to the side. Being reciprocated instead of leaving you with nothing, and making you feel more alone and unwanted than words could describe.

Sure, it wasn't perfect, and you've had your fair share of arguments and times where you needed space, but that was okay. You didn't need perfection, and you didn't need constant happiness. You just needed love and care, and that's what you found. Among other things you didn't ask for or necessarily need, but appreciated deeply regardless.

You felt like you had finally found what you've been searching for, and nothing could make you happier.

Yet, somewhere in your heart, you knew it couldn't last forever, and as if hearing your worries, an abrupt knock echoed throughout the apartment.

You paused what you were doing, humming curiously to yourself as you turned to look at the front door from your position on the couch. Who could that be at this hour? It certainly wasn't your roommate, seeing as they were sound asleep in their room, and you could still hear their snores despite being in the living room. So who else could it be?

Maybe it was Ms. Harry again, seeing as she had a bit of an odd tendency to knock on the wrong door sometimes. After all, she was old, and her memory was slowly getting worse, but she was always quick to fix her mistakes. So you just shrugged and turned away, convinced that it was another one of those nights where she just so happened to mistakenly knock on your door. So you let it be, knowing that she'd correct herself on her own and move along.

However, another set of knocks sounded.

They were a little louder this time, as if the person on the other side of the door really did want to be noticed. Which made you pause and look back at the door, taking a brief glance at the clock.

It was getting late, and not many people were out and about during this time of night. Not the people on your floor, anyway. Though, you still tried to think of anyone who could be at the door right now.

Besides your roommate, not many of your friends lived particularly close. With the amount of them that would not only be up at this time of night, but would also personally come to bother you without sending a text or anything, being even smaller. The more you think about it, the shorter the list of potential people got, and you don't know if that should make you more confused or worried. Maybe a bit of both, but you weren't sure.

More knocks sounded. Again, they were louder compared to the last set, if only by a little.

Well, whoever was at your door was being rather persistent, so you decided to at least check it out.

Reluctantly, you set the instrument you had been fiddling with for the past hour to the side. Sighing softly as you got up from your spot on the couch, and quietly approached the door.

Moving about as silently as you could was an odd habit you couldn't shake, and while your friends have joked and commented about it, you suppose it was just another remnant of your life in the manor. A life you were still trying to gradually leave behind.

Regardless, you made your way to the door, and yet here — right at the foot of it, an odd feeling began to blossom in your chest. You couldn't make sense of it, but as you reached for the knob, you found yourself stopping. It didn't feel like a good idea to open the door, and though you couldn't figure out why, you just took a small breath and pushed the feeling to the side.

Clearly, you were having a weird night, but just to humor yourself, you decided to 'comply' with whatever this feeling was, and check who was at the door by looking through the peephole instead.

It was only then did you understand.

You took a few silent steps back, putting your hand over your mouth as you kept your eyes on the door. Tingles of unease slowly crawling down your spine, and your heart began to beat against your chest harshly. You don't know if what you saw was real, but you didn't want to check again. Once felt like enough, especially since your legs felt like they were sinking into the floor.

How… how did they know where you live?

You took a breath, trying to calm your nerves as you took a few more steps away from the door. You have no idea what's going on, but all you know was that you don't want Dick knowing where you live. He might know the floor and building, but you refuse to give him the exact room if you could help it. So, you quickly moved to your room and got ready, a quick plan forming in your head.

Changing was easy, and so was gathering the stuff you thought you'd need for this. Not exactly too worried about the shoes you put on or anything like that, as your heart leapt from your chest to your throat when more knocks came, basically pounding against the door.

Fuck. He was getting impatient.

Picking up the pace, you made any last minute adjustments you could to your appearance, before quickly deciding that you looked good enough to be outside. Rushing to a window, you didn't waste any time opening it, grabbing onto a pipe that was exposed on the side of the building, closing the window, and sliding down the pipe until you reached the ground. Thanking your past self for having done that enough times to be used to it.

Knowing for a fact that you heard more knocks on your way down, you hurriedly rushed back into the apartment building and basically ran to the elevator. Thanking the gods that it had opened when you first called it, you rushed inside and hit the button for your floor. Hurriedly tapping on the button that closed the elevator doors as they slowly shut, as if that would make them move faster somehow.

As the elevator rose, you prayed that it wouldn't stop and that it'd go straight up to your floor, not knowing if you could afford to risk losing time like that. Especially when the thought of a certain vigilante breaking down your door because you didn't answer it, popped into your head.

Your hands were sweaty, your heart was racing, and you could hardly stand still as you waited for the elevator to reach your floor. Staring at the counter above the elevator buttons as if that'd make the numbers go up faster, and occasionally glancing at the doors as if they'd open at any moment. Questions and possibilities rushed through your head, but you hardly had any time to think about any of them as a small ding sounded, and the doors finally opened. Ignoring how the small sound made you jump a bit, you tried not to look too nervous as you stared at the hallway in front of you.

Oh god, you were really doing this.

Not wanting to waste any more time, you stepped out of the elevator and took a breath. Trying to calm down your heart a bit as you gathered your composure, and acted as normally as you could manage. Walking forward, you rounded the corner, and there he was in all of his tainted glory.

"Di- I- I mean, Nightwing?" You call out, trying to grab the vigilante's attention before he did anything rash — and you seem to have caught him at just the right moment. As he seemed just about ready to bust open the lock to your door, and break into your apartment. Which, he thankfully pulls away as he whips around to look at you, clearly surprised.

You were almost too grateful to have caught him just in time.

"What are you doing here?" You took a few steps forward, but nothing more. Not wanting your efforts to go to waste right away, even if you knew it was only a matter of time when it came to these guys.

"Oh! Y/n- hi! I didn't, um, I didn't see you there." Dick greets with a smile, acting oddly nervous, which makes you raise a brow. "How long have you been, uh, standing there?" He asks, probably trying to see if you saw how he was about to break into your apartment. You both know you did, but you could play dumb for now.

"Um, I just got back so… not long, I guess? Why?" You tilt your head to the side, taking note of how Dick seemed to visibly relax.

Was he always so… tense?

"No reason! I was just wondering, but, uh," He glances to the side before looking back at you, and taking in your appearance. He took in every little detail he could, and wow… you really were different from what he was expecting, but in the best way possible.

Your voice was different than he remembered, and everything about you was just so… fitting, even if he's never seen it before. Even if he didn't remember having seen the style of clothes you wore on you before, or seeing the accessories you had on your person either. You really look like you've grown up now and have become an adult, with your own sense of style and fashion. Having all these little ways to show how you've grown, and become more comfortable with yourself.

Dick couldn't help but love it as much as it hurt him.

"It's good to see you." He couldn't help but blurt out, smiling softly. Though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

You only fiddled with your sleeves, averting your eyes for a moment as you purse your lips into a thin line. The way he looks at you made you feel uncomfortable to say the least, and his whole demeanor was nothing you have seen from him before. Not directed towards you, anyway, and you couldn’t help but struggle trying to remember the last time he smiled at you in person. All you could remember was seeing his back turned towards you as he walked away, a flash of a pathetic smile showing on his face briefly before he continued walking forward. Never looking back...

Maybe you've just grown too familiar seeing his smile in photographs and painted pictures, instead of in person.

Yet, how he looks you over now — and seems to take in every detail he manages to find — isn't exactly making this the most comfortable situation to be in. You feel exposed, and rub your arm before stopping yourself. You couldn't afford to show signs of weakness or vulnerability. Not with him. Not while he was in the suit.

Taking in a short breath, you gave a small nod. Managing to look back at Dick, and push down your nerves. The last thing you want was for him to notice how you truly feel, and point it out, or feel some kind of obligation to do something about it. The last thing you need was for him to stick around for longer than he has to.

"Yeah, um, anyway- that didn't really answer my question…?" You hesitantly point out, unsure if you should've mentioned anything at all, but feeling the need to do so. Even if you rather not be in this position, you prefer this over him breaking down your door.

"Did something happen? I- I don't know how much help I can give since… y'know- I'm not a crime-fighting vigilante in latex, but I can see what I can do?" You try to joke a little, mostly for yourself and to further ease your nerves as a few small chuckles escape you. Yet it doesn't help as much as you would've liked.

Did they always scare you this much?

"Oh, no! No, no, no- nothing happened! I just wanted to, um, come see you, is all!" Dick admits, and even if that may have been enough reasoning for him, it wasn't for you. It just doesn't make sense, and maybe that was the years of being put off to the side — or almost outright ignored — talking, but you couldn't imagine him just randomly popping out of nowhere, just because he wants to see you. There has to be a reason, even if you don't know what that reason would be.

"By going to my friend's apartment…? That doesn't really make a lot of sense.. um, Nightwing."

"Oh. Uh, you don't live here?" It was so weird seeing someone like Dick be so openly nervous. Was he always like this? You couldn't really tell, but if there was something going on he wasn't hiding it very well. It was almost like he was trying to not mess up or something, but you don't know why.

"No… but I do visit often? I mean, that is why I'm here and everything-" A few nervous chuckles escape you as you scratch the back of your neck, once again averting your gaze. "If you want, we could talk over a cup of coffee? I know a good place nearby, and even if I'm sure you can't exactly dine-in or anything, I could just take it to-go or something." You hesitantly offer, getting the feeling that Dick wouldn't leave easily, and still thinking that if there really is something going on — you could give him a chance to talk about it, at the very least.

"Sure! Yeah! But, uh. Is that really a good idea? It could be dangerous, and I think it's for the best if we stay inside or go to your place instead." Dick suggests, causing you to furrow your brows in confusion.

"My place?"

"Yeah, I mean I would offer mine but Bludhaven isn't exactly close, y'know?" He snickers. Yet it only made you pause. The smallest bits of a bad feeling beginning to form in your stomach.

"I- I don't think that's a good idea…"

"But it's better than hanging around outside or something, right? This is Gotham, after all." You didn't like how Dick says that. Saying it like you didn't already know. Like you were ignorant of how bad the city you live in was, despite having experienced it first hand on multiple occasions.

"I know, but there has to be some other place we can talk, then just my place."

"Well, there is the-"

"No." You immediately shot it down, already feeling like you knew what he was going to say, "Not there. Let's- let me just grab the coffee first, and we can figure it out from there, alright?" You didn't want to deal with more than you have to, and you weren't going to go back. Not now. Not ever, if you could help it.

"Oh, sure! I'll just tag along," Dick said simply, almost as if it was obvious, as he smiles, approaching you casually.

"I-" You pause before just sucking in a breath and giving a small nod, a weak smile displaying itself on your face, "-yeah, sure. That- that works." Even if you don't want Dick to follow you, it is better than having him just stand at your door, anyway. Though you still aren't exactly comfortable with the idea, you didn't have many options.

"Great! I'll meet you outside!" Dick grins before leaving through the window at the end of the hall.

Now by yourself for a while, you exhaled deeply, not even realizing how long you've been holding your breath.

You aren't sure if you could do this, but you don't feel like you have much of a choice anymore as you just try to steady and calm down your racing heart.

Making your way back to the elevator, you try to not think too much about what's going on as you step back inside, and push the correct button, waiting for it to descend.

Your heart felt heavy in your chest, and despite how you try to ignore it – you could feel that something was wrong. Though you just chalked it up to how you aren't used to Dick talking with you, or smiling towards you – or really anything at all when it came to him. You tried to, anyway, but you were slowly beginning to doubt it.

There was something in his smile, and the way that he spoke that just felt strange to you. Even if you haven't had many conversations or interactions with him, you could still catch how different he seemed tonight. Though you weren't entirely sure. After all, you didn't know much about his personality or usual antics, just as he didn't know much about you as a whole.

On any other occasion you'd try to let it go, but doing so didn't feel right this time. It feels stupid, and almost as if you'd put yourself in more danger by trying to, so for now you'd just keep it in mind. Even if nothing came of it, at least you were being cautious, right?

You aren't sure, not entirely anyway. Since it was always hard to tell what is and isn't a good decision with Dick and the others, but you don't have much time to dwell on it as the elevator doors open once again.

All you could do was just hope that this would end as quickly as it started. For both your and Dick's sake, but mostly for your own.

Nevertheless, you step out of the elevator and make your way out of the building. There, you saw Dick leaning against a lamppost, before looking at you. The smile he gave only made the pit in your stomach grow bigger, but you tried to return the gesture the best you could.

Neither smile reached either of your eyes.

"So, you know where it is?"

"Yeah- it isn't too far from here. Just a few blocks away, it's not that far of a walk."

"Great! You don't mind leading, then?"

"No, um. I can lead."

"Perfect, let's get going then." Dick says, his smile growing a little bigger as he makes his way over, and stops beside you, waiting for you to lead the way.

You just gave a nod, taking a nervous step forward as you both began to walk. You knew the directions by heart at this point, and so you just let your own feet guide you along the streets of Gotham. With Dick following right along, humming under his breath.

An awkward silence fell over both of you.

You try to not think about it too much, knowing that the detail would only further bother you, and make you feel more nervous than you already are. So you drew your attention elsewhere, and focused on the city itself instead.

Not many people were walking about, which immediately struck you as odd since Gotham was always so lively despite how dangerous it is. Even if more people were out during the day, there were still lots of people who were out at night for one reason or another. Granted, most of them are dangerous, everyone knows that, but some just simply went about their business. The city was dangerous, but that didn't stop people from going about their lives. Even if it did make it easier for thugs and the like to hide within the crowds.

Still, the change was noticeable. Gotham wasn't exactly known to be quiet, let alone this inactive. It felt strange, and when you glance over to Dick, you couldn't help but feel a little surprised that he didn't seem all that bothered by the change. If anything, you were almost getting the impression that he hadn't noticed it at all.

So, you just keep looking ahead, and focusing on other things. Deciding to not comment on anything if Dick wasn't.

Yet you still couldn’t shake it.

The absence of sirens in the air and occasional gunshots didn't sit right with you, and even the amount of people driving by wasn't as much as it'd usually be. The city didn't feel busy, let alone as alive as it would've been on any other night, and it's bothering you. It's like some sort of silent evacuation is going on, or a lock down of some kind that not everyone was informed of. There were more whispers than there were shouts, and a kind of awkward peace, instead of striking violence and chaos.

You couldn't believe it, was this Gotham's first real quiet night?

CRACK.

Perhaps you spoke too soon.

A sickening crack sounded from somewhere within the city, the noise so loud and sudden that it immediately caught your attention, as you looked in the direction of where you heard it come from. You could've sworn you heard a scream that followed right after, only for it to swiftly get cut off.

It was only then did you really take a look around, and notice how the people you passed by looked equally tense and nervous. An unsaid, but shared feeling of tension and anxiety hung in the air, and now that you noticed it — you couldn't ignore it.

What didn't help was when you saw someone in an alleyway cocking their gun, only for them to swiftly get roped into the darkness, causing them to drop their weapon in the process. A sickening pop sounded, and then deafening silence followed. The only evidence that anyone had ever stood in that particular spot, was the gun the thug had dropped.

Through the shadows of the alleyway, and faint light from the moon, you could almost make out a figure in the darkness. Yet just as they turned to look at you, your eyes darted away.

You swallowed the lump in your throat.

"Are… are you sure there isn't anything going on? It seems oddly… quiet, tonight." You point out hesitantly, small tingles dancing down your spine, and they were far from pleasant.

"Hm? Oh, well, I guess you could say something is happening, but the others are taking care of it." Dick reassures as he waves his hand dismissively. "Though that's why I think it'd be better if we talked inside. The last thing I want is for someone to eavesdrop on our conversation, and for you to get caught in the crossfire of everything." Yet you couldn't help but feel like it was a little too late for that.

Being associated with Dick, and the others — let alone being someone that they'd actually turn to for assistance or anything — already made someone prone to being caught in any crossfire that dealt with their vigilante work. Even if the person didn't get caught in between things by some miracle, it would be hard to ignore the newly painted target on their back. Being known for having a connection to Batman, and anyone he had taken under his wing one way or another, had its problems, and you already had to deal with your own fair share of trouble just for being known as another kid who got adopted by Bruce Wayne.

You wouldn't be surprised if you suddenly had to deal with more trouble just from this conversation alone, since word traveled around fast in Gotham, but you didn't want to think about that right now. You'd just deal with that when the time came, if it ever did.

Still, you didn't fully believe Dick. Your feelings of the situation becoming more messy, and unclear as you try to piece things together. You couldn't tell if what was going on was something to worry about, or stress over. Since Dick was acting so dismissively about it, and yet the effect it's having on Gotham was unmistakable. Is it big enough to cause the city to go quiet, but not dangerous enough to worry about? Or is it something else entirely?

You took a breath. Maybe it's best if you just think about it later. You already have enough on your plate as it is, and the biggest thing you have to worry about right now is Dick. All you have to do is find out what he wants, and handle things from there. That's it. That's all you have to do.

So, you nod hesitantly. Still not looking at Dick as you said, "Right. Okay. That… that makes sense, I guess," but your voice betrays you despite your best efforts as it wavered slightly. Still, you make sure to add, "but I still don't think it's the best to talk at my place."

Dick only gave a nod, saying, "Alright," and nothing else.

Your body refused to relax after that.

You still couldn’t shake the odd feeling you were getting from Dick, even if you couldn't exactly pinpoint what's wrong or where this feeling is coming from. The distant sounds of snaps, cracks, pops, and cut off shouts and screams in the distance didn't help much with that either. Especially when they weren't far, and sounded like they were only a few blocks away from you, with the distance slowly growing shorter each and every time a new sound echoed across Gotham. Especially when you realized that the snaps and cracks were the sounds of bones breaking, and the pops were joints getting dislocated. Which caused various memories to pop into your head that you tried to shove away.

Small beads of sweat began to roll down your neck. Your hands feel clammy, and you try to steady your breathing once you realize it was wavering again. You try to fix any outward reaction you notice you were displaying before Dick could catch on, fiddling with your sleeves as you try to reassure yourself.

You're going to be okay.

CRACK!

You're going to be fine.

SNAP!

You're going to make it through this.

POP!

You could tough it out.

"AAAHHH-!" CRUNCH.

This would all be over soon.

So, you try to ignore how the pit in your stomach continues to grow with each second that passes. How each sound causes you to tense, and sometimes jump the smallest bit, but you try to ignore that too.

You glance over to Dick once again, only to catch him immediately turning to face forward. The detail made you pause and furrow your brows, had he been looking at you?

You shove the thought to the side and face forward again as well. A weight of some kind begins to form in your chest, yet you still try to push on and keep walking.

Seconds turn into minutes, and it's only now that you fully realized how long this short walk felt. The sidewalks stretched on, and the streets never seemed to end. The traffic lights felt like distant glimpses of life and civilization that one would catch in fog, with the small amount of cars on the road not helping with that feeling. Dark clouds begin to form overhead, and cover the inky black sky. With the full moon looking down at you. Its sight pinned on you, staring in silence.

Maybe that's why you were so relieved when the diner finally came into view, and you found yourself holding back a sigh of relief. You had to stop yourself from running over, and rushing inside so that you didn't have to walk beside Dick anymore. Further reminding yourself of how awkward this whole experience has been for you thus far. Which didn't help with how you are feeling at all.

"How do you like your coffee?" You decide to ask, seeing as the diner was only a few steps away at this point.

"What?" Dick asks, seemingly snapping out of whatever trance he was in. With your question bringing him back to reality.

"Um, how do you like your coffee? Since, y'know. That's what we're here for?" You repeat, giving Dick a confused glance.

A look of realization flashed across Dick's face as a small 'ohh' left him. "Right, yeah. Uh," he stumbles at first before saying his preference, with you just nodding along.

"Okay, I'll just go inside and order so… you can just wait out here?" You said, unsure as you glance at the diner, only to look back at Dick.

"Yeah, I can do that." He agrees with a simple nod and small thumbs up. Making you nod as well as you took a breath.

"Right, okay. I'll just, um, head inside then." You exhale sharply, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, "It shouldn't take too long." You stop once you're in front of the door to the diner. Folding your hands into fists, squeezing your fingers and digging your nails into your palms, before releasing, letting your fingers relax, before repeating the process a few more times.

"Got it." Dick nods again, and you return the gesture as you open the door and step inside. Once again holding yourself back from letting out a sigh of relief, as you made your way over to the counter. A weight of some kind being lifted from your shoulders the moment the smell of food, and freshly brewed coffee hits you.

It's only when you reach the counter and see your friend did you finally sigh deeply, and heavily. You rest your arms against the counter and let your head hang low, a feeling of exhaust and fatigue slowly eating away at you. Not being in the immediate vicinity of Dick definitely made you feel exceptionally better, especially now that there’s a wall between you and him.

"Y'know, lots of people have been comin' in and sighing just like that, tonight." The waitress points out as she makes her way over to you. Her comment causing you to lift your head, and look at her. She gave you a little smile, amused by your antics, but you could see the little worry that hid behind her eyes.

"Really?" You ask, allowing yourself to relax a little, now that you were in the presence of a friend. You didn't see Jessica outside of the diner much, but that was never a problem since you've been a regular for a while now. You had met when you first began coming to the diner late at night for coffee since you couldn't sleep, coming around just when the place was about to close. It was only after a few more nights passed that you both began to talk, and really connect. You like to consider her one of your closest friends because of all she's done for you, and not just because she knows how to make your coffee just the way you like it.

"Yeah, it's kinda weird but there's seems to be somethin' going on tonight. So I guess it makes sense." Jessica says with a shrug, "Anyway, you want the usual, I'm assuming?"

You perk up at that, "Wait, you think something's going on too?" You couldn't help but ask, though made sure to also say, "Oh, and that'd be great. But I'll… um, take it to go this time, and I'll have another coffee for my…" you glance over your shoulder and look at Dick. He had his back turned to the window, and looked to be talking to someone with what you assumed to be his comm link.

You turn back to Jessica, a crooked smile on your face, "My acquaintance…?"

"I can't think of anyone who doesn't. Everyone can tell that something ain't right about tonight. Hell, even Jim looked bothered when he came in. I swore he was shakin' like a leaf, and looked like something was out to get him too." Jessica replies, writing down your order on her notepad mindlessly, already knowing it by heart.

"Jim? Like the commissioner?"

"Nope, I'm talkin' about the guy who came in from Metropolis."

"Oh." You said, before slowly nodding as you thought about it, "I guess that makes sense. Though, I didn't think that guy had a single nervous bone in his body, to be honest."

"Well, y'know what they say; Gotham changes people. It can even make people like him, who're barely present with the rest of us, get a little shaken up every now and again." Jessica hums, looking at what she has written down for a moment.

"Right… yeah."

Jessica sighs softly, looking at you with unsaid care and concern before speaking up again, "Anyway, does your…" she drags out the 'r' as she glances behind you, before looking back at you. Waving her pen in the air as she gestures towards the window, "'acquaintance' want anything else?"

"No, um. Just the coffee will do." You rub the back of your neck, making sure to mention how Dick said he likes his coffee. Jessica only gave a nod as she wrote it down.

"Alright, but I gotta ask. Is that guy bothering you?" Jessica asks as she starts to brew the coffee, shooting you a certain look, "I can get William to have a chat with 'im if he's causing you trouble. He won't like it, but he'll do it, y'know."

The question catches you off guard, but you quickly shake your head, and try to adjust the smile on your face to look less obvious. As much as you don't want to be in this situation, you at least want to hear Dick out. If there's even the smallest chance that he really does need something from you — you want to help. You don't want to be the reason why whatever is going on is prolonged any further, or if a solution they have is delayed.

Despite everything they've done to you, and the little they've given you throughout all of your life, you want to do this one last thing for them. That's all.

You could afford to do this one last time, you thought as much anyway.

"I'm fine, he- he isn't bothering me… I promise." You try to reassure your friend, mustering the most convincing smile you could as you watch her work. She clearly knew what she was doing, since it looked as if it came so naturally to her, and you wouldn't be surprised if it did, with all she's told you in the past.

"Well, alright. But if he does anything you can always shoot me a text or give me a call. I can't do much myself, but I know people."

You huff at her words, an easy smile making its way up your face as your shoulders relaxed, "I know. Thanks, Jess."

"Don't mention it. After all, I've gotta look out for the person who gives the best tips." She snickers, a smile of her own beginning to show itself. You can't help but laugh lightly as you just shake your head, and look away.

The soft tune of old melodies plays in the background, filling the space of the diner and washing away any awkwardness that may have been present otherwise. Some jazz begins to play, and you couldn’t help but tap your foot along with the rhythm, the voice of the singer taking all of your worries, and whisking them away.

The other customers are quiet for the most part, but seem at ease for the time being. The outside world almost seemed so far away despite being just past the windows, but there was some peace to be had with that. The street lights gave off a homey feeling with their soft orange hues spilling into the diner, the quiet from the outside only making this place feel more safe, in a strange way.

"So it's just for the money, huh? And here I thought you genuinely cared about me." You chuckle, fiddling with your fingers mindlessly.

"Of course I do. But I'd like to see you work in customer service and living off of tips," Jessica chuckles as well, "Maybe then you'd see how that's just me appreciating you more, hon'."

You just shake your head, "Right, whatever you say."

"I'm being serious, Y/n. Even the boss appreciates you, and your wonderful donations." Jessica snickers, beginning to pour the coffee into two cups.

"You make it sound like he runs a charity, and I'm a big donor."

"Of course he does! Except, y'know. It isn't your typical charity, and we gotta work our asses off to ‘give back to the people’. With your money making up about… hm, seventy-five percent of my paycheck?"

"Jess!"

"No, no. You're right, it's more like eighty-three. Maybe even eighty-five at a push." She laughs, giggling at the expression you make as you huff, before laughing a bit yourself.

You both continue to joke lightly, laughs and giggles being shared as Jessica makes your order, and you patiently wait. A light, soft sort of smile resting on your face, and you almost forget what had made you so tense in the first place. Which was one of the reasons you love this diner so much — it felt like a home away from home, even if it was only a few blocks away from your apartment. Jessica just added onto that comfortable vibe you got from this place, and your mind always felt so quiet when you're here.

It almost made everything feel like it'd be okay, and that as long as you remain inside, nothing bad could happen to you.

Unfortunately, it was only that. A feeling, and nothing more. Your current situation only made that detail all the more apparent.

"Welp, here you go. They're both hot and ready, so be careful, okay?" She smiles down at you before snickering, "Though you don't gotta tell the guy that if you don't want to."

You're confused for a moment, not entirely sure who Jessica was talking about until it suddenly hit you. Right, Dick.

You laugh along, but it wasn't as genuine as it was before, and died down much quicker. As if scared that he'd hear both of you from past the window now. The thought alone made you suddenly hyper-aware of his presence outside. "Right, yeah.."

Grabbing the two cups, you slide them towards yourself and stare down at them for a moment, finding yourself hesitating again. You don't know why you were taking so many pauses, but this whole thing just didn't feel right to you. Though you couldn't exactly pinpoint why, you knew the reason was different than why you were so awkward around Dick, and reluctant to talk to him.

"... Are you sure that guy isn't bothering you?" Jessica asks again, leaning against the counter as she places a hand over one of yours. You couldn't meet her eyes, knowing that if you did it'd just make things harder for yourself. So you look off to the side, unsure.

"Yeah!… He's just.. yeah." Was all you could really say. You don't want to say anything that would make Jessica worry more, but most importantly, you don't want to make it harder for yourself to leave. You got this far, would it really be alright if you leave now? If you took back the words you said, and just went back home? Probably not.

You hear Jessica sigh, causing your heart to feel heavier in your chest. "Look, I get it if you don't want me to get someone to handle him, but if you don't want to stick around, and don't want him to see- I can let you out the back." She offers, giving your hand a small squeeze. Trying to reassure you, and give you something to work with.

You perk up at her offer, looking back up at her in slight surprise, "Really?" You ask. The sense of hope and relief that washed over you didn't make you feel any better, and only furthered the conflict going on in your mind.

"Yeah. Especially if it'll get you away from that weirdo." She chuckles with a slight smirk, trying to lighten the mood a little.

You think about it for a moment, just looking at Jessica as countless thoughts rush through your head. Why did this have to be so complicated? Why are you making this so hard for yourself? The choice is so simple, so easy, and yet you just couldn't take it, but why?

You look back at Dick, and make eye contact.

You both stand there, staring at each other for a while, and the music playing in the diner suddenly didn't feel so comforting anymore. Your shoulders lost their weightlessness, and gravity seemed eager to try and pull you down to the floor.

Dick is the first to look away, presumably resuming his conversation with whoever he's been talking to this entire time, but you didn't. You don't.

Turmoil and conflict is clear in your eyes. You could see it through your faint reflection in the glass of the window that separates you and Dick. Which, from that alone, you begin to feel worse.

Even if you did leave, would that change anything? Would you be able to actually leave Dick? Or would he catch on? They already know where you live, and even if you managed to fool Dick momentarily, you doubt that he believes your little lie now if he is talking to the others. Yet if you went back to him, what would happen? Where would you both end up going?

You look back down at the two coffees, and sigh. Either way, you’re faced with uncertainty. If you left now, there's no telling if you'd actually be able to get away. Yet if you went back to Dick, you couldn't even imagine what would happen next. It felt like you were stuck in a lose-lose situation; having to pick between two different types of poison, and deal with whatever consequences that came with the kind you chose.

Holding the cups a little tighter, you think it over for another moment before shaking your head. Taking in a breath, and letting yourself calm down a bit.

"I think I'll be okay, but thanks for the offer, Jess." You gave her a little, appreciative smile, "I'll just message or call you if anything happens, like you said." Jessica didn't seem entirely sure of your decision, but nods anyway.

"Well, if you're sure, then alright. But the moment shit goes south, you know who to call."

You nod, and give her a small ‘thank you’ as you paid and left. Taking the drinks with you as you did so, the warmth of the diner slowly leaving you, and now being replaced with the cold breeze of the night.

"Sorry that took so long, I would've told you otherwise if I had known." You apologize as you turn to Dick, flinching at his close proximity. Since, you didn't realize just how close he had been standing to the door until now.

"It's no big deal! Besides, it didn't take that long." Dick said, dismissing your apology as he kept up that smile of his. You only nod, handing him his coffee, which he gladly took.

"If you say so.." You glance off to the side again, remaining quiet for a moment before looking back at Dick, "You were talking to the others, I assume?" You decide to ask, not exactly sure if you should've said anything, but you didn't see the harm in doing so at the moment.

"Hm? Oh, yeah! I uh, I was." Dick confirms with a small, awkward nod.

"Is… everything okay?"

"Yep! Things are going well. Great, even!"

"Oh. Alright then."

Another beat of silence passed over both of you.

You clutch the cup in your hands, its heat pinching and nibbling at your skin through the sleeve. You took a glance inside the diner, and noticed that while Jessica is doing her job, she's still shooting looks and glances your way past the window. She furrows her brows as you both made eye contact, and you could tell what she was going to do just from that alone.

You shake your head, and play it off as if you were just pushing a thought away once you look back at Dick, shoulders rising and almost locking into place as you try to stop your smile from dropping. Holding it at just the right height, and making sure it didn't look too crooked.

"So, um. How about we walk and talk? Just so that we're doing something instead of just standing around- y'know?" You suggest, a wry chuckle escaping you as your eyes wander off again.

"Sure, yeah! We can do that," Dick nods along, and you give a curt nod in return.

"Great!" You begin to walk off, only to be stopped by Dick as he grabs your sleeve, causing you to flinch a little bit. Whipping your head around to look back at him, your heart stopping for a moment as something flashed in your eyes, before it quickly disappeared.

For a split second, you look at Dick as if he was about to kill you, or something similar to that. Like he was going to hurt you in some unimaginable way by just trying to grab your attention.

Though Dick just pushed that little detail to the side, he couldn't help but keep it in mind. He didn't want to think about what it could mean, but couldn't forget it either. Since no matter how quick it was, or how short it lasted, just seeing that expression on your face and directed towards him — it hurt worse than any injury he could possibly receive in any shape or form.

He didn't want to believe what seemed to be the undeniable truth.

So, instead, he tucked it away in the back of his mind. Still managing some kind of smile as he looks at you, hiding behind a face of confusion.

"Isn't your place back that way?" Dick asks, gesturing behind him with a tilt of his head. He notices how you swallowed — taking note of how nervous and on edge you seem to be. He's known since he first saw you, but he didn't think anything of it. He doesn't want to. He doesn't want it to mean anything.

So he ignores it. Pushing it away until he can't see it anymore, despite it being so clear and right in front of his face.

He prays to every god he knows, and hopes to every heaven he's aware of — blind and ignorant to the fact that they have long since shut him out. The light and grace they'd give, forever out of his reach.

His little wishes couldn't help him now. Not when they never helped you.

"I-" You couldn't help but sigh, shaking your head and gathering your thoughts, before speaking again, "I already said that I don't think that it's a good idea to talk there, Dick. And I don't think it's smart to have this conversation here either- so let's just walk as we try to figure this out. Please?" Your weak smile begins to strain as you take a step back, grabbing Dick's hand and tugging him toward you. You hope he'll listen, if only this one time.

Dick looks to the side, unsure as he weighs his options before looking back at you, and suddenly he's hit with all the convincing he needed.

You look at him pleadingly, almost silently begging for him to comply and just come along with you. The moon, albeit partially covered thanks to the dark clouds passing overhead, lit up your eyes in such a way that further emphasized the emotions you were feeling, but left unsaid. How the internal conflict and struggle you were experiencing, made the color in your irises shine that much brighter, and how such a little thing took Dick's breath away.

Suddenly, for a moment, he realizes how soft your hand was in his, despite the fabric of his glove in between them. Even if it is just for that split second, he can't help but… love it. Love you. So how can he say no? How could he say no when he's slowly beginning to see all of these little things about you in a different way? When his guilt was slowly shifting to something else? Something worth trying for?

How can he deny such a little request from his little sibling? Especially when you look at him like that? He can't. So he didn't. Unable to stop the soft but partially happy smile that grew on his face.

You found it uncanny and misplaced, but he found it fitting and refreshing in a way. A way he hadn't felt before — not in a while, anyway.

"Sure, alright. Let's get going then!" Dick replies after a second of silence had passed, holding onto your hand and walking beside you when you began to move again.

You didn't say anything this time, just nodding as you focused on walking away from the diner.

Yet, Dick couldn't help but look back at the establishment. Curious as to why you wanted to move on from it so quickly, and wanted to see if he could catch anything in particular that might've caused it. Not that Dick was complaining by any means, but he couldn't help his own curiosity.

It was then that Dick and the waitress from inside the diner made eye contact. Causing Dick to narrow his eyes, and the waitress doing the same back with a certain look in her eyes.

He didn't like it, and even if the impression he's getting was far off the mark, he didn't care enough to change it.

Yet, when you and Dick pass the diner, your phone suddenly vibrates.

Oblivious to how Dick's gaze lingered on the diner for a little while longer — or how he was even looking back at all — you fish your phone out of your pocket once you shake Dick’s hand off mindlessly, not thinking too much about the action as you check your notifications.

There, you saw that Jessica had left you a message.

['Be careful with that one. I'd watch your back if I were you, hon.']

You were confused to say the least, but before you could think to respond, Dick turned back to you and suddenly spoke. Smile ever present, eyes trained on you.

"So, where are we going?"

"Oh- um, I'm not entirely sure." You admit, pocketing your phone quickly without much thought. Hoping Dick didn't see what the text said, but you didn't count on it. Not much slipped past him or the others in any given situation, not unless it was something dealing with you. Though, with his attention on you now? You couldn't be too sure of what he would and wouldn't notice. Not anymore.

After all, just knowing that he could see you now, and is actually talking with you, along with the fact that you've been in his space for over a minute was… a new experience. You didn't think you'd get this far — you never have before, and so this was all new territory for you. All you knew, and could gather from how things were going thus far, was that slipping away wouldn't be as easy as it was before. Not with his eyes trained on you like they were now.

"Well, that's fine but we still shouldn't stay out for long. It isn't safe." Dick pointed out again, causing you to sigh and nod your head.

"I know, but I still-" you cut yourself off, and took a quick breath before continuing, "it doesn't feel right going back to my place. Besides, not many people are out tonight… and as weird as that is- at least not many people will be around to eavesdrop on our conversation, if we did talk out here." You said, shrugging your shoulders, and taking a slow but small sip of your coffee. It burned your tongue, but at least it gave you something else to think about.

"That doesn't exactly make Gotham any less dangerous, and besides- those who are walking around, and are still out and about, could be from a worse crowd. You should know that, Y/n." Again, you didn't appreciate how he spoke to you like that. Talking as if you were ignorant to that possibility, or just generally unaware that Gotham was a bad place filled with even worse people.

"I do, I'm just saying-" you try to defend yourself, looking at Dick before immediately looking away. You don't like how he looked at you, and how much taller it made him appear, "Gotham isn't just filled with criminals, and besides… most people look like they're rushing to get home anyway." You comment, noticing how a group of people — presumably friends or roommates, maybe even 'coworkers' to a certain degree — rushed inside what appeared to be an apartment building. Along with how a family quickly got inside of their house, ushering their kids inside before hurriedly closing the door behind them.

"It's like some kind of apocalypse is going on…" You mutter, narrowing your eyes at the sight, before just focusing your attention back on the sidewalk ahead of you. You didn't recall getting a memo of any kind, or an alert if something like that was really going on. Though, your best bet to figuring anything out was unfortunately through Dick, by the looks of things.

Dick rubs the back of his neck, a strange feeling of nervousness, and something close to embarrassment, radiating off of him as he chuckled. The strange detail caught your attention, causing you to look at him and notice that his smile had become uneven, before he fixed it when he noticed you were looking.

You couldn't help but raise a brow, silently questioning Dick with your eyes, a small hint of suspicion growing behind your gaze.

Dick just shrugs, fixing himself the very next moment, which only causes you to narrow your eyes. Were they actually causing some kind of apocalypse? Surely not… right?

"Then that's just all the more reason why we should head inside too." Dick said, giving your hand a soft squeeze. Forcing you to acknowledge that you were holding hands once again – but when did he grab it? You don’t remember feeling him hold it again until now… but that wasn’t important, not now anyway, "I don't want anything bad to happen to you, Y/n. I'm just worried."

You grew quiet at that, a mix of emotions beginning to swirl around in your chest before you just shove it to the side. You couldn't tell if he was joking or trying to be genuine….

Though, your heart and mind seemed to agree that he wasn't being serious, and maybe that's why you didn't like how he looked at you.

Taking your hand back once again, you shook your head dismissively, "You're a vigilante, right? One of Gotham's finest, and looking over Bludhaven at that- if anything happens I'm sure you can handle it." Huffing, you add, "Even then, I can handle myself."

Dick's eyes linger on you for a little longer. The hand that had been holding yours twitched, and he kept it there for a second before letting it drop to his side, his smile beginning to die down before he sighed. "Still, I think it'd be better if we tried to avoid something like that all together."

"I think it'd also be better if we could avoid something like that happening at my place."

"It won't, not with me around."

"So now you're confident that nothing will happen?" You laugh lightly, more air escaping you above all else, and disbelief clear in your eyes and tone. "You can't be sure. Someone could follow us there and find out where I live."

You snicker again, not fully believing that you were actually having to tell Dick all of this, "I mean, it might not matter much to you but-"

"It does matter to me. I don't want you to get hurt, or anyone else to come after you." He took another breath, and you bite your tongue. Reframing from mentioning how it was a little too late to be saying that now. "Look, I understand if you don't want to go back to where you're staying, but if that's the case then we can just got to the-"

"No." You speak up before he could even finish. Already knowing what he was going to say, and the mere thought of going back to that place made you feel uneasy. Causing you to clutch your cup with both of your hands, barely registering its heat.

"I didn't even get to say where…" Dick sighs again, just pushing the detail to the side for the moment, "Can you at least tell me why? I don't see why we shouldn't."

"It just-" You didn't want to say it outloud. Not out here. Not with him around, and listening to every word that fell out of your mouth. "I just don't think that's smart either. Again, someone could follow us back there and find out about… you know."

"Well, then someone else could just take you back-"

"Wouldn't that seem suspicious if someone saw, though?"

"Now you're worried about being seen?"

"Like you weren't before-"

"Y/n, please. We can't just stand around here and talk about stuff all night. Either way, we have to go somewhere." Dick tries to reason, adding on, "Look, if you don't want to go to your place or the 'other' place, how about we just-"

"No."

"I didn't even get to finish!"

"I know what you were about to say, and just-" You took a breath of your own, sweat rolling down the back of your neck as your hands began to shake a little bit. Your nerves were getting to you. You could feel it with how your chest became heavier, and how it was getting progressively harder to continue walking — as if your feet were slowly sinking into the cement below you.

"I don't think it'd be the best to go there either." You mutter, looking off to the side.

"Why? I can sort of understand the 'other' place-" he didn't, but in his attempt to get through to you, he said otherwise, "but why not there? Again, we can't just wander around all night and talk out in the open like this, Y/n. You should know better than that." Dick states, furrowing his brows as his gaze remains pinned on you, never once looking away.

You wish he would. By the Gods did you wish he would look away just once. Yet such a blessing had yet to be given, if it would ever come.

With every second that passed, your doubt only grew.

"I just don't see why we can't go to any other places? Somewhere that isn't personal, or technically considered to be personal since it could reveal your identity and such- and I don't think I have to give reasons why someone knowing where I live, or used to live, would be bad too- but… yeah. Just-" You gather your thoughts, looking down at your cup of coffee for a brief moment, "Just somewhere that isn't necessarily connected to either of us, or could reveal potentially personal or sensitive information on one or both of us? Like the park, or some random rooftop…? You guys still have talks up there, right?" You manage to slide in a little joke, but the laugh you gave is more awkward and nervous than anything, so you just clear your throat and continue.

"Or- or just an abandoned building or something? If you still really want us to be inside? Since Gotham has some of those… maybe too many of them- but that's besides the point." You try to suggest, hesitant to even say anything but managing somehow regardless.

You still couldn’t bring yourself to look at Dick – so you missed how his brows creased, and his smile was just barely holding up. His hand twitches again, but he tries to stay mindful of the coffee he's still holding.

"Are you serious?" His tone made you press your lips into a thin line. Your nails begin to dig into the sleeve of your cup. "I get that you're paranoid, but are you serious right now? Y/n, c'mon." An odd warmth began to bloom in your chest at Dick's words. It was far from pleasant, and lit like a match, with the flame itself bursting to life. It started much larger than you were used to, and controlling it was more difficult than you expected.

"I'm just saying…"

"Saying… what? That we either stay out in the open where anything can happen, or a clearly dangerous place where we're most likely going to get jumped? 'Cause if that's what you're saying, then I don't even know what to say, Y/n." Dick really can't believe you right now. Just how long have you been living in Gotham, exactly? Who were you even living with? He couldn't understand what you were thinking suggesting such a thing.

He had a feeling you may have been unaware of the true dangers of Gotham, since he and the others had kept you away from such things – from what he could tell. Not to mention that you didn't have any intention of becoming a vigilante yourself, from what he remembered, but for you to turn out like this? He had no idea you were so oblivious, and if he had before, he never would've let you out of that apartment building. He never should've to begin with, clearly.

"No! Of course that's not what I'm saying!" You couldn't help but yelp in surprise, finally looking at Dick as you held your coffee closer to your chest. You felt offended that he honestly thought you'd think something so stupid, but you didn't know what was worse. How he didn't seem convinced, or how he looked as if he believed himself more than you.

"Then…?" Dick drags on, gesturing for you to give an explanation. Almost daring you to say something that proved him wrong, or went against his point.

You huff harshly, the warmth in your chest beginning to turn hot as you went on to say, "I'm just saying why can't we go anywhere else, that isn't technically connected to you or me in some way?"

"... And your solution to that is to go to a public area, stay out in the open but on the rooftops, or go to one of the abandoned places around Gotham where something bad will definitely happen?" Dick rose a brow, with you restraining yourself from rolling your eyes. Instead, you manage a sigh – smile long gone from your face.

"Those were just examples, Nightwing." You hold back a scoff, clutching your cup a little tighter, "We don't actually have to go to any of those places, or do those things. I was just trying to suggest ideas, not say; 'Hey, we should go to that one place by the bay that's been abandoned for around five years and have our talk there. Since surely nothing will happen, and a gang totally doesn't hang around that area.' Or something like that."

"That's oddly specific," Dick gave you a questionable look before shaking his head, "but still. Those places and areas aren't safe. At least the places I suggested are, and if something happens, then there's security measures in place for that."

"How do you know if my place is secure or not?"

"Are you trying to say that it isn't?"

"No- but it's not like I have a super complicated system or hypersensitive security like- y'know. The other places. So what would make my place so safe?"

Dick sighs, "Fine. Alright, maybe your place isn't our safest bet right now. Even if I feel like I can definitely handle protecting a single apartment." You didn't even bother to say anything, just rolling your eyes and shaking your head instead.

"I don't want anything to happen to my place, Nightwing."

"You really don't think I can't defend one room?"

"I don't live alone, D- Nightwing. I don't just have myself or my things to worry about." You couldn't help but say, scoffing under your breath. However, Dick could only blink, a little confused.

"You… have a roommate?"

"Yeah? Who do you think I was referring to when I said I was visiting a friend?"

"Oh! I thought that was a complete lie. I guess that makes sense, but why would you need a roommate anyway? Does your job not make enough money or-"

"Does that really matter right now?" You gave Dick a pointed look, hoping that he would take the hint and drop the subject, "We're trying to find out what the fuck to do, not delve into my personal life."

"Alright, fine- no need to get all worked up." Dick put his free hand up to show that he wasn't trying to start anything, and was trying to keep this peaceful and civil, "But why don't we just go to one of the other two areas? They're secure, and I'm sure your friend won't get hurt if something ends up happening while we're there."

You open your mouth to say something, only to shut it and look away. You clutch your cup a little tighter.

How could you tell Dick that you just don't want to be in the manor again, and that you didn't want to go back — without actually having to tell him? How do you tell Dick that you don't feel comfortable being in a space where you knew the rest of them would be, and that you'd rather have to just deal with him than anyone else? That you had a bad feeling about going to any of those places with him, and you don't trust him or the others at all?

You'd rather avoid going to the manor if you could help it, and you had more than enough reasons for feeling that way. Though, would Dick understand? Would he accept your reasons, and see why you wanted to go somewhere else? Maybe not, and even if he did understand, there was no guarantee that he would value your personal comfort over your 'safety'. There was no guarantee that he still wouldn't try and get you to agree with him.

You also wanted to avoid going to the clock tower. Seeing as just dealing with Dick was… difficult, to say the least, and if you could barely handle one — you couldn't imagine what it'd be like to handle another. Since there was bound to at least be someone else at the tower, just waiting for you to arrive.

The thought alone made you feel uneasy.

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[Chapter 3, part 2]

#yandere batfam #platonic yandere batfam #gn reader #yandere dc #platonic yandere #yandere x gn reader #yandere batfam x reader #yandere dc x reader #yandere dick grayson #not series

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loriache · 1 year ago

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Butch up that Elf: my Marcille manifesto

TBQH, this came into being because the Falin "dragoness" fanart rewired my brain completely. It's sillytimes, but we're going to make a serious argument: trying out being a little butch would Fix Her.

1. Marcille Gender Discomfort

Now, Marcille LOVES feminity. She loves playing dressup, she loves elaborate gowns, she spends her free time going to the spa - the absolute last thing I want is to deny that. However, there's also a definite vibe that this isn't just a preference. Specifically, the way that she pushes Falin towards femininity suggests that she isn't comfortable with gender nonconformity in the people around her.

If this was something she was 100% confident about ("I'm doing this for myself and nobody else!") surely what other people do wouldn't be a big deal? Of course, you can read this as a little bit of solipsism; "what works for me must work for you too! I think this is so cute and would suit you - wouldn't you agree?"

But for the sake of this argument, all I'm trying to suggest is that gender nonconformity (and probably sexual nonconformity... well, frankly, any kind of sexuality at all) is unlikely to be something that's on Marcille's "radar". She hasn't tried out other ways of presenting and decided she doesn't like them. I do think she'd be a very flamboyant butch - "ouji lolita" vibes, you know? It's a whole new set of wardrobe options she could play dress-up in, even.

After the story ends, she starts dressing like her mother in all black, which makes sense - her mother was also a court magician, so she's probably emulating her in order to project confidence and authority. But I can't say I think she should stick with this. Break away and be your own person, Marcille! Try a fancy waistcoat and frilled jacket!

2. Haircut

This is another potential hard sell, I'm sure. The people she loves doing her hair is a cute symbol of their care for her, and her hair is key to her magic - so there's plenty of reason for her to keep it long. But like... think practically. Having someone do your hair every morning, for the whole of her long life, while it gets messier over the day (because she can't remember to keep it neat)... That's got to be such a pain. My hair gets messy when I put a hoodie on. And I have short hair.

It would require her to go through a change of mind, and probably a little more growth in how secure she feels in her relationships, but - the hairdo's a symbol. The more important thing is the relationships themselves. Eventually I think there might be something liberating about cutting it off, even if she might eventually decide to grow it out again.

The lion, her trauma, took something away from her which was really important to her. The people around her are able to make that easier, and make up for it, and soften that loss, but... Mithrun isn't the person he was before, you know? He's a new person. The relationship he has with his brother is new, and I don't know if it's one that the person he was before could have had. If Falin hadn't died, they wouldn't have gone on that wonderful adventure! They wouldn't have met Senshi or saved Izutsumi and Laios and Marcille wouldn't have gotten so close. So I think it's totally congruent with the themes of the story that the burning away of this part of Marcille's self might eventually create the potential for new growth in a new direction, not clinging onto the parts that are gone.

This also isn't totally out of the norm for elven mages - both Otta and Flamela have short hair. Otta is canonically butch, and potentially Flamela reads that way to elves too, but the point is it clearly is possible to be an accomplished mage without long hair.

3. Desiring (to be) a chivalrous prince

Marcille's succubus is clearly General Halleus from her favourite book series, the Daltian Clan. The fact that this is her ideal man.... it certainly plays into readings of her as Not Straight. But at least, this conveys the way her conception of sex and romance is strongly idealised, dissociated from the bodily and from physical desire.

There are many ways to interpret that, including thinking about what types of desire this fixation is obstructing because she is not comfortable with it, but I am going to focus here on what this desire does signify. She likes the trappings of courtly romance, and is clearly comfortable putting herself in the role of the princess, being taken away on a white horse by a noble (but tormented; eyepatch has "death" on it lmao) prince. (Though I think he's actually the token male lead who isn't royalty; he's a General. There's always one in Romfan, lmao. IYKYK)

A kiss on the hand - this is so chaste, I think it's clear it's more about desire to play a role in a dynamic than it is about desire in a physical sense. There is undoubtedly a big part of Marcille that wants to be a beloved and chased-after princess, but I think it isn't at all impossible that she'd also enjoy being the powerful, cool, and chivalrous "prince" to someone (a pretty girl, perhaps) who needs her protection.

This is a little silly, because it's clearly just aping the shoujo artstyle that articulates basically the same idea as her succubus, that Marcille is attached to highly abstracted and idealised romantic (and Romantic) tropes and ideas. But the imaginary "successful" Marcille from chapter 4 looks quite similar to her succubus. (Another thing I noticed is that in the fantasy she has sharp ears... like full elves have. Despite what she says, I think the cultural messaging that this trait is "attractive" and hers are inferior got to her at least a bit. 😥)

Also, the way that she treats Falin, scolding her indulgently, trying to look after her and wanting to be looked up to and respected by her... that aligns more with the "masculine" role in the trope that her succubus is referencing. "What are we going to do with you...?" I can imagine her saying this to Falin, word for word. Whereas, if anyone real started talking down to her, even affectionately, I don't think she'd like it, given the negative way she reacts when people don't respect her or her skills. Especially after canon, given the way the Winged Lion was treating her.

Her attitude to Falin is partially down to her reluctance to acknowledge Falin as an adult, who is independent and can grow beyond her and leave her behind. But I think even as they move on from that unhealthy dynamic, Marcille is still going to get pleasure from feeling capable, reliable, able to look after and protect Falin. She'd like to pull the chair out for her in a restaurant on a date, you know?

4. Conclusion

Even after the growth she goes through during the story, there are parts of Marcille's character that are very much obstructed. Romance, sexuality, and gender, feel like one of those to me. The way that her discomfort with the messy origins of food betrayed a deeper, more significant discomfort with the cycles of life and death.

Much in the same way, I'd argue that the simplified, idealistic, and safely fantastical way that she views romance, as well as her very "safe" gender presentation and tendency to push it onto others as well, suggest an underlying discomfort in her own gender and sexuality. The character growth she goes through leaves her in a place where it may be possible to safely re-evaluate her relationship with Falin, as well as her choice of clothing and hairstyle, both things that go through a change at the end of the manga. Neither, I think, reach a sustainable stopping point that we see - there will be a point when it's more servants doing her hair than friends, just out of practicality, because they're all going to be so, so busy. The black clothing to copy her mum is cute, but once she gets some more self-confidence in her own skills as a court magician, I think she'll move on from it. And... who knows what direction her relationship with Falin will develop, over the years? I'm rooting for them, anyway.

In all those cases, I think moving outside of the things she's done before, into something really different from the things that are "safe" and expected, will be the most rewarding path for her. Like in the dungeon, things that she would initially reject were actually able to sustain her and broaden her tastes. She loves dressing up, looking after people, and "princely romance". So I say: Butch Marcille! It'll be good for her!!

#og post #marcille donato #falin x marcille #farcille #dungeon meshi #dungeon meshi meta #dungeon meshi manga spoilers #dunmeshi

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canihaveacalmtime · 7 months ago

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Usually, those otome isekai troupe would put you either in the position of the villain, villainess, antagonist or just a side character in general. So what if you happened to isekai into an otome game but as the villain's younger sibling who the villain despise so much to the point that you think he hates you even more than he hates the protagonist.

So knowing that in the next 2 years, you going to be kill by your brother, you quickly form a plan to make him stay on calm terms with you by help his plans go smoothly, be more friendly and caring towards him, be useful with informations and more. Within a year, you successfully have him on norm terms with you, no more glaring, no more cursing, lashing, no more this and that.

You felt relieved, really, now that you know you can at least be safe for the time being so the next step in your plan to survive is simply to book it out of there. Yeah, move to another country with the help of your uncle, you wouldn't want to stay and witness what kind of mess your brother would cause to the protagonist and her harem anyway.

You're very sure that he'd be super busy worrying about how to get the protagonist for himself and how to crush the harem down to the lowliest stage of life, he wouldn't even notice your disappearance because you're simply a speck of dust to him.

So when you got a call from your uncle telling you about how he got all the way here and is now finding you got your soul almost left your body in a panic moment. Finding you? What was the villain thinking? You're half glad that your uncle didn't tell your brother where you live but you also worried because he's here in this city and when he's 'finding', until you leave this place, you'd not escape his 'radar'.

Tonight, you have to study over night while having a fever, such a combination already felt so horrible and it's even worse if you start to hear noises of your apartment's front door being open.

"Damn it." You said while half conscious, walking from your bedroom to the living room, you see him standing there with all his glory but you, you don't even react anything. Maybe it's because you feel sleepy or the fever is just a little bit overdose, the last thing to know is yourself being hold back from falling down before fainted.

"My poor (y/n), you can never take care of yourself good, huh. Brother promise to care for you from now on, let's bring you 'back' first."

#calmwrites #yandere #yandere drabble #yandere scenarios #gn reader #platonic #platonic yandere #platonic yandere x reader

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jzprncess · 7 months ago

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love language by sza

“help me understand how you speak your love language ”

pairing: Max Verstappen x Y/N reader

part 1/2 next part

word count: 2,823

summary: a girlfriend of a successful f1 driver decides to learn Dutch to better understand her boyfriends world—his culture, his emotions, and the language he speaks—hoping to connect more deeply and navigate the complexities of their high-speed, high-pressure relationship.

note: first time writing a fan fiction so be nice please! i don’t know how to work tumblr to the fullest so if you want to requests anything, message it to me! this will be in two parts! please leave comments so i know im doing something right!!

　　　　　　 ❛ ━━･♡❪ ❁ ❫♡･━━ ❜

Out of all the unexpected turns her life had taken, learning another language was never on Y/N's radar. Yet, here she was, grappling with the complexities of Dutch, staring at her laptop screen during a Zoom call with her tutor, Anne. They had been chatting frequently, especially while Max was off competing in a grueling triple-header race weekend.

Before he left, Y/N had noticed the shadow of frustration in Max's eyes, a rare shift from his usually upbeat demeanor. It wasn’t lost on her—or anyone, really. The weight of the season’s challenges had begun to press down on him, making his once confident posture seem a little more hunched, his usual optimism now clouded by self-doubt. Everyone could see it. With the way the season had started, Max had envisioned triumph. But now, in October, his hopes felt distant. He hadn’t clinched a victory since June, and every reminder of that fact only seemed to add to his frustration. Y/N wished she could lift that burden, even if just for a moment.

In an attempt to brighten his spirits, she decided to do something special for him—a gesture that would help him escape the pressure he was under. The very day he departed, Y/N found herself scouring the internet, searching for someone who could teach her some basic Dutch. Max, ever the romantic, had always whispered sweet phrases in his native tongue—whether it was giving her a compliment or simply wishing her a good morning. And though she often required translations, Y/N thought, Why not learn the language myself? It couldn’t be that difficult, right?

And so, here she was, earnestly trying to master the phrase “I love you, handsome” in Dutch, yet somehow fumbling over the words.

“Y/N, your pronunciation is getting better, but you need to keep practicing,” Anne encouraged from the other side of the screen, her fingers dancing over her keyboard. The rhythmic sound of her typing seemed to fill the space between them, as if punctuating her words with gentle encouragement. “Have you taken my advice and started watching shows in Dutch? Immersing yourself in the language will really help you improve, especially with those tricky pronunciations.”

Y/N leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, and stared at the screen, her lips pressing together as she tried to hold back the exhaustion creeping in. She had been working hard at this—between the classes, the practice, the late nights watching Dutch shows, and the constant racing schedule with Max, it was all starting to feel like a lot. “Yeah, I’ve been talking to the TV like it’s my best friend,” she said with a small, self-deprecating chuckle, her voice sounding a bit weary. “The characters probably think I’m crazy by now. But, you know, I think I’m making progress? Or at least I hope I am.”

Anne’s eyebrows raised in an encouraging way. “Well, that’s the spirit! The more you immerse yourself, the more natural it will feel. Dutch can be tricky, especially with its sounds, but you’re not giving up, and that’s what matters.”

Y/N exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. It had been one of those days—between working on the language and managing the quiet space Max left behind when he was away, the weight of it all was starting to wear on her. “I don’t know... I keep stumbling over the same words, Anne. Like, I feel like I’m so close to getting it, but then I hear myself speak Dutch, and it just sounds... off. I’m trying, but it’s hard to know if I’m really improving.”

Anne smiled gently from the screen, as though she understood exactly where Y/N was coming from. “That’s completely normal. Language learning isn’t a straight path. There are ups and downs, but the key is to be patient with yourself. Remember, it’s not about perfection—it’s about progress. You’re already doing so much more than most people would.”

“I guess so.” Y/N’s voice softened, her eyes drifting away for a moment, lost in thought. “I just wish I could see it, you know? Max always speaks so fluently, and when he says something sweet in Dutch, it sounds so effortless. I want to understand it all, to be able to speak with him like that without stumbling or needing translations.”

Anne nodded, her face sympathetic. “I get that. You want to connect with him in the language that’s so familiar to him, and that’s a beautiful thing. But don’t forget, language is just one part of communication. Max will appreciate your effort no matter where you are in your learning. It’s about the intention, the heart behind it. And besides, if you’re working hard at it, he’ll see that.”

Y/N let out a small sigh, leaning forward in her chair and running a hand through her hair. “I just want him to know how much I’m trying. I know it’s hard for him when the season gets tough, and I want to be able to understand him better, not just the words, but how he’s feeling... especially when he gets frustrated. I want to be able to share those moments with him in his language.” She looked back up at Anne, a mixture of fatigue and determination in her eyes. "But it's like I'm still learning a whole new world, Anne. It's a lot to take in."

Anne’s expression softened even more. “Learning a language is like learning a new way to see the world. And you’re doing it for the right reasons. Max will notice that. Even if you don’t think you’re where you want to be yet, he’s going to appreciate your effort, your commitment to him and to his language. And you’re already showing him that you care in ways most people wouldn’t.”

Y/N gave a faint smile, feeling the weight of Anne’s words settle into her. She took another deep breath, her gaze flickering back to the screen. “I hope so. I’m doing this for him, and... for me, too. It’s just hard to see the progress sometimes when you’re so deep in it.”

“Well, keep at it, Y/N,” Anne encouraged again, her voice gentle but firm. “The progress is there, even when you can’t see it. And remember, when Max comes back, you’ll have a whole new way of connecting. That’s something special. Now, how about we wrap up for today, and next time, we focus on a few of those tricky sounds you’ve been stumbling over?”

Y/N nodded, the exhaustion beginning to fade as she felt a renewed sense of determination wash over her. "Yeah, let’s do that. Thanks, Anne. Really."

Anne smiled warmly, her tone softening. “Good night, Y/N. You’re doing great. Keep going, and keep believing in yourself.”

With that, the call ended, leaving Y/N in the quiet of her room. As the screen went dark, she sat still for a moment, letting Anne’s words settle into her. She still had a long way to go with Dutch, but now, she felt a little less weighed down by it all. She stood up from the desk, stretched, and with a deep breath, made her way to the kitchen. There was more to learn, yes, but she could do it. For Max. And for herself

This had become her routine for the past few weeks—immersing herself in a new language while navigating the emotional ups and downs of Max's racing career. Each night flowed into the next, filled with lessons and the hope that her efforts would spark joy in him when he returned. In a way, she couldn’t help but feel that this small adventure might not only help her connect with him in a deeper way but also serve as a reminder that even in tough times, he had someone in his corner—someone ready to support him and learn alongside him.

Time passed, and soon enough, the hectic three-race weekend was behind them.

Y/N wasn’t exactly sure when Max would be home. The unpredictable nature of his F1 schedule made it hard to keep track of his exact arrival time. As the hours stretched on, she decided to make the most of the quiet afternoon. She started by tidying up the house, picking up scattered race memorabilia and smoothing out the couch cushions, which always seemed to get tossed around after a long weekend of travel. The kitchen was next—dishes stacked in the sink, a few crumbs left from breakfast, and the faint scent of coffee lingering in the air. She cleaned with a kind of absent-minded rhythm, her thoughts drifting between the tasks at hand and the excitement of his return.

Not wanting to spend the whole day indoors, Y/N grabbed her coat, slipped into her shoes, and decided to run a few errands to break the monotony. She mentally made a list of things she needed—a trip to the grocery store for fresh produce, perhaps a quick stop at the florist to pick up some flowers for the dining table. The gentle hum of the city as she walked outside felt like a welcome distraction. As she moved through the familiar streets, her mind kept drifting to Max—imagining his arrival later that evening and wondering how he would feel after the intense race weekend. With a small smile, she pushed the thought aside. There were errands to run, and time had a way of slipping by faster when you were busy.

After a while, Y/N decided it was time to head back home, the errands and quiet city stroll leaving her feeling a bit more tired than usual. The exhaustion crept up slowly, settling into her bones in the best way—a peaceful kind of tiredness that made the thought of being home all the more appealing. Once she stepped inside, she kicked off her shoes by the door and shrugged off her jacket, instantly feeling the comfort of her own space wrap around her.

She sank onto the couch, letting the weight of the day melt away, but it wasn’t long before she found herself wanting to do something—something simple and familiar to bring a sense of warmth and routine to the day. The kitchen seemed like the perfect place. She stepped into the kitchen, the warmth of the space a comforting contrast to the quiet of the house. Her mind immediately wandered to dessert—something sweet to fill the silence. Pulling out her phone, she swiped through a few recipe sites, curiosity leading her fingers. After a moment, she typed "Dutch desserts" into the search bar. Her eyes quickly landed on appeltaart, the iconic Dutch apple pie. The thought of the rich, spiced apples wrapped in buttery crust made her stomach rumble. It was exactly what the moment called for.

With a smile, she set the phone down and rolled up her sleeves. The comforting hum of her favorite playlist began to fill the room, chasing away the silence and replacing it with familiar tunes. As the music flowed through the speakers, she started pulling ingredients from the pantry—flour, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. She paused for a moment, letting the soft beat of the song take over as she laid everything out on the counter. The scent of cinnamon already began to stir a feeling of warmth and anticipation.

With a deep breath, she moved into the rhythm of the recipe, the steady motion of measuring, mixing, and prepping grounding her. She could already picture the golden crust and warm, sweet filling that would soon fill the kitchen, and her heart swelled with a sense of simple joy.

As she hummed softly to the tune playing in the background, completely engrossed in the rhythm of her mixing and the warmth of the kitchen, she remained oblivious to Max stepping through the front door, his footsteps barely audible on the hardwood floor. Max paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the room before he crept quietly toward the kitchen, careful not to make a sound. He peeked around the corner, his gaze falling on you as you worked your magic, your movements fluid and focused. A smile tugged at his lips as the sweet scent of apple pie hit him, and he inhaled deeply, savoring the warm, comforting aroma that filled the air.

Max moved silently behind her, his steps light as he closed the distance between them. With a smile, he slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her close against him. He rested his chin on her shoulder for a moment, savoring the warmth of her presence, before pressing a tender kiss to her soft skin. As he inhaled the sweet scent of the kitchen, his lips brushed her shoulder, and he murmured in a low, appreciative voice, "Smells amazing."

The unexpected touch causes her to flinch, a small gasp escaping her as she instinctively tenses, but her body quickly relaxes when she turns to find Max standing there. A soft smile tugs at her lips as she meets his gaze. "I didn't hear you come in," she murmurs, her voice gentle and warm as she leans slightly into his embrace, feeling the comforting weight of his presence. She glances toward the counter, her hands still lightly dusted with flour, and then looks back at him, her eyes sparkling with a mix of affection and pride. "I made apple—" Her words falter for a brief moment, and she pauses, taking a breath before finishing with a playful smile, "Ik heb appeltaart gemaakt." (i made apple pie) She lets the Dutch phrase roll off her tongue with a touch of pride, her eyes lighting up as she anticipates his reaction to the homemade treat and at the sudden Dutch.

Max chuckles, the sound warm and teasing. "Oh, dus je spreekt nu Nederlands?" (Oh, so you speak Dutch now?) His eyes narrow playfully as he takes her in, studying her with a hint of disbelief, almost as if he couldn't quite believe what he'd just heard. It takes a moment for her to process his words, the surprise registering on her face before a grin tugs at her lips. She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly as she meets his gaze. “Leren voor jou,” she responds with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, her voice light and teasing as she repeats the phrase—"Learning for you."

Max hums contentedly into her skin, his voice soft but filled with affection. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" His words are a gentle murmur, as though he's savoring the moment. She chuckles, the sound warm and light, as she wipes her hands on a nearby towel. Without missing a beat, she spins around, her eyes sparkling, and wraps her arms around him in a tight embrace. "I've missed you," she whispers into his chest, her voice filled with sincerity, as if the distance between them had only made her feelings stronger.

He gently pulls away, his hands lingering at her waist as he looks down at her, his eyes soft with affection. There’s a quiet warmth in his gaze, a tenderness that makes his heart swell with emotion. "I've missed you too," he murmurs, his voice low and sincere, the words wrapped in a quiet vulnerability. He smiles, a soft, almost teasing glint in his eyes as he adds, "Mijntje," (my little one), his tone filled with both love and playfulness. With a tender sigh, he leans down, his face drawing closer to hers. As he lowers himself, he brushes his lips gently against hers, the kiss soft and lingering, a promise of everything he feels for her in that quiet, intimate moment.

She pulls back just enough to look into his eyes, her breath catching in the space between them. Her heart races, each beat carrying the weight of everything she feels for him. Her hands rest gently on his chest as she searches his gaze, finding warmth, safety, and a quiet promise there. With a soft sigh, she leans in just a little closer, her lips barely brushing his as she whispers, her voice trembling with sincerity, "Ik hou van jou."

The words, though soft, are heavy with all the emotions she can't quite put into words—years of trust, laughter, passion, and quiet moments, all wrapped in those simple yet profound syllables. His breath hitches, and a smile plays on his lips as he leans in, closing the small space between them with a kiss that feels like both a promise and a beginning. There’s a warmth radiating between them, an unspoken yearning that lingers in the air, electrifying yet restrained. The kiss deepens, lingering just a moment longer, igniting a flutter of anticipation in her chest—a taste of what could be. As they pull away, their eyes lock, and in that shared gaze lies a world of possibilities, a silent acknowledgment of the passion that awaits them.

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

tag list : @heluvsjappie

#f1 x reader #f1 imagine #f1 fanfic #max verstappen x reader #max verstappen x y/n #f1 fluff #f1 x y/n #f1 x female reader #f1 x you #formula 1 x you #formula 1 x reader #formula 1 x y/n #formula 1 fanfic #mv1 x reader #mv1 x y/n #jzprncess

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4linos · 14 days ago

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fractured silence pt. 3

yang jeongin x idol!reader

synopsis: when your pregnancy complicates your secret relationship, the emotional distance between you and your boyfriend grows, leaving you unsure of where you stand and what the future holds.

warnings: idol pregnancy, lots of fluff, angst, hurt/comfort.

wc: 17,645

[part 1, part 2]

It was a quiet, still morning, the kind you usually cherished. The sun had barely climbed high in the sky, its golden rays pouring gently through the curtains of your room, casting a soft glow over the space. You had just returned from your latest check-up, now officially eight and a half months along. The visit had gone smoothly, the doctor confirming what you already knew: you were almost there. So close to the moment your life would change forever.

You’d done everything you could to stay under the radar, hoodie on, mask tight, oversized clothes hiding your growing belly. You didn’t even tell the girls you were going out. You just wanted a moment of peace, to feel like a regular person doing a regular thing. And for a little while, it worked.

Now, back in your room, you were sprawled across the couch with your feet up, absently watching a show that didn’t have enough of a plot to hold your attention. Your hand rested instinctively over your bump as you scrolled through your phone, eyes half-focused until a headline jumped out at you, bold and brutal.

“Idol on Hiatus Due to Pregnancy? Rumors Swirl Around Stardust Member, Y/N.”

You froze. Your heart dropped so fast you felt sick. Your fingers trembled as you clicked on the article. It wasn’t long, and there were no photos, no names from company officials. But the damage was already done. It was out there.

Despite your efforts, the silence, the fake reason for the hiatus, the long hours spent hiding away, someone had leaked it. Someone had taken the choice from you.

Your eyes scrolled to the comments before you could stop yourself.

“No way. I don’t believe it.”

“Is she serious? Throwing her career away like this?”

“There’s no proof, this is fake news.”

“Honestly if it’s true… I’m disappointed.”

Each word hit like a brick to the chest. You’d been prepared for judgment, but seeing it in black and white? It was worse than you imagined. You wanted to disappear.

Your phone buzzed in your hand. Jeongin.

You answered without even thinking.

“Are you okay?” he asked, voice urgent and full of worry.

You tried to answer, but the words didn’t come out right away. Your throat was tight, and your heart was racing. “No,” you finally whispered. “I’m not okay.”

“I saw it. I saw the article. I'm so sorry— I don't even know what to say.”

Before you could answer, another buzz lit up your screen, a message from Jinhee.

Jinhee: Emergency meeting. Company needs you in immediately. Please hide well when coming. No press can see you. I'm so sorry.

You stared at the text in disbelief, the room suddenly spinning just a little. Everything you’d feared for months, the exposure, the scrutiny, the fallout was unraveling before your eyes. The careful plan to take a quiet hiatus, to give birth privately and come back on your own terms, was gone.

Jeongin was still on the line, waiting. “Do you want me to come with you?” he asked softly. “I’ll go. I’ll be there.”

You shook your head, more to yourself than to him. “No. It’s better if you don’t. They’re already going to twist this. If we’re seen together right now... it’ll only make it worse.”

He hesitated. “I hate this. I hate that you have to go through this alone.”

“I’m not alone,” you said, even though the loneliness sat heavy in your chest. “But I have to do this. I have to face them.”

He exhaled shakily. “Okay. But please call me right after. I’ll be waiting.”

You ended the call slowly, reluctant to lose even that tiny bit of comfort. But there wasn’t time to cry or process, not now.

You grabbed your mask, oversized hoodie, pulled your hair into a loose cap, and stood in front of the mirror. Your eyes were puffy, your body tired, your belly unmistakable beneath the layers of fabric. But you squared your shoulders, steadied your breath, and reminded yourself of something you had to believe: You were still you, even if the world had decided to see you differently.

And now, it was time to fight for yourself.

The company building was quieter than usual or maybe it just felt that way. You were walking through the familiar halls, the sound of your shoes against the floor the only thing you could hear over the thunderous beating of your own heart. Every step felt heavier, like each one brought you closer to something you weren’t ready to face.

You reached the meeting room and paused at the door, taking one last deep breath before walking in. The girls were already there. Jinae was sitting upright, eyes glued to the table; Minsu was chewing on her bottom lip like she always did when she was nervous; and Chae, looked up the moment you stepped in, standing up to greet you with a gentle hand to your arm.

“Are you okay?” she asked, voice soft but urgent. The others turned to you, eyes full of concern.

You gave them a small nod and a rehearsed, too calm “I’m fine,” even though nothing about this felt fine. You could tell they didn’t believe you how could they, when your shoulders were so tense and your jaw so tight? But they didn’t press. They just made room for you to sit between them like they always did when they knew you needed them close.

Moments later, the door opened again. Jun entered first eyes tired, mouth set in a grim line. Behind him came Jinhee, who gave you a brief, apologetic look, followed by two more company reps you didn’t know well, faces serious and businesslike. Everyone took their places, the air thick with tension.

Jun cleared his throat and looked at all of you, but mostly at you.

“This isn’t ideal,” he began. “It’s not how we wanted this to happen. Someone seemed to have leaked information to the press. It’s already out there, and the article is spreading.”

You felt your stomach twist again. You’d already read the article, already seen the comments tearing you apart the denial, the judgment, the disappointment. You didn’t need to hear it again.

Jun sighed. “We have two options. We can deny the rumors, issue a statement that this is baseless, just speculation. But if anything comes out after that… if there's any confirmation down the line…”

“We’ll be liars,” you finished for him, your voice bitter.

He hesitated. “Yes. And that could be even more damaging. To you, to the group, to the company.”

You scoffed, leaning back in your chair. “With all due respect, this was your idea from the beginning. You told me to lie. You told me to disappear quietly and not say a word.”

The room was silent for a beat.

Then one of the company representatives, a man you didn’t even know by name spoke up from across the table.

“Why not just come clean?” he said casually, like he wasn’t suggesting the very thing that could destroy your entire career. “Tell the truth. People are going to find out eventually. Why not control the narrative now?”

Before you could even respond, Jinae turned her head so fast you thought she might’ve pulled something. Her glare was sharp and immediate.

“Do you understand what you’re asking her to do?” she asked, voice low and clipped.

Minsu nodded, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “You want her to put her life on fire so you can write a good press release?”

Chae added, “She’s not a headline. She’s a person. And she’s pregnant. Don’t forget that part.”

You swallowed hard, heart swelling at their defense even though your eyes burned with fresh tears.

The man held up his hands. “I’m just saying.. the longer we stay silent, the worse it could get. Controlling the truth is better than letting people twist it.”

Jun cut in again before things could spiral. “No one’s forcing her to do anything.” He looked at you again, more gently this time. “We just need to be realistic. The story is out there. There’s no guarantee it’ll go away.”

You looked around the room. Everyone was waiting on you. Like you were the only one who could make this call, but also the one who’d take the fall either way. Your lips trembled as you finally said, “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.”

And that was the truth.

Because how do you tell the world something they never asked for, something you weren’t ready to give? How do you explain that you didn’t mean to hurt anyone that you were just trying to love someone, to live a little, and now everything might fall apart?

You looked down at your belly, your hand resting gently on the curve of it, the smallest kick tapping back against your palm.

You weren’t just deciding for yourself anymore.

And that made everything so much harder.

It had been hours since the emergency meeting, and though the company’s vague statement had finally gone public, nothing really felt resolved. If anything, the silence only made things worse, the uncertainty, the unspoken fear, the way people online began to fill in the blanks with their own narratives. You scrolled through social media in bed, jaw clenched, heart heavy. The statement was vague, sterile..

“We are currently looking into the situation. Please refrain from speculation until an official update is provided.”

It wasn’t exactly protective, but it was better than being thrown under the bus… for now.

Still, you couldn’t relax. The weight of everything the secrecy, the fear of what might come next, the guilt about Jeongin, the burden of protecting both your baby and your career was pressing in on you from all sides. You hadn’t been able to keep food down, and every time you tried to sleep, your mind spiraled through worst-case scenarios.

The dorm, usually lively and filled with chatter and music, had gone quiet over the past few days. Jinae, Chae, and Minsu were around for a short rest from their own schedules, and they made it a point to stay close to you. They tried their best to distract you, Jinae brought snacks and put on your favorite dramas, Minsu dragged her blanket into the living room and made a cozy space to lay down beside you, and Chae spent every free moment near you, humming gently, rubbing your back when she thought you needed it most.

But something was off today.

You’d been feeling light cramps since that morning, a low discomfort in your back that had started small, barely noticeable. At first you’d brushed it off, just another side effect of stress, right? Or maybe just normal end-of-pregnancy things. You didn’t want to scare the girls, didn’t want to worry them more than they already were, so you stayed quiet.

But by afternoon, the tightness in your stomach became more rhythmic, sharper, harder to ignore. You bit your tongue when a sharp pulse hit you suddenly, tears pricking at your eyes.

It was Chae who noticed first.

She turned from the TV to find you sitting frozen, your knuckles white from gripping the couch cushion. “Hey… are you okay?”

You shook your head quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine, just—just a cramp—”

But then your breath hitched. You let out a soft cry before you could stop yourself.

“Jinae?” Chae’s voice raised an octave, full of panic. She scooted toward you just as Jinae stood from the kitchen, her eyes narrowing.

“What’s going on?”

“She’s in pain,” Chae said quickly. “Like… real pain.”

Minsu rushed over from her room, phone already in her hand. “Do we need to go to the hospital?”

You tried to wave them off, but another contraction rolled through your body and you bent forward, gripping your belly. “Something’s… wrong…”

“No,” Jinae said firmly, already helping you to your feet. “We’re not waiting”

They helped you into a coat and shoes, supporting your arms. The car ride was a blur. Your breathing came in sharp, shaky bursts, tears sliding silently down your cheeks. Chae sat beside you in the back seat, holding your hand the entire time. Minsu drove like her life depended on it.

By the time you reached the hospital, your world had narrowed to the pain and the overwhelming fear in your chest.

The nurse who greeted you was quick, a check-in, some quick vitals, then straight into an exam room. “You’re in labor,” she said calmly, and your heart dropped into your stomach.

“No, I’m not ready,” you whispered, the words falling from your lips as panic bloomed in your chest. “It’s early. It’s too early.”

“It’s a little early, yes, but you and your baby are both okay right now,” the nurse said gently, signaling for someone to prep a room. “We’re going to take care of you.”

The girls had fallen quiet. Jinae’s hand found yours again, firm and grounding. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “We’re here, right? You’re not doing this alone.”

Minsu nodded, already halfway out the door. “I’ll call Jeongin.”

“I’ll get your hospital bag,” Chae said, disappearing down the hall toward the car without hesitation.

But you barely registered their voices.

You lay back on the hospital bed, a mess of fear and tears and pain. This wasn’t how you pictured it. This wasn’t the moment you’d imagined, no quiet nursery, no weeks of nesting, no last-minute baby prep. You still didn’t know what your future looked like, not with the company, not with the world. But the one thing you did know was this:

The baby was coming.

Ready or not.

The moment Jeongin burst into the delivery room, everything around you stilled for a second like time paused just so you could take in the look on his face. He was breathless, cheeks flushed from running, his mask barely clinging to one ear, and his hair was a complete mess under his hoodie, but none of that mattered. His eyes searched for you immediately. And when they found you exhausted, drenched in sweat, tears dried on your cheeks and hand clutched tightly in Jinae’s he rushed to your side without hesitation.

He didn’t even say anything at first. He just cupped your face, pressed a kiss to your damp forehead, and then another to your temple, before finally whispering, “I’m here. I’m here. Are you okay?”

You couldn’t speak. You were too overwhelmed with pain, fear, emotion, but your eyes watered as you managed the tiniest nod. Jinae, ever the anchor, spoke for you, her hand still resting lightly on your shoulder.

“apparently she’d been having cramps all day, but didn’t really tell us until Chae noticed she wasn’t doing okay.” she explained to Jeongin gently.

Jeongin’s jaw tensed as he turned back to you, eyes scanning every inch of your face, as if trying to read through your pain. “Why didn’t you call me earlier?” he asked, voice soft, concerned not angry, just deeply scared for you.

You gave him a tired, fragile smile, your grip on his hand tightening. “Didn’t think it was time,” you breathed, “I wasn’t ready.”

He leaned in again, brushing your hair off your forehead with a trembling hand. “You don’t have to be ready. I’ll be ready for both of us. Just hold on a little longer, okay?”

Jinae excused herself quietly, placing a hand on your shoulder in quiet support before stepping out. Jeongin looked up just long enough to mouth “thank you” to her, and the weight in his voice wasn’t lost on her.

What followed felt like the longest hours of your life.

The contractions were intense, coming faster now, every wave threatening to drown you. Jeongin didn’t leave your side, not for a second. He held your hand through every breath, whispered encouragements in your ear even when your body trembled too much to focus on his words. He wiped your tears, whispered “you’re doing so good,” over and over again, even when you felt like you weren’t.

And then it happened.

A final push, every muscle in your body straining with everything you had left and then…

A cry. Tiny, but powerful. The sound sliced through the room, filling every corner with something electric and raw and real. You collapsed back against the hospital bed, tears rushing down your face, your chest rising and falling rapidly as you tried to process it.

Jeongin let out a laugh that was really more of a choked sob. His face crumpled the moment he heard your baby’s first cry. “That’s him,” he whispered, awe painting his voice with something reverent. “That’s our boy…”

You couldn’t even answer. You just nodded weakly, tears slipping down your cheeks again as you watched the nurses clean him, measure him, swaddle him.

“He’s perfect,” Jeongin breathed. “He’s so small. So perfect…”

You felt his hand slip into yours again as he turned back to you, kissing your knuckles. “You did that,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “You did all of that. I’m so proud of you. So proud.”

The nurse finally brought him over, wrapped snugly in soft blue and white, and the moment she gently placed your baby into your arms, it hit you all over again.

This was real.

This tiny, warm, pink-faced little boy… was yours. Yours and Jeongin’s.

He blinked slowly, as if confused by the world he had just been brought into. His little fingers curled near his cheek, and his breathing was soft and even.

Jeongin sat beside you, one arm around your shoulders, the other carefully resting over yours as you both looked down at him.

“Welcome to the world, little one,” he whispered.

And for the first time in what felt like months, you didn’t feel scared. Or tired. Or anxious.

You just felt full of love, of peace, of something you didn’t know you’d been missing until that moment.

And Jeongin, still looking down at his son, said it again, this time louder, steadier:

“I’m here. For both of you. Always.”

Jeongin sat there in the hospital chair, cradling little Yejun in his arms like he was the most fragile and precious thing in the world, and to him, he probably was. His hand supported the baby’s head with practiced gentleness, and his eyes never left his son’s face. It was quiet in the room, the soft hum of monitors fading into the background, the weight of everything that had happened resting somewhere far away from this moment.

Jeongin’s voice was low, barely above a whisper as he spoke to Yejun, his words soft and sweet like a secret only they shared.

“You’ve got your mama’s nose,” he murmured with a small smile. “That’s a good thing. She’s the prettiest person I’ve ever met.”

He reached out to gently trace a tiny curve of the baby’s cheek with his finger, watching in fascination as Yejun shifted just a little in his arms, lips parting in sleep.

“You don’t even know how lucky you are yet,” he went on, glancing toward you for a second eyes warm, filled with so much love it made your chest ache. “You’ve got her. And you’ve got me. And I promise, I’ll protect you both with everything I’ve got.”

You lay in the hospital bed, head resting against the pillows, utterly exhausted but unable to look away from the sight of the two of them Jeongin, wide-eyed and reverent, and your newborn baby, bundled up and quiet in his arms. Your eyes burned as you watched them. It was surreal, after everything, this was your life now. This little boy was yours. And Jeongin... he was really here.

Jeongin finally stood up and came to your side, careful and slow with every movement as he handed Yejun over to you. You adjusted yourself slightly in the bed, cradling your baby to your chest, and you gave Jeongin a tired but utterly soft smile.

“Did the company say anything?” you asked after a moment, voice weak but steady. “About you being here?”

His smile faltered slightly, and that was answer enough. You watched the way he looked toward the floor before meeting your eyes again, hesitant.

“I... didn’t tell them,” he admitted quietly. “I kind of just left.”

Your brow furrowed. “Jeongin—”

“They’ve been calling nonstop,” he added quickly, “I know. I know. I’ll probably get chewed out later or worse, but... I just couldn’t stay away.”

You blinked at him, processing his words. “They’re going to be so angry. You know that.”

“I don’t care,” he said, firm now. His hand reached out, cupping the side of your face, thumb brushing gently against your cheek. “None of that matters right now. All that matters is you... and him.”

Your breath caught in your throat. It wasn’t just the words, it was the way he said them. So sure. So sincere. As if nothing could ever pull him away from you again. And maybe, after everything, that was what you needed most to hear.

“You’re gonna get in trouble,” you murmured again, not because you wanted to argue, but because you were scared for him, for the weight of what this moment meant in the world outside of these four walls.

“I know,” he said. “But he only comes into the world once. And I’m not going to miss that for anyone, not even the company.”

Your eyes welled up again. You looked down at Yejun, his tiny chest rising and falling against yours, his warmth settling over your skin like a blanket, and then back up at Jeongin, whose hand was now resting protectively over both of you.

“Thank you,” you whispered. “For being here.”

He leaned in and kissed your forehead again, lingering for a moment before resting his own against yours.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

The quiet calm of the hospital room didn’t last long, not that you minded. Within moments, the door swung open and the girls came rushing in like a whirlwind of excited energy and love. Jinae was first, holding a handful of light blue balloons with little white clouds and a big “Welcome Baby!” banner tangled around her wrist. Chae and Minsu followed behind, carrying a gift bag nearly half their size that was overflowing with tissue paper in pastel colors. Their faces lit up the moment they saw you sitting up in bed with your son in your arms, and the room filled instantly with warm laughter and squeals of excitement.

“There he is!” Chae beamed, her voice cracking with emotion. “Oh my god, look how tiny he is!”

Minsu didn’t even hesitate. “Can I hold him?” she asked, eyes wide, bouncing on her heels like a kid waiting for candy.

You smiled, glancing at Jeongin who was still standing by your side like a guard dog and a proud dad rolled into one. He looked at you, silently asking if it was okay, and when you nodded, he carefully leaned down and helped Minsu cradle baby Yejun in her arms.

“He’s perfect,” Minsu whispered immediately, her voice trembling slightly as she swayed side to side, instinctively rocking him. “He’s seriously perfect.”

Jeongin grinned, chest puffing up slightly. “I know, right? He’s got the tiniest fingers. Look at his ears. He yawned earlier and I nearly cried.”

Chae and Jinae gathered around Minsu, cooing at the baby and gently touching his little hands and feet. “He’s going to be spoiled,” Jinae said knowingly, eyes gleaming. “He has no idea how loved he is already.”

“He’s going to grow up with four moms,” Chae added with a laugh, nudging Jeongin. “Five, if you count you. You’ve barely blinked since he was born.”

“I’m just making sure he’s okay,” Jeongin defended with a sheepish grin. “And that she’s okay too,” he added, turning his attention back to you.

You could see it in his eyes, he hadn’t stopped worrying about you even for a second. While the girls bickered over who would hold Yejun next, Jeongin leaned in close, brushing your hair gently away from your face.

“Are you feeling alright? Do you need water? Food? I can run out and grab something if you’re hungry. Or I can ask the nurse—”

“Jeongin,” you interrupted softly, smiling up at him. “I’m okay. I promise.”

He gave you a look, not convinced, still on full alert, but he nodded anyway and reached for your hand, intertwining your fingers with his. “You scared me,” he murmured. “Going into labor so suddenly like that. I thought we had more time.”

You sighed, your body heavy with exhaustion, but your heart full. “Me too. But he had other plans.”

The girls had now passed Yejun into Chae’s arms, and she was whispering something about how she wanted to knit him a tiny beanie, while Jinae opened the massive gift bag to show you an entire set of newborn clothes, soft blankets, and a tiny framed card that said ‘Welcome to the world, Yejun.’

You couldn’t help but laugh softly at their chaos, it was comforting, grounding. Even in a sterile hospital room with all the uncertainty still looming beyond those walls, this moment felt perfect.

You leaned your head against Jeongin’s shoulder, still watching your baby get passed from arm to arm, and whispered, “This… feels like a dream.”

Jeongin kissed the top of your head gently, his voice just as soft. “Then let’s never wake up.”

The hospital room felt quieter that morning, still warm and soft with the gentle scent of baby powder and fresh linens, but quieter in a way that tugged at your chest. You sat on the edge of the bed in your discharge clothes, Yejun bundled up in his tiny baby onesie, swaddled in a blue blanket with little stars on it, asleep in your arms. Jeongin had been fussing all morning, fixing the straps on the car seat, making sure your discharge bag had everything in it, adjusting Yejun’s tiny hat over and over again, even though it was perfectly snug.

He didn’t want to leave.

You could see it all over him. The way his shoulders stayed tight, how his eyes kept flickering between you and the baby, like he was trying to memorize every last detail before he had to walk out that door. He had schedules, ones he couldn’t get out of this time, even though he’d begged. His company had drawn the line. He was lucky to have gotten this much time off to be here for Yejun’s birth at all.

“I hate this,” he finally muttered under his breath, gently pressing a long, soft kiss against Yejun’s tiny cheek. “I should be the one taking you home.”

You reached out, placing a hand on his arm with a small, tired smile. “I’ll be okay. Jinae’s almost here. She said she’s five minutes away.”

Jeongin gave a reluctant sigh and leaned down to buckle Yejun into the baby seat that sat on a small rolling cart beside your bed. He was so gentle, adjusting the tiny straps over your son's chest, making sure they weren’t too tight. “You be good, little guy,” he whispered, watching as Yejun stirred slightly in his sleep. He reached out, and his tiny hand wrapped around Jeongin’s finger in a surprisingly firm grip.

Jeongin’s lips quirked into a smile, his eyes suddenly glassy. “He’s strong,” he said softly. “Just like you.”

He turned back to you then, his expression shifting, the proud father melting into the man who had stood beside you through every high and low, the man who loved you more than he could explain. He stepped toward you and wrapped his arms around you tightly, burying his face in your hair. The warmth of his body was grounding, safe, and it made the ache in your chest spread wider.

“I’ll call you the second I get in the van,” he murmured. “And later tonight. And tomorrow morning. I’ll sneak out if I can. I swear. Just hang in there a little longer.”

You didn’t trust yourself to speak, your throat thick with emotion so you simply nodded, your arms winding around his middle just a little tighter. You didn't want him to see the tears welling in your eyes. You didn’t want to cry and make it harder for him to leave, even though every part of you wanted to ask him to stay.

“I love you,” he whispered. “I love you so much. And I love him more than I ever thought I could love anything.”

Another nod. Another squeeze. You were going to miss him the moment he walked out that door.

Right then, the door creaked open and Jinae peeked in, slightly out of breath and clutching her phone in one hand and a small bag in the other. “Sorry, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said gently, catching sight of the two of you tangled in each other.

Jeongin let out a quiet chuckle, not turning away just yet. “Perfect timing,” he said under his breath. Then, slowly, reluctantly, he pulled back. He turned to Jinae and offered a grateful nod. “Please take care of them. Both of them.”

Jinae gave him a soft, understanding look and nodded. “Of course. Always.”

With one last glance at you, eyes full of unspoken words Jeongin stepped close to Yejun and gave him one more kiss on his tiny forehead. “Appa loves you,” he whispered, voice thick. Then he leaned over and kissed you, slower this time. A kiss that said I’ll be back. I’m not going anywhere.

And just like that, he was gone.

The room felt quiet again, but this time in a different way. Not lonely, just… paused. Waiting for the next chapter to begin.

When Jinae helped you up the few stairs to your dorm door, your body still sore and heavy with exhaustion, the last thing you expected was what you saw the moment the door swung open.

“Welcome home, Yejun & Mommy!” a big banner read in bright, cheerful letters, strung across the entryway.

The entire dorm was filled with light laughter and soft squeals as you stepped inside, greeted by a sea of baby blue balloons scattered across the wooden floor like soft bubbles. Some had little stars drawn on them in silver marker, others had “Yejun” scribbled across in cute handwriting probably Minsu’s, based on the little hearts surrounding each letter. A faint sweet scent filled the air, vanilla and something a little floral. Your heart squeezed in your chest as you looked around.

“Oh my God,” you breathed out, laughing softly as your hand came up to cover your mouth, the wave of emotion washing over you all at once.

The girls stood proudly around the entrance. Chae was the first to rush forward, arms out to greet you, her voice full of excitement. “Surprise!” she beamed. “Jinhee helped us decorate! She even dropped off food for you like, a lot of food, but she had to go before you got here.”

You nodded, overwhelmed and grateful. “You guys… seriously. This is too much.”

“It’s not even close to enough,” Minsu grinned, quickly hurrying over to you and Jinae, who had just finished settling Yejun’s baby seat down on the floor gently. “You deserve everything.”

Then she leaned in and mischievously looped her arm through yours, practically bouncing. “Okay, okay we have a huge surprise for you. But you have to close your eyes.”

You blinked, caught off guard. “Another surprise? You guys already—”

“Nope!” Jinae cut in, smiling. “Eyes. Closed.”

You laughed softly, heart warm, and shut your eyes with a nod. “Alright, alright. But bring Yejun, okay?”

“Already on it!” Minsu called, and you could hear the girls giggling softly as they quietly tiptoed around, getting everything ready.

Carefully, they guided you down the hallway, past the familiar walls of your dorm, but when you stepped into your room, the air felt… different. New. You could hear a whisper-shouted “Surprise!” and opened your eyes, heart thumping.

You gasped.

The room, your room, which used to be modest and simple had been completely transformed. A brand new crib stood by the window, painted a soft gray with moon and star carvings along the sides. Next to it, a bassinet rested gently beside your bed, and an adorable white changing table stood stocked with baby wipes, diapers, tiny creams, and tiny socks rolled into bundles.

Soft blue and cream curtains now hung where your plain ones used to be, and a new fluffy rug had been laid down, plush under your tired feet. On one wall, a little wooden name sign spelled out “Yejun” in delicate cursive, and on another, picture frames had already been put up, some with little drawings, others waiting for your first family photos.

You felt your throat tighten as the tears welled up. “You guys…” you breathed, lips trembling into a smile.

“We wanted you to have a space for both of you,” Chae said gently, stepping beside you.

“If the crib breaks, Minsu built it,” she added with a laugh.

Minsu gasped in mock offense. “Excuse me! It is stable and perfect! I watched like three tutorials!”

You let out a soft, watery laugh, reaching over and gently taking sleeping Yejun into your arms from Jinae, who had been swaying slightly with him as he slept.

You brought him closer to the crib, holding him up just slightly as if showing him the room built for him with so much love. “Look, baby,” you whispered. “This is your new home.”

The girls watched quietly as you leaned down and gently placed Yejun in the crib for the first time. He stirred only slightly, his tiny hand twitching against his blanket as he snuggled deeper into sleep.

You turned back to your members, who were now leaning on the doorway and walls, beaming proudly.

“Thank you,” you whispered, voice cracking. “Really. I don’t… I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

Jinae stepped forward and hugged you, tight and warm. “You don’t have to do anything without us. We’re here. All the way.”

And in that small, glowing room with love pressed into every corner and a baby boy sleeping in a crib built by your family, you finally let yourself believe that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay.

You had barely had time to soak everything up when Yejun’s little face scrunched up, a tiny whimper escaping his lips. You sighed softly, instinctively reaching for him again, but Chae was already ahead of you.

“I got him,” she said with a gentle smile, lifting him from the crib and into her arms. “You go eat. Rest. I mean it.”

“Are you sure?” you asked, eyes flicking between her and your son, who was beginning to fuss more intensely now.

She nodded confidently, brushing a thumb gently over Yejun’s cheek as she bounced him slightly. “I’m serious. If I can memorize a 5-minute dance in one practice, I can handle this tiny bean. Go eat.”

You chuckled quietly, heart warm, and muttered a soft “Thank you” as you turned toward the kitchen table where Jinae and Minsu were already seated, waiting with two warm trays of food, courtesy of Jinhee.

Jinae pushed one toward you. “Here. She brought you seaweed soup and grilled chicken with rice said it's good for recovery.”

“And there’s also some ginger tea in the thermos,” Minsu added. “Smells kinda weird, not gonna lie, but she said it helps with digestion and energy.”

You smiled gratefully, sitting down with a wince, still sore in places you hadn’t known could hurt and picked up your chopsticks. As you began to eat, the comforting warmth of the soup spreading through you, you watched Chae in the living room.

She had set Yejun down on the changing mat you kept in the corner and was expertly unsnapping his onesie. You paused mid-bite, eyebrows raised. “She’s really doing it,” you mumbled.

“Honestly?” Jinae said, leaning back in her chair. “She’s doing better than I did my first time changing my cousin.”

“She’s doing better than me and I gave birth to him,” you joked lightly, earning a laugh from Minsu.

“She’s a natural,” Minsu said with a smirk. “Already a pro.”

“I heard that!” Chae called from the living room without turning around. “Don’t jinx me!”

You were just about to respond when your phone, sitting beside your tray, buzzed sharply. You glanced down and saw the name instantly, Jeongin.

Minsu leaned over with a teasing grin. “Didn’t even give you a full two hours before checking in, huh?”

You rolled your eyes fondly, warmth blooming in your chest as you wiped your fingers on a napkin and picked up the phone. “It’s like he knew the second I set Yejun down,” you muttered before answering quickly.

“Hey,” you greeted softly.

“Hey,” Jeongin replied almost instantly, his voice a little out of breath like he’d run to a corner of the building just to call. “How are you? Did you make it home okay? Did they decorate? Was it the surprise you wanted?”

You let out a small laugh, touched. “Yes. It was perfect. They really went all out.”

“I wish I could’ve stayed longer,” he mumbled. “I barely got to hold him…”

“You were with us every moment you could be. He knows,” you reassured, your voice lowering as you leaned slightly away from the girls for a little privacy.

“Is he okay?” he asked quickly, barely giving you time to breathe. “How’s he doing? He ate, right? He’s not too cold? Did you get to rest yet?”

You smiled despite yourself, eyes drifting to the living room where Chae was now gently lifting Yejun, talking softly to him while patting his back. “He’s okay. Chae’s got him right now. She changed him and everything.

“She did?” Jeongin laughed quietly, almost in disbelief. “She’s braver than me. He screamed bloody murder when I tried earlier.”

“He fussed a little,” you said softly, watching them, “but she’s doing amazing.”

“You both are,” he said, voice quieter now. “I know you’re tired… but thank you. For doing all of this. For him. For… us.”

Your heart softened at his words, the exhaustion clinging to your bones momentarily replaced by that strange warmth again, the one that always came when he reminded you how much he cared.

You didn’t say anything right away, but your silence spoke volumes, and Jeongin didn’t press.

“I’ll call again tonight, okay?” he finally whispered. “And tomorrow. And every day until I see you both again.”

“Okay,” you whispered back, the corners of your lips lifting.

Just before you hung up, you heard him chuckle again and say gently, “Tell Yejun I miss him already.”

You stared at the phone for a second after the call ended, heart a little fuller than before.

“Everything okay?” Jinae asked.

You looked up and nodded. “Yeah… he misses us.”

Minsu reached over and squeezed your shoulder with a knowing smile. “He’s not the only one.”

And in that tiny dorm filled with baby blue balloons and quiet warmth, you finally took another bite of your soup, a little more comforted than before.

You settled into your new rhythm at the dorm, a life so vastly different from the one you had just months ago, yet somehow fuller, softer, and warmer. The air always carried a gentle hum now not just from baby monitors or lullabies playing faintly in the background, but from the constant, quiet love that surrounded you. Your members, your sisters, wrapped themselves around you and Yejun like a warm blanket.

Each of them had settled into their own roles naturally, seamlessly. Jinae, ever the grounded and calm one, took on the “mom friend” energy with ease making lists, helping you manage baby supplies, and gently coaxing you to nap even if it was only for twenty minutes while she rocked Yejun in her arms. Chae was full of chaos and heart, always ready to make you laugh, even if it meant doing a ridiculous impression while trying to bottle-feed Yejun. She was loud and energetic, but with your son, she softened, something about the way she hummed lullabies when she thought no one was listening always made your chest ache in the best way.

Minsu was the most surprising, she had this quiet affection, often expressed through little things. You’d wake up from a nap to find your laundry folded, your favorite drink in the fridge, or a new onesie for Yejun she picked up “just because it was cute.” She didn’t hover or fuss, but you always knew she was watching, making sure everything you needed was in place, even if you never had to ask.

The days blurred together a little, bottles, diapers, cries in the middle of the night, and the smallest moments that made all the fatigue worth it. Yejun’s soft sighs when he fell asleep on your chest. The way his tiny hand instinctively curled around your finger. His little yawns, and the first time he almost smiled in his sleep, those moments carved themselves into your memory like stars dotting the sky of your new life.

And Jeongin, even with the distance, even with the world between your dorm and his schedules, he never let you feel forgotten. He called every day, sometimes multiple times. His texts were random, a “did Yejun burp okay?” at 3 a.m., or a “you doing alright today?” during lunch break, but they reminded you of something simple and solid: that he was trying.

You’d often pick up his calls with a sleeping Yejun against your shoulder. He’d greet you in that soft voice he reserved only for these moments, the one that was laced with exhaustion but also love.

“I miss you,” he’d whisper. “I wish I could be there. It doesn’t feel right being so far.”

Sometimes, his calls came between music show rehearsals or as he hid in a stairwell to avoid his manager. You could hear the strain in his voice, not just the tiredness from dancing and singing all day, but the emotional weight of missing his baby boy, of missing you.

“I watched the fancams today,” you’d tell him with a small smile, voice low as you rocked Yejun to sleep. “You looked good. The fans went crazy.”

“I didn’t feel good,” he’d admit, and you could hear the crack behind the joke in his tone. “My head was all over the place. I kept thinking about if Yejun cried today. If you got any rest. If I should’ve just snuck out again…”

“You’re doing your best,” you’d whisper. “He knows. I know.”

There was always a pause after that. A moment where silence didn’t feel heavy but full. Full of all the things neither of you could say aloud, not right now, not yet, but both understood deeply.

Some nights, he’d ask you to hold the phone near Yejun while he slept, just so he could listen. And he’d stay on the line long after your responses had faded, the soft breaths of his son a lullaby he’d memorized over time.

And though the days were long and the nights often longer, with the quiet ache of what-ifs and stolen time, there was something beautiful in how love stitched all the pieces together, messy and imperfect, but unwavering.

You were figuring it out, the sleepless nights, the healing body, the balancing act of who you were before and who you were becoming. But you weren’t doing it alone. And that, somehow, made all the difference.

You were bouncing Yejun gently in your arms, the dim light from the living room lamp casting a soft glow across the dorm’s cozy silence. It had been a long day, not exhausting in the way that tore you apart, but tiring in the slow, steady way new motherhood tended to be. The girls had left early that morning, their flight whisking them off for an overseas performance that would span the weekend. They'd helped pack up everything the night before, triple-checked your fridge for food, and reminded you to text them the moment you needed anything. You reassured them like always, you were fine, Yejun was fine. It was just another weekend.

You had just laid Yejun down for a nap when your phone buzzed softly. It was Jeongin.

Is anyone at the dorm with you?

You paused briefly, thumb hovering over the keyboard. You didn’t think much of it at first, maybe he was just wondering if you had help, maybe he was worried you were alone. You responded simply.

Nope, just me and Yejun.

Less than a minute passed.

I’ll be there soon.

Your eyes widened slightly. Here? Now?

Your heart gave a small flutter, one you didn’t bother trying to suppress. You knew he missed Yejun. He hadn't seen him in over a week. Between your hiatus and his relentless schedules, time moved fast, but moments like these, being with Yejun were things he never wanted to miss.

Just be careful, you typed quickly, thumbs moving faster than your thoughts. No one can see you.

I will, came his reply. Promise.

The next thirty minutes passed in a slow rush. You straightened up a bit, tucked away a few bottles, re-smoothed the baby blanket over Yejun. You weren't sure why you were suddenly nervous. Maybe because this visit felt different. It was the first time in a while that it would be just the three of you. No girls, no distractions, no rushed hellos in the middle of the night. Just Jeongin. You. And your son.

And then, a soft knock at the door.

You opened it quietly, and there he was. Black cap low over his brows, mask still clinging to his face, eyes wide and tired but full of something warmer. You didn’t say a word. Neither did he. Not at first.

He stepped in quickly, shut the door behind him, and before you could even catch your breath, his arms wrapped tightly around you. You let yourself melt into him, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne and the soft fabric of his hoodie. He pulled back slightly just to press a rushed, messy kiss to your lips, then another, then one to your cheek, your jaw, your forehead.

“I missed you,” he mumbled against your skin. “So much.”

Your arms tightened around his middle. “I missed you, too.”

But before you could say more, a soft sound came from the side of the room, a quiet whimper. The tiniest, familiar cry.

Jeongin froze, and then smiled.

“That’s my boy,” he whispered, already moving toward the bassinet.

You watched from behind as he crouched down and carefully reached in. Yejun blinked sleepily up at him, little fists waving in the air. The moment Jeongin’s arms wrapped around him, the baby stilled. A soft hum escaped Yejun’s lips, followed by a gentle sigh, almost like he knew like he remembered this presence, this scent, this voice.

Jeongin looked down at him like he was the most delicate, perfect thing in the world. “He’s bigger,” he whispered, eyes glassy. “His cheeks got chubbier. Look at you, buddy.”

Yejun blinked slowly, nestling into his father’s chest, tiny fingers curling around the drawstring of Jeongin’s hoodie. And Jeongin just stood there holding him, eyes never leaving the tiny face resting against him.

You stood beside them quietly, taking it all in, the soft way Jeongin swayed instinctively, the low hum he offered that lulled Yejun back to a sleepy state, the way Jeongin kissed the top of his head like he’d been waiting months just to do that again.

Then Jeongin looked over at you, his voice barely audible.

“I hate not being here.”

“I know,” you whispered.

“I want more of this. I want…” he looked down at Yejun, eyes heavy with emotion. “I want to be there for everything.”

You stepped closer, resting your head against his arm.

“You are,” you told him softly. “You’re doing the best you can.”

But the guilt in his eyes didn’t waver. And still, there was so much love. So much longing.

That night, you stayed up later than you had in weeks. The three of you curled up together on the couch, Yejun tucked between you both, Jeongin’s hand on his son’s back and your hand in his. There were no cameras. No managers. No pressure.

Just your small, hidden family.

And for a little while, the rest of the world didn’t matter.

The soft hum of the night wrapped around the dorm, the only sounds coming from the subtle whirr of the heater and the gentle, even breaths of baby Yejun sleeping in his bassinet nearby. You and Jeongin sat side by side on the couch, the room dimly lit, with a warm blanket draped over both your legs. Yejun had long since drifted off, soothed by the rhythm of Jeongin’s heartbeat and your soft voice, and now rested peacefully just a few feet away. But Jeongin hadn’t said much since laying him down again, and you noticed it.

You turned toward him slightly, your eyes narrowing as you studied the side of his face. His smile was there, but it wasn’t the same. It was thin, tight. Tired.

“Hey,” you said softly, nudging him gently with your shoulder. “Are you okay?”

He blinked out of his thoughts and glanced at you, the smile still there, but sad. It wavered a bit, like he didn’t have the energy to pretend.

“I just…” he started, his voice low and a little strained. “I just hate this. Not being with you two every day.”

Your chest ached at the vulnerability in his tone. You reached out instinctively, slipping your hand into his and squeezing it, nodding.

“I know.”

He exhaled, shaking his head like he was still working out the words before finally saying them. “What if… what if we lived together?”

You blinked.

“I mean it,” he added, more sure now, sitting up straighter. “I’ll get an apartment, something simple, private. Yejun would have his own room. You’d have your space. We’d finally be together. I could come home after a long day and see both of you there… I wouldn’t miss things anymore.”

You stared at him, heart pounding not because you didn’t want it, but because you did. So badly.

And that made it hurt more.

“Jeongin…”

“I know,” he said before you could respond fully, already sensing your hesitation. “I know it’s not that easy. But just think about it. You wouldn’t have to keep going through all this alone. We could figure it out, together.”

You looked at him, into the quiet hope in his eyes, and you wanted to give in. You wanted to say yes. That idea of waking up with him there, watching him carry Yejun around in pajamas, the three of you curled up in one space that was yours, it wasn’t just tempting. It felt like the dream. Something so close it felt real.

But it wasn’t.

Not yet.

“I want to,” you admitted softly. “Yes, I want to. But I can’t, not right now.”

His face fell. Not in frustration, but in that quiet, disappointed way you knew he was trying hard not to show too much emotion.

“I still have my idol responsibilities,” you continued gently. “This hiatus is temporary. When it ends… I’ll have long days. Just like you. Busy schedules. Long hours. Rehearsals. Interviews. Performances. Everything.”

He was quiet, nodding slightly, but his jaw tensed.

“I understand that,” he said after a moment, “but… who’s going to be there for Yejun when that happens?”

You opened your mouth but had no answer.

“If we lived together,” he continued, trying to reason with it all, “we could split it. I’ll stay with him when you’re busy. And when I’m busy, you’ll stay with him. We’ll make it work.”

“It’s not that simple,” you whispered. “What if we’re both gone? What if we both have back-to-back schedules? What if it overlaps and neither of us can be there?”

Jeongin looked down, his brows drawn together.

“I know,” he said after a long pause. “I know you’re right. I’m just scared.”

You softened, leaning into him, resting your head against his shoulder.

“So am I.”

He turned his head, kissing the top of yours.

“I just want to be a good dad,” he whispered. “And I want to be with you.”

“You are,” you murmured. “You’re already both.”

And though the moment lingered in a cloud of uncertainty, the warmth of his arm around you, and the quiet, sleeping sounds of your son just a few feet away, grounded you both in a truth stronger than any plan.

You didn’t know how you’d make it work. Not yet.

But you both wanted to.

And for now, that would have to be enough.

It was a quiet afternoon, the kind you’d grown to appreciate in the chaos of your new life. The dorm was filled with soft laughter and the gentle coos of Yejun. The girls had offered to look after him for a bit so you could have some rare time to yourself, and while it was hard to pull away, the momentary silence was a relief. You stretched out on your bed with a book that had been sitting on your shelf untouched since your pregnancy, finally able to breathe without keeping an ear out for baby cries.

Then your phone buzzed.

Jeongin.

Your brows furrowed. He never called around this time, especially knowing that you were usually resting or trying to get a small break. Your heart jumped with concern, was everything okay? Was something wrong with him? Was he hurt?

You slipped out of your room quickly, poking your head into the living room where the girls sat with Yejun, who was contently playing with a soft toy in Minsu’s lap. Jinae looked up with a small smile, instantly calming some of your worry.

“Everything’s okay,” she said, reading your face. “He’s being an angel.”

You nodded in thanks, quickly ducking back into your room and shutting the door softly behind you before answering Jeongin’s call.

“Jeongin?” you asked, your voice slightly breathless, “Is everything alright?”

There was a beat of silence on the other end. Then another.

“…No,” he said finally, his voice lower than usual, almost hollow. “No, not really.”

Your stomach twisted. “What happened?”

“I… I just need you to know something before it comes out.” His tone was careful, heavy, and it made your chest tighten.

“What are you talking about?”

“No matter what happens, I hope you won’t be too upset with me,” he said. “I just… I had to do it. I needed to. For you and for Yejun. I want to be closer to you both.”

Now you were panicking.

“Jeongin, what did you do?”

“I have to go. I love you. I love Yejun so much. Please just… remember that, okay?”

And just like that, the line went dead.

You stared at your phone in complete confusion, your pulse rising like a storm starting inside your chest. What the hell did he mean by that?

Your fingers worked faster than your mind, already pulling open every app, scrolling for answers, updates, anything that could explain what he meant.

And there it was.

Your heart dropped as you saw it: the JYP Entertainment logo sitting bold and ominous at the top of a new post.

The words “official statement” made your blood run cold.

You clicked it.

And read it.

“Hello, This is JYP Entertainment.

We would like to share some personal news regarding Stray Kids’ I.N. Recently welcomed the birth of his child. While this news may come as a surprise, we ask for your understanding and support during this personal and important time in his life. To ensure that he can focus on the wellbeing of his family and spend time with his newborn son, I.N will be taking a temporary leave from his group schedules. We ask the public and media to respect the privacy of all involved.

Thank you.”

You stared at the words.

You read them again.

And again.

And with each pass, it felt like the air in your lungs grew thinner. The room felt smaller.

Your child. His family.

He announced it.

No names were used no photos, no details, but everyone would know. Everyone would connect the dots. This was huge. A JYP idol, openly admitting to becoming a parent and stepping back for it? It wasn’t just shocking, it was unprecedented.

And the worst part?

He hadn’t even warned you.

You felt the anger bloom beneath your skin, rising like boiling water. You understood why he did it.

You knew he meant well. But this? Making a public statement like that without talking to you not just as the mother of his child, but as someone whose own career, own future, was directly impacted by this? It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t okay.

He had promised not to put you or your group in jeopardy. He had promised to be careful. And now, even without your name, your fans everyone would speculate. They’d start digging. It wouldn’t be long before someone made the connection.

And worst of all… he’d done it alone. Without you.

Your phone buzzed again. A message from him.

Jeongin: “Please don’t be too mad. I wanted to tell you earlier. I just didn’t know how. I did it because I want to be there. Really be there. Not just sneak around to see you and Yejun. I want to do this right.”

You stared at the message, heart hammering, frustration swirling deep in your chest. You believed him, that part was never in question. But trust wasn’t just about intention. It was about action. And he’d made this choice alone.

And now?

Now everything was going to change.

You sat on the edge of your bed, clutching your phone, not knowing whether you wanted to scream, cry, or call him back.

Maybe all three.

Your phone buzzed again, but you ignored it. You needed a minute.

Because this time… he didn’t just step on a line, he crossed it.

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow through the dormitory windows, you found yourself alone. The girls had left for practice, leaving the apartment unusually quiet. The stillness was soon interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. Your heart skipped a beat as you approached, peering through the peephole to see Jeongin standing there, his posture slightly hunched, hands tucked into his pockets.

Taking a deep breath to steady the whirlwind of emotions within you, you opened the door. Jeongin's face lit up with a hopeful smile as he stepped forward, arms outstretched to embrace you. But the memory of the day's events was still fresh, and your feelings were too raw. You instinctively took a step back, avoiding his touch.

He paused, his arms falling to his sides, a sigh escaping his lips. "I know you're upset," he began, his voice laced with regret. "I'm sorry for not discussing it with you first, but I felt I had to do this.”

A bitter chuckle escaped you as you crossed your arms over your chest. "Had to?" you echoed, disbelief coloring your tone. "Jeongin, making such a monumental decision without consulting me, is that truly the best way to handle our situation?"

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident. "The statement didn't mention any names," he argued. "I thought it would keep things private."

Your eyes narrowed, anger bubbling to the surface. "Private? Are you serious? Do you remember the article that surfaced just before I gave birth, speculating about my pregnancy? This statement only fuels those rumors. And now, Yejun is dragged into this media frenzy.”

Jeongin's expression hardened. "Why are you making this such a big deal?" he questioned, his voice rising slightly.

That was the breaking point. "Because my career is on the line!" you shot back, your voice trembling with emotion. "I'm sorry if I'm not jumping for joy over this."

A soft wail from Yejun's bassinet cut through the tension. Jeongin's demeanor shifted instantly. He brushed past you, his focus solely on his son. Lifting Yejun into his arms, he gently rocked him, whispering soothing words until the baby's cries subsided. Carefully, he placed Yejun back into the bassinet, ensuring he was comfortable.

Turning back to you, Jeongin reached into his pocket and produced a set of keys, holding them out toward you. "I thought you'd be happy," he said softly. "I wanted this to be a joyful moment. I've secured an apartment for us, a place where we can be a family. Yejun has his own nursery, fully furnished. I've moved in already. The only things missing are you and Yejun."

The weight of his words hung heavily between you. While his intentions were clear, the execution left much to be desired. The path to building a life together was proving to be more complex than either of you had anticipated.

The silence between you and Jeongin was heavy. Even after his heartfelt gesture, the storm of emotions in your chest hadn’t quite passed. You were still upset, still frustrated, but underneath it all, there was a deeper emotion simmering quietly: fear. Fear of what the future held for you, for Jeongin, for Yejun. Fear of how fragile your world felt now that everything was teetering on the edge of exposure.

You crossed your arms, your eyes avoiding his for a moment before you finally broke the silence. “I’m still really upset,” you admitted quietly. “But… I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier.” Your voice wavered, soft with exhaustion. “I was just… scared, Jeongin. Everything’s been so overwhelming, and I wish you had talked to me before making such a huge decision. I hate feeling like I’m not part of things that affect all of us.”

Jeongin’s expression softened immediately. “You’re right,” he said, stepping closer again. “I was stupid—I didn’t think it through. I just… I saw you drowning in stress, and I felt helpless. I thought maybe I could fix something for once.”

You let out a breath, and when he opened his arms again, you let yourself fall into them this time. His embrace was tight, warm, the familiar way his hand curved around your back calming the restlessness in you just a little. He kissed the side of your head, and you closed your eyes, letting yourself be in that moment.

A tiny whimper from Yejun broke the quiet, and you both turned to see his small body wriggling in the bassinet. Jeongin’s eyes lit up with the kind of joy that never failed to make your heart ache, and he pulled away from you gently, walking over to scoop his son up into his arms.

“Hey, buddy,” he whispered softly, kissing Yejun’s head. “You ready to see your new room?”

Yejun gurgled in response, his little hands reaching up toward his father’s face. You walked over slowly, watching them with a fondness that dulled some of the anxiety in your chest.

“Wait, so it’s real?” you asked softly. “The apartment? The nursery?”

Jeongin turned to you with a look of mock offense. “Why would I lie about that? Of course it’s real. I’ve been working on it for weeks.” He chuckled softly. “The members even helped. Chan-hyung built the crib, and Seungmin found the nightlight you said Yejun needed. It’s got everything, books, clothes, food, diapers… even a rocking chair.”

You sighed, half-exasperated, half-touched. Your eyes lingered on Yejun’s peaceful expression as you leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “What do you think of your crazy dad?” you murmured to him. “He does all this without even asking…”

Jeongin laughed, rubbing small circles on Yejun’s back. Then his eyes met yours, this time more serious, more vulnerable. “I meant what I said,” he told you. “I really want you both there. I want to wake up and hear his little sounds in the morning. I want you to come home to a place that feels safe. It’s ready—it’s all ready. It’s just missing you and Yejun.”

You swallowed hard, that tight knot in your throat forming again. You wanted that too, you did. But your thoughts were still scattered, clouded by the weight of responsibility and fear of what might come next. The scandal, the fans, your career, your return, it all loomed over you like a fog you couldn’t quite see through.

“I’ll think about it,” you said finally, voice quiet. “I’m not saying yes, and I’m not saying no. I just… I need to clear my head. My mind’s everywhere right now.”

Jeongin nodded, not pushing you further. “That’s okay,” he said, stepping forward to brush your hair back gently. “Take your time. I’ll wait. I just want you to know the door’s always open.”

And as you stood there, the three of you wrapped in the stillness of the dorm, you wondered if maybe, just maybe the future you were so afraid of might not be as terrifying with him by your side.

When Jeongin finally left that evening, there was a quietness in the dorm that lingered like the aftertaste of an emotional whirlwind. You stood there for a moment, Yejun softly gurgling in the bassinet, your thoughts caught between the memory of Jeongin’s offer and the uncertainty still clouding your chest. You barely had time to sort through them before the front door opened again, the girls pouring in one after the other noisy, chaotic, warm, and familiar.

“Where’s my baby boy?” Minsu practically yelled, kicking off her shoes as she made a beeline toward Yejun without even glancing in your direction.

“I swear, none of you care about me anymore,” you called out sarcastically, though there was a smile tugging at your lips.

Chae laughed as she finally acknowledged you, her arms wrapping around you in a quick hug. “We missed you too, mom of the year,” she teased, then pulled back just enough to study your face. “You look... thoughtful. Everything okay?”

You hesitated. It wasn’t a question you could brush off, not this time. There was too much swirling in your chest to bottle it up anymore. You gave a small nod toward the couch, silently suggesting you all sit down. Something about the way your voice softened as you said, “I want to talk to you guys,” shifted the energy in the room instantly. The chatter died down. Minsu stopped tickling Yejun’s little feet and looked up. Jinae narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she took the seat across from you. Chae sat beside you, one hand on your arm.

“What’s going on?” Minsu asked, brows already furrowing.

You took a breath, trying to find the right way to say it. “Jeongin got a place,” you began slowly, your eyes flicking from face to face. “An apartment. It’s already furnished, has a nursery for Yejun… everything.”

Chae tilted her head, cautious. “Okay... and?”

You fiddled with the hem of your sleeve, voice quieter now. “He asked me and Yejun to move in with him.”

There was a moment of stunned silence, the weight of your words hanging in the air.

“I haven’t said yes,” you added quickly, before they could jump to conclusions. “I just… wanted to talk to you guys first. I needed to know how you’d feel if I moved out.”

Their reactions came gradually. Jinae blinked a few times, processing. Minsu leaned back with a soft ‘huh.’ Chae’s lips parted slightly, her eyes flicking toward the bassinet.

“You’re serious?” Jinae finally asked. “Like… fully move out?”

You nodded, biting your lip. “Yeah. He says he wants to be around more for Yejun. And I get that. I want that too. I really do. But I also don’t know what this means for me, for the group, for all of us.”

Chae placed her hand over yours again, gentler this time. “Do you want to go?” she asked carefully.

You were silent for a second before answering. “Part of me does,” you admitted. “He’s Yejun’s dad, and… he’s trying so hard. He made this whole place just for us. But the other part of me is terrified. What if people find out? What if this all backfires? I love you guys, I love living here with you. But I don’t want to hold Yejun back from having both of his parents close.”

Minsu sat up straighter, her voice sincere. “Hey. First of all—no matter where you live, we’re always going to be your family. That doesn’t change. Second… it sounds like he really wants to step up. And maybe, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. You’ve been doing this on your own for a while, and you’ve done it so well. But you don’t have to do it alone.”

Jinae gave you a small smile. “We’d miss you like crazy. But you wouldn’t be abandoning us. You’d be doing what’s best for you and your son.”

Chae leaned her head on your shoulder. “Just promise us that when you need us any hour, any day, you’ll still call. We’re not going anywhere, okay?”

Tears welled in your eyes, and you nodded slowly, overwhelmed by the love they still offered you so effortlessly. “Okay,” you whispered. “I promise.”

And just like that, the tension in your chest loosened a little. Maybe you weren’t ready to say yes yet. But at least now… it didn’t feel so impossible.

You spent the whole night thinking lying in bed, eyes on the ceiling while the soft hum of the dorm quieted around you. Yejun had finally drifted off after his last feeding, and the soft rise and fall of his little chest next to yours should’ve been enough to lull you into sleep too. But your mind wouldn’t stop racing.

The apartment. The nursery. The idea of waking up in the same space as Jeongin every day, raising Yejun together, making a life not just as co-parents, but something more, something real. It was terrifying. It was overwhelming. But maybe… it was also the right step forward.

By morning, the apartment was still tugging at the back of your mind. You stood at the threshold of the living room where the girls were already immersed in their morning rituals. Chae was stretched out on the floor, baby Yejun bundled up beside her as she took picture after picture of his squishy cheeks and sleepy yawns, giggling softly every time he blinked. Jinae and Minsu were curled up on the couch with steaming mugs of coffee, their quiet chatter mixing with the hum of the morning news on low volume.

You stood silently for a moment, letting the warmth of the scene fill you, savoring it because you knew what you were about to say might change things.

You cleared your throat. “Hey,” you said, a little too quietly at first. They barely heard you. “Guys?”

Chae glanced up first. “What’s up?”

You walked toward them, hands nervously brushing against your thighs. “I’ve been thinking about what we talked about yesterday.”

That made everyone go quiet.

You took a deep breath. “And I think… I think I’m going to do it. I’m going to move in with Jeongin.”

The silence stretched for a beat longer than expected.

You rushed to add, “Not just for me, or for him. But for Yejun. I think it’s what’s best for him to have both of us around. As much as I love it here, as much as I love you guys, I think it’s time.”

Minsu slowly set her mug down, a grin creeping onto her face. “Okay, now that was a plot twist.”

Jinae stood up, walked over to you, and pulled you into a warm hug. “We knew it was coming. We just wanted you to be sure.”

Chae gently scooped Yejun up from the blanket and waddled toward you dramatically, hugging both you and the baby at once. “We’re going to miss you so much, it’s ridiculous.”

Then the others joined, creating a tight, messy, emotional group hug, Yejun half-asleep in the middle, mumbling a soft noise of protest that made all of you laugh through the lump in your throat.

“You have to send updates,” Jinae sniffed.

“Daily updates,” Minsu said firmly.

“Hourly,” Chae corrected, making you laugh.

“I promise,” you said, your voice warm with gratitude. “You can visit any time. I’ll be back all the time too.”

You excused yourself shortly after, heart racing as you pulled out your phone and dialed Jeongin. The second he picked up, you could hear faint ambient sounds in the background, some muffled traffic, a dog barking in the distance, maybe even the quiet buzz of a fridge.

“Hello?” he said, voice low but hopeful.

“Hey,” you said softly. “Are you home?”

“Yeah… I’m at the apartment right now,” he replied, a nervous chuckle in his voice. “Just… soaking it in. Wondering if maybe today’s the day.”

You smiled to yourself, nerves settling with each word. “It is,” you said.

There was a beat of silence. “Wait—what?”

“I said yes,” you repeated, laughing a little. “We’ll move in with you. Me and Yejun.”

He was completely silent, then let out a loud breath of disbelief. “You’re serious?”

“I am.”

“Wait—are you messing with me?” he asked quickly. “Don’t play with me right now. I’m standing in the middle of the living room and I just looked at the rocking chair and almost cried.”

“I’m not messing with you,” you promised, smiling so hard your cheeks ached. “We’re really coming home.”

And on the other end of the line, Jeongin was quiet for a few seconds before you heard him whisper, “I can’t believe it.”

Then, louder, a grin in his voice: “I swear, this is the best day of my life.”

You chuckled through the warmth filling your chest. “Better than the day Yejun was born?”

“That’s top-tier, but this? This is real. This is our future.”

And you couldn’t help but believe him.

It had been nearly four months since you moved into the apartment with Jeongin and baby Yejun, and life had begun to take on a quiet kind of rhythm beautiful, messy, soft. The kind of rhythm that didn’t need music because Yejun’s baby giggles filled the air instead. Each morning started with Jeongin’s sleepy hair and your baby's bright smile, and the rest of the day unfolded like a delicate routine you had built together: diaper changes and coffee breaks, stolen kisses over the baby monitor, and late-night cuddles when Yejun couldn’t sleep unless he was nestled between you both.

Yejun had grown into a playful little bundle of energy, always giggling, always grabbing at anything near his chubby hands, always watching the two of you with wide, adoring eyes. He was curious about everything, especially Jeongin’s voice and your fingers. And every morning, without fail, he would reach for you the second you leaned close enough to kiss his forehead. Today was no different.

You had to head out for your first official company meeting in what felt like forever. Your nerves danced under your skin as you crouched in front of Yejun, kissing his cheeks over and over while he squirmed and laughed and grabbed at your hair, his soft little hands refusing to let go.

“I’ll be back soon, baby,” you whispered. “Be good for daddy, okay?”

He gurgled a response, and you smiled, even though your chest ached at the thought of leaving.

Jeongin, ever the calm in your storm, scooped Yejun up with a laugh and gave you a long, slow kiss. “We’ll be fine,” he promised as he pulled away, brushing a thumb against your cheek. “I’ll call if anything happens. But today? Today is daddy and Yejun bonding day.”

You smiled, nerves still lingering, and nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you both soon.”

The ride to the company building felt longer than usual, even though the streets were quiet. Your heart hadn’t raced this fast since you stood backstage at your last show, stomach fluttering with nerves, mic in hand, lights waiting to warm your face. You’d missed that feeling. You missed being on stage.

When you finally stepped into the meeting room, it was strangely calm. No cameras, no full room just a small group: Jun, Jinhee, and a few key company staff. They welcomed you warmly, genuine smiles on their faces, and a few even congratulated you on Yejun with soft, surprised laughter.

Jun gave you a firm nod. “You look good,” he said. “Well-rested.”

You laughed a little at that, maybe it was the makeup hiding the tiredness. “Yejun lets us sleep most nights. It’s a miracle.”

Jun smiled faintly before his tone shifted. “So, how are you feeling about everything? About returning?”

You inhaled slowly and said the truth. “I miss it. I miss performing. The fans, the stage… the energy of it all. I want to come back.”

Jinhee gave you a proud, but slightly sad smile like she already knew the weight of the words you’d just spoken.

Jun leaned forward. “That’s good to hear. Because… and I’ll be honest, if you had said otherwise, the company was already considering plans to remove you from the group.”

Your smile faltered.

The silence in the room thickened for a second before Jinhee, quickly sensing the shift in your mood, interjected gently, “But that’s not going to happen. You made your choice and you’re here. They just wanted to be sure your heart was in it. That you weren’t feeling forced.”

You nodded slowly, even though your hands felt cold. “I understand,” you said quietly. “I… I love being a mom. I love Yejun. But I’ve worked so hard for this career. I know it’s going to be hard, balancing everything, but I want to try.”

Jun stood then, gathering his things, his voice brisk but not unkind. “Then I’ll let them know. Thank you for coming today.”

You gave him a soft smile. “Thank you.”

As he and the other reps filed out, Jinhee moved closer, sliding a printed schedule in front of you.

“These are the upcoming commitments you’ll be reintegrating into,” she said. “It’s staggered, we’re easing you in for the next few weeks some rehearsals, choreography updates, variety prep, then eventually stage performances.”

You took the paper with a shaky breath. It was real now. Not just an idea. Not just a maybe.

“Do you want to tell the girls yourself?” Jinhee asked gently.

You looked up at her and nodded. “Yeah. I think I need to.”

She gave you a knowing smile. “They’re going to be so happy.”

You smiled, but this time it was laced with both excitement and fear. This new version of you, a mother, an idol, a woman in love was stepping into unfamiliar territory. But even with the fear, there was something else blooming in your chest.

Hope. For yourself. For your dreams. And for the family waiting at home.

Your fingers lingered on the printed schedule Jinhee had given you. It felt surreal to see your name on a line-up again real, tangible proof that your comeback was happening. It wasn’t just a daydream in your head anymore. You were returning not just as the same person, but as someone entirely new reshaped, stronger, a little softer, and full of purpose.

Jinhee smiled as she gathered her things, then paused at the door and turned back toward you. “The girls are in the practice studio right now. You should go surprise them.”

You blinked. “Right now?”

She nodded, a grin forming. “Yes! Go on—it’ll make their day. They’ve missed you more than they let on.”

You exhaled a nervous little laugh, heart thumping as she pointed toward the direction of the studio. “Okay… I guess it’s time.”

Your footsteps echoed quietly down the hallway, memories flooding back as you passed the familiar walls. The sound of music thumping behind the studio door brought a rush of nostalgia and nerves. You paused for a second to compose yourself, brushing your hands against your sides and letting out a steadying breath before slowly pushing open the door.

The moment the door creaked open, four heads snapped toward you and then, chaos.

Squeals erupted from every corner of the room as Minsu, Jinae, and Chae rushed toward you, shouting your name with uncontainable joy. You barely had time to laugh before their arms wrapped tightly around you, almost knocking the breath out of your lungs.

“Wait, wait—don’t crush me!” you giggled, your cheeks already aching from the smile you couldn’t hide.

“Where’s Yejun?!” Chae immediately demanded as she pulled back just enough to look at you.

You laughed, holding up your hands. “He’s okay! Still the same dramatic little baby you saw last week. I promise, he’s safe at home with Jeongin.”

They all let out a breath of mock disappointment and cooed anyway, clearly already missing their honorary baby group member.

Jinhee stepped into the room behind you with a wide grin, arms crossed proudly. “Well? Don’t you want to tell them something?”

You raised a brow, feigning a dramatic sigh as you stepped to the center of the room, the girls hanging on your every word.

“Okay,” you started solemnly, biting your bottom lip. “So… I actually came here to let you all know… I’m leaving the group.”

The room fell into stunned silence. Their faces dropped, joy flickering out like a candle snuffed too soon. Jinae’s eyes widened, and Minsu let out a tiny, heartbroken “what?”

You couldn’t hold it anymore you burst out laughing. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”

“Hey!” Chae shouted, smacking your shoulder playfully as the rest of them groaned in relief. “Are you serious?!”

“You should’ve seen your faces!” you said between laughs, tears starting to pool at the corners of your eyes from the overwhelming emotion.

“So what’s the real news?” Jinae asked, breath still catching.

You took a soft breath and met their eyes, heart thumping again, but this time from happiness. “I’m coming back. Officially. I’m joining you again.”

The room erupted again, this time with shouts of joy and relief and laughter as they rushed you a second time, pulling you into the tightest, warmest group hug imaginable.

“I knew it,” Minsu said through a sniffle. “I just knew you’d come back.”

“You belong with us,” Jinae whispered, resting her chin on your shoulder. “And we missed you so much.”

You held onto them tightly, overwhelmed by their love.

And though you had changed in many ways, one thing remained constant: this group was still your family too.

When you stepped through the front door of the apartment, it felt like the world slowed down for a moment. The scent of baby powder and Jeongin’s cologne greeted you first, familiar, comforting, like home had been waiting for you to walk in. The soft hum of the TV played in the background, but it was the sound of laughter that truly filled the space. Not just any laughter, Jeongin’s, light and playful, mixed with the sweetest baby giggles.

You walked into the living room to find them both on the couch, Jeongin sitting cross-legged, holding Yejun up in the air like he was the most precious thing in the world. Yejun’s little fists were curled, cheeks full, and there were smudges of yogurt around his mouth. He looked so proud, like he knew he had his dad wrapped around his tiny finger.

They were snacking on the small yogurt melts you kept in a container for Yejun, except Jeongin was clearly sneaking bites too.

You raised a brow, crossing your arms as you leaned against the doorframe with a teasing smirk. “Those treats are for Yejun, you know.”

Jeongin turned to look at you with that signature sheepish grin, shrugging as he popped another one into his mouth. “They’re good! You shouldn’t have left them in plain sight.”

Yejun caught sight of you and his entire face lit up, his little legs kicking in excitement as he stretched his arms toward you. You melted instantly, hurrying over to him with open arms.

“Hi, baby,” you cooed, lifting him into your arms and showering his chubby cheeks with kisses. He erupted into happy squeals, his tiny hands patting your face.

Jeongin scooted closer to you on the couch, his hand resting on your leg as he looked at you expectantly. “So… how did it go?”

You let out a soft sigh, glancing down at Yejun, who was now busy grabbing your necklace with intense concentration. “They’re ready for me to go back,” you said gently. “My first day back is next week.”

His expression faltered slightly, just for a second but you caught it. The subtle downward curve of his lips, the way his shoulders sank just a little. He gave you a small pout, shifting closer. “Four days,” he mumbled. “That’s all we have left with you home all day.”

You turned toward him, resting your cheek against Yejun’s head and reaching out to take Jeongin’s hand in yours. “I know,” you whispered, squeezing his fingers. “But I promise, I’ll spend every single minute I can with you two until then.”

Jeongin leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your cheek before brushing his lips against your temple. “I know. I’m proud of you, you know? You’re doing all of this, for yourself, for Yejun, for us. I just wish we had more time.”

You smiled through the soft ache in your chest, your fingers brushing over his knuckles. “We’ll figure it out. We always do.”

And in that quiet, warm little apartment, surrounded by half-eaten yogurt melts and the smell of baby wipes, you held onto each other. Because even if time was short, love wasn’t. And with every moment left, you planned to soak in every second, together.

The morning of your long-awaited comeback arrived sooner than you were emotionally ready for. It crept up through the quiet of dawn, with the soft light pouring in through the apartment windows and the buzz of the city waking up just beyond the glass. You stirred awake before your alarm even had the chance to go off, nerves already prickling beneath your skin. This was it, the day you’d return to the life you’d once lived so comfortably, before everything changed. Before Yejun.

You moved through your morning slowly, with care. There was something heavier about this day than any other. It wasn’t just your comeback, it was your first step back into the world as both an idol and a mother. That balance had seemed so distant and uncertain when you first held Yejun in your arms, but now here you were, standing at the edge of it.

Jeongin was already awake, moving around the apartment with practiced quiet, holding Yejun against his chest as he gently patted his back. You smiled softly at the sight, his sleepy face, his mussed hair, the way he looked down at Yejun like he was made of gold.

He turned toward you as you walked into the room, giving you a smile that was warm and proud and a little sad. “You look good,” he said, voice hushed as not to stir the still-drowsy baby in his arms.

You walked over to him, pressing a kiss to Yejun’s fuzzy head before leaning in to kiss Jeongin. It was soft and slow, full of unspoken words how proud you were of each other, how hard this was, how strong you’d both been.

Jeongin gently shifted Yejun’s hand, making him wave it toward you. “Say good luck, Mama,” he cooed, and your chest tightened.

You exhaled shakily, running a hand through your hair as you whispered, “I’ll be back before dinner.”

Jeongin nodded, even though his eyes said he didn’t want you to go. “We’ll be right here.”

With one last glance back at your boys, the ones who had become your entire world, you stepped out the door.

Back at the company, the moment you walked through those familiar halls, the atmosphere shifted. People turned to look, some surprised, others smiling, a few tearing up as they spotted you. It was like you’d never left, yet everything was different now. You were different. More grounded, more weathered, more… whole.

Jinhee was waiting for you near the main studio, her arms immediately wrapping around you in a tight hug. “You’re really here,” she whispered, her voice cracking just slightly.

“I’m here,” you said softly, holding her back. “For real this time.”

Jun and the rest of the staff were already gathered in the conference room, and when you stepped inside, they greeted you with genuine warmth. The energy was familiar, comfortable, but it didn’t erase the knot in your stomach.

Jun offered you a seat beside him and began going over the schedule, rehearsals, shoots, variety shows. It was a lot, but it was nothing you couldn’t handle. Not now. Not after everything you’d already been through.

“You sure you’re ready for this pace again?” one of the staff asked, concerned but not condescending.

You looked around the room at everyone who had supported you, some from a distance, others closely and you nodded. “I missed performing. I missed being with the girls. I think it’s time.”

Jun gave you a small nod of approval. “Then let’s make this comeback one to remember.”

And as you sat there, surrounded by the people who had once only seen you as a performer, now acknowledging all the different pieces of you the artist, the partner, the mother, you felt it. You were ready. Nervous, but ready. And in the back of your mind, you could already picture Yejun’s gummy smile waiting for you at the end of the day.

Your limbs ached, every muscle humming from exertion, but the familiar burn beneath your skin was something you hadn’t realized how much you missed. You were sprawled out on the cool floor of the practice room, cheeks flushed and breath still coming in soft pants. The other girls surrounded you in similar states, some laying down beside you, others sitting up, all of you basking in the rare moment of rest after your first full day back.

It had been long. A full day of rehearsals, catching up with the choreography, syncing with the others, adjusting to the pace that once had felt second nature to you. But now, it was different. And every beat, every turn, every breath reminded you of how much your body had changed and grown.

Still, through all the sweat and exhaustion, you felt proud.

Jinae nudged you with her foot from where she lay beside you, grinning. “You didn’t miss a beat.”

“Okay, well maybe one or two,” Minsu chimed in playfully, earning a soft laugh from everyone.

You smiled, heart warm. “It’s good to be back,” you said quietly, the truth of the words settling gently over your chest.

Just then, the door creaked open and in walked Jinhee, holding a bottle of water in each hand and wearing a proud smile. “Look at you all,” she said, handing one bottle to you and the other to Chae. “Like nothing’s changed.”

You sat up slowly, brushing some hair off your damp forehead. “Almost nothing,” you said with a small laugh.

Jinhee nodded. “It’s really good to see you here again,” she said sincerely. “I know it’s not easy coming back after everything… balancing everything.”

Before you could respond, Minsu beat you to it. “She fits right back in. Like she’s the missing piece to our puzzle.”

Your heart fluttered at that, and you offered Minsu a grateful look. “Thanks,” you said softly.

Jinhee let the moment settle before she cleared her throat lightly. “Actually… there’s something I wanted to ask.”

You turned to her with raised brows, the others sitting up more attentively too.

“The company’s planning something small, a little welcome back celebration,” she said. “Nothing big, no press, no cameras, just a private gathering. A way for the staff and everyone close to you to say congratulations, not just for returning, but for becoming a mom.”

Your lips parted in surprise, and Jinhee quickly added, “Totally your call, of course. But we thought maybe it’d be nice. If you’re okay with it… we’d love for you to bring Yejun. And Jeongin too.”

You blinked, the words settling into you slowly. A welcome back party. For you. For all of you.

The girls immediately lit up around you.

“Yejun at a party? Yes please,” Chae grinned.

“Finally, everyone gets to meet the little prince,” Jinae added, excitement twinkling in her eyes.

You felt yourself smile, warmth spreading through your chest at the thought. Yejun had been your quiet world for months, a secret you’d held close and dear. The thought of introducing him, really introducing him to the people who had become your second family felt… right. Special.

You looked at Jinhee, eyes soft. “Yeah,” you said after a pause. “I think… that would be really nice.”

She beamed, clearly relieved. “We’ll keep it intimate, promise. Just the people who matter.”

And suddenly, despite the exhaustion in your bones, despite the ache in your muscles and the overwhelmingness of this transition, you felt grounded.

The sun had just begun to set, casting a soft golden hue over the city as you made your way back home. The day had been long, your body aching from your first full schedule back with the group, but your heart raced with one singular thought: Yejun. All day long, his smile, his little giggles, the warmth of his tiny arms around your neck, those thoughts had kept you grounded through every choreography run, every vocal warm-up, every debriefing. And of course, there was Jeongin, too. But if you were being honest with yourself, your heart was set on one thing, finally holding your baby again.

As soon as you stepped through the front door, the familiar sound of little claps met your ears. You turned your head quickly to see Yejun in his playpen, his chubby hands slapping together in excitement the moment his eyes met yours. Your lips parted into the biggest smile as a soft laugh escaped your chest.

“Hi, baby,” you whispered, emotion already swelling in your throat.

Jeongin appeared from the hallway just moments later, having heard the door open. He looked relieved, happy, and maybe a little tired too. Still, he reached you with a soft peck to your lips and effortlessly took the bag from your shoulder.

“Welcome home,” he murmured.

“Thank you,” you said quickly before making a beeline toward the playpen, already crouching down to scoop Yejun into your arms.

“Oh my god, I missed you,” you whispered, holding him close as he wrapped his small arms around your neck, squealing in delight. His tiny fingers grabbed at your cheeks, and he smiled so widely it made your heart swell.

Jeongin leaned against the doorway, arms crossed and gaze fond. “He noticed the door before I did,” he said with a chuckle.

You looked up from Yejun and asked, “How was today?”

Jeongin walked closer, gently brushing some hair behind your ear. “Started off rough. He got pretty fussy after you left. Wouldn’t nap, wanted to be held constantly. I think he missed you,” he said softly.

You gave Yejun a small bounce, smiling. “Did you miss me?” you cooed. Yejun reached for your face again, giving a soft hum and another wide smile.

“But,” Jeongin added, “once he finally fell asleep, he woke up in a much better mood. We had a good day. Played a lot.”

You kissed your son’s cheek a few times, earning giggles that melted your tiredness like butter on a hot pan. Only then did your eyes drift toward the dining table and you blinked in surprise.

“You cooked?” you asked, your tone full of pleasant shock.

Jeongin nodded like it was no big deal. “Yep. Just waiting for you to get home so we could eat together.”

You walked over slowly, Yejun still in your arms, and took in the spread: a mix of all your favorite comfort foods. You turned toward him again, touched. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” he said simply.

He took Yejun from your arms and gently settled him into his high chair, buckling him in before sitting beside you. You both began eating, taking turns making sure Yejun was munching on his soft, steamed veggies and fruits. It was peaceful, domestic, normal. And in that moment, you felt whole.

Midway through your meal, you glanced up at Jeongin. “By the way… I wanted to talk to you about something.”

He looked up, attentive. “Hmm?”

You poked at your rice. “The company’s throwing a little welcome-back thing for me. Nothing major, no press or cameras. Jinhee says it’s just close staff, team members… and they invited you and Yejun to come, too.”

Jeongin didn’t hesitate. “Of course we’ll go.”

You blinked, taken aback by how quickly he agreed. “You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” he interrupted gently. “I would’ve gone even if there were cameras. I don’t want to hide anymore, not you, not Yejun. I know it’s complicated… but I’m proud of you. Of us. I want people to see that.”

His voice was steady, his eyes sure. There was no wavering in his conviction.

You lowered your gaze slightly, chewing on your bottom lip. “I’m just… not sure if I’m ready. Even if people are already speculating, it’s still different when it’s real, when it’s confirmed.”

He reached across the table and took your hand in his. “I get it. Really, I do. And I’ll never pressure you. But just know… whenever you are ready, I’ll be right there beside you.”

You looked up at him, heart full, and gave a small nod. “Okay,” you whispered. “Thank you.”

Yejun let out a soft squeal, smacking his little palms against his high chair tray, and both you and Jeongin turned to look at him, laughing. His cheeks were puffed with a piece of carrot he hadn’t swallowed yet, and his eyes darted between you both, so full of joy.

You leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead. “What do you think, baby? Should we show you off a little?”

He giggled, and you took it as a sign.

Even if it wasn’t tomorrow, even if the world wasn’t ready to accept it yet, you were getting closer. And you’d be ready, in your own time.

The morning of the welcome-back party felt different. There wasn’t the usual rush of early schedules or the sleepy shuffle of new parents just trying to survive the day. No, this morning was special. It was quiet, warm, filled with excitement and nerves. You and Jeongin were finally attending something as a family.

You both had gotten up a bit earlier than usual, taking your time between breakfast and morning snuggles with Yejun, easing into the day with quiet conversations and soft kisses. But once the clock started ticking closer to the afternoon, the calm faded into chaos.

Specifically, chaos over outfits.

“No, this one’s cuter,” you insisted, holding up a soft beige romper with tiny bear ears on the hood, smiling at the cozy, cuddly look of it.

Jeongin wrinkled his nose playfully. “It’s adorable, but this one’s cooler,” he said, lifting up a tiny button-up shirt with suspenders and matching little pants. “He’s gonna look like a baby model.”

You crossed your arms. “He’s a baby, not going to a photoshoot.”

Jeongin smirked. “Says you. The world deserves to see his fashion era begin now.”

You both stood there for a moment in your shared bedroom, each of you holding up your candidate outfit like you were presenting evidence in a court case. Yejun, sitting in the middle of the bed with a soft bib around his neck, watched the scene unfold like a tiny judge, babbling and kicking his legs, occasionally squealing when either of you turned to him.

“Fine,” you finally said, lifting your eyebrows. “Let’s let him pick.”

Jeongin’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Democratic parenting.”

You laid both outfits down on the bed in front of Yejun, who immediately reached for Jeongin’s pick, the tiny suspenders and button-up shirt, though mostly because it crinkled the loudest.

“See!” Jeongin said, grinning triumphantly. “My son has taste.”

You rolled your eyes, amused. “Okay, okay. But now we have to match him, not the other way around.”

“Already ahead of you,” he said, moving over to the closet and pulling out his own cream shirt and tan slacks. “I thought we could all wear warm tones. Like… subtle, matching without being cheesy.”

You blinked at him, a little caught off guard. “You thought about this?”

He turned and gave you a small smile. “Of course I did. I want us to look like we belong together.”

Your heart fluttered just a little at that. You didn’t say anything, just nodded quietly and went to pick your own soft-toned outfit to complete the trio.

As you finished getting ready, you gently changed Yejun into his chosen outfit. He wiggled and squirmed on the bed, letting out a giggle when you blew raspberries on his belly, tiny fists waving in the air. Jeongin leaned over as you snapped up his buttons, reaching for Yejun’s feet and giving them a playful tickle.

Yejun burst into another round of giggles, kicking his legs and clenching his little fists, his round cheeks flushed with joy. You both laughed along with him, caught in that quiet, golden moment where time seemed to slow and nothing else mattered.

“Okay,” you said softly, scooping Yejun up and placing a kiss on his forehead. “I think we’re ready.”

Jeongin stood next to you, slipping one arm around your waist as you balanced Yejun on your hip. He looked between the two of you, your matching tones, your smiles, the way your bodies leaned into one another without even trying and gave a small, content sigh.

“Perfect,” he whispered.

You were on your way to something new scary, maybe, and uncertain, but you were doing it together.

You hadn’t been nervous, not really. Not during the car ride, not while getting dressed, not even as Jeongin adjusted Yejun’s little bowtie for the fifth time before you left the apartment. Everything had felt calm, like just another moment in your new normal. But as soon as you stepped into the company building and stood just outside the glass doors of the office, your stomach twisted.

This was the first time you were appearing as not just an idol, not just a group member, but as you. As a woman who had quietly taken on the biggest change of her life and was now walking through those doors with everything out in the open.

You paused just before reaching for the handle.

Jeongin, who had Yejun in his arms bouncing him lightly, murmuring soft nonsense into his ear to keep him calm, glanced at you. He immediately noticed your hesitation. Without a word, he reached out and rested his hand on the small of your back, his thumb rubbing slow, reassuring circles.

You looked over at him. His face was soft, his smile calm and certain. Like there wasn’t a doubt in his mind about being here with you. About walking in like this. Like you were exactly where you were supposed to be.

He leaned in just a bit. “Hey,” he whispered. “You’re doing amazing. And we’re right here with you.”

You nodded, lips trembling a little, before leaning in to kiss his cheek. Yejun let out a little coo at the motion, his big eyes looking between the two of you as if sensing this was a moment of some kind. You reached up to gently stroke his back, and then with a slow breath, you turned back to the door and pushed it open.

The moment you stepped inside, it was like a wave of warmth rushed to meet you.

“Welcome back!”

“There’s the little guy!” another voice chimed in as heads turned and a few people rushed forward, all beaming.

The small office space floor had been rearranged a bit for the casual celebration. A table in the corner had some snacks and drinks. Soft decorations hung loosely from the ceiling, in warm neutral colors, not flashy, just cozy. One sign in particular stood out, handwritten but neatly framed: Welcome Back.

You were still processing when Jinhee appeared through the crowd, eyes shining as she reached out to give you a hug. “I was hoping you’d really come,” she said softly.

“Of course,” you replied, your voice a little hoarse from emotion. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

People were already cooing over Yejun, who blinked at the new faces with curious eyes, resting comfortably in Jeongin’s arms. He gave a small squeal when one of the stylists gently waved at him, his cheeks puffed out in a gummy smile. Jeongin laughed under his breath, bouncing him a little.

You glanced around at everyone, the familiar faces of your team, your managers, a few other idols who had slipped in, and your girls who were already waving you over from the corner with teasing grins. For a second, it didn’t feel like a company party. It felt like family.

Like maybe… everything was going to be okay.

masterlist.

❌proofread

(a/n: didn’t realize that y/n’s group didn’t have a name til i was writing this part lol. I hope everyone likes the group name stardust. i literally wrote the first thing that came to mind. they’d probably have the typical girl crush concept 🙉🙈)

[fs taglist: @laine2353 @emilyywhyy @d3kstar @lenfilms @st4rv3lly @mbioooo0000 @puppymsworld @vangoghsear0 @vixensss @artist2181 @jazzissilly @jessxxxfwd @anastasiiiiaaaaa @nchhuhi @jae-n0 @beomgyusluver @bearseuming @maxidential @cristy-101 @kochothehoe @iristrrsgn ..]

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bnnysweets · 22 days ago

Text

HURTS SO GOOD

older!abby x fem!reader

author’s note: this is the option 2 of this ask. english is not my first language. omg im so embarrassed this is so filthy. men and minors dni.

warnings: really mean abby. not smut but it’s sexual! finger sucking. degradation. age gap. reader is called sweetheart & sweetie. let me know if i forgot anything!

abby had invited you to spend the weekend at her home, you arrived friday night after your shift, she gave you a copy of the key so you just entered and left your shoes at the entrance and your bags at her room, she was at the kitchen. you rushed to her, “hi baby.” you said hugging her from behind, she was mixing something up in the pan, “hi sweetie, i didn’t hear you enter.”, “i tried to disturb you the less possible, oh what is that smell? is so good.” you asked and put your head in her shoulder to look what was in the pan, “it’s just pasta, i’m making the sauce.”, “it’s not just pasta, it’s your pasta, and i’m so hungry i could eat even the pan.”. you walked to the countertop and sat there and something in abby’s radar went off, “what did you had for lunch?” she asked hiding how mad she was about to get, “just a cereal bar, i didn’t have time nor money to buy nothing else.”, abby turned off the stove and turned to you, “did you take your meds today?”, “…no.” and that was her breaking point.

“okay, i’m gonna finish this and you go get your meds, right?” you just nodded and went to search your bag, it was so strange to you that abby was so calm but you ignored. abby already had set the plates on the table but she had another plans for you, when you came into the dinner room she was standing, leaning against the counter top, “come here.” she patted her thigh and you obeyed, abby inverted the position and now she was holding you against the furniture, she took the pills of your hand, “open your mouth.” “abby i don’t thi-“”open your fucking mouth, i not gonna say this again.”, you obeyed and she put the pills on your tongue and handed to you a cup of water, you swallowed and showed her your empty tongue, “now you want to be a good girl?” you nodded again and stared at her with big and wet eyes pleading for compassion, “this trick isn’t going to work today sweetheart, keep your mouth open.” she inserted two of her thick fingers into your mouth and started to force them deep in your throat, you started gagging but she didn’t stop, “such a slut, why you don’t do as i say? i said to you take care of yourself but nooo, you have to be the dumb girl that thinks she knows more than me, i have tattos older than you, you not gonna act like that and think it’s okay.”, abby was holding your chin tight, at this point you were a crying and a drooling mess, you were wet everywhere.

you almost couldn’t breathe anymore, so your reflex was try to hold into her arms to alert her to at least slow down or let you breathe for a bit, when finally your nails scratched her arm she put her soaked fingers out of your mouth and held your neck with both hands, not to choke you just to scare. “you’re gonna promise me that this is never happening again, okay sweetheart?” you nodded with so much force that if continued doing your head would start to hurt, abby let go of you and you caught your breath, she started to give little pecks in your neck and your mind was fuzzy with the abrupt contrast of demeanor but you just let her, “let’s eat, you need to.” she moved away from your neck.

you both ate like nothing happened, she asked about your day and you listened about hers. abby just cared so much about you, she couldn’t handle when somebody hurt her babygirl, even herself. but if you were gonna be honest, she looked so good hurting you.

#⟢𓈒 bnnysweets˚ ·#ಿৎbibi writes #୨abby anderson୧ #older!abby #older!abby x fem!reader #abby smut #abby #abby anderson #abby tlou #abby x fem!reader #abby x y/n #abby x you #abby x reader #tlou #wlw #lesbian

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teecupangel · 5 months ago

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(sorry in advance, I've been stewing over this for so long that this will be a long one xd)

I was re-reading your fics on ao3 again (sue me, im starved for desmond time travel content) and whilst reading Eagle of Alamut's description i realised '...wait a damn minute, it is true! all of Desmond's knowledge on past is from his ancestors!' (not everyone is as big of a nerd as shaun). Cue weeks of relentless daydreaming over Desmond in Reneisance Italy trying his damnest to lay low... but: 1) he does not know what is socially acceptable at the time (clothe and behaviour wise)

2) the animus likely shielded it's users from the more... er.. unsaviory historical accuracy (child marriage, smell, violence and mistreatment towards the poor, women, disabled)

3) politics, culinary arts, medicine and money value from that era are not common knowledge (or even fully known to todays historians)

4) Ezio was not known for his subtility...

...so while desmond may know who to strike in order to protect Ezios family from getting executed, what places he may know to avoid if he wants to avoid attention from the italian brotherhood.

He does not know what he was getting himself in to when he decided to travel back in time.

I can just imagine him thinking that he can finally retire and live his life, but then BOOM here comes the shock of sociatal injustices! religious violence! inequality! horrendous mistreatment of beggars and disabled people! and as a good man raised in the 21st century he obviously can't, in his right conciousness, just turn his back on these issues, on these people.

So here he is, in Rome of all places, doing his best to atleast stay hidden from the Auditore's, and consequesntly, the Italian brotherhood's, detection, as he stalks the bright rooftops of Roma as histories (probably) very first assasin turned vigiliante!

I can just picture him at one point or another, getting mistaken for a Spanish assasin and his only attempt at 'confirming' (read: encouraging misleading rumours), is to use the very little languistic knowledge the American education system has bestowed upon him. cue him very awkwardly trying to immitate a Spanish accent/ speak in Spanish. or just, you know, say the only words every student knows, 'Feliz Navidad'.

It would be so funny if Desmond’s Spanish are based on:

1) what little remains of Ezio’s Spanish (maybe on par or even worse than his French)

2) Basic Spanish that he learned on the Farm

3) Spanish songs he heard

So people think that Desmond is eccentric.

And Rich.

Because Desmond wants to help people but he doesn’t want to be seen as an Assassin so…

He becomes a supposed rich Spanish (Arabic would have sent a red flag to the Brotherhood) noble who came to Rome to live a life away from his ‘family’.

Why is he ‘rich’?

Well, killing nobles and other ‘evil doers’ will flag the Brotherhood as well so it would be better to just…

Leave certain incriminating evidence in the doors of their enemies and let them duke it out. Hey, if some things go missing while they’re too busy with their enemies, that’s just collateral damage.

Also…

Sometimes, things go missing when some people get into accidents.

It’s easy to buy the impoverish area in Rome. It’s a bit challenging to get doctors to treat them.

Until Desmond flashed the right amount of money, of course.

Desmond manages to stay under the radar by being part of the upper echelon.

An eccentric foreigner who helps the poor and sick out of the goodness of his heart.

Or… because he apparently believes that the way to heaven is through good will and not… paying the clergy.

Desmond knows that being seen as completely good is a bad thing as well so he lets rumors spread that he’s an opportunist who heals the sick and protects the weak to receive their loyalty. He gives them salary to become his guards (not that he needs any) and people whisper how loyal the poor are to someone who gives them bread.

And to hammer in that “no, Ezio, I am absolutely not connected to the Templars BUT I’m also not going to be a good ally, just leave me alone!” plan he has, he becomes a patron of the art.

Sexually progressive art.

The church hates him but tolerates him because Desmond does ‘donate’ (jokes on them, he donates what he stole from the church) and the artists love him because he commissions stuff with the same thing over and over again “whatever you want to paint/sculpt/work on but I want the Borgia men getting fucked in the ass while Lucrezia Borgia watches”

He’s not rich enough to actually be a threat (especially after Ezio starts wrecking shit up) and he keeps to himself most of the time.

But, of course, life always has it out for Desmond and he comes face to face with a wounded recruit at the edge of his property and…

Well…

He only wanted to heal him then send him on his merry way.

He didn’t expect Ezio to come barging in thinking said recruit has been kidnapped by the eccentric ‘possibly sexual deviant’ Lord Miles.

#assassin's creed #desmond miles #ezio auditore #ask and answer #teecup writes/has a plot #fic idea: assassin's creed

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anna-proxx · 10 months ago

Note

pretty please can we have arthur morgan falling in love with hyperfem! reader? ur stuff is always so so yummy,, no pressure ofc! ૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ `∩꒱ྀིა

⭒✧⋆｡guns n' bows ✧⋆｡⭒

pairing: Arthur Morgan x hyperfem!reader

genre: fluff, slight angst (good ending)

summary: Arthur finds himself adoring a dainty woman who joined the gang a while ago. It suddenly becomes clear to him he has fallen in love.

word count: 3294

tags: high honor arthur, fem!reader, (mutual) pining, arthur being a sweetheart

a/n: thank u so much, dolly! i had a few ideas on how to approach this and decided to make it more story-based and focus on arthur's inner process as he realizes he's in love with the reader (as i would imagine it to go). if you'd like something a bit different, lmk! i've been wanting to write a hyperfem fic for a while now, so i had fun with it. also, i'm thinking about writing a pt. 2 where i'd focus more on the reader's pov and have arthur express his feelings more (be a cutie around her) and confess his love. <3

dividers by @saradika / @saradika-graphics

✮ masterlist

Arthur Morgan wasn't used to being gentle with people. His hands were rough and calloused and his muscle memory trained to draw his guns and shoot. They were meant to be a weapon, to protect and harm for the people he considered his family.

Perhaps he had it in him, but there was no reason to be soft and gentle – the world was just as rough as him and he was assigned the burden of fighting against it. The softest he could get was between the pages of his journal as he wrote about his thoughts and sketched owls and beavers and when he patted dogs and talked to his horse.

But most of those were away from prying eyes and frankly, the role of a dense criminal prized for his brawn comfortably fit around his overlooked qualities, as that was all he needed to be. To survive, to fulfill his role.

And yet you saw right through it. Of course you did, you had a good heart, open to whoever you saw goodness in. While some might write Arthur off as a rugged criminal only, you noticed his edges weren't as sharp as he tried making them seem to be.

His duties were violent, sometimes brutal, the earth soaking up blood of his enemies and his image reflecting in their eyes as the last thing before they closed them forever. To some, he was their biggest nightmare. He wasn't a good man, to believe so would be naive and foolish, but he wasn't all bad either, as some would think.

Your heart was big enough to accept his sins and leave the judgment to whatever was above, meanwhile you sought his presence as it brought you a strangely warm sense of security and comfort. Like moth to a flame, his different nature allured you. Hardened on the outside and soft-hearted on the inside.

Perhaps that was the reason you found yourself liking this big outlaw. Scooted towards him at the campfire, or sat nearby and watched him as he lied on his cot and scribbled something into his journal.

You might've been fragile and soft spoken, but you weren't stupid and your intuition on people was like a radar you could wholeheartedly trust. So you did.

Arthur didn't exactly know you sometimes looked for his presence, but he did notice you were comfortable around him.

It baffled him a little – you were so small compared to him, wearing lace and frills and cute little bows in your hair and yet you didn't seem to be intimidated by his appearance or demeanor at all. It sparked joy inside of him whenever you'd come to him blabbering about the rainbow you saw or gave him a soft smile as your eyes met.

You never treated him with judgment or revulsion, despite knowing very well your morals were against everything he was doing. Just how big of a sweetheart were you to do that? He never said it, but it meant a lot to him.

He felt as though you weren't even a part of all this. You were like a gem among roughened stones or a flower growing in gravel, reading in your tent and braiding your horse's mane while he washed blood off his hands.

And truth be told, because of that, he found you to be soothing and healing for his battered soul. It was so different, to be around someone like you.

You brought out a side of him he didn't know he had, one that was more tender than he was used to be. He didn't feel so angry or cynical, even after a job gone wrong. When he was with you, being gentle was easy.

At the beginning, when you first fell with the gang, it was doubt and hesitation he felt towards you. You were so... untouched by the world's cruelty, so innocent and open-hearted.

Arthur assumed you were naive and feeble, not only in the physical sense but mental as well. The world posed a huge threat to someone like you and he was worried you wouldn't survive in such circumstances. He was convinced you'd run after a few weeks but you did no such thing.

As the months passed, you stayed with the gang, patient and resilient while remaining soft and feminine. You helped where you could and offered a listening ear to anyone who needed it; even managed to get Arthur to open up to you when you two were alone. And you barely ever complained, even ate all Pearson's stews though you must've been used to eating fine food. And you lit up the space wherever you went. Your optimism was invincible. How the hell were you managing to do that?

It dawned on him he must've terribly underestimated you and his doubtfulness turned into admiration and intrigue. You were one fascinating little thing.

Things have been going quite downhill, so he kept checking up on you and you always had a warm smile to offer. You were still sweet and charming, even with the law on your tail.

You were his polar opposite, gentle waves of the sea splashing against hard rocks hot from the sun. Soft clouds concealing the sky after a raging storm. A calm rain on a hot summer day.

Arthur had no intentions of falling in love ever again.

But his heart was a sneaky little traitor.

Dusk softly illuminated the lake's surface when he found you sitting on the pier, your feet splashing in the water. You put your shoes beside you and held the skirt of your dress at your knees to avoid getting it wet. It was your favorite, white and pink, the corset decorated with little bows at the front. Your locks curled loosely over your shoulders, a light pink bow tying some of it at the back of your head.

You looked so vulnerable and cute lost in your thoughts like this, your feet creating creases in the water as you idly watched them. You had no company with you, only a couple of ducks swimming nearby and butterflies fluttering their wings around your head.

Arthur wondered what your mind was occupied with and before he could properly think it through, his steps directed towards your small frame lit by warm light.

You were pondering on the events of the past few weeks when the heavy steps on the wooden planks caught your attention. Turning your head to look up at the person coming, your eyes lit up as you saw it was your favorite one.

"Arthur!" you called out, your big doe eyes digging a pit in Arthur's stomach.

"[Name]. How are you?" His gaze lingered on you as he stood before you, his hands placed on the gun belt around his hips. You found the concern sweet. Instead of it being a casual phrase, his eyes studied you for an actual answer.

"Good, I think. What about you?" Your voice was smooth like honey and inviting, giving the outlaw something to lean into.

"'M alright," his voice rumbled as he shifted on his feet, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Ya like this place?"

You shortly looked around, taking in the view of the trees and dim sky reflected back in the peaceful lake.

"I do, it's such a charming spot." You looked back into Arthur's face, catching a hint of a smile on his lips.

"'M glad to hear that."

You could almost hear his goodbye that would follow but before he had the chance, you spoke.

"Come on, join me." You patted the spot next to you and slightly turned your body towards Arthur when he sat beside you.

Arthur was a bit at loss of words, always quick with his witty responses but uncertain around you. Your flowery perfume overcame him, then the sight of your rosy cheeks and full lips. You looked like a doll, looking at him through your long lashes with the most innocent look in your eyes.

For a moment your company made him forget about everything. He felt like just a man instead of a sinner, leaning into the silent acceptance you provided him.

You swung your feet in the water. "What did you do today?" you asked kindly, no trace of judgment.

Arthur sighed, recalling the day's events. "Robbed a stagecoach, had to shoot 'em guards. Met a few of the O'Driscoll boys too."

He wasn't one to sugarcoat things, especially when there was no reason to. You knew what kind of person he was and despite you never expressing disgust, he knew you must've had certain sentiments of him and they were all true. He was no better than the crooks he fought. And yet, with you, he wished he was.

Your gaze found his hand resting over his knee, barely dried blood on his knuckles.

"Oh, Arthur!" You took his hand in his, examining the damage with focus as you held his palm with both your hands, yours small in comparison to his.

Arthur's breath faltered in his throat. A lukewarm feeling settled in his chest and slight panic ran through his mind as he was slow to realize just what was happening. The warm touch of your smooth fingers was unusually intensive and he wished for the moment to never stop, as if he ever cared for such things.

He felt silly for it. What was happening with him? Why did he feel such fondness at your delicate hands cradling his, the slight blush on your cheeks, the flyaway hairs around your head?

He furrowed his brow at the unfamiliar tightness in his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat picking up on pace.

He hasn't felt this way ever since...

"Your poor knuckles," you mumbled while gently running your finger over the bruises. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen them healed."

Your tone was nothing but caring, as if Arthur hadn't used the fist to break someone's jaw. You put his hand away, putting yours in your lap as you continued bathing your feet in the water and watching the thoughtful look on Arthur's face as he softly looked at you.

Arthur cleared his throat, chasing all the crazy thoughts away. "And how's yer day been?"

You tactfully ignored the change of topic and played around with your necklace as you spoke. "Well, it was alright. I've been doing chores almost whole day, then went to Rhodes for some supplies with Tilly and Javier. He also taught me a bit of one Spanish song!"

Oh did he? A pang of jealousy struck him. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Arthur, everything okay?" you asked, your brow furrowed at the sight of his troubled expression.

"Sure, 'm... just tired, that's all."

You nodded, looking at the sky coloring itself in blueish grays. "Yeah, I might go to sleep earlier today as well, I reckon."

Pulling your feet out of the water, you started putting on your shoes while Arthur stood up, offering you a hand by the time you were done. You smiled up at him and accepted his hand, being effortlessly pulled up to your feet.

"Thank you, Arthur."

Your voice wouldn't leave his head, even after you walked towards your tent, disappearing from his sight. He walked to his own one in a trance, left with many unanswered questions in his head.

This wasn't like him, even less to be so confused by his feelings. And yet, as he lay in his cot that night, he kept going back to the moment at the lake, imagining what it would've felt like to brush his fingers through your soft hair or cup your cheek.

Another heavy sigh.

Only yesterday you were still just you. A kind girl they had rescued when she had nowhere else to go, a young woman who–

No, who was he kidding. The warning signs had been there long before; the warmth in his chest whenever he saw you, that little jump his heart did when you said his name, the joy he felt when you asked him for small favors.

It gnawed at him, the sense of knowing he tried pushing away.

He fell in love with you. Somewhere along the way, without taking notice. As complicated and messy it would make things, in a way, admitting to himself the feelings he had for you felt relieving.

How was he so stupid not to realize sooner?

He loved the way you got excited over making flower crowns and how you'd weave some for the girls. He loved when he saw you consoling and comforting Karen into putting the bottle away, or even being kind to that bastard Kieran. He loved when he found you playing with Jack, letting him put flowers in your hair. He loved your feminine gaze, the one that would capture all his attention, or how your kindness towards him made him feel. As if there was still hope for him, as if he wasn't damned after all.

But there was a tight knot in his stomach. He might've set himself up for another heartbreak. How could you want someone like him?

Arthur fell asleep riddled with contradicting thoughts that night.

The new reality of being in love with you gave him a sort of solace. But it wasn't until morning that he decided he could only do one thing – keep his distance. For both his and your sake.

You were beautiful and dainty like a rose, but he was the thorns.

Arthur did as he promised to himself – despite the stolen glances and wishful thoughts split in half, he would avoid you, though it wasn't as apparent as he's been so busy lately. Not like he would complain about that, if anything, it took his mind off you, even if not for long.

Above all he wanted to return to camp after a difficult job and be close to you, talk to you, feel your calming presence.

What he didn't expect with his plan was how much it would wear him down.

But the last thing he wanted was to hurt you, which he assumed would eventually happen, or lose his head for someone who wouldn't reciprocate the same feelings back.

He returned to camp late today. In the middle of the night when everyone was already asleep. He wanted nothing more than to lie down in his cot, his shoulders slouched as he got down from the saddle and patted his horse a good night, unsaddling him to give him some rest too. The night was quiet and tranquil, like peace after a storm, given how Arthur's day went.

It has been weeks since Arthur had realized he had feelings for you by this point and looking towards the tents, he couldn't help but wonder whether you were alright. He hasn't been around much lately, so he could only guess you continued to be true to who you've been since the beginning. With ribbons in your hair and a dreamy look in your face.

He sighed at the image. What a lovestruck fool he was.

He missed your sleepy eyes and the little wrinkle between your eyebrows when you were confused.

As if something listened to his wishes, a small figure emerged from the shadows and he realized it was you.

Wearing your undergarments, bloomers with frills and lace, you made your way straight towards him. Your hair was in two braids tied by pink ribbons, though a bit messy from sleep, and the loose strands of hair tucked behind your ear.

He froze in place, watching you get closer while his heart went a little crazy. A part of him was happy to see you approaching him, whatever the reason for that was. It made him feel fuzzy inside and that scared him more than any gunfight.

"Arthur!" you called out for him with a slightly shaky voice, not stopping your steps until you stood right before him.

Arthur fought the urge to reach out for you as he saw you small and vulnerable, looking up at him with need, his heart struck with fear when he noticed the little tears in your eyes.

"[Name], what's wrong?" There was urgency in his voice, a worried look in his eyes and panic coursing through his veins.

You held a sob as you spoke, hugging yourself with your arms, a few of the loose strands falling into your face.

"J-just a nightmare. I woke up so s-scared." You started to shiver as you recalled the frightening images. As soft as you were on the outside, you had a vivid imagination and your nightmares could get very eerie and gruesome, causing chills to travel up your spine every time the memory flashed before your eyes.

Arthur's instincts now clutched his heart tightly, a knot tying itself in his stomach. He hated seeing you like this, helpless, afraid and trembling. The sight of you awakened every bit of his protective nature and he didn't want anything more than to hold you and never let you go, even put his life on the line just to keep you safe.

He didn't think twice.

"Aw, c'mere," he proposed in a low warm voice, enveloping you in his embrace gently enough to give you the option of changing your mind.

But you snuggled into the hug instead, a small sob escaping you as you wrapped your arms around his torso, your arms barely connecting behind his back.

He was so warm and firm and you have never felt safer in your whole life. The anxiety was slowly mellowed out, filling your heart with affection instead.

Arthur breathed in your scent and it made him feel lightheaded, and to feel your soft warm body pressed against his felt like a dream.

You were so delicate in his arms and your exposed skin made it hard for him to keep his thoughts straight. He was a gentleman of course, but his heart raced nonetheless and he feared you could hear it beating against your ear.

"It's okay, t'was just a dream." His voice was soothing and warm, and it worked like a charm. He consoled you with strokes on your back, his big palms hot through the thin layer of your undergarments.

"What horrible thin' did ya dream 'bout?" Arthur asked, his embrace not loosening around you. He was quite happy like this, protecting you between his arms, as if you always belonged there.

You kept your face nuzzled to his chest, comfortably leaning into the hug.

You started talking about the dream and he listened. A monster, you said, something big and deranged sneaking its way around to its victims. You rambled about the details, your descriptions a mess as you spoke in loose tangles.

Arthur slightly smiled at your stuttering, it made you even more adorable than you already were, though he didn't know it was even possible.

He would kill anyone who'd dare to touch you.

"'M the only scary thing 'round here 'm afraid," Arthur muttered, his chest rumbling under your head.

"As if," you retorted with your voice muffled, certainty in your disagreement.

It caught Arthur off guard a little and nervousness arose in him as he asked the following question. "You ain't scared of me?"

He knew if there was even an ounce of fear in you, it would've killed him.

You looked up at him, your eyes big and glossy. "I feel safe with you, Arthur."

His heart dropped and he looked into your eyes completely baffled, not grasping how such a sweet creature like you could say such a thing to him.

You felt safe with him.

You did.

He felt vulnerable under your gaze; not even heavens could make him feel so exposed. He was afraid you could read his thoughts with that pretty mind of yours as you held the eye contact, that you could recognize how much he was now melting and crumbling inside.

So much for being a tough hardened criminal.

He felt like a teenager again. The sweating hands, tingles in his stomach, it was all back.

Arthur tightened his embrace, cuddling you closer.

As he held you under the starry sky, your tiny arms wrapped around him, he was sure of one thing.

He could do many things. But staying away from you was not one of them.

#rdr2 #red dead redemption 2 #arthur morgan #rdr2 fic #arthur morgan fic #arthur morgan fanfiction #arthur morgan x reader #arthur morgan x female reader #arthur morgan oneshot #rdr2 fanfiction #rdr2 oneshot #arthur morgan fluff #☆ annie writes #☆ reqs

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raya-hunter01 · 5 months ago

Note

I have never requested a story before so here goes 🙈 could you write about yn had a baby with Roman or Jey. They haven't had s3x in 2 months and Roman or Jey are getting frustrated so yn asks her parents to mind the baby for the weekend so she can make it up to him 🙈🫣

Alone Time

One-Shot

Roman Reigns x Skylar

Warning: Smut and fluff!

Roman and Skylar are on cloud nine after their son is born...The only problem is now they are on month four of no sex and the sexual frustration is mounting.

This was requested a long time ago by lilmizzlou35 sorry it took so long. I hope you enjoy it.

“Trin I didn’t stutter and stop looking at me like I’m crazy.”

“So, you mean to tell me that you and Roman ain’t had sex since Jackson was born?” “Will you keep it down before they hear you,” I hissed looking around the corner at the guys who were playing spades in the living room. “Damn, I’m sorry, but are you serious right now?”

“Yes, I’m serious….Four months, no sex but we’ve done oral,” I whined as she looked at me still in shock.

“So, you’ve been cleared for two months to have sex but ya’ll ain’t had none!” Trin exclaimed as I blushed praying nobody was ease dropping on our conversation.

“I am tired Trin, I’ve been trying to get Jackson on a schedule. Roman goes back in a month and I’m horny.”

“Have ya’ll tried when the baby is sleeping?” Trin asked as I scoffed.

“Girl, it’s like Jackson has sex radar, oral is good but as soon as we are close to the deed he cries,” I said looking at our son who didn’t have a care in the world as he stuck his tiny fist in his mouth, happily babbling.

“Oh man, I know Roman is about to nut up…. No pun intended. Maybe if ya’ll skip the foreplay and just go for it you’ll have more luck,” Trin whispered as I cleared my throat seeing Roman heading our way.

“Ladies, ya’ll good?” he asked, giving me a chaste kiss on the lips before taking Jackson out of my arms.

“Yea, baby we’re fine. I told you earlier I had Jackson, I know you wanted to hang out with the guys.”

“No, you need a break Skyler, now you and Trin go by the pool and chill. I got the baby.”

“Roman, it’s ok I was about to feed him and try to get him to take a nap,” I said kissing his tiny head as he sneezed.

“Bless you lil man,” Trin smiled as he sneezed again. “I hope he’s not getting sick.”

“Baby, Dr. Morris said it’s his allergies. He’s fine, I’ll feed him. Now gon’ watch the sunset and get a little swim in,” Roman said leaving no room for argument as I gave him a kiss on the lips.

“Thank you, baby,” I whispered as he growled. “You’re welcome, just remember tonight, your mine,” he groaned as Trin blushed leaving us alone. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

I wished I had my husband’s positive outlook, but I knew we would probably end up how we did almost every night and that was with Jackson in the bed with us.

I also knew even though we both were sexually frustrated, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

-----

Later that Night

Roman’s POV

“Damn, swallow dat dick,” I hissed gripping the back of Skylar’s head as she moaned, the vibration of her mouth around my dick. Damn, what that mouth can’t do, I’m already bout to nut.

Those bedroom eyes staring up innocently at me as she sped up her beautiful torture as I growled feeling my end near. “Mm, not yet,” I moaned as she smiled releasing me as I fought to catch my breath. “What you need Daddy?” she whispered trailing her tongue from my pelvis to my neck as I wrapped my arms around her.

Fuck, she was on it tonight.

“I need to cum in my pussy, it’s been too long Sky,” I rasped, our moans of pleasure filled the room as she rubs up against my dick. “Yes, and I want you so bad,” she purred as our lips met in a sloppy desperate kiss.

Yes, there is a God, and he loves me. Tonight is the motherfuckin’ night I reclaim my wife and I can’t wait, etching every second to memory.

Her delicate hands caressing my dick, as she slightly raised her hips. Her trembling her body following suit as she bit her lower lip, anxiously rubbed the head of my dick against her pussy.

That hearty, needy groan that escaped her lips, as the tip slid through her slick moist folds had me feenin’.

“Fuck yea, pussy so wet Daddy just gon’ slip right on in. Go ahead and put it in baby,” I groaned anxiously trying not to lose control.

Then just as we were about to become one again, our son’s powerful wails could be heard on the baby monitor as we both sighed in frustration.

“This can’t be happening,” I whispered as Skylar caressed my face. “I got him, baby,” Skylar panted as I nodded, sitting up, sighing at the loss of her body against mine as she slipped on her robe and left the room.

“Damn son, I couldn’t even get the tip in…..Lil cockblocker,” I muttered instantly feeling like the biggest heel ever as I listened to Skylar on the baby monitor.

“Hey, lil man you hungry, mama’s got you. Let’s change you first,” she soothed as I found myself smiling hearing Jackson’s little coos. Getting out of bed I slipped on my pajama bottoms and went to join them in the nursery.

We were sufficient in setting up Jackson’s room with a bottle warmer and a mini fridge to keep Skylar’s breast milk in at night so we wouldn’t have to worry about going downstairs.

“I’ll get the bottle,” I said almost startling her as she smiled at me.

“Thanks, I’m going to miss all this help when you go back to work.”

“I’mma miss it too, but we’re going to make it work. I don’t care if we have to be on facetime all night.”

Skylar’s POV

I loved moments like this, just us being with our son and bonding. “You want daddy to feed you, Jackson?” I asked as he stretched his little arms and yawned.

“Come on buddy, let’s eat so we can go back to bed,” Roman said sitting down as I placed Jackson in his arms. I swear women across the world would melt if they could see this moment.

His voice soothing, and deep, as Jackson seemed entranced his father’s voice. It was like they were in their own little world.

“Yea, daddy’s got you son,” Roman whispered as I smiled.

“You’re a great dad,” I said as Roman shot me a tired smile before continuing to talk to Jackson.

“You know I got your mama too, which is why I am sending her to bed.”

“Roman, I’m fine,” I yawned as he chuckled. “See how she yawin’..She needs some rest, so we gon’ have us a little father, son time and send her to bed,” he said pointing towards our room. His eyes never leaving Jackson’s who seemed to be cooing in agreement.

“Roman-”

“Go to bed baby, I got him,” he reassured me as I sighed heading back to our room, but not before sneaking a second glance at my beautiful family.

I had a wonderful life that I knew I would never take for granted…Ever.

----

The next Day

“What did you say mama?” I asked not sure I heard her right.

“I said ya’ll doing it wrong Sklyar, I ain’t stutter,” my mother scolded holding Jackson as I poured her a cup of coffee.

“I suggested they drop the foreplay and go for the gusto mama,” Trin added as I rolled my eyes.

“I’m desperate ya’ll, I mean we just get so consumed with each other, and then boom! Jackson is screaming his head off, he even ended up in the room with us last night,” I said slamming the refrigerator door.

“Oouu sexual frustration has officially sunk in,” Trin whispered as I looked at her in confusion.

“Huh.”

“Morning, beautiful,” Roman said coming in the kitchen as I smiled at him. The pure hunger in his eyes as he pulled me into his arms not only made me weak in the knees but had me seconds away from dropping to my knees to worship him in front of Trin, Jackson, and my mother.

Our lips suddenly met in a demanding kiss. It was like we were the only two people in the room until I faintly heard my mother clearing her throat as Roman nipped at my bottom lip.

“Mm, later,” I whispered against his lips as he nodded finally releasing me from his grasp.

“Damn, I felt like I was intruding. That was really hot,” Trin said as I blushed.

“Sorry, I got carried away Ma, good morning,” Roman said coming over and giving my mom a hug and Jackson a kiss on the top of his head. “I guess I’m just invisible,” Trin teased as Roman chuckled, rushing over to hug her. “Sorry sis, good morning.”

“Yea…uh huh,” Trin joked as I snickered.

“You know I love you sis, don’t be like that,” Roman chuckled as she smiled. “I’m just teasin’ you…I get a kick out of it actually,” she said as he rolled his eyes.

“Ro, you got anything planned today?” I asked, trying to change the subject as he thought for a second. “I’m meeting the twins in a bit at the gym, then I’m free,” he said as I saw my mother smile.

“Well have fun baby,” I said as he smiled looking around reading the room.

“Ok, uh, I guess I will go shower and leave ya’ll to it. I know when I ain’t wanted,” he said nervously leaving the room as my mother laughed.

“Damn, he got outta dodge.”

“Hey, he can be dense at times, but I take pride in the fact I taught him how to read a room.”

“Don’t do my brother like that,” Trin laughed as I shrugged my shoulders.

“I’m serious, so tell me what ya’ll are thinking?” I asked truly curious because at this rate I’m about to have drive-by sex with my husband while they are here at this point.

“As new parents, it’s going to take some time to adjust Skylar. Like I told you to sleep when the baby sleeps, the same thing applies to sex. Get it in while you can.”

“Ma! Really...”

“What! I’m serious, get it in whenever and wherever you can. You are no longer on married with no kids time. You are on each second counts time and by the way he tongued you down just now, he’s reached his breaking point baby.”

“I almost just saw my first in person porno just now,” Trin said causing me to choke on my orange juice. “Oh, stop it, we weren’t that bad,” I said as my mother smiled.

“Sweetie, you gotta use your help too. That is what grandparents are for. I know I’ve been asking to keep the baby, and I know Roman’s parents have wanted to keep Jackson.”

“We didn’t want to burden ya’ll.”

“We love Jackson and want a chance to spoil him. Let us spoil him, that’s what grandparents do. We spoil them and then send them back home for ya’ll to deal with it,” my mother said shrugging her shoulders as I found it hard to not smile.

“Girl, you better let them be grandparents. Ya’ll need a break, and Jackson will enjoy it.”

“I know but-”

“It’s that new parents separation anxiety,” my mother said as I sighed knowing she was right. I was scared and so was Roman.

“Go pack my baby a bag, he’s staying the night with me and your dad tonight.”

“Mama, I-”

“Mama nothing, you both tired and need to get some rest. Go out to dinner, or just fuck like jackrabbits until I bring him back tomorrow morning it’s up to ya’ll.”

“Mama!” Geez did she have to be so blunt. Like what kind of parent am I wanting to send my baby away so his daddy can fuck me into another galaxy.

“Stop overthinking it, you’re a great mom and Roman is a great dad. Now finish your breakfast so you can go pack my baby a bag. I have a feeling you’re gonna need your strength,” she said looking in the direction Roman had went as I blushed.

“Yes, ma’am,” I whispered playing with my food. Everything would be ok. I know my mom will take good care of Jackson but it’s just going to be weird being without him.

I was brought out of my thoughts by Trin tapping me on the arm as my mother got up to fix her another cup of coffee.

“Girl, ya’ll first round gon be quick cause it’s been so long for since ya’ll have had sex. After that…Ooou, I pitty you, cause it ain’t gon’ be no sleepin’ up in this house. Maybe Ma can keep Jackson an extra day 'cause I know you gon’ have problems walking tomorrow," Trin whispered so my mother couldn’t hear.

“Roman is never quick,” I whispered as she smirked. “I bet you today he will be, but don’t worry it ain’t gon take you long to get there either,” she snickered as I frowned.

“You so fuckin’ messy.”

“That’s why you love me so much, I keep it real.”

Roman’s POV

“You heard me, it’s been four months and I’m losing my shit.”

“Damn, no wonder you been heavy lifting in the gym lately. Sky been cleared for action but it ain’t been none,” Jimmy said as I rolled my eyes. “Shut the fuck up, I’m already frustrated enough,” I said talking to the twins on Facetime.

“Ya’ll gon’ have to learn to get that shit in Uce,” Jey said as frowned at him.

“What you talkin’ bout?”

“I’m talkin bout quickies, gettin’ it in everywhere, whether it’s the bed, bathroom, car, backstage, door, wall. Shit, it’s on site whenever you can, ain’t she on da shot?” Jey asked as I nodded.

“Man, get yo’ pussy, and I mean by any means necessary,” Jimmy said as Skylar stuck her head in the bedroom.

“Babe, mama wants to take Jackson for the night so we can get some rest. Are you ok with it?”

I was too stunned to speak; I mean is this really happening? “Answer her fool, why you just standin’ there lookin’ stupid,” Jimmy said as Sky leaned over into the camera.

“Hey twins….Where have ya’ been?” Skylar sang waving to Jimmy and Jey.

“Hey Boosie!” they yelled waving as she smiled.

“So, what you think Roman?” Skylar asked again as I looked back at the twins who gave me a look. “Uh, sure we need to start letting Jackson go and spend time with his grandparents. We know he’s in good hands.”

“Ok, I just wanted to run it by you before I just did it,” Skylar said blowing me a kiss and leaving the room.

“Uce, we already know you ain’t making it to the gym. Gone handle yo’ business,” Jey said as Jimmy shook his head.

“Poor Boosie ain’t gon’ know what hit her.”

“Shut up Jimmy and get off the damn phone so we can head to the gym.”

“A’ight twins, I’ll hit ya’ll back tomorrow.” Ending the call, I felt nervous…Why am I nervous?

I was nervous about Jackson being away from us, but I knew deep down he would be fine. We needed this…Mama and daddy need some alone time to rest and to just be Roman and Skylar again.

Skylar’s POV

I felt a piece of my heart leave as they pulled out of the driveway. I missed Jackson already, but Trin and mom reassured me and that put me at ease.

He would be ok, but it was still scary. Sighing, I closed the door. “He will be fine Sky, relax,” I whispered to myself, turning and colliding with Roman’s naked body as I gasped in shock.

“Ba-”

The words dying on my lips as our lips meet in a demanding passionate kiss. “Can’t wait,” Roman groans against my lips, clawing at my robe as I racked my nails down his back. “I can’t either,” I moan anxiously as he scoops me up in his arms.

“Mm, bed,” I gasp as he growls. “Right here…Fuck, right now,” he moans entering me swiftly catching me off guard as I cried out at the sudden intrusion.

I felt like he was splitting me in two as he growled against my neck. "I'm sorry baby," he moans stilling his hips tryin' to give me a second to adjust as I slowly began swirling my hips against him.

“Mmm, I missed you,” I cried against his lips as he hissed. “Missed you more, fuck, you so tight.”

I could sense the struggle in him to not lose control, but I wanted him to.

Remembering Trin’s words, I decided to assure him it was ok. “Stop holding back, I want you to cum Daddy, you deserve it,” I whispered

“Fuck…… I don’t want to, not yet,” he rasped as I locked my legs around him beginning to bounce as Roman held me close.

“We got all night, just cum baby,” I whispered in his ear as my words seemed to ignite a fire in him as he gripped my legs, pinning me against the wall beginning to thrust with wild abandon.

“Shit! Yes, take your pussy daddy!” I screamed, my orgasm sneaking up on me as Roman grasped my throat, taking me in a scorching kiss

“Mmm, I am and I’mma make sure my queen cums first,” he groaned carrying me over to the couch.

I could only explain it as pure excitement following through my veins as I pulled Roman closer, our bodies becoming even more entangled as we gave in to our desires.

Our desperate, passionate kisses, making lightheaded as his thrusts became even more strategic. The power of them startling us both as we fell back onto the couch.

“Roman!” I exclaimed at the new deeper position as he smirked in victory against my lips. “Uh huh, acknowledge daddy, baby. I’mma make you feel real good.”

“Ooouu fuck!” I gasped unable to think, my mind straight gone.

“Sky, give daddy what he wants, let me hear you,” he gloated slamming into me as my cries filled the room.

“Mmhm, I acknowledge you, Daddy,” I whined clawing at his ass pulling him in even deeper. “Fuck yea… Such a good girl, just takin’ all daddy’s dick.”

“Yes! Mmm, I missed you so much!” I cried unashamed as my pussy welcomed him, gripping him tighter and tighter trying to indeed snatch his soul.

“Fuck!” Roman hissed as I felt him tremble against me as I greedily feasted upon his neck, leaving my mark.

“Mmhm, I missed you more. Yea…. Grip dat dick like you missed it.”

His voice…His words.. Shit, if I could give this man another baby right fucking now, I would.

“Roman, please,” I begged knowing the end was near, I couldn’t hold out much longer.

“Take it like a good girl, mama.”

“I’m your good girl!” I cried out in pleasure. “So fuckin good, gon’ cum, Sky. Daddy wants you to soak his dick and this couch, you hear me?”

The request sending chills down my spine as I fell over the edge needing no more encouragement.

“I’m cummin’!” I cried as Roman tried to still my hips. “Sky…Shit,” Roman rasped as I pulsed around him forcing him to accept his fate and with a final growl, he fell over the edge releasing four months of frustration as I welcomed him.

Shit, that was intense as hell. “I love you so much;” I moaned trying to catch my breath as Roman smiled, his eyes still glazed over.

“I love you too, and I’mma make it up to you,” Roman whispered gently grazing his lips across mine as I sighed.

“What are you sorry for baby?” I gasped as his lips were now burning a blazing hot trail across my neck. “You felt so good, I came too quick but I’mma take my time this go round,” he whispered caressing my thighs, wrapping them back around his waist.

“Roman, it’s ok.. Trust me, I was thoroughly satisfied.” I said, trying to put his mind at ease as we continued to come down from our high.

“Sky, you know how I get down; my beautiful wife has to cum at least three times before I do,” he declared still feasting upon my neck as I gasped feeling him getting hard again.

“Roman! Already,” I moaned, immediately surrendering to him once again as he began thrusting, torturous slow and deep inside me.

“Mmhm, cause my baby needs to cum at least three more times before we take a cat nap.” His voice was raspy and deep against my ear as a shiver shot down my spine.

“Three!”

“Mmhm, the first time didn’t count, and I’m just getting started,” he whispered as we began climbing the mountain of ecstasy once again.

Yea….Maybe I will call Ma, and ask her to keep Jackson for an extra night.

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